Review: No Room for Rivals by MeLisa Ryun

Title: No Room for Rivals

Author: MeLisa Ryun
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

Hi. I’m Ivy Ellison—strategic, data-driven, and about to strangle my coworker on camera. Cole Hartwell, company wildcard and my professional rival, is six feet of muscle that screams “trust me, it’ll work”.

My romantic history is a graveyard of being the "second choice." Men don't choose me—they settle. So long ago, I decided to choose my career. I'm one step away from my dream role, and the only thing standing in my way is Cole’s smug, handsome face.

One high-stakes trip.
One career-making campaign.
And one cramped hotel suite not designed for two people who "hate" each other this much.

The assignment? Produce a live-streamed eco-activism singles weekend at the Hotel Bellwether. The celebrity headliner? Blaze Tate, a caffeinated golden retriever with a gazillion followers and zero impulse control. When he cannonballs into the ocean with sea lions, donations pour in. The more he goes off script, the moreCole gains the advantage and I lose my sanity.

Cole treats our rivalry like foreplay and acts like the sleeping arrangements (and my curves) are somehow his problem. He’s determined to prove that winging it wins campaigns, and every viral spike is proving him right. Somewhere between fighting for my career and resisting the urge to shut him up with my mouth, I’m starting to wonder if the biggest risk isn't losing my promotion—but walking away from the one person who might finally choose me first.

Hotel Bellwether, Book 3 of 5, is a standalone that delivers enemies-to-lovers-tension with one bed, forced proximity, competence kink, and a slow burn that absolutely brings the heat. Perfect for fans of Meghan Quinn chaos and Tessa Bailey steam.

Review:

OMG guys, this book has it all. The Ivy & Cole vibes are insane! The animosity, the heat, the passion and the heart stole my breath time and again. Not only did I wake my old man a few times laughing, but there were two times when I cried my little heart out. Any book that can do that is above 5 stars for me!! The forerunner for the best book of 2026!

I’d like to thank the authors and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: 8 Seconds to Fly by Grace McGinty

Title: 8 Seconds to Fly

Author: Grace McGinty
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

Tessa May Everett had grown up loving four things in life; bull riding, her father and her best frenemies, Branch and Beau.

But in less than eight seconds, she’d lost all four things and the single most important person in her life.

Four years later, Tessa May is back and ready to reclaim her dreams. She was going to be the first woman to compete on the professional bull riding circuit, and nothing was going to stop her. Not the Boys Club that already held her to a different standard. Not the other riders who looked at her with barely veiled contempt. And certainly not the reappearance of her former crushes and now rivals.

With her best friend Frankie at her side, Tessa May was going to do what she’d dreamed of since she was a little girl; ride rank bulls in front of cheering crowds.

And if she happened to ride a few cowboys on the way? Even better.

Review:

Sweet baby Jesus this book is hot! I love that the polyamorous community was represented as a lifestyle, not an anomaly.

This author brought me into this world with these characters seamlessly. I’m honestly kinda jealous.

The narrators did an exceptional job with this book.

I’d like to thank the author and Pin Up Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: His Perfect Melody by Aria Harding

Title: His Perfect Melody

Author: Aria Harding
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Skylar Levine is supposed to be happy.
She’s weeks away from marrying a man everyone adores—steady, kind, predictable. But the closer she gets to “forever,” the more she can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t the life she’s dreamed of. And when Nathan Lowe, her first love and her best friend’s brother, returns to town in hopes of finding some inspiration for his music score, delicate façade she’s built starts to crack.
Nathan has spent years chasing perfection at a piano bench and coming up short.
Every time he faces his unfinished piece, it leads him back to one truth: his music hasn’t had its heart since Skylar walked away. Now that he’s back in town to try finding that spark that he lost, the notes come easier, but the risk of getting there becomes greater.
Because this time, one wrong move could break both of them for good.
As old sparks ignite and buried emotions resurface, Skylar must decide whether to keep playing it safe or finally listen to the part of her that’s still his. But trusting Nathan again means confronting the fear that’s haunted her for years—the fear that love, no matter how true it may be, might hurt more the second time around.
Especially when he was the one who broke it first.

Review:

This book was deeper that I anticipated. Which is a really good thing. I enjoyed getting to know them, but found that the FMC took a long time to pull herself out of her mini pity party. Yes, Skylar, Nathan did leave, but he's here now. Quit beating around the bush and just love him already. I wanted to crawl into Nathan's back pocket and let him take me home and teach me piano though.

This book got 3.5 stars in my opinion, but I rounded up because I loved Nathan so much.

I'd like to thank Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book.


************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: The Love Startup by MeLisa Ryun

Title: The Love Startup

Author: MeLisa Ryun
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

Love is a bug in the system.

I'm Maddie Denton—girl boss coder, full-time trash-talker, and proud member of the "No Thanks, I’ll Die Alone" club. Society says because I have a hoo-ha, I should want a man more than building my dream company. I say: eat my Wi-Fi.

My sisters think I’m stuck in arrested development, but my best friend and co-founder Zack likes me just the way I am—foul-mouthed, hoodie-wearing chaos goblin and all.

We’re this close to securing that sweet investor cash for LoveScore—our baby, our legacy, our shot at hitting the bigtime. All we have to do is add "intimate physical data" to the app… in six weeks.

Our solution? Gather that spicy data ourselves by fake-dating, proving that geeks never grow up—we just fake it better than everyone.

I'm Zack, and today I learned I'm both desperate and stupid.

I’ve agreed to fake-date Maddie—my business partner and the girl I’ve never stopped wanting.

Which means… Role-playing. Fake kissing. Cosplaying with her as my fantasy girlfriend.

Pretending my longtime secret crush is finally mine? Easiest acting job of my life. But every fake touch, every "just for research" act of desire, short-circuits my common sense—and fries whatever's left of my self-control.

If I slip up, I don’t just lose the company. I lose her.

The Love Startup is a filthy, dirty-minded, laugh-out-loud friends-to-lovers workplace romcom about two geeks fake-dating their way into real love—and real trouble. Perfect for fans of high-spice Meghan Quinn mayhem, steamy role-play, he-falls-first pining, and ambitious heroines who have zero chill.

Review:

Maddie and Zach are the best of friends, until they aren't. Can their friendship survive the growing pains of their business or will growing pains be the least of their worries.

While I liked this book a lot... hello, it's MeLisa Ryun! Come on! But honestly, I loved seeing the two of these characters growing and interacting with the secondary characters of the book. My only problem was I think the fake dating trope went on just a tad bit too long and it started shifting my focus towards the end of the book

I'd like to thank the author and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Healing Together by Dani Elias

Title: Healing Together

Author: Dani Elias
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let someone see you properly.

Alex
I know my reputation. Charming, a bit too confident, happier flirting than settling. It used to suit me. Then Emma turns up in Fellside with her soft curves, cautious smile and a habit of underestimating herself, and suddenly I am tripping over my own clever lines. She brings out the part of me that actually wants to try. I tease because it makes her blush. I stay close because she relaxes when I am around. And the more time I spend with her, the more certain I am that I would move mountains to keep her safe.

Emma
Most of my life I have been surrounded by people who made me feel slightly wrong, slightly too much or not quite enough. Moving to Fellside is my attempt to finally breathe without waiting for someone to tell me I am doing it badly. I expected peace. I did not expect Alex. He is confident and irritatingly charming, the kind of man who sees straight through my awkwardness. Even worse, he actually seems to like the body I have been taught to apologise for. I don’t know what he sees in me, but every time he smiles, I want to believe in it. I want to believe in him.

A blossoming romance, a village that refuses to mind its own business, and a moment on the fells that will test everything they are building. Healing takes time, but sometimes the right person walking beside you makes all the difference.

This is a re-edited and refreshed edition of the steamy small town story previously published as Blossom with Me, Book One in the Fellside Mountain Rescue series. The series has been lovingly revisited with polished writing, added depth, and a few updated story beats. Set in the north of England and written in British English.

Review:

If you are a fan of Fellside, then you need to pick Healing Together up immediately. I have read all of the Fellside books and Miss Elias has made this book so much better. You can actually feel the heart and soul that have gone into this book since she has initially released them. Kudos to you, Miss Elias. Thank you for giving us such a wonderful rewrite of your own story.

I'd like to thank Happily Booked PR and Dani Elias for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: How to Serve Up Love by Dani Elias

Title: How to Serve Up Love        

Author: Dani Elias
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

BREAKING: ONE REVIEW. ONE TOMATO SAUCE. AND A SPARK NEITHER OF THEM EXPECTED.

Carlisle prides itself on being quietly respectable. Unfortunately for everyone involved, a food critic and a chef have just made that impossible.

Chloe
Speed dating has been a masterclass in lowered expectations, and my tolerance for nonsense is at an all-time low. So yes, my latest column was sharp. The tomato sauce deserved it. What I did not anticipate was the furious chef turning up at the Carlisle Gazette, review in hand, pride wounded, smelling like fresh herbs and righteous indignation. He’s intense, infuriating, and far too attractive for someone who insists this is just an argument.

Tom
That sauce is my grandmother’s recipe. It’s not a trend, not a shortcut, and not up for debate. When Chloe dismisses it in print, I go looking for accountability. What I find is a woman who’s clever, unapologetic, and entirely unimpressed by my temper. This is not flirting. This is a professional disagreement. A serious one. Except the arguments don’t stop. They deepen. They linger. And suddenly I’m thinking about her far too often for someone who insists this is purely about food.

Late nights turn heated. Boundaries blur. And when care creeps in where it doesn’t belong, it becomes uncomfortably clear that this isn’t just about a review anymore.

Because in a small city where reputations are fragile, careers are political, and women pay the price for being human, wanting each other might cost more than either of them is prepared to lose. And walking away might cost just as much.

Fair warning: there’s a cheeky dose of adult content inside. Set in England and written in British English.

Review:

Call in the fire brigade because Chloe and Tom are hot, hot, hot!

I've enjoyed watching Dani Elias grow as an author and this book shows how well she's come to know her characters and you can feel the love through the pages.

If you're looking for a hot romance between a critic and a chef... then ladies and gents, this book is for you.

I'd like to thank the author and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Forbidden Play by Kristin Lee

Title: Forbidden Play

Author: Kristin Lee
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
USA Today Bestselling Author brings you her signature steamy emotional romance.

He teaches her about desire. She teaches him hope. But forever can’t be the game plan.

Blurb:

NOELLE —
Rule #1: Don’t fall for your brother’s best friend.
Rule #2: Definitely don’t fake date him.
Rule #3: Absolutely don’t let him teach you how to be intimate when you barely know what you like.

Yeah... I’ve broken every rule.

Matt Stricker kisses like the kiss is the entire story.
He listens. He pays attention.
And oh, those smoldering eyes set my insides on fire.

And there’s one more rule I screwed up:
Rule #4: Don’t get pregnant.
Too late.

I’m having my ex’s baby.
Part of me wants to keep my secret tucked under the sheets
and let him keep teaching me what it feels like to be wanted—really wanted.

Once he knows for sure, will he keep pretending or walk away?

MATT —
Noelle O’Ryan is the one line I swore I’d never cross.
My best friend’s little sister and way too young for an old ball coach like me.

My life is about discipline.
Determination.
Commitment.
Loyalty.

All of which I’ve thrown out the window.

But she keeps asking me to teach her what she’s never learned.

And I want to teach her everything.
Give her everything.
Every night.

But she doesn’t know the battles I face every day.
The warning signs I ignore.

I want to be the man she and that baby can count on.
But I can’t be that man when I don’t have enough tomorrows to give her the life she deserves, which is exactly why I never have more than one date.

Noelle needs more than I can offer long term.
Are we one forbidden play away from losing it all?

Age Gap
Brother's Best Friend
Fake Dating
"Teach me"
Not His Baby

Review:

The O'Ryan swagger has hooked me again, y'all. And the fact that it's an age gap book with a 14 year age gap hooked me all over again. (What can I say, I like older guys!)

Noelle and Matt's story is five alarm hot, and there's one character in here that I just wanted to slap the sweet bejezus out of. Ms. Lee, you've done it again. You've captured my heart, mind, body and soul with this book!

Character development top notch! You could almost pluck the characters right off the page and hang out with them (or slap them as the case may be). I can't wait until the next book comes out because I'm right there with you Kristin. Bring it on!

I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to read this book. What an honor. Insta buy for me for sure.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.