Category / Self Published

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Dare to Love Me by Rosa Lucas

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: Billionaire Brits, #2
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Edward Cavendish
Heroine: Daisy Wilson
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Published On: April 24, 2025
Started On: February 04, 2026
Finished On: February 09, 2026

If Daisy Wilson were an element, it’d be chaos—loud, wild, uncontainable.

Edward Cavendish is not a man built for disruption, and Daisy Wilson is disruption incarnate. From the moment their paths cross, this story makes it clear that what follows will not be tidy, balanced, or particularly sensible. Dare to Love Me leans hard into that contrast from the very first page, throwing together a man shaped by family responsibility, restraint, and emotional austerity with a heroine who embodies disruption in every possible form. The result is messy, funny, combustible, and at times frustrating in ways that linger long after the last page.

Edward is the kind of hero romance novels are built to revere: surgically precise, emotionally repressed, devastatingly controlled, and burdened by the expectations of old money and professional excellence. A widower who has locked himself into discipline and duty, Edward lives by rules he never questions until Daisy Wilson ends up in his bed. Daisy is the very definition of chaos (in fact, I have never read about a heroine who is more chaotic)—free-spirited, impulsive, sexually unapologetic, and carrying a lifetime of quiet wounds inflicted by the Cavendish family orbit she grew up skirting but never belonging to. Their history is tangled, awkward, and raw, and the imbalance between them is not just social or economic, but emotional.

What follows is a relationship built almost entirely on friction and desire. Edward’s attraction to Daisy is visceral and deeply unsettling to him, precisely because she dismantles his carefully constructed control. Daisy, for her part, has every reason to distrust men like Edward, having been discarded and diminished by his younger brother and judged relentlessly by the very class Edward represents. Their connection ignites fast, burns hot, and is fueled by explosive sexual chemistry that the author delivers with precision and confidence. This is controlled masculinity unraveling under pressure, and Rosa Lucas writes that descent particularly well.

Where the novel shines is in its tension. The push and pull between Edward’s restraint and Daisy’s recklessness creates moments of genuine heat and emotional volatility. Edward’s kindness, especially when contrasted against the casual cruelty of his family, adds dimension to what could have been a cold, inaccessible hero. Daisy’s unapologetic sexuality and refusal to shrink herself is refreshing, even when her immaturity complicates matters. Their sex scenes crackle with power imbalance, longing, and release, and Edward’s particular blend of propriety and filth makes him a standout hero in the genre.

That said, this is also where the cracks begin to show. For all the intensity between them, I found myself repeatedly asking what sustains this relationship once the heat cools. Beyond sex and attraction, the foundation feels thin. We see Edward engaging deeply with others—intellectually, socially, emotionally—yet with Daisy, the connection rarely moves past passion and reaction. Daisy’s impulsiveness, while true to character, sometimes tips into emotional immaturity, while Edward’s hurtful moments, though understandable, are never fully interrogated in the way they could have been.

I also wanted more from the edges of Edward’s life that were so tantalizingly hinted at. His past, his fractured relationship with his family, the woman he lost, the sexual proclivities that surface briefly and then disappear—all of these felt like missed opportunities to deepen his character. There were moments begging for narrative boldness: Daisy reclaiming power in the bedroom, Edward fully undone, the two of them forced to confront not just desire but compatibility. Those absences are why this hovered just shy of a higher rating for me.

Still, this is a book that refuses to be forgotten. The chemistry is undeniable, the writing sharp, and the emotional questions lingers in my mind. Edward and Daisy may not convince me of forever, but they absolutely convinced me of now—and sometimes that is enough to make a story linger.

Recommended for: Readers who love explosive opposites-attract romances, repressed heroes pushed to their limits, and unapologetically sexual heroines.

Final Verdict: Scorching chemistry, sharp humor, and a dangerously controlled hero make this addictive, even if the emotional scaffolding wobbles under scrutiny. A compelling, provocative read that stays with you.

Favorite Quotes

I catch my reflection in the nearest mirror, attempting to smooth down the rebellious curl that has abandoned my braid. It springs back, nature’s tiny reminder that I am not, in fact, in control of anything.

In agonizing slow motion, his suit jacket slides from his fingers, hitting the floor with a soft thud.
The expression on his face? Oh, it’s a masterpiece.
Outrage. Confusion.
Pure, unfiltered revulsion.
Then—
Oh.
His gaze flicks downward.
To where Spencer is suctioned to me.
For one hot, messy second, something flickers in those icy blue eyes. Heat.
His chest heaves under that crisp white shirt, Adam’s apple bobbing like he’s choking down something feral and downright filthy.
Then—bam—it’s gone.

“Can we just . . . can you delete that from your memory? I know you’ve got one of those elite Cambridge brains that remembers everything—but please just erase that particular image from your mental hard drive.”
He doesn’t answer.
A peacock screeches in the distance, its cry slicing through the tension.
“You know, the image of me in your—”
“For god’s sake, Daisy, I know precisely which image you’re referring to,” he snaps, finally turning to look at me. His eyes are blazing with a mixture of frustration and something else I can’t quite place. “As a gentleman, I assure you it will never be mentioned again. I’ll take it to my bloody grave.”
I exhale relief. “Thank you—”
“But as a man,” he interrupts, his voice strained, “I suggest we change the subject.”

“You can’t cuddle a peacock. Trust me, I tried.”
That earns me a raised brow. Not a full smile—god forbid—but the corners of his mouth twitch, as though he’s fighting it. “You tried?”
“When I was little,” I say with a shrug. “They’re all colorful and prancy, so you think, ‘Oh, they must be sweet!’ Turns out they’re just unnecessarily aggressive and wildly entitled.”
His gaze flicks to mine. “Unnecessarily aggressive, entitled, and impossible to cuddle? You’ve just described half my family.”
I blink. Did Edward Cavendish just crack a joke?
“Does that include you?” The question slips out before I can rein it in.

I realize something that makes my stomach flip. This visceral, electric awareness of Edward? It’s not new. It’s been there all along, hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. Like some traitorous part of my body has been keeping a secret from my brain.
And now, wrapped around him like some deranged marsupial, that secret is out. Loudly.
“Daisy,” he growls, like he’s summoning every ounce of self-control just to get my name out. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m so happy I could kiss you,” I blurt, my mouth running rogue. “Not that I will! Obviously. God, no. I mean—sorry. You’re doing this for Sophia, not me. But still—thank you.”
His jaw clenches, nostrils flaring. “Get down.”
The words are practically guttural.
And yet . . . his hands—the same hands that perform miracles—tighten on my thighs.

“Do you want to know something? You terrify them. Because you refuse to play by their rules, and all their money can’t buy what comes to you naturally.”
Her brows knit, like she’s not sure if I’m serious. “What? Tits and a nice ass? A quick flight to Thailand can sort that out.”
“Joy,” I say simply. “There’s enough joy in you to light up every person in that congregation.”
She stills. Cheeks flushed. Breath catching. And for once, Daisy Wilson, the woman with a quip for every occasion, has nothing to say.

“I haven’t . . .” he starts. His head drops forward, forehead brushing mine like it’s the only way to hold himself together. “Not in so long. And Jesus, Daisy—you feel amazing.”
“You’ve been thinking about this.”
“Constantly,” he admits, the word ripped from him like a confession he never meant to make. Like it costs him something to say it out loud.
“I want to hear you say it,” I whisper.
“Say what?”
“How much you fantasize about me.”
“Desperately. Obsessively. All the fucking time.”

“Why on earth would you want to court me? I can’t say that word with a straight face.”
“How that’s not blindingly obvious to you is . . . baffling.” He sounds exasperated. “Because you’re beautiful. And witty. And entirely too charming for your own good.”
“I don’t have a serious career.”
“That’s simply not true.” His mouth twitches. “I happen to think selling bidets is a very serious career. You’re single-handedly revolutionizing bathroom hygiene in Britain.”
“You’re mocking me,” I huff, but I can’t quite hide the grin tugging at my mouth.
“I’m not.” He holds my gaze. “Okay, perhaps I’m teasing slightly. But Daisy . . . the way you see yourself is wildly at odds with reality.” His voice softens. “I think you’re extraordinary.”

“She is quite the woman to live up to,” I murmur, attempting a lightness I don’t feel. “If you are comparing me to Millie, I’m sorry to say I’ll fail the test.”
His eyes snap back to mine, something sharp flickering in them. “To compare you would be absurd.”
I let out a dry huff. “You weren’t supposed to agree so readily.”
I take a very large sip of wine to mask the sting.
“I’m saying it would be absurd because you’re not comparable. You’re different. Entirely.”
I freeze, setting my glass down.
“If anything,” he mutters, almost begrudgingly. “You shatter that stasis for me. That frozen place I was stuck in, where I kept everyone at arm’s length because it was easier.”
My breath catches. His gaze holds mine.
“You wrecked that for me. You’re my circuit breaker. For lack of a better word.”

Purchase Links: Amazon

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Blackwood Legacy, #3
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: James Harrington
Heroine: Evelyn Ashewood Harrington
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 15, 2026
Started On: January 23, 2026
Finished On: February 04, 2026

“You are mine, and I am yours. Not only for ease, but for every trial. This is the way of love: to stay, to forgive, to begin again.”

Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway follows an already married couple, which is always a trope I am instantly curious about. Lord James Harrington, Earl of Manderly, and his countess Evie have been wed for over three years, but emotional walls and unspoken fears have created a quiet distance between them. From the outside, theirs looks like a perfect match. On the inside, it is a slow ache of longing, restraint, and all the things left unsaid.

James is very much the noble, responsible eldest son type. Dutiful, honorable, endlessly self-critical, and determined to live up to an almost impossible moral standard. He adores his wife, desires her deeply, and yet never pushes past the boundaries she sets. That restraint, that constant carefulness, defines him. Evie, on the other hand, is shy, brilliant, and far more comfortable with her plants than with society. A botanist with a painful past and deep-rooted fears, she keeps parts of herself locked away, convinced that letting James see everything will somehow ruin him or his ambitions.

Their marriage struggles not because of a lack of love, but because of too much fear. Evie keeps reinforcing her emotional barriers just when their connection begins to deepen, and James, for all his patience, starts to feel the strain of loving someone who never fully lets him in. Add to that buried trauma, past loss, and outside threats circling closer, and the tension becomes less about whether they love each other and more about whether they can truly trust that love to hold.

What really stood out for me were the science and political threads woven into the story. The botanical elements were surprisingly fascinating, and I loved how they were used as an extension of Evie’s personality. The political backdrop was also interesting in a very timeless way. Scandal, ambition, and self-interest never really change, no matter the century. James, being almost too honorable for that world, was both refreshing and, at times, a little too perfect. Apart from being wicked in bed (which we of course expect), he does not have much to atone for, which slightly softens the emotional edge and dare I say, makes the him a tad boring.

The passion, as always with Callaway, is beautifully written. Intimate scenes are lush, emotional, and deeply connected to the James and Evie’s inner journeys as much as it is about physical release. But I did find myself wishing for a bit more angst. The hurts between them are real, yet often resolved quickly through conversation, which is healthy… but robs the story of some of that lingering ache I was craving in a marriage-on-the-brink setup. I also got a tad tired of reading about the virtues of the entire clan of James’ family; I would say that the message was well received that these characters can do no wrong.

I also found myself imagining a slightly different ending. What if Evie had gone through with it? What if James’s political future had truly been destroyed as a result? Would he still have had the grace to forgive her, to accept all of her scars and survival instincts without judgment? Evie is not an evil person—that much we all accept. She is a woman shaped by fear and trauma, and any human pushed into such a corner might choose self-preservation over dignity. But would James’s grand declarations of love have survived that reality? Or would he, in a very James-like way, have lashed out first and reflected later? Those questions lingered with me long after the final page. There is a boldness in that darker path that could have led to an even more powerful story—perhaps years of estrangement, a decade of longing, jealousy, and unresolved desire, before fate brought them back together. The emotional reckoning in a reunion like that would have been extraordinary.

Still, the mystery thread and the twist behind the danger closing in added a strong narrative drive, and Evie’s growth in particular was satisfying to watch. Her jealousy, her vulnerability, and her eventual willingness to believe in James’s love gave the story its emotional backbone.

Recommended for: readers who love marriage-in-trouble romances, gentle but intense devotion, and historicals where emotional healing matters as much as passion.

Final Verdict: A tender, passionate second-chance-within-marriage romance with heart, heat, and a touch of intrigue—even if I wanted just a little more emotional bite.

Favorite Quotes

“Flawless? Is that how you see me?” There was no humor in his smile. “I killed a woman, and I have no regrets. None. Because she threatened you, and if I lost you, I…I…”
Her breath stuck in her throat. His glittering gaze, topped by fiercely drawn brows and deep slashes around his mouth, set off a wild thumping in her chest. She knew she should run. She should retreat like she always had. But after the months of silence, his declaration, gritty and unfinished, felt like a balm to her soul. While she swayed with indecision, her feet remained planted. Then it was too late. James yanked her into his arms. Enveloped by his strength and the virile scent of sandalwood and male musk that was his alone, she trembled…not with fear but soul-deep longing.
It has been so long. I thought he would never hold me this way again.
“You’re my wife, Evie,” he said roughly. “Mine.”

“Good morning. I didn’t know you had returned,” she said awkwardly.
“I just got in,” James said. “What a surprise finding you here, my dear.”
Although his tone was pleasant and tinged with wry amusement, she knew him too well. His blue eyes glinted with steel, a sign of temper held in check. This surprised her. Since her hasty retreat had occurred a week ago, she’d assumed that his annoyance would have faded. Emotions generally rolled off James like water off a richly plumed duck.
“It is my habit to start work early,” she said warily. “As you know.”
“Your devotion to your studies is, indeed, admirable.”
Was there an edge to his tone? His suaveness made it difficult to tell.

Contentment filled him as he saw that Evie looked well loved. Damp tendrils clung to her forehead, a blissful smile tucked into her flushed cheeks. He traced a fingertip over her bottom lip.
“What are you thinking, sunflower?” he murmured.
“That you were right.” Her eyes gleamed. “We should fight—and make up—more often.”

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

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Love to Loathe Him by Rosa Lucas

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: Billionaire Brits, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Liam McLaren
Heroine: Gemma Jones
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 01, 2024
Started On: January 20, 2026
Finished On: January 22, 2026

There is something deeply satisfying about an enemies-to-lovers romance that actually earns the label, and Love to Loathe Him understood that assignment from page one. This story leans hard into professional animosity, mutual irritation, and simmering attraction that refuses to soften too early. From the corporate setting to the razor-sharp banter, the book establishes its tone quickly and commits to it, which made it an absolute joy to sink into.

Gemma Jones is one of those heroines who feels immediately real. As the head of HR in a cutthroat financial firm, she lives a double life that many of us will recognize: hyper-competent and buttoned-up at work, exhausted and unfiltered the moment she gets home. Her inner monologue is hilarious, raw, and occasionally unhinged in the best possible way. The diary mishap that sets the story in motion is mortifying, yes, but it also becomes a brilliant device for stripping away pretenses and forcing two people to confront truths they would rather keep buried.

Liam McLaren, on the other hand, is ruthlessness personified. A self-made billionaire who has built his empire through sheer discipline and control, he is every bit the intimidating boss figure he is reputed to be. But what made him compelling was not just the power or the arrogance. It was the way the story allows glimpses of the man beneath the armor. The moments where Liam lets his guard slip, where patience replaces command, and where respect quietly overtakes dominance, are some of the strongest in the book.

The tension between Gemma and Liam thrives on proximity, pride, and the constant clash between who they are at work and who they become when those boundaries blur. Their connection builds through friction, not convenience, and the chemistry feels real because neither of them is willing to surrender control easily. The romance develops alongside mutual recognition: of competence, of vulnerability, and eventually, of desire that has been simmering long before either of them admits it.

I am always on the hunt for romances that truly respect what enemies to lovers is supposed to mean. Not the watered-down versions where hostility evaporates into pet names and instant softness by the first third of the book, but stories where resentment, resistance, and attraction exist in constant tension. This book largely delivers on that promise. The snark, the slow burn, the heat, the emotional restraint, and the eventual surrender all worked beautifully for me.

That said, I did shave off half a star, reluctantly, because the story hinted at layers it never fully peeled back. Liam, in particular, felt like a man with a rich and complicated history that was only partially revealed. I wanted more insight into his upbringing, his estranged mother and stepfather, and the formative wounds that shaped his need for control. The animosity with his archnemesis, seeded during their Eton years and complicated by a woman, was fascinating but under-explored. Those threads could have elevated the story from excellent to exceptional.

What I loved most was how unapologetically this book commits to the trope. The snark is sharp, the humor lands, and the heat escalates naturally as emotional walls come down. What ultimately kept me invested, though, was how profoundly Gemma disrupts Liam’s carefully ordered world. Watching a man who compartmentalizes everything slowly unravel in her presence was deeply satisfying. The way he shows up for her, waits for her, softens without losing his edge, and ultimately lays himself bare through that final diary moment was everything. Still, I could not help wanting more: more of Liam’s private desires, more acknowledgment of the parts of him that seemed to disappear midway through the book, more answers behind choices like his reworked tattoo, and yes, one unapologetic moment where Gemma holds the power and brings the indomitable Liam to his knees. That scene would have been a showstopper.

Still, Love to Loathe Him delivers where it matters most. It respects the enemies-to-lovers trope, allows its characters to remain sharp and flawed, and gives the romance room to breathe without rushing into softness. The emotional arc feels satisfying, the humor never undercuts the stakes, and the chemistry is undeniable.

Recommended for: Readers who are tired of watered-down enemies-to-lovers romances and want sharp banter, workplace tension, a capable heroine, and a hero who is challenged rather than instantly tamed.

Final Verdict: A smart, funny, and genuinely satisfying enemies-to-lovers romance that understands restraint, tension, and timing. This is a standout read that delivers where it counts.

Favorite Quotes

I lock eyes with him, trying desperately not to let my gaze drift south of his collar. “I sent over the new recruitment strategy for your review.”
“Give me the highlights,” he says, buttoning his shirt with agonizing slowness.
He’s not even fazed by the fact that I’m getting an eyeful of his half-naked glory. Just once, I wish something would throw him off-kilter. Make him blush or stammer like a mere mortal. But no, McLaren is infuriatingly comfortable in his own skin, completely at ease with his sex appeal and the power he wields over everyone around him.

I wonder who his arm candy is tonight. I may have done some light cyberstalking, morbidly curious about what type of women the most eligible sociopath in London dates. But it’s hard to tell if he has a type, except for stunning. And probably submissive.
Trying to imagine McLaren being all lovey-dovey—cooing sweet nothings, making goo-goo eyes . . . Does. Not. Compute. The man likely has “Cuddle at Your Own Risk” tattooed across his balls.

“Come on, you can do better than that,” he goads. “Put some real force behind it. Show me what you’ve got.”
Fine. If he wants me to bring it, I’ll fucking bring it.
I stare him straight in the eyes. But instead of aiming for his unbreakable abs again, I change trajectory at the last second, my fist lashing out to connect with his stubborn jawline in a vicious crack.
He’s not expecting it, his head snapping to the side with the force of the blow. He curses under his breath, rubbing his jaw, his eyes flashing with something dark and dangerous.
I look at him in horror, my heart pounding in my chest. I’ve gone too far. I’ve crossed a line, and now he’s going to—
“Feel better now?” Liam’s rough voice breaks into my panicked thoughts, his expression unreadable.
“A little.”
“Good.” In one smooth motion, he reaches out and begins deftly unlacing the boxing gloves from my trembling hands. “I’ll meet you in the conference room in ten minutes.”

“Looks like Skipper Magee isn’t the only one you take orders from,” I taunt, unable to resist pushing his buttons.
If my jab affects him, he doesn’t show it. “You get off on bossing me around, don’t you?” he murmurs, his voice deeper than I’ve ever heard it. “Makes you all hot and bothered, thinking you can put me in my place.”
I swallow hard, fighting the heat creeping up my cheeks. “Someone’s gotta keep that ego in check. Might as well be me.”
Liam studies me with that inscrutable look.
Finally, he speaks in that same low, controlled rumble. “Be very, very careful what you wish for, Gemma.”

Liam in a suit is hot, but fisherman Liam? That’s a whole different level of sexy.
I tilt my head slightly to the side, transfixed. I could watch him like this all night, my ovaries munching down on popcorn at the show.
I swallow hard, trying to ignore the way my body is reacting to his presence. It’s just physical attraction, right? A harmless office crush, nothing more.
As if sensing the weight of my horny stare boring into his back, Liam turns to face me head-on. Our eyes meet and lock, and I swear I feel a jolt of heat straight to my clit.

I want Liam. I want his hands on me, his mouth devouring mine. I want him to strip away every last shred of my control, my professionalism, until all that remains is a primal need for him.

“I see brooding billionaire banker Liam is back in full force,” she says. “I have to say, I miss fisherman Liam.”
I lean in just a fraction, my voice dropping to a low rumble. “He misses you too, Gemma. Probably more than he fucking should.”

“What do I love about sailing?” I say, locking eyes with Gemma to answer her question. “It’s the thrill of someone more powerful than me being in control. It’s a challenge.”
She tries to hide a smirk behind her glass. “Skipper Magee?”
“No, Gemma,” I chuckle, leaning back in my chair. “Not the skipper. The sea.”

I swallow hard, my eyes locked on hers as I take a step forward. “You’re shivering. Let’s get you below deck.” I pause, the weight of what’s about to happen settling between us. “If we do this, I need you to understand something. I want you. Badly. But what happens on this boat tonight . . . it stays here. Tonight, we are whatever we want to be, but then it ends. I need to know I have your consent on that.”
She nods, her voice soft but steady as she says, “Ginger only wants fisherman Liam.”
I close the distance between us, my thumb grazing her lower lip. “Then that’s who you’ll get.”

I lean in close, lowering my voice to a whisper for the juiciest revelation. “I . . . squirted.”
“You what now?”
“I squirted,” I hiss again, feeling my face flame up. “You know . . .”
“You mean you . . . ?” Lizzie mimics a crude fountain gesture with her hand.
“Yes,” I say in an embarrassed whisper. “It was like Niagara Falls down there. I’m surprised we didn’t capsize the bloody boat.”
“Wow. Why are you whispering?”
“I’m scared to admit it too loudly, okay? Have you ever?”
“I don’t think so.” She frowns. “Is it like when cats spray? You know, that whole territorial scent-marking thingy?”
I goggle at her in disbelief. “What? No. Oh my god, Lizzie, why would you even go there? That’s revolting. I’m not trying to mark my territory on Liam bloody McLaren.”

“And what about you, Gemma?” Rubert asks, turning his attention to me. “Did you enjoy the experience? I’m sure it was quite the ride.”
I cough slightly, and Liam lifts a brow. I don’t know why I’m reacting like this. It’s not like Rubert is asking if I enjoyed getting railed by Liam McLaren in front of Liam McLaren.
But damn if it doesn’t feel that way.
I try to compose myself, but it’s hard when vivid flashbacks of me straddling Liam assault my brain.
“It was . . . good.” The struggle to maintain a politely bland expression is very real. “An educational opportunity overall, though not necessarily one I plan to repeat any time soon.”
Liam’s eyes narrow. “Educational,” he repeats, his tone neutral. “That’s one word for it.”

Purchase Links: Amazon

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Forbidden Dreams by Natasha Madison

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: Dream, #2
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Brady Thatcher
Heroine: Harmony
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 03, 2025
Started On: January 16, 2026
Finished On: January 19, 2026

Forbidden Dreams follows a woman at the very end of her rope and the man who steps in at exactly the wrong and right moment. Harmony has finally left a marriage that hollowed her out, only to find herself trapped by a vindictive almost-ex who refuses to let go. When she lands next door to Brady Thatcher, the town’s golden bachelor and her husband’s sworn enemy, the setup alone promises sparks, complications, and a whole lot of emotional fallout.

Harmony is written as a survivor first and foremost. She is a devoted mother, cautious to the point of self-denial, and painfully aware of how little room she has left to make mistakes. Her resilience is quiet rather than loud, shaped by years of emotional neglect and public scrutiny, and much of her character revolves around endurance. Brady, on the other hand, is competence and confidence wrapped in small-town charm; protective, capable, and when fate throws Harmony into his life, he is willing to fight every battle he must to keep her by his side.

The tension in the story comes less from the romance itself and more from the external pressure closing in on Harmony. Her estranged husband’s influence seeps into every corner of her life, making even the simplest acts; finding work, securing housing, staying put, feel like acts of defiance. Brady’s connection to that same enemy adds an extra layer of risk, forcing both of them to navigate attraction while knowing exactly how messy the consequences could be. It is a setup ripe for intensity, with high emotional stakes baked in from the start.

What worked for me was the sense of safety Brady represents and the natural ease between him and Harmony once they give in to what is already there. Brady is very much the over-protective, supportive, dream-husband archetype, and there is comfort in how steady he is when everything around Harmony feels unstable. I also enjoyed the glimpses of found family and the warmth of the supporting cast, which helped ground the story in its small-town setting.

Where the book did not fully land for me was pacing and emotional depth. I expected a heavier, more drawn-out intensity given the premise, but the relationship moves quickly into settled territory, skipping over some of the tension I wanted to linger. The fact that Harmony jumped straight from her failed marriage into an intense relationship with a possessive Brady all too soon was perhaps something she should have taken time with. Don’t get me wrong, I loved how easygoing she was, but at the same time, it was evident that she had a lot of trauma from her marriage which she needed to deal with. The fact that there wasn’t more light shed on her backstory also did not give a full picture of how she came to be who she is, which I believe would have added more emotional weight and depth to her character.

Brady’s insta-lust with Harmony can be taken in stride. After all, life throws the most unexpected curve balls and you find yourself with the most rewarding experiences while you trudge through the dreary existence of daily survival. However, Brady gave in too quickly if you ask me, and the shift into a more domestic hero who quickly embraces the “baby” endearment phase came sooner than expected, which softened the angst and emotional turmoil rather than sharpening it. While the characters are likable, their rapid emotional certainty made the journey feel smoother and shorter than anticipated. I just wished for more from both characters, individually, and together.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy protective heroes, single-mom romances, small-town dynamics, and relationships that lean quickly into comfort and security rather than prolonged turmoil.

Final Verdict: Forbidden Dreams is a solid, readable contemporary romance with appealing characters and a strong protective-hero vibe, which sadly failed to deliver the level of intensity I was hoping for.

Favorite Quotes

“Harmony,” he murmurs my name, and this time, he pushes the hair away from my shoulder to my back. His finger then trails from my ear to my collarbone. “Baby.” My stomach flutters when he says that, “Harmony,” My name is on his lips in a whisper. My body comes awake as he bends and kisses my neck. It’s the softest kiss I’ve ever gotten, and it’s a kiss I’ll never forget.

“Can Brady take me to school tomorrow?” he asks me softly.
“I don’t know, buddy,” I answer. “I think he has to go to work.”
He turns on his side. “I’ll ask him and see what he says.” Wyatt doesn’t say anything else because he is asleep in seconds. I bend to kiss his head before walking out of the room, finding Brady waiting for me.
He wraps one arm around my waist. “Waited all day for this,” he says softly as he moves me to his bedroom. “Fuck, all night.” He bends his head to mine. “I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for you two.” That’s the last thing he says before his mouth claims mine.

“Brady,” I say his name, “I know what they did to your family.” I swallow down the bile that threatens to come up. “You guys have overcome so much. Is it worth having it all taken away?”
I don’t know what I’m expecting him to say. But I will say that what he says doesn’t only shock me, it leaves me speechless. “If it means you and Wyatt are free from them, then yes.”

“You okay?” he asks, and I shrug.
“I just want to live in peace. I want to wake up and take my son to school without having to look over my shoulder. I want to be able to have a babysitter come over to my house and watch him like a normal person instead of sneaking him out of places. I want to be able to just walk down the street without anyone pointing their fingers at me. I want to live in a place for more than a couple of weeks without having to pack everything up and move again and again.” I smile at him. “How’re you doing?”
“Me?” He points at himself. “I’ve never been more at peace before,” he reveals, shocking me. “It’s as if I was living my life in black and white, and suddenly, it’s in color.” All the breath in me leaves my body, all of it. Here I was thinking, his life’s been turned upside down since I came in it, but he’s telling me the opposite.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Ashes by Claire Kent

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: Post-Apocalyptic Fairy Tales, #2
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Mason
Heroine: Teresa
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: December 19, 2025
Started On: January 05, 2026
Finished On: January 06, 2026

Claire Kent returns to her post-apocalyptic world with Ashes, a story that leans heavily into quiet survival, domestic rebuilding, and the softer edges of romance in a broken world, similar to that of Homestead in her Kindled series. Framed as a Cinderella retelling after the Fall, this is a marriage-of-convenience story where safety, stability, and shared labor matter more than grand gestures. It is intimate in scope, deliberately restrained, and very much about two people choosing each other because the alternatives are far worse.

Teresa is a heroine shaped by endurance rather than rebellion. Trapped in a household ruled by a cruel stepmother and an equally unkind stepsister, she has learned to survive by keeping her head down and doing what is expected of her. She is gentle, compliant, and deeply insecure, but not without quiet strength.

Mason, on the other hand, is the village “prince” only by post-apocalyptic standards. He owns land, produces food, and lives alone. He is socially awkward, emotionally reserved, and profoundly decent. There is no swagger here, no alpha posturing. Mason’s appeal lies in his steadiness and his instinctive protectiveness, even when he barely knows how to articulate what he feels.

Their union begins as a practical solution rather than a romantic one, and much of the story unfolds around learning how to live together, work together, and slowly trust each other. The emotional tension does not come from external threats so much as from internal uncertainty, unspoken fears, and the weight of expectations placed on marriage in this new world order. Teresa’s fear of being unwanted and Mason’s fear of failing her shape nearly every interaction between them, creating a relationship that is tender but often frustrating in its hesitancy.

What worked for me was the care Kent took in portraying two inexperienced characters navigating intimacy for the first time. The sexual exploration between two virgin protagonists is handled with sensitivity and patience, and it fits the tone of the story. There is also something quietly satisfying about watching Teresa gain confidence in her own worth through competence, work, and being genuinely appreciated. Mason’s decency, his concern for her comfort, and his willingness to learn alongside her are undeniably endearing.

That said, Ashes leans too heavily into sweetness for my taste. The lack of meaningful conflict gives the story very little edge, and without sharper tension, it often feels more like a slice-of-life romance than a post-apocalyptic one. Compared to Homestead, which remains one of my favorites in Kent’s catalogue, this story lacks grit and emotional bite. I also found Teresa’s constant giggling distracting and, at times, grating. I found myself craving a broodier hero, stronger internal stakes, or at least a situation that forced real confrontation rather than gentle resolution.

Ultimately, Ashes is a quiet, domestic romance set against the backdrop of a ruined world. It will appeal to readers who enjoy soft heroes, slow emotional growth, and low-conflict storytelling. For those who, like me, prefer darker tension and more hard-won romance, this one feels a little too safe.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy marriage-of-convenience romances, virgin protagonists, gentle heroes, and post-apocalyptic settings with minimal danger and maximum emotional softness.

Final Verdict: Ashes is a tender but overly sweet post-apocalyptic, Cinderella themed romance, that favors comfort over conflict. Pleasant, readable, but lacking the grit and intensity that gives this genre its edge.

Purchase Links: Amazon

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: 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: Irreversible by Jennifer Hartmann & Chelley St. Clair

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Romantic Suspense
POV: First Person, Multiple
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Isaac Porter
Heroine: Everly Cross
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 30, 2025
Started On: October 20, 2025
Finished On: October 30, 2025

Irreversible is one of those romances that refuses to fit into a neat box. Dark, disorienting, and relentlessly atmospheric, it drags you into its claustrophobic nightmare from the very first chapter and doesn’t loosen its grip until the final page.

Everly Cross’s life shatters in a single moment when her husband is gunned down in front of her and she herself is abducted by a monster who keeps his victims like collectibles. Locked away for years, Everly’s world shrinks to a cell, a wall, and the voices that comes and goes from he other side. When that voice belongs to Isaac Porter, a disgraced former detective whose obsessive hunt for his missing sister lands him in the same hell Everly occupies, things undergo a monumental shift. Two broken people, separated by concrete and circumstance, become anchored to each other in the darkness.

Isaac is the sort of morally damaged hero I gravitate toward: brash, volatile, wounded, and deeply human beneath those jagged edges. His childhood, marked by violence and neglect, has shaped him into someone who never believed himself worthy of love. Losing his sister pushed him the rest of the way into self-destruction.

Everly, meanwhile, is soft where Isaac is carved out of hard places; educated, sheltered, and gentle, finding herself suddenly thrust into a nightmare she was never built to survive. And yet she does. The strength she develops in captivity and the quiet resilience she carries long after her release form some of the most compelling threads in this novel.

The connection that forms between them, through a wall, shared trauma, and whispered truths and stolen moments is electric. This is not a romance built on grand gestures or tidy emotional arcs. Instead, it is a raw, primal tether forged under extreme pressure.

Once they escape captivity, the story shifts dramatically, exploring the messy aftermath of everything, the jarring return to a world that has moved on without Everly, and Isaac’s continued descent into vengeance. Their eventual reunion, years later, is explosive in every sense and exactly what I wanted; rage, longing, desire, and profound emotional recognition colliding in one unforgettable scene that will live rent-free in my head for a long time.

What I appreciated most was that the authors did not sand down Isaac’s edges or turn Everly into someone unrecognizable to make the romance “fit.” Isaac remains dangerous, volatile, intensely protective, and commitment phobic, a man shaped by his darkness rather than cured of it.

Everly evolves, but she never stops being gentle, empathetic, and soft-hearted. Their intimacy, especially the club scene, is a visceral, scorching culmination of pent-up need and suppressed emotion, but also a turning point that finally allows them to see each other clearly outside the shadows of their shared nightmare.

The villain is deeply unsettling, the timeline jumps are bold, and the twist woven into the ending unexpected and yet strangely fitting. I did find some of the dramatic reveals slightly over the top, but given the genre and tone, the heightened intensity works. What ultimately anchors the book is the emotional core; Isaac and Everly choosing each other not because they become whole, but because they recognize each other’s fractures and love in abundance in spite of it.

Recommended for: readers who love dark romance, morally grey heroes, trauma bonds that evolve into real connection, and stories that blend suspense with searing sensuality.

Final Verdict: Dark, claustrophobic, and scorching—Irreversible delivers a twisted and unforgettable romance between two broken souls who find salvation in each other amidst the most harrowing circumstances.

Favorite Quotes

I settle back against the wall, my hair a tangled curtain around my face. “Isaac…” I murmur. The name falls out effortlessly.
I like it.
His tone dips, veering into that place of vulnerability he loathes to idle in. “You don’t need to say it like that.”
“Like what?”
“All sweet and soft, like it’s your new favorite word.” There’s a notable edge to his tone, gravelly and raw.

Death is easier. Death is tangible.
Loose ends are just tragic, the threads dangling forever out of reach.

“How are you?”
“I’m okay. I took a shower. It was heavenly.”
A smile spreads. “I can imagine. You smell divine.”
“I’m sorry I stank yesterday. I’m sure you needed to take ten showers to eliminate the stench by association.”
“No. You smelled exactly like I remembered.”
God, I hope not. “Like what?”
He pauses, a flash of poignancy lighting up his eyes. “Home.”

When I glance out into the sea of lights and obscured faces…
I notice a man.
I notice a lot of men, but one stands out.
I’m not sure why he snags my attention as he stands off to the side, watching me dance. His arms are crossed, one hip parked against the wall a few feet away. Two long legs are tapered in dark denim, and a gunmetal-gray Henley looks like it’s glued onto him. Muscles bulge against the thin fabric, twitching in time with his stubbled jaw. The man exudes intensity. Something heady and almost…alarming.
I can’t see the color of his eyes through the strobe lights and a cloud of smoke, but I feel them dig into me like a pickaxe.
My breath hitches.
Gazes locked, I squeeze my breasts then drag my fingertips up my chest, my collarbone, and through my hair in an upward, sensual glide. I bite my lip as I stare at him.
He stares back, unflinching. Unblinking.

As I turn the corner, there’s a man leaning against the weathered brick, smoking a cigarette.
I falter.
Our eyes meet through the glow of an overhead streetlamp.
Slowing my steps, I squeeze my purse strap, glancing around at the still-lively street as cars whiz by and people gather in small groups.
My attention flicks back to the man.
The same man I noticed watching me.
He lowers the cigarette, blowing a plume of smoke up toward the sky before settling his dark eyes on me. He doesn’t speak.
“Hey. I saw you in the club.” I’m a few feet away, but I feel the heat emanating from him. Something potent.
I wait for his reply, for the sound of his voice, but his mouth snaps closed. Jaw tight, he just stares at me, wordless. A muscle in his cheek jumps as his eyes roll over me.
He’s incredibly attractive.
Stunning, even.
My skin prickles with goosebumps. I wonder if he heard me over the heavy bass seeping out through the main door. Chewing on my lip, I take a cautious step forward.
I clear my throat, peering down at my sneakers before glancing back up. “I’m Bee. Do you⁠—”
He turns and stalks away.

An image comes into view: two dark, stormy eyes attached to a familiar face, scruff along his jawline, and brown, disheveled hair.
His hand strokes my cheek.
Just a graze. A fleeting, tender touch.
The gesture douses me in warm tingly peace as I slowly twist my head to the side and blink up at him, knowing, believing, with every tortured piece of my soul⁠—
“Isaac,” I breathe out.
His expression changes. He glances around, face hardening as his jaw tics and his muscles clench. He straightens, then backs away gradually, like he doesn’t want to go. His finger curls around a lock of my hair before he releases me.
I watch him retreat.
“No…” Another wave of panic threatens, clogging my throat as I try to pull myself into a sitting position. “Come back…”
I struggle against the new hands that reach out, holding me down. Then I watch, helplessly—heartbreakingly—as he turns on his heel and bolts through the open door, the image of dark-wash jeans and two black boots disappearing from my periphery.

A hand curls around my neck as he bends down, his teeth nicking my jaw.
I shiver. Moan.
Bastard.
Regrouping quickly, I push at his chest again. “Get off me. I swear to God I’ll⁠—”
He snatches a fistful of my hair and tugs my head back, his lips a centimeter from mine. Then he growls out, the tips of our noses grazing, “What’s the matter, Chloe? I thought you liked it rough.”
My eyes widen.
Blood freezes.
Lips parting on a sharp exhale, I gape at him, my fingers twisting the front of his T-shirt. Confirmation glitters in his eyes. His words.
His voice.
Then he fucking smirks.

When the knock comes, it’s light-handed but resolute.
She came to me.
Allowing no time for hesitation, I move to the side, flip the lock, and pull the heavy door open with enough force that it slams into the wall. Before it can fall shut, I lash out like a viper, grip her wrist, and haul her inside. Her gasp lights my nerves like a fuse, and I release her into the room as the door closes, latching automatically.
The lion and his lone gazelle.
She’s all mine.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Married by Contract by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, FMC
Series: Convenient Marriages, #2
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Nick
Heroine: Jenn Castle
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: July 20, 2016
Started On: October 13, 2025
Finished On: October 14, 2025

Noelle Adams continues her exploration of unconventional relationships with Married by Contract, the second book in the Convenient Marriages series. This time, the marriage-of-convenience trope comes with a refreshing twist: Jenn Castle, a self-made, ambitious businesswoman, is the one who enters into a five-year contract and “purchases” her groom Nick, an ex-military private investigator with an easygoing nature that balances her high-stress world. Three years into their arrangement, a shift neither of them planned for upends the carefully crafted distance between them. What begins as a practical remedy for Jenn’s stress becomes the catalyst for a deeper, more vulnerable connection.

Jenn is a heroine shaped by abandonment, with her father’s departure having taught her to survive alone and never expect permanence from the people she cares about. She is disciplined, guarded, and fiercely independent, making her request for physical intimacy from Nick feel both audacious and deeply human. Nick, on the other hand, is the perfect laid-back counterpart. He is calm, grounded, and easygoing… until he is not. Behind his mellow exterior lies a quietly commanding man whose protective instincts and sensual intensity catch Jenn and the reader, unexpectedly and deliciously off guard.

As their physical relationship deepens, Jenn’s emotional armor begins to crack. The real tension of the story lies in her fear of losing control, not of her body, but of her heart. Nick, meanwhile, carries his own quiet longing. His willingness to give Jenn space, even when it costs him, becomes one of the most compelling aspects of his character. Unlike the traditionally tortured heroes of dark or mafia romance, Nick is the kind of alpha who needs no menace or criminality to command the page; his strength comes from certainty, steadiness, and desire expressed in its most intimate, honest form.

The chemistry between them is electric, especially when Nick’s desire breaks through his usual calm. The Friday-afternoon quickie scene alone is enough to cement him as one of Adams’ sexiest heroes; raunchy, possessive, and absolutely attuned to Jenn. Their progression towards happily ever after is mutual, sincere, and refreshingly adult; there is no unnecessary drama, just two people learning each other and learning themselves. If anything, I wished Nick had been fleshed out further beyond his role as the perfect partner, and an epilogue showing them bridging the gap with his family would have made the ending feel more complete.

Still, this is a lovely, low-angst romance with a deliciously commanding hero and a heroine whose guardedness softens in all the right ways. Jenn and Nick’s journey proves that marriages of convenience can offer some of the most rewarding emotional stories, especially when both characters are equally invested in turning convenience into devotion.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy low-angst, sexy marriages of convenience, commanding-but-kind heroes, and stories where emotional intimacy grows quietly but powerfully.

Final Verdict: A sensual, mature, quietly compelling romance with an unforgettable hero; Married by Contract delivers heat, tenderness, and a satisfying emotional bloom.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Accidental Bride by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Beaufort Brides, #3
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Peter Blake
Heroine: Kelly Beaufort
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 19, 2016
Started On: October 11, 2025
Finished On: October 12, 2025

Accidental Bride wraps up the Beaufort Brides trilogy by Noelle Adams, with the story of the youngest sister, Kelly Beaufort who is the responsible one, the homebody, and the woman who never took chances. After years of looking after her grandmother and watching her older sisters find their happily ever afters, Kelly decides to let loose for once in her life.

What she does not expect is to wake up in Las Vegas, married to her best friend, Peter Blake with no memory of how it happened. What follows is a slow, quiet journey toward love between two people who have always been close, with Kelly never having considered that love could actually be part of her life, if only she is willing to give Peter the chance he deserves.

Peter has been in love with Kelly since their friendship began, quietly pining while she remained oblivious. He is kind, patient, and steady, the sort of man who does not push and patiently bides his time. When she wakes up horrified at what she has done, Peter does not let her run; instead, he convinces her to stay married for forty-five days to avoid upsetting their families, giving him the one chance he has been waiting for to show her how right they could be together. Kelly, on the other hand, is reluctant, self-conscious, and burdened by a sense of duty that has been drilled into her for most of her life. She is terrified of making mistakes, of being selfish, and most of all, of hurting the people she loves.

The dynamic between Peter and Kelly is gentle and understated. There is no grand angst or explosive passion here, just the quiet unfolding of feelings between two people who already share deep familiarity. Peter’s patience and good humor balance Kelly’s fear of stepping outside her comfort zone. He is the perfect foil to her cautiousness, grounding her in warmth even when she tries to pull away. Still, I found Kelly to be a difficult heroine, her reluctance often felt excessive, and while I empathized with her sense of responsibility, it also made the story feel slow in places where I wanted a bit more spark.

Of the three Beaufort Brides stories, this is the one I least liked. I am usually a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope (the trope being my favorite in romance), but this did not quite deliver the emotional punch or chemistry I expected. The premise, a Vegas marriage gone wrong (or right, depending on how you see it), had so much potential for playful tension, but the story leaned more toward introspection and restraint. Peter’s steadfastness carried the book; his quiet devotion and subtle persistence are what made the romance work, even when Kelly’s hesitancy threatens to dim the spark.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy sweet, low-angst friends-to-lovers romances and heroines learning to step out of their comfort zones.

Final Verdict: Accidental Bride is a tender, understated close to the Beaufort Brides trilogy—heartfelt, if a little too subdued. Peter shines as the quietly devoted hero, but Kelly’s hesitancy keeps this one from soaring.

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