Second Chance Romance

2020 ARCs, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Single Dad, Sizzling

R E V I E W ➠ Layover Lover by Jeannine Colette & Lauren Runow

May 17, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

Flying the friendly skies has been more than just a job to me. It’s my home.
Ten years ago I ran away from everything I’ve known and vowed never to return. That is until my flight is canceled due to weather, and I’m stuck in San Francisco.
Fate is not on my side when I end up in an Uber rideshare with the one man I thought I’d never see again.
Zack Hunt was my high school sweetheart, and the boy I walked away from without a note saying goodbye. Except, he’s no longer a boy. No, this man is gorgeous, intense, and heated at the sight of me.
The anger searing off him is nothing compared to the way my heart pounds from seeing him again. Words are said. Feelings are crushed. But when he invites me into his bar to hash out our past, I find myself following him in, desperate for more.
The line between past and present is blurred when Zack challenges me to a dare—come back home with him to see what I walked away from.
Call me a glutton for punishment, but I do.
Then I challenge him right back to live a day in my shoes.
We drive home to rediscover the past
We fly abroad to live in the present.
When we stop moving, we realize we may never have a future.
Layover Lover is a second chance romance, aligned by fate. Can two lost souls really find love again on a layover? Or do they need to keep flying?

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020

“You’re a goddamn sire. A temptress. And I have no control.”
-Zack

Not my first read by either author and I have to say that I have loved everything I have read by them together or alone. So it comes with heavy heart when I have to say that this was not my cup of tea, and I’ll explain why.

I want to start off by saying that i am not a big fan of the hero pinning after the heroine in any type of shape or form, that said this unfortunately was not my cup of tea if you will. I have huge respect for the authors and have read their books before but I just could not get into liking the heroine here is why: she did not budge not even a milometer…it made me feel sorry for the hero and that’s a turn off. I get that she is a flight attendant but there was no budging even after the hero gave a lot AND HE GAVE A LOT, ALWAYS! Not a bad thing just my personal opinion and feelings. I wish the authors nothing but the best always.

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

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Small Town Romance, Surprise Baby, Tear Jerker

R E V I E W ➠ Fight For Me by Corinne Michaels

May 14, 2020May 15, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

AMAZON

I fell in love with Sydney Hastings when I was ten years old.
At sixteen, we whispered promises of forever.
When I was twenty-two I broke them all. I left her and promised never to return.
After my father’s death, I’m forced to go home to Sugarloaf for six months. She’ll be everywhere, no longer just in my memories and regrets.
When we’re together, it’s as though time never stopped. She’s still the one I want, but I don’t deserve her. Instead of apologizing, I take that beautiful, broken woman in my arms. But after that, it’s her turn to leave me.
Now I have to fight. For her. For us. For the life we both want …

RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2020

Her head is in my hands, and my heart is at her feet. She has no idea how badly I want to be the man she still sees.
-Declan

Not my first read by the author or last, I’ve been a huge fan for many years. I was WAITING FOR DECLAN gah *sigh* absolutely everything about it kept me captivated through out the whole book. What a start…and then I finished it and I am now asking myself what in the heck just happened? Wha…why? *breathing*

Well this will be really hard to keep spoiler free but I shall. If you’ve read book one you know this was going to be a second-chance and if you didn’t, now you know. It was so intense to a point I wanted to throw my kindle, then it just took a turn and BAM, I was balling my eyes out into my chips I was eating. It feels like I just got off a roller coaster ride and wasn’t sure that I ever even got on one. It was intense, heart-breakingly beautiful, angsty, sorrow and romantic in it’s own way! You kind of come out breathing little faster, but by gosh did it mend my heart! You don’t want to miss Declan and Sydney’s story…one for the books!!

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Book #2
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Single Mom, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance, Sport Romance, Sports Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Clutch Player by Nikki Ash

May 14, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

Clutch player: an athlete who is good under pressure and performs highly impossible plays in a quick and almost impossible amount of time.
Harper
I fell in love when I was sixteen. Landon was my entire world and I thought he would be my forever. But I was young and dumb, and with one error in judgement, I destroyed any chance of a future we could’ve had together, along with our hearts.
Twelve years later and I’m going through the motions of life, but not actually living. Which is why I let my friends, Bridget and Simon, set me up on a blind date. Turns out, it’s not so blind after all. Because the man sitting in front of me is the same man who’s held onto my heart all these years.
Landon
They call me a Clutch Player because I’m good under pressure and quick on my feet. I was also quick to fall in love. The first time it was with baseball, the second was with Harper. And for a short time I had them both.
Until I lost Harper and all I had left was baseball.
For years, I focused on my career. I had accepted that baseball was my one true love.
Until I saw her again. I never imagined we’d ever get a second chance, but now that she’s sitting right across from me, I know there’s no way in hell I’m going to let her go again.

RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2020

“It’s us, Harp. It feels like this because it’s you and me.”

Not my first read by the author but it has been a while, I really really loved this one too. The romance on this was off the roof, you will fall in love with the hero instantly…this is a heartbreaking story of mistakes being made, misunderstanding and priorities being thrown around instead of organized. Sweet, beautiful, sizzling and captivating. It went really well with the Cocky Books and your heart will melt with the epilogue!!

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

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Dark Romance, Enemy-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, MUST READS!, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Suspense Romance, Tear Jerker, Triggers

R E V I E W ➠ Black Tangled Heart by Samantha Young

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

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

AMAZON

To my siblings, Jane was a friend. A pseudo-sister, the girl we grew up with.
To me? She was everything.
Our passion consumed us.
When our world fell apart, I thought our love would be the thing that held us together.
She was the love of my life. But she abandoned me when I needed her most.
And I’ll never forgive her.
For years I’ve been planning my revenge against the people who took everything from me.
Jane won’t be an exception. I’m coming for her.
She knows it.
She says she wants to help me serve my version of justice on the people who hurt me.
I’ll let her.
She probably thinks it will save her from me.
It won’t.

RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2020

Not my first read by the author, she happens to be one of my firsts many moons ago. So I am very familiar with her style but HELLO was I shocken with this. I did not know that enemy-to and ANTI-HERO came from the sweet Samantha! Okay, I kind of am not suprised but it was really really good. I haven’t read her books in a while therefore this was a good shock for me. I will note that I have not read Book 1 & 2 in this series but I have read the 2.5 Book Hold On.

What captures me the most in this story is that it was so relatable that I didn’t even know I was just reading at times, the events and actions…it was…it broke my heart but I was still lusting after it. First you get hit with the before, and it’s fierce young love then you get hit with the ugly and real…and then finally the present. I don’t do spoilers and if I don’t want what I type I might blur something out…it’s really one of those books that you do NOT want the spoilers because it’s that amazing! All I will say is don’t always believe what other’s say!

H A P P Y – R E A D I N G!

MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: Yes (but would be spoilers)
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, April 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Small Town Romance, Sport Romance, Sports Romance, Tear Jerker, TOP 2020 MUST READ

R E V I E W ➠ Unforgettable by Melanie Harlow

May 2, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

Back then, I had it all.
Wicked fastball. Killer instinct. Cocky grin. Full package.
(And believe me, I knew how to score.)
My senior year, I was a first round draft pick with a two-million-dollar signing bonus. Before I could even legally buy myself a beer, I made my Major League debut.
Point is, I was invincible.
Until one day I wasn’t.
After tanking my career—during the World Series, no less—the last thing I want to do is return to my hometown, where every jerk in a ball cap has an opinion about what went wrong with my arm.
So when my sister drags me back to town for her wedding, I vow to get in and out of there as quickly as possible.
Then I run into April Sawyer.
In high school we were just friends, but I’d always wanted her, and I’d never forgotten her—the red hair, the incredible smile, the crazy, reckless thing we did in the back of my truck the night we said goodbye.
It’s been eighteen years, but one look at her and I feel like my old self again. I can still make her laugh, she can still take me down a notch, and when the chemistry between us explodes, it’s even hotter this time around—and I don’t want it to end.
But just when I think I’m ready to let go of the past and get back in the game, life throws me a curveball I never saw coming.

RELEASE DATE: May 4, 2020

First of, I can;t believe this is THE LAST BOOK in the series *crying* noooo! Also I have read almost all of the author’s books including every one in this series! Still crying because there won’t be anymore, but what an ENDING! *still crying*

First off the hero is Sadie’s big brother, our heroine April used to babysit Sadie back in high school where she also tutored the hero, so they all have history. Now I do not want to spoil any part of this story because it’s rather important and big for the conclusion of this series. If you’ve read the whole series you MIGHT get an idea, but I gotta say I did not expect that ending…and can we talk about that before all? WHY DID IT HAVE TO END?! Ugh, makes me want to re-read the whole series now!

That said, this is something sweet…dark but sweet. I loved April in the previous series book when she’s around and mentioned and so I did not expect anything less of a BANG for her book than this. Things aren’t as they see, watch out for slight curves and grab a couple tissues you might need them at a time or two. It just felt HONEST, like relatable and just real. I am so happy I had the chance to review this, and really wish there was more!!

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: #5 Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, April 2020 Review, Fake Relationship, Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ The Kiss Keeper a (Ever Romantically After Collection) by Krista Sandor

April 26, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

The abs are hard. The kisses are countless. And the happily ever afters will leave you breathless…but no one said getting there would be easy.
With billionaire bad boys, second chance lovers, sexy royals, delicious daddies, secret babies, and more of your favorite contemporary romance tropes, there’s something for everyone in this collection of 24 contemporary romance novels from today’s USA Today bestselling, award-winning, and rising star authors.
Twenty-four chances to find Mr. Right. What could go wrong?
These original, standalone, full-length novels are packed with unforgettable emotions and surprising twists in romances ranging from sweet to scorching, suspenseful to comedic, and everything in between.
Fans of Jill Shalvis, EL James, and Sophia Kinsella will devour Romantically Ever After.

Don’t miss the chance to set your device ablaze. Get your naughty or nice girl fix here and feast on twenty-four tantalizingly hot leading men when you scroll up and one-click to discover these hot new book boyfriends today!

Featuring stories from:
USA Today Bestselling Author Tessa Layne
10 Million-Selling Author Kailin Gow
Diana Nixon
Alyssa Daring
Ja’Nese Dixon
Award-Winning Author Celeste Straub
Emelia Blair
Reagan Phillips
Jasmin Miller
S.E. Rose
Ella Jade
Celeste Granger
R.L. Kenderson
Krista Sandor
Award-Winning Author Amy Proebstel
USA Today Bestselling Author Samantha Morgan
Robin Stone
Krissy V
Scarlett Sincaid
A.C. Pontone
Isla Olsen
H.M. Shander
Esme Wilde

RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2020

Not my first read by the author & I have read every single book she wrote! I was excited to see something something from Krista on a book-let like this. The first few pages alone were SWEET & exciting!

This was a shorter but oh so sweeter read! I wasn’t sure what to expect but did see it coming, just not the way it played out. Here we have a heroine that runs into some bad luck….most her life, all because of a curse. And a hero that promised he’d never let himself feel again. But there is a huge twist, I can’t say because well spoiler free and all but these two may have a lot more in common than they think. It’s bitter sweet for the hero once he finds out and everything then will seem small co pared to the bigger picture.

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

2020 ARCs, Angsty, April 2020 Review, Cowboy Romance, Friends-To-Lovers, MUST READS!, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Here With Me by Tia Louise

April 15, 2020May 6, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Sawyer LaGrange.
He’s my best friend’s older brother.
He’s quiet, brooding, sinfully sexy …
Dark hair, a scruffy square jaw, and deep lines of muscle I trace my fingers along slowly, followed by my lips…
He always does what’s right.
Until me…
They say you get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
Well, I’m brave.
And I want him.
Secrets.
Everybody has them.
Big, small, innocent… forbidden.
Mindy was a line I should never have crossed.
But I did.
She was beautiful… sassy and tempting,
And rules were made to be broken.
We broke them all.
Now I’m home, released from service with hidden scars.
Now my secrets are the demons that grow stronger every day.
I try to send her away, but I can’t let her go.
She’s my reason to fight, and I’ll walk through hell to be the man she deserves.
To give her a reason to stay here with me.

(HERE WITH ME is a STAND-ALONE best friend’s older brother, second-chance, military romance. No cheating. No cliffhangers.)

RELEASE DATE: April 20, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I have read almost every single one of her books! Every time she comes out with a book I get excited to read!! First off this hero is the brother of the heroine Noel from Wait For Me and the heroine is Noel’s best friend Mindy. So get ready for second chance romance with a twist!

Our hero here is not your normal broken this and that, he is much deeper…and to be honest when reading his thoughts and words…makes you understand him so much yet want to reach in and help. The heroine is the sweetest, she has always been in love with the hero, but never the right time. She is smart, so talented, beautiful, fun and the biggest heart…but them together is kind of like a magnet, you know they belong together but sometimes slip off. If I had to pick a tiny slaw it would be the heroine playing small little games at times, I understood but to me it was that tiny little thing if I had to find it. Aside from all that, this sis a beautifully broken story that will tear you apart and put you back together by SAWYER himself…so sweet and heartbreaking to watch him fight and fight for her!

A MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Standalone (I recommend reading Wait For Me) CLICK HERE
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, April 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, MUST READS!, Rom-Com, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ She Loves Me by Melissa Foster

April 13, 2020by The Guide To Romance Novels1 Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

What are two besties willing to risk for something more? The New York Times bestselling author of This Is Love has the answer in this fun, sexy, and emotional romance about friendship, family, and giving love a chance.
Something is off in Piper Dalton’s life, and she has a feeling it might just be her. All her siblings are blissfully settled with their forever loves. But while her sisters were dreaming of white weddings, Piper was left heartbroken and commitment phobic by her first love, her best friend’s younger brother. As a woman dominating the male-driven construction industry, Piper has no interest in turning in her hammer for an apron—even if hot and hilarious Harley thinks otherwise.
Burly bar owner Harley Dutch has a bum ankle and two preteen nieces to take care of, and having his best friend, tough-as-nails and sexy-as-sin Piper Dalton, come to his rescue is just the remedy he needs. Piper is her snarky self, and she kind of sucks at caregiving, but she’s owned his heart for years, she’s got a way with the girls, and Harley would sure like to have his way with her…
As things heat up between Piper and Harley, she warns him not to fall in love with her because she’ll only break his heart. Harley is the right man for that challenge—until he makes the biggest mistake of his life, and they begin to wonder if true love really can conquer all.

RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2020

Not my first read by the author, she is a top favorite one as a matter of fact. I also have read the other books in the series. I was little skeptical about this one, because it’s Piper the strong, tom-boy, self sufficient, funny and again STRONG heroine. Those tend to turn me off, sadly it did but only for a few pages, I knew the way MF writes heroines that they are the good kind of strong. So, I absolutely devoured the book after a few pages!.

I really loved them together. Their banter, easy going friendship and sizzling feeling they were both trying to deny for one another. Stolen moments is what this book is all about for me, it feels a little forbidden and new and exciting, I loved watching them dodge each other all while really wanting to explore. My heart melted with this one, when there is so much happening Piper *sigh* her big heart will make you fall in love with her from the bat and Harley, as much as a jokester he is, when he lets go…absolutely BEST BOOKBOYFRIEND. Everything about this book, and I know I’ve said this before about one of her books but this is how amazing she is…about every single book I’ve read by MF I have loved! This one is just special, beautiful, sweet, SWOONY, romantic, fun and sexy! Everything you’d want in a friends to romance book!

A MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #3 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Angsty, April 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, New To Me Author, Second Chance Romance, Slow Burn, Sport Romance, Sports Romance, YA Romance

R E V I E W ➠ The Ninth Inning by J. Sterling

April 3, 2020April 12, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Cole Anders is in his last season at Fullton State. If he doesn’t get drafted this year, he’ll be forced to hang up his cleats for good. It’s not something he’s ready to do.
To prove he’s serious about his final season, he’s given up girls. No more casual hookups, dates or one-night stands. But there’s one girl who has always refused to give up on him. One girl who has been there since the start of Freshman year. One girl he stupidly assumed would always be waiting for him when he got off the field, no matter how long it took.
Christina’s had enough of Cole pushing her aside for baseball. She’s grown tired of waiting for him to see what she’s known since they were freshmen… that they are good together. She’s finally moved on- for good this time.
Cole has other ideas, but she refuses to cave. It’s not her problem if he wants her now. Too little too late.
There comes a point in your life when you have to stop the incessant merry-go-round and just get off the ride, right? Try telling that to Cole.

RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2020

NEW to me author & books. I have heard of this author & even promoted a lot about the books but haven’t had a chance to actually read & review one. Glad I got the chance on this one, I absolutely love Sports-Romance!

I will just come out and say it that, it was not my style of tone. The characters were in the early college days and the immaturity level that comes with that, is just not my style of tone to read. I can relate to the characters as well as at certain points enjoyed them, but I couldn’t fully get into it. That comes with not liking a certain style/tone, so for me not my style for someone else, could be their best read. This is a cute love story of a cat-and-mouse chase between the hero and heroine, friends always and even when the hero decided he want’s to be with the heroine, she doesn’t believe him…and he doesn’t really give her a strong argument TO believe it. Hero is handsome, young and a rising-star, someone a little indecisive and even though he chose baseball over the heroine, he can’t help but rethink his choice. After a little time, when they are back around one another, the story is reversed…and the hero will do anything to have her, to right his wrongs with her.

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, Cowboy Romance, Enemy-To-Lovers, March 2020 Review, Second Chance Romance, Slow Burn

R E V I E W ➠ Chute Yeah by Lani Lynn Vale

March 26, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Candy Ray Sunshine—Yes, that is my real name, thank you very much, Mom and Dad—knew two things.
One, she was going to work her butt off and open her very own coffee shop, even if she had to die doing it.
Two, Banks Valentine was the world’s worst ex-boyfriend in the history of ex-boyfriends. Even if they were only boyfriend and girlfriend for one evening. She wouldn’t sneeze on him even if he was on fire.
***
Banks Valentine also knew two things.
One, he was an immature jerk when he was in high school, and Candy Ray Sunshine probably could open a coffee shop if she put her mind to it. But he still thinks that she should shoot a little higher, anything that gets her the heck out of Kilgore, Texas.
Two, he likes riding bulls. It’s a dangerous job, and when he gets on the back of one of those thousand-pound death machines, he can finally feel his head clear enough that he can think.
***
Candy and Banks would never get along. Not after what he said, and definitely not after what she did.
Then again, neither one of them expected that night to end the way it did, either—the night that both of them refused to talk about the next morning.

RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I have read the previous books as well. I will have to say I liked the first two a little better, there wasn’t anything wrong with this aside from maybe just not my taste fully. It was fun and young with a lot of heart just not my cup of tea, story wise. I did connect with the characters easily but again, because I wasn’t feeling the story all the way, just…it happens to the best of us. And I am still very much looking forward to more in the series! That said here is a little about the story:

A beautiful second chance romance…over something that occurred back in high school…both hero and heroine hold it against each other. Candy the heroine I will have to say my heart goes out to her, and Banks as much as I wanted to hate him I loved him equally. This was a misunderstanding that lasted way too long, and now that they both can’t ingnore one another they face having to FACE EACH OTHER!

Rating: 4.5★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #3 of Series
Recommended: ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦