You’d think nearly dying trying to get out of a too-tight gown in a dressing room and being saved by a strong, competent man was a good thing.
Not so much, though, when that strong, competent man is your ex. Your secret ex.
And the reason you need a gown is because you’re part of a charity auction.
The charity auction where he gets into a bidding war to win you.
And now, because you’re one of few female coaches in professional baseball, and he’s the captain of the local professional hockey team, and he paid a ridiculous sum of money for you…
The entire city is shipping you. You can’t leave your apartment without getting a knowing wink from strangers. Your bosses want to use the publicity to have you jointly launch a new community outreach program.
That’s bad enough. It truly is.
But even worse?
Duncan Lavoie, the green-eyed, curly-haired, dimple-cheeked, hot as lava hockey player wants a second chance. And he’ll play dirty to get it.
The Secret Hook-Up is a laugh-out-loud romcom featuring the hot-as-sin hockey captain of the Copper Valley Thrusters, the Copper Valley Fireballs’ lady baseball coach he never got over, and a misbehaving formal gown. It stands alone and comes complete with a happily-ever-after.
Pippa Grant wanted to write books, so she did. Before she became a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling romantic comedy author, she was a young military spouse who got into writing as self-therapy. That happened around the time she discovered reading romance novels, and the two eventually merged into a career. Today, she has more than 30 knee-slapping Pippa Grant titles and nine written as Jamie Farrell. When she’s not writing romantic comedies, she’s fumbling through being a mom, wife, and mountain woman, and sometimes trying to find hobbies. Her crowning achievement? Having impeccable timing for telling stories that will make people snort beverages out of their noses. Consider yourself warned.
When I met British billionaire Kabir Spencer at Splice London, he promised me an unforgettable night and nothing more. One night turned into a string of encounters, each one hotter than the next.
As our dynamic evolved, Spence helped me explore a side of myself I didn’t know existed until the moment I uttered the words Yes, Sir.
Then my secrets and my sorrow became too much to bear, and I well and truly broke.
During my lowest of lows, Spence cared for me in all the ways I needed.
Now, he’s come to my rescue once again, though he dropped a bomb of a secret when he arrived.
I have a lot of explaining to do to my current boyfriend and my ex-boyfriend-slash-stepbrother, but I’ll have plenty of time to get to it while we’re trapped together in the mountains for the holidays.
As if that isn’t enough, my narcissistic mother is back in town, and she and my stepfather will be joining us, too.
Nothing more didn’t last. Nothing I love ever stays.
It’s for the best. It’s only a matter of time before the possessiveness and sizzling tension between the three men in my life reach a boiling point and start to feel too real.
So Real is the second book in the Boys of South Chapel series. It is a steamy second chance why choose romance that must be read in order. A full list of tropes and triggers can be found on the author’s website.
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Another cliffy!? OMG – I need the next book pronto!!
I need to collect thoughts and get my libido under control after finishing this one.
It’s been a full week since I finished reading this one and everything is still fresh in my mind.
I thought the things between Greedy, Levi and Hunter were hot and heavy in the first book, but add in Kabir and instant combustion!!
Don’t get me wrong, my heart broke for Hunter as we got more of her background. But holy dang, Abby takes that heartache and makes your heart thump with this new dynamic.
I am not saying anything else – just go read this one. But start with book one, So Wrong, first.
Start reading So Wrong, book 1 in the Boys of South Chapel series!
Abby Millsaps is an author and storyteller who’s been obsessed with writing romance since middle school. In eighth grade, she failed to qualify for the Power of the Pen State Championships because all her submissions contained the same theme: young people falling in love. #LookAtHerNow
She’s best known for writing unapologetically angsty romance that causes emotional damage for her readers. Abby prides herself in writing authentic characters while weaving mental health, chronic illness, and neurodiverse representation into the fabric of her stories.
Abby met her husband at a house party the summer before her freshman year of college. He had a secret pizza stashed in the trunk of his car that he was saving for a midnight snack–how was she supposed to resist that level of golden retriever energy and preparedness? When Abby isn’t writing, she’s reading, traveling, and raising her three daughters.
Pop Quiz: You’re a woman alone in the forest… would you rather run into a man or a bear?
I’m lost out in the woods when I cross paths with a strange man. He offers to take me back to his campsite, feed me, get me warm, but every instinct in me screams NO!
He is an opportunistic predator, and I am his prey.
I run. He chases. And just before I’m traumatized for life, I hear a loud roar as a seven hundred pound Grizzly bear rips the man off me and mauls him to death.
So…. Team Bear?
If only it were so simple. This isn’t just any normal bear. He’s a bear shifter, and he’s convinced I’m his fated mate.
I appreciate the life saving and all, but I have goals and dreams, and I won’t allow fate to play matchmaker for me, no matter how otherwise appealing the shifter in question may be.
Entertaining & fast-paced shifter story based on the question, “You’re a woman alone in the forest…would you rather run into a man or a bear?”
This is definitely on the lighter side of Kitty Thomas but just as entertaining. I had been reading alot of deep, emotional reads and this was the perfect “palate cleanse” for me and it was so good too.
Mating Season was the perfect blend of humor, fated mates and the right touch of steam with how quick of a read it is.
Highly recommended read!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kitty Thomas, Author of Comfort Food, published in early 2010, the Original Dark Romance book.
A Violent Agenda: The Complete Series by Mallory Fox is now live!
A Violent Agenda: The Complete Series contains the following books: – A History of Violence: A Violent Agenda Book One – A Legacy of Sorrow: A Violent Agenda Book Two – A Promise of Torment: A Violent Agenda Book Three – A Destiny of Carnage: A Violent Agenda Book Four
Additional Content:
– A Violent End Epilogue
Fire burns the worst sins. Trust is overrated. Killing for pleasure is messy, bloody, chaotic…
He was supposed to die.
But now I have him where I want him, I can’t help but taste him a little.
All of them.
They’ve gotten under my skin. These Sacred Heart boys.
The way they look at me, a need, a hunger clawing inside, I recognize it in the mirror. It’s their eyes. They tell me they don’t give a fuck if they live or die. That I’m the prey and they’re the carnivores. That they’re soulless.
But in the end, they all beg. Violent, bloody, and raw. Because I’m the real monster.
They just don’t know it yet.
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Mallory Fox is a USA Today best-selling author who is addicted to reading big books that never end, eating chocolate-covered pretzels, and looking deep into heart-melting, big brown eyes…the canine kind. She loves to write deliciously dark romance with wicked, twisty plots. Mallory currently lives in London with her bean-shaped dog and the rest of her non-furry family. When she’s not at her desk writing up a storm, she’s walking her overgrown cocker spaniel, or trying to learn how to cook, badly.
From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Jenshak comes a standalone fake dating sports romance. This steamy, grumpy / sunshine football romance delivers a swoony and emotional happily ever after.
Brogan Six’s fan mail has been filling my mailbox for weeks. With every lipstick covered letter I receive, my irritation with him grows. And let’s not talk about the time I accidentally opened one of the packages to find someone had sent him their panties. Gross.
When I come face-to-face with my new nemesis, I expect to give him a piece of my mind and we’ll go our separate ways. Me to an empty mailbox and him to sift through his panty collection.
That is not what happens.
I don’t know if it was the booze, his clever wit, or if I was tricked (I’m sure I was tricked), but now I’m fake dating the Mavericks’ hot new rookie.
And I might just be the next woman to lose her panties to Brogan Six.
Playbook is a standalone fake dating, grumpy/sunshine sports romance with banter, found family, spice, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments.
Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.
Taking one more shot at love should be easy, right?
Not on a dare.
Samantha Dare had one thought when she found out her fiancé was a lying cheat. Escape. So, she ran from her wedding… straight into the arms of the man who once gave her the hottest kiss of her life. But rebounding with her brother’s friend would be a huge mistake… wouldn’t it?
The last thing Dex Sterling needs is more chaos in his life. Retiring from football and starting over in broadcasting gave him plenty of that. But even though Samantha is chaos personified, for some reason, he’s still not able to keep his mind—or hands—off her…
Is a little bit of forced proximity and a lot of sexual chemistry enough to earn them a second chance at happily ever after?
Samantha and Dex are about to find out…
Just One More Dare, book 2 in the Sterling Family series, is a light, spicy, forbidden best friend’s little sister, contemporary sports romance that can be read as a standalone. Download today and get ready to fall for the youngest Dare and the man of Samantha’s dreams!
For new-to-me readers: A stand-alone story of two people with a history of sizzling attraction.
For long-time readers: Yes, that Samantha Dare! Yes, you will see Ian Dare!
About Carly Phillips
NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips is the queen of Alpha Heroes, at least according to The Harlequin Junkie Reviewer.. Carly married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her crazy dogs who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram pages. The author of over 75 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters and is now an empty nester. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as her first romance club pick. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers.
First book I have read in one day because I could not put this down!!!
I love anything by Tijan because she delivers her stories with depth and characters that grip you, hard. Frisco is just another perfect example of her talented writing skills.
Frisco is a full standalone MC romance and Tijan delivers this one perfectly.
I loved everything about this book; the pacing, plot development, characters and their interactions. This story is told from both Shane and Kali’s POV and this allows readers to see the connection between the FMC and her friends and family and the MMC and his club/friends/family.
I loved how natural this story was. Tijan stayed true to her characters, their mannerisms, who and what they are and that just added to this very well plotted out story. I love the depth of this plot and all the intricacies littered throughout the story.
My favorite, unexpected part – Kali’s dad, he was the icing on the cake. Chef’s kiss
Another phenomenal story from Tijan.
Meet Tijan
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing after college and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Fallen Crest series, Ryan’s Bed, Enemies and others. She is currently writing many new books and series with an English Cocker she adores.
Trope: Best friend’s little sister, age-gap, forced proximity, summer fling to forever, small town
Synopsis
It was a simple promise—watch out for my best friend’s little sister the same way I would my own.
Turns out, Brenna is a lot more grown-up than I realized. And a lot more beautiful. Which makes sharing an apartment with her this summer tougher than I expected.
Until she shares something with me. Something she’s never shared with anyone. Something that makes me want to step in and help.
Something that changes everything.
Soon enough, my wanting to be with her has nothing to do with that promise I made and everything to do with the undeniable spark between us.
It doesn’t matter that I’m more than a decade older than she is. Or what our small town thinks.
But Brenna’s time in Hickory Hills is limited, making everything more complicated.
The more time I spend with Brenna, the harder it is to stay apart. The more I want to convince her to stay.
I already broke my promise to her brother. But I will keep my promise to her.
USA Today Best Selling Claire Hastings is a walking, talking awkward moment. She loves Diet Coke, gummi bears, the beach, and books (obvs). When not reading she can usually be found hanging with friends at a soccer match or grabbing food (although she probably still has a book in her purse). She and her husband live in Atlanta.
A close proximity, rockstar, secret romance from NYT Bestselling author, Samantha Chase He’s the pop superstar dubbed the friendliest celeb alive. She’s the jaded publicist forced to represent him. Working together should be impossible. But the connection they find in each other is…completely indescribable.
Whenever his childhood became too much, Simon Bennett could always find comfort and escape in music. Like any kid, he’d thought about becoming a big star, but he’d never imagined the level of success he’s found. When documentary producers approach him for some behind the scenes footage for his fans, he isn’t prepared for the painful memories they unearth that he’d rather keep quiet. But when you’re known as one of the sweetest guys in the business, no one takes you seriously when you try to push back.
Juliette Bellucci has a reputation for being a strong and confident publicist. Unfortunately, when you keep working with celebrity trainwrecks who make the wrong kind of headlines, that reputation doesn’t mean a whole lot. And with her latest fiasco still in the press, she’s this close to losing her career and everything she’s worked for. Enter Simon Bennett-the quintessential good guy and her chance at redemption. After all, how can working with the nicest guy in the world go wrong?
Nothing about them makes sense, and yet the closer they become, the more they realize they belong together. Keeping their relationship a secret was supposed to keep them out of trouble, but when Simon’s past threatens to destroy his present, everyone is quick to blame Juliette and her bad track record. When the glare of the spotlight disappears, will they realize the indescribable love they share is the foundation to the future they both want?
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and THE WEDDING SEASON which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire when she should be writing, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
A brand new YA standalone survivor romance from Jennifer Hartmann, the fan-favorite author of Still Beating, Lotus, and June First, packed with the same light-in-the-dark hope for healing in the face of tragedy. Perfect for fans of If He Had Been With Me, A Thousand Boy Kisses, and Binding 13. “Kissing you feels like catching the sun…”
At seven years old, Ella Sunbury and Max Manning were inseparable—until life scattered them in different directions, forcing Ella to abruptly leave town. A decade later, she returns for their senior year of high school, moving in across the street from her childhood best friend.
But she’s not the same girl Max once knew.
She now lives in the shadow of her a notorious felon on death row, convicted of a crime that shook the nation. Reeling from the fallout and shunned by her peers, all Ella wants is to fade into the background.
Max has little room for distractions, juggling responsibilities for a disabled father and a distant twin brother. But Ella’s return reignites something within him. He wants to be close to her again, to understand her…and to turn their friendship into more.
But as their relationship blossoms, new tragedy strikes, and darkness threatens to tip their delicate balance. In order to find the light, they’ll have to navigate the shadows.
And to catch the sun…they must first endure the flames.
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!
I have started and stopped this review so many times, I lost count. So please bear with me as I stumble through this because my thoughts and emotions are everywhere.
I hadn’t expected this book to tear my heart apart in so many different ways and then glue those shattered pieces together again.
I was expecting this to be an angsty YA romance but the only thing YA about this novel is the age of these characters & where there story starts. I got my angst but I also got a whole lot more.
Jennifer truly knows how to captive her readers with her words. She creates characters with a depth and connection, that it’s impossible to not feel the emotions running off these pages. She delivers a narrative that is very raw and authentic, allowing readers to become the characters.
This story has many twists that I never anticipated and it just gripped my heartstrings even tighter. I flat-out bawled many times reading. I had to put the book down, walk away and regroup myself because I was so vested in this story.
And while I cried, alot, I had huge smiles too. I felt my heart sing and rejoice many times. My heart and soul ran the gamut of emotions with this one and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jennifer Hartman – this is your best work, to date. Ella, Max, their family and friends are forever a part of my soul.
“Soul doesn’t see. Souls feel.”
Once the book releases, I’ll add more quotes (because there’s a crap ton) that I highlighted throughout this story.
If you read one book this year, let it be this one. This is the perfect example of why I read romance – the journey may be uneasy, but results are worth it.
Meet Jennifer
Jennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her own personal romance hero and three children. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely pondering all the ways she can break your heart and piece it back together again. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog.
Genre/Tropes: Small Town; Grumpy/Sunshine; Dark Past; Second Chance; Romantic Suspense; Blind Date Disaster
Release Date: July 11, 2024
Cover Design: Sarah Paige
High-octane thrills come to the cozy town of Magnolia Grove in the latest must-read book by NYT Best-selling author LP Dover!
Declan Parker thought he left the danger and thrills of being an undercover FBI agent behind when he moved to the small town of Magnolia Grove. Then he meets beautiful and feisty dentist, Ayla Carington, and his heart races in an enticing new way.
Ayla is more than a pretty face. With her quick wit and tenacity, Declan finds himself falling for her fast.
Unfortunately, clouds of darkness creep in when Declan’s past follows him to Magnolia Grove. More than anything he wants to keep Ayla safe from the dangers lurking closer. Thankfully, he doesn’t have to do it alone. The greatest benefit of this small town is that everyone protects each other. And these locals aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
Will Ayla be able to see past Declan’s checkered history? Or will the life he had before cost him his chance at true happiness? One way or another, life in Magnolia Grove was about to get a lot more interesting!
In the heart of Alabama, lies a charming little town on the river, where everyone knows your name… and your business.
Follow the intertwined lives of its beloved residents as they navigate first love, second chances, and all the unexpected surprises that their small-town holds.
Welcome to Magnolia Grove, where every neighbor has a story worth unraveling, the roots run deep, and love blossoms around every corner.
Join the Magnolia Grove Reader Group to find out more!
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything’s sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it’s with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that’s why she’s seriously addicted to chocolate.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children’s book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she’s also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you’ll never see her without a smile on her face.
