Archives for January 13, 2026

* Release Blitz/Review * ATLAS by Sawyer Bennett

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * ATLAS by Sawyer BennettAtlas by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Pittsburgh Titans #19
Published by Big Dog Books on ‎ January 13, 2026
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

As a star left-winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, Atlas Karolak thrives on the ice but keeps his personal life uncomplicated. That all changes when tragedy strikes, pushing him into an unlikely partnership that tests his patience, challenges his heart, and threatens to rewrite everything he thought he knew about love and family.

Playing professional hockey wasn’t just a dream, it was the only one that ever mattered. I’ve worked my whole life for this career, and now that I’m playing for the Pittsburgh Titans, I’m exactly where I want to be. My life feels complete.

Losing my best friend to cancer shatters me in ways I didn’t see coming. And as I’m trying to figure out how to say goodbye, I’m blindsided again—because he’s named me and Maddie St. James as joint guardians of his daughter.

Maddie and I… we’re not friends. We’re barely acquaintances. If I’m oil, she’s water, and we’ve never managed to mix without friction. But for the sake of a little girl who’s already lost too much, we need to find neutral ground and figure out how to co-parent.

Are we capable? I’d like to think so. Are we scared out of our minds? Without a doubt. Can we put our differences aside and work together? Honestly, it depends on the day. But when stress turns into stolen glances, which turn into nights we can’t take back, our partnership gets a whole lot more complicated.

Because what started as obligation is starting to feel a lot like forever.

 

Heartfelt and emotionally riveting! All of the guys that make up the Pittsburgh Titans family are great and I adore revisiting them all time and time again, but Atlas’ story punched a little harder than many of the rest. I would venture to say the trauma and loss in this book was even better written than the plane crash era in the beginning of the series. I was hooked from start to finish and really felt the depth of the pain and then the joy as they healed and forged a new life. Very emotional, sincere and loving.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys seeing the pieces coming back together in life after a momentous loss. Atlas and Maddie each lose their best friend and have to overcome their own dislike of each other to forge a healthy atmosphere for the light of that friends life. You can’t beat the brotherhood of this series!

 

 

Blurb:

As a star left-winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, Atlas Karolak thrives on the ice but keeps his personal life uncomplicated. That all changes when tragedy strikes, pushing him into an unlikely partnership that tests his patience, challenges his heart, and threatens to rewrite everything he thought he knew about love and family.

Playing professional hockey wasn’t just a dream, it was the only one that ever mattered. I’ve worked my whole life for this career, and now that I’m playing for the Pittsburgh Titans, I’m exactly where I want to be. My life feels complete.

Losing my best friend to cancer shatters me in ways I didn’t see coming. And as I’m trying to figure out how to say goodbye, I’m blindsided again—because he’s named me and Maddie St. James as joint guardians of his daughter.

Maddie and I… we’re not friends. We’re barely acquaintances. If I’m oil, she’s water, and we’ve never managed to mix without friction. But for the sake of a little girl who’s already lost too much, we need to find neutral ground and figure out how to co-parent.

Are we capable? I’d like to think so. Are we scared out of our minds? Without a doubt. Can we put our differences aside and work together? Honestly, it depends on the day. But when stress turns into stolen glances, which turn into nights we can’t take back, our partnership gets a whole lot more complicated.

Because what started as obligation is starting to feel a lot like forever.

Buy Link:
https://geni.us/SB_Atlas

 

Meet Sawyer Bennett:

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Connect with Sawyer Bennett:
https://geni.us/SawyerBennett

five-stars

* Release Blitz/Review * HOUSE OF BS AND LIES by Lani Lynn Vale

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * HOUSE OF BS AND LIES by Lani Lynn ValeHouse of BS & Lies by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: Don't Date Him #1
on January 13, 2026
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

She was enraptured by the man they called Romeo the moment that he turned those butterscotch-colored eyes her way.
What wasn’t to love about a big, burly, plaid-wearing lumberjack?

He was tall, gorgeous, and knew how to wield a chainsaw better than Leatherface. He could fell a tree in seconds, had thighs that were as thick as said trees, filled out a pair of Wranglers better than any cowboy ever, and didn’t care that she could operate heavy machinery better than him.

He was everything a girl like Mable could ask for.

The caveat? He was a convicted felon that’d just escaped from prison, faked his death, and ran from his home in Texas to the mountains of Montana.

At first, Mable didn’t know what kind of man he’d been before coming to her small, mountain town. He led Mable into a false sense of security, made her fall madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with him, and then shocked her by sharing his darkest secret.

Now, she’s left reeling, thinking life couldn’t get more complicated.

Until she finds out her stepmother knows Romeo’s secret and plans to exploit him. To make matters worse, Romeo goes on the run to protect Mable from himself, and she realizes that she has a dark side, too. One that’ll stop at nothing, not even murder, to make sure that he can live free.

 

Gritty and emotional! It’s always fun to kick off a new series with Lani Lynn Vale, so a good bit of time was spent building up the list of characters and letting us get to know a little about each. Romeo is immediately endearing and heartfelt with his connection to her dog and returning him to her no matter how attached he was, etc. I felt like we were slightly overwhelmed with Birdie and the core of Mable and Romeo were rushed over a little bit more than normal in a LLV love story. I enjoyed them both, loved their connection and look forward to more in the series, I just wanted a little more here and now too. Overall, this was a well developed set up of the series and had a solid hook to keep us reading to get to know the other guys more. I enjoyed getting to see more of Apollo from the last series too!

 

 

 

Title: House of BS & Lies
Series: Don’t Date Him #1
Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tropes: Bad Boy Ex Con/Small Town
Alpha Male
Release Date: January 13, 2026
BLURB

 

She was enraptured by the man they called Romeo the moment that he turned those butterscotch-colored eyes her way.
 

 

What wasn’t to love about a big, burly, plaid-wearing lumberjack?
He was tall, gorgeous, and knew how to wield a chainsaw better than Leatherface. He could fell a tree in seconds, had thighs that were as thick as said trees, filled out a pair of Wranglers better than any cowboy ever, and didn’t care that she could operate heavy machinery better than him.
He was everything a girl like Mable could ask for.
The caveat? He was a convicted felon that’d just escaped from prison, faked his death, and ran from his home in Texas to the mountains of Montana.
At first, Mable didn’t know what kind of man he’d been before coming to her small, mountain town. He led Mable into a false sense of security, made her fall madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with him, and then shocked her by sharing his darkest secret.
Now, she’s left reeling, thinking life couldn’t get more complicated.
Until she finds out her stepmother knows Romeo’s secret and plans to exploit him. To make matters worse, Romeo goes on the run to protect Mable from himself, and she realizes that she has a dark side, too. One that’ll stop at nothing, not even murder, to make sure that he can live free.

 

 
 

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
 

 

COMING SOON

 

Releasing February 10
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.
AUTHOR LINKS
FACEBOOK
four-stars