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.

Title: Fated Paths    

Author: Dani Elias
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
A quiet heart. An unexpected connection. And a love that refuses to fade.

Eve
Life on the Norfolk coast is safe, predictable and small. I have spent years convincing myself I prefer it that way. Then a last-minute hiking trip to St Claire throws me completely off course. Aaron is charming, patient and disarmingly kind. We barely touch on the day we meet, yet he lingers in my thoughts long after I return home. What begins as a gentle friendship over emails soon becomes the brightest part of my days. And the closer we grow, the harder it is to ignore the truth. I want more. But wanting more means letting myself hope, and hope has a way of colliding with reality when you least expect it.

Aaron
I went to St Claire to clear my head, not to find someone I cannot seem to forget. Eve is quiet, clever and unexpectedly funny once she allows herself to breathe. Our emails become the best part of my week and seeing her again starts to feel less like a choice and more like something inevitable. Long-distance was never in my plans. Neither were the feelings that grow every time she trusts me with another piece of herself. And when life shifts without warning, I realise I have far more to lose than I ever imagined.

A tender, emotional slow-burn romance about connection, courage and the kind of love that changes the direction of your life long before you realise it.

This steamy romance is part of a series set in a shared world, but you don’t need to have read the others to enjoy it. Each story stands alone, though you might spot a few familiar faces along the way!

Review:

An absolute delight to get back together with the Ramblers again. Of course our four-legged friend Bernard made an appearance along with some amazingly well thought through characters! Ms. Elias, you’ve struck gold again.


************ 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.

Happy New Year 2026

 I  want to wish you all a very Happy New Year and thank you for the time you’ve spent with me learning about the books I love. 

I hope you all enjoy the live stream of the ball dropping from Times Square tonight. In case you don’t have the link, feel free to watch here tonight!

Here’s to another 268 books next year! 

What was your favorite book of the year? Mine was The Scientist by Kristen B Cole with the book Twice by Mitch Albom coming in a close second. 

Thank you! I’ll see you… next year

Audiobook ARC Review: The Temptation of Truth by Brit Benson

Title: The Temptation of Truth

Author: Brit Benson
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Loving her will ruin my life,
But I’m tired of living a lie.

Mabel Rossi is the heartbeat of The Hometown Heartless.
The famous drummer with fast hands, faster wit,
and a light that shines brightly even from the back of the stage.
She’s temptation in lipstick and lace, and I’m just her manager’s niece.
Married, invisible, and completely out of place.

Taking the job on tour was supposed to be a harmless adventure.
Now that I’m here, far from home and my husband,
I’m starting to remember who I was before I lost everything,
and I have Mabel to thank for that.

Between stolen glances and whispered truths,
She coaxes me from the darkness,
Until I can no longer hide from the lies I’ve buried under the life I don’t want.

I’m married to a man I’ve never loved.
She’s so far out of reach it hurts to even want her.
But in quiet hotel hallways and backstage corners,
I start to crave things I shouldn’t.

Even if it’s reckless. Even if it’s wrong.
Because with Mabel, I start to feel alive again.
When she touches me, the fog lifts,
And suddenly, I’m not so scared of tearing it all down just to feel the sun.

Review:

What an awesome book. It showcases how control can ruin a marriage and almost ruin a person. It shows what love can and should be, in its time. This author ekes emotion from every scene; from the first to the last. I can’t wait to read more from this author soon.

The narrators are amazing in this book and I enjoyed that there was a male voice narrating the minor male characters in the book. Kudos to all three narrators.

************ 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.