Category / Charming Hero

by mvbookreviewer

Review: A Vow of Obligation by Lynne Graham

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Marriage by Command, #3
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Navarre Cazier
Heroine: Tawny Baxter
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: April 20, 2012
Started On: January 06, 2026
Finished On: January 08, 2026

I was beginning to worry that something was seriously wrong with me because none of the books that I had picked up of late were doing it for me. Then came along, A Vow of Obligation. There is something deliciously old-school about the story, the kind of romance that leans unapologetically into heightened emotion, combustible chemistry, and larger-than-life characters without ever losing its charm. From the very first encounter, this story announces itself as a classic Lynne Graham setup with a sharp edge: a powerful billionaire, a working-class heroine caught in circumstances beyond her control, and a proposition that changes everything.

Tawny Baxter is immediately compelling as a heroine. Young, fiercely honest, and refreshingly untheatrical, she is not easily cowed by wealth, authority, or intimidation. Her predicament begins with a well-meaning but disastrous act of loyalty, and the way she handles being caught off guard speaks volumes about her character. Tawny does not posture or perform innocence for sympathy; she meets situations head-on, says exactly what she thinks, and refuses to be molded into something more convenient for anyone else.

Navarre Cazier, on the other hand, is peak Graham hero material. Self-made, ruthlessly controlled, and deeply commitment-phobic, he operates from a place of emotional self-preservation disguised as dominance. His wealth and power are not romanticized so much as weaponized, especially early on, yet it is precisely Tawny’s refusal to be dazzled or intimidated that unsettles him. The sexual tension between them is visceral and immediate, crackling beneath every interaction, made all the more potent by Tawny’s quiet vulnerability and Navarre’s rigid need for control.

As their arrangement draws them closer, the story digs into deeply rooted fears on both sides. Tawny’s mistrust of wealthy men is grounded in lived experience rather than insecurity, and Navarre’s resistance to emotional attachment stems from the same. What unfolds is not just desire, but a steady erosion of defenses, where power dynamics shift and neither character emerges unchanged. The stakes rise naturally as consequences assert themselves, forcing both to confront what they truly want versus what they have always believed was safest.

What worked particularly well here was the balance between intensity and readability. The chemistry is combustible without tipping into melodrama, and Tawny’s straightforward nature makes her one of the more satisfying heroines in Graham’s catalog. Navarre, for all his arrogance, is consistently challenged, and watching him struggle against a woman who cannot be bought, silenced, or neatly discarded is immensely rewarding. The bombshell of a twist at the end was one I did not see coming, but the story ended on such a high note, because of the same.

Recommended for: Readers who love classic billionaire romances with sharp heroines, intense sexual tension, fake engagements that spiral into something far more dangerous, and alpha heroes who finally meet their match.

Final Verdict: A sharp, highly readable romance with explosive chemistry, a fearless heroine, and a commitment-phobic hero undone by the one woman he cannot control. A reminder of why Lynne Graham does intensity so well.

Favorite Quotes

‘I’m a virgin!’ she launched across the room at him in stark condemnation. ‘How many virgins do you know who sell themselves for money?’
I am not having this crazy argument, Navarre’s clever brain told him soothingly as he cast down the remote control he had used to switch on the business news. She’s a lunatic. I’ve hired a thief and a lunatic…
‘I don’t know any virgins,’ Navarre told her truthfully. ‘But that’s probably because most of them keep quiet about their inexperience.’
‘I don’t see why I should keep quiet!’ Tawny snapped, tilting her chin in challenge. ‘You seem to be convinced that I would do anything for money…but I’m not like that.’
‘We’re not having this conversation,’ Navarre informed her resolutely, stonily centring his attention back on the television screen.

Navarre reached out and entwined his long brown fingers into the curling spirals of red hair that were brushing his chest. For a timeless moment his eyes held her as fast as manacles. ‘Don’t tease—’
Her bosom swelled as her temper surged over the rebuke. ‘I wasn’t teasing!’
‘You mean that you didn’t tell me you were a virgin to whet my appetite for you?’ Navarre derided.
‘No, I darned well didn’t!’ Tawny snapped furiously. ‘I only told you in the first place because I thought it would make you understand why I was offended by your assumption that my body has a price tag attached to it!’

‘I’m not a child you left behind in need of care and protection!’ Tawny objected, ice-blue eyes stormy as he ignored the comment and virtually dragged her onto the dance floor with him. ‘Why are you behaving like this, Navarre? Why are you acting like I’ve done something wrong?’
‘Haven’t you? If I leave you alone for five minutes I come back to find you flirting with another man!’ he censured with icy derision, splaying long sure fingers to her spine to draw her closer to his hard, powerful body than she wanted to be at that moment.
The scent of him, clean, warm and male, was in her nostrils and she fought the aphrodisiac effect that proximity awakened in her treacherous body. ‘You left me alone for two hours!’
‘Was it too much for me to expect you to be waiting quietly where I left you?’ Navarre prompted shortly, in no mood to be reasonable.
‘Yes, I’m not an umbrella you overlooked and I wasn’t flirting with Tor! We were simply talking. He knows I’m engaged,’ Tawny snapped up at him, tempestuous in her own self-defence.

‘I’m leaving tomorrow,’ he told Tawny without any expression at all.
Tawny smiled as brightly as if she had won an Olympic race. ‘Elise mentioned it.’
‘I’ll drop you off at home on the way to the airport. I have your phone number and I’ll stay in touch…obviously,’ he added curtly.
‘It’s not going to happen,’ Tawny responded soothingly, guessing what he meant. ‘My egg and your sperm are more likely to have a fight than get together and throw a party for three!’
His face darkened. ‘I hope you’re right, ma petite. A child should be planned and wanted and cherished.’

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | HQ | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Echoes of Scotland Street by Samantha Young

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: On Dublin Street, #5
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Cole Walker
Heroine: Shannon MacLeod
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 07, 2014
Started On: January 04, 2026
Finished On: January 05, 2026

After the emotional whiplash of Fall from India Place, I went into Echoes of Scotland Street with cautious optimism. Cole Walker had been a steady presence throughout the series, and after seeing him repeatedly through Hannah’s eyes, I was more than ready for his story. Expectations were admittedly high, perhaps unfairly so, but this was meant to be a return to form after a weaker installment. Unfortunately, this book was even weaker than its predecessor.

The story opens with a formative encounter between Cole and Shannon as teenagers, a moment meant to anchor their future connection. Years later, they meet again under very different circumstances, with Shannon emotionally bruised and determined to avoid the exact type of man Cole appears to be. Cole, on the other hand, is instantly all in. He is devoted, patient, and earnest from the start, convinced that Shannon is worth the effort.

Shannon’s emotional baggage is substantial, and while her trauma is understandable, it often dominates the narrative to the point of stagnation. Her resistance feels less like guarded vulnerability and more like an immovable wall. Cole’s pursuit, while well intentioned, occasionally crosses into uncomfortable territory, especially given how clearly she communicates her reluctance early on. When he finally pulls back, it is the result of words that Shannon finally blurts out hurting Cole and bringing forth his own trauma.

What disappointed me most was the complete lack of spark once they do come together. Cole is kind, steady, and emotionally available, but he is also safe to the point of dullness. There is very little edge, very little heat, and almost no sense of danger or urgency. Compared to earlier heroes in the series, particularly Braden, whose presence was commanding both emotionally and physically, Cole simply fades into the background. A gentleman can still be fierce. Here, that balance never materializes.

Shannon, as a heroine, was difficult to connect with despite her traumatic past. Understanding her pain did not translate into liking her, and even in moments where the story asked for emotional release, I felt strangely detached. The romantic arc relied heavily on reassurance from secondary characters rather than organic growth between the leads. Even the sexual chemistry, once a hallmark of this series, felt muted and oddly restrained. And I skipped huge chunks of the book towards the finish line.

Ultimately, this felt like a story that relied too heavily on intention rather than execution. The emotional groundwork was there, but the delivery failed to be satisfactory. Given the rave reviews this installment however received from longtime fans of the series, I maybe an outlier in my opinion. However, for readers who crave intensity, angst, and visceral connection that the earlier three books in the series provided, it may fall particularly flat.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy gentle, emotionally safe romances with minimal conflict and a patient, steady hero.

Final Verdict: Echoes of Scotland Street is a well meaning installment of the On Dublin Street series that lacked the fire, tension, and emotional grip that once defined the series.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Fall from India Place by Samantha Young

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: On Dublin Street, #4
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Marco D’Alessandro
Heroine: Hannah Nichols
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: June 03, 2014
Started On: December 19, 2025
Finished On: December 30, 2025

Fall from India Place was one of those books I went into with a lot of emotional investment. Hannah Nichols has been quietly present since the beginning of the On Dublin Street series, and she always felt like the most relatable of the lot. The bookish, thoughtful friend and the one who listened more than she spoke. This installment finally places her at the center, revisiting a past heartbreak that has shaped far more of her adult life than anyone around her realizes.

Hannah’s story revolves around her unresolved connection with Marco D’Alessandro, the only man she has ever loved and the one who walked away after a single, life-altering night years earlier. When fate brings them back together, the pull between them is immediate, but so is the weight of everything left unsaid. Marco wants redemption and a future. Hannah wants safety, control, and certainty after years of quietly surviving something she never allowed herself to fully confront.

Hannah’s emotional journey is the most compelling part of the book. Her fears do not stem only from Marco’s disappearance, but from a deeply buried trauma that reshaped her sense of self, her body, and her relationship with vulnerability. Watching her navigate those fears through her internal monologue is heartbreaking at times, and it explains why she keeps people at arm’s length even when she longs for connection. Marco, on the other hand, remains more elusive. Seen only through Hannah’s eyes, he often feels like an idea rather than a fully realized presence, which made it difficult for me to truly invest in him as her partner.

Where the book struggled for me was in the emotional balance between the two leads. The chemistry that should have been explosive felt muted for much of the story, only truly coming alive in the latter third. By then, the groundwork had already felt uneven. Hannah’s healing journey seemed too complex and deeply rooted to be resolved solely through romance, and at times I found myself wishing the story had allowed more space for her to seek healing beyond the relationship itself. Given that Marco was this figment that materialized every now and then, I saw that Cole, who was always with Hannah through every single aspect of her life, was more of a partner to her than Marco ever felt like. But alas, the two had zero chemistry to gel it all together.

That said, the writing is still undeniably strong, and Samantha Young handles emotional introspection with care. Hannah’s pain feels real, her fears believable, and her hesitations grounded in lived experience. I simply wanted more depth and perspective from Marco, perhaps even his own voice, to bridge the emotional gap between them.

Recommended for: Readers invested in the On Dublin Street series, especially those who value character-driven stories and emotional realism over high heat or fast-paced romance.

Final Verdict: A poignant but uneven installment that gives Hannah a long-awaited voice, even if the romance itself never fully reaches the emotional heights of the earlier books in the series.

Favorite Quotes

“Hannah.” His voice was thick as his eyes began to burn again.
My breathing grew shallow. “We’ve always been honest with each other, right?”
He gave a slight shake of his head. “I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I can’t . . . I can’t tell you I don’t want you.” His eyes studied my face before moving slowly down my body, and everywhere his gaze touched I came alive.
I’d never done much more than kiss a boy, not because I wasn’t ready to explore sex, but because I didn’t want to explore sex with anyone but Marco. I’d heard Ellie, Joss, Jo, and Liv’s crappy losing-their-virginity stories and I’d promised myself that the moment I let someone truly inside me, I’d make sure that someone was someone I loved.
And I loved Marco.
I’d been in love with him since the day he rescued me when I was fourteen years old.

“When we were kids, I was in love with you.”
Surprise, gratification, relief, sheer joy . . . it all moved through me as my eyes widened at his abrupt confession.
“That never went away, Hannah.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And now that I know you again, I’m even more in love with you.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: War of Hearts by S. Young

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Urban Fantasy
POV: Third Person, Multiple
Series: True Immortality, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Conall MacLennan
Heroine: Thea Quinn
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 01, 2019
Started On: December 06, 2025
Finished On: December 17, 2025

War of Hearts was one of those books that pulled me in immediately with its premise. A hunted heroine with unexplained powers, an Alpha driven by duty and desperation, and a bargain forged in moral grey areas is exactly the kind of setup that promises intensity, danger, and emotional stakes. From the outset, this story positions itself as darker and more complex than a straightforward paranormal romance, and for the most part, it delivers on that promise.

Thea Quinn is a heroine shaped by survival. On the run for most of her life, betrayed by those who should have protected her, she is wary, resourceful, and deeply guarded. Her power is as much a burden as it is a weapon, and the uncertainty surrounding what she truly is adds an edge of unease to her journey.

Conall MacLennan, Alpha of the last werewolf clan in Scotland, is her natural opposite. Where Thea runs, Conall hunts. Where she resists control, he is defined by responsibility. His motivations are painfully human despite his supernatural nature, especially his desperation to save a sister slowly dying before his eyes.

What brings them together is not trust but necessity. Conall’s agreement to hunt Thea in exchange for a cure binds them in a way that feels uncomfortable by design, and that tension fuels much of the early story. As circumstances force proximity, the dynamic between hunter and hunted begins to shift into something far more layered. Attraction grows alongside resentment, and moments of vulnerability puncture the walls both characters have built around themselves. Their connection is passionate, intense, and fraught with internal conflict rather than easy devotion.

Where the story truly shines is in its emotional undercurrent. Both Thea and Conall are characters burdened by loss, duty, and guilt, and the slow unveiling of their truths adds weight to their bond. That said, I could not help but want more from the culmination of their union. While the mate bond becomes clear, the full scope of what they could have been together feels slightly under-explored. I found myself wishing for a stronger final confrontation where both could stand fully in their power, united not just by fate but by choice and shared strength.

I also had mixed feelings about the resolution of Thea’s identity. Her transition felt practical and understandable within pack logic, but it came across as a little too convenient given the rich possibilities her original power held. Fiction allows for limitless imagination, and I could not help but feel that her arc might have been even more impactful had she been allowed to retain and refine what made her unique. Still, the emotional resolution between the couple carried enough sincerity to soften those reservations.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy urban fantasy romance with Alpha heroes, morally complex bargains, and kick-ass heroines. If you like high emotional stakes, supernatural politics, and relationships forged under pressure, this one is worth picking up.

Final Verdict: A compelling start to a paranormal series with strong characters and emotional tension, even if it does not fully realize the epic potential of its central pairing.

Favorite Quotes

“Right, big guy.” She opened the rear passenger door thinking it might be less painful for him if she pulled him out feet first. “Here goes nothing.”
Thea couldn’t get her hands all the way around his calves, they were that thick with muscle. Jesus, this guy was huge. “What do you eat?” she murmured, hauling him out and ignoring his groans of displeasure. “Steroid Popsicles?”

“I don’t know. What I do know is that there’s someone else after me and you’ve saved my ass twice. I can’t get rid of you, so I may as well make use of you.”
Her words caused a stirring somewhere they shouldn’t. Poor word choice on her part. “Make use of me?” His voice was gruff.
She flicked him a casual look as she kicked off her shoes and got into the bed, fully clothed. “Bodyguard.” She reached up and switched off the lamp at her bedside.
Surprised, Conall snorted. “And here I thought you didnae need a bodyguard.”
“Me too. Until a vamp punched a hole in my chest.” Although she tried to hide behind levity, he heard the slight tremble of uncertainty in her words.
“Is that the closest you’ve come to death, lass?”
“No,” she whispered, the duvet rustling as she turned her back to him. “Death and I are old friends.”

As the doors closed, he glanced at her. Her eyes were downcast beneath her thick, sooty lashes. “So, no plans to kill me today?”
The couple sharing their elevator exchanged a wide-eyed look and Conall realized they spoke English. Oh well.
Thea looked up at him and her lush lips parted into a slow smile. “Not today.” The elevator jolted to a stop, and she moved past him with a nonchalant shrug. “But there’s always tomorrow.”

The muscle in his jaw flexed. “Did he do that to your back?”
She could still hear the lash hitting her flesh, could still feel the agonizing, burning pain of every slice into her back. She could smell the blood. Could feel it underfoot as she slipped in it. Could remember when darkness finally came.
And the moment she realized there was no relief of death for her.
It wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever done to her … it was just the only thing that truly physically hurt.
“Yes,” she choked out.
“How?”
The words stuck in her throat. As much as she longed to trust someone, and wished she could trust Conall, she just couldn’t. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s my only weakness.”

“Do people always look at you like that?” she whispered, staring over the top of the bus seats. “Like they fear you?”
“Aye,” his answer was gruff. “It makes no matter.”
“It doesn’t matter?”
“No, it doesnae.”
Thea slumped against her chair, annoyed Conall accepted that people judged him before they got to know him. “They’re idiots.”
His lips twitched at the corner. “What’s new, lass?”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Only December by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Douglas Saxon-Barrington
Heroine: Mona Paulson
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: November 21, 2025
Started On: November 25, 2025
Finished On: December 05, 2025

I lived in drought for so long before she became my rain.

Only December is one of those quiet, deceptively gentle romances that slowly works its way under your skin. The story unfolds over the course of a single month, when Mona Paulson takes on a temporary housekeeping assignment in a lakeside mansion owned by Douglas Saxon-Barrington, a reclusive philosopher who has deliberately withdrawn from life. What begins as a strictly professional arrangement soon becomes something far more intimate, something neither bargained for when each agreed to the terms.

Mona is thirty-two, self-sufficient, emotionally grounded, and quietly confident in who she is. She values her independence deeply and has never been interested in settling for a relationship that does not genuinely add to her life. There is a warmth to her that is not loud or performative, and her curiosity about people feels organic rather than intrusive.

Douglas, on the other hand, is fifty-two, widowed, and exquisitely controlled. He lives a carefully structured life shaped by loss, discipline, and intellect, believing that his most meaningful days are behind him. He is thoughtful, restrained, and unexpectedly tender, with a depth that makes every interaction with him feel deliberate and weighted.

As December progresses, their worlds begin to overlap in small but meaningful ways. Mona gently disrupts Douglas’s rigid routines, encouraging him to step outside his library and engage with the world again, while Douglas sees Mona in a way few people ever have. Their connection grows through shared walks, conversations about joy, grief, purpose, and the quiet intimacy of being truly seen. The tension lies not in whether they want each other, but in whether they are willing to risk reopening doors they believed were firmly shut, especially when time is clearly limited.

What I loved most about this story was Douglas. He is one of those rare heroes who is swoon-worthy not because of dominance or bravado, but because of kindness, self-control, and emotional honesty. The way he listens, the way he speaks, and the way he loves feels deeply intentional. Mona complements him beautifully, not by diminishing herself, but by standing firmly in who she is. Their physical connection mirrors their emotional one, slow, meaningful, and surprisingly powerful. The age gap becomes a non-issue and I literally swooned because Douglas was that hero for me.

That said, this is a quieter romance, and readers looking for high drama or rapid escalation may find the pacing too gentle. The story leans heavily into introspection and emotional nuance, which worked wonderfully for me (perhaps I was in the mood for one), but it may not be for everyone. I would have loved just a little more time with them beyond December, simply because their connection was so lovely to sit with.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy mature romances, introspective storytelling, age-gap relationships done with care, and heroes who lead with intellect and emotional depth than force.

Final Verdict: A tender, thoughtful romance about grief, joy, and the courage it takes to open your heart again. Quietly beautiful and deeply satisfying.

Favorite Quotes

“I disagree. A lot of people might want to be as authentic as you, but they’re too deeply swayed by making the right impression on the world or pursuing a strategy to get what they want or finding the easy way through the harder parts of life to live life as truly as you do. Why do you think you were able to break through all my protective barriers?”
My mind whirls. I can’t believe this is happening. He’s saying so much of what I desperately want to hear, expressing an appreciation of me—the real me—that no one else ever has. “I… I don’t know. I guess I just assumed because I was here and always around.”
He lets out a breathy laugh. “That’s not it at all. You’re right about me at heart. I have been hiding from life. And then suddenly you breezed into my world, all that’s best and most beautiful about life embodied in one warmhearted, intelligent, and spirited woman. How could I not wake up?”

He reaches out to take my hand. “Do you not want to sleep with me?”
“Of course I do. But I wasn’t sure if you… I mean, since we’re not together for real, I thought…”
He shakes his head. “Sweetheart, be serious. People are different. I know they are. But I will always be me. And I can’t imagine ever—ever—wanting to do what we just did with someone and not wanting to wake up with her beside me in the morning.”
I make a helpless, sobbing sound. Far too much emotion coming out in one burst.
Then I let him pull me back into bed beside him.

“Do you often get headaches this bad?”
He shakes his head. “Not anymore. They’re migraines. I used to get them at least a couple of times a month, but for the past several years I only get them occasionally.” His eyes are closed as he talks. It looks like he can barely even open them.
“What set this one off, do you know?”
“The weather change, I think. Shifts in pressure sometimes do it to me. I was hoping to stave it off.”
“Do you have any other medication you can take?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Why the hesitation?”
“Because it makes me fuzzy and out of it for hours.”
“Isn’t that better than being in pain?”
“I guess. I just didn’t want to…”
“To what?” He so seldom trails off in conversation I assume he’s in too much pain to get the words out.
But then he finally goes on. “To lose the day.”
He didn’t want to lose the day.
I place a hand on my aching chest.
It’s December 17. We only have two weeks left.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Wrong Wedding by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, FMC
Series: Convenient Marriages, #4
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Lincoln Wilson
Heroine: Summer Cray
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 22, 2020
Started On: November 16, 2025
Finished On: November 20, 2025

Wrong Wedding is one of those quietly satisfying marriage-of-convenience romances that sneaks up on you. The premise is classic Noelle Adams; practical decisions, emotional restraint, and feelings that refuse to stay neatly contained. The execution is what makes this one stand out within the Convenient Marriages series.

A plan meant to save a family business goes sideways, and Summer Cray finds herself married not to her best friend as originally planned, but to his older brother who is far from her favorite person. From the very start, there is a sense that this “wrong” wedding might actually be the right one all along.

Summer is a heroine shaped through responsibility and loss. Orphaned, practical, and carrying the weight of an inheritance, she has always done what is expected of her, even when her heart has been quietly yearning elsewhere. Her long-standing feelings for her friend Carter feels safe and familiar, which makes her sudden marriage to Lincoln Wilson all the more jarring. Lincoln, on the other hand, is very much the family’s black sheep, brooding, guilt-ridden, and convinced he does not deserve the things he wants the most. There is a softness beneath his rough edges that becomes increasingly hard to ignore as the story progresses.

What makes their dynamic compelling is how understated it is. This is not a loud, dramatic romance, but one built on proximity, small gestures, and emotional honesty that unfolds gradually. Lincoln has clearly been carrying his feelings for Summer for far longer than she realizes, but his loyalty to his brother and his own lack of self-worth keeps him holding back. Summer, interestingly, is the braver of the two when it comes to emotional risk, and that reversal works beautifully for their story. And I feel that Summer taking on that initiative balanced this story out really well.

I really enjoyed how their relationship develops once Summer begins to see Lincoln clearly, rather than as an inconvenient substitute. Lincoln clearly shows how dependable he is when everything seemingly falls apart, and that builds the foundation of the relationship that forges to life between the two.

There is tenderness here, and genuine affection, along with moments of quiet heat that gives the reader tingles of the good kind. That said, I felt like that the story spends a bit too much time circling Carter’s arc. While it provides context, it occasionally pulls focus away from the main couple at moments when the emotional tension between Summer and Lincoln deserved more space to breathe. And I am here for the main dish and not the side dishes that detracts attention from the main.

Overall, Wrong Wedding was a great read, with Summer being especially easy to root for, and Lincoln’s journey from self-denial to self-acceptance adding depth to what could have been a straightforward trope romance. The epilogue is sweet and satisfying, offering just the right note of closure.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy marriage-of-convenience romances, quiet pining heroes, emotionally brave heroines, and stories where the “wrong” choice turns out to be exactly right.

Final Verdict: A gentle, emotionally rewarding romance where love grows in the margins of obligation and proves that sometimes the wrong wedding leads to the right forever.

Favorite Quotes

“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Say things that you know will annoy me.”
“Why does it annoy you that I say you’re pretty?”
The question surprised her so much she answered it honestly. “Because you don’t mean it. You’re just saying it to rile me up.”
His eyebrows shot upward. “I do too mean it. How can you think I don’t?”
“Because I’m not… I’m not… I mean, I’m not bad to look at, but I’m not…”
The teasing in his eyes faded as he said, “I’ve never known anyone prettier than you. That’s the truth. I’ve always thought so. You shouldn’t be surprised that I’d say it.”

“Maybe what?”
He drew back his hand and looked away from her. “I don’t know. Just a random thought. I hope it’s not right. Surely it’s not…” His features twisted very briefly.
It scared her. “Lincoln? What is it? Tell me.”
“It’s nothing. I don’t think it’s right. He’s never… never once…”
She reached out to grab any part of him she could reach. It happened to be his upper arm. Her fingers wrapped around the firm contour of his bicep. “He’s never what? If you know, you have to tell me.”
“I don’t know. I promise. Just random thoughts that are probably figments of my angst-ridden imagination. I really think it’s just a lifetime of holding himself to impossible standards. No one can live up to it. So he’s finally just fallen off the deep end. He’ll be okay. We’ll bring him home. He’s going to be all right, Summer. I promise.”
She nodded, feeling better when he met her eyes again.
“We’ll find him tomorrow. And we won’t go home until he’s coming with us.”
She slid her hand up his neck until she was touching his bristly jaw. She loved the texture of it beneath her fingertips. “Thank you, Lincoln.”
His body tightened. “You’re welcome.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Melt for You by J.T. Geissinger

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Romantic Suspense
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: Slow Burn, #2
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Hero: Cameron Christopher McGregor
Heroine: Joellen Bixby
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: May 15, 2018
Started On: November 09, 2025
Finished On: November 11, 2025

There’s his Wikipedia page, his social media feeds, countless news articles, interviews, and photos. It’s jarring seeing the photos of him in action on the rugby field because he looks nothing like the man I’ve come to know.
He looks feral. Ferocious. Frightening. Like he’s released from a maximum security prison on short-term leave only for his games. There isn’t a single photograph of him smiling.

J.T. Geissinger does it again. Melt for You is one of those rare contemporary romances that slips in quietly, makes you laugh out loud, makes your heart clench, and then when you least expect it, melts you into a puddle of goo. It is smart, tender, outrageously funny, and a masterclass in how to write a transformative slow burn with two characters who simply shine together.

Joellen Bixby has spent most of her thirty-six years blending into the wallpaper, a self-effacing copy editor who lives for routine, her Saturday nights with her cat, and her entirely unrequited ten-year crush on her too-perfect boss, Michael Maddox. Joellen’s upbringing has done a number on her: an ex-model mother, a glamorous sister, and years of subtle and not-so-subtle messaging that she is the odd one out. Her low self-esteem is bone-deep, and Geissinger paints it with painful accuracy, often softened with Joellen’s razor-sharp, hilarious inner monologues.

Enter Cameron McGregor: a tattooed, kilt-wearing Scottish rugby captain whose bad-boy image precedes him. He moves in next door, rocks Joellen’s carefully ordered world on day one, and never once apologizes for it. Cocky, provocative, physically unstoppable and yet so unexpectedly gentle, Cam sees Joellen in ways she has never been seen before. And even though the book is told entirely from Joellen’s point of view, it becomes obvious early on that Cam is a goner. His pursuit is not filled with grand gestures or declarations, but consistency, care, and a kind of stubborn devotion disguised as irritation.

As their friendship grows, so does the tension; beautifully paced, painfully slow, positively electric. Cam becomes Joellen’s personal trainer not to chisel her into someone else’s ideal, but to make her strong, healthy, and confident. Every interaction between them (even the bickering) is charged, layered, and purposeful. The “practice kissing” scenes are some of the sexiest, sweetest writing Geissinger has ever done, and when the story finally tips into full-blown intimacy, it is both tender and scorching, delivered with surprising softness for the notorious playboy Scot.

I loved Joellen’s relatability; her insecurities, her humor, her resilience. And Cam? He is the book boyfriend those of us who have had body image issues never knew we needed. His backstory adds emotional heft to why he champions Joellen so fiercely, and why her self-loathing wounds him in ways she does not understand. If anything, I only wished we had had even a little of his POV, because his quiet unraveling in the background is half the magic.

This is a story about seeing and being seen, about shedding years of internalized criticism, and about a love that was never about transforming Joellen into someone else, but about helping her become the version of herself she never believed she could be.

Recommended for: Readers who love slow burns, sunshine-meets-storm-cloud dynamics, body-positive arcs, grumpy-but-smitten heroes, laugh-out-loud banter, and kisses written like poetry.

Final Verdict: A tender, funny, deeply satisfying slow burn with a Scottish hero who redefines swoon. A heartfelt knockout.

Favorite Quotes

“Keep up!” Cam barks over his shoulder at me as I lag behind him on the sidewalk, breath steaming white from my nose and open mouth, sweat pouring into my eyes, my will to live quickly being extinguished.
“Must. Stop. Death. Imminent.” My wheezing and staggering frightens a flock of pigeons into screeching flight from their perch on the back of a bus bench.
Cam turns around and trots back to me. He hasn’t even broken a sweat, the heartless bastard. “Joellen,” he begins patiently. “We’re two blocks from the apartment.”

“Is it . . . okay?”
He swallows. His blink seems to last an unnaturally long time. He clears his throat and offers a curt, “Yup.”
“Yup? That’s it?” I look down at myself, regretting the heels. Maybe I look slutty. Maybe there’s too much boob showing. Oh God, maybe I was wrong about the color—
“Joellen.”
Cam’s sharp tone yanks me out of my head and back into reality. “Huh?” I stare at him, wringing my hands.
Slowly and softly, holding my gaze as he enunciates every word, he says, “You. Look. Sexy. As. Fuck.”

“Promise me something,” he whispers into my hair.
“What?”
“No matter what happens with Michael, we’ll still be friends.”
“I thought you didn’t want to be friends.”
His sigh is a big gust of air. “God, you’re an idiot.”

“You were in therapy? For years?”
“I worked on my head as hard as I worked on my body. Can’t say the effect was as successful, but yeah. Therapy. Seein’ how badly my mum was mind fucked by life, I’ve always been into self-improvement. I also read a lot. Everything, really, biographies to history to politics. I didn’t go to college—gettin’ through secondary school with a learnin’ disability was tough enough—but I do love to read.”
He’s all that he is, and he loves books. Why, universe? Why give me this with someone who has a life on the other side of the world? I snuggle closer to him, breathing in his wonderful, warm scent, swallowing around the lump in my throat. “You don’t seem particularly angry to me, prancer.”
He chuckles and nuzzles his nose into my hair. “Beauty tames the savage beast, I suppose.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: All My Life by Prescott Lane

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Multiple
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Garrett Hollis
Heroine: Devlyn Drake
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 10, 2018
Started On: October 10, 2025
Finished On: October 11, 2025

Prescott Lane’s All My Life is a beautifully tender, small-town love story that feels as comforting as a breakfast on a long weekend shared between lifelong friends. It is about lifelong devotion and the kind of love that waits patiently in the background until the world finally catches up. Garrett Hollis, the town’s hardware store owner and devoted single father, has spent his life putting everyone else first, especially his daughter, Mia. And then there is Devlyn Drake, his best friend since childhood, who has quietly loved him for as long as she can remember.

From the outside, they are the perfect little trio; Garrett, Mia, and Devlyn, who owns the local diner and has been a constant presence in both their lives. She is the one who taught him to braid Mia’s hair, who fed them through hard times, and who has always been there, steady as the sunrise, even when the rest of the town had shunned him at first, and Mia’s own mother had forbade her daughter from seeing her friend who ended up with a pregnant teenage girlfriend. But beneath all that friendship simmers a love Devlyn has kept buried for decades. When Garrett begins to see her differently, really see her, the shift is slow, believable, and heartwarming. His journey from denial to awareness is beautifully written, capturing the confusion and awe of a man who realizes too late that love has been within arm’s reach all along.

What I loved most about this story is Devlyn herself. She is unassuming, kind, and deeply selfless, the kind of heroine whose quiet strength speaks louder than any grand gesture. Her bravery in loving Garrett for so long, in taking the risk to reach for what she has always wanted, is what makes this story sing. Garrett, for his part, is the kind of hero you fall for precisely because he does not try to be perfect; he is flawed, loyal, and impossibly endearing as a father. His devotion to Mia is his defining trait, and seeing him balance that love while opening his heart to Devlyn is nothing short of moving.

If there is one thing I wished for, it was a stronger grovel from Garrett, a moment that truly reflected the depth of what Devlyn meant to him. For a man who has been burned before, his emotional evolution sometimes felt a little too easy, his redemption not quite matching the years of quiet devotion she carried for him. But that said, All My Life is not a story of angst so much as one of grace and patience. Devlyn’s forgiveness, her endless capacity to understand, is both her greatest strength and her most poignant vulnerability.

This book could have easily veered into melodrama, but Prescott Lane keeps it grounded. The tone is heartfelt and real, the characters wonderfully lived-in, and the relationship between father and daughter just as powerful as the central romance. Devlyn truly is the heart of this story, the masterpiece that ties it all together.

Recommended for: fans of single-dad romances, small-town love stories, and heroines who love quietly but fiercely.

Final Verdict: All My Life is a tender, heartfelt tale of enduring love and second chances—proof that sometimes the best love stories are the ones that have been right in front of us all along.

Favorite Quotes

She looks up at me and whispers, “I lied to you about something.”
I’ve been lied to enough by women. Sheena took care of that by the time I was eighteen. Devlyn knows that. “What?”
“Scott,” she says, looking down, her skin turning red.
“Devlyn, if you didn’t really break up with him, you are now!”
She looks up, a tight-lipped smile on her face. “I lied to you about why we broke up.”
“You said you guys were all business.”
“That’s true, but there’s more to it.”
“Okay, so what’s the real reason?”
Lightly, she places her hand on my cheek. “He’s not you.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, FMC
Series: Standalone
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Hero: Henry Samuel Beckett
Heroine: Hazel Evans
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: March 11, 2025
Started On: October 06, 2025
Finished On: October 10, 2025

Charlotte Stein’s My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a slow-burn masterpiece, equal parts tender, hilarious, and scorchingly erotic. It is one of those rare romances that makes you laugh out loud even as your heart clenches in your chest. Set against the backdrop of a writing retreat, Stein crafts a story about two people who, in pretending to be married, stumble into a love so genuine it feels like revelation.

Hazel Evans has spent years distrusting “nice guys,” convinced that anyone too kind must be hiding something dark underneath. Her walls are tall and her humor sharp, the armor she wears against disappointment and rejection. Then there is Henry Samuel Beckett, an American editor living in Britain, thirty-seven, huge, awkward, and unbearably sweet. A man whose kindness is disarming, whose honesty borders on painful, and who hides one startling fact: he is a lifelong virgin who accidentally told his coworkers he was married. When Hazel steps in to help him save face, one fake marriage and a two-week writing retreat later, she finds herself neck-deep in the most confusing, heart-melting relationship of her life.

What begins as pure farce evolves into something quietly profound. Beck and Hazel are opposites in every sense; she is jaded, messy, and self-deprecating; he is gentle, organized, and impossibly sincere. Yet their connection builds with every shared look, every late-night conversation, every teasing exchange about fictional lovers and real longing. The slow progression from discomfort to intimacy is written with such aching precision that by the time their first kiss lands, it feels monumental. Stein’s prose turns sensuality & dirty erotica into poetry, every touch deliberate, every breath electric, something I am always in awe of whenever I read her books.

Beck is, without question, one of the most remarkable heroes to grace contemporary romance. A beta hero in the truest, most beautiful sense of the word; soft but strong, unguarded yet self-aware. He is the antithesis of toxic masculinity, a man who asks before touching, who listens, who delights in giving pleasure simply because it delights her. And Hazel’s journey, learning to trust that kind of goodness, to unlearn the cynicism that’s kept her safe but lonely, is as moving as it is arousing. They are both broken in quiet ways, carrying old wounds from cruelty, neglect, and shame, and the way they heal through each other is nothing short of gorgeous.

As I turned the last page, my thoughts were, “what a fantastic book!”. Every beta hero I come across (not that I read or like reading beta heroes for that matter) will forever have to live up to Henry. He is sweet, simple, a virgin, straightforward, polite, a gentleman, and brilliant even though he hides it. Hazel is the one who judges all nice guys by the same yardstick, that they are untrustworthy and up to no good until she ends up volunteering to be his fake wife.

Charlotte Stein writes remarkable sex scenes as if they are poetry and you cannot help but be moved by it, in all the ways that matter (if you know what I mean). I loved that everything was mutual, they both needed to be seen, heard, felt, and validated, and that perhaps was the highest form of aphrodisiac in this story.

If there is any critique to be made, it is that the book takes its time and painfully so, at times; but that is also its greatest strength. The pacing mirrors the tenderness of their emotional unraveling. Stein does not rush them into love or sex; she lets the intimacy bloom naturally until it becomes inevitable. And when it finally happens, the result is equal parts heat and heart, a celebration of connection, consent, and mutual desire that feels almost sacred.

Recommended for: readers who crave slow-burn romance, beta heroes with hearts of gold, and love stories that celebrate vulnerability as the ultimate form of strength.

Final Verdict: A tender, filthy, and deeply human love story; Stein’s My Big Fat Fake Marriage is slow-burn perfection wrapped in warmth, wit, and the hottest virgin hero you will ever meet.

Favorite Quotes

Because he has that big face, and his emotions are equally enormous, and so it’s just easy with him. He’s like a complicated adult story, told via the medium of a beautiful pop-up book. And for some reason, I think I like reading it.

‘You really want to know? Well, all right, I’ll tell you,’ he says, all beaming grin and obliviousness. In fact, he almost seems casual about the speech he then launches into. ‘One of the main things I used to dream about a lot was reading the papers in bed with someone in the mornings. The lifestyle section, the sports pages, the important news of the day. Me and whoever it was chattering about what we read. Drinking a warm drink that I somehow like, probably because they found it for me. Going for a walk in the park after that, or maybe something more. I’ve never really liked antiquing, but I would antique just for the pleasure of being with another person who does. Walking by their side, with their hand in mine. Listening to them say all the little things that make them glad to be alive.’

I feel the brush of his cheek against mine, the heat of his breath as he slowly eases words into my already addled mind. Better ones than he claimed, too, hotter ones than he claimed. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lovelier woman than you,’ he says. And yes, I know he’s only doing what he would want to, with somebody he was really trying to seduce.
But even so, it turns me inside out.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Married by Arrangement by Lynne Graham

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Antonio Rocha
Heroine: Sophie Cunningham
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 01, 2005
Started On: October 05, 2025
Finished On: October 05, 2025

Married by Arrangement by Lynne Graham is classic Harlequin drama at its finest, an emotionally charged blend of arrogance, misunderstanding, and slow-burning passion. This one features the kind of hero only Graham can pull off: coldly aristocratic, maddeningly controlling, and yet somehow impossible not to fall for. It is the quintessential “marriage of convenience with emotional chaos” setup, and she executes it with the flair that she is well known and loved for.

Antonio Rocha, Marques de Salazar, is a thirty-year-old Spanish nobleman whose sense of duty and family pride runs as deep as his arrogance. When his late brother’s child is discovered to be in the care of her young English aunt, Sophie Cunningham, Antonio storms into her life determined to take charge. Sophie, just twenty-two, has been raising her niece in a caravan, scraping by while holding onto her fierce love and dignity. She is brash, outspoken, and entirely unimpressed by Antonio’s wealth or status. But for all their clashes, their chemistry is undeniable; volatile, electric, and irresistibly combustible.

What begins as a battle of wills soon turns into an uneasy alliance. Antonio needs a caretaker for his niece to which he admits albeit reluctantly and Sophie needs security and refuses to lose the child she loves as her own. Their solution is classic, a marriage of arrangement, which ought to be purely practical. But neither of them can ignore the simmering attraction that threatens to upend every sensible boundary they have drawn. It is a relationship built on mistrust, misunderstandings, and pride, yet the tension between them makes every scene pulse with energy. Graham is at her sharpest when writing about these emotional power struggles that somehow transform into love.

Sophie’s backstory adds depth to her character; her difficult childhood, her battle with leukemia when she was young and her inability to have children, all of which makes her bond with her niece deeply moving. Antonio, meanwhile, evolves beautifully from a rigid, condescending aristocrat into a man undone by genuine affection and remorse. His journey from control to vulnerability is gradual but satisfying, even if he remains infuriatingly pompous for much of the ride. And Sophie? She is fire, impulsive, proud, sometimes reckless, but utterly endearing.

If there is one thing to fault, it is that the melodrama occasionally goes overboard; the accusations, the misunderstandings, the endless pride wars. But that is also part of the charm. Graham’s writing thrives on heightened emotion, and when the inevitable reconciliation comes, it is the kind that leaves you sighing in contentment. Their love story is tumultuous, passionate, and unapologetically dramatic, ending on a note of hard-won tenderness that makes up for it all.

Recommended for: fans of classic Harlequin angst, alpha heroes with a redemption arc, and heroines who love fiercely even when pride is on the line.

Final Verdict: A wildly addictive romance full of fire, pride, and passion; Lynne Graham at her dramatic best.

Favorite Quotes

But, whatever the label, you’re still hot for me, mi cielo,’ Antonio murmured huskily. Sophie trembled.Curious…’ she admitted in a breath of sound, her throat dry and tight.
Antonio never kissed women in public. He gazed down at her, his attention welded to the darkened emerald of her expectant eyes and the ruby allure of her luscious, parted lips. He lifted a hand to close his fingers into her curls, learning that her hair felt soft as silk and picturing the rebellious golden-toffee waves spread across his pillows. Thought had nothing to do with what happened next.
His mouth touched hers; she stopped breathing.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | HQ | Apple