Read-Love-Blog

Release Day Blitz & Review…North Country by K.A. Tucker

by Courtney

North Country by K.A. Tucker is now live!

From USA Today and international bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes a sweeping second-chance, forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Ontario.

Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she’s built a life of control: running the town’s police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.
She’s certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.
Logan Landry is home.

After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family’s bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.
When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River’s favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she’s built … and the love she can’t let go.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://bit.ly/4qktVTo

Grab the ebook today for a special release day price of $4.99!

Paperback: https://geni.us/NorthCountry

Audible: https://bit.ly/499RyYz

Amazon Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4dSVwHC

Libro.fm: https://bit.ly/4e98Ia7

Narrated by: Summer Morton & Ryan West

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4jCWM2Q

I love a good second-chance romance, especially a forbidden second chance! Add in some mystery, and well, this book is right up my alley.

KA starts this book off with a bang and pretty much does not hold back as the story moves along. I love that this story is told in dual POVs, as it helps readers get a better understanding of both the FMC and MMC.

I am purposely being obtuse about what happens, as the blurb gives you just enough to know what to expect going in. There’s some mystery, lots of chemistry and angst, then add in the found family, and you’ve got quite the entertaining story.

I may have figured things out earlier than most, but I still enjoyed the story and vibes of it.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves Forbidden June 2026 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Second Chance Small-Town Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Forged in the Fire by A. L. Jackson

by Courtney

Forged in the Fire by A.L. Jackson is now live!

It was a terrible idea to agree to protect my enemy’s sister…

The second she stepped out of her brother’s car, I knew she was a wildfire.
Spitting mad and so stunning she stole my breath.
She thinks her brother made a deal with the devil, and by working for me, she’s paying off his debt.

She doesn’t know the real reason she’s here.
Doesn’t know the danger that surrounds her.
Soon, she realizes there is something sinister lurking in the shadows.

She hates me for keeping her in the dark.
I want to hate her back, but with every sassy thing that fires from her mouth, she gets deeper under my skin.
With each heated glance, I feel myself losing control.
And when I crawl into bed with her, I combust.

I know better than thinking I can keep her. My life is nothing but secrets and peril.
But as outside threats begin to infiltrate, I’ll do anything to keep the oath I made to keep her safe.
Even expose her to the monster that I am…

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/FITFAmznOP

Audiobook: https://geni.us/FITFAudio

Narrated by: Connor Crais & Desiree Ketchum

Deluxe Edition Paperback: https://geni.us/FITFDlxPprbck

Goodreads: https://geni.us/FITFGoodreads

OMG!! Amy starts her newest series off with a bang!!

The blurb is all you need going into this one. If it hooks you, this story absolutely will.

Amy really knows how to layer a romantic suspense with the perfect balance of tension, chemistry and lots of secrets and twists.

Add into that this blend of family and their bonds – this story has so many different layers to it. I love that this story is guided by not only the plot but the characters. Amy is able to write a very multi-faceted story line and it kept turning the pages.

Highly recommended read!! I cannot wait to see what else is in store for readers in the next book.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves June 2026 MC Romance MC Series New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Small-Town Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…The Muse by Jewel E. Ann

by Courtney

The Muse by Jewel E. Ann is now live!

Flynn Morley has spent his life getting by with as little as possible. No girlfriend. No real home. No money to speak of. Raised in the system, he learned early not to trust people who seemed to have everything. So when he takes a job as a “muse” for a wealthy Minneapolis couple, it feels like crossing a line he never thought he would.

Then he meets June.

June is a bike tour guide with a quick smile, a calm confidence, and a way of making Flynn feel seen without being judged. Their connection is immediate and playful, built on shared humor, quiet moments, and a mutual longing for a simple life.

As Flynn adjusts to his bizarre new job, he starts encountering something he never planned for: kindness without strings attached. It challenges everything he believes about money, power, and who gets to be comfortable in the world. And falling for June only complicates things, especially when it turns out she’s carrying secrets of her own.

When June’s past surfaces, Flynn has to decide what scares him more: becoming someone he’s always sworn he’d never be or letting her see his darkest secrets. If he can’t let go of his fears, he might lose the one person who finally feels like home.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://bit.ly/3MxUmGE

Audible: https://bit.ly/4toxJUB

Amazon Audiobook: https://bit.ly/48JaNrF

Narrated by: Tim Paige & Charlotte North

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4aE7PG1

I don’t know how she does, but Jewel somehow always writes this amazing stories that touch your heart so deeply and none of them are alike.

This book gives you everything – laughter, frustrations, tears – you name it, you feel it while reading this book. I love that one minute I was laughing, and the next, tears were strolling down my face.

Jewel has this uncanny ability to create these characters that have so much depth to them and they carry these stories to the point that you are there with them – not just seeing, but experiencing things with them.

The pacing of this slow-burn romance is perfection. I love how everything played out and unfolded. I was fully invested in this story from start to finish.

Jewel once again delivers an impeccable story.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves May 2026 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy

by Courtney

When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy is now live!

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy comes a sweltering summer romance you won’t be able to put down.

Twenty-two-year-old heiress Rachel Henderson has one goal this summer: hide out at her family’s lake house and recover from the most mortifying breakup Manhattan society has ever witnessed. Sun, swimming, and zero paparazzi—what could go wrong?

But her quiet summer by the lake goes up in literal flames when a spa-day candle mishap sets her mother’s designer curtains on fire. When the local fire department shows up–specifically the ridiculously hot fire captain—the house is saved, but the captain scorches her pride with a lecture about fire safety.

Determined to prove she can handle life on her own without her family’s help, Rachel finds a new roommate and a new job—too bad she’s terrible at it. Oh, and she keeps running into Captain Tall-Dark-and-Infuriating (which definitely isn’t a hardship). The more time they spend together, the more their conversations start to get real, and Rachel finds herself falling for Wyatt. She thinks he might even feel the same way.

The only problem? Wyatt is all about roots and permanence, while Rachel is the very definition of flighty. But this summer, she just might be tempted to stay …

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://bit.ly/3Mt4Uqb

Audible: https://bit.ly/48LYKd6

Narrated by: Tor Thom & Kelsey Navarro Foster

Paperback: https://geni.us/IuaekK8

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4oCZJRR

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a step outside her normal YA romances and I love that readers get to see Monica write something new

I related to this story ALOT because of the small age gap and single-dad tropes. I met my husband when I was 20 and he was 27 and he was a single dad with a 5yr old. So I could absolutely relate to everything Rachel and Wyatt went through.

Rachel and Wyatt are different in just about every way you can think of. However, I like that neither allows their differences to stop them from getting to know one another – in ways, it’s like they ignored those differences because no matter what, that chemistry was stronger than anything else.

We got to see Rachel grow in many ways; we saw her appreciating what she had growing up, but also realizing that there is also so much more important things in the world.

Wyatt finds himself wanting to open to Rachel but fearful too. He has Dottie to worry about and she’s at the impressionable age where she hears and sees everything.

I really enjoyed how the story played out. The story is told from both POVs, which I always enjoy. Monica gives her characters depth and readers get to experience these characters thoughts, emotions and their mannerisms.

Another great story from Monica. Definitely a recommended read.

Contemporary Romance Four Loves May 2026 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Standalone

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Review Tour…Birds of Prey Don’t Sing by Joe Cary

by Courtney

Birds of Prey Don’t Sing

Joe Cary

Violence, deception, and calculated risk shape the world of Birds of Prey Don’t Sing by Joe Cary. The story tracks the unraveling of a professional killer’s carefully structured routine as an investigation begins drawing closer to the truth.

Synopsis:

Michael Harrier has built a career around remaining untouchable. His method is simple in theory but devastating in practice. Each contract includes two targets. One becomes the victim while another is positioned to take responsibility.

The process has worked flawlessly for years, helping Harrier maintain a reputation for precision and invisibility. But after accepting a contract to kill a priest and disguise the death as divine intervention, the structure begins to crack. An unexpected connection pulls Harrier away from his normal discipline, and a single mistake threatens to expose everything he has spent years protecting.

Across the investigation, LAPD homicide sergeant Jordan Becker faces a case unlike any he has handled before. The evidence refuses to settle into a clear narrative, every lead seems temporary, and Becker gradually realizes he may be hunting someone capable of staying perpetually out of reach.

The deeper both men move into the conflict, the harder it becomes to predict who will ultimately lose control.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4moC3RE

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250733055-birds-of-prey-don-t-sing

BLOWN AWAY! All the stars!!

I hadn’t realized this was Joe’s debut novel til after I finished this and went back to see what else he had written. Only to discover, this is his first published novel. I am hoping there is more in the future because this book was amazing!

This book was soooo incredibly well written and very well plotted out. The pacing of this book was perfection. The author knows how to deliver just the right amount of information to stay in the story and yet has you so completely guessing what is going to happen next.

The writing – Joe’s prose is unlike anything I have read before. I feel like he could take one sentence and change the entire chapter immediately. His words leave an echo. This story is gripping and unlike anything I have read before.

Oh, and you won’t find yourself rooting for one of the characters over the other. It’s either both or neither. The mind games are insane between these characters and that just adds to the building story.

The psychological aspects in this book are what made this book outstanding. It’s a morally grey thriller and not easy to read but so unbelievably amazing.

BRAVO JOE!! I hope we get to read more from you.

About the author:

Joe Cary’s short stories have appeared in One Story, XRAY Literary Magazine, BULL, and MonkeyBicycle, and have also earned a Special Mention in the 2020 Pushcart Prize Anthology and a Best of the Net nomination. BIRDS OF PREY DON’T SING is his first novel.

A former Angeleno, Joe currently lives with his family in Philadelphia where he fights money laundering, fraud, and other financial crimes. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys coaching his daughter’s flag football team and throwing frisbees to his dog, Pepper. He has also been a volunteer adult literacy tutor in four cities.

Visit Joe at his website.

Blog Tour Book Blitz Book Tour May 2026 New Releases New Reviews Psychological Thriller Standalone Thrillers

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Whispers in the Dark by Ashley Elizabeth

by Courtney

Whispers.

That’s what he offers me when he asks me to marry him,

my heart racing beneath my chest as if it’s waited its whole life for this moment.

But I’m not naïve.

I won’t let myself get swept away in the fantasy that this is anything more than it seems.

An arrangement to help me inherit what’s rightfully mine.

Even if it’s all a lie.

And to ensure things don’t get messy,

we establish rules.

Rules to remind us both that this is all an illusion.

But when those rules start unraveling and a buried secret becomes impossible to ignore,

will he prove to be my knight in shining armor,

saving me from the monsters that terrorize this world?

Or will he become the villain of my story,

shattering my beating heart?

To everyone in the darkness, he’s a dangerous weapon that many fear for all the right reasons.

To me, he’s my temporary husband.

A man I’ve quietly loved my whole life:

Mauro Alarie.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0dOXyILc

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4vUCjwp

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/46tOIMp

There are alot of books with aptly titled books but I would have to say that this title, Whispers in the Dark, nails this story in multiple ways.

Mauro is no longer able to speak due to a horrific accident that took their father. However, the one person he chooses to “talk” to is Alina. They somehow understand one another in ways no else does and yet, neither seek the other out on purpose.

Now Alina finds herself in a position where she is forced to marry someone and she has asked Mauro – a man who was more than happy living alone for the rest of his life.

The way Ashley crafted this story had me glued to the pages. The secrets, the plot twists and the mystery behind who was forcing her to marry, I loved how it all came together to create this thrilling story. And yes, this can be read as a standalone. While there is an overall plot that runs through each book, I feel as though readers can quickly catch on to that too without needing much from previous books and it’s just as exciting to read.

If you’re wanting a suspenseful, semi-dark romance, this book is for you. It’s got the dark elements but not too dark that will turn you away. The characters are absolutely perfect and carry their weight in helping create a superb story.

This was my favorite book of the three and I really enjoyed the entire series.

Dark Romance Five Loves Mafia Romance May 2026 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Romantic Suspense Standalone Suspense Trilogy

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Dangerously Ours by Krista & Becca Ritchie

by Courtney

Dangerously Ours by Krista & Becca Ritchie is now live!

In the thrilling conclusion to the Webs We Weave series, ex-con artist Phoebe Graves must pull off the biggest grift she’s ever devised to keep her friends and family safe.

Conning the rich and fleeing to new cities is all ex-grifter Phoebe Graves has ever known—until she started building real relationships in a small yet wealthy Connecticut town. But she’s worried these new bonds won’t hold fast as more than one big bad wolf threatens to blow down those she loves most.

And now more than ever, she has a reason to stay in one place. Among them is Brayden “Rocky” Tinrock, her best friend’s older brother, who’s been a partner to Phoebe during every daring and exhilarating con. And then of course there’s Hailey Tinrock, her best friend, whose precious secret they’ll do anything to protect. . . .

As Phoebe and her family team up with the Tinrocks to fight for a chance at a home, they confront the demons of their pasts and must do the impossible . . . deceive the most cunning con artist they’ve ever known.

Download today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JhoHap

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/4loQAuE

Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/4mMYxep

Google Play: https://bit.ly/4tPcyvY

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3HpfPPG

Paperback: https://geni.us/DangerouslyOursEds

Audible: https://adbl.co/4urgLWD

Narrated by: Grayson Owens, Stephen Dexter, Megan Wicks, Aaron Shedlock, Carly Robins

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3HspAMS

The final book in this trilogy! And it ended perfectly.

This will be a short and sweet review because I do not want to possibly spoil anything, not only in this book, but in the previous two books.

I have to come this family of con-artists and their shenanigans. It really helped getting the so many different view points from these characters – surprisingly, it never got confusing. I feel like the multiple POVs just created another layer to everything.

And let’s not forget the romance – blended beautifully into the story and had me laughing at times.

I really enjoyed this one, even though it was longer than the others. The multiple POVs probably elongated the story, but I really enjoyed it.

Perfect ending to this series!

Contemporary Romance Four Loves May 2026 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Trilogy

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Make You Mine by Jenna Hartley

by Courtney

When I needed a date for my sister’s wedding, my late husband’s best friend seemed like the perfect solution.

I’ve known Frasier since college, and he was my husband’s teammate on the Hollywood Hawks—LA’s pro hockey team. At least until eighteen months ago, when a tragic accident upended everything.

As my world crumbled around me, Frasier was there for me.

We’ve been through a lot together, so I suppose it isn’t surprising that Frasier has become my best friend. The person I always turn to.

Which is how I find myself asking him to be my fake date to my sister’s wedding.

But after a game of truth or dare goes too far, I realize that Frasier isn’t pretending…was never pretending.

And I’m not sure I am either.

Buy Link:

https://mybook.to/MakeYouMineHockey

Available in KU

This was my first read from this author and she did not disappoint at all.

I’m honestly a bit upset no-one told me about this author and I’ve been missing out on some great reads.

Anyway – Make You Mine is one those stories that will you feeling everything these characters go through.

There’s alot of depth to these characters. As they both try to heal and move forward in their grieving, they rely on each other because of the friendship they already have. But as things move along, you could really feel the passion yet uncertainty these two work through.

I absolutely love how Jenna let these characters tell their story in the most natural and authentic way. Jenna’s writing made it so easy to picture this story as it progressed.

Make You Mine is so much more than a sports romance; it’s a story of healing too.

If you a story that will move you in many ways, Make You Mine is the perfect read.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Sports Sports Romance Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Wicked Sanctuary by Jane Henry

by Courtney

Wicked Sanctuary: A Dark Irish Mafia Age Gap Romance by Jane Henry is now live!

A deliciously sexy age gap, stalker dark romance from USA Today bestselling author Jane Henry

I’ve been watching her for six years.
Bianca White is sunshine and innocence.

I’m the monster they whisper about in the dark.
And she hates me, for good reason.
I told myself I’d stay away. That I’d keep my distance and just make sure she was safe. But on the night of her college graduation, I have no choice.
So I take her.

I cage my little bird in the woods where no one can touch her. Where no one can take her from me.
Yet she doesn’t take it easy. She fights me and begs to go back to the man who will kill her.
She’ll learn, though, that some cages are gilded for a reason, and that anyone who wants to harm her will have to come through me first.

Bianca didn’t know it, but she was always mine. Now everyone else will too.

TROPES
Age gap
Stalker
He falls first
Plus Sized Heroine
Bad Boy/Good Girl
Captor/Captive
Escaping a Killer
Grumpy/Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Obsessive Hero
Morally Gray MMC
Mafia

Wicked Sanctuary is a STANDALONE dark Irish mafia romance featuring an obsessed enforcer, his captive sunshine, and the brutal lengths he’ll go to keep her. Morally gray doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Please be warned this story is for a mature audience and contains kidnapping, stalking, forced proximity, and a possessive antihero who’s been celibate for six years waiting for HER.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://bit.ly/4rGbU28

Audible: https://bit.ly/4dIoXwB

Amazon Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4mtYXXZ

Narrated by: Wen Ross and Kai Kennicott

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4kAWUR4

Wicked Sanctuary is the second book in this Irish Mafia series by Jane Henry.

Ashland saved Bianca years ago at his family’s gym. And ever since then, he’s stayed in the shadows, not only protecting her, but obsessing over her.

Let me just say that Ashland carried this book for me. Jane created morally grey MMC with teddy bear tendencies when it came to Bianca but with a fierce protective streak. I loved everything about him.

I do wish that the insta-love part on Bianca’s half was more developed. For as long as this book is, I felt that part was too rushed and not built out fully. I did love seeing her become more self assured and stronger as an individual. But that failed to flow into her change of heart with Ashland.

Overall, Wicked Sanctuary is an enjoyable mafia romance read.

Four Loves Mafia Romance May 2026 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…The Backup Plan by K. Bromberg

by Courtney

The Backup Plan by K. Bromberg is now live!

Sometimes love isn’t part of the plan. Sometimes it’s the backup plan.

Lucas Hale built his entire life around football.
The franchise quarterback.
The GOAT.
The man everyone on his team counts on.

Recovering from a devastating shoulder injury, the veteran quarterback signs with the Lone Star Rebels for one last chance to prove he still belongs in the league.

There’s just one problem—Dr. Emery Porter.

The Rebels’ new injury specialist isn’t impressed by Lucas’s charm—or his determination to push through pain.

She’s seen the scans.
She knows the damage.
And if she clears him to play, it might mean destroying his career for good.

But the more time they spend together, the more dangerous everything becomes.
For Emery’s career.
For Lucas’s future.
And the harder it becomes to remember where professional boundaries end—and where love begins.

Because if Lucas keeps playing, he could lose everything.
And if Emery stops him . . . she might lose the man she’s fallen for.

Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t losing the game.
It’s losing what you never thought you wanted.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/BuP_Amz

Audible: https://geni.us/TBPAud

Amazon Audiobook: https://geni.us/TBUPAmAu

Narrated by: Lance Greenfield & Kit Swan

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4tX4pG7

April 2026 Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Sports Sports Romance Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Mirrored by N. Theiss

by Courtney

Secrets make him rich.

Her choice makes him lethal.

Alex thinks she’s getting into an ordinary rideshare on a rain-soaked night in London.

She isn’t.

Luka is no ordinary driver. He notices too much. Listens when no one’s watching. And the moment Alex slides into his back seat, he clocks her as a target—and then can’t disengage.

Alex is a high-powered American marketing executive on a six-week assignment. She’s driven, successful, and wears corporate discipline like armor. Luka is the man who shows her exactly how thin that discipline really is.

What begins as a charged encounter between strangers spirals into a dangerous intimacy built on consent, control, and carefully negotiated surrender. Luka introduces Alex to pleasures she’s never allowed herself to want. Alex, in turn, earns something far rarer—his trust.

But when a night meant to stay private goes public, Alex draws the attention of a man who doesn’t understand the word no. And she learns just how dangerous Luka can be.

He doesn’t protect.

He dismantles. Quietly. Permanently.

Say the word, and he’ll burn it all down.

A dark, high-heat strangers-to-lovers romance where power is negotiated, trust is earned, and desire is anything but safe.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://bit.ly/4sIZKqM

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4a91ocF

Kindle

Nadine is a new author to me, but will definitely be one I read more of.

I really enjoyed this one and the dedication page makes so much more sense after reading this too. IYKYK.

This is a very fast-paced story that fits the narrative well. I am not a fan of insta-love, but the author crafted a unique story with characters that had an intense initial meeting that bled into the story.

There is an interesting twist on this story that added to the heighten state of the book and I liked how this played into the overall plot. I do wish this part was more developed and not so quick, but I also understand that part played into the pacing of the story as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I found the author’s writing style engaging and kept the reader intrigued the entire time. I will definitely be looking into this author’s previous works.

April 2026 Dark Romance Four Loves New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Standalone

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Book Promotion & Review

Synopsis:

Michael Harrier has built a career around remaining untouchable. His method is simple in theory but devastating in practice. Each contract includes two targets. One becomes the victim while another is positioned to take responsibility.