Tag / Noelle Adams

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: Missing by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Nathan Livingston
Heroine: Lynn
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: August 19, 2013
Started On: December 05, 2025
Finished On: December 06, 2025

Missing opens with an arrangement that feels deliberately constrained, as if both characters are rationing intimacy the way one might do with time or sleep. On the surface, it begins as a strictly no-strings arrangement between two adults who believe they do not have the emotional bandwidth for anything more. Nathan Livingston is a powerful Washington political figure juggling a demanding career, a teenage daughter he is raising alone, and the unhealed wound of an older daughter who vanished from his life years ago.

Lynn, a sharp, competent reporter with her own past marriage behind her, knows better than to get entangled with a man whose life is permanently under a microscope. What starts as carefully rationed physical connection slowly begins to unravel into something far more complicated as emotions start to enter the equation, even as both Nathan and Lynn try their hardest to prevent such.

Nathan is very much the kind of hero Ms. Adams used to write more frequently: intense, tightly controlled, and deeply emotional beneath the surface. He is a single father carrying immense guilt, particularly where his missing daughter is concerned, and that guilt affects almost every decision he makes.

Lynn complements him beautifully. She is grounded, intelligent, and emotionally perceptive, a woman who understands both the power and the cost of independence. Their chemistry is not just physical with how naturally they connect outside the bedroom through conversation, shared silences, and an unspoken understanding of each other’s limits.

As their arrangement evolves, the carefully constructed walls begin to crumble. Nathan’s family life starts bleeding into what was meant to remain uncomplicated, and Lynn finds herself pulled into emotional territory she never planned to occupy. The tension here is not driven by dramatic external twists but by internal reckonings: fear of loss, of exposure, and of wanting more than either of them believes is possible.

What worked exceptionally well for me was the emotional arc involving Nathan’s daughters, particularly the eventual reunion with his missing child. That scene carried real emotional heft and underscored the depth of Nathan’s pain and longing in a way that made his character feel achingly human. I also appreciated how Lynn navigates her professional integrity alongside her feelings, refusing to compromise herself even when the stakes were personal. Nathan, for all his flaws, was downright delicious in his intensity, especially when he allows himself moments of vulnerability.

That said, I did wish for an epilogue. After investing so heavily in the emotional journey, a glimpse into their settled future would have added a sense of completeness. I also found myself questioning some aspects of the daughter’s estrangement, particularly how much of it stemmed from Nathan’s controlling tendencies versus external manipulation. Still, these were minor quibbles in an otherwise emotionally satisfying read. Nathan made me realize just how much I miss the sharper, more intense heroes Ms. Adams used to write so effortlessly. The laid-back hero has his place, but it’s the edgy, tightly coiled male protagonists who undo me every time. They are, quite unapologetically, my particular brand of doom siren.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy low-angst but emotionally layered contemporary romance, intense single-father heroes, smart heroines with strong careers, and stories where intimacy grows through quiet moments rather than grand gestures.

Final Verdict: A tender, emotionally grounded romance about control, loss, and learning that sometimes what you allow yourself is never enough.

Favorite Quotes

She’d never known anyone as intense as Nathan. She thought she might drown in his absolute focus, in the coiled energy held taut inside him, always on the verge of explosion.
That intensity was almost tangible, visceral, at the moment in his damp skin, strained body, and deep eyes.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Only December by Noelle Adams

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favorite Quotes

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

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

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

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: A Million Reasons by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Eric Vincent
Heroine: Julie Nelson
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 21, 2024
Started On: November 21, 2025
Finished On: November 23, 2025

A Million Reasons begins on a quietly devastating note, and that emotional grounding becomes the lens through which the entire story unfolds. Julie Nelson has spent years caring for her aging parents, putting her own ambitions on hold, and when the novel opens she is standing at the edge of loss, exhaustion, and profound uncertainty. Into that fragile space enters an unexpected proposition: three months as a personal assistant to a difficult billionaire recovering from a serious injury, in exchange for a life-changing sum of money.

Julie is a heroine defined by restraint. She is thoughtful, emotionally intelligent, and deeply shaped by responsibility. At thirty-one, she has lost not only both parents but also the life she once imagined for herself. Her calm, stoic demeanor and her quiet competence makes her an easy heroine to root for. Eric Vincent, by contrast, is all sharp edges. A wealthy, brash former athlete with a broken leg and a deep aversion to emotional dependence, he is used to control and isolation. Their dynamic is built on their differences: her steadiness against his volatility, her patience against his entitlement.

As Julie steps into Eric’s world, forced closeness, care giving, and shared silences begin to chip away at both their defenses. Both with unresolved trauma, their connection grows from a place of mutual need than fantasy. Julie slowly finds her footing again, testing the idea that she is allowed to want something for herself after years of sacrificing her dreams. Eric, meanwhile, is confronted with a version of intimacy that does not revolve around control or avoidance, something that unsettles him far more than his injury ever could.

What worked especially well for me was Julie’s character arc. Her growth is deeply human, particularly in how she begins to imagine a future beyond grief and obligation. The emotional weight of caregiving, loss, and starting over is handled with sensitivity, and those elements lend the story a grounded realism. I also appreciated the tenderness woven into smaller moments, as well as the presence of secondary characters who add emotional texture to the story.

That said, I could not help feeling that the story did not fully explore the depth it promised. Both Julie and Eric felt like characters with immense potential who were not pushed quite far enough. Their emotional and physical connection, while believable, never quite reached the intensity it hinted at, and I found myself wishing for at least one moment where the full scope of their chemistry was allowed to unfold without restraint. Given their opposing energies and shared wounds, there was room for a more expansive exploration of desire once Eric was physically healed, and that absence was noticeable.

One of the most affecting aspects of the story for me was Maddy. My heart broke for her in a quiet, lingering way, the kind that stays with you beyond the page. There is something profoundly sad about a child carrying so much so early, yet there is also a measure of grace in knowing that she has a father who can marshal every possible resource to shield her from the worst of it. That contrast between fragility and protection added an unexpected emotional depth to the story, and Maddy’s presence softened Eric in ways nothing else quite managed to.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy caretaker romances, emotionally reserved heroines, wounded heroes, and stories about starting over after loss, especially when romance unfolds quietly rather than explosively.

Final Verdict: A tender, reflective romance with a strong emotional foundation and a compelling heroine, though it stops just short of fully realizing the intensity its premise suggests.

Favorite Quotes

He met her eyes. “I never thought having a kid would be easy, you know. But I never knew it would rip you up like this.” He lifted a hand to cover hers on his cheek and held it for a long moment.
Finally, Julie pulled her hand away. “That’s exactly right,” she said, leaning back against the sofa. “What family does, I mean. It puts you together and then rips you apart. Over and over again.”

Purchase Links: Amazon

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: A Wedded Arrangement by Noelle Adams

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, FMC
Series: Convenient Marriages, #3
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Lance Carlyle
Heroine: Savannah Emerson
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 23, 2019
Started On: November 15, 2025
Finished On: November 15, 2025

A Wedded Arrangement by Noelle Adams unfolds with a premise I adore; marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and two people who should have nothing in common slowly finding their way toward something real. Yet this one walks a far more nuanced line, particularly because Savannah and Lance come into the arrangement carrying very different burdens from their pasts, shaping who they are when the story begins.

Savannah Emerson grew up in a town sharply divided between the wealthy and the ones who served them, with her family firmly belonging in the latter category. A lifetime of watching the rich glide through life while everyone else scraped by has hardened something inside her, particularly when it comes to Lance, with whom her enmity runs long.

Lance, now thirty-four, is the golden boy who walked away from the fortune of his parents to build a business on his own terms. When his grandmother leaves him her wealth under the condition that he stay married for a year, Savannah becomes the most unlikely but necessary solution to his problem.

Nine months into their arrangement, with three months to go, Savannah is more than ready to ditch the husband she believes is entitled, privileged, and aggravatingly smug. But the unavoidable truth is that marriage, real or contractual, creates cracks where humanity leaks through. Lance shows himself to be thoughtful, unexpectedly vulnerable beneath the polish, and far more principled than Savannah assumed. The more time they spend together, the more her rigid assumptions begin to erode, even as she fights tooth and nail to hold onto them.

Much of the friction in this story comes from Savannah’s worldview, her ingrained resentment of privilege, her unwillingness to acknowledge nuance, and the chip on her shoulder that makes her judge Lance by the actions of every wealthy person she has ever resented. It borders on reverse snobbery, and at times it is difficult to watch her demand emotional penance from a man who has been actively trying to distance himself from his toxic upbringing. Yet the moments where she softens, where she sees Lance as a man shaped by trauma, loneliness, and a deeply dysfunctional family are what make the romance worth rooting for.

Lance, on the other hand, is the highlight of the novel. He is patient without being passive, self-aware without being performative, and far more kind than Savannah’s narrative allows at first. Witnessing the rot festering within Lance’s family and the realization that privilege came with a cost made for the emotional punch of a different dynamic. The intimacy between Lance and Savannah, both physical and emotional, develops naturally, with playful chemistry and mutual caretaking that gives the story heart.

While I enjoyed the relationship’s evolution, as mentioned before, I really struggled with Savannah’s rigidity and her worldview. Her world is painted in absolutes, and for most of the book she refuses to acknowledge how unfairly she treats Lance simply because of where he comes from. It made the relationship feel unbalanced at times, and I could not shake the sense that Lance was made to “atone” for circumstances beyond his control. I also feel that if Lance had put Savannah through similar anguish, readers would react very differently to the circumstances.

Recommended for: those who enjoy marriage-of-convenience stories with emotional complexity, imperfect heroines, and heroes who quietly steal the show.

Final Verdict: A thoughtful and quietly compelling marriage of convenience romance with a standout hero; Savannah may frustrate, but Lance makes this a worthy read.

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

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Brood by Claire Kent

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Romance
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: Standalone
Publisher: After the End
Hero: Will
Heroine: Cadence
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: October 07, 2025
Started On: November 11, 2025
Finished On: November 11, 2025

I went into Brood expecting a shorter, palate-cleansing post-apocalyptic novella from Claire Kent. Instead, I got a full, layered, emotionally gripping novel that reminded me why this author remains unmatched when it comes to exploring intimacy, survival, and the quiet ferocity of human bonds in the bleakest worlds.

Set decades after the asteroid strike that reshaped humanity, the story unfolds within the suffocating walls of an underground bunker where order is maintained through rigid rules, controlled breeding, and the suppression of emotion. In this realm exists Cadence, twenty-one, earnest, sensitive, and designated “too emotional” by a society that fears feeling more than it fears extinction.

Cadence has spent her life preparing to marry her childhood best friend, but a sudden decree from the ruling council upends everything. Instead, she is ordered to wed Will, a thirty-something newly widowed Chief, and the very definition of stoic restraint. Their marriage is meant to be functional, practical, dutiful. She is to “breed.” He is to guide, protect, and contribute to the dwindling population. But beneath his quiet exterior, Will is a man shaped by grief, loyalty, and a deeper humanity than anyone gives him credit for. And beneath Cadence’s supposed fragility is a resilience the bunker has never understood.

What unfolds between them is exactly the type of slow, emotional unravelling Claire Kent does best. The forced marriage sets the stage, but the true heart of the book lies in how these two strangers learn to care for each other in small, tender ways, guarding each other’s vulnerabilities, finding comfort in stolen touches, and building trust where logic insists there should be none. As their intimacy deepens, the sexual connection becomes a catalyst for emotional awakening, each encounter intensifying the bond forming between them. Will, especially, is the kind of hero I have been missing from Kent’s more recent works; quietly dominant, emotionally contained until he isn’t, and protective in a way that hits straight in the gut.

All the while, the bunker looms as its own antagonist, its rules, its manipulations, and the horrifying treatment of mothers and babies in order to do what is “best” for the system, and the chilling belief that emotion itself is a liability. The plot twist towards the end was one I did not see coming, and grounded the narrative in both tragedy and hope. I only wish certain villains had met more satisfying ends, but the overall arc remains powerful nonetheless.

Brood is everything I want in a post-apocalyptic romance; high stakes, oppressive world-building, quiet rebellion, and a love story that blooms despite the darkness around it. Will and Cadence are beautifully matched in their vulnerabilities and strengths, and their journey felt raw, intimate, and deeply satisfying. The emotional beats hit the right notes. The sensuality builds naturally. And the epilogue? Perfect.

Recommended for: Readers who love intense, emotionally intimate post-apocalyptic romances; protective older heroes; forced marriage done right; and Claire Kent at her atmospheric best.

Final Verdict: A gripping, sensual, emotionally charged dystopian romance that proves even in the darkest worlds, love can be the strongest form of rebellion.

Favorite Quotes

“Why were you talking to Grearson about me?”
“I ran into him, and he was asking how you were and how married life was for us.”
“Oh. How did you answer him?”
Will pauses only briefly. “I said you were as good a spouse as anyone could hope for.”
A shiver of pleasure fills me, temporarily distracting me from my crushing disappointment. “You said that?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know. I thought you might say that I was prickly.”
His body shakes with breathy amusement. It’s subdued like mine—still tempered. “Of course I wouldn’t say that.”
“But you think that.”
“Sometimes.” He nuzzles my neck. “But that’s private. Just between us. No one else gets to know about your prickles.”
For some reason, I almost start crying again. My body shudders as I hold them back.
He brushes his lips against my hair again and murmurs something. I can’t hear it well, but it almost sounds like he says, “They’re mine.”

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.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Tower by Claire Kent

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Post Apocalyptic Romance
POV: First Person, FMC
Series: Post-Apocalyptic Fairy Tales, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Levi
Heroine: Hailey
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: September 26, 2025
Started On: September 27, 2025
Finished On: September 28, 2025

Tower by Claire Kent kicks off her Post-Apocalyptic Fairy Tales series with a retelling of Rapunzel unlike any other. Set years after the asteroid Impact that decimated the world, it is a story of survival, power, and the kind of love that can only bloom in the ruins. Kent takes a classic premise; a woman trapped in a tower who rescues herself by offering herself to the strongest among them, thus twisting it into something grittier and more grounded in human fragility.

Hailey has spent the last three years hidden from the world, her father’s protective paranoia keeping her locked away from the chaos outside. When he dies, she is left defenseless in a landscape ruled by violence and scarcity. Her solution is as pragmatic as it is desperate: she seeks out Levi, the leader of a local biker gang, and offers herself in exchange for protection.

He is definitely not the shining prince she dreamed of as a child, but a man hardened by loss and exhaustion, who agrees to her terms without illusion. Their arrangement begins as purely transactional, sex and safety traded in equal measure, but what grows between them is slow, tender, and entirely unexpected.

Levi is rough, tattooed, and gruff, but there is an undercurrent of quiet weariness that defines him. This is a man who has seen too much, fought too long, and now survives more out of duty than hope. His protectiveness toward Hailey does not stem from possessiveness but from a deep, almost reluctant humanity. Hailey herself is a wonderful mix of naïveté and resolve. Though inexperienced in the world’s cruelties, she is far from weak; practical, observant, and brave enough to walk straight into danger if it means retaining control over her fate.

What unfolds between them is a strangely intimate romance built on need and mutual respect. Their early encounters are mechanical, even awkward, but Kent slowly turns the dynamic inside out. The transactional becomes emotional; protection turns into devotion. The post-apocalyptic backdrop makes every touch and every word feel more precious because survival strips away all pretense.

Yet, while I appreciated the emotional growth, I could not help but feel that the story lacked some of the intensity Kent usually brings to her heroes. Levi, despite his quiet strength, feels subdued, less the alpha protector and more a man simply tired of fighting. The raw, gruff magnetism that often defines her male leads gives way here to a softer, more subdued energy.

Still, Tower succeeds in its atmosphere and tone, bleak yet hopeful, sensual yet restrained. The power imbalance between Levi and Hailey, which could have felt exploitative, is handled with Kent’s signature sensitivity. She never loses sight of Hailey’s independence as a person, even when the her choices are limited by the brutal world around her. And when emotion finally pierces through the stoic exteriors of both Levi and Hailey, there is a quiet joy that unfurls along with it.

Recommended for: readers who love gritty, slow-burn post-apocalyptic romance with strong heroines, weary protectors, and a touch of fairy-tale.

Final Verdict: Tower re-imagines Rapunzel in a world stripped of fantasy, where survival is the only currency and love is the rarest luxury of all. Gritty, sensual, and quietly hopeful.

Purchase Links: Amazon