Once upon a time, I looked at love through rose-tinted glasses because love is meant to conquer all, right?
However, was I just a hopeless romantic at heart, chasing the proverbial happily ever after?
Being a romance author, one may think I know what I’m doing when it comes to love. But I hate to spoil the ending for you, dear reader; love and me, we aren’t friends. And we haven’t been for quite some time.
That’s not because I don’t believe in love.
On the contrary.
And that’s the reason we are here…again.
We all have that one person.
For me, he caught me unaware, and that’s when life usually screams KEEP UP!
And most times, we can’t.
If you’ve read Love Hard, then you know how love and I were no longer on speaking terms. But I wrote something which was a sign from the heavens. Or perhaps, hell…
I’ve learned that good men are like unicorns. Everyone talks about them, but no one actually sees them.
How I’m eating my words because I’ve found my unicorn. But does that mean I’ve finally learned my lessons in love? Is your beloved narrator about to get her HEA after all?
Buckle up, bestie, things are about to get wild.
Love hits you when you least expect it…and we are never ready for the fall.
First off, read Love Hard first before even thinking about reading this one.
If you love Love Hard, you will absolutely devour Love Harder.
These books are nothing like Monica’s other works because they are both non-fiction memoirs. And what I mean by that is these stories are based on her journey through the world of dating and falling in love.
Love Harder is a diary of what happens to the FMC when Love Hard ended. It’s her chaotic walk through online dating, the interesting men she meets and all their mannerisms. Some you will like, some you will want to knee in the nuts for causing harm to our FMC.
I was completely immersed in this story and had to know how each interaction went and all the in-betweens. This story occurs over many months. Does our FMC get her HEA? You’ll have to read to find out.
Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.
When she is not writing, Monica runs her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing twisted AF stories, hoping to terrify her readers…just a little.
She is a bestselling author in the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.
Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her Unicorn, and her three crazy cats. She is slightly obsessed with red lipstick, heels, and crime documentaries, and is that person who always runs late.
Tropes: Teacher x Student, he falls first, forced proximity, Doctor x Patient, Women in STEM, degradation kink, sci-fi vibes, morally grey characters, forbidden spice, stalker, dark cottage core, stalker, obsessed hero
Blurb:
Horror Romance meets science fiction in this dark and delicious gothic psychological thriller by NYT bestseller Karina Halle, perfect for fans of Gothikana, Ninth House, and Mexican Gothic.
Aspiring mycologist Sydney Denik is getting a second chance. When a dream opportunity presents itself with a prestigious foundation doing promising Alzheimer’s research, Sydney leaves the shambles of her old life to join a dozen other grad students at an isolated lodge hidden away in a remote, fog-shrouded inlet on Vancouver Island.
But the Madrona Foundation harbors more than brilliant minds. Everyone around her is hiding a terrible secret—including the resident psychologist she’s falling in love with. A student disappears, and no one but Sydney seems to care. Ghosts walk the halls. Snow falls in the middle of summer. Dead animals move like the living. The more Sydney uncovers about the foundation, the more she begins to question her own sanity. And if Sydney isn’t going mad, then the horrors in the surrounding forest are real, and the Madrona Foundation may be the biggest monster of all.
NOTE: This will be a live release on Amazon for paperback, ebook and hardcover on October 23rd 2024. The paperback and ebook cover is different from the case-laminate and dustjacket hardcovers. This is a standalone novel. Check content warnings inside the book or author’s IG closer to publication.
Content warnings: Grave Matter contains scenes of gore, body horror, animal body horror, off-page animal death, mentions of suicide, off-page suicide, graphic language and graphic scenes of a sexual nature, which include degradation and praise kink, breath play, bondage with ropes and belts, and various other mild-BDSM elements. Your mental health is important to me, and this book contains all sorts of fuckery, so please proceed with caution.
I am going to need a minute or two or a bazillion to gather my thoughts on this one.
Karina has outdone herself once again with an amazing story.
I don’t know where to start, what to say without babbling too much, or how to even put my rambling thoughts into words that can perfectly express this book.
If you love dark, gothic stories, add in some science fiction with romantic vibes thrown in – this book is for you. There are so many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I lost sleep because of this book.
Love enters the chat in this hilarious, heartfelt rom com by New York Times bestselling and Audie award-winning author Kylie Scott.
Romance author Riley Cooper always dreamed of living by the water. But within a day of landing in the charming seaside town of Port Stewart to work on her latest book, she’s getting calls and texts for some dude on her new number. Weird ones. Sad ones. Sexy ones. Ones that make her want to meet him. For curiosity’s sake…if nothing else.
After years of being on-again, off-again with his high school sweetheart, all Connor wants is to move on with his life. If only everyone in Port Stewart would let him. What he needs is to be seen with someone else. So when fate puts him in the path of the new girl in town who got his old number, faking it together seems like the perfect solution.
Spending time with the gorgeous former prom king might be great research for Riley’s romance writing…if only she can keep her feelings in check. But the more she gets to know him, the harder she’s falling. Can their serendipitous meeting turn into something real and true?
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The blurb is truly all you need to know before reading this one. Or hell, jump right into after reading this review with the knowledge that this is a funny fake dating story.
This story is only told from Riley’s POV, which did hurt the book a bit for me as I wanted to get a better understanding Connor and all his thoughts.
Kylie explains the ins and outs of this small town, Connor’s family and how Riley plays into everything so that does help readers get an idea of why things happen.
Overall, it’s a really entertaining story with great chemistry between characters that comes naturally.
Meet Kylie
Kylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning author. She has sold over 2,000,000 books and was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year four times by the Australian Romance Reader’s Association. Her books have been translated into fifteen different languages and she is based in Queensland, Australia.
Charlie It was supposed to be a regular day out. Three couples celebrating the last days of summer. When tragedy struck. I thought I was going to marry her. Instead, I was burying her. I blamed the world for my pain. I buried it all. I became a man I didn’t even recognize.
Autumn In a blink of an eye, everything changed. My best friend was gone, and I was responsible for it. I may not have been driving the truck, but I didn’t stop it. Escaping the town was the only thing I could do to survive the guilt. I thought I was strong enough to go back. I was wrong. One look from him and I knew I wasn’t welcome. But this is my home, and I wanted to come back. One night turned into more. But at the end of the day, I know he’ll never love me. Besides, we all have shattered dreams.
Nothing like starting a new series off with a book that will tear your heart apart and have you feeling everything.
Charlie and Autumn both suffered a loss years ago that drastically changed both their lives.
Autumn moved away and has only returned now because of her father’s health. She’ll do everything she can to avoid Charlie but we all know fate is fickle one.
My heart broke for Autumn – I literally wanted to reach through my kindle and hug this woman. But watching her grow and finally finding her strength again was so amazing.
Charlie – I wanted to continue hating this man til the end. But seeing him realize so many things, he redeemed himself in many ways.
Natasha wrote this story beautifully and truly does not leave readers disappointed at all.
I made a deal with my brother a long time ago to never date his teammates.
Technically, Rowan Landry, the hot as hell center for the Chicago Falcons, is no longer my brother’s teammate. Or his best friend. Their college days are long behind them, and they barely talk now.
Also, I’m not dating him—we’re just sleeping together. There’s a difference.
Except there’s not a lot of sleeping going on, and neither one of us wants to stop what we’re doing.
It’s all fun and games until my brother is traded to the Falcons, because Rowan doesn’t know I’m the new goalie’s little sister. Oops.
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Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
What happens under the mistletoe stays under the mistletoe…
Brandy Bloom plans to seduce the man of her dreams at an office Christmas party but finds herself kissing his twin, instead. One night only is her plan but Max Corbin has other ideas. The sexy elf who kissed him under the pretend mistletoe is a special woman he has no plans of letting go.
Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty
sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and three crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. Way back in 2002, Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa and was the first romance on a nationally televised book club. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers.
Who meets their soulmate shopping for bagels in a supermarket bakery aisle?
Before I moved to the small town of Silver Hills, I would have told you no one.
But the second I meet Henley Ward, I’m swept away.
He is everything I look for in a man: tall, strong and so handsome.
Our instant attraction, spirited banter, and heated glances leave a lasting impression…
Until I see him again.
Like a raging tornado, he storms into the school ready to take on the teacher who has crushed his daughter’s spirit.
The dedication this man has to his three daughters could be the sexiest thing I have ever seen.
Before we know it, we are stealing kisses in his kitchen and secretly getting together any chance we can.
I know I should stay away from Henley so I don’t lose my job, and his focus is on raising the girls and being the best wide receiver in football, but our attraction is intense and the draw between us is too tempting to resist.
I can only hope our secret love will survive when our truth is revealed.
Secret Love is book two in the Single Dad Playbook series. Each book can be read as a standalone.
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She needs a husband. He won’t let anyone else have her.
Ax Morgan has played many roles in my life: My brother’s best friend. The most notorious member of the Sebastian News Corp executive team. My enemy with benefits.
But my husband?
No thanks.
Our after hours scenes are simply a convenient way for me to blow off steam while I plot my exit from my toxic family’s company.
But when I need a groom so I can claim my inheritance, he presents me with a choice that’s more like blackmail—marry him, or he’ll sabotage me. So between the devil and the deep blue sea, I let the devil put a ring on it.
Turns out this is the role he plays best of all.
The worst part of pretending with Ax is how real it’s starting to feel.
Now my future is in his hands. And if he finds out what I’m planning, he’ll be the one with the impossible choice. Who loses everything—his best friend or his fake wife?
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With millions of books sold worldwide, Laurelin Paige is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author. She is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of
Thrones or Letterkenny, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.
Grace Kensington has been my secret crush since we were kids. Though she is definitely all grown up now. Long blonde hair, big blue eyes, and curves that could bring even the toughest hockey player to his knees. She’s the full package, too–smart, funny, and as real as they come. One might go as far as to say perfect. Except for one tiny detail: Grace is my coach’s daughter. And she just walked back into my life. Apparently she’s doing an internship for the team. The last thing I should do is get close to her again. So the plan is to keep my distance. But that plan flies out the window the very first time we run into each other…and I’m naked in the locker room.
The Breaking Point is the second book in Fallon’s Bad Boys Club series. These books can easily be read as standalones and as they all feature a couple in each one. The characters overlap but just to show how they all interact with one another and add another layer to the story.
This story features Grace and Brady. Brady was a foster child who lived with Grace’s family when he was older and was in and out of the system. She harbored a crush on him and he knew how she felt but never allowed anything to go past that even though he too felt something more for her.
Now they are in their older years, she’s interning for the hockey team her dad coaches and Brady plays for that same team. However, neither have been in contact with one another for years and he was not aware that she was back.
I do enjoy how this story plays out. It shows some growth on both their parts, both individually and together. However, I did want to see Grace grow more outside of Brady. She definitely showed a more confident side, but I wanted to see her step outside hockey and focus on herself and wanted made her happy. The author showed a bit of that, but I wanted to see that developed more.
Overall, this is a great addition to this series of what I like to call spicy sports romance.
Meet Fallon Greer
Fallon Greer is a twentysomething lover of romance novels, coffee, and bookish t-shirts, of which she has far too many. She lives in Miami with her Persian cat, Mortimer, who loves to sit on Fallon’s laptop when she’s trying to write. Fallon first discovered her love of reading when she’d steal her mother’s Lisa Kleypas novels. That led her to start writing the types of books she loves to read. When she’s not daydreaming through conversations with people and pretending to listen, she’s putting those daydreams to good use, writing novels as hot as the Florida sun.
Two scarred souls finding love when they least expect it.
Crossed Sticks, an all-new friends with benefits, M/M, hockey romance and the first book in the Buffalo Warriors Hockey Series from bestselling authors Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood is now available!
Harper
I wasn’t a keeper.
Guys just didn’t pick me, and after one too many threw me away, my heart couldn’t take it anymore.
When I was traded to the Buffalo Warriors, I knew things wouldn’t be any different.
Skate. Score goals. Work out. Repeat. That’s my life.
I’m living the dream by playing professional hockey, and I have some amazing friends.
I’m happy. Really, I am. Or at least I’m trying to be.
Until the night I run into Luca.
Luca
I had love once, only to have it ripped away when he married someone else.
Problem was, I never got my heart back.
I’ve built walls so high no one can touch me. I’m only interested in hookups, one and done.
And I can’t forget lacrosse, because it’s all I have.
I’m fine. Or at least I’m trying to be.
Until the night I run into Harper.
One chance encounter sparks a flame that consumes both men in the most delicious of ways. But when shadows from the past threaten to pull them apart, will they survive, or will their hearts be shattered again?
Crossed Sticks is a romance that’s anything but easy—and worth every moment. While the story is high on angst and deals with serious topics such as depression and anxiety, you can also expect witty banter, hilarious text conversations, public hookups, friends with benefits, grand romantic gestures, and exciting hockey scenes. Even better, there’s high heat, light kink with tons of dirty talk, found family, and a Happy Ever After that will leave you breathless.
From the author of Before I’m Gone comes an intensely affecting romance about love, loss, and second chances, sure to elicit a good ugly cry.
Grayson Caballero sees the glass half-empty. Born with a life-threatening heart defect, he’s been living on borrowed time. The uncertainty of tomorrow makes him push people away, helping Grayson to avoid any real commitment.
Then he meets Reid Sullivan and falls madly in love. The two work together at the Wold Collective, Grayson as a project manager and Reid in HR. They even live in the same apartment complex. But Grayson continues to keep his distance, despite their obvious attraction. And Reid’s not interested in waiting around.
When Grayson collapses at a basketball game, Reid learns he’s been keeping secrets from her. Now his life hangs in the balance…and a stranger from Boston holds the key to his survival.
Nadia Karlsson makes a life-changing decision after her husband, Rafe, is involved in a tragic accident near Harvard Square. Her choice will unwittingly alter the course of Grayson’s future—and tie his fate unexpectedly to her own.
“Are you going to win?” She placed her hands on his cheek and scratched her nails against his scruff.
“No,” he told her, despite wanting to. He figured if he won, she’d be over-the-moon happy for him. And if he didn’t, she’d still be proud, and he wouldn’t have let her down. “There are way better runners than me.”
“Next year,” she said. “You can practice more better.”
Rafe didn’t bother correcting her, even though he knew he should. He pulled his youngest closer and held her to his chest, kissed her forehead, and then moved her to his hip. He’d carry her as long as she’d let him.
Rafe couldn’t have scripted his morning any better.
Excerpt From Heartbreak Hill (Uncorrected Proof) by Heidi McLaughlin This material may be protected by copyright.
Heidi has done it again – delivered another touching story that leaves readers emotionally charged days after finishing.
Heartbreak Hill is exactly that – heartbreaking beautiful. This story touches on so much – grief, second chances, donor/transplant recipient, love and family.
This story depicts the lives of multiple people – Reid, Grayson, Rafe and Nadia and their respective families. Each of them go through tumultuous emotions, questioning themselves and their decisions and trying to move forward with their new “normal”.
This was not an easy read as it does delve into grief and some very strong emotions. But it absolutely worth the tears I cried, the emotions that it conjured up. But it also made me appreciate what I have in life, what I lost and the second chances I have been granted.
Heartbreak Hill is proof that we can survive the darkest of rains to enjoy the rainbows that shine afterwards. We cannot appreciate the light when we haven’t live in th
e dark.
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers. Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs. In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl. Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital. To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com
