October 17, 2026

* Review * CODE NAME: SCORPIO by Janie Crouch

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Code Name: Scorpio by Janie Crouch
Series: Zodiac Tactical
Published by Calamittie Jane Publishing - Protector Romance Circle on October 16, 2026
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Zodiac Tactical's Rogue Division doesn't officially exist. Its operatives do the jobs the law can't touch, and they live in the gray between justice and violence.

Ryder Sutton walked away from Rogue four years ago. Not because of what they asked him to do. Because of how good he was at doing it.

Then a human trafficking operation surfaces, and Ryder is the only way inside.

Cassandra Leuenberger is brilliant, guarded, and happiest behind a locked door and a wall of monitors. The man she'd been falling for over late-night video calls now thinks she's cold and distant in person.

She'd rather he believe that than learn the truth.

When the threat drags Cassandra into the middle of Ryder’s op, everything changes. Keeping her alive means becoming the man he swore he'd never be again. Losing her isn't something he's willing to consider.

He has a past he buried.
She has a secret she can't hide much longer.

And the men they're hunting don't let go.

Non-stop action and suspense! The next book in Crouch’s Zodiac Tactical series brings us Ryder and Cassie’s story. She’s basically a shut-in and he considers himself too suited to the undercurrents of life to be normal. They both are knee deep in trouble as a case important to Fallon manages to sway Cassandra into coming onsite and working them. Danger is around every corner as an undercover assignment goes lopsided and has them in deeper than ever. I wanted a bit more depth to each of these characters as it felt like details were glossed over in several places. I liked them and the heart of the case was a good one, so I still enjoyed. Looking forward to more from the series!

* Review * HIS GUILTY PLEASURE by Carrie Ann Ryan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

His Guilty Pleasure by Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Montgomery Ink Legacy #11
Published by Carrie Ann Ryan on October 26, 2026
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There were two rules in our relationship:

We remain friends with the benefits.
And we don’t catch feelings.

Only I made a mistake. I started to fall for Dash Montgomery.

Now our secret physical-only time together is done, and we have to see if we can keep our promises.

He needs to move on. And I need to focus on my business and friends.

Yet when an attack happens close to home, Dash steps up and changes the game. I don’t want to fall for him and yet I know there’s no walking away from this. Not when he puts himself on the line and I finally can give in.

Everyone I’ve ever loved, save one, has walked away from me, leaving the shattered remnants of who I once was behind. If I don’t find a way to trust Dash—as well as my heart—the darkness stalking us both won’t be the only thing that breaks us.

Smoking hot from start to finish! Ryan is pouring on the steam when Dash Montgomery admits he’s met his match in the next book in her Montgomery Ink Legacy series and I am loving every single minute of it. The main characters are close friends with a strong back support of friends and family surrounding them when their secret friends with benefits relationship implodes around them. The characters each have a strong personality to carry their side of the story and a softness together that makes them easily believable as a couple. I wanted a little more from them … especially considering the months in between things that happen, but I was hooked from page one and easily loved them throughout. Great characters, strong support systems and a decent follow through on plot twists. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a buttinsky but close-knit family who loves hard and supports non-stop as each member finds their forever love.