* Review * A COWBOY TO CALL HER OWN by Cari Lynn Webb

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * A COWBOY TO CALL HER OWN by Cari Lynn WebbA Cowboy to Call Her Own by Cari Lynn Webb
Series: The Bluegrass Blackwells #1
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on July 28, 2026
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five-stars

This big-city cowboy

Just swept her off her boots!

Saving his family’s Kentucky racing stables is priority number one for cowboy Asher Blackwell. Love is not on his agenda. But when pretty chef Kelley Munroe pulls him into a clumsy two-step, he’s charmed. And making a deal with her to cater for the stables adds a little sunlight to his days. As a shared love of horses draws them together, and they’re roped into planning the town’s Fourth of July celebrations, the sparks between them blossom into fireworks. Asher wasn’t looking for a fresh start, and his life is in New York. But Kelley’s healing support is cracking open his guarded heart. Could she be the cowgirl he’d always hoped for?

 

An exhilarating kickoff to a Blackwell family return! If you’re like me and have been devouring every Blackwell family series since we were first introduced to Elias (Big E) several years ago, you are going to be delighted to step back into his realm again as he doles out his gentle advice to yet another Blackwell branch, this time in Gold Finch, Kentucky. We are quickly thrust into the heart of horse country as estranged son Asher Blackwell returns to try to put the pieces back together of his family legacy after unexpected turmoil derails their racing dynasty. He meets chef Kelley Munroe and is enchanted. The main characters both have interesting back stories that led them both to the place that they are at today and the attraction they feel when they cross paths is unexpected and unwanted for the most part. I loved watching them fall just as hard for the town and ranch as they did for each other. I can’t wait to see what this series holds in store for us as his brothers begin to return to the family fold for their turn at helping in the recovery. I loved every minute of Asher and Kelley’s story, and seeing Big E had me all smiles throughout!

five-stars

* Review * RIVALS’ ONE-NIGHT RULE by Melanie Milburne

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * RIVALS’ ONE-NIGHT RULE by Melanie MilburneRivals' One-Night Rule by Melanie Milburne
Series: Wilde Billionaire Brothers #2
Published by Harlequin Presents on July 28, 2026
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four-stars

Can they resist…

the laws of attraction?

Cynical divorce lawyer Jack never mixes business with pleasure. Until a case puts him head-to-head with his fiercest rival, Sylvie, the only woman who gets under his skin. He’s overcome by a primal need to wreck her icy facade and unleash the simmering heat between them…

Sylvie refuses to blur the lines of professionalism—especially not for arrogant playboy Jack. Yet, to her horror, he awakens a hunger she can’t deny, leading to a sinfully delicious, strictly one-night indulgence. As passion obliterates hatred between epic rivals, who will come out on top?

 

A lust-filled connection leads to forever! Jack Wild and Sylvie Rathbone are opposing council in a contentious divorce case that leads to tension filled disputes and eventual connections outside of the courtroom. Both characters are highly effective in their careers with strong family drama that drives them to be the best. No one saw attraction between them coming until it was too late and they were in deep. I really liked each of them as people and enjoyed their time together, but there wasn’t nearly enough development of their actual relationship to make the story feel complete. I’m looking forward to the final brother’s story to finish out the trilogy though because I enjoy the family.

four-stars

* Review * WESTWARD by Carrie Ann Ryan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * WESTWARD by Carrie Ann RyanWestward by Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Ashford Creek #3
Published by Carrie Ann Ryan on July 27, 2026
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four-half-stars

Atlas Carter has it all.
One of the best careers in the NHL as a star goalie.
A family that sacrificed everything to get him where he is.
And a small town that praises him as their golden boy.
What he doesn’t have is the girl he left behind.
But when Atlas gets hurt and is forced to spend his recovery in Ashford Creek, he finally has a second chance.

Elizabeth loves her life—her small town, her family, and her job.
Only she knows she can’t love Atlas Carter.
They parted ways for a reason, and those who judge her from her town don’t need to know the truth. She knows what it feels like to have the town’s eyes on her when it comes to Atlas Carter. So when she finally gives in, she’s prepared for the heat.

At least that's what they both tell themselves. Because the season is almost here and choices will have to be made.

Only they aren’t the only two forced to make a choice. Somebody doesn’t want Atlas to return…and small towns keep their secrets for a reason.

 

A bittersweet reunion of first loves! Atlas has made it good in the NHL, but the love he left behind to do so has never left his mind. Elizabeth adores her smalltown life, her aging parents and moulding young minds as a teacher. When an injury has him returning home to recover, they cross paths as they always do and the love they have always felt for each other does it’s thing like always. I wanted a little more told in the backstory as to how exactly they broke up originally, etc. but I enjoyed their time together now wholeheartedly. Her student Will’s strife adds a lot to the plot. Great characters, a strong backdrop of family and friend support and just enough mystery to pique our attention. I’m really enjoying this town!

four-half-stars

* Review * DRIVING BEATS by Arell Rivers

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * DRIVING BEATS by Arell RiversDriving Beats by Arell Rivers
Series: Untamed Coaster #6
Published by Tarnished Halo Publishing LLC on July 23, 2026
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four-stars

One introverted guitarist with a retired heart.
One uncontrollable, rebellious stylist.
And one perfectly raked Zen Garden about to be utterly destroyed.

At thirty-one, guitarist Coop O’Shea is the steady, meditative backbone of Untamed Coaster who guards a private past—a life-altering betrayal that left him convinced his own happily-ever-after was already behind him. He’s content with his quiet, celibate existence until a baggage mishap upends his world.

Enter Nese Dalton, the band’s youngest, loudest, and most infuriatingly beautiful stylist, assigned to help him rebuild his wardrobe.

Nese doesn't do “steady,” and she certainly doesn’t do “rules.” She’s spent years overcoming a dark past, fighting too hard for her freedom to let anyone close. When a temporary housing arrangement puts her in Coop's personal space, she kicks things off by dragging her heavy luggage straight through his prized Zen Garden.

Living under the same roof, their opposites-attract chemistry quickly becomes impossible to ignore. Beneath Coop's guarded exterior, Nese finds a deeply protective man who makes her feel safe for the first time.

When the walls between them lower, Coop's old fears resurface. Positive he's already had his shot at love, he begins pushing her away. But Nese refuses to be an afterthought, forcing Coop to decide whether holding onto the past is worth losing the woman who could change his future.

 

Coop meets his match! The sixth book in Rivers’ Untamed Coasters rockstar romance centers around guitarist Cooper O’Shea and band stylist Nese Dalton. He’s lived with betrayal and chose to distance himself from temptation by immersing into a zen lifestyle of calmness while she rebelled against the constrictions put on her growing up and enjoys living wild and free. When circumstances lead them to have to intermingle, sparks quickly fly and a connection is born that neither was expecting. They are both easy enough to like and a satisfying love story. I’ve really enjoyed this entire series!

four-stars

* Review * KNIGHTS LIKE THESE by Kendall Ryan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * KNIGHTS LIKE THESE by Kendall RyanKnights Like These by Kendall Ryan
Series: Off the Ice #3
on July 23, 2026
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four-stars

He was my first kiss.
My first everything.
And then he married someone else.

I've been in love with Archer Lockwood since I was fourteen years old. I've never told him. I stood at his wedding, held his newborn twins in the hospital, and cried in my car afterward. I smiled through every moment that should have been mine—because that's what best friends do.

Now Archer is divorced, overwhelmed, and raising two three-year-olds alone during an NHL season. When he calls for help, I pack a suitcase and fly to New York.

The plan was simple: help with the kids, keep my distance, and don't fall in love.
The plan lasted about seventy-two hours.

Because his twins have me wrapped around their fingers. His house feels like home. And he keeps looking at me like he's finally seeing something he missed.

I've waited years for Archer to look at me like that.

I just wasn't ready for what happens when he finally does.

 

A slow-burn, best friends to lovers hockey delight! The third book in Kendall Ryan’s Off the Ice series brings us Archer’s story and continues to deliver on delightful hockey players who fall hard when they least expect it. Archer is newly divorced with twin toddlers to contend with and calls on his best friend to lend a helping hand. Said best friend has been secretly in love with him since they were teenagers. The characters are both really down to earth and easy to like. The story is extremely slow burn with a lot of the past coming into play before their true romance begins in this story. I wanted a little more of them at the end once they truly decided to make this thing work as more than friends to make me fully invested in their future, but I enjoyed them a lot overall.

four-stars

* Review * SOMEONE TO CLAIM by Michelle Major

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SOMEONE TO CLAIM by Michelle MajorSomeone To Claim by Michelle Major
Series: The Skylark Series #7
Published by Romilda House on July 21, 2026
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four-stars

Sloane
I spent fifteen months letting cancer define me. Now I'm hiking into the Montana wilderness to track down the author whose book kept me going in my darkest days and to prove I'm more than the girl everyone has to worry about.

The last person I expect to find me on the trail is the country music legend with a voice (and body) that wrecked me during two unforgettable nights in Nashville. Only I walked away from him because a man who lost his mother to cancer couldn’t possibly see a future with a woman still fighting it.

But Jensen Grant followed me into the mountains, and out here there's no more hiding.

Jensen
Sloane Winslow turned my world upside down then disappeared without even telling me her real name. Fourteen months later, I still haven't figured out how to forget her.

When I find out she's heading into the backcountry alone, I don't think twice. My whole life has been about taking care of people. It’s the only way I know how to matter.

But Sloane wants to save herself. And somewhere between shared tents and trail mix confessions, I realize the woman I came to protect might be the one who finally sees me as something more than what I can give.

I just have to convince her I'm worth the risk.

 

Satisfying, yet bittersweet to leave Skylark! With the final book in her beloved Skylark series, Major is bringing us the long awaited story of Sloane. I’ve been invested in this series since the very first page of book one, and it’s been an absolutely wonderful series filled with friendship, family and love in a smalltown. I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent with this core group of friends as they each found their happily ever after. I wish there were a few more of them so we could stick around longer!  That said, Sloane’s storyline about chasing the author that inspired her fell flat for me. I loved her and I loved Jensen and their story was addictive and really enjoyable, but the veer away from the town that we’ve fallen so hard for was disappointing. I would have enjoyed more time with her and Jensen, more of seeing the improved connection with her brother and just more time of these wonderful friends basking in each other a little more. I’m sad to see them go.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a close-knit group of friends who rally hard to love and support each other through thick and thin and cheer each other on as each one finds their forever love. I recommend reading the series in order so you can get the true feel of each couple and their journey.

four-stars

* Review * RAIN OR SHINE by E.C. Land

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * RAIN OR SHINE by E.C. LandRain or Shine by E.C. Land
Series: Fallen Meadows #2
on July 18, 2026
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four-half-stars

When your world is always stormy, it's easy to hide from the sunshine...

Tyler
After all that I've been through, there's nothing I won't do to protect what matters most. I've devoted my life to this ranch and my son, and I promised I’d never let anyone get close enough to risk losing either one of them again.

But even the most disciplined man makes a mistake from time to time.
I didn't expect to see her again, so when Delaney reenters my life with news that scares us both, the safety I've carefully built for myself shatters. It was just one night of weakness, but now it ties us together forever. I've been down this road before, and I'm terrified of how the journey will end.

She's far too young to shoulder this burden alone, but the ranch is expanding, and there's no room for distractions. Delaney thinks she’s cursed to lose everyone she loves. I’m terrified that if I trust her, I’ll lose the son I’ve spent years shielding from the world. But the day our lives change forever is coming soon, and it's time for me to decide: do I keep guarding my heart like a fortress, or do I step up and be the man everyone needs me to be?

 

Highly addictive and endearing! The second book in E.C. Land’s Fallen Meadows series revolves around ranch manager Tyler and Mammon from the MC’s little sister Delaney. They were both interesting characters who were quick to draw me in with their backstories, and his kiddo sealed the deal of loving them to bits because he’s so adorable. The tension is high as each has their own drama they are dealing with as they meet, are instantly drawn to each other and finagle their way through the passion, angst and outside forces to find love and settle in for a lifetime of happiness. There were some spots that could have been filled in a tad more, but overall the characters were well developed and the storyline fast paced. I can’t wait to see what this series still has in store for us!

four-half-stars

* Release Blitz/Review * NOT A GENTLEMAN by Lani Lynn Vale

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * NOT A GENTLEMAN by Lani Lynn ValeNot A Gentleman by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: Don't Date Him #7
on July 14, 2026
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four-half-stars

Gentry found Sage on the worst day of her life.

He saves her from a fate worse than hell, and in return, she ruins his life.

Not on purpose, though.

No, the men who think to rule her life don’t like that she has a champion on her side and realize the best way to get back at her is to go through him.

They find a really great way to do it, too.

They frame him for a crime he didn’t intentionally commit and sentence him to spend thirteen years in prison. As an added bonus, they take his child—the one thing that matters most to him— just to remind him that they hold all the power.

But Sage will never let them have any power over her.

That’s why, the day before he’s sentenced to prison, Sage offers the only protection she can think to give him. Her hand in marriage.

For seven years, Sage fights to get her husband-in-name-only free.

Just when she thinks she’s close, she gets the news. Her husband has died in a prison riot, leaving her free to marry another.

That’s when she decides to run.

And where does her running take her? Right into the arms of a man who was supposed to be dead.

 

Highly emotional and filled to the brim with heart, sass and sexual tension! Vale is on fire with her Don’t Date Him series. Each hero seems to get better and better and delivers on angst, formidability and utter attraction. Gentry and Sage never had a chance to get to know each other before tragedy struck and he paid the price for lending a hand when she needed it most. Believing him dead after years of trying to right the wrong done to him, she sets out to move on with her life only to realize she has landed where she did because of strings he pulled, and he’s actually alive. Drama ensues with multiple twists that we weren’t expecting. The characters are both really easy to like and I was hooked on them right from the start. Loved them together and can’t wait to get to the next book in the series!

I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who loves a super sexy contemporary romance filled to the brim with heart, intensity and a mega happily ever after in each book.

 

 

 

Title: Not a Gentleman
Series: Don’t Date Him #7
Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience
Grumpy (Her) / Sunshine (Him), Enemies to Lovers
Release Date: July 14, 2026
BLURB

 

Gentry found Sage on the worst day of her life.

 

He saves her from a fate worse than hell, and in return, she ruins his life.
Not on purpose, though.
No, the men who think to rule her life don’t like that she has a champion on her side and realize the best way to get back at her is to go through him.
They find a really great way to do it, too.
They frame him for a crime he didn’t intentionally commit and sentence him to spend thirteen years in prison. As an added bonus, they take his child—the one thing that matters most to him— just to remind him that they hold all the power.
But Sage will never let them have any power over her.
That’s why, the day before he’s sentenced to prison, Sage offers the only protection she can think to give him. Her hand in marriage.
For seven years, Sage fights to get her husband-in-name-only free.
Just when she thinks she’s close, she gets the news. Her husband has died in a prison riot, leaving her free to marry another.
That’s when she decides to run.
And where does her running take her? Right into the arms of a man who was supposed to be dead.

 

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
 

 

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

 

COMING SOON
Releasing August 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
four-half-stars

* Release Blitz/Review * FALLING FOR YOU by Natasha Madison

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Release Blitz/Review * FALLING FOR YOU by Natasha MadisonFalling for You by Natasha Madison
Series: The Falling For Series #1
Published by Blackstone Publishing on July 14, 2026
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five-stars

Theo Williams loved and lost once and isn’t interested in doing it again. He has his family and friends, and plenty of women passing through his new hometown who are happy with a no-strings-attached night of passion. Working as a partner at his cousin’s construction company, he’s perfectly content with his life—until he meets Collins Henderson, the one-night stand who will change his world forever.

Collins grew up on the wrong side of her small hometown. Thanks to her parents’ shady schemes, every local knows a Henderson cannot be trusted. She works hard as a paramedic, putting in every extra hour she can to save for a better life. But every time she starts to get ahead, her parents show up to pull her back down. Having one night of passion with a man she doesn’t know is not something she’d normally do, but there was just something about him … And two months later, she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.

When she runs into the mysterious stranger again, she has to tell him, not because she needs or wants anything from him, just so he knows. But now he’s showing up at her house, cooking her meals, stocking her refrigerator, and doing everything he can for her. Collins has always taken care of herself. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, but she can’t deny the chemistry between them.

She knows it’s only a matter of time before he learns who she is and changes his mind. She can’t let herself fall for this guy, but every day he’s getting harder to resist …

 

Delightfully sexy and oh so addictive! Madison is kicking off her brand new Falling For Series with a bang as Theo and Collins find more than they ever bargained for by simply spending one terrific night together after a chance meeting. A repeat run in a few weeks later gives Collins the chance to deliver the news that they are pregnant now that the defacto daddy has arrived back into town. The characters are really easy to like and I loved going along for the ride as they were drawn to each other more and more every day. There’s a couple of twists that make the story a bit angsty on both sides, but it all adds to the mystique of whether they will decide to make a go of their ready made family or not. I can’t wait for more to come in this series because I loved every minute of Theo and Collins!

 

 

 

FALLING FOR YOU
Natasha Madison
Release Date: July 14 

Meet Natasha Madison:

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

Connect with Natasha Madison:

https://linktr.ee/natashamauthor

Blurb:

Theo Williams loved and lost once and isn’t interested in doing it again. He has his family and friends, and plenty of women passing through his new hometown who are happy with a no-strings-attached night of passion. Working as a partner at his cousin’s construction company, he’s perfectly content with his life—until he meets Collins Henderson, the one-night stand who will change his world forever.

Collins grew up on the wrong side of her small hometown. Thanks to her parents’ shady schemes, every local knows a Henderson cannot be trusted. She works hard as a paramedic, putting in every extra hour she can to save for a better life. But every time she starts to get ahead, her parents show up to pull her back down. Having one night of passion with a man she doesn’t know is not something she’d normally do, but there was just something about him … And two months later, she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.

When she runs into the mysterious stranger again, she has to tell him, not because she needs or wants anything from him, just so he knows. But now he’s showing up at her house, cooking her meals, stocking her refrigerator, and doing everything he can for her. Collins has always taken care of herself. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, but she can’t deny the chemistry between them.

She knows it’s only a matter of time before he learns who she is and changes his mind. She can’t let herself fall for this guy, but every day he’s getting harder to resist …

Buy Link:

https://www.natashamadisonauthor.com/falling-for-you

Available in KU

five-stars

* Review * FALLING INTO YOU by Jill Shalvis

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * FALLING INTO YOU by Jill ShalvisFalling Into You by Jill Shalvis
Series: Colburn Brothers #3
Published by That's What She Said Publishing on July 14, 2026
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five-stars

Some love stories don’t stay buried, no matter how far you run.

Hazel Pierce has three goals for coming back to Star Falls:
1. Help her estranged dad.
2. Keep things strictly temporary.
3. Absolutely, under no circumstances, fall for Tucker Colburn again.

That plan dies a dramatic, soggy death when a rogue wasp sting sends Hazel swerving off the road and into the river—only to be hauled out, half-drowned and furious, by the Star Falls Fire Department’s finest. Unfortunately, “finest” is ex–best friend, ex–one-night mistake, and the man she’s been avoiding for a decade.

Tucker’s always had a way of getting into her head. And now between a family that thrives on gossip and a town that’s way too small for all this chemistry, Hazel’s running out of ways to avoid the truth. As sparks turn into late-night confessions and slow, toe-curling kisses, Hazel has to decide if she’s done running—from her past, from this town, and from the only man who’s ever made her feel like home. And Tucker has to prove that this time, he’s not just her safe place to crash—he’s her always.

 

The Colburn’s just keep stealing my heart time and time again and I could not love this family more! Shalvis is at her peak with this series and I am loving every minute of it. Filled with heart, humor and angst as each sibling finds their forever love through trials and tribulations. The characters are very well developed and the world building of the town and family around them is top notch. I really could revisit this town time and time again and never get tired of it.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a small town romance filled with great characters, emotional situations and rewarding happily ever afters along the way.

five-stars