Five Loves « Read-Love-Blog

Release Day Blitz & Review…Betrayed In The Dark by Ashley Elizabeth

by Courtney

Betrayed in the Dark by Ashley Elizabeth is now live!

Betrayed.

With one letter, that’s what he did to me,

irrevocably splitting my heart down the middle,

causing everything we once shared in secret to become nothing more than a distant memory.

One I try desperately to forget.

So, imagine my shock when my brothers stood before me

to tell me who my new bodyguard would be while I fought back tears,

pretending my heart had never belonged to him.

And only him.

Especially since another man’s ring now rests on my finger.

Yet, every moment spent in his presence makes it harder to stay away.

Every secret embrace makes it nearly impossible to remember why I should hate him.

Even though I never could.

But as lines get crossed and feelings threaten to unravel everything,

there’s one thing I must remind myself:

This wedding is happening,

whether I want it to or not.

There’s just one problem.

The same man who is doing everything in his power to stop me from walking down the aisle

is the one I’m ultimately doing it all for:

Eli Lyon.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

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

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Tm0qlA

I really don’t know how to put this book into words.

You can read this one as a standalone – personally, I think part of the draw to Eli and Maddy is not knowing their connection from the previous book. But if you read the previous book, then parts of the mystery behind their interactions are already known.

I really enjoyed the flow and pacing of this story. The letters between them are placed perfectly within the story and help readers learn about their history and how they came to be where they are today.

This is a thrilling romantic, mafia suspense story. It’s a great way for people to dip their toes into the darker-ish parts of the romance world without getting turned off completely from dark romance.

Loved this one! Can’t wait for the next book in this series!!

Meet Ashley Elizabeth

Ashley Elizabeth is an author of steamy contemporary romance. Her books will always tell a love story with just the right amount of spice and, most importantly, end with a happily ever after. When she’s not reading a romance novel or overthinking everything, you can find her at Starbucks, keeping them in business, or watching Jurassic Park for the thousandth time with her fur baby, Bailey.

Connect with Ashley

Website | https://ashleyelizabethauthor.com/

Amazon | http://bit.ly/44QcosR

Goodreads | http://bit.ly/40h9k7E

Instagram | http://bit.ly/3IsS898

Dark Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews October 2025 Release Day Event Romance Romantic Suspense Second Chance Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz…Mistletoe Meet Cute by Bella Matthews

by Courtney

Mistletoe Meet Cute by Bella Matthews is now live!

From #1 Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a single dad/nanny, grumpy grinch/sunshine, holiday romance.

Falling for my brother’s teammate wasn’t on my Christmas list.
Neither was working for him, but here I am—nannying for Camden Monroe, Philly’s star quarterback, single dad, and the grumpiest grinch to ever fill out a pair of gray sweats.

He should be the last man I want under my mistletoe.

He’s too old. Too cocky. And too damn tempting.
But one snowy night, one reckless touch, and one unforgettable kiss have me rethinking everything I thought I wanted.

Suddenly, the holidays aren’t about twinkle lights and tinsel.
They’re about stolen moments, secret touches, and the kind of Christmas chaos that feels way too good to resist.

Maybe the best gifts don’t come wrapped in pretty bows…
Maybe they come with dirty grins, filthy mouths, and the power to make me forget every single reason why Camden doesn’t belong at the top of my wish list. . .

‘Tis the season.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/42Vb47P

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3IvFdUu

Amazing Christmas read!!

This story really gets you in the mood for the holidays, Hallmark movies and Christmas.

I love the play on the grinchy attitude with Camden and Holly’s love of Christmas.

Bella creates the perfect story for these two and I love how things unfold between them. If you have read previous books from Bella, we met Camden in Teasing and the introduction of Holly’s family was very nicely done (I hope we see more of them in future books). But don’t fret if you have not read any books before – this one will just have you wanting to go back and read her previous books.

A perfect Christmas read and if you love Hallmark movies, this book is perfect for you.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves Holiday Romance New Releases New Reviews Novella October 2025 Release Day Event Romance Sports Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…The Infiniteness of Yesterday by Micalea Smeltzer

by Courtney

The Infiniteness of Yesterday by Micalea Smeltzer is now live!

An angsty, love triangle romance from bestselling author, Micalea Smeltzer

He was my first love, but it doesn’t mean he’s my last.

I fell in love with Spencer when I was only a teenager. He was the sun, the moon, and the stars in my young eyes. But our lives were turned upside down when I got pregnant. A baby wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was him becoming one of Hollywood’s hottest young actors. Suddenly, he wasn’t mine anymore. He belonged to the world and I was his past and just the girl he had a child with.

He’s my present, but it doesn’t mean he’s my future.

I didn’t expect Jameson, but life works in mysterious ways, giving you what you need when you least expect it. He picked up the pieces of myself that were shattered in the aftermath of Spencer. I’m older now, not blinded with stars in my eyes like I once was. Jameson is my safe harbor in all of life’s storms.

But just like the twinkling stars in the sky, love soars, changes and burns with the passage of time.

When my past returns to collide with my present, only my forever love will remain…

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3U5x2A4

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

I love my romances a bit messy and real – and this story nails that!

Not all love stories are roses and rainbows. Yes, this story is a love triangle. Yes, there is cheating. So if none of that is for you – tread carefully and don’t get mad that you weren’t warned. But this story is damn good and well worth the emotional damage.

I never read anything by Micalea til earlier this year and when I had the opportunity to read this, I did not hesitate one bit. And I am so glad for that. I am not your typical romance reader where everything has to be pretty the entire time. I like my books to have grit; I love when the characters make me question their decisions but later redeem themselves.

Harlow isn’t perfect and that is what I love most about her. She is authentic and real and the decisions she makes are tough. She finds herself loving two men and knows no matter who she chooses, someone will get hurt.

TIOY is a rollercoaster of emotions but it’s worth the ride til the end.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews October 2025 Release Day Event Romance Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…A Million Times Yes by Marni Mann

by Courtney

A Million Times, Yes by Marni Mann is now live!

The only way an alpha billionaire can hold on to the perfect woman is to keep his identity a secret in an emotional and blisteringly hot romance by USA Today bestselling author Marni Mann.

Maya and Jordan can’t keep their eyes off one another. They see each other on their daily runs, exchanging heated glances and lingering smiles as part of their routine. What’s not to notice? Maya with her perfect body and teasing smile. Jordan, a former professional hockey player, with his chiseled muscles and undeniable alpha personality. First comes the hello, then a kiss, followed by an uninhibited desire that sets their mornings on fire.

Jordan normally doesn’t date, but this Boston nurse is a beauty he wants to know inside and out. She’s gorgeous, sassy, and keeps him on his toes. He’s falling fast. She is too. There’s just one problem: Maya loathes the rich. She has her reasons. She also has no idea that Jordan is actually a billionaire CEO who owns the most expensive penthouse in the city, a collection of exotic cars, and half of Boston.

The only way for this grumpy alphahole to hold on to Maya is to keep his secret hidden. Because once the truth is out, everything about this addictive, sensuous, once-in-a-lifetime connection will come crashing down.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/AMillionTimesYes

Audiobook Narrated by: Sean Masters & Samantha Brentmoor

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

I started this book late one night and stayed up to the wee hours of the morning to finish it because I was hooked from the get-go.

Marni delivered a fast-paced, very spicy story with the perfect connection. Marni truly knows how to deliver the spice but also shows how the characters are connected on a deeper level too.

The blurb is really all you need going into this one. Marni’s writing talents shine high in this one and you will see why her readers and fans become so absorbed her stories and characters.

Another smashing hit by Marni and an absolute MUST READ!!

Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews October 2025 Release Day Event Romance Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…Unveil by Greer Rivers

by Courtney

Unveil by Greer Rivers is now live!

A dark Swan Lake retelling where the ‘villain’ steals the girl, set in a world of secret pacts, feuding families, and primal obsession.

He’s her curse, but she’s his salvation, and he’ll do anything to keep the ones he loves safe.

Rebellious ballerina Luna Bordeaux may be the darling of the New Orleans elite, but she’s destined to dance in her parents’ shadows. Her twenty-second birthday was supposed to be her escape. One last performance, one necessary breakup, then? Freedom.

Except her white knight of a boyfriend just proposed on stage.

And now her masked stalker has crashed the engagement party…

Orion Fury has protected Luna for years, counting the seconds until he can claim his future wife, honoring a vow made between their fathers decades ago. His discipline has only ever slipped once, but his enemy just crossed the line. All bets are off, and a night that began with a party ends in kidnapping and murder.

Now Luna is a stolen bride with blood on her slippers and a target on her back, trapped in the wilderness with the man who hunted her. But Orion isn’t the only predator in these woods, and the men coming for her will do anything to stop the Fury-Bordeaux alliance.

Her villain may be the one person she’s determined to hate, but is he the only one dangerous enough to keep her alive?

Tropes:
Arranged marriage
Masked stalker
Primal play
Touch her and die
Hidden identity
Stolen bride
Villain gets the girl

Unveil is Book 1 of the Frayed Satin Series, a Tattered Curtain second-generation legacy series of interconnected standalones reimagining classic ballets with dark and twisty HEAs. Each series can be enjoyed separately. TWs will be available in the front of the book.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

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

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

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4dT6go1

Unveil does not disappoint at all!

I was hooked from the start with the mystery and suspense behind this story.

You definitely do not need to read the series this is a spin-off from (I only read one of those books) but there is alot of family involved in this story – but they need to be in order for the whole story to work. However, there isn’t an overload of information that takes away from the story. It’s just alot to take in, so tread lightly.

I love Luna – she is very carefree and ready to break free from the “chains” she’s been held down by. I adored Orion and his overly protective personality – he was the perfect match for Luna. But there is so much more to these two. The growth, the respect, the chemistry – LOVE IT ALL!

Greer writes a phenomenal story line that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. The angst, the suspense, the spice but also some hard issues that were handled perfectly.

A great start to her new series, where each book ends in an HEA.

Dark Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews October 2025 Release Day Event Romance Standalone

No Comments »

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

by Courtney

The Homemaker by Jewel E. Ann is now live!

A romance inspired by TS “Fortnight”

I was hers, but she was never mine.

Alice Yates is the hired “homemaker” for the Morrisons, an affluent couple in Minneapolis. For Alice, it’s a dream job to dress up like a 1950s housewife and read romance novels to Mr. Morrison before his afternoon nap.

But when the Morrisons’ only daughter returns home for the summer with her fiancé, Alice comes face- to-face with her shattered past—the only threat to her perfect life.

Eight years earlier, vacation rental owner Murphy Paddon had an impeccable vinyl record collection and did the most irresistible thing before kissing Alice, earning him a five-star rating. Their fortnight love affair was life-altering and ended tragically.

Murphy doesn’t know if Alice remembers him or whether he should tell his fiancée that the hired-help living in the guesthouse is the woman who irreparably broke his heart. He needs closure, but will the lingering glances and silent yearning lead to the end or just the beginning?

Grab your copy of The Homemaker, from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Jewel E. Ann, and lose yourself in this forbidden, high-stakes romance.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

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

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/S26fj

Audible: http://bit.ly/4nu17pZ

Narrated by Charlotte North & Robert Hatchet

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/457iBCa

At this point, I should not be surprised that anything Jewel writes, I will love.

She is the queen of contemporary romance for me. The blurb is truly all you need to know going into this one. I am not a TS fan, so the inspiration for this was sort of lost on me, but I loved it all the same.

Jewel truly knows how to write characters that readers will connect to in one way or another. That makes her stories all the more authentic and relatable. I love Alice’s personality and Murphy is just absolutely lovable.

That’s all you’re getting from me. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what Jewel brings us in this series.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance September 2025 Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…Sweet Temptation by Bella Matthews

by Courtney

Sweet Temptation by Bella Matthews is now live!

From #1 Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a brother’s best friend, bad boy/good girl, football romance.

Lucky Beneventi might be the villain in my fairytale, but given the choice, I’m not sure I’d have it any other way.

My brother’s best friend and Philly’s favorite football player is the same cocky bad boy every girl wants and the dangerous temptation I was never supposed to touch.

Until I did. . .
And now I can’t stop.

I’m selfish enough to crave him—his kiss, his body, his heart—even when I know I’ll leave it shattered in the end.

But this can’t happen.
We can’t happen.
I won’t let us.

Even if he makes me feel alive in a way my broken body knows won’t last forever. . .

Because the truth is, when the story ends, Lucky isn’t the villain.
I am.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: http://bit.ly/4lZYE5D

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/44EhBFl

Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance September 2025 Sports Sports Romance Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…He Knows When You’re Awake by Alta Hensley

by Courtney

He Knows When You’re Awake by Alta Hensley is now live!

This Christmas, it’s all about getting what you really want in this dark billionaire stalker romance sequel to He Sees You When You’re Sleeping.

Stalking in a winter wonderland…

Jewelry designer Sloane dreams of launching her own custom line—but she needs a Christmas miracle to pull it off. With traditional banks turning her down left and right, she can’t resist when a mysterious stranger offers her a lifeline.

I see what she creates in those stolen moments when she thinks no one’s watching. I see everything. There’s a darkness at her core and I will unravel her until I find it.

Reclusive billionaire Cole Asher offers to fly Sloane out to an ultra-luxurious Swiss resort for a meeting. Reluctantly, she agrees—only to realize she’s met him once before in a New York bar.

She is crucial to my plans, and I need her close. She insists that we keep things professional, and I comply. But soon she will realize that every line is blurred when it comes to her and me.

Cole offers to back her company—but there’s a cost. To secure his investment, Sloane must move into his Manhattan penthouse, where she’ll complete her first round of designs for him to review before Christmas.

Sloane throws herself into her work, yet soon the attraction between her and Cole becomes undeniable. As the city sparkles with Christmas splendor from her penthouse view, Sloane wonders if she has stepped into a fairy tale—until Cole’s powerful enemies close in. They will stop at nothing to destroy him, including going after the woman he loves.

I will burn down the world to get her back…and it will be in time for Christmas.

TROPES

Billionaire Romance

Stalker romance

Christmas romance

Morally grey MMC

Forced proximity

Opposites attract

Kink friendly

He Knows When You’re Awake is a dark romance with a morally grey male lead. Some themes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the content warnings at the beginning of the book.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: http://bit.ly/4fvhUWG

Apple Books: http://bit.ly/4gmpS5a

Nook: http://bit.ly/3I94QtZ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/4nmYNRm

Google Play: http://bit.ly/4mbq48x

Pre-order the Deluxe paperback edition: http://bit.ly/4gmq98c

Features special sprayed edges with digital artwork and glow-in-the-dark cover effects!

Audible Pre-order: http://bit.ly/3V4Ny49

Releasing in audio on November 4th

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/4fDcXeK

Dark Romance Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Romantic Suspense Romantic Thriller Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…He Knows When You’re Awake by Alta Hensley

by Courtney

He Knows When You’re Awake by Alta Hensley is now live!

This Christmas, it’s all about getting what you really want in this dark billionaire stalker romance sequel to He Sees You When You’re Sleeping.

Stalking in a winter wonderland…

I see what she creates in those stolen moments when she thinks no one’s watching. I see everything. There’s a darkness at her core and I will unravel her until I find it.

Reclusive billionaire Cole Asher offers to fly Sloane out to an ultra-luxurious Swiss resort for a meeting. Reluctantly, she agrees—only to realize she’s met him once before in a New York bar.

She is crucial to my plans, and I need her close. She insists that we keep things professional, and I comply. But soon she will realize that every line is blurred when it comes to her and me.

I will burn down the world to get her back…and it will be in time for Christmas.

TROPES

Billionaire Romance

Stalker romance

Christmas romance

Morally grey MMC

Forced proximity

Opposites attract

Kink friendly

He Knows When You’re Awake is a dark romance with a morally grey male lead. Some themes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the content warnings at the beginning of the book.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: http://bit.ly/4fvhUWG

Apple Books: http://bit.ly/4gmpS5a

Nook: http://bit.ly/3I94QtZ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/4nmYNRm

Google Play: http://bit.ly/4mbq48x

Pre-order the Deluxe paperback edition: http://bit.ly/4gmq98c

Features special sprayed edges with digital artwork and glow-in-the-dark cover effects!

Audible Pre-order: http://bit.ly/3V4Ny49

Releasing in audio on November 4th

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/4fDcXeK

Alta became a favorite author of mine when I discovered her books almost two years ago (really her books with Blake Zoe – The Gilded Decadence series) but quickly started reading her other books.

I inhaled the first book in this series last year and when it became known there was a second releasing, I hit pre-order so fast I almost broke a finger.

And let me tell you, Alta did not let me down with book two. She just proved why she is able to make a stalker romance sound so enticingly hot.

The blurb is all you need for this one. Alta weaves a very suspenseful and wickedly spicy story together that will have you turning pages quickly.

I will definitely be re-reading this around Christmas too.

Contemporary Romance Dark Romance Five Loves Holiday Romance New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance Romantic Suspense September 2025 Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…Unrequited by Jane Henry

by Courtney

Unrequited: A Dark Bratva Age Gap Romance by Jane Henry is now live!

A forbidden, age-gap romance of secrets, loyalty, and obsession.

He was never supposed to touch me.
I was never supposed to love him.
But some lines don’t stay drawn.

I live in a world of rules and expectations, where obedience is survival and love is a liability. I was the innocent one. The youngest sister. Sheltered by my brothers and kept far away from the family’s darker affairs.

Until him.

He’s dangerous. Nameless. Obsessive.

Mine for one stolen hour a week, and every time he leaves me, he takes a piece of me with him.

But when I find out his true identity, my world implodes.

They call him the Undertaker.
The man who buries problems no one else can solve.

Loving him means betraying my family.
Choosing him means choosing war.
But he’s already chosen…me.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: geni.us/UnrequitedJaneHenry

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/4fg2CVW

This book was perfection!!

I was so excited when I realized this was going to be Zoya’s and The Undertaker’s book. These two could not be any more different and yet they are immediately drawn to one another.

Jane did what Jane does best – she writes a phenomenal story with fantastic characters that standout on their own but when they meet their match, the chemistry is off the charts.

I won’t tell you how everything goes down because that will ruin this book for you. But I will tell you that you will fall in love with these two and their story.

And let’s not forget the spicy scenes – oh yes, they are worth the slow burn.

Unrequited is an absolute must-read!

August 2025 Dark Romance Five Loves Mafia Romance New Releases New Reviews Romance Romantic Suspense Standalone

No Comments »

Release Day Blitz & Review…Almost Ravaged by Abby Millsaps

by Courtney

Almost Ravaged by Abby Millsaps is now live!

Prepare to be swept away by Almost Ravaged, the first book in an all new dark, why choose, college hockey trilogy from bestselling author Abby Millsaps.

They say you never forget your first love.

What they don’t say is how hard it is to move on when he happens to be the trifecta: a brooding hockey player, your brother’s best friend, AND the keeper of your darkest secret.

I spent three years trying to get over Tytus Tremblay, only to slingshot right back into his orbit when we’re reunited at Holt University.

But Tytus isn’t the only man on my radar anymore.

I have a new enemy in the form of Mercer Eden, an arrogant, condescending professor almost twice my age who happens to be my boss. Then there’s his sweet, bashful best friend, Noah Henry, the owner of Evercrisp Orchard.

The pleasure Mercer and Noah offer me—individually, and together—is the primal distraction I live for. It just might be what I need to finally forget my first love and move on with my life.

But then Tytus makes a life-altering choice that affects us all, and one thing becomes abundantly clear: he never plans to let me go.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/AlmostRavaged

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/44Bav4P

Man, oh man, Abby – you definitely know how to deliver the perfect punch at the start of a series.

I was very intrigued with where Abby was going to take this story after the start of this book.

I love that she gives us a nice background on some of the main characters and then proceeds to show us where they are a few years later and introduces us to the other main characters.

I am saying zero else about the plot because I knew absolutely zilch about this book except the blurb and that made this book all the more delicious to read. And that ending – in true Abby fashion, that came out of nowhere and now I need the next book.

I will leave you with this….this book will have your appreciating those spicy scenes soooooo much. Phew.

August 2025 Dark Romance Five Loves Forbidden New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Reverse Harem Romance Sports Romance Taboo Why Choose

No Comments »

Book Promotion & Review