Tag: romance reader

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

Cover Reveal

✍🏻 Louise Bay is taking us into the Colorado Mountains. Check out the cover for Love Fast, the first book of Bay’s Colorado Club Billionaires. ✍🏻

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LOVE FAST by Louise Bay

Release Date: May 16, 2025

Discreet Cover Designer: Enchanting Romance Designs

Model Cover Designer: Qamber Designs

Photographer: Michelle Lancaster

Model: Chad Hurst

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 by USA Today Bestselling Author Louise Bay is coming on May 16th! A runaway bride finds unexpected love with a billionaire in this sizzling standalone romance.

𝓟𝒓𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 + add it your 𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑳𝒊𝒔𝒕: https://geni.us/LoveFast

Add to 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔: https://geni.us/lovefastgr

𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝑼𝒑: https://forms.gle/RvpR7wY6Yp1QrCNZ9

What to expect:

💙Runaway Bride

🏔️Western Romance

💙Small Town

🏔️Workplace Romance

💙Billionaire Romance

🏔️He falls first

Blurb:
𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐲

I never thought I’d be a runaway bride. But when it came down to it, I just couldn’t marry the wrong man.

So, I ran.

And somehow, I ended up in Star Falls, Colorado—stranded, no luggage, no plan—in a wedding dress with a past I’d rather forget.

Fate lands me in the only available rental in town, a cozy little cabin… right next door to Byron Miller, the brooding billionaire who wants nothing to do with me. Or this town.

𝐁𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐧

I left Star Falls years ago, along with every mistake. Now I’m back, determined to build a luxury resort that might just rewrite my past.

The last thing I need is a distraction—especially not one like the runaway bride that moved in next door. She has too many secrets and a smile so wide, I just can’t look away.

But no matter how hard I try to keep my distance, there’s something about her, that refuses to be ignored.

Snow falls. Sparks fly. Late-night porch talks turn into something more, something neither of us expected. But Rosey’s past isn’t far behind, and my future here is hanging by a thread.

She’s just passing through. I’m trying not to put down roots. But Star Falls, Colorado has its own plan.

𝘼 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡-𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙨𝙞𝙯𝙯𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨.

Discreet Cover Designer: Enchanting Romance Designs

Model Cover Designer: Qamber Designs

Photographer: Michelle Lancaster

Model: Chad Hurst

Find more books by Louise Bay here: https://louisebay.com/

new release

✍🏻 Devney Perry’s final Treasure State Wildcats romance is LIVE! Merit is the perfect, emotional ending to one of my favorite series from DP! ✍🏻

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𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!

Grab it HERE ⬇️
https://geni.us/cE4iZU

The world loves Maverick Houston. Me? I’ve hated him since we were ten.

It’s not exactly easy to escape your childhood nemesis when your parents are best friends who live on the same block. Through countless vacations, parties and holidays, Maverick and I have spent the past decade trading insults.

Until that family dinner when his mother tells us she’s dying. When she asks us to forget the past and start fresh. That’s how I found myself on a date with the
Treasure State Wildcats football star. The campus playboy. The boy I kissed when I was three. The man who is the bane of my existence.

He’s arrogant. He’s blunt. He’s too handsome for his own good. But if he has a single, redeeming merit, the guy sure does love his mom. And that’s why I started fake dating Maverick Houston. That’s why I made him a proposition of my own.

That’s how this sham of a relationship ruined my life.

The world loves Maverick Houston. Me? I hate that he made me love him too.

Cover Reveal

✍🏻 I’m a little late to post this cover, but I didn’t want to miss it. Who’s ready for L.B. Dunbar’s next Chicago Anchors’ story? Check out the cover for Catch The Kiss! ✍🏻

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A picture containing font, typography, text, graphics Description automatically generated

CATCH THE KISS

L.B. Dunbar

Release Date: April 17 

Blurb:

Meeting Bolan Adler, professional baseball catcher and single dad, is a complicated story.

One involving a one-time kiss when I was young and silly. And a two-time tryst as some kind of midlife breakdown moment. 

Anyway, in the game of baseball, three strikes mean: you’re out. 

I thought my third one might happen when Bolan Adler is the newest client of the sports management agency I work for. 

The same business that just promoted me to agent status when I haven’t asked for the position. 

Also, the ridiculous company that wrote up a reputation repair report for the newest member of the Chicago Anchors which includes:

Bolan Adler needs a wife.

He’s decided I’m it. Only this isn’t a game of tag.

Hearts are on the line when I meet Bolan’s sweet sixteen-month-old, and my role goes from babysitting the bad boy of baseball to bonus-mom for his precious daughter.

Complicated, like I said. 

Add in when my fake husband starts tossing out real emotions about love, marriage, and a baby, and I’m just hoping to stay out of the strike zone. Because the obvious opponent on the field is love.

Will it win or lose at the end of the season?

Pre-Order Link:https://a.co/d/dE2syhG

Meet L.B. Dunbar:

L.B. Dunbar loves sexy silver foxes, second chances, and small towns. If you enjoy older characters in your romance reads, including a hero with a little silver in his scruff and a heroine rediscovering her worth, then welcome to romance for those over 40. L.B. Dunbar’s signature works include women and men in their prime taking another turn at love and happily ever after. She’s a USA TODAY Bestseller as well as #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Later in Life Romance with her Lakeside Cottage and Road Trips & Romance series. L.B. lives in Chicago with her own sexy silver fox.

To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her monthly newsletter, Love Notes.

Connect with L.B. Dunbar:

https://linktr.ee/lbdunbarwrites

new release

✍🏻 Who’s ready for the second book in Penelope Ward’s duology? Grab The Drummer’s Heart TODAY! ✍🏻

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Title: The Drummer’s Heart
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rockstar Hero/”My Wife”/Small Town
Close Proximity/Slow Burn/One Bed
Release Date: February 23, 2025
BLURB
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…
Don’t say her name.
That was the one rule my bandmates followed, because they knew how much it messed me up to think about her, especially on tour.
My ex, Nicole.
The one who got away and the woman who still owned every piece of my heart.
After our divorce, I threw myself into the rock scene, trying to forget my heartbreak.
Three years after we split, a phone call from Nicole changed everything.
She told me her grandmother wasn’t doing well.
Mimi was still family to me, and she apparently had one wish before dying: to spend time with us—Nicole and me.
With Mimi’s caretaker away on vacation, it would be the ideal time for us to move in with her for a couple of weeks.
Of course, I couldn’t refuse.
But there was a catch.
Nicole apparently never told her that we’d gotten a divorce.
She hadn’t believed Mimi could handle it, because her grandmother loved me so much.
So, not only would I have to see Nicole again, but I’d be pretending to still be her husband.
Two weeks in a tiny house in a small town with the woman who broke my heart. Or was it me who broke hers?
It was complicated.
And it was about to be a heck of a lot more complicated sharing one bed in the guest room with a woman who wasn’t mine anymore.
BOOKBUB
PURCHASE LINKS
Only $3.99 for a limited time and 
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Model Paperback and Hardcovers also available!
Read the first standalone in this series, The Rocker’s Muse FREE in KU and binge this complete duology!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
ROCKSTAR HERO
“MY WIFE”
SMALL TOWN
CLOSE PROXIMITY
SLOW BURN
ONE BED
AUTHOR BIO
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

AUTHOR LINKS
OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD
NOW ALL AVAILABLE TO READ IN KINDLE UNLIMITED
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
SEE ALL BOOKS HERE
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

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Vi Keeland’s Indiscretion ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A-

Tropes: hate to love; cinnamon roll MMC; grump/sunshine; forced proximity; workplace romance

Vi Keeland’s Indiscretion delivers a captivating romance that elevates the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope through exceptional character development and emotional depth. At its heart, this spicy contemporary romance succeeds by focusing on the compelling evolution of its main characters, Dawson and Naomi, whose journey from antagonism to love feels both authentic and deeply satisfying.

The story’s greatest strength lies in Dawson’s character arc. Keeland crafts a masterful transformation of a man initially closed off to love, peeling back his layers with deliberate care. His journey from emotional unavailability to vulnerability isn’t just convincing—it’s impossible not to invest in. The author takes her time developing his character, ensuring that each step toward opening his heart feels earned rather than rushed.

Naomi serves as the perfect catalyst for Dawson’s transformation. Keeland writes her as a force of nature who refuses to accept Dawson’s emotional walls at face value. What makes Naomi particularly compelling is how she challenges Dawson’s preconceptions about love and relationships without losing her own identity in the process. She’s written with a refreshing combination of strength and vulnerability that makes her feel real rather than just a plot device for Dawson’s growth.

The antagonistic chemistry between Dawson and Naomi crackles from their first interaction, but Keeland demonstrates her skill by building tension naturally through their evolving dynamic. The “hate” in this enemies-to-lovers story never feels contrived; instead, it stems from genuine conflict between two strong personalities with opposing views on love and life. This makes their eventual transition to romance all the more satisfying.

The spicy elements of the story are well-integrated, serving to enhance the emotional connection between the characters rather than overshadowing it. Keeland maintains a perfect balance between steamy scenes and character development, ensuring that each intimate moment advances the story and deepens the reader’s understanding of both characters.

What truly sets Indiscretion apart is how Keeland keeps readers invested in the outcome even when the happy ending feels inevitable. The journey to get there is so compelling, and the character growth is so well-executed that readers will find themselves turning pages not just to reach the conclusion but to savor each moment of Dawson and Naomi’s evolution both as individuals and as a couple.

Indiscretion proves that even familiar romance tropes can feel fresh and exciting in skilled hands. Through strong character work, emotional authenticity, and engaging storytelling, Keeland has created a romance that will satisfy readers looking for both heat and heart.

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

Cover Reveal

✍🏻 My Dark Prince is coming soon! If you haven’t met Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen’s Dark Prince Road men…it’s time! Check out the cover and preorder your copy NOW! ✍🏻

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Title: My Dark Prince
Series: Dark Prince Road #3
Authors: Parker S. Huntington & L.J. Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers/Second Chance/Amnesia
Sleeping Beauty Retelling/Fake Relationship
Release Date: February 9, 2025
BLURB
From Wall Street Journal bestsellers L.J. Shen and Parker S. Huntington comes a twisted second-chance romance between a prince haunted by a dark secret and his reluctant Sleeping Beauty.
Oliver
I don’t usually trap women with amnesia into marriage.
But I guess there’s a first time for everything.
When the woman of my dreams falls into my lap, I can’t help but wonder what else she can do in that position.
She’s here. In my house. At my mercy.
And she thinks we’ve been lovers the entire decade we spent apart.
Briar and I have always been unfinished business.
Now it’s time to seal the deal.
Briar
I’m marrying a beautiful monster.
A crooked fraud. America’s wealthiest bachelor.
He claims we’re in love, yet all I taste in our kisses is hate and lust.
I don’t remember why or how.
But I do remember he’s the enemy.
Now, I’m stuck inside a nightmare.
And Oliver will do anything to keep me in the dark.
Authors’ Note: My Dark Prince is a standalone enemies-to-lovers Sleeping Beauty retelling, in which a damaged billionaire with a dark past and his childhood sweetheart fall in love—literally. It is set in the decadent Dark Prince Road universe.
PRE-ORDER NOW!
AMAZON US / UK / CA
AVAILABLE NOW
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PARKER S. HUNTINGTON
Parker S. Huntington is a stay-at-home dog mom from SoCal, where she discovered her allergy to rain.
In spite of her shoddy attendance record and strong aversion to homework, she earned a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside and an A.L.M. in Literature from Harvard.
When she’s not writing or exchanging food pics with her friends, she’s binge-watching an unhealthy amount of Netflix while curled up with her dogs.
Parker hates talking about herself and is (also) allergic to social media, but you can catch up with her in her newsletter or through the occasional TikTok video.
L.J. SHEN
L.J. Shen is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of contemporary and NA romance. Her books have been translated in over twenty different countries. She hopes to visit all of them.
She lives in a picturesque beach town with her family, pets and inner demons, and enjoys reading, traveling, cooking and spending time with her grumpy cat.
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