Archives for August 2026

* Review * THE FAMILY HE ALWAYS WANTED by Lisa Childs

August 21, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE FAMILY HE ALWAYS WANTED by Lisa ChildsThe Family He Always Wanted by Lisa Childs
Series: Bachelor Cowboys #4
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on August 25, 2026
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four-half-stars

Can his family of four…

Become her new home?

Attorney Nolan Stokes doesn’t want his children to become too fond of another woman who’ll just walk away, especially not a fiery singer who holds him in contempt. Frankie Dempsey resents Nolan for how he handled her uncle’s estate and has sworn to leave Willow Creek for the open road. But when Nolan reveals his biological ties to her best friend’s family, Frankie’s curiosity is piqued—and his three spirited children begin to claim her heart. Nolan fears he’s risking everything for a woman destined to leave, but can he give his heart to Frankie, who just might bring his kids and him everything they ever dreamed of?

 

Heartfelt and so emotional! I absolutely loved Frankie and Nolan from the start and knew their story was going to be powerful from the lead up to it in previous books in the series. I loved her instant connection to his kids and the camaraderie that led to the storyline. The characters were well developed, but their storyline was too quick for me. Insta-love doesn’t even describe it. In the reality of it there was no dating, no talking to any great degree, just an adoration of his kids and then instantly declaring their love for each other. I wanted more for them to paint a complete picture of what they could be, but the little family they made with his kids was adorable nonetheless.

Great series overall!

four-half-stars
Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * FROZEN SECRETS by Nichole Severn

August 21, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * FROZEN SECRETS by Nichole SevernFrozen Secrets by Nichole Severn
Series: Cold Hollow Investigations #1
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on August 25, 2026
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five-stars

Past secrets can't stay buried…

Once the ice shatters.

Clearing her late father's name is the sole reason for Winnie Hutton's return to the hometown she'd left behind. And the only investigative help available is from the person she never wanted to see again—her ex-fiancé, Adrial Tucker. Determined to push aside their tangled emotions—for now—the reluctant partners pursue dangerous leads in the one cold case Winnie's father failed to solve. A case filled with secrets, lies, corruption…and now, a killer's brutal attack. But the biggest challenge to their reunion may be Adrial’s admission of a devastating truth that could shatter any chance at a new future with Winnie.

 

An emotionally riveting kick off to a brand new series! Severn is on fire with the drama in this series starter and I loved every minute of it. We’re thrown a hint of a mystery right from the start that only builds in depth as more and more is uncovered and corruption is discovered. Danger lurks just out of reach, only strike when they are east expecting it. I was hooked right from the start and loved every minute of uncovering answers in this cold case turned all too hot. The main characters are great, their past adds a lot to the story as do his secrets. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fast paced mystery with hints of romance and loads of unexpected twists. Looking forward to more to come in the series!

five-stars
Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * A COWBOY TO REMEMBER by Melinda Curtis

August 21, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * A COWBOY TO REMEMBER by Melinda CurtisA Cowboy to Remember by Melinda Curtis
Series: The Bluegrass Blackwells #2
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on August 25, 2026
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five-stars

His family’s legacy…

Is their chance at love

Desperate for work, jockey Tamara Vaughn reluctantly agrees to train horses at the revered Blackwell Stables. She can’t avoid its connection to a smaller outfit in Texas, where her career veered off course and romantic feelings went unnoticed. Widowed horse breeder Nathan Blackwell never expected to work with Tamara again after the tragedy with his prized horse—but a doping scandal back home in Gold Finch, Kentucky, has left the ranch with few options. As they’re forced to team up, an undeniable chemistry builds, especially as Tamara helps his twin boys find their stride in bluegrass country. With her reputation and the ranch’s future riding on an emotionally charged high-stakes race, can she and Nathan also dare to become something more?

 

Highly emotional and wonderfully addictive! The second book in The Bluegrass Blackwells series picks up right after the first as the family continues to try to figure out the drugging scandal of their prized race horse as bad publicity and snarky opponents do more and more damage to the business reputation each day. Big E convinces Nathan to return home to try to help and his adorable twins stir up fun and chaos along the way. There’s a building mystery as this series goes along and each sibling that returns continues to build on the family chemistry. I am loving hanging out with Big E again and getting to know the bonus family along the way. Highly recommend this book as well as the first in the series to anyone who loves a sweet romance with a family centric plot as one sibling after another finds love!

five-stars
Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * WILD RIVALS by KA James

August 21, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * WILD RIVALS by KA JamesWild Rivals by KA James
Series: Wild Heartlands #3
Published by Boldwood Books on August 19, 2026
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Goodreads
four-stars

Two enemy ranches. Two people who should NOT fall in love. A forbidden attraction that threatens everything...

Maddie Hart has been under my skin for as long as I can remember—sharp-tongued, stubborn, and born on the wrong side of a feud that’s split our families for generations. The line between the Wilde ranch and the Hart land isn’t just fence posts — it’s history, pride, and a whole lot of bad blood. Now the ranch between us is up for sale, and I’ll be damned if I let a Hart get their hands on it. I’ve worked too hard, fought too long... to lose to her. But Maddie doesn’t play fair. Not in business—and definitely not when it comes to me.

Because somewhere between the arguments and the years of tension, something finally snaps. One mistake, and suddenly I know exactly what it feels like to have her in my arms. It should’ve ended there. It didn’t.

Now we’re sneaking around, crossing lines we swore we never would, risking everything for something we can’t seem to quit. And in a town where secrets don’t stay buried, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out—and when it does, it won’t just be us who pays the price.

 

Enemies to lovers indeed! My first book by KA James will not be my last because I’m hooked on these families! This is the third book in the Wild Heartlands series, but I didn’t find it hard to catch up on the family that came prior to Wyatt and Maddie. The one place that I did feel like there were major holes was with Autumn’s story. The past happenings were kind of left in the dark, as well as who her baby daddy currently might be. I would have liked a little more clarity on that since she was a pretty big player in the storyline. Overall, I liked Wyatt and Maddie both quite a lot and their family backstory added layers to the plot. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a small town rancher type family who packs a punch with sass and swagger as each sibling is finding their very own happily ever after.

four-stars
Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Release Blitz/Review * LOCKE by Sawyer Bennett

August 11, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * LOCKE by Sawyer BennettLocke by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Portland Wildfire #2
Published by Big Dog Books on August 11, 2026
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

He’s the league’s most dangerous enforcer. She’s the specialist sent to determine whether he’s too broken to save. Neither of them is prepared for what happens when the truth hits back.

Locke Donovan has a reputation carved in blood and penalty minutes. The league’s most dangerous enforcer, he’s an angry, unapproachable loner who fights harder and refuses to let anyone in. The Portland Wildfire only took him because no one else would, and Locke seems determined to prove every rumor true. He doesn’t do teammates. He doesn’t do relationships. He barely does conversation.

Dr. Livia Cross is quiet, brilliant and controlled. Officially, she’s the Wildfire’s new high-performance consultant. Unofficially, she’s been embedded by the league to evaluate one player.

One risk.
Locke.

Her job is simple: observe him, test him, and determine whether he’s safe to stay on the ice, or too volatile to keep playing. But the man she finds beneath the scowl and silence isn’t what she expected. He’s sharp. Watching. Walled off for a reason. And when sparks ignite where there should only be professionalism, Livia’s carefully built boundaries start to crack.

Locke doesn’t trust easily yet he lets Livia closer than he ever intended, long before he learns she isn’t who he thinks she is. And when the truth comes out, it won’t just shatter their fragile connection… it might end his career.

 

Sure to please angst and addictive characters! Sawyer Bennett once again is delivering all the feels we need with her latest hockey series, Portland Wildfire. Locke is withdrawn from life and lives with simmering rage at the drop of a hat. He’s a top notch player, but his steadfast anger gets the best of him more often than not. Livia crosses the lines quickly when attraction between the two of them leads to a connection he was never expecting. Both characters are easy to like and I really enjoyed getting to the bottom of his past. I felt like there was not a resolution there that could have added even more angst to the plot, but I enjoyed the storyline none the less. Her past also catches up to her during their story and again was left hanging a smidge by not learning the outcome of how it all played out. I am enjoying this series quite a lot and really enjoyed the owner too. I can’t wait to see how more of the team finds their happily ever after as the series continues.

Highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a hockey romance instilled with emotional depth and real life problems playing out as the spotlight characters finds his one and only and struggles to make the changes he needs to in order to keep her.

 

 

 

LOCKE
Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: August 11

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

 

Blurb:

He’s the league’s most dangerous defenseman. She’s the specialist sent to determine whether
he’s too broken to save. Neither of them is prepared for what happens when the truth hits
back.

Locke Donovan has a reputation carved in blood and penalty minutes. The league’s most
dangerous defenseman, he’s an angry, unapproachable loner who fights harder and refuses
to let anyone in. The Portland Wildfire only took him because no one else would, and Locke
seems determined to prove every rumor true. He doesn’t do teammates. He doesn’t do
relationships. He barely does conversation.

Dr. Livia Cross is quiet, brilliant and controlled. Officially, she’s the Wildfire’s new high-
performance consultant. Unofficially, she’s been embedded by the league to evaluate one
player.

One risk.

Locke.

Her job is simple: observe him, test him, and determine whether he’s safe to stay on the ice, or
too volatile to keep playing. But the man she finds beneath the scowl and silence isn’t what
she expected. He’s sharp. Watching. Walled off for a reason. And when sparks ignite where
there should only be professionalism, Livia’s carefully built boundaries start to crack.
Locke doesn’t trust easily yet he lets Livia closer than he ever intended, long before he learns
she isn’t who he thinks she is. And when the truth comes out, it won’t just shatter their fragile
connection… it might end his career.

Dark, emotional, and electric with slow-burn chemistry, LOCKE delivers a gripping workplace
romance between a guarded enforcer and the woman sent to evaluate him—until desire
becomes danger, and the lines between loyalty and love blur beyond recognition.

Buy Link:

https://geni.us/SB_Locke

four-half-stars
Filed Under: Blog Tour, Book Reviews, Release Day Blitz

* Review * THE ONE WHO WALKED AWAY by Karen Rose

August 11, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE ONE WHO WALKED AWAY by Karen RoseThe One Who Walked Away by Karen Rose
Published by Berkley on August 11, 2026
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Bounty hunter Elle Randolph takes on every case she can, in an effort to outrun herself. Three years ago, she was the only one who walked away from a car crash that killed her husband and two others. Although she was cleared of any wrongdoing, she is fueled by guilt and dedicated to solving other people’s problems. But her running is over when she’s identified as a person of interest in a murder investigation.

Detective Ronan Clarke, a single dad for fifteen years, has been laser-focused on raising his daughter and serving the people of Mendocino County, California. He’s got everything under control—until a bounty hunter enters his jurisdiction, keeping secrets and bringing murder to his quiet town. The hunter is definitely involved in his current case, but exactly how is his question. Could she be his killer? As he unravels her secrets, he becomes increasingly troubled by what he finds. While Elle is forced to reexamine every painful memory of the life she left behind, Ronan grows more and more sure of her innocence. But can he trust himself to uncover the truth amid their growing attraction?

 

Hooked from the very first page! Karen Rose had me from the very beginning of this intricately woven story. First we have an accident happen that changes her world, then we get the heroine who is a female bounty hunter that we don’t see that often in romance and was very powerful, then we get danger circling every spot they’ve just been and romance dancing around the detective following their leads. Definitely a winner! The characters were intriguing. Elle really needed to stop letting Sara ride roughshod over her, but I liked her in every other aspect. Ronan was great and his daughter added a nice mix to his storyline to lighten him up and show his personality throughout. The storyline has them on a hunt for a runner, but has lots of twists and turns that make the town they are starting to like a hunting ground before it all comes full circle. I loved the entire story. Well developed, interesting plot, and excellent follow through with that happily ever after.

five-stars
Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Release Blitz/Review * WITH SPITE by Lani Lynn Vale

August 4, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * WITH SPITE by Lani Lynn ValeWith Spite by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: Don't Date Him #8
on August 4, 2026
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Huxley Hosea was at the lowest of the lows.

Exhausted—both mentally and physically—he could barely put one foot in front of the other. Tired to the bone due to a never-ending war. He was desperate to find a new every day that didn’t revolve around getting shot at by kids that could barely hold a rifle steady. War had broken his soul, and the last thing he wanted to do was go home and pretend that he was just a normal citizen.

But then he sees her, also at her lowest of lows, for the first time, and his soul latches on. Bernice, his salvation.

He’s convinced that she’s the answer to his woes, and he develops an unhealthy attachment to her that carries over to his civilian life. For five years, he watches her. Protects her. Keeps her safe when she won’t protect herself. Hux follows her every move and hides in the shadows so she’ll never see.

Then she shows up in his town, and all bets are off.

She’s in his town now. That means his rules. His way. And no more highway.

She’s stuck, and she’ll never know it until it’s too late for her to run.

 

Exhilarating and passionate! We met Bernice in her brother Creed and Birdee’s story earlier in the series, so seeing Bernice find her forever love is extra heartwarming. She relocated to Montana to have her bro in her life, and she suffers every day for it with her asthma. When she crosses paths with Huxley, she only has added incentive to be happy she now calls this town home. The characters are both endearing with strong stories behind them and their easy connection makes them easy to like. His family added a lot to the storyline and her past that ends up following her is unreal. Great characters, addictive storyline and another heart grabbing Vale happily ever after.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a fast paced story filled with good-hearted guys who find their happily ever after in the most unlikely circumstances.

 

 

Title: With Spite
Series: Don’t Date Him #8
Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tropes: Brother’s Best Friend, Stalker (Him)
Forced Proximity, Commitment Issues
Release Date: August 4, 2026
BLURB

 

Huxley Hosea was at the lowest of the lows.

 

Exhausted—both mentally and physically—he could barely put one foot in front of the other. Tired to the bone due to a never-ending war. He was desperate to find a new every day that didn’t revolve around getting shot at by kids that could barely hold a rifle steady. War had broken his soul, and the last thing he wanted to do was go home and pretend that he was just a normal citizen.
But then he sees her, also at her lowest of lows, for the first time, and his soul latches on. Bernice, his salvation.
He’s convinced that she’s the answer to his woes, and he develops an unhealthy attachment to her that carries over to his civilian life. For five years, he watches her. Protects her. Keeps her safe when she won’t protect herself. Hux follows her every move and hides in the shadows so she’ll never see.
Then she shows up in his town, and all bets are off.
She’s in his town now. That means his rules. His way. And no more highway.
She’s stuck, and she’ll never know it until it’s too late for her to run.

 

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
 

 

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE
DON’T DATE HIM SERIES
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

COMING SOON
Releasing September 8
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
five-stars
Filed Under: Blog Tour, Book Reviews, Release Day Blitz

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