February 2020 Review

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Dark Romance, Enemy-To-Lovers, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Mysery, Sizzling, Suspense Romance, TOP 2020 MUST READ

R E V I E W & SIGNED PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY (closed) ➠ Creole Kingpin by Meghan March

March 8, 2020March 16, 2020by The Guide To Romance Novels8 Comments

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

The thing about ghosts is they’re supposed to stay dead.
That’s exactly what I am, but I can’t stay away from Magnolia Marie Maison for one more day, let alone another year.
We’ve already got fifteen of those between us.
As it stands, she’ll want to kill me as soon as she lays eyes on me. And knowing her, she’s completely up to the task.
But I’m a man on a mission, and I’ve got everything riding on this.
So, here I come, Magnolia. This ghost is ready for whatever you got.
After all, there’s only one way I want this to end—’til death do us part.

RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2020

Not my first read by the author & yes I have read almost every single of her books! And I have to say that TOP DOWN THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DUET and I may have said that about her other books but this one tops all, the heroine Magnolia IS MY TOP 2020 FAVORITE HEROINES! Meghan can not do wrong characters, both hero and heroine are explosive together but yet strong alone too. JUST PLAIN AMAZING!

This magnificent book held me captive from page one, through the end. Rest assure that you will be sucked in and will never want to stop reading, the characters, the story line, events, the romance…phenomenal in all senses. Meghan changes your mind about anti-hero’s and you won’t want anything else, I can guarantee that no one would be able to top this.

Magnolia Maison #girlcrushforever this heroine is strong, a fighter, sweet, sassy, survivor and plain beautiful inside out. No wonder Moses didn’t know what hit him. The chemistry between them is mind-blowing, the perfect balance, you just get sucked into them that you’ll forget where you are. The story line, I don’t want to give out too much aside from it not being disappointing, it has a lot of depth, detail and twist and turns.

Plain and simple, Creole Kingpin will sucker punch you, then pick you back up. Phenomenal characters and a heartfelt story…can not wait for Book #2 the conclusion to this beauty! TOP 2020 MUST READ list for me!!

TOP 2020 MUST READS!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #1 of Duet
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY!
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

TO WIN A SIGNE DPAPERBACK COPY:
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That’s it! Good Luck everyone, OPEN INTERNATIONALLY, open till 3/15

(Magnolia Duet #2) coming APRIL 14, 2020

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Enemy-To-Lovers, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Political Romance, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Yours In Scandal by Lauren Layne

March 3, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

A political golden boy and the woman of his dreams take the risk of their lives in a sexy romantic comedy of strange bedfellows and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.
Fresh off being named Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, New York City’s youngest mayor, Robert Davenport, decides it’s time to strategize. Next move: a bid for the governor’s seat. In his way: an incumbent with a flawless reputation. He also has an Achilles’ heel: an estranged wild-child daughter with a past so scandalous it could be Robert’s ticket to victory. And a charm so irresistible it could be Robert’s downfall.
Rebellion is a thing of the past for Adeline Blake. As New York’s premier event planner, she’s all about reform and respectability. Then she’s approached by Robert to organize the party of the season. Curious, considering he’s her father’s most formidable opponent. And alarming, too. Because Addie can’t help but fall for the righteously popular candidate with the movie-star smile.
Now it’s Robert’s choice. Does he pursue a future that holds his legacy? Or the woman who holds his heart?

RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2020

“We’ve gone and done it now,” she said with a laugh, when they finally pulled back for air, flashbulbs going off all around them. “They’ll be talking about us forever.”
“Good,” he said, pulling her in once more. “Because that’s exactly how long I’ll love you.”

Not my firs read by the author, and I have read plenty of political romance and this one unfortunately was not my style of story.

Robert the hero is New York’s mayor and an outstanding citizen. While our heroine Adeline is a event planner in NY with a past of a little bit of wild and crazy. Separately I was 50/50 on both characters, on their own I could make out of something but together, I just couldn’t put my finger on it, they HAD chemistry but just wasn’t a wild factor there. It could also be because this is a very slow-burn romance therefore I really didn’t have much to go off of. Political romances to me have to have a balance of both and in this one TO ME it was more on the political actual aspect and therefore turned me off from the get go. There were parts that felt very slow until it picked back up. I was kind of hoping it being first book of a new series with the blurb that caught my eye, I would enjoy it more…I guess I was expecting more romance. It was a good story, amusing, entertaining and fun at times.
That said, even though this was not my style or type of read doesn’t mean someone insn’t going to enjoy it.

Rating: ★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥
Type: Book #1 of Series
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Mysery, Rich/Poor Romance, Sizzling, Slow Burn, TOP 2020 MUST READ

R E V I E W ➠ The Rich Boy by Kylie Scott

March 1, 2020March 1, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

I’m the type of girl who’s given up on fairy tales. So when Beck – the hot new busboy at work – starts flirting with me, I know better than to get my hopes up. Happily ever afters aren’t for the average. I learned that the hard way.
But how can I be expected to resist a man who can quote Austen, loves making me laugh, and seems to be everything hot and good in this world?
Only there’s so much more to him than that.
Billionaire playboy? Check.
Troubled soul? Check.
The owner of my heart, the man I’ve moved halfway across the country to be with, who’s laying the world at my feet in order to convince me to never leave? Check. Check. Check.
But nobody does complicated like the one percent.
This is not your everyday rags-to-riches, knight-in-shining armor whisking the poor girl off her feet kind of story. No, this is much messier.

RELEASE DATE: March 09, 2020

“FOR A CONTROL FREAK, I HAVE SURPRISINGLY LITTLE CONTROL AROUND YOU. IT’S DISCONCERTING.”
-Beck

This is not my first read by the author but a first official review. I have read Kylie’s book before I started all my bookstagramming! And I forgot how much I LOVE HER books!! ALTERNATIVE CINDERELLA STORY! I really did not want it to end, and sadly I have to report but no epilogue and I almost cried!

The heroine ALICE is a woman living life day by day, working, accepting where she stands and doing so to get by. She is a waitress in California. When a new staff comes on, she is intrigued but keeps her distance. The hero BECK is seductive, handsome, big, strong, sarcastic, real and just real. He is passing through but when his eye caught Alice, he knew he had to be near her if anything. They both hit it off right away and things kind of go fast…but as Alice thinks this is too good to be true, it really is because the ever so sexy and mysterious new boy that doesn’t want to “take things to the next level sexually” because he wants to get to know her…really is too good to be true. This is very steamy as well, it is a slow-burn but once it’s there, it’s blazing THEIR CHEMISTRY IS INSANE from the banter, to jokes, to Beck quoting JANE AUSTIN and being the right kind of sarcastic well they both are, to alike-ness GAH I loved both the characters!

I don’t want to say any more because this really will shock you because not only is it fast love, but the mystery, the truth….gah, you will never be able to figure out what’s to come next with this. I really was taken back and forgot how much I love Kylie’s books because her writing is something else. It’s something different AND REAL! Absolutely couldn’t get enough of this book!

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Standalone
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY!
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Age-Gap Romance, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Marriage Romance, Rich/Poor Romance, Slow Burn, Sport Romance, Sports Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Down And Dirty by Kendall Ryan

February 29, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Remember that time you accidentally woke up in Vegas married to your hot younger guy friend?
That’s basically my life right now.
Mistakes were made, okay?
He’s too young for me. Twenty-three to my thirty. And he’s saving himself for the right girl.
Yup. Apparently I’ve married the last alpha-male virgin on the planet. And my stubborn, oddly traditional, new husband doesn’t want a divorce.
He wants me.
Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Down and Dirty is a sexy romp with a hero you’ll melt for and a relatable, sassy heroine you’ll love. If you’re a fan of steamy romances with laugh out loud moments, grab yourself a copy– you won’t regret it!

RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2020

Not my first read by the author, she is one of my favorites! I have also read all the others in the series & LOVED!!

This was a bit unconventional as in reverse roll type. The heroine is 7 rears the hero’s senior. The hero might be younger but definitely not not alpha haha that made sense to me in NY head. It’s a sweet story of two people that arose from a “mistake” and found that being together had its perks, being around one another wasn’t a hardship. Like i said i really doubt want to give out too much, but still the sports romance, older heroine, unconventional hero, all wrapped up in fate.

Rating: 4.5★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥
Type: Book #5 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY!
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, February 2020 Review

R E V I E W ➠ The Sinful King by Claire Contreras

February 29, 2020by The Guide To Romance Novels1 Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

If you had any ties to Marbella, it was impossible for you not to have heard the stories about Prince Elias and his debauchery.

Every summer he arrived with his security detail and friends in tow and rented out a row of cottages near the water.

Cottages that belonged to my family.

Each of those summers, my parents sent me away – summer camp and later, boarding school. Anything to keep me away from the royals and their partying.

I hadn’t been home in years, but when I finally come back for the summer, I see that not much has changed. Like all the summers I’d been gone, Prince Elias is back, but this time with an incognito security detail and no friends.

This time, there is no partying, no noise, no crowds. No reason at all to even think he was there.
I’m given strict orders not to talk to him, not to even look in his direction, but he makes this an impossible task.

I may be doing everything in my power to stay away from him, but there is no one in the world who can say no to the future King of France.

RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2020

Not my first read by the author but I have to say a ‘official’ review for sure. I have read this author before I started all of my bookstagramming and blog. So, been a while since I read anything by her and I gotta say I now remember why she is unique because not only is her writing that but also her story lines. Different but in a good way. MODERN DAY CINDERELLA STORY with a TWIST! And God was the hero SWOONY! *sigh* and by some of that twist i mean NAUGHTY!

Adeline the heroine and Prince Elias are really MEANT TO BE! I felt their connection from the beginning and LOVED LOVED LOVED them together. There is a different twist to this story, I won’t say much because I don’t want to give out too much but it’s unconventional for sure. When things pass and go from wrong to more wrong for both of them, they find each other again…but this time, the obstacles they over came themselves are nothing compared to what is to come for them together.

This book will captivate you, keep you on the edge and surprise you at every turn. I was turning pages to see what’s coming next, definitely a must read!

Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Standalone
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY!
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Cowboy Romance, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Make Me Whole by A.K. Macbride

February 28, 2020March 3, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

I came to Walker Ranch hoping to heal my tattered heart and bruised soul. To find a quiet place to pick up the scattered pieces of my life.
Instead… I found him.
With his dark hair and piercing blue eyes, Bradley set my pulse on fire with a single glance. Unable to resist the magnetic chemistry between us, we give in to temptation and lose ourselves in our passionate connection.
As we become closer, I realize he’s just as broken as I am. Both of us haunted by our pasts. But it’s the demons of mine that push to the surface and threaten to destroy our newfound happiness.
Can I find a way to piece both of our hearts back together? Or will what’s left of mine be shattered beyond repair?

RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2020

NEW TO ME AUTHOR & BOOKS! I read that blurb before the cover even came out & I knew I wanted to give this a try. Sounded something that I love to read!

This small town-romance had feeling some kind of way. It was pretty angsty, full of emotion, sizzling, sweet and funny! The hero and heroine are both two broken souls, that are not eager to jump right back in. When one was looking for solitude and quite the other found himself FOUND! It’s the best way I can subscribe it. I really liked both the characters and their story was warm, beautiful and romantic!

What I really loved about this story and book is that it was very real, some of the subjects, issues and so forth, really make me think, this is real. I was caught up in reading this beauty and will be reading more for sure!

Rating: 4.5★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #1 of Series
Recommended: ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Enemy-To-Lovers, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Rock Stars, Slow Burn, Tear Jerker

R E V I E W ➠ Us After You by Claudia Burgoa

February 28, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Tucker Decker is an infamous billionaire.
He’s ruthless, impulsive, cold-hearted, and hot as sin.
He likes his relationships casual and his commitments without strings.
But when it comes to his former bandmates, he’d do anything for them.
Tragedy demands sacrifice.
I’m an independent woman.
I’ve learned never to ask for help.
And I certainly didn’t want it from Tucker.
When my sister left us both to care for my niece,
we realize co-parenting may be harder than we thought.
Especially when we’re fighting a desire for each other.
When the ghosts of our past come back to haunt us, will we find that there’s still an us after all?

RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2020

Not my first read by author and I have read enough books by her to know the writing style. This one captivated me because of the whole ‘hero and heroine’ were left behind to take care of a siblings baby. That said, I was rather taken back for the first few chapters. You really have to pay attention, and of course I had to remind myself a lot of the previous book(s) because it really jumps in and takes you back 2/3 year span but like a sling shot. Once i Reached about 25% it started to make more sense to me. There truly was a lot happening and Like I said, I’ve read the other books and I was lost for a little there. So here is my take on it, with me being confused because it was a lot at the beginning then you have the hero and heroine meet and interact first time after that, to it turning into “later time” and now I’m at the part where the heroine is in an actual relationship with another ma . I’m sorry but lately I have been reading this type of story and came to find out that I do not enjoy it. It takes the sweet romance out for me, reminds me that cheating is very close by and breaking it off with a person then right away being “attracted” to the hero and vise versa, doesn’t do it for me. again, maybe its just me but I really just, it rubs me the wrong way. And I am kind of off put by the whole ‘I have a boyfriend but think about the hero, or say things like: i don’t care about him’ when clearly she has it for him. I just could not connect with the heroine Sage, here. Sadly so far I have not had them interact (hero & heroine) aside from Sage hating Tucker all while still thinking about him and that’s that, Tucker being a funny, sexy and sweet but to be honest I am close to 60% and she is still dating another man, so sorry to say I got fully turned off and will leave it at that.

The bok does have a lot of heart, really shows a bond people can have and not be related by blood. The hero does get swoonie but towards the end. Really wish it was like that through out, therefore that is the reason I am giving this a 4 star and not a 3.5star.

Rating: ★★★★
Romance: ♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥
Type: Standalone
Recommended: ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Enemy-To-Lovers, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, New To Me Author, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Words Of Love by Nina Lindsey

February 28, 2020by The Guide To Romance Novels2 Comments

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

As the new year approaches, journalist Brooke Castle escapes to a remote mountain cabin for a self-improvement retreat – even though she has no idea where to start. But her plans of quiet solitude are shattered when a booking error forces her to share the cabin with sexy bookstore owner Sam Donovan.
Though Sam makes Brooke tingle all over, he’s bad-tempered and has a past shrouded in mystery. When a sudden snowstorm prevents them from leaving, the cabin quickly proves to be too small for both them and their undeniably hot attraction.
Sam has spent the past year fighting his attraction to the perky, inquisitive Brooke. With his need for privacy, the last thing he wants is a relationship with a reporter. But when Brooke discovers his closely guarded secret, he has no choice but to surrender to her demands.
Despite their game of cat-and-mouse, Brooke and Sam embark on a sizzling affair…but neither of them expects to follow a lead straight to love.

RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2020

New to me author and books! What caught my eye was the blurb, sounded really good and I gave it a go. I have to say, I am glad I did.

The hero and heroine in here were relatable, sweet, their chemistry was beautiful, together: perfect. I fell in love with the broody hero Sam and couldn’t help but love and smile with the heroine Brooke! Sam is a bookstore owner and Brooke is a reporter. They both were looking for something different, quiet…to go through what they were going through separately, except they didn’t expect that together, it would be much sweeter!

Even though I read this backwards, as I usually do #noshame but I think I will be reading 1-3 books as well. This one blew me away for being a NEW TO ME author that I definitely want more.

Rating: 4.5★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #4 of Series
Recommended: ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, February 2020 Review, Forbidden Romance, Friends-To-Lovers, Single Dad, Slow Burn, Sports Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Fresh Meet by Jasmin Miller

February 28, 2020February 28, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Fans call me the king of the water. I’m focused, driven, and most importantly, I win.
Life as a professional swimmer comes with sacrifices, but they’ve never worried me. I’m used to life with little room for anything but training, eating, and sleeping.
Nothing more, nothing less.
When a son I knew nothing about lands on my doorstep—and a crazy but very beautiful nanny shortly after—my life is turned upside down. Allowing any change into my life could put my goals and dreams in jeopardy, and I’ve worked too hard and too long for them.
When I’m tempted to look beyond lap times and medals to bedtime stories and the possibility of love, I face one of the hardest questions of my life: is it worth the risk?

RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2020

Not my first read by author. She was a recent NEW to me though. The blurb on this is what caught my eye and not to mention the beautiful cover.
p.s. SINGLE DAD / NANNY ALERT!

Our heroine here is the sweetest woman alive. she is beautiful, smart, quirky, and in a bind. needing a job and having had experience with children on a children’s show, she gets hooked up with an amazing opportunity. The hero, he is mega sexy, considerate, alpha yes but in a swoon sweet way. He has had his share of woman and they both knew the deals, and after recently breaking it off with a hook up that turned sour…a little present at the door showed up that night. After realizing that he is responsible for a human being and being a dad over night, he nerds help.
These two were so good together, their chemistry *SIGH* and honestly, aside from hating her family because they were straight up terrible people…I loved everything about this. A single dad/nanny romance, slow burn but a sweet burn. the hero is a professional swimmer who has been to the Olympics a few times already. The only thing that kind of threw me off was at the end, the BIG O as I call it. They both kind of did wrong and I wasn’t sure where to place my feelings because of what had happened. That’s about it. Will be reading more in this series for sure!

Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #1 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY!
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Angsty, February 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Worth The Risk by Lissanne Jones

February 23, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Will taking a shot at love be worth risking the friendship of a lifetime?
Jessica Coleman and Rory Cooke have been best friends since they were children, but as they approach their thirtieth birthdays they realize the love they feel for each other is no longer platonic.
Rory is sure that Jess is the woman for him and always has been, but he’s forced to stand by and watch her date another man. What if she never works out what he has – that they’re meant to be together?
Jess finally recognizes Rory for who he truly is – the man she’s in love with. But she’s afraid to take that leap, because if their romance ends she’s not only lost her lover, but her best friend as well.
Will they decide that being in love is worth the risk of losing the extraordinary friendship they already have, or will they stay just friends forever?

RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2020

NEW TO ME AUTHOR & BOOKS! First book reading by the author, she is really the sweetest persona and I am honored to have received an ARC of this beauty!

Rory and Jess have been friends since they were kids, so there is a lot of history between them. When lines start to blur for both of them, who will take the first leap? I really was not ready for anyone to leap, because my heart went BOOM-BOOM in all the directions. When I started I though aww this is really sweet, best friends but want more…then you get the heart of the story and BOOM! I was pleasantly surprised at how much heart, sweet, sassy, adventure this contained. You wont be able to help falling in love with both Rory and Jess and their journey to cross that line.

Rating: 4.5★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #1 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY!
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦