The Flirting Game by Lauren Blakely ~ New Release & Review

One fake date, one real kiss, and zero chance of resisting the hockey player next door.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the final standalone hockey romance in her Love and Hockey series, THE FLIRTING GAME! This sexy, revenge fake dating, neighbors-to-lovers, workplace hockey romance brings all the feels, spice, and heat you’ve come to expect and love from a Lauren Blakely sports romance! THE FLIRTING GAME is now available in all formats and free to read in Kindle Unlimited!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/flirtinggameAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/FlirtingGameAUD
Sean Masters & Brooke Bloomingdale narrate in duet!

About THE FLIRTING GAME:

Revenge was the plan. Falling for the hockey star next door wasn’t.

My new neighbor is a hot, grumpy hockey player who works out shirtless on his porch every morning. But it’s not technically spying if I just happen to be on my patio at the same time … right?

Imagine my surprise when the sexy grouch turns out to be the client who just hired me to redecorate the house he’s giving his mom.

What’s a ray of sunshine like me to do? Pretend I’ve never noticed his abs while we pick out furniture—since I’d never date a client. And Ford’s made it clear this is his final season, and he wants zero distractions.

Which means I need to exercise some serious resistance …

To his cool blue eyes that track my every move.
To that deep voice that makes me shiver.
And to the mouth that shuts me up one night in our shared backyard with a scorching kiss.

We agree it’s a one-time slip-up—until my cheating ex invites me to a party, and Ford insists on being my revenge date. Our fake night out turns into a very real sleepover.

Now the press and fans think we’re a couple, so we keep it up. One fake date at a charity gala turns into another at a hockey game, and somewhere between fabric swatches and porch picnics, I stop pretending.

But how do I convince Ford that with me, he can have both love and hockey?

Tropes: Neighbors to lovers, hockey romance, workplace romance, revenge fake dating, romantic comedy. This is Ford and Skylar's romance!

ONE-CLICK YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/flirtinggameAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/FlirtingGameAUD
Sean Masters & Brooke Bloomingdale narrate in duet!

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

Elizabeth's Review

The Flirting Game by Lauren Blakely

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

This is a super cute neighbors to more story in the universe of the Sea Dogs hockey team. Don’t worry though, it’s a complete stand alone. Loyal readers will see some familiar faces, but in very secondary roles!

Ford and Skylar are both easy characters to like and root for. Both come with some baggage, but I appreciate the way they bring out the best in each other and build each other up - even when they don’t realize it.
This is an overall feel good story with a little bit of a hiccup along the way.
If you have liked Ms Blakely’s books before, this fits right into that mold - down to some great 4 legged side kicks.

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Duke ~ Jessica Peterson ~ New Release & Review

 

Duke by Jessica Peterson is now live!

One chance meeting on a Texas ranch.

One wild, too-charming cowboy.

One snowed-in night that changes everything.

Wheeler Rankin isn’t here for romance—she’s come to Lucky River Ranch to visit her best friend, wrangle a business deal, and prove herself to everyone who ever doubted her. But when she collides with Duke Rivers—resident heartbreaker, restless cowboy, and brother to her best friend’s new flame—sparks fly hotter than a Texas summer.

Duke has always dreamed of more than dusty trails and small-town life. He’s itching to see the world, but one unforgettable night with Wheeler changes his course. When a blizzard and a business road trip leave them stranded together, their no-strings flirtation ignites into something deeper.

But passion brings complications—and unexpected news threatens to upend everything Wheeler’s built. As family pressures, old wounds, and new dreams collide, Duke is determined to stand by her side, ready to forge a future neither of them ever imagined.

Can two fiercely independent souls trust in love, face their fears, and find home in each other’s arms? Or will the ghosts of the past keep them apart for good?

Welcome back to Hartsville, where family is found, love is hard-won, and every cowboy has a story worth telling.

Download today or read for FREE with #kindleunlimited!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4m0VUFB

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/QVabfPl

Limited Deluxe Edition Paperback with designed edges

Amazon: http://bit.ly/4oiVoV9

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4funXuK

Audiobook

Narrated by Stephen Dexter & Lila Winters

https://bit.ly/3Kh7fUn 

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/4okRHye

Duke by Jessica Peterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

So far we’ve met three of the Rivers boys as the fall hard for the women in their lives, now it’s Duke’s turn to take the plunge. He is paired with Wheeler, we’ve met her before too as Mollie’s best friend and business partner.

One of the things I appreciated about Duke is the fact that the conflict comes from Duke and Wheeler needing to get out of their own ways. The fact that they liked and appreciated each other radiated off the page and it made it easy to root for them.

Duke is another example of wonderful cowboy. His emotional intelligence was a key factor in both him and Wheeler finding what they are looking for.

If you haven’t read the older three boys’ books, there are spoilers about who they end up with, but other than that this is a stand alone. I can’t wait for Ryder’s book!

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Review Round Up ~ November

New Releases:

Hell to Pay by Rosalind James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars - One of the best

Review Copy Provided by Author

Ms James has stretched herself into a new direction with Hell To Pay - historical fiction- and she knocked it out of the park!
We originally met Marguerite/Daisy/Oma as we watched her granddaughter, Alix, fall in love with Sebastian. In Hell To Pay, we witness her journey back home to Dresden for the first time in 80 years.
Ms James does an excellent job of utilizing memories and flashbacks to let us see Daisy as a privileged and protected young woman who is thrust into the horrors of WWII. We see her grow up almost overnight as she navigates being a refugee in a war zone and the aftermath of the war.
As with all of Ms James’ books, this is well written and pulls the reader in. I appreciated the way Hell to Pay acknowledged the horrible history of WWII and wove messages of empathy and awareness into the story.
I am very curious to see how the story concludes!

Amazon   

The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts

My rating: 5 of 5 stars - One of the Best

Review Copy Provided by Net Galley

Warning - this is not a standalone read! This is the third book in a trilogy and all three books need to be read in order for things to make sense.
That said - wow oh wow! Ms Roberts truly delivered Sonya, Cleo, Owen, and Trey the ending they deserved!
It was lovely to see all of the various threads come together a knit something whole from the pieces.
The supporting cast is amazing.
Definitely a book that pulls you in and won’t let go. Be prepared to be at the edge of your seat, get a string dose of the feels and just be impressed.

Amazon

Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by the Author

Please don’t take the fact that it took me 2 weeks to read this to mean that Otherwise Engaged wasn’t an awesome read, because it was! I’ve just had a big case of life - and a weekend road trip for kid sports!

Here we meet 2 sets of mother/daughters that have an unexpected connection. Having the past force its way into the present is interesting and an agent for change that all 4 women needed.
All of the characters are well written and I found myself engaged with them and rooting for them. All four women face the emotional fallout of having the past show up, but I really related to Victoria the most.
For her, the information that comes out puts things in context. I also enjoyed how she and Shannon pushed each other - sometimes we really need the right mirror to see into ourselves!
This is definitely a winner for Ms Mallery!

Amazon

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*Buy links belong to E-Reading After Midnight and we may be compensated if you choose to make purchase. 

Walking In Darkness ~ A L Jackson ~ Release Boost & Review

Torn between conflicting worlds—one light, one dark—two lovers plunge into the ultimate battle between good and evil in a thrilling romantasy by a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

I was born to hunt the evils hiding in this world. To slay and destroy.

My purpose was never supposed to be her. My forbidden soulmate. Protecting her was meant to be temporary—I’d stay close until I was certain she was safe, and then I would walk away.

I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with her, and I sure as hell wasn’t supposed to take her to my bed. I’d heard my entire life that touching her would only bring us to our deaths.

Except that with my mere touch, power flows through Aria in a way it never has before, and it’s becoming clear that our gods lied to keep us separated and weak.

Together, our strength feels unstoppable. But the monsters hunting her are more sinister than we could have imagined—a threat that could end all humanity.

Will our newfound powers be enough to save us?

*Walking in Darkness is book two in the Darkness Duet. Please read the first book, Visions of Darkness, before enjoying this one.

  Walking in Darkness by A.L. Jackson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

This book is the second half of the story and is directly related to the first book, so make sure to keep that in mind.
We pick up with Pax and Aria where we left them. Ms Jackson drops us right into the action and weaves an incredible story about connection, love, and overcoming what appears insurmountable.
The only reason this is a 4 star read for me is that it is a 2 part read - the world building and complexity justify that set up in this case!
Ms Jackson’s imagination and story telling are unmatched and definitely worth investing the ready time!

Amazon 

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Review Round Up ~ October

New Releases:

My Favorite Hero by Melanie Moreland

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

Do you need a feel good read?
Look no further than Jesse and Casey!
Brought together by a dear mutual friend, it was entertaining to watch these two morph from landlord/tenant to friends to more, fighting it all the way!

Add in cat and dog sidekicks and frequent rescues and you have a sweet, spicy story to fill the bill.
Both Jesse and Casey come with just enough baggage that their road isn’t 100% smooth, but the ride is definitely worth it!

Small Town Frenzy by S.L. Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

Small Town Frenzy is a book that COULD have been filled with angst and drama. Thankfully, it’s not!
This is a book that focuses on family, healing, and what’s next.

As the third book about the Greene siblings, we’ve seen glimpses of Griffin before, but we don’t really know him. He and Cricket have a rough start when they officially meet for the first time. It was fun to watch them navigate that as they also figured out where they’d met before.

Family support (and drama) plays a role as the surprises keep coming! Overall this is an entertaining and sweet book that means I am going to miss Peach Tree Pass! A little bread crumb about Cricket’s cousin has me hopeful that there may be Greene cameos in the future!

Amazon   

Pinch by Tia Louise

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

We’ve met the Bradford boys (and their sister, Dylan), now we get to fast-forward in time and meet the next generation! We start with Hayden (Haddy) when she meets and clashes with Gavin - her new roommate, thanks to her cousin.
I’m going to be honest and say that second-generation books sometimes make me nervous - they can get complicated fast. Ms Louise has done herself a favor because most of this generation was either not yet here or infant/toddlers when we signed off with their parents.
I was thrilled to see the family closeness continue to the cousins. They also share the natural hospitality that pulls people in - which is how Gavin end up as Haddy’s roommate. It was so much fun watching these two challenge the preconceived notions of the other and see what happens next. I genuinely enjoyed these characters and the fact that after they got out of their own way, the conflicts were external and brought them closer together. I can’t wait to see what happens next with this group!

Amazon

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*Buy links belong to E-Reading After Midnight and we may be compensated if you choose to make purchase. 

Merry Little Kissmas ~ Lauren Blakely ~ New Release & Review

Fake dating my brother’s best friend during the holidays?
I'll take that bet.

My teammates got me a matchmaker for Christmas... But now all I want under the tree is her.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a sexy, standalone holiday romance, MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS! This spicy, small town, fake dating, matchmaker, single dad hockey player romance will Christmas-seduce you! MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS is now available in all formats, and free to read in Kindle Unlimited. 

And there’s more good news! 100% of sales for the first week of release across all formats will go to animal rescue charities, including pre-orders. So together we can help homeless pets find homes this holiday season! And all you have to do to help make that happen is read or listen! One-click your copy today!

✦ Signed & Personalized ➜ https://laurenblakely.com/shop/
✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/KissmasAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/MLKAudible
Performed in duet by Vanessa Edwin & Connor Crais with a FULL CAST!

 

About MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS:

Dear Santa,
When I asked for a fresh shot at love for the holidays, I didn’t mean fake dating my brother’s grumpy best friend.
Especially since he’s also my new client.

As a professional matchmaker, my biggest job this holiday season should be simple: find a date for the sexy single dad hockey star—aka my brother’s best friend—for his team’s fancy Christmas Eve gala.

Sure Rowan’s hot as a crackling fire and spicier than a gingerbread man, but he hasn’t just sworn off romance. The Christmas hater has made a bet that I can’t find him a holidate.

What’s a matchmaker to do?
Win, of course. Even if it means fake dating the grinch myself to get him ready for the real thing.
Only…these fake dates at Christmas tree farms and hot cocoa competitions in the snowy small town of Evergreen Falls start to feel a little too real as I get to know the man behind the scowl. Somewhere between kisses under the mistletoe and a snowed-in night in his cabin curled up by the fire (where the stockings aren’t the only thing hung), I realize I’m in over my elf-loving head.
And when Rowan opens up to me at last about his painful past, I’m determined to give my brother’s best friend the holiday he deserves.
But what if the only gift I want him to unwrap this season is… me?

Tropes: Holiday romance, brother’s best friend, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, small town, Christmas competition, matchmaker romance, workplace romance

ONE-CLICK YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Signed & Personalized ➜ https://laurenblakely.com/shop/
✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/KissmasAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/MLKAudible
Performed in duet by Vanessa Edwin & Connor Crais with a FULL CAST!

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

★★★FACEBOOK★★★

My teammates got me a matchmaker for Christmas... But now all I want under the tree is her.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author @laurenblakelybooks, comes a sexy, standalone holiday romance, MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS! This spicy, small town, fake dating, matchmaker, single dad hockey player romance will Christmas-seduce you! MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS is now available in all formats, and free to read in Kindle Unlimited. 

And there’s more good news! 100% of sales for the first week of release across all formats will go to animal rescue charities, including pre-orders. So together we can help homeless pets find homes this holiday season! And all you have to do to help make that happen is read or listen! One-click your copy today!

✦ Signed & Personalized ➜ https://laurenblakely.com/shop/
✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/KissmasAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/MLKAudible
Performed in duet by Vanessa Edwin & Connor Crais with a FULL CAST!

 

★★★INSTAGRAM★★★

My teammates got me a matchmaker for Christmas... But now all I want under the tree is her.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author @laurenblakelybooks, comes a sexy, standalone holiday romance, MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS! This spicy, small town, fake dating, matchmaker, single dad hockey player romance will Christmas-seduce you! MERRY LITTLE KISSMAS is now available in all formats, and free to read in Kindle Unlimited. 

And there’s more good news! 100% of sales for the first week of release across all formats will go to animal rescue charities, including pre-orders. So together we can help homeless pets find homes this holiday season! And all you have to do to help make that happen is read or listen! One-click your copy today!

✦ Signed & Personalized ➜ https://laurenblakely.com/shop/
✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/KissmasAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/MLKAudible
Performed in duet by Vanessa Edwin & Connor Crais with a FULL CAST!

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Merry Little Kissmas by Lauren Blakely

My rating: 4 of 5 stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Review copy provided by Author

Such a cute read!
Rowan and Isla are connected to prior series, but this is a standalone read centering around the Sea Dogs and Evergreen Falls and second chances at love.
On the surface, these two couldn’t be more different. Digging a little deeper and we discover they are more alike than we think. Watching them trip over themselves was so much fun!
These are both likeable and entertaining characters surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast. I also loved getting to see bits and pieces of previous main characters and who may come next.

View all my reviews