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.

ARC Audiobook: Only on Gameday by Kristen Callihan

Title: Only on Gameday

Author: Kristen Callihan
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
A “fake” fiancée is just the trick to help a bad-boy football player clean up his image. Trouble is, there’s nothing fake about the way August feels about his “pretend” fiancée.
August Luck is on the brink of greatness: top NFL draft pick, a great team, multiple corporate sponsorships, but he keeps messing it up with bonehead moves. After his latest shenanigan goes viral, everyone is telling him to get his act together.

Penelope Morrow grew up with August. Their mothers were best friends. Unfortunately, Pen always fled the room with a look of disapproval on her pretty face whenever August was around. But Pen has a problem too: she inherited her grandparent’s house and can’t pay the estate tax.

On a whim, August decides a temporary public engagement is the solution to both their problems—he’ll pay her taxes, and she’ll help his image. Win-win.

But, when it comes to Pen, nothing is certain or safe. Because Pen isn’t so reserved anymore. This time, she’s smiling back at him. And he likes it. A lot. Will they each survive the ruse unscathed?

Game on...

Perfect for readers who love:

• Shy girl/sunshine boy
• Hero in hot pursuit
• Unrequited love + epic yearning
• Fake dating (or is it?)
• Delicious slow-burn romance
• Childhood nemeses (all grown up)

Review:

Pen and August's love story is one that has to be read. The way they cherish each other is beyond words. It reminds me how lucky I am to have a wonderful man like August (minus the pro-football aspect) and that makes me feel even closer to Pen. 

I've never read a book by Kristen Callihan, but I can see that I'll have to read more if only for the superb character building.

The only thing that I didn't like was that Pen's dad didn't get what he deserved.

I can't wait to see which Luck brother is going to be next (or sister, but I'm rooting for January and March to find a match. (The names in this family cracked me up so much!)

Teddy Hamilton and Maxine Mitchell did an EXCELLENT job with this book! Their voices brought such a richness to the book. I may have fallen a little bit for Teddy's voice... (don't tell my husband).

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book! <3

************ 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 ARC: Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor

Title: Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf

Author: Isabelle Taylor
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
The grumpy-sunshine appeal of It Happened One Summer meets the cozy fantasy vibes of The Baby Dragon Cafe in this utterly charming, spicy, Alaska-set fated-mates romance

Welcome to Claw Haven, where monsters go to find some peace and quiet.

Spoiled heiress Luna Stack is meant to be sipping mai tais on a beach with her fun-loving fiancé. Instead, a snowstorm strands her in Claw Haven, Alaska, a cozy town full of monsters living the quiet life. At least the werewolf innkeeper’s hot—until he opens his mouth.

Luna’s more than ready to leave the grumpy wolf and his decrepit inn behind as soon as the snow clears, but when a potion mishap bonds the two of them together, she resigns herself to staying in Claw Haven, just for a little while.

She’s only werewolf married, though, not married married, like, legally. No big deal.

Oliver Musgrove wants nothing to do with his new “wife.” He has annoying, friendly townsfolk to ignore, and he’s lost his ability to shift, which means his alpha ambitions are currently on hold.

Unfortunately, no matter how much Oliver wants to keep his distance from Luna, the bond says otherwise. Even though the two can’t stand each other, maybe they can stop bickering long enough to explore the magical spark between them…

After all, what’s a little knotting between enemies?

Review:

Luna ran into a bit of weather while driving, as well as a sign from the Inn she was trying to get to. What she hadn't expected was the gruff werewolf that greeted her when she arrived. Oliver, the grump in question, has no desire to deal with a spoiled brat socialite. But what choice does he have? He's accidentally wedded to her. What ensues is hilarity and heartfelt in equal measures. (Well, maybe a little steam thrown in there for good measure.

This book took me by surprise as at the beginning of the book I had a hard time getting ensnared, but once I was I just couldn't stop.

Jade Wheeler did a great job bringing this little ray of sunshine and her grump to life.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley 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: Love Is an Open Book by Chandra Blumberg

Love Is an Open Book by Chandra Blumberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ms. Blumberg brings about a great friends to lovers book about a woman who is stuck in her job and the best friend who helps get her unstuck.

I found this book to be so cute and the characters very relatable. I look forward to looking up Ms. Blumberg in the future and reading more of her words.

I absolutely loved Keylor Leigh and Will Damron reading this book. They really brought this book to life.

I'd like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

View all my reviews