Category: Contemporary Romance

A Montana-Sized Secret by Allie Pleiter

Posted July 29, 2025 by Marsha in Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Love Inspired (Harlequin), NetGalley, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Can she trust him again?

For the sake of their baby?

Returning to High Mountain pregnant is not the fresh start Carly Davis imagined—nor is telling Jack Peters he’s the father.

And with Jack in the early stages of addiction recovery, she questions if he can handle being a parent. But Jack is determined to show that he’s changed, and a chance to prove himself arises when they must care for a litter of rescued baby bunnies.

Trust slowly builds between them again, but as unexpected news threatens their fragile bond, can they overcome the uncertainties to be the family they both need?

Titles in the Three Sisters Rescue Farm series include: A Montana-Sized Secret ~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or only kissing.  As you’d expect from Harlequin’s Love Inspired books.

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Below Deck Billionaire by Amy Andrews

Posted July 29, 2025 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Kindle Unlimited, NetGalley, Sexual Content / 0 Comments

The world’s hottest playboy is off-limits… to everyone but her 

Theo Callisthenes – renowned playboy and heir to a multi-billion-dollar Greek shipping company’s sex-capades – always makes the front page. But when one misdemeanor goes too far, his brother offers up a challenge. Restore his reputation with a 4-month sex ban…

Vowing to see the ban through, Theo takes up residence on his superyacht, sailing around the Greek islands. Until one day, the one woman he hasn’t been able to hit and quit – Tiffany Wainright – strides on board as the newest member of his crew. Temptation has set sail with him, and the forced proximity gives him absolutely nowhere to hide! Tiffany might live below deck, but their attraction is still electric, and she’s just too close for comfort.

Then an opportunity to salvage a business deal he put in jeopardy is back on the table. To ensure success, Theo may need a very indecent proposal. Can he convince Tiffany to pose as his fake fiancée during the day to help seal the deal and trust that neither of them will succumb to their burning chemistry once the sun goes down? It’s only for two days, but how long will the ban hold when the door closes on his suite and there’s only his sorely tested honour keeping them in check?

There is a connection between Below Deck Billionaire and Undercover Billionaire, although not listed as a series.

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Vigilante Honor by Amber Leigh Williams

Posted July 29, 2025 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Romantic Suspense, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments

She’s secretly pined for him for years…

But he has secrets, too.

When bounty hunter Remy Fontenot inserts himself into FBI agent Sloane Escarra’s investigation, she’s conflicted. As a teen, she was rescued from sex traffickers by the former bodyguard, and she’s ached with yearning for the ex-SEAL ever since.

Now, a masked vigilante known as Loup-Garou is raiding trafficking rings in New Orleans, and Sloane is assigned to catch him. Though she admires the vigilante’s accomplishments, she’s dedicated to enforcing the law.

But Remy’s urgent task is to keep Sloane safe…while preventing her from discovering his true identity.

Titles in the Southern Justice series include: Escape to the Bayou ~ Crossing Deadly Tides ~ Vigilante Honor ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Dreams and Dark Chocolate by Jeanine Lauren

Posted July 29, 2025 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Connection to another series, Contemporary Romance, Series / 2 Comments

A pinch of hope, a dash of romance, and a whole lot of chocolate.

When chocolatier Emma Harris teams up with charming tour guide Drew McDonald to save her struggling shop, sparks fly as they whip up a Valentine’s event that could change both their lives.

But with business challenges and personal doubts lingering, will this partnership be just business—or the start of something far sweeter?

Dreams and Dark Chocolate is a novella in the series Sunshine Bay Shops.  Those titles include: Making Sweet Music ~ Christmas Trees and Mistletoe ~ The Bookworm and the Cat’s Meow ~ Whisking Love and Building Dreams ~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or only kissing.

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Back to Us by Christi Barth

Posted July 28, 2025 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series / 0 Comments

When her ex-boyfriend refuses to sell her his land unless she dates him for a month, an uncompromising winemaker learns that some bargains are worth making for a second chance at love.

Ward Cantrell’s never missed an opportunity to take the long shot. That recklessness cost him his college scholarship, his chance to play pro ball, and, worst of all, the girl next door. The town–and the girl–never forgave him. But now he’s taking one last long shot—opening a boutique distillery on the family farm he inherited.

Piper Morrissey’s high school boyfriend overshadowed her with his golden-boy glory. When his reputation tarnished, she dumped him. And made herself over so that she could shine. Maintaining her spotless image–and that of her family’s winery–is paramount. So it’s a problem when Ward agrees to sell the acres to start her precious port line..if she agrees to date him for one month.

Ward hopes a month is all it’ll take to convince his former sweetheart that he’s changed. Piper sees that the one thing that hasn’t changed is how much he loves her. But the chance arises to thumb his nose at the town that rejected him when a developer offers to buy his land for triple the price Piper offers. Suddenly, he can’t afford not to reject Piper’s offer. Will that make her reject his love–for good?

Titles in the Shore Secrets series include: Up to Me ~ All for You ~ Back to Us ~

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Second Chance at Sunshine Inn by Amy Clipston

Posted July 8, 2025 by Marsha in Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, NetGalley / 0 Comments

When Everleigh Hartnett, a cheerful traveling NICU nurse who can’t sit still, inherits half of her godmother’s beloved seaside bed-and-breakfast, she dreams of selling the place to fund the nonprofit she and her godmother always envisioned. But there’s one tiny problem: her new co-owner. Rugged, grumpy, and fiercely loyal to the inn, Cade Witherspoon isn’t about to let his peaceful life–and his new start–be sold off so easily.

Everleigh and Cade are opposites in every way. She’s sunshine and laughter, while he’s all rough edges and quiet brooding. Their clash of wills over the inn soon has them wondering what on earth Everleigh’s godmother was thinking when she left them both in charge.

As Everleigh gets to know Cade’s softer side–and Cade finds himself drawn to Everleigh’s optimism and kindness–their disagreement over the inn becomes something sweeter. But with the arrival of Cade’s long-lost brother and the looming threat of a developer sniffing around the property, they’ll have to make some hard choices–together.

Can Everleigh and Cade let go of their expectations and build something lasting together? Or will the Sunshine Inn be the place they both leave behind?

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or fade to black, or only kissing.

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A Montana Fake Marriage by April Murdock

Posted July 1, 2025 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Connection to another series, Contemporary Romance, Modern Western Romance, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Some lies are worth telling. Some hearts are worth risking. Love is always worth fighting for.

A few weeks from college graduation and financially cut off, Sammie faces an impossible choice. She’ll have to submit to her father’s manipulative demands or lose the inheritance her late mother left her.

Caleb is the steadfast cowboy who’s been her anchor through every storm. His solution to her problem? A fake marriage that will satisfy her father’s requirements and give Sammie the freedom she desperately needs.

What starts as a short-term arrangement quickly becomes complicated when the lines between fake vows and true feelings blur. Life in Big Sky, Montana, draws Sammie in, and she discovers a strength she never knew she had. The self-doubt she’d struggled with her whole life was slowly turning into confidence.

As they’re adjusting to their new life—temporary as it might be—Caleb is keeping a secret that threatens her trust in him. Sammie’s father’s accusations add fuel to a fire that seems to be blazing out of control.

With their fake marriage crumbling and her inheritance hanging in the balance, Sammie must decide what matters most. She’ll have to choose between the security of wealth and the risk of loving someone who might break her heart.

Titles in the Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts series include: A Montana Fake Marriage ~ A Montana Perfect Family ~ A Montana Childhood Promise ~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or only kissing.

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Destination Weddings and Other Disasters by M. C. Vaughan

Posted July 1, 2025 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, NetGalley, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments

There are millions of men in Los Angeles, and somehow Julia Stone’s mother just got engaged to the worst possible option. Not that there’s anything wrong with her future stepfather. It’s his son who’s the problem. Event planner Carson Miller is six-plus feet of lean muscle and irresistible charm, and ten years ago, he made Julia’s life hell.

Paired with Carson to organize the last-minute Belize wedding, Julia doesn’t intend to let him off the hook for past bad behavior. If only there weren’t surprising new feelings in the mix, like undeniable heat…

Carson claims he made mistakes; he’s a different person than he was back then. Julia’s response: Prove it. Now, in between wedding planning, zip-lining, and exploring waterfalls, they’re having fun falling hard and wondering if this paradise can last once the party’s over…

Titles in the Belize Dreams series include: Romancing Miss Stone ~ Destination Weddings and Other Disasters ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Falling Stars by Fern Michaels

Posted October 1, 2023 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Kensington Books, NetGalley, Previously Published, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, Standalone / 0 Comments

Emily Ammerman has always felt at home amid the ski runs and slopes of Snowdrift Summit; the Colorado resort her family has operated for decades. Snow is her element, and she doesn’t hesitate when a new client asks her to train him to ski The Plunge, one of Colorado’s most treacherous runs.
 
But Zach Ryder is no regular client. On screen, he’s famous for starring as a daring CIA officer who always saves the day. In real life, he’s just as handsome and charming as his alter ego, though not everyone is impressed. Some are concerned about what kind of impact these slick showbiz types will have on their town.
 
As for Emily—she’s got a secret, and it’s one she can’t reveal to anyone, especially not to Zach: she’s his biggest fan. But she’s also a professional. She’ll train him till he’s ready to tackle any slope, but she won’t fall in love with him the way so many others have.
 
Still, not everything in life can be planned, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t help but fall . . .

NetGalley ARC

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A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting

Posted June 13, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley, Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com), Standalone / 0 Comments

The fur is about to fly between a cheerful cat sitter and a grumpy hockey nerd…

Kitty Hart has become internet famous as the Kitty Whisperer for her expertise on all things feline, and as a result, her cat-sitting business is booming. But lately, she has a terrible feeling that maybe her life isn’t quite going where it’s supposed to—especially after falling face-first into her newest client. Not exactly the best first impression.

Fortunately, Miles Thorn is just as bad at first impressions. Strike one: he doesn’t like cats, especially Prince Francis, the haughty and mischievous Sphynx his mom left in his care. Strike two: tackling Kitty to the floor in a misguided attempt to save the pet he continually calls “the gremlin.”

As awkwardness slides into attraction and things start to turn purr-sonal, will these two complete opposites ever be able to find their furry-tail ending?

Standalone (at this time)

NetGalley ARC

Possible Trigger Warning: Mention of dementia and grief

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Treasure Coast Homecoming by Leigh Duncan

Posted June 8, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Series, Small Town Romance, Women's Fiction / 0 Comments

She has one final wish before she puts a For Sale sign in front of the only home she’s ever known, but can her family make her dream come true?

Margaret Dane Clayton has spent her entire life at the Dane Crown Inn, the beautiful resort located in the quiet beachside town of Emerald Bay. But the inn once hailed as the “gem of Florida’s Treasure Coast” is showing its age, much like its fiercely independent owner. Margaret swears she’ll keep the doors of the inn open forever … until an accident forces her to accept the fact that she can no longer cater to guests on her own. After reaching the most difficult decision of her life, Margaret asks her daughter and nieces to grant her one final wish before she places the property on the market. But will these five women put their busy lives on hold to grant it?

One by one, each of the cousins arrives in Emerald Bay with armloads of excuses and far too much baggage. But when the town’s grumpy—yet oh, so handsome—mayor threatens to close the inn for good, the women agree to give the resort the overhaul it desperately needs. Working with a bank account that’s far too small and facing one crisis after another, Margaret’s daughter and her nieces race to fulfill her final wish. Only one question remains: Can this fractured family set aside their differences long enough to restore the inn … and rebuild the closeness they once treasured?

Titles in the Emerald Bay series include — Treasure Coast Homecoming —♦— Treasure Coast Promise —♦— Treasure Coast Christmas —♦— Treasure Coast Revival —♦— Treasure Coast Discovery —♦— Treasure Coast Legacy —♦—

Booksprout ARC

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Identity by Nora Roberts

Posted May 23, 2023 by Marsha in Author ARC, Contemporary Romance, Crime, NetGalley, Romantic Suspense, Sexual Content, St. Martin's Press, Thriller / 0 Comments

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan’s job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who’d been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. “Luke” is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn’t his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan’s nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother’s home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn’t flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town.

But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn’t forgotten the one who got away.

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

NetGalley ARC

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The Little Bookstore on Heart Lake Lane by Sarah Robinson

Posted May 22, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

As chaotic as it can be, Rosie Dean loves her unruly life. But between raising twins alone, running her struggling bookshop, and secretly writing a parenting advice column, the single mom can’t think about dating. At least that’s what she tells herself . . . until her high school crush (and his incredible blue eyes) returns to Heart Lake for the summer. Even though Evan has grown into a huge grump, he’s still a super sexy one, and soon sparks begin to fly.

Single dad and widower Evan Mills is used to hearing he’s too serious. But with a grieving tween daughter to raise on his own, the graphic designer is just trying to stay strong for her. He hopes a few weeks at the lake will be the fresh start they both need. Evan never anticipated reconnecting with Rosie, or that she could make him feel whole again—if he’d give her the chance. Will one steamy summer with Rosie be long enough to melt Evan’s heart?

Includes the bonus novella, Annie Rains’ Kiss Me in Sweetwater Springs!

Titles in the Heart Lake series include — Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas —♥— The Little Bookstore on Heart Lake Lane —♥— A Heart Lake Summer —♥—

NetGalley ARC

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There’s Something About Merry by Codi Hall

Posted April 29, 2023 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, NetGalley, Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com), Series, Sexual Content, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 0 Comments

Merry Winters has the holiday blues. She’s spent the last year learning to love herself, and now she’s ready to find the right guy. But the pickings are slim in Mistletoe, Idaho, and it’s just her luck that the man who catches her eye is the stoic new foreman at her family’s Christmas tree farm. Too bad he wants to keep a 39-and-a-half-foot pole between them.

Single dad Clark Griffin isn’t looking for romance, but he wouldn’t mind a friend to snuggle with on a cold winter’s night. When he signs up for online dating, he doesn’t expect to connect with the sassy, crafty Knottygirl25 and get wrapped up in every message she writes.

But when Merry turns out to be his blind internet date, his surprise causes him to miss his chance under the mistletoe. Can a little Christmas magic give these two a second chance at a first impression?

Titles in the Mistletoe Romance series include — Nick and Noel’s Christmas Playlist —♥— There’s Something About Merry —♥—

Previously Published

NetGalley

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Aura of Night by Heather Graham

Posted April 29, 2023 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Crime, Mystery, Owned, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Series, Sexual Content, Thriller / 0 Comments

True evil never dies. It only waits in the dark.

All book editor Megan Law wants is to bury the memory of her brutal kidnapping and move on with her life. So when her publisher asks her to spin her hellish experience into the next bestseller, Megan agrees only because it might help keep other women safe. Then a mysterious, gruesome package arrives in the mail—a reminder that the nightmare isn’t over just yet.

FBI investigator Ragnar Johnson is running out of time. He knows in his gut there’s more to the recent Embracer killings, and he needs Megan’s help. Even with their rocky past behind them, working together now isn’t going to be easy. But when things take a deadly turn, Megan and Ragnar discover a deep connection that they’ll have to use, because something is trying to tear them apart…forever.

Titles in this trilogy portion of the entire series include — Sound of Darkness —♦— Aura of Night —♦— Voice of Fear —♦—

The entire Krewe of Hunters series includes — Phantom Evil —◊— Heart of Evil —◊— Sacred Evil —◊— The Evil Inside —◊— The Unseen —◊— The Unholy —◊— The Unspoken —◊— The Uninvited —◊—  The Night Is Watching —◊— The Night Is Alive —◊— The Night Is Forever —◊— The Cursed —◊— The Hexed —◊— The Betrayed —◊— The Silenced —◊— The Forgotten —◊— The Hidden —◊— Haunted Destiny —◊— Deadly Fate —◊— Darkest Journey —◊— Dying Breath —◊— Dark Rites —◊— Wicked Deeds —◊— Fade to Black —◊— Pale as Death —◊— Echoes of Evil —◊— The Summoning —◊— The Seekers —◊— The Stalking —◊— Seeing Darkness —◊—Deadly Touch —◊—Dreaming Death —◊—  ♦ The Unforgiven —◊— The Forbidden —◊— The Unknown —◊—  Sound of Darkness —◊— Aura of Night —◊— Voice of Fear —◊—

While I’ve read the entire Krewe of Hunters series over the years, I have not reviewed each novel, and to go back now would be quite daunting and time-consuming.  So, I stick to reviewing the more current trilogy.  

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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