Tag: new book review

new release, Review

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

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Cover of the book 'Undeniably Corrupt' by J. Saman, featuring a male model with tousled blonde hair and striking green eyes, showcasing his tattoos while looking directly at the camera.

Overall Grade: B-

Tropes: second chance; childhood friends to lovers; enemies to lovers; single mom; obsessed MMC; workplace romance; forced proximity; forbidden romance

J. Saman’s Undeniably Corrupt brilliantly adds depth to her Boston’s Irresistible Billionaires series with the enigmatic, shadow figure of Vander. As the morally gray character of the extended next-gen group, Vander has stepped in to save the day in each of the stories in this series. But who will step in and save him and his love interest, Liora? They both will. 

This is what I loved the most about Undeniably Corrupt. Liora and Vander save each other from the eventual threat of their story, each taking a part and offering a solution to their eventual problem. Saman has written Liora and Vander’s chemistry well, showcasing a steamfest that intensifies as the story (and their love) progresses. Continuing on her “band of brothers (and sisters)” trope in this book solidifies its place in the series, and it continues to grant us glimpses into the lives of the former couples in this series. Even more, Saman writes Liora and Vander to be likable, which means we root for their happy ending. 

Here are my issues with this book (and the series as a whole): while the parents of the next-gen adults make appearances, they are brief and go nowhere in these stories. If you’ve read Saman’s earlier series, you’ve grown to care for the characters of those series. However, we get very little interaction with them and their children in this series, especially Vander. For me, I thought that Vander’s father, Lenox, would have played a greater part in aiding his son through his and Liora’s trouble. But he was virtually silent, and that didn’t sit well with me. In fact, Vander does very little with his father, despite being a carbon copy of him. And therein lies one of the most significant issues with this story. 

Secondly, I struggled greatly with the pacing of Liora’s secret revelation. The believability that she would hold onto her secret for much of the book seemed problematic, especially as she’s aware of Vander’s skill. While she doesn’t know the depths of it, I was confused with her choice to withhold information from him. Sharing her secret earlier in the story would have allowed for more development of the consequences later. The resolution felt rushed. 

Would I read Undeniably Corrupt again? Absolutely! Liora and Vander are the “heavy” of this series, one that seems founded on the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope. J. Saman wrote this well in her romances for this series. I know she has two new series on the horizon, and I can only hope that we will fall in love with her future band of characters as we have with her Boston Irresistible Billionaires crew.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Kristen Ashley’s Finding the One, book 7 of the River Rain series ✍🏻

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Book cover for 'Finding the One' by Kristen Ashley featuring a plaid pattern and a scenic background with a mansion.

Overall Grade: A

Tropes: family friends; Scottish MMC; reformed “mean girl” FMC; found family; standalone in an interconnected series

Virginia Woolf, one of my favorite authors, said it best: “books are the mirrors of the soul.” The emotion evoked by a beautifully told story often comes from the reflection of a character’s traits or the similarity of the story. At least, this is the case for me. And what I’ve found in that reflection, what wrings the emotion from me, is encompassed by the microtrope of redemption and self-awareness, which leads to change. More specifically, when characters, formerly defined by poor behaviors, choose to be better versions of themselves, and their love interest “sees” them in both the past and the present, loving them anyway, it creates in me a torrent of emotion that connects me to the romance. When a writer, such as Kristen Ashley, employs this microtrope, it showcases her ability to develop characters who resonate with her readers, even when they’re wealthy and upper-crust.

In Kristen Ashley’s newest romance, Finding the One, she has written a story that highlights this microtrope through the lens of a former mean girl turned compassionate and caring sister to Alex, from Taking the Leap, the third book in her River Rain series. I didn’t know what to expect from Blake. In Taking the Leap, Blake embodies the spirit of a mean girl, neglecting her sister while also meting out a fair amount of sibling abuse. As the story progresses, however, Blake makes a powerful choice that marks the beginning of her journey of redemption. In this book, Kristen Ashley reveals the motivation and influence on her former and present self, and it’s never as simple. Much of Blake’s characterization reminds me of Cecilia’s journey in Laurelin Paige’s Slay series. What draws us to villain-like characters is often their motivation. Ashley skillfully reveals Blake’s complexity by showing us how her parents shaped her—one abusive, the other complicit in their silence. The journey that we are gifted through Blake’s characterization is a special one. For this reader, it tied Finding the One as my favorite book in the River Rain series, alongside Fighting the Pull. Why? Two women, Blake and Elsa, are wildly mischaracterized by a larger swatch of people. In creating relationships with people who embody family, they are humanized, and their influences are revealed, showing them to be caring and compassionate towards those they love. It is Blake’s story in Finding the One that tore at my heartstrings and made me fall hard for this book.

To add dimension to her book, Kristen Ashley has made Dair more humorous and intentional in his love for Blake. Dair serves as the light-hearted foil to Blake’s more serious depiction. He has to be the light to her dark. For much of the story, he sees beyond the hard outer shell of Blake’s inner self, and he challenges her to love herself. Their banter, natural chemistry, and past acts as a bind to their relationship. Even when it’s threatened, that bond is cemented through two additions to the River Rain family, his mother and sister. Kristen Ashley balances the seriousness of Blake’s journey with Dair’s light-hearted portrayal. While Blake’s depiction made me cry, Dair’s characterization added the humor.

One of the best parts of Kristen Ashley’s storytelling is her ability to create whole worlds of characters and their journeys. It is the idea of a found family that draws many of her readers into these worlds. This is particularly true of Finding the One. It’s imperative in this story, though, because part of Blake’s journey is forgiving herself of her past. It’s the realization that she is loved by a larger group of people that helps her make that critical step. It’s the best part of Kristen Ashley’s romances. She recognizes that, in all of us, we want to belong, and her books show us how people become family, while inviting us, her readers, into those same families. So that when we read her books, we find ourselves there, experiencing the love that she weaves throughout her pages.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Tia Louise’s The Way We Collide ✍🏻

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An illustrated cover of the book 'The Way We Collide' from the Bradford Boys series, featuring a couple in a football setting. The woman, wearing a dark shirt, embraces a man in a football uniform, who is holding a baby, with a football field background.

Overall Grade: B+

Tropes: surprise pregnancy; one-night stand; pro football romance; marriage of convenience

For readers seeking a romance that balances emotional depth with sizzling attraction, Tia Louise’s The Way We Collide delivers a compelling story that goes beyond the typical sports romance formula.

What truly makes this novel stand out is Hendrix’s remarkable character arc. We watch as this professional football star evolves from being solely focused on his career to embracing the responsibilities and joys of fatherhood. Louise crafts this transformation with authenticity, allowing readers to witness every step of his journey—the doubts, the mistakes, and ultimately, the beautiful moments of connection that change him forever. His growth feels earned rather than contrived, making his character all the more endearing.

The chemistry between Raven and Hendrix practically leaps off the page. Louise masterfully builds tension as these two fight their obvious attraction, creating delicious moments of “will they or won’t they” that keep readers turning pages well into the night. When they finally surrender to their feelings, the emotional payoff is as satisfying as the steamy scenes themselves. Their connection feels genuine because it’s grounded in mutual respect and understanding, not just physical attraction.

Equally compelling is Raven’s personal journey of self-discovery. Her evolution from aspiring storm chaser to finding unexpected passion in a different field feels refreshingly realistic. Louise portrays the uncertainty of changing life directions with sensitivity and insight, reminding readers that our paths are rarely straight and that’s perfectly okay.

The supporting cast enhances the story considerably, particularly Hendrix’s family, who provide both emotional gravitas and welcome moments of humor. Their presence makes the world of the novel feel lived-in and real.
Additionally, Raven’s unwavering support of Hendrix’s football dreams adds another layer of depth to their relationship, showing that true love means championing each other’s aspirations.

Louise’s writing style deserves special mention—it’s accessible and flowing, propelling the narrative forward with ease. Readers looking for an engaging story that doesn’t require mental gymnastics to follow will appreciate her straightforward approach.

While the focus on physical attraction is certainly present (and well-executed), there’s enough emotional substance here to satisfy readers who might typically shy away from steamier romances. That said, deeper character development would have elevated this from a good read to a truly outstanding one.

The Way We Collide is a solid four-star romance that offers more than meets the eye. If you’ve been hesitant to try Tia Louise’s work, this character-driven story of love, growth, and finding your path might just be the perfect introduction.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Devney Perry’s Merit, the final book of her Treasure State Wildcats series ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A

Tropes: friends to enemies to lovers; fake relationship; football/sports romance; new adult; close proximity/neighbors growing up; miscommunication; virgin FMC

Devney Perry deftly crafts narratives that serve as decadent treats for romance readers. Her Treasure State Wildcats series, which began with Coach (one of my top ten reads of 2023), concludes with “Merit,” a satisfying finale to this four-book series.

From the outset, I found myself captivated by the emotional and chemical attraction between Maverick (a character readers approached with caution in book 3, Rally) and his childhood friend-turned-enemy, Stevie. Perry’s storytelling strengths shine in the enemies-to-lovers chemistry between these protagonists. Her methodical development of their growing acknowledgment of mutual attraction pulls readers through the occasionally emotional narrative.

The most compelling aspect of their relationship is the inherent understanding each possesses of the other, drawing them together despite initial resistance. While Perry carefully addresses past grievances (which, in my estimation, appeared somewhat minor—my primary critique being the difficulty in accepting their prolonged animosity), she creates a convincing path for Maverick and Stevie to forge a future together. Perry’s intentional development of their story, gradually building physical attraction until it reaches its inevitable culmination, demonstrates excellent pacing. Merit establishes an intimacy between the protagonists that functions as the proverbial cherry atop the Treasure State Wildcats sundae.

Furthermore, the individual struggles of Maverick and Stevie are constructed in a manner that provides the emotional core of their story. While their evolving relationship drives the narrative action, their personal challenges elicit genuine emotional responses from readers. These individual journeys create moments of recognition where readers might see reflections of their own experiences—though I refrain from sharing specific details to preserve the narrative’s impact.

The Treasure State Wildcats series stands admirably alongside Perry’s beloved Jamison Valley, Lark Cove, and The Edens series. For devoted fans of Devney Perry and enthusiasts of sports romances, Merit and its companion novels in this series are essential reading that will not disappoint.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Kristen Ashley’s Smooth Sailing, a Wild West MCs story ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A

Tropes: MC romance; inter-connected worlds; forced proximity; romantic suspense; found family

Kristen Ashley’s storytelling magic continues to enchant readers in her latest novel, Smooth Sailing, part of the Wild West MC series. Her ability to captivate audiences across multiple genres—from fantasy to paranormal, MC to contemporary romance and romantic suspense—stems from two key strengths: her masterful use of the found family trope and her creation of emotionally intelligent heroines.

In Smooth Sailing, Ashley takes on the challenge of expanding her Wild West MC universe through Big Petey, Hugger, and Diana’s perspectives. The story follows Harlan “Hugger” McCain, a man haunted by his mother’s death who, despite being a member of Chaos, keeps himself emotionally distant from his brotherhood. It’s only when he meets Diana, the female protagonist, that he begins to understand the true meaning of family. Diana, like many of Ashley’s heroines, may not immediately recognize the dangers around her, but she serves as the catalyst for profound personal transformation. Through her own complicated relationship with her parents, she helps Harlan recognize and embrace the family he already has in his brotherhood. This emotional journey, particularly Harlan’s growing acceptance of his Chaos family, forms the heart of the narrative and elevates Smooth Sailing above Ashley’s recent works in terms of emotional depth and storytelling complexity.

However, the romance does present one challenge: its temporal distance from previous Wild West MC stories and Ashley’s broader universe makes it difficult to keep track of returning characters, even for devoted readers. While Ashley thoughtfully provides a character list for reference, readers might find themselves wanting to revisit earlier books to fully appreciate the interconnected nature of her world.

Despite this minor setback, Smooth Sailing reinforces why readers like myself remain devoted to Ashley’s universe: her unparalleled ability to demonstrate how a found family strengthens people and enriches romantic relationships. For those seeking stories with emotional resonance and powerful themes of belonging, Kristen Ashley’s universe continues to be an irresistible destination.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: L.B. Dunbar’s Sterling Fight ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A-/B+

Tropes: childhood friends; small town romance; crush revealed; fake engagement

In L.B. Dunbar’s latest addition to the beloved Sylver family series, Sterling Fight introduces us to Judd Sylver, a character who has lurked in the shadows of previous books but now takes center stage. Despite his minimal presence in earlier Sterling stories, Judd’s mysterious nature and carefully guarded private life have made him an intriguing figure among his siblings.

Judd’s character development is at the heart of this romance, centered around the compelling “misunderstood person” trope. While his oldest brother Stone recognizes Judd’s core motivations—his determination to avoid becoming like their father, his drive for financial security, and his tendency to make safe choices in relationships—the rest of his siblings remain unaware of how deeply these worries run.

Enter Genie, “the one who got away,” though she never fully grasped her significance in Judd’s life. The revelation of Judd’s long-standing feelings for her emerges as the story’s greatest strength. Dunbar expertly handles the “he falls first” trope, crafting Judd’s pining with remarkable skill and sensitivity. The narrative tension stems from Genie’s complicated history with both Judd and her ex-partner, which Dunbar resolves with careful pacing that keeps the story moving forward.

Among all the Sterling stories, Sterling Fight stands out as my personal favorite. The chemistry between Judd and Genie is absolutely captivating, though I suspect Stone Sylver’s upcoming story might give this one a run for its money. As a particular fan of the strong, silent type, I found Judd to be the most compelling Sylver brother yet, making him my favorite character in the series to date.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review, Uncategorized

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Karla Sorensen’s This Wild Heart, the final book of her Wilder Family series ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A

Tropes: sports romance; Vegas marriage; fake relationship; hurt/comfort

Karla Sorensen’s This Wild Heart serves as the poignant finale to her Wilder Family series, masterfully weaving together themes of grief, love, and healing. As Brittainy Cherry writes in The Problem with Falling, “[d]eath was the only life guarantee that humans had. We weren’t promised riches and fortune, or fame, love, or success, yet we were all promised a final chapter.” This sentiment echoes throughout Sorensen’s series, which is shadowed by the impending death of the Wilder family patriarch, Tim.

While each of Sorensen’s books explores how different siblings process their father’s terminal cancer, This Wild Heart focuses on Parker, the second-youngest Wilder child, who copes through avoidance. His struggle with grief forms the emotional core of this story, demonstrating Sorensen’s skill in portraying the varied ways people confront loss and how it shapes their journey toward love.

The novel gains additional depth through its connection to Sorensen’s Washington Wolves series. The female lead, Anya Hennessey, is the daughter of Aiden Hennessey and Isabel Ward from Forbidden in the Ward Sisters series. Anya proves to be the perfect match for Parker, possessing the emotional intelligence needed to help him confront his grief. Their story unfolds through compelling plot elements—a public breakup, an unexpected fake marriage, and the challenge of breaking through Parker’s emotional walls.

This Wild Heart showcases Sorensen’s greatest strengths as a writer: her nuanced understanding of human nature and her ability to craft emotionally resonant stories. As the final installment in the Wilder Family series, it delivers a satisfying conclusion while promising readers that Sorensen’s gift for creating impeccably written romances will continue in future works. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Tia Louise’s The Way We Score, book 3 of her Bradford Boys series ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A-/B+

Tropes: second chance romance; high school sweethearts; small town; pro football; accidental pregnancy; soul mates; he falls first

I’ve recently fallen into the world of big “teddy bear” MMCs who fall hard for their FMCs. Tia Louise’s newest book, The Way We Score, is a lovely, engaging romance that reminds us that first loves are hard to get over. In this story, Olivia and Garrett, are high school sweethearts who lose each other to long distance in college. Years later, newly divorced Olivia returns home for her friend’s wedding, only to be met with Garret, her friend’s older brother and the one “who got away.” Attraction is re-kindled, and the two spend a passionate night on the night of the wedding. A couple of months later, Olivia, who has since left town out of a fear of her growing attraction to Garrett, realizes she is pregnant. She also misses the simplicity and ease of her hometown, so she returns to their small town to be near her mother. What she doesn’t expect is Garrett deciding he would end his football career so he can be close to her and the baby. Over time, they grow closer and realize they want to be together. When a couple of incidents threaten their happy lives, Olivia and Garrett work together to find solutions, landing squarely in their happy ending. 

From the start, Tia Louise crafts Olivia and Garrett so that you cannot help but root for them as a couple. Garrett clearly adores Olivia, and Olivia has never moved past her feelings for Garrett, even though she works hard to ignore them. Their chemistry is off the charts. It is easy to love them throughout this story. In fact, there is no third-act break-up here; instead, they have to learn to navigate some challenges which Louise quickly resolves for her reader without much tension. 

This new series from Tia Louise, The Bradford Boys, has become one of my favorites of hers. Louise writes them as realistic; they are characters you cannot help but swoon over. Adding to that realism is a small town filled with characters who add dimension to each of her stories in this series. One of my favorite parts is the Dare Dish challenges of the fictional Cooters & Scooters found in each of the series’ stories. It’s the moment when the characters come together with banter and sibling love. You cannot help but love the Bradford family and their community. 

My only criticism relates to a slight plot point with Olivia’s husband. Creating that complication seemed unnecessary. It seemed tangential and out of focus. However, it’s a small moment in a larger enjoyable read.

If you’re looking for a story that grabs at your heart, steams up your glasses, and leaves you with all of the small town happily ever after feels, run and grab this book. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: J. Saman’s Undeniably Married, book 4 of her Boston’s Irresistibly Billionaires series ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: B+

Tropes: friends to lovers; runaway bride; unrequited love; he falls first; Vegas wedding; fake relationship; surprise baby; age gap

J. Saman’s Undeniably Married illustrates an upgrade for her next-gen couples. The couple of this fourth story in her Boston’s Irresistibly Billionaires series, Sorel and Mason, are downright feral in their physicality. Saman has “next-leveled” this next-gen. She’s forgone a more profound development of story and characterization — like she had with her earlier stories — for a smuttier romance. I don’t dislike that; it’s an observation of her evolution as an author. 

What did I love about this story?

  1. I’m an absolute sucker for a man who adores a woman from afar and falls deep. Mason Reyes pines for Sorel, a woman who is seven years his senior. He has reconciled a friendship with her, but, given the chance, he goes hard for her. Saman utilizes this reality by forgoing the third-act breakup. Because Mason adores Sorel and fights hard for her love, Saman gifts her reader with plot tension through other ways, ways that are easier on your heart. 
  2. While Mason’s love for Sorel is my favorite part of Undeniably Married, the plot twists are the book’s driving forces. In looking at the trope list for this book, you’d assume a lot, but Saman has crafted a story rife with complications that her characters must delicately work through. 
  3. The extended cast continues to excite Saman’s readers because she has many characters to work with for later stories. Honestly, this series could encompass SEVERAL books. I love how the characters from several of her series are entwined in this series. It feels as though you’re gifted Easter eggs of a sort throughout it. 

Besides the imbalance of smut to story for Saman, one other aspect of this book and the other books in this series is how much the older generation has taken a back seat. They are mentioned, and we encounter the parents, but nothing is usually deeper than a quick scene. We see this in this book when Mason seeks out the advice of his parents, but it’s brief, and they play little part in the rest of the story. Even the lack of Sorel’s parents in the face of a broken engagement is a lacking plot point. 

Mason and Sorel’s Undeniably Married holds a balance between teeth-achingly sweet and romance spice. I absolutely love this series, and I cannot wait for more stories from this crew of next-gen J. Saman characters.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Karla Sorensen’s Forever Starts Tonight, book 4 of her Wilder Family series ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A

Tropes: best friend’s sister; workplace romance; surprise baby; small town romance; one night to get over it; age gap

It’s a travesty if you haven’t read Karla Sorensen yet. It’s something that should be rectified as soon as possible. I’d love to tell you to drop everything and grab her most recent book, Forever Starts Tonight, but that’s a terrible place to begin. Instead, jump into the Wilder clan with The Plan and move into her Wilder series, landing on this most recent story. I will tell you right now that you will NOT put this series down once you begin. Sorensen has written a set of books that pick off parts of your soul little by little, replacing it with their decadent stories. After finishing Forever Starts Tonight, there are two main reasons why people should read Karla Sorensen.

  1. Her story pacing is impeccable—that’s a capital “I” impeccable. The two books before Forever Starts Tonight, Head Over Heels and Promise Me This, were two of the slowest burns I’ve read from her (especially Promise Me This—Ian made Sorensen’s readers work for their patience). As I read those former books, the pacing was precisely what was required to develop Sorensen’s character arcs. Setting up the issues of their pasts and helping them move past it even though their attraction and chemistry could potentially derail that work is where Sorensen’s superpower exists. This is also the case with Forever Starts Tonight. While this isn’t a slow burn like the previous books in the series, there is character work to be done, causing Jax and Poppy to work hard at finding their HEA. Every moment of this story is carefully drawn and quartered. The intentionality behind Sorensen’s progression is the heartbeat of Forever Starts Tonight, which compels her readers through the story. If you think this is indicative of this newest book, it is not. It is a cornerstone of Sorensen’s storytelling and why she has a rabid reader fanbase.
  2. Besides her story pacing, her ability to craft compelling characters is another strength. Sorensen writes emotionally messy characters, but not in a way that levels heaps of angst on her readers. Instead, she reminds us about the humanity of her characters and shows us a pathway through our challenges. In Forever Starts Tonight, I connected with Jax, her MMC, a man of few words but big hidden emotions. Jax has a long journey ahead of him from her Prologue. The difficult situation of his upbringing shades his present, and it takes the joy and intuitive nature of Poppy to unwind complex feelings. Sorensen makes her characters do the hard work of unraveling feelings and putting voice to them. She writes them in a way that makes them real and palpable for her readers. When Jax finally gets to a moment when he can accept himself for Poppy, their character development transitions away from uptight tension to a nuanced, impassioned love affair.  Through Sorensen’s writing, we become emotionally invested because we see ourselves in her characters’ struggles, which helps us recognize and/or resolve our own emotional issues. 

I introduced my elderly mom to Karla Sorensen over a year ago, and she has become one of her favorites. She recently devoured the Wilder Family series (the first two books), and she looked at me and said, “how does she write such amazing stories with such loveable characters?” I could only smile and say because I imagine Karla Sorensen knows life and people, and she makes us fall in love with both when she writes stories such as Forever Starts Tonight. 

Now, excuse me while I run to Amazon to purchase this story for my mom…she has some reading to do…just like you.

In love and romance,

Professor A