Tag: forced proximity

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: L.B. Dunbar’s Grouch-ish, a Holiday HOTTIES novella ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: B

Tropes: forced proximity; insta-attraction; first-responder MMC; silver fox; holiday romance; single dad; boss’s daughter FMC

L.B. Dunbar’s Holiday Hotties stories have engaged readers over the past couple of holiday seasons. This year’s offering, Grouch-ish, offers more of the same holiday spice with a fireman MMC who falls for his boss’s daughter while staying at the boss’s house. Her characters, Brock and Pear, aka Paradise, are shaded nicely in light and dark. Brock struggles with his guilt over the loss of a probie and the ending of his problematic marriage. He has been asked to his boss’s winter camp as a last-ditch effort to work through his issues. Pear has left her life behind, intent on reconnecting with her father over the holidays. Unfortunately, her father has other plans, leaving Pear lonely in his absence. When Brock arrives late and misses the shuttle to the camp, he’s left to earn his penance with Pear. It’s where Brock and Pear begin to fill something emotional and, eventually, physical in each other. 

I enjoyed Pear and Brock’s journey to falling in love. Dunbar has a way of creating highs and lows in her plotting that keeps her reader engaged. However, one of my criticisms of Dunbar’s storytelling lies in her need to draw a heavy-handed allusion through her story. She’s done this in many of her stories, which detracts from the natural storytelling. In Grouch-ish‘s instance, she alludes to the Twelve Days of Christmas. Unfortunately, given the timing of her story, she adds a note at the beginning of her story to make allowances for it. I understand it as a mechanism to attach meaning to a holiday tradition; however, it’s not necessary for us to fall in love with Brock’s grumpiness turned romantic or Pear’s acceptance of her circumstances and future choices. 

Overall, Grouch-ish is an enjoyable holiday romance for this holiday season. Brock and Pear will steal your heart for the holiday season.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍! ✍🏻

professorromance

“I’d give my whole f*ing life to be the guy who carries her shoes and makes all her dreams come true.” – Calvin “Fitz” Fitzgerald

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍! ⚕️🔥 🪂

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐔.
💋https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZPHRNFS 📖

👇
When Jamie Andrews moves in with a house full of firefighters, things start heating up fast. Battling the wilderness of rural Montana, these guys are always charging into danger—for a living, for duty, for the rush—and since Jamie is a psychiatric nurse, they fascinate her analytic mind. She can’t help but fixate on Calvin, a grumpy, enigmatic smoke jumper ten years her senior. She makes playfully tormenting him her pet project, trying to get him to open up. It turns out he gives as good as he gets.

When something smoldering between them sparks, they’ll have to keep it quiet, which makes Jamie start to wonder about Calvin’s secret, the one he won’t explain. She’ll learn more after life pulls them apart. But as she follows the truth like a trail of flame into the dark, will it lead her to hearth and home with Calvin…or will it all go up in a blaze?

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: J. Saman’s Undeniably Infatuated, book 3 of her Boston’s Irresistible Billionaires ✍🏻

professorromance

Overall Grade: A-

Tropes: forbidden; brother’s ex; forced proximity; second chance; secret romance; FMC in trouble; grump/sunshine; opposites attract; he falls first

J. Saman’s newest series, Boston’s Irresistible Billionaires, is not disappointing. This next-gen series invites her readers back into her previous book worlds, mixing former characters’ children into love matches. Her newest story, Undeniably Infatuated, I believe is my favorite to date. Saman carefully interweaves some romantic suspense with a spicy, secretive, forbidden relationship with “undeniable” chemistry between her main characters, Stone and Tinsley. From the outset, the big question is…how will Saman handle the complicated relationship between Stone and Tinsley, given that Tinsley is Stone’s brother’s ex-girlfriend, who he’s still obsessed with? I’ll be honest. I was nervous because, if mishandled, the believability of Stone and Tinsley’s relationship would be undermined. It created a complex problem for Saman, and she handled it well because she granted them space and time to process their feelings about it. She also allowed Stone to acknowledge the complication without wasting his opportunity with Tinsley. This situation required a careful balancing act with intentionality and decisive writing, and Saman did this well. 

I love a romance where the gruff playboy of an MMC falls hard for the erstwhile, independent FMC, and Saman crafts this well in Undeniably Infatuated. I loved the tension of their coupling as well as their fire and eventual romantic happy ending. Undeniably Infatuated is exactly what the doctor ordered for a weekend of reading. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 Levi Posey is FINALLY here! The steam between Levi and Wylie is NEXT LEVEL. Run and grab So This Is War, out now! ✍🏻

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When it comes to Wylie Wood, I’m in a whole lot of trouble.

SO THIS IS WAR, a brand-new standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn, is Now Available in all formats! 

🏒 Hockey
🏅 Coach’s Daughter
📝 Boss/Assistant
🏠 Roomies-to-Lovers
🔟 Age Gap
🔥 They Fight Fire with Fire
🛏 Forced Proximity
🚫 Forbidden
💙 He Falls First

Don’t miss this all new coach’s daughter, workplace, forbidden standalone sports romance featuring the hockey men you can’t get enough of. This steamy, roommates-to-lovers romantic comedy will bring all the laughs while burning up the pages at the same time.

One-click your copy of this sexy, laugh-out-loud romance today!

https://mybook.to/SoThisIsWar

About SO THIS IS WAR (Coming 6/25/2024):

Did I think I was going to fall for my coach’s daughter?

The answer would be no. 

I’m still unclear on how I got into this predicament in the first place. A year ago, I was a man with one thought on his mind, the redhead I met at a hotel bar. Twelve months later, I found her. 

Unfortunately for me, she not only happens to be my very off-limits coach’s daughter, but also . . . my new assistant and roommate. 

I don’t even need an assistant, but Coach Wood doesn’t take no for an answer. Add in him writing up tasks for his daughter, Wylie, to complete for me? Well, it’s his own form of sweet torture. We are talking tasks that I would never ask her to do. 

Tasks that make her despise me. 

Hate me. 

That make her utter four words that cause a shiver to crawl up my spine . . . Posey, this is war. 

https://mybook.to/SoThisIsWar

Teddy Hamilton and Emma Wilder narrate this sexy, boss/assistant, forced proximity romance in duet with a full cast including Jason Clarke, Connor Crais, Vanessa Edwin, JF Harding, Stella Hunter, Erin Mallon, and Kelsey Navarro-Foster!

https://mybook.to/SoThisIsWar

ABOUT MEGHAN QUINN:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Never miss another NEW RELEASE, text READ to 474747.

Connect w/ Meghan:

Website: https://authormeghanquinn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanquinnbooks/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn

new release

✍🏻 I’m currently obsessed with Grace Reilly! Don’t miss this special edition of her popular Stealing Home! Grab it NOW! ✍🏻

professorromance

Stealing Home by Grace Reilly is now live! 

A can’t-miss BookTok favorite, reverse grumpy/sunshine forced-proximity college sports romance, third in the Beyond the Play series—with new exclusive content in this edition!


I should be focusing on my game—not on falling for my gorgeous, grumpy roommate…especially since she’s already left me once.

Sebastian

It’s my final season to prove myself before the MLB draft. The last thing I need is a distraction—and especially not one as tantalizing as Mia di Angelo.

She’s the drop-dead gorgeous astrophysicist-in-training who ditched me the moment I wanted to take us from casual to committed. Yeah. Ouch. But when she needs somewhere to stay for the summer… well, I offer her my place.

Being roommates shouldn’t be so hard. Not distracting at all. Not the least bit challenging…

Mia

I have two goals this summer: get into a study abroad program and get over golden baseball god Sebastian Miller-Callahan.

Doesn’t mean it’s easy to stop thinking about him, but he deserves better than a prickly, career-focused girl like me. Our futures can’t be more different. The last thing I need is to play roommates with the only man who can set my body ablaze.

And all the feelings I’ve tried to pretend I never had? They come rushing back far too strong for either of us to ignore.

Filled with swoons, spice, sports, and second chances, Stealing Home is a don’t-miss adult college sports romance.

  Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo, and Kindle Unlimited!
 

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4bTk4wP

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/45iywvT

Nook: https://bit.ly/45lX1s0

Kobo: https://bit.ly/4ckMlfG

Google Play: https://bit.ly/4bVVgEs
 

Audible: https://adbl.co/3VDVx9q

Narrated by: Tristan Wright & Kat Riley
 

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4emPpcL

Cover Reveal

✍🏻 I was in a post-Book Bonanza coma yesterday and didn’t get a chance to show you this beautiful specimen. J. Saman is NOT disappointing with Sean as Dr. Owen Fritz. Hell-oooo handsome! Get ready for Undeniably Forbidden, coming July 22nd! ✍🏻

professorromance

J. Saman has revealed the gorgeous cover for Undeniably Forbidden!

Releasing: July 22, 2024

Cover Design: Lori Jackson Design

Photographer: Michelle Lancaster

Model: Sean

In my defense, I had no clue the gorgeous guy I had a wildly steamy night with was my brother’s best friend. Or the single dad of the little girl I was about to nanny.

I hadn’t seen Dr. Owen Fritz since I was twelve and he was twenty-four, but even back then, I didn’t care much about him.

He was doing his billionaire, master-of-the-universe, medical school thing, and I was too into art and books to notice anyone.

Now he’s cold and broody, but he doesn’t scare me the way he does everyone else.

He’s been scarred, but I’ve been scarred worse.

We both promise to leave that night in the past, vowing to keep this secret between us and stay professional from now on.

Especially since I’m living with him—sleeping down the hall from him—and his adorable little girl.

Until one night of hell changes everything and all those promises we’ve been struggling to keep don’t just break, they shatter.

Now there’s no holding him back.

And the more he watches me with those magnetic eyes or whisks me into dark corners and puts his heated hands on my body, the more I forget why what we’re doing is so undeniably forbidden.

We’re playing with an unstoppable fire.

And we’re both about to get burned.

Pre-order your copy today!

http://geni.us/UndeniablyForbidden

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3URHD36

Meet J. Saman

J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 40 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side—especially for their women.

Connect with J. Saman

Website: http://jsamanbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14923699.J_Saman

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Saman/author/B01FOIUR46

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jsamanbooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jsamansradtasticreaders

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jsamanbooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jsamanbooks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jsamanbooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-saman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jsamanbooks/

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/jsamanbooks

new release

✍🏻 The Lakefront Billionaires are BACK! Lauren Asher’s Love Unwritten is LIVE! Who’s ready for Rafael and Ellie? ✍🏻

professorromance

Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher is now live! 

Rafael
Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs.
I’m a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums.
On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son.
For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip.
Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn’t be attracted to.
Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company?
That isn’t part of our travel plans.
After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs.
Even if it means breaking hers in the process.

Ellie
What’s worse than working for a grumpy single dad?
Admitting that I once had a secret crush on him in high school.
Thankfully, Rafael Lopez and I have changed since we graduated from Wisteria High.
He is a billionaire with a company to run and a child to take care of.
I’m an unemployed songwriter he hired to watch his son and teach music.
We coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything.
Lines blur and old feelings for Rafael return with vengeance as I face a new dilemma.
Being his son’s nanny is one thing, but wishing for more?
Sounds like a heartbreak song waiting to be written.

  Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3HpHtYZ

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/LoveUnwrittenLA

Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition Paperback: https://bit.ly/4851PBS

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/420Btj7

Meet Lauren

Plagued with an overactive imagination, Lauren spends her free time reading and writing. Her dream is to travel to all the places she writes about. She enjoys writing about flawed yet relatable characters you can’t help loving. She likes sharing fast-paced stories with angst, steam, and the emotional spectrum.

Her extra-curricular activities include watching YouTube, binging old episodes of Parks and Rec, and searching Yelp for new restaurants before choosing her trusted favorite. She works best after her morning coffee and will never deny a nap.

Connect with Lauren 

Website: https://laurenasher.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19561164.Lauren_Asher

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Asher/e/B08191LLQJ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenasherauthor

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2190526831240383

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenasherauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LAsherAuthor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenasherauthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lauren-asher

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurenasherauthor/

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: J. Saman’s Undeniably Convenient ✍🏻

professorromance

Overall Grade: A-/B+

Tropes: second chances; age gap; boss/employee; forced proximity; grump/sunshine; workplace romance

J. Saman’s newest story, Undeniably Convenient, invites us into the next generation of characters from some of her beloved series: Boston’s Billionaire Bachelors and Irresistibly Yours. Nothing excites me more than diving into the kids’ lives and loves of past characters. And this newest book doesn’t disappoint. 

Undeniably Convenient is one of J. Saman’s most intense and passionate stories yet. The characters, Katy (Callan’s niece from Irresisibly Wild) and Bennett ignite the pages with their fiery attraction. Their building chemistry and the complex situation that leads to a baby contract drive the story forward at every turn. Their inability to keep their hands off each other and Bennett’s alpha-male tendencies, especially in the bedroom, make for a captivating, explosive narrative.

Adding some of the other next-generation characters ignites an interest in future stories in this new series. We are granted access to the “bachelors” and the “irresistibly yours” series which grounds us in Saman’s universe. I love it when authors create universes to inhabit because we continue to get glimpses of some of our favorite characters. Saman has shown a penchant for this strategy, and I’m all in. 

Above it all, though, is a complicated storyline in Undeniably Convenient that is tricky as Katy and Bennett reconcile and realize they can have a child together. All of this is fraught with some past villains who threaten their future and a denial of their mounting emotions, holding its readers enthralled. At least, I was engrossed in Katy and Bennett’s rollercoaster of a journey.

I will say that there are a few inconsistencies throughout the story that pulled my attention way. There was simply so much going on with this story because J. Saman’s book packs it all in. 

I am ready for more of this new series. J. Saman knows exactly how to entice her audience, and Undeniably Convenient does not disappoint.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 Xavier is HERE! Ana Huang’s King of Sloth is LIVE. Sloane and Xavier are going to be FIRE! ✍🏻

professorromance

King of Sloth by Ana Huang is now live! 

He’d never wanted anyone enough to chase them…until he met her.

Charming, easygoing, and rich beyond belief, Xavier Castillo has the world at his fingertips.

He also has no interest in taking over his family’s empire (much to his father’s chagrin), but that hasn’t stopped women from throwing themselves at him…unless the woman in question is his publicist.

Nothing brings him more joy than riling her up, but when a tragedy forces them closer than ever, he must grapple with the uncertainty of his future—and the realization that the only person immune to his charms is the only one he truly wants.

***

Cool, intelligent, and ambitious, Sloane Kensington is a high-powered publicist who’s used to dealing with difficult clients.

However, none infuriate—or tempt—her more than a certain billionaire heir, with his stupid dimples and laid-back attitude.

She may be forced to work with him, but she’ll never fall for him…no matter how fast he makes her heart beat or how thoughtful he is beneath his party persona.He’s her client, and that’s all he’ll ever be. Right?

King of Sloth is a steamy forced proximity romance. It’s book four in the Kings of Sin series but can be read as a standalone.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Ebook: https://geni.us/kingofsloth

Amazon Paperback: https://mybook.to/KingofSlothPB
Barnes & Noble Paperback: https://bit.ly/3RsPFxt
Audible: https://adbl.co/3QhaXxh
Narrated by: Elena Wolfe & Gregory Salinas
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3QNzhHI

Meet Ana

Ana Huang is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today,
and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Best known for her Twisted series, she writes New
Adult and contemporary romance with deliciously alpha heroes, strong heroines, and

plenty of steam, angst, and swoon.

Her books have been translated in over two dozen languages and featured in outlets

such as NPR, Cosmopolitan, Financial Times, and Glamour UK.

A self-professed travel enthusiast, she loves incorporating beautiful destinations into

her stories and will never say no to a good chai latte.

Connect with Ana
Website: http://www.anahuang.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/authoranahuang
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/anahuang
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoranahuang
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/anastwistedsquad

Instagram: https://instagram.com/authoranahuang
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authoranahuang
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@authoranahuang

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ana-huang

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Kandi Steiner’s Learn Your Lesson, book 3 of her Kings of the Ice series ✍🏻

professorromance

Overall Grade: A

Tropes: single dad; teacher/nanny; forced proximity; hockey romance; band of brothers; forbidden; grump/sunshine; age gap; opposites attract; spicy lessons

Two weeks out and Kandi Steiner’s Daddy P still sits with me. Learn Your Lesson, book 3 of her Kings of the Ice series, is my favorite. Why? Well, for a number of reasons.

  1. Kandi Steiner’s writing voice has evolved. I’d like to think it has more to do with her personal life, but the angst of A Love Letter to Whiskey seems a thing of the past. Is there angst in Learn Your Lesson? Why yes there is! However, this isn’t “steal-your-soul-angst”; Steiner recognizes that people are fraught and it affects relationships. Every relationship has ups and downs, and as Will allows himself to love and be loved, he and Chloe must struggle through his battle. This is organic to Learn Your Lesson, and one of the reasons I adore their journey.
  2. Add a kid, and I’m in. Create an unique relationship between the kid, in this case, Ava and Chloe, and the emotional gravitas is built. Ava is everything you love in romance: precocious, adorable, and also fraught like her daddy. Like Chloe and Will, she also undertakes a character journey. While it isn’t the most important journey of the story, Steiner uses it to build Chloe’s character as the true hero of Learn Your Lesson.
  3. Steiner’s craftsmanship of Chloe is my favorite. She is a woman battling the matriarchal rule of her childhood and finding herself. She’s insightful, joyful, and independent. Her tenacity to bring joy into Will and Ava’s life is one of the draws to this story. She knows herself and her wants, and she goes after it. She’s the type of female character romance readers are drawn to.
  4. The band of brothers of the hockey team adds layers to the story. For one, it allows us to revisit the characters of the series’ first two books, but it evolves the characters who have stories to come. Steiner entices and invests us deeper into her series by bringing the old while mixing it with the future. I cannot wait for Aleks’s story based on how much more Steiner gifts us about him in this story.

I’m invested. Daddy P (Will) currently owns my heart in this series. What’s not to love about a recovering grump who falls hard for his sunshiney nanny? Everything!

In love and romance,


Professor A