May 2020 Reviews – Page 2

2020 ARCs, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Sizzling

R E V I E W ➠ British Banger by Jennifer Woodhull

May 24, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

British accents should come with a warning label. When they’re attached to deep, baritone voices that belong to sexy, cocky men, you should have to sign a waiver.
Most people wouldn’t touch short-term rental properties, but since my business partner took off with my client list, I need every deal I can get. Enter, one insanely sexy and completely exasperating Camden Reid.
The smug executive found fault with every property I showed him. Too cramped. Too feminine. Too far from a decent pub.
His demands were ridiculous, and I couldn’t wait to be rid of him and his British bangers.
Somewhere between the first property and the zillionth, though, my attraction to Camden grew impossible to ignore.
His insane demands finally met, the arrogant Adonis proposed we christen his new temporary home.
Little did I know how addicted I’d become, or just how unforgettable my time with Camden would be.
After all, I knew we had an expiration date.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

British Banger is a Cocky Hero Club book, written in the world of Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. British Banger features Camden Reid, brother of Calliope from British Bedmate.

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

This is my first time reading the author, and I have read British Bedmate and was 50/50 about it, so I was little skeptical about this one but it won me over. I won’t lie that I had to think hard about the already cocky book to catch up to this. This books reminds me that fate really is out there and being at the right place at the right time, can turn something into magical.

Camden and Quinn I seriously couldn’t understand these two wanting to be with one another in a funny way because opposites hello, their banter is refreshing and feels more real and when they got together, seriously sweet, funny and sexy. I really really couldn’t get enough and glad I gave this a chance. Will have to make sure to get down to get a paperback because I would definitely like to re-read this one day!

Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, MUST READS!, Rock Stars, Slow Burn, Suspense Romance, Tear Jerker

R E V I E W ➠ Catch Me When I Fall by A.L. Jackson

May 22, 2020May 22, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AMAZON

Sometimes trying to catch a star will light your whole world on fire….
Emily’s entire existence is wrapped up in touring with her up-and-coming country rock band Carolina George and trying to build them into a music legend. Her passionate night with a gorgeous, tattooed bad boy was the result of too much time on the road, too much tequila and combustible physical chemistry. It was never supposed to follow her into the light of day, much less threaten everything she and the band have worked so hard to create.
Royce’s night with the lead singer of Carolina George was the worst mistake of his life. He needs the band to sign on to his record label or his family will pay the price. But will his irresistible attraction to Emily destroy his carefully laid plans?
Royce’s past is littered with mistakes and heartache – will his love for Emily be just one more tragedy?

RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2020

Not my first read by the author and ot my last, AMY happens to be one of my top favorite author’s and I have read all her books. I have also read all the books in the series and want, no, need more!

What a heart-wrenching twist of fate. wow. i had to stop myself repeatedly from reading too fast because I didn’t want to miss a beat. talk about having your heart beat out of your chest feeling.
This was truly and oh-so-heartbreakingly beautiful. The hero and heroines lives so intertwined yet so far away. Neither wanted to happen what they couldn’t deny, but when the truth came out…IT. WILL. BREAK. YOU. That’s all i am going to say. Be prepared. You can assure that the hero and heroine are the type you fall in love and get so caught up with you forget that you are reading and not living through them. It’s a slow burn, but a sweet one, two souls TWO BROKEN SOULS that are meant to be but having a hard time finding their joint path…when they do, it will both break them.

A MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: Force
Standalone/Series: Book 2 in Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.
And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for . . . well, anything. She’s fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they’re half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.
But then Brynn runs into Kinsey’s lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.
As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them.

RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I was so happy when I got the chance to review this. I adore Jill’s books, it’s more woman’s fiction at times but the way she writes is with contemporary romance intertwined, works really well. Her characters are always realistic, and this also featured another 2 romances into one book so you are getting a lot.

This really was a sweet and refreshing read. The sisters here are what true sisters are to be, what they go through might be separate but intertwined. This brings out two childhood enemies, twist, turns and one big bang if you will. This really has to be lived through, the secret…I was not ready for that.

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Book #3
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑

2020 ARCs, Friends-To-Lovers, Marriage Romance, May 2020 Reviews, Sizzling, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Fateful Fighter by Kathy Coopmans

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AMAZON

“I want a divorce.”
No woman wants to say those words. No woman who is still in love with her husband anyway.
Our marriage has been tested, repeatedly.
It’s been dragged through tabloids and rumors and fans that just won’t let us be.
Through it all, we’ve remained unbreakable.
We didn’t have the perfect marriage because perfection doesn’t exist.
But we had love. We had trust. We had chemistry that to this day sets everything inside me
on fire.
Then one life-threatening statement creates a chain of lies that leaves me no choice but to say those horrible words.
I never thought I’d say them.
I never thought my husband would ignore me when I did.
I never thought the man I love would sever the vows we took.
I never thought I’d pack my bags and move from our home in L.A. to our getaway cottage in Hermosa Beach.
Then again, I never thought he’d choose the fate of his life over his fate with me.

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

Not my first read by the author, but I have only read one book by her. So I was kind of familiar and from the blurb that this would be a doozey, and that it was. The hero and heroine are already married and I really can’t say too much because I don’t want you to miss the chance to experience it all as I did. The hero is AMAZING i mean i fell in love with him and the heroine, my heart, you will feel all of her. Definitely glad I gave this a chance and you will be in for a ride and a fight worth fighting for!

Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Dirty Liar by Janice M. Whiteaker

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AMAZON

𝐃𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.
His impossibly improbable act set off a chain of events I couldn’t make up if I tried, each one stealing a little more from me.
My relationship. My business.
𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.
But even bad times have to come to an end. I thought that was the case when Valerie slid onto the bar stool next to mine and asked me to buy her a drink.
She was gorgeous. Driven. Smart.
𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠.
𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞.
Valerie was a ray of light when I needed it most, and I couldn’t get enough of her. Being with her made me think I could have it all again.
Showed me I could have more.
𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑡.
Except all 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 things must come to an end too.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠.

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

New to me author and books, so I was not sure what I was getting into. This was a very sweet slow burn. This was a huge twist from Mister Moneybags, which I will say right now I enjoyed very much. Jay and Valerie were not what I expected and it was sweet to watch them try and build together. Their chemistry together felt more real and realistic down to the sex scenes. A very sweet read for sure!

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!

2020 ARCs, Enemy-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Sizzling, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Master Manipulator by Nicole S. Goodin

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AMAZON

From International Bestselling Author, Nicole S. Goodin, comes a sexy new standalone novel.
He was infuriating, arrogant and conceited. He was also my new seatmate.
Fifteen hours stuck next to the definition of tall, dark and handsome, and the only thing on his mind on our trip from California to Sydney… was me.
Ky Bateman made no secret of the fact he wanted me, and I made it clear he drove me crazy.
When my resolve finally wavered, we made a bet. I lost, he won, and I found myself on the back of his motorcycle, on the adventure of a lifetime.
I never intended to fall for the master manipulator, especially when I knew I was keeping secrets that could destroy everything between us.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.
Author note – Master Manipulator is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

New to me author and books, so I was kind of jumping in blind and wasn’t really sure what to expect. I have to say that this was a 50/50 mixed feelings for me. Even though I enjoyed their banter and the cat and mouse game, this was a lot more deeper than that, the secrets the manipulations but also the love…plot twist for sure. Also this has to be one of my shortest review’s because honestly I wasn’t sure how to take this in, or to write about it without giving it all away. I enjoyed both hero and heroine, the heroine a little bit more and their together, was just so beautiful but everything to that was….unexpected!

Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑

2020 ARCs, Dark Romance, Enemy-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Cruel Beloved by T.L. Smith

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AMAZON

Sign on the dotted line…
I, Carla Star, agree to marry you, Corton Whiskey, on the date supplied in the attached contract. In signing this document, I agree that I shall not, by any means, try to break this contract. I understand that if I do, the envelope held in escrow will be released to the parties identified within the contract, and I shall forfeit my right to the privacy currently afforded to me by the aforementioned Mr. Corton Whiskey.
Aubrey Bateman
Lawyer acting on behalf of Mr. Whiskey
I received this contract, hand-delivered, and I’m now staring at it in disbelief. Me, the daughter of a senator, is being bribed by a one-night stand.
If he thinks he can blackmail me with his perversions, he can damn well think again.

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I’ve read a a lot of them, so I really wans’t sure what to expect going in this and I gotta say she definitely kept to her type of writing style.

This is a twisted story if you will, Whiskey is definitely the hero but the villain too, this is a usual type of writing for the author and so I was expecting that but he was cruel at one point or another, if it wasn’t for the heroine I’m not sure i could really click with the book. She was very strong and took no shit.

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: Can’t say because it would be spoilers.
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Enemy-To-Lovers, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Pin-Up Pilot by Claire Raye

May 21, 2020May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AMAZON

Alexa Purdy has sworn off men and he’s her worst nightmare.
Arrogant and flirtatious, and now International Airlines’ newest pilot, Jake Campbell has a panty-dropping smile and a body to match. But he’s no match for Alexa’s cold heart.
Plagued by a bad reputation and a bitter divorce, Alexa is determined to make a name for herself outside of the bedroom. As International Airlines’ only female pilot, she’s had to work twice as hard and she won’t let someone like Jake bring her down.
But she’s surprised to find he’s nothing like she expected him to be. Even more surprising is her growing attraction to him and his obvious attraction to her—an attraction that causes her to question whether swearing off men is such a good idea after all.
But when Jake’s past resurfaces, she realizes getting close to him may be her biggest mistake of all.

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

You are the crayons to my coloring book…

Not my first read by the author, although I haven’t read many but the ones I have, I enjoyed. This was a little bit different for me, I usually do not like overly-strong heroines but this one was a mellow one for me. Now a little about my isse with overly-strong heroines they usually come with weaker hero’s and that’s a turn off. That said, that’s my personal feelings, doesn’t mean you or anyone else will not love it. That also said, the original PlayBoy Pilot wasn’t my absolute favorite to begin with.

The heroine Alexa is a very strong heroine, that knows what she wants and fights for it. Jake is a handsome but very cocky man with the sexiest accent. They both bud-heads they both have strong personalities and even though they clash but together they are fire! It’s a story of a fight, a fight for both of them together but for themselves and what’s right!

Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑

2020 ARCs, Enemy-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Lucky In Love by Kelly Elliott

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AUTHOR WEBSITE

AMAZON

When it comes to luck, I’m on the wrong end of the good side with more mishaps than I care to remember. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a happy guy: single, decent looking, wealthy, with a waiting list of people who want me to make their kid’s dreams come true with my custom-designed playhouses.
My life was exactly how I wanted it to be. That is, until Saryn Night walked back into my life with the intention of firing me. Good luck with that. One strong-headed, opinionated woman with a three-year-old little girl had turned my world upside down within five minutes. The moment they stormed into my office — bright blue eyes, curly brown hair, and a smile that would make any man fall to his knees, and that was just the daughter — I knew I was in for one wild ride that was guaranteed to turn my luck completely around.
Now, for once in my life, I found myself thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could finally be Lucky in Love.

RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I have read the previous series books.

This was a hard book for me to read because it contained MY TRIGGERS and a pretty big one, so to say the start was pretty hard is very right. I will only say this about this trigger, it’s a hard feeling i get and i invest myself in all my readings. that said, the idea of the hero or heroine having relations with other people and it goes a little into detail and or they admit it, rubs me the wrong way. This is my personal way, doesn’t mean its negative i just can’t feeling wise turn it off. So yes it was a hard read but i very much enjoyed it because of the heroines little girl. Towards the ending of course also.
The hero is a well known playhouse builder and the heroine is a divorcee who moved back with her family afterwards. Her mother hires the hero in hopes to hook them up but unfortunately that backfired. It’s a cat and mouse game with these two and the sweetest part of it all is the hero with the little princess. I’m glad I gave this a shot even with the beginning hick up.

Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: My Trigger (explained in review)
Standalone/Series: Book #4
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑

2020 ARCs, Enemy-To-Lovers, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Sizzling, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Filthy Firefighter by Emma Louise

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AUTHOR WEBSITE

AMAZON

He looks like he belongs on stage, stripping out of his firefighter uniform, not running into a burning building to save me. But thank God he did.
When the smoke clears and my eyes focus on my savior, one look at his gorgeous face and tattoo-covered muscles, I know he’ll be too much for me to handle. It’s a good thing I never have to see him again, right?
Except, losing my home in a fire means finding somewhere new to live, and guess who just happens to be my new roommate? Hayden Flynn. The filthy-talking firefighter who’s been front and center of all of my dreams lately.
Our attraction is undeniable, but it’s the adventures he takes me on that has me falling for him, each new experience chipping away at the wall I’ve been hiding behind.
He wasn’t supposed to see past my scars.
He wasn’t supposed to break me apart piece by piece, then put me back together again.
He was just supposed to be a firefighter. I didn’t expect him to end up saving my life, in more ways than one.
Filthy Firefighter is a standalone story- inspired by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard. It’s published as part of the Cocky Hero Club world, a series of original works, written by various authors, and inspired by Keeland and Ward’s New York Times bestselling series.

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

Not my first read by the author but it has been a long time since I’ve read one of her books. This was one where I had mixed feeling about. And here’s why:

I know this was from just the beginning but it rubbed me the wrong way. The heroine is in a happy and actually seemed beautiful relationship with not hero and she ends it just because actually I wasn’t sure how to take her leaving him. It just started off wrong for the for the rest of the book. I will say that this book was pretty deep, some emotions will be brought out and the hero is very handsome and brave and everything…just couldn’t get myself into the book fully!

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: Addiction
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!