Archives for October 7, 2025

* Release Blitz/Review * LUCKY by Sawyer Bennett

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * LUCKY by Sawyer BennettLucky by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Pittsburgh Titans #18
Published by Big Dog Books on October 7, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Matteo “Lucky” Branson has it all—an elite hockey career, a massive fanbase, and the kind of charm that trends effortlessly on TikTok. As the fun-loving left winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, he’s built a brand on superstition and swagger. But when a viral dating challenge puts him opposite a woman who couldn’t care less about his fame, Lucky’s about to learn the hard way that some games don’t follow the playbook.

They call me Lucky for a reason. My grandmother swears I was cursed at birth—yet somehow, I’ve been kissed by fate every day since. I’ve got my rabbit’s foot, a shamrock tattoo, and quirky rituals by the dozen—and it’s all worked so far. Life’s been smooth. Hockey, clout, fun... I’m skating through.

Until I meet Winifred Shaw. Winnie. She’s smart, bold, and laugh-out-loud funny, with a TikTok following that rivals mine and a dating challenge that’s going viral. The premise? Thirty days of dating to prove an average woman can still land a decent guy. I’m the first to accept the challenge—one night, one chance, and then she moves on. But the moment she rolls her eyes at me, I’m hooked.

She thinks I’m just another overhyped athlete with a pretty face and a lucky streak. But I see her—confident, curvy, electric—and I don’t just want a second date. I want every single one after that.

I’ve always trusted luck to get me where I need to be. But this time? I’m ready to fight for it.

 

Such an adorable, modern day meet cute! Tik-tok sensation and pro hockey player Matteo Branson doesn’t do serious. He’s all about numbers, success and fun … until he sees an online challenge by an influencer that instantly has him hooked and all in on getting a date. Winifred Shaw thinks Lucky’s approach to winning her over is only proof that he’s not the average guy she has her heart set on, but she is willing to give him the one date he insists on. She doesn’t count on the fact that he’s going to be the most delightful man she’s met in quite some time though. The character development in this book is satisfying and though we don’t get quite as much team interaction as we do sometimes with this group of guys, it was solid enough to carry through at a respectable speed because Lucky and Winnie are so cute together. I really enjoyed their story!

 

 

LUCKY 
Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: October 7 

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:

Matteo “Lucky” Branson has it all—an elite hockey career, a massive fanbase, and the kind of charm that trends effortlessly on TikTok. As the fun-loving left winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, he’s built a brand on superstition and swagger. But when a viral dating challenge puts him opposite a woman who couldn’t care less about his fame, Lucky’s about to learn the hard way that some games don’t follow the playbook.

They call me Lucky for a reason. My grandmother swears I was cursed at birth—yet somehow, I’ve been kissed by fate every day since. I’ve got my rabbit’s foot, a shamrock tattoo, and quirky rituals by the dozen—and it’s all worked so far. Life’s been smooth. Hockey, clout, fun… I’m skating through.

Until I meet Winifred Shaw. Winnie. She’s smart, bold, and laugh-out-loud funny, with a TikTok following that rivals mine and a dating challenge that’s going viral. The premise? Thirty days of dating to prove an average woman can still land a decent guy. I’m the first to accept the challenge—one night, one chance, and then she moves on. But the moment she rolls her eyes at me, I’m hooked.

She thinks I’m just another overhyped athlete with a pretty face and a lucky streak. But I see her—confident, curvy, electric—and I don’t just want a second date. I want every single one after that.

I’ve always trusted luck to get me where I need to be. But this time? I’m ready to fight for it.

Buy Links:

Ebook: https://geni.us/STORE_LuckyEbook

Audio: https://geni.us/STORE_LuckyAudio

five-stars

* Release Blitz/Review * UGLY DUCKLING by Lani Lynn Vale

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * UGLY DUCKLING by Lani Lynn ValeUgly Duckling by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: Content Advisory #6
on October 7, 2025
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

It wasn’t easy being considered the ugly friend.

She’s known since she was young that life wouldn’t be easy, and that she would have to work hard for everything she got. Life was tough when you had a face that only a mother could love.

For years, Sutton Sway goes through life knowing that she’s never going to have a happily ever after that she’s always dreamed of. So she settles. She marries not for love, but for companionship, choosing a man that she never should’ve looked twice at, all so she could have a family of her own.

That family never happens, and within a year, she’s divorced and right back where she started.

Just when she’s at her all-time low, thinking life couldn’t get much worse, in walks Gunner Penn.

Gunner Penn, her protector. The man that saved her from all her high school bullies and proved to her that there were good men in this world.

He was the man that she’d compared all other men to, and probably always would.

But he’s not the Gunner she remembers. He’s harder, less forgiving, and a whole lot less happy.
He hates everyone and everything and doesn’t care who he offends.

That hate and anger for the world and its occupants doesn’t seem to include her, though.
No, Gunner Penn doesn’t hate her at all.

In fact, he’s loved her since high school. She was just too traumatized by life to see it.
But she sees it now. She feels it. She lives and breathes it.

Gunner Penn lost her once. But he won’t lose her a second time.

Not if there’s breath left in his body.

 


Filled to the brim with emotion and heart! Lani Lynn Vale is the queen of wrapping a couple around a reader’s heart time and time again. Just when you think you can’t love a pair of her characters more, she comes along with the next one to steal your adoration away … but I don’t mind being fickle on occasion! If you’ve been reading along with her always entertaining Content Advisory series, you will recognize the hero of this story from Audric’s story. Gunnar has had a lot of turmoil in his life, but the precious cargo he was handed recently has changed his life for the better. Running into Sutton after all of these years only adds to his enjoyment of current times. I loved their connection from the past, and the fact that they still feel the draw to each other rather quickly. Lots of drama, equal amounts of sass and so much love all around their world makes for a really great read. I’m loving the guys of this series so much and the women they fall head over heals for are simply perfect additions to the fam. Can’t wait for Apollo’s story!

 

 

 

Title: Ugly Duckling
Series: Content Advisory #6
Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: Mafia Romance
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Cinnamon Roll Hero
Single Dad/Nanny
Release Date: October 7, 2025
BLURB

 

It wasn’t easy being considered the ugly friend.

 

She’s known since she was young that life wouldn’t be easy, and that she would have to work hard for everything she got. Life was tough when you had a face that only a mother could love.
For years, Sutton Sway goes through life knowing that she’s never going to have a happily ever after that she’s always dreamed of. So she settles. She marries not for love, but for companionship, choosing a man that she never should’ve looked twice at, all so she could have a family of her own.
That family never happens, and within a year, she’s divorced and right back where she started.
Just when she’s at her all-time low, thinking life couldn’t get much worse, in walks Gunner Penn.
Gunner Penn, her protector. The man that saved her from all her high school bullies and proved to her that there were good men in this world.
He was the man that she’d compared all other men to, and probably always would.
But he’s not the Gunner she remembers. He’s harder, less forgiving, and a whole lot less happy.
He hates everyone and everything and doesn’t care who he offends.
That hate and anger for the world and its occupants doesn’t seem to include her, though.
No, Gunner Penn doesn’t hate her at all.
In fact, he’s loved her since high school. She was just too traumatized by life to see it.
But she sees it now. She feels it. She lives and breathes it.
Gunner Penn lost her once. But he won’t lose her a second time.
Not if there’s breath left in his body.

 

 
 

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
 

 

ALSO AVAILABLE
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

COMING SOON
Releasing November 4
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