Second Chance Romance

2020 ARCs, 5 STAR, Enemy-To-Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Friends-To-Lovers, MUST READS!, October 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Suspense Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Vow of Worth by Emma Renshaw

October 20, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

(Vow Series Book 6)

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AUTHOR WEBSITE

She’s always existed in someone else’s shadow.
Caroline never thought she was good enough, always believing that little voice in the back of her head.
For the first time, Caroline is determined to ignore those feelings. She’s living for herself, loving her job as a vet, making a difference. Her simple and easy life is everything she could want, except for one thing…
He’s never let anyone see beneath his carefully crafted façade.
Kiernan has always been the life of the party. But he’s tired of no one expecting more from him than a good time. He’s ready for a purpose, to do some good in the world.
From the moment he walks into Caroline’s clinic, she knows who he is. The high school crush who never had a clue she existed. His handsome face threatens to resurrect all her self-doubt. But that was the old her.
When Caroline is threatened, she knows exactly whose doorstep to turn up on. Kiernan vows to protect her but, from the beginning, it’s more than a job.
She is his purpose. He is her missing piece.
But before they can discover everything they’ve been missing, a killer may take it all from them…

RELEASE DATE: October 20, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I have read all the other books in this series! This one somehow took it for me! There is something about a broken heroine and a hero that has it all but is just missing.

I can’t express enough how much I LOVED THE HEROINE in this. She was an equal amount of strong and vulnerable. Beautiful but doesn’t know it and very smart and SO SO SWEET. The hero you will love equally because he was swoony, sweet, fun and uber sexy! This is a not really second chance but the hero and heroine do know each other. Their meet cute was epic, there is this little puppy named Pepper Jack that is a little devil in disguise with big brown puppy eyes that the hero couldn’t resist. Yes, the heroine is a VET and the hero works at the SECURITY firm that is part of the series. Everything about this is appealing, from the beginning the fun and laughter to going through the pains with the heroine while her family sucker punches her verbally to the hero making her feel like the sexiest woman alive. There is danger, mystery, some best friend fun who is a romance photographer and YES the hero models and it’s the sexiest thing ever…I am pretty sure all of our dream jobs (you’ll see what I mean) That said this really took me from the start, kept me engaged and wowed me through the end!

A MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Book 6 in Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, 4.5 STAR, Enemy-To-Lovers, October 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Sport Romance, Sports Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Only One Chance by Natasha Madison

October 18, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

(Only One #2)

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Mille
They called me the pretty boy on and off the ice. Hockey’s most eligible bachelor
When my teammate asked me to donate one date to his charity, I figured why not. Worst case, I’d spend the night with a fan. Best-case scenario, she would be hot. What I wasn’t expecting was for my dream girl to be the highest bidder
For years, she brushed me off, and now, I finally had a chance to take her out and show her who I really was
With only one shot at this, I really hoped I didn’t mess it up
Layl
At the top of my career, I was riding the wave of my sports talk show having the best rating on the radio
I also made it a rule to never date any sports players
It was my one rule, and I was sticking to it until I bid on the only man who gets under my skin
All it takes is one touch, one night, one kiss, and only one chance.

RELEASE DATE: October 20, 2020

Not my first read by the author! I have read the first book in this series too and will say that I can’t wait for the next story, Manning.

I have mixed feelings over this story and I will try and be short because if I went fully in depth I’d give away the story but I just mixed feelings about the heroine. At times it was a little slow for me and dragged a bit. The characters, well the hero is a fun outgoing player type of hockey player and the heroine is she is wild and out there and upfront but something just I can’t explain it but something didn’t fit with me for them. They both have the biggest hearts and when you get the sweet of both of them, it’s really sweet and your heart will melt but the in between and actions, and occurrences…I don’t know it felt off that’s really the only way I can explain it. I loved it but at the same time was like hmmm…

That said, there is a lot of fun in this, a CRAZY AF GRANDMA that is wildly inappropriate in all the levels, 25K and flipping GOOGLE haha! I can’t say I didn’t have fun reading it, the ending really grabbed me and two epilogues so I WAS happy and really ended on the sweetest note…minus Manning!

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

2020 ARCs, 5 STAR, Angsty, Friends-To-Lovers, Mysery, October 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Single Dad, Slow Burn, Surprise Baby

R E V I E W ➠ Grip by Lacey Black

October 13, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AUTHOR WEBSITE

Mack
I live to race. It’s in my blood—the smell of dirt and gasoline, the fast cars, the screaming fans. I was the king of a small track in Missouri with the world at my fingertips. I even had the girl, until a call came from the infamous Colton Donavan. I had a choice to make: my dream or the woman I loved. I couldn’t have both.
When an unexpected surprise shows up on my doorstep in the form of a baby, there’s only one woman I trust enough to help me. Lena Stanley, the one I left behind. But being in close proximity to her reminds me of what we used to have, and what I still want. Her.
Lena
The day he walked away to chase his dream was the hardest day of my life, but I powered through. I could never ask Mack to choose between me and the opportunity of a lifetime.
That’s why I pushed him toward the latter, despite the heartache it caused.
Now, he needs my help. The problem is it’s hard to keep old feelings buried. Despite my best efforts, our connection is too powerful to deny. However, as our short time together draws to a close, I have another difficult choice to make. Only this time, I’m not just walking away from him, but his son too.

RELEASE DATE: October 15, 2020

Not my first rea dby the author, but since this is part of the KB World I wasn’t really sure what to expect to be honest.

Mack and Lena are part of the DRIVEN WORLD by K. Bromberg and I do love this author’s style and have read a lot of her books, after reading the blurb I knew I needed to read this! This was beautiful, emotional, real, sweet, angsty and FULL OF HEART! This is a second chance romance I want to re read over again. This story will have lots of curves, banter, sweet adorable babies, mystery that will have you turning the pages faster to see the truth. Absolutely loved both characters even the side of course but these two, were just so beautiful together.

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

2020 ARCs, 4.5 STAR, Angsty, Forbidden Romance, Friends-To-Lovers, October 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Single Dad, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Every Sweet Regret by Lexi

October 10, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

(Orchid Valley #2)

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For as long as I can remember, Kace Matthews has been my brother’s best friend and my not-so-secret crush. But I knew nothing would ever happen between us. The successful single dad doesn’t fall for the hot mess party girl. Kace + Stella exists in the doodles in my high school notebooks and in my dreams. Never in real life.
Until he finds me on a hookup app and starts flirting shamelessly.
It turns out high school Stella was not prepared for Kace Matthews. Adult Stella isn’t much better, but I manage to break down the walls to show Kace the real me—not just the life-of-the-party exterior, but the vulnerable pieces I hide from the world. Combine that with the combustible chemistry we have in real life, and I’m a goner.
Too bad it takes me so long to realize Kace doesn’t know I’m the girl he’s been falling for online. Telling him the truth now that he knows my secrets could mean losing everything, and that’s one regret that could break me.

RELEASE DATE: October 13, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I have not read any of the other books in the series.

Stella Jacob and Kace Matthews were explosive in a not so great way. Messy and complicated is how I would call these two. I won’t lie but I didn’t LOVE the heroine. Stella is the best friends little sister, a wild child, party out there girl that really doesn’t chance too much. Kace is a man that is going through a lot, divorced, single dad, and truly going through a lot personally too. These two together were just I don’t know how to exactly express it but it was a little like water/oil.

There really is a lot that goes on here. Side characters, secrets, flirting, mystery, ex’s, family and friends…but here is the kicker Kace has a huge dilemma…chose the woman that he has been talking to online that is a great listener, sweet and gives great advice or the woman he has been secretly wanting for a long time but a bit of a wild card. What comes of this is a lot of Kace trying to find himself and Stella being messy but still deep down is a woman looking to belong. Great story, keeps you engaged and lot’s of adventure. I was going back and forth between 4 or 4.5 stars, in the end because of the ending I chose 4.5!

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Book 2 in Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑

2020 ARCs, 4.5 STAR, Angsty, October 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance, Surprise Baby

R E V I E W ➠ Officially Over It by Lani Lynn Vale

October 10, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

(SWAT Generation 2.0 #10)

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Going from a professional baseball player to a SWAT officer should’ve been seamless. Should have been.
But it wasn’t.
All it took was one single calendar shoot for word to spread that Nathan Cox was not only no longer playing professional baseball, but he was also the man behind saving the life of Reggie Morton, the City of Kilgore’s princess.
Reggie didn’t know that by agreeing to provide the expertise and the know-how for the Police Officer’s Ball that she would be required to actually attend the function.
What she also didn’t expect was needing to be saved—again—by the same man that had saved her life a year ago when she hosted her debut event.
This time in a not-nearly-as-spectacular way. The moment she falls into his arms like a modern-day Cinderella and takes him in in all his three-piece suited glory, she realizes that she’s been fighting the impossible.
Nathan Cox owns her. Body and soul.

RELEASE DATE: October 13, 2020

Not my first read by the author. I have also read almost all in this series and generation #1 series as well so I am familiar with the style and the ongoing stories.

This was a little different but same at the same time because well I am used to different and out there form Lani it’s part of why I love reading her books! This one had kind of everything in it, second-chance, romance, sweet, painful, secrets…a mix of a lot of what you want. Nathan and Regina together were explosive in all the ways, when the sweet turns on IT’S SWEET, there is danger, secrets, so many secrets and painful past but them together really makes your heart happy. I would highly recommend this one, grabbed me from the beginning and kept me engaged the whole time. One of my favorites from the series!

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Bok 10 in Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, 5 STAR, Angsty, Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, September 2020 Reviews, Slow Burn, Tear Jerker

R E V I E W ➠ False Start by Shanna Swenson

September 20, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

(The Gods of the Gridiron, #2)

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AUTHOR WEBSITE

Almighty Zeus , thrower of thunderbolts… Ha
Brett “Brickhouse” McFadden may be called Zeus on the Gladiators football field, but when the man who’s been his best friend and favorite receiver for over a decade gets killed instead of him, he’s completely helpless and left to pick up the pieces Hunter “Hermes” Thomas left behind
The one and only constant in Brett’s life has always been his hidden love for his first best friend, Madison Thomas, the perfect girl he fell in love with at seven—yes, seven—years of age, who also happens to be Hunter’s widow. Love is complicated after all
Now that Hunt’s gone, Madi needs him more than she ever has, and Brett feels utterly blessed to be given this second chance, but will the shameful guilt be enough to kill him too
Madison Thomas, CEO and VP of the Atlanta Gladiators, thought her life was well-established, until the unimaginable happened; the abrupt death of her husband, Hunter. Her overdependence on her best friend, Brett, begins to intensify as the darkest days of her life follow and she finds herself bombarded with the regrets of her past…and the unavoidable attraction she’s always felt for the perfectly-sculpted “king of the gods”
As new revelations come to light, Madi starts to see that Hunter wasn’t the husband—or man—she thought he was. Now, she must storm past the FALSE START she was given and embrace the possibility of a do-over with the one she’s always wanted—Brett McFadden
Will the “god of thunder” prove to be the better contender for Hera’s heart or will this long-suffering Olympian forever remain fourth and inches from his ultimate goal line?

RELEASE DATE: September 25, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I have read Book 1 in this series also.

This is the second book in the series featuring Brett as the hero and Madison the heroine. I am always a fan of second-chance romance and this was a beautiful one. Bret’s guilt for what happened to Hunter really guts him and always hits him hard…Madi my heart breaks for her, she lost someone she loves so close to her heart, he was everything to her. So imagine the pain both hero and heroine feel going on with life, trying to move on. This was so heartbreaking in all the levels because both have suffered a loss heck Madi suffered it double it feels…so it takes time, time to heal right! Together is the key word here, together they heel one another, it’s a slow burn but a sweet slow burn of two people who find solace in one another and when they become one, it’s so beautiful will make your heart soar.

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Book 2 Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, 5 STAR, August 2020 Reviews, Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Single Mom, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Tear Jerker, TOP 2020 MUST READ

R E V I E W ➠ Tempted by Love by Melissa Foster

September 7, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

(The Steeles at Silver Island #1)

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AUTHOR WEBSITE

Years ago, bestselling author Jack “Jock” Steele lost his girlfriend and baby in a horrific accident that drove a wedge between Jock and his family, keeping him from sharing a devastating secret. An aging philanthropist saved him from the brink of despair, and for a decade Jock cared for his ailing friend who became his family. Now his friend has passed away and left him a fortune—on the condition that he publishes another book. Jock is floundering, unsure how to rebuild the life he’d walked away from, much less find his muse, have another relationship with a woman, or even think about having a family of his own. But he can’t get his sweet, sexy new friend, single-mother Daphne Zablonski out of his head, and her adorable toddler must know something he doesn’t, because she wraps her tiny fingers around his heart and won’t let go
Daphne has been through the wringer with her ex-husband and doesn’t believe true love is in the cards for her. Friends she can handle, but letting a man see her mom bod naked? Especially someone as strikingly handsome and unbelievably sexy as Jock? No, thank you. Besides, she has a toddler to chase after and enough fictional boyfriends to fill her lonely nights. If only her book boyfriends could make her body tingle the way one look from her mysterious neighbor does
As Jock and Daphne’s friendship turns to something too tempting to deny, their lives take an unexpected turn. Can a man who has lost everything find redemption with a woman who has everything to lose? And then there’s that secret…

RELEASE DATE: September 9, 2020

First off MF is not new to me in any way. She’s been one of my very first many moons ago and I’ve read enough of her books to be filly invested. That said, I was scared to read this because I just had a feeling it was going to be very emotional. Once I dived it I couldn’t stop, beware right away that you probably want to have tissue near because I cried my little eyes out. What a heartbreaking story of two people who have over come so much differently yet same pain.

The heroine is a single mom not only kind of starting over but more importantly, starting over after not only her heart was broken but for her daughter. To be with a man that did that to her and her child, BROKE MY HEART. The hero, my gosh the hero I loved through and through, he wasn’t broken but u fixable, every time he ran from the heroines little daughter my heart was torn, when I found out his past and to why he is the way he is NO ONE should ever suffer through that. The pain he endured is unimaginable, yet he was still living day by day, maybe not so much living but alive and taking it day by day. When these two collided it’s been a year and more in the making. Watching little Hadley with her Dock (Hero’s name is Jack but the man he took care of called him Jock for the hecks of it and it kept in honor of him) but little Hadley the heroines daughter calls him Dock. It’s the sweetest thing in the world. The fun part about all this is that both hero and heroine come from being twins. This beautiful story broke my heart over and over. I hung to every page, anticipation, the kisses, the little girl with her big broken man…heartwarming and I deem this book on my TOP 2020 MUST READ list!

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Book 1 in Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, 3.5 STAR OR BELLOW, Angsty, August 2020 Reviews, Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Single Mom, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Homebound by Kata Cuic

September 3, 2020September 8, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

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AUTHOR WEBSITE

A second-chance romance set in the heart of Appalachia that will make you root for first love, forgiveness, and family.
Lenore Wheeler knows what a hard life, heartbreak, and failure tastes like. Heading home to the backwoods Appalachian town she swore she’d never return to with her young daughter in tow, she can’t imagine her future getting much bleaker.
Then she comes face-to-face with the one man she never expected to see again.
Jesse Yates was supposed to escape the mountains, make something of himself, and attain every dream Lenore destroyed. He’s determined to wear down her resolve and win her back, but she’s got a secret to keep and reasons to keep her old flame at arm’s length.
Lenore already broke her own heart to save Jesse, but she’ll do anything to protect her daughter from the same fate.
Except fate has a funny way of working out, especially when all roads lead to home.

RELEASE DATE: September 9, 2020

NEW to me author and books. I found this on one of the email’s I get from GiveMe Books PR listings I recieve and the blurb really appealed to me. So I thought why not give this a try.

I had a huge issue from the beginning with this, now this is probably just me and my taste but the accent in this book DROVE ME TO THE EDGE I’m sorry it really did, I enjoyed the writing and chanters but the accent I can’t even explain what the accent is but every YOU was a YA and now I can’t unsee the YA when I read anything else. I’ve never read anything with this type of accent and it did not work for me, it distracted me the whole book and I wasn’t able to fully enjoy the story line. This is a second chance, hero is the new principal and heroine the new teacher at their hometown. The hero and heroine share a past, a lot of it and a lot more than anyone would have guessed. Again, that accent really prevented me to even pay too much detailed attention, and I will say that if you don’t mind that type then you’ll love this because it really was great writing and the story line along with the characters. Unfortunately I don’t know if I would try the author again.

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

2020 ARCs, 5 STAR, August 2020 Reviews, Brother's Best Friend, Friends-To-Lovers, MUST READS!, Second Chance Romance, Single Dad, Sizzling

R E V I E W ➠ Penthouse Prince by Kendall Ryan

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

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

A delicious new single dad standalone romance from New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan!
Lexington Dane was my brother’s best friend growing up.
We did everything together.
He taught me how to throw a punch, how to change a tire…and he taught me how to kiss. I fell hard and fast, and gave him all my firsts.
I promised I’d wait for him…
But I’m done waiting, because he went off to college and never came back. He took his fancy business degree and moved to New York City, where he promptly became a real estate mogul—turning every penthouse and apartment project he touched into gold.
It’s been ten years, and now he’s back and needs a favor…someone to watch his little girl. That’s right, the cocky penthouse prince and heartbreaker extraordinaire Lexington is back with an adorable two-year-old daughter. Guess who he wants to watch her?
I’ve never been able to say no to him. I might agree to be the nanny for his precious little angel, but there’s no way in hell I’m falling for her hot-as-sin daddy.

RELEASE DATE: September 1, 2020

Not my first read by the author, and I have read a lot of her books and love her writing style. This one was sweet, sexy and just so SEXY! The hero was every single-dad dream you can think of.

I love Kendall’s Hero’s but this one was super extra. Not only a single dad but handsome and so alpha in a sweet way, the way he melts for his daughter melts your heart. And when the heroine came in the picture it was odd at first because she stood her ground but I guess I would give in too if it was this hero. Their normal Nanny/Employer relationship blurs when the hero realizes what he missed out on by leaving the heroine so many years ago. Hiding back then from the brother and then leaving her the way he did, he truly is remorseful and it’s super sweet. I just swooned left and right with him. When they did get together it was so magical and sexy, everything they did was on point and again SWOONED all over the place. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this!

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

2020 ARCs, 4.5 STAR, Angsty, Fake Relationship, Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Pants On Fire by Lacey Black

August 30, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

Cricket
Success is what you make of it. That’s my motto and the premise of my speech; the one I’m heading back to Southern Illinois University to give at my college alumni reunion. As the morning co-host of Good Morning, San Francisco, I was asked to be one of the keynote speakers, and while I’m honored to do so, there’s only one problem. The other speaker is Danny Ohara, my former boyfriend. Throw in an issue with my credit card that leaves me stuck at the airport, no rental car in sight, until a familiar face appears like a guardian angel in sexy black glasses.
Here’s my dilemma with my attraction to Rueben Rigsby, my airport savior and old friend from college: I’m not supposed to be attracted to him. At all. He’s my ex’s former roommate. Yet that doesn’t stop my big mouth from lying about the status of our relationship when we come face-to-face with said former roommate. As in, we have one.
Together.
Ruebe
I don’t know why I agreed to come back to SIU for the alumni reunion, but I’m damn sure glad I did. When I found the familiar face stranded at the airport, I readily agreed to give her a ride. It’s great to catch up with Cricket Hill, as we make our way back to the place we ultimately met. What I’m not prepared for is this overwhelming attraction I feel for her. I’m not supposed to notice how amazing her butt looks in a pair of black yoga pants. She’s a friend. Period
But Cricket has other plans. When she lies about our budding relationship to my former roommate and her ex, I have no choice but to go along with it to save face. I have to pretend to be her boyfriend. I mean, it’s one little white lie, right?

RELEASE DATE: April 7, 2020

Not my first read by the author, and I got this book in preparation for another.

Cricket and Reuben have been friends for a decade, and their relationship has always been platonic until one day turned into Reuben ending up being Crickets boyfriend and line get blurred. Just when you least expect it, love has a way of finding each persona and bringing them together even if it’s in hard circumstances, some funny…but this turned out to be a beautiful slow burn I enjoyed very much!

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