Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: From Here to Paternity, #1 Publisher: Harlequin Hero: Ryan Kincaid Heroine: Devon Franklin Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: August 01, 1996 Started On: August 17, 2024 Finished On: August 22, 2024
Sandra Marton’s A Proper Wife is a heady mix of passion, pride, and the irresistible pull of two people who, on paper, should never have worked. As the opening novel of the From Here to Paternity series, it sweeps readers into a tale of family meddling, reluctant vows, and a relationship that begins in sparks and keeps burning right through.
Ryan Kincaid, a man Time magazine dubbed “The Lone Raider,” is wealthy, commanding, and absolutely unwilling to be dictated to, especially by his grandfather. Devon Franklin, on the other hand, is fiery, independent, and saddled with a mother whose ambitions extend far beyond her own. Their paths collide in the most unexpected (and explosive) of ways, and what begins as a clash of wills evolves into a marriage neither truly wanted, but both can’t walk away from.
Ryan is very much the quintessential alpha hero: virile, confident, with a streak of arrogance that makes him fascinating. However, there is a vulnerability that he hides beneath that confident façade stemming from his deep-seated issues with abandonment.
Devon, at only twenty-three, is no meek heroine. She has strength, courage, and a sharp tongue, and while she initially appears overwhelmed by the larger-than-life Ryan, she proves more than capable of holding her ground. Together, their chemistry is combustible, with every encounter threatening to set off fireworks.
The heart of the novel lies in the conflict that stems from their forced marriage, a union orchestrated by Ryan’s grandfather and Devon’s mother, each with very different motivations. Both Ryan and Devon enter this marriage unwillingly, determined not to bend to the will of meddling family members.
Yet the irony lies in how deeply they affect each other, even as they try to maintain distance. The push and pull between them and their reluctance to admit what they truly feel fuels the narrative, making their separation and misunderstandings as compelling as their moments of intimacy.
What I particularly enjoyed was the earthy, raw quality of Ryan as a hero. Sandra Marton has always excelled at creating men who are magnetic and unapologetically masculine, and Ryan is no exception. His refusal to fall into the cliché of a lovesick husband was as fascinating as it was believable.
Devon’s strength was equally appealing; she is no doormat, and her fire balances Ryan’s dominance beautifully. That said, I did miss some of the banter I had hoped for as the couple spend a surprising amount of their marriage leading separate lives, and while their union is fiery, more moments of verbal sparring would have elevated the connection even further.
Still, Marton knows how to deliver intensity. The sensuality here is high, with scenes that simmer with desire and crackle with tension. And woven throughout is the poignant reality that both characters, scarred by imperfect childhoods, don’t quite know how to accept love when it is on the table.
Recommended for: Readers who love classic Harlequin Presents-style romances filled with fiery chemistry, reluctant vulnerability, and a marriage-of-convenience trope that turns deliciously real.
Final Verdict: A Proper Wife delivers passion, sizzling tension, and a hero and heroine who do not want to be married, as they fight against the very love that could heal them both.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: First Person, Dual Series: Unperfect, #2 Publisher: Self-Published Hero: Heath Markham Heroine: Yazmin Hardcastle Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: November 05, 2022 Started On: August 10, 2024 Finished On: August 17, 2024
Unworthy by Susie Tate is an emotional and heartfelt brother’s best friend romance, full of slow-burn tension, complicated family ties, and years of unrequited love finally reaching its breaking point. Yazmin Hardcastle has loved Heath Markham for as long as she can remember.
Once her childhood hero who defended her quirks, he is now the man who seems to find fault with everything she does, her passions, her choices, and even the way she lives her life. For Yaz, the sting is sharper because she still feels that same pull toward him. For Heath, his rigid walls of control and stability have always been easier to cling to than the chaos that Yaz represents.
Yaz is a heroine who refuses to be boxed in. Seen by her family as unreliable and flighty, she pours her soul into the sea, her well-being centre, and her windsurfing. She is unconventional and vibrant, but also vulnerable, carrying years of being dismissed by those who should have believed in her. Heath, meanwhile, is the classic gruff doctor hero; disciplined, brilliant, and scarred by a difficult childhood. With his carefully ordered life, Yaz’s unpredictability is both irresistible and terrifying to him.
Their relationship is one that simmers with attraction and unresolved history. Yaz’s teenage crush and Heath’s long-suppressed desire collide in heated confrontations and stolen moments, with misunderstandings and pride pulling them apart as often as they draw closer. When Heath finally lets himself face the truth, it is almost too lat; Yaz has learned to stop waiting for him. Watching him fight for her, while Yaz steps into her own power, is what makde this romance work.
That said, I found myself wishing for more angst. The setup of unrequited love, brother’s best friend, an age gap, family conflict is one ripe for explosive tension, but at times the execution felt softer than expected. There were plenty of emotional beats, but not always the gut-punch intensity that would have made their journey truly unforgettable. Still, the growth arcs and the eventual conclusion kept me invested until the end.
What I loved most was Yaz’s transformation. She goes from being dismissed as the family’s black sheep to proving her worth on her own terms. Heath’s redemption, his groveling, and his struggle with abandonment issues also hit the right notes, even if I sometimes wanted him pushed harder. They are messy and imperfect, but in the end, just the perfect fit together.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy brother’s best friend and age-gap romances with strong heroines, family drama, and heroes who take their time figuring out what really matters.
Final Verdict: Sweet, emotional, and satisfying, though not as angsty as I expected—Unworthy is still a rewarding slow-burn romance.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: First Person, Dual Series: Unperfect, #1 Publisher: Sett Publishing Hero: Max Hardcastle Heroine: Amelia Banks Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: October 05, 2021 Started On: August 06, 2024 Finished On: August 10, 2024
I loved that this big, abrasive, gruff man cared about me so much that he tried to contain all that fierceness so as not to scare me or push me too far. But at the same time I hated that he felt he had to do that. That he thought I was so fragile. I wanted unedited, disinhibited Max. The rough, unapologetic Max.
Unperfect by Susie Tate is a deeply emotional, gritty, yet heartwarming contemporary romance that takes readers into the shadows of domestic violence and the difficult path towards healing and trust. It begins with Amelia Banks who hides under the alias “Mia Lantum” and arrives for a job interview at an architecture firm with nothing but a jar of peanut butter and a desperate determination to survive.
Having escaped an abusive marriage, Mia is wary of men, particularly the kind who embody strength and authority. Unfortunately for her, the firm’s owner is Max Hardcastle, the grumpy, brusque architect made famous for his bluntness on TV. To Mia, Max’s sheer size and intimidating presence are terrifying, but she has no choice but to take the job if she wants a chance at rebuilding her life.
Max is the kind of hero who sneaks up on you. Rough-edged and intimidating to most, he is also a man scarred by his past and burdened with responsibilities, including his troubled stepson. Though he initially regards Mia as a nuisance, he slowly begins to notice the fragility beneath her guarded exterior.
Mia, on the other hand, is a survivor who has endured unimaginable cruelty, and her wariness of intimacy makes her flinch at even the gentlest of touches. Watching these two navigate a relationship is as much about tenderness as it is about fire. Max may look like a grizzly bear, but he is exactly the kind of quiet strength Mia needs; a man whose protectiveness is matched only by his patience.
Mia’s past does not stay neatly behind her, and the added complication of her abusive husband being professionally linked to Max brings another layer of angst to their already fragile relationship. It is a conflict that heightens the stakes and underscores just how much Mia has to lose, while also giving Max a chance to prove his worth as more than just a protector.
What I loved most was Susie Tate’s ability to juggle heavy subject matter with humor and heart. She does not sugarcoat the devastation of domestic abuse, yet she writes characters so vividly that they leap off the pages. Max’s grumpy-sweet nature, Mia’s resilience, the banter with side characters like Yaz and Verity, and even the hilariously unexpected cameo from the Prime Minister and his wife; all of it added richness to a story that could have otherwise been unbearably heavy. The romance itself is beautifully balanced: tender, slow-burning, and ultimately very satisfying.
For me, this has been the best book I have read thus far in my Susie Tate binge following my discovery of her books. The sheer realism of the take on domestic abuse and Mia’s journey made this book worth every palpitation I suffered during the most difficult places. Max, in turn, was her perfect counterpart, steady and kind, just what the doctor ordered.
Recommended for: Readers who love romances with heavier themes, strong heroines who grow into their strength, and gruff heroes with a marshmallow core.
Final Verdict: Raw, heartfelt, and utterly unputdownable—Unperfect is Susie Tate at her best.
Favorite Quotes
“You’re right pretty, mind,” he whispered, then blinked as if he hadn’t meant to speak out loud. He cleared his throat, two flags of colour appearing high on his cheekbones. I was frozen in place, staring up at his beautiful face. The air around us crackled with that tension and energy from before. I was both equal parts terrified and exhilarated. His hand reached up to brush a lock of my hair behind my ear with a feather-light touch. A trail of fire was left in its wake as though he’d left a mark there.
“That’s your big secret, isn’t it?” she said. “What’s that?” “You – you’re kind. You’re a good man. You would never hurt me.” “No, love,” I said softly, searching her face and pushing her fringe back from her forehead. “Not ever.” “I really, really like you,” she said, giving me so much direct eye contact it was like a punch to the gut. “I like you too, Mia,” I told her, my voice rougher than normal and my chest feeling tight. “’s not real,” she whispered, as her eyelids fluttered closed. “What?’ “’s not for me,” she said, her voice so faint it was a struggle to hear it. Her body went completely lax then and her eyes drifted shut.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: Broken Heart, #3 Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Hero: Sam Heroine: Katie Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: October 11, 2015 Started On: August 03, 2024 Finished On: August 06, 2024
Beyond Repair by Susie Tate is an emotional, gritty, yet heartwarming romance that brings together two complete opposites in a story that is as intense as it is endearing. Katie is the bubbly, scattered, endlessly kind-hearted doctor whose warmth draws everyone in. She is the sort of heroine who lights up every room, who always has time for her patients and friends, even if she is running late, clumsy, or rambling her way into awkwardness. On the surface, she is sunshine personified, but underneath, Katie is dealing with shadows from her past, including a stalker who refuses to let her go.
Sam, by contrast, is the surly, brooding ex-Special Forces operative, scarred inside and out, whose intimidating presence and clipped words have convinced Katie for years that he cannot stand her. He is a man who has lived in silence and control for so long that numbness feels like safety. For six years he has kept his distance from Katie, hiding behind a mask of indifference, but when he learns about the stalker who has been tormenting her with notes and threats, everything changes. Protecting her becomes non-negotiable, and suddenly Sam, who has spent years avoiding her, is forced into her life in the most intense way possible.
What unfolds is a romance as much about healing as it is about attraction. Katie’s chatter, warmth, and relentless optimism drives Sam mad, but they also chip away at the walls he has built around his heart. Their push-and-pull dynamic; her sunshine against his storm, creates sparks that leaps off the pages. Yet, Sam’s past, riddled with trauma and secrets he is unwilling to share keeps him lashing out, withdrawing, and nearly destroying the fragile bond they build. Watching Katie try to stand firm, even as his moods swing hot and cold, was both frustrating and deeply moving.
This book has a darker edge than Susie Tate’s earlier stories, thanks to the stalker subplot and the raw way it handles Sam’s PTSD. At times Sam’s behavior, particularly the cruel things he says when he is afraid, made me want to shake him. His inability to believe he deserved love dragged out their journey, but when he finally gave in, the redemption was powerful. What balanced all that angst was Katie herself, who is one of the most lovable heroines I have read: scattered, affectionate, sometimes naive, but unfailingly brave. The humor sprinkled throughout due to a wonderful secondary cast helped soften the darker parts.
I especially loved how the stalker story line forced Sam to face feelings he’d denied for years. It was not just about protecting Katie’s safety, it was about protecting her light, and in doing so, he had to confront the darkness in himself. The epilogue, with its glimpse of their chaotic, love-filled future, was a gorgeous conclusion after all the pain, making their journey feel truly earned.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy opposites-attract romances, scarred ex-military heroes, and heroines who are sunshine and love.
Final Verdict: Darker and more intense than Susie Tate’s earlier works, Beyond Repair delivers a heartfelt, angsty romance with a beautifully delivered ending.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: First Person, Dual Series: Daydreamer, #1 Publisher: Sett Publishing Hero: Felix Moretti Heroine: Lucy Prudence Mayweather Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: June 27, 2024 Started On: July 21, 2024 Finished On: July 26, 2024
Plunging into my first Susie Tate book turned out to be the best thing ever! Susie Tate’s Daydreamer is the kind of book that takes on a familiar trope, childhood friends turned into boss-subordinate relationship, and breathes into it a heartfelt, addictive energy.
From the very first page, the story pulled me into Lucy Mayweather’s messy, colourful world as she tries to navigate the cut-throat environment of Felix Moretti’s high-powered London office. What starts off as a desperate attempt by Lucy to find her footing outside her small village life, while hopelessly nursing a crush she has carried for years, unfolds into a romance that is both intense and painfully emotional.
Lucy is a heroine I could not help but bring out my pompoms for. She is the bookworm in all of us; whimsical, shy, forever daydreaming, and clearly out of place in Felix’s ruthless corporate jungle. She wears her battered jumpers and carries pens in her hair, and yet beneath all that awkwardness is a creative, brilliant author with stories that have the power to captivate. Her struggles with loneliness and vulnerability make her deeply relatable, but what stood out for me most was her quiet form of strength, how she still carries that spark despite the constant dismissals and the cruelty she faces from those around her.
Felix, by contrast, is all sharp edges and control. At thirty-three, he is a successful, commitment-phobic billionaire with a reputation as a playboy. He is emotionally scarred by his father’s cruelty, and that pain drives much of his cynicism and obsession with success. To Lucy, though, he is also the boy who once listened to her stories, the one who never made her feel odd for dreaming.
Watching him battle with his possessiveness, his jealousy, and ultimately his own vulnerability, made him both infuriating and enticing on so many levels. There were times I wanted to shake him for being so blind and emotionally stunted, but that only made his groveling later all the more satisfying.
The central conflict between them hits hard; Felix’s inability to trust, his constant prioritization of work and control, and Lucy’s hidden truths. There were moments where I questioned what Felix even wanted from her, moments where his actions nearly broke her beyond repair. But what followed was a redemption arc packed with raw emotion, grand gestures, and groveling that truly delivered. The tension between them, from their first kiss to their explosive confrontations, kept me on edge, and the eventual conclusion was absolutely worth it.
What I loved most about the story was how much it felt like an extended, modern Lynne Graham novel; rich with angst, a ruthless hero, and a heroine who transforms from a pushover into a stronger version of herself. The writing had me smiling at Lucy’s quirks one moment, clutching my chest at Felix’s harshness the next, and then sighing happily at the tenderness buried beneath all that ruthlessness. The epilogue, with its warm glimpse into their happily-ever-after, tied it all together in the most heart-melting way.
Recommended for: readers who love brother’s best friend romances, ruthless billionaire heroes, groveling done to a fine art, and quirky heroines who surprise you with their strength.
Final Verdict: A wonderful, emotional romance that had me hooked from the start. With top-notch groveling and a beautiful end, Daydreamer is a gem.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: The Barons, #3 Publisher: Harlequin Hero: Slade Baron Heroine: Lara Stevens Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: January 01, 1999 Started On: July 26, 2024 Finished On: July 28, 2024
Slade Baron’s Bride by Sandra Marton is one of those stories that starts with a spark so sudden that it is impossible not to get caught up in the heady rush of passion that follows. Slade and Lara meet by chance during an unexpected flight delay, and what begins as a fleeting attraction turns into a night that leaves them both changed forever. Eighteen months later, the repercussions of that single weekend catch up with them, pulling them back into each other’s orbit in ways neither could have predicted.
Slade is the quintessential Marton hero—possessive, confident, and more than a little baffled when it comes to the way the heroine gets under his skin. Lara, on the other hand, is portrayed as older, independent, and carrying a determination that sometimes borders on prideful stubbornness. Their dynamic is complicated further by secrets she chooses to keep and his instinctive need to control and protect, creating a push-pull tension that simmers throughout.
What really drives this romance is the clash of their vulnerabilities and insecurities. Both have childhood scars that shape their adult choices, and though the book hints at the depth of those wounds, I felt as though the connection between their pasts and how they might bridge that emotional gap could have been explored more fully. Instead, their relationship relies heavily on mistrust, jealousy, and pride, emotions that fuel the drama but do not always leave enough space for deeper growth.
That being said, Marton’s trademark ability to write a hero undone by his own emotions shines through in Slade’s frustration and his bewildered response to Lara. Those moments when his composure cracks are some of the most rewarding in the book. On the flip side, Lara’s characterization often grated on me; her jealousy, her secrecy, and her tendency to make choices that seemed more about maintaining distance than about finding resolution were not very winsome. She teetered close to “annoying heroine” territory for me, and it made connecting with her more difficult.
Still, there is plenty to enjoy in this fiery romance; the sizzling attraction between them, the undeniable chemistry, and the way Marton plays with misunderstandings and emotional upheaval to keep the tension high. The ending, though not perfect, does deliver the promise of love prevailing against the odds.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy intense, angsty Harlequin romances with possessive heroes, stubborn heroines, and the kind of combustible chemistry that never lets up.
Final Verdict: A romance brimming with passion and tension, Slade Baron’s Bride delivers the emotional highs and lows Marton fans crave, even if the heroine’s choices make the ride a bumpier one than expected.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: Orsini Brides, #2 Publisher: Harlequin Hero: Rio D’Aquila Heroine: Isabella Orsini Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: January 01, 2011 Started On: July 20, 2024 Finished On: July 21, 2024
Sandra Marton’s The Real Rio D’Aquila takes readers into the glittering, high-stakes world of the über-wealthy. Rio D’Aquila has lived a life few can imagine, rising from the gutters of Italy, reinventing himself in Brazil, and turning his name into one of immense wealth and power. He is a man who thrives on control, whose reputation precedes him as ruthless in business and incomparable in bed. But when he meets Isabella Orsini, his carefully constructed world begins to unravel.
Their paths cross through Isabella’s family connections, and from the very start, their relationship is shaped by a case of mistaken identity. Isabella does not realize exactly who Rio is, and he allows her to believe otherwise. For a man who has built a life where everyone sees only the billionaire, being able to step into the role of “someone else” gives him a rare freedom. For Isabella, meeting Rio under this guise makes him feel disarmingly approachable, someone she can lean on at a time when she is the most vulnerable. It is this unusual foundation, paired with undeniable chemistry, that draws them together and sparks a passionate affair neither expects.
Rio is thirty-two, a classic Marton hero; gorgeous, commanding, and utterly commitment-phobic. He is the kind of man who has everything money can buy but nothing that truly matters. Isabella, on the other hand is not the wide-eyed innocent many of Marton’s heroines tend to be; instead, she carries her own scars and insecurities, making her someone readers can both root for and empathize with. Their chemistry is immediate, their attraction undeniable, but what makes the story stand out is how Rio finds himself smitten from the very start, even as he grapples with the lies he has allowed to stand between them.
Their relationship is complicated by a tangle of half-truths and secrets that hover between them. Rio is, in many ways, two men: the boy from the streets who knows hunger and hardship, and the man he has crafted into one of absolute dominance and success. When Isabella enters his life, she sees glimpses of both, but Rio’s reluctance to bare his entire self puts them on a collision course. Watching Isabella navigate this storm of emotions while trying to trust a man shrouded in shadows makes for much of the novel’s tension.
What I liked most about this story is Rio himself. Marton wrote him as smitten from the beginning, which meant he never strayed into the territory of a cruel or irredeemable hero. Instead, he is a man who cannot quite reconcile who he once was with who he is now, and it makes him both fascinating and enigmatic. My one gripe was that the angst didn’t run as deep as I might have preferred, which I wanted more of given Rio’s layered past and the potential for emotional clashes, I found myself wishing for more intensity at certain points.
That said, Marton knows how to weave tension, sensuality, and the push-pull of emotions into a narrative that keeps the pages turning. While not my absolute favorite of hers, it still delivered on the promise of a romance that entertained.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy mistaken identity tropes, self-made billionaire heroes, and heroines who become their undoing.
Final Verdict: The Real Rio D’Aquila delivers passion and heart, even if I longed for a touch more angst.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: Standalone Publisher: Harlequin Presents Hero: Griffin McKenna Heroine: Dana Anderson Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: August 01, 1998 Started On: July 18, 2024 Finished On: July 19, 2024
If you were a man, the sky was the limit. But if you were a woman, there was a glass ceiling. And she had reached it.
Sandra Marton’s The Bridal Suite is one of those romances that manages to be equal parts sexy, funny, and emotionally charged. The premise itself sets the stage for sparks to fly; Dana Anderson, a brilliant programmer battling the constant underestimation of women in a male-dominated workplace, suddenly finds herself trapped in a situation with Griffin McKenna, the financial genius with a pirate’s reputation for taking whatever he wants. When business forces them to share a room at a conference and of all places, the bridal suit, the inevitability of their simmering attraction becomes impossible to deny.
Griffin is the quintessential alpha hero: hot-blooded, smug, and unapologetically arrogant at the start. His reputation as a womanizer precedes him, and his take-no-prisoners attitude in business leaves Dana bristling at every turn. Yet beneath that exterior lies a man who is all passion, intensity, and just enough vulnerability to keep readers hooked. Dana, on the other hand, is his match in every way. Smart, independent, and unafraid to stand her ground, she is not dazzled by Griffin’s charm or cowed by his authority, if anything, she delights in throwing his arrogance back at him.
What makes their dynamic so delicious is the constant push-and-pull between them. The misunderstandings, jealousy, and denial fuel the sexual tension that is already sizzling from the very start. Griffin may be used to being in control, but Dana keeps him perpetually off-balance, while she herself struggles to reconcile her attraction to a man she insists she wants nothing to do with. It is opposites attract at its finest, where both are forced to confront truths about themselves in order to see the other clearly.
What I loved most about this story is how unashamedly emotional and irrational both characters can be when it comes to love. The angst is sweetly realistic, because honestly, who remains calm and rational when every touch and kiss threatens to consume you? I feel sad sometimes when I read books of today where everyone is calm and rational about their feelings. No, life does not work like that, especially when you are in the throes of passion and uncertain of your place with the one you want to be. The humor threaded through their interactions lightens the narrative, balancing the tension with laugh-out-loud moments that makes the ride even more entertaining. The ending, tender and satisfying, ties everything together beautifully.
Recommended for: readers who love boss-employee dynamics, opposites attract, and sizzling banter that will keep you grinning as much as it makes you swoon.
Final Verdict: A witty, passionate romance with a hero to make you melt and a heroine who refuses to bow to him; The Bridal Suite is Sandra Marton at her sparkling best.
Favorite Quotes
If he hadn’t been linked with every beautiful female on the planet, it was only because, at thirty-five, he hadn’t yet had the time to get around to them all.
His kiss was hungry, hot and urgent. There was no tenderness to it, but tenderness wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him, had wanted him for days. For all the years of her life, and when he caught her up in his arms and took her to the bed, she sighed and sank down with him into the softness of the silk, her hands already under his shirt, her fingers hot against his hard, muscled flesh, her mouth open to his. “Dana,” he whispered, as if her name were all he could manage.
His hand closed on her blouse, tore it, ripped it from her, exposing her flesh to his mouth, his hungry, eager mouth… Somewhere in the distance, bells began to ring, chiming out the opening notes of Here Comes the Bride. It was the doorbell. They went rigid in each other’s arms. The bells rang again. Griffin cursed, rolled off the bed, and headed for the front door. Dana sat up. She was trembling. What had she done?
“Sweetheart?” Dana closed her eyes at the sound of Griffin’s voice. She heard the terrace doors slide open, then felt his body brush lightly against her. His arms went around her, and he drew her back against him. Don’t, she told herself. Oh, don’t. This is wrong. It’s wrong… “Dana.” He put his mouth to her throat, and her breath caught I love you, she thought, oh, Griffin, I love you. What was the sense in trying to deny it?
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novel Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: First Person, Dual Series: Toronto Terror, #2 Publisher: Ink & Cupcakes Inc Hero: Hollis Hendrix Heroine: Peggy Aurora Hammerstein Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: July 11, 2024 Started On: July 13, 2024 Finished On: July 18, 2024
I first came across If You Want Me on Instagram when Helena Hunting was promoting the release, and I will admit it, I caved. The way she marketed it, leaning into the forbidden, age-gap “dad’s best friend” trope, hit all my weak spots. This is also my first Hunting book, and I was curious to see how she would deliver on the promise.
As noted earlier, If You Want Me takes a forbidden love setup and infuses it with just the right amount of angst to keep the pages turning. This is the story of Hollis Hendrix, a thirty-year-old hockey player carrying emotional scars from a failed relationship, and Peggy Aurora Hammerstein, the twenty-year-old daughter of his best friend, a vibrant, determined young woman who knows exactly what she wants, and that happens to be Hollis. Their connection begins as a spark that neither of them can quite ignore, no matter how many reasons Hollis gives himself to resist.
Hollis is the kind of hero who is as strong on the ice as he is tender off it. His scars make him cautious, even fearful, of risking his heart again, but they also make his journey that much more relatable. Peggy, on the other hand, is a heroine who radiates confidence and determination. She might be younger, but she is in no way naïve about what she feels or wants. I really liked Peggy wasn’t simply there to chase Hollis, but to push him to confront his fears and see her as his equal partner.
The age-gap dynamic, compounded by the fact that Peggy is Hollis’ best friend’s daughter, sets up a deliciously forbidden undercurrent. Hollis wrestles constantly with his desire for her, knowing how much is at stake if he crosses the line. Peggy, though, does not shy away from the truth of her feelings. The push and pull between them is intense, angsty at times, and grounded in a very real emotional conflict. It is the kind of romance where you find yourself holding your breath, waiting to see when the hero will finally give in.
The forbidden element; the fact that Peggy is Hollis’s best friend’s daughter, drives most of the angst, and Hunting plays it well. Hollis struggles with the possible fallout while Peggy refuses to let convention dictate her choices. Yet even here, the book has a modern lens. Peggy’s mother, who herself is in an open relationship and embraces a progressive lifestyle, still finds it hard to accept her daughter entangled with an older man. It is a reminder that even the most liberal or vulnerable people can turn surprisingly conservative when it comes to protecting their own blood.
I think Hunting also did an excellent job in the portrayal of the Hollis’ vulnerability. Seeing a hero who is physically strong but emotionally scarred is always good, especially when it is handled well, and Hunting did justice to his struggle. I also loved the sense of community in this book; Peggy’s girl squad, the supportive teammates, and the generally healthy relationships around them created a balance that kept the story from being weighed down by angst.
That said, I did wish Hollis’ passion came across a little more fiercely in the bedroom. The setup promised a level of intensity that never quite delivered once they gave in to their feelings; it was sweet, yes, but perhaps too sweet for the initial vibes I expected.
Overall, If You Want Me is a very modern, heartfelt romance. There are no contrived miscommunications here, just two people navigating a complicated relationship with honesty and care. I enjoyed the maturity of the storytelling, even if I longed for a bit more fire and angst in certain moments.
Recommended for: readers who love forbidden romances, age-gap dynamics, sports romance settings, and emotionally vulnerable heroes.
Final Verdict: A tender, modern take on the dad’s best friend trope with angsty undercurrents. While it didn’t fully match the intensity I anticipated, Hollis and Peggy’s love story was still deeply satisfying.
Format: E-Book Read with: Kindle Oasis Length: Novella Genre: Contemporary Romance POV: Third Person, Dual Series: The Romanos, #1 Publisher: Mills and Boon Hero: Matthew Romano Heroine: Susannah Madison Capital Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥 Published On: January 01, 1998 Started On: July 10, 2024 Finished On: July 13, 2024
Sometimes you stumble across a romance that makes you grin, sigh, and want to hug the book to your chest when you are done, and The Sexiest Man Alive by Sandra Marton was exactly that for me. I picked it up while hunting for something that would give me the same buzz as The Bedroom Business (another Marton favorite that I have reread countless times), and it delivered in spades. I have to appreciate Amazon for doing such a swell job in recommending this title to me. Equal parts sexy, hilarious, and heart-tugging, this one had me smiling from the first chapter to the very last page.
The premise itself is fun and lighthearted. Susannah Madison, editor at Chic magazine, finds herself at odds with Matthew Romano, a ruthless and commanding businessman who wants to shut down her publication. Susannah, clever and determined, comes up with a scheme to save the magazine: a feature on the “sexiest man alive” for Valentine’s Day. What she doesn’t anticipate is Matthew’s decision to supervise her search, or the way sparks fly between them from the very beginning. Their encounters are deliciously combative, full of sharp banter and sizzling chemistry that neither of them can deny.
Matthew Romano is exactly the sort of hero I love; sexy, commanding, sensitive, and yes, stupid when it comes to matters of the heart. He is a man who has been steadfastly holding on to his bachelorhood, only to find himself helplessly drawn to a woman he once thought of as an adversary.
That push-and-pull is what makes him so compelling; for all his ruthlessness in the boardroom, he loses his cool spectacularly whenever Susannah is near. He pushes her buttons, makes her drop her armor, and forces her to embrace her femininity in ways that both terrify and exhilarate her. He makes her feel, and that is where the power of his character lies.
Susannah, for her part, is just as delightful. Strong-willed, independent, and determined to fight for what she believes in, she matches Matthew every step of the way. From the moment she literally falls into his arms and they kiss each other senseless, to their many fiery clashes where neither one will back down, she proves herself to be every bit his equal. The way she unsettles him, challenges him, and ultimately steals his heart is exactly why this romance works so beautifully.
This book was undoubtedly delicious. What really makes the novel stand out is the hilarity woven into the fabric of their story. The way both Susannah and Matthew tries to deny the elephant in the room, the combustible attraction simmering between them, leads to some truly laugh-out-loud moments that balance the sensuality perfectly.
The sexual tension between Matthew and Susannah is off the charts. Every encounter, whether it is an argument, a negotiation, or an accidental brush of hands, is charged with longing and fire. Their kisses are fiery, their stolen moments laden with passion, and the eventual culmination is everything you would want from an enemies-to-lovers romance, and the eroticism much better than any explicit erotic romance. Add to that a touch of angst, the kind that makes your chest ache in the best possible way, and you have a romance that checks every single box. This is old-school category romance at its best, reminding me of why these classic Mills & Boon romances still stand the test of time.
Recommended for: readers who love old-school Mills & Boon with a perfect blend of wit, humor, fiery sexual tension, and heartfelt emotion. If you enjoyed The Bedroom Business, this one should definitely be next on your list.
Final Verdict: A marvelous story that made my heart happy, with a hero who is sexy, and commanding, and and story that is hilarious and romantic in all the ways that matter. This is one I will be revisiting again and again.
Favorite Quotes
“Mr. Romano.” She licked her lips. “I may have been a little out of line, but—” “A little?” He closed the distance remaining between them and looked coldly at her as her shoulders hit the wall. “Fascinating, Miss Clinton, how cautious your use of the language has suddenly become. For a woman given to such interesting hyperbole, I mean.” His eyes, dark and deep, fastened on hers. “Once again, I’m asking you to tell me what you mean by that word.” Susannah swallowed hard. He was close. Too close. She could smell the faint scent of soap on his skin, see the shadow of stubble on his jaw and chin. His lashes were dark and thick. His nose was perfectly straight except for a barely perceptible tilt midway down its length. He looked cold and hard and angry. And studly. He was studly, indeed, she thought dizzily. Her heart did what felt like a somersault in her chest. If you liked the type. She didn’t.
“Suze?” Claire’s voice was shrill. “Suze, are you okay?” Matthew dragged one of Susannah’s arms from around his neck. “She’s fine,” he called. Susannah glared at him. “I’m not—” He clamped a hand over her mouth “You want them to see this mess?” he hissed, his mouth at her ear. “Do you have an explanation that’s going to keep everybody out there from figuring we just slugged it out?” Susannah threw a wild look around the room. Papers were strewn across the floor. The heavy conference table stood at an angle to the wall. The lamp had shattered, and the telephone was emitting a pathetic bleep. And on top of all that, here she was, sitting cozily in Matthew Romano’s lap.
“Susannah,” he said fiercely. She looked at him. His eyes were hot and dark with desire. A shudder raced through her. She knew that what was going to happen between them would change her life forever, would make any other lover impossible. “Yes,” she said, raising her arms to him, “yes. yes…” The door swung open, hitting the wall like a clap of thunder rolling over the canyons of the city. “Oh, my God! Susannah!” Susannah almost fell off the table. She sat up. Matthew stepped back. Both of them stared at the open door, where Claire and Eddie and Judy and, Susannah thought desperately, what looked like a million other CHIC staffers stood crowded together in stunned silence. It was like staring into a sea of disbelief. Mouths hung open. Eyes grew round as saucers. Heads swiveled, as if this were a tennis match, while everyone looked from Susannah to Matthew, from Matthew to Susannah…
Matthew’s gaze flew over her again, taking in all the details. A black suit had replaced the Beethoven sweatshirt and the baggy jeans. The suit was demure, even severe, but it couldn’t disguise the curves beneath. Black shoes had replaced the sneakers. Not just any black shoes. Matthew swallowed hard. The heels were high. Not outrageously high. They were surely some Fifth Avenue shop’s idea of dress-for-success shoes to match the dress-for-success suit, but high enough to show off the trimness of Susannah’s ankles and the luscious length of her legs. And they were cut low enough in the front so he could see…what did you call those little lines between a woman’s toes? Cleavage? He wanted to laugh—the word, the very concept, seemed so outrageous—but how could he laugh when he was busy concentrating on keeping his jaw from dropping again?
What kind of a man kissed a woman he didn’t like with such passion? A better question was, what kind of woman kissed him back? And she was kissing him. There was no point in pretending otherwise. Matthew was feasting on her mouth, and she was on fire for him, for his kisses and his touch. Some still logical part of her fought for sanity. “No.” she said, against his mouth, “Matthew, we can’t…” He tunneled his fingers into her hair, tilted her face to his. “Just kiss me,” he said thickly, “kiss me and stop thinking.”
“Well,” he said. “Well,” she said. “Good night, Susannah.” “Good night, Matthew.” He turned. She put her hand on the doorknob. He stepped into the hall. She began to shut the door… “The hell with this,” he growled, and swung toward her. “Dammit, Susannah,” he said, and before his heart could take another beat, she was in his arms. He lifted her, and she wound her arms around his neck as his hand tunneled into her hair. He kicked the door shut and kissed her without preliminaries, without gentleness. Why would there be wooing when they both knew that this moment had been inevitable?
“No more games, Susannah.” “No,” she whispered, stroking the tip of her tongue against his, reveling in the heavy beat of his heart against hers. “No more games, Matthew.” He tasted of danger and of darkness. Of the heady wildness of desire. She tasted of hunger and of need. Of the sweetness of passion. “I want—I want—” “Everything,” he whispered, and kissed her again.
“I’ll come by at seven. We can have drinks first.” “Matthew, I don’t—” “Yes. You do.” His eyes turned dark and smoky. “Shall I prove it to you the way I did this morning?” Color flooded her face. “Why?” she whispered. He laughed, a low, sexy laugh that made her blood sizzle. “I mean,” she said quickly, “why me? I’m not your type.” “No,” he said. He ran his finger along the back of her hand. Goose bumps rose on her skin. “You’re not.” He smiled again, right into her eyes. “You’re not blond. You’re not dumb—although many of the ladies I’ve dated would be very upset to hear you use that word in conjunction with them, Susie.” His smile tilted. “I remember Miss North Carolina… She said she wanted to become a physicist.” “Matthew, I’m serious.” “So am I.” His smile faded. “You’re right. You’re not my type. You’re stubborn and hotheaded. You have a nasty temper and you like things your own way.” “You’re a fine one to talk,” she said huffily. “And I’d bet I’m not your type either, Madison. I don’t think you like being with a man who reminds you that you’re a woman.” “Your ego is unbearable, Romano.” “I’m just being honest.” His eyes grew hot. “Tell me if Sam or Peter ever made you feel the way I make you feel.” Sam. And Peter. Oh, God… “I can see the answer in your eyes, Susie.” Matthew smiled. “Seven o’clock. Don’t keep me waiting I like my women to be prompt.” “I am not your—” He bent his head and kissed her lightly on the mouth. Then he sauntered away.
A Maldivian's Passion for Romance 