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Title: False Start

Author: Kandi Steiner

Page count: 439

Published: June 7th, 2024

Publisher: Valentine PR

Genre: Sports Romance

Received: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 5/5

Kyle Robbins: Seattle’s rookie tight end and the first boy to break my heart.
Oh, did I mention he’s also my new client… and fake boyfriend?

I thought I left Kyle and our complicated past behind me, but when he saunters up as my new client at a house showing, I’m quickly reminded how much he still haunts me.

I try to walk away, but the stubborn jerk isn’t having it. In fact, he doubles down on working with me, as if our tragic history doesn’t exist at all.

The commission from working with him is the key to a new life for me and my son. It’s worth putting up with the cocky athlete long enough to find him a house. But when Kyle sees the bruises left by my darling ex-husband, he thinks he can save me — and suddenly, he’s interested in much more than just being a client.

Before I know it, I’m wrangled into a scheme so crazy it just might work. Kyle pretends to be my fake boyfriend so he can keep my ex in line until I get the commission from this house sale and get the hell out of Seattle for good.

But with a past as thick with chemistry and tension as ours is, it’s not long before those fake touches feel all too real. Every brush of his hand against my back has me spinning back to that night. Every kiss has me dizzy with the love I felt at eighteen. And every day that passes without me finding him a house has me wondering how much longer I can survive this game we’re playing.

Fake-dating each other was supposed to be for my safety.

But I can’t help thinking my heart is more at risk now than ever before.

This was another fantastic book by Kandi. We meet Madelyn and Kyle in this addition. Kyle is a football player that’s about himself and social media to be current wanting to make it to the NFL. Madelyn is a signal mom that has been dealing with an abusive ex/baby’s father makes it hard to co parent. Madelyn and Kyle dated when they were in high school, and things had ended based on a lie, so they had both had gone their separated ways hating one another. Years later when one another and finding out what had happened they were stuck together. They have insane chemistry and to add fake dating is just a recipe for a book that will keep you on the edge wanting more.

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Title: Skies Over Caledonia

Author: Samantha Young

Page count: 340

Published: May 8th, 2024

Publisher: Valentine PR

Genre: Romance Suspense

Received: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 5/5

He’s a down-to-earth highland farmer. She’s the rebellious daughter of Hollywood royalty. They might seem like they’re from different worlds, but that won’t stop them from engaging in a marriage of convenience…

It’s been five years since Jared McCulloch’s grandfather Collum passed away and he inherited his farm in the Scottish Highlands. After his grandad saved him from his past life, Jared is determined to honor Collum’s legacy. But not only has a series of bad luck put him in danger of losing the farm, his estranged father is disputing the will. In a desperate situation, Jared realizes he’ll do just about anything to save the land.
Even marrying Allegra Howard, a woman he’s avoided at all costs.
A woman who tempts him beyond reason.

There’s only one place that makes Allegra Howard feel safe; one place that feeds her artist’s soul. Allegra wants to settle down in Scotland and expand her business. But there’s a hitch: immigration intends to return her to US soil.
Panicked, Allegra finds the one person just as desperate as she is. The same person she’s lusted after for years. In exchange for marrying her, she’ll invest financially in Jared McCulloch’s farm.

However, living together only forces them to acknowledge their searing mutual attraction. And with it comes an undeniable emotional connection Jared’s not sure he’s ready for.
Yet, blurring the lines of their arrangement is the least of his concerns when someone begins terrorizing the farm.
Allegra and Jared came together to save what matters most and now that might just be each other. And unless they can figure out which of their pasts has returned to torment them, they could lose their chance at a real future together…

Allegra goes to Scotland to meet her sister, she meets Jared, he is struggling to keep his grandfather’s legacy alive. Allegra comes up with a plan to help them both. Allegra wants to be able to stay in Scotland and Jared would be able to keep his farm. What they didn’t expect was to fall in love with one another. This book was outstanding with the connection they both had for one another even though they tried to fight it. The family bond and Scotland atmosphere just makes me to visit. I have been eager to get to know Allegra’s story and it was even better then I had expected.

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Title: Keep Me In Your Heart

Author: Monica Murphy

Page count: 352

Published: December 3rd, 2024

Publisher: Valentine PR

Genre: Sports Romance

Received: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4/5

Step into New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy’s mesmerizing and emotionally charged romance featuring Rowan Lancaster, the son of Crew and Wren from A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime. With an exclusive bonus scene.

This was supposed to be the best year of Rowan Lancaster’s life. Instead, thanks to a massive linebacker, his ankle is broken and his last football season at Lancaster Prep is done. Just like that. Now his days are dull and gray. Boring.

Except for the days that include Arabella Hartley Thomas.

She’s the girl everyone wants to be friends with. Beautiful but approachable. Stylish. Quirky. Yet she gets under Rowan’s skin like no other, and he doesn’t understand why. Sure, they flirt and banter and give each other grief. But now she invades his dreams and makes his heart pound so hard he’s sure she can see it.

Until suddenly, not only does Arabella see every part that he wishes he could hide, he realizes if he let himself, he could fall―hard.

Which is the same day he learns she might be leaving…for good.

Arabella is such a unique name I love it, and Rowan both go to the same private school. They both have their own secrets. Arabella is a firecracker with a great sense of humor. I loved how she would get under Rowan skin. Rowan is a rough guy on the outside when you get to know him you can see maybe he’s not that bad? Rowan is currently down on his luck not sure what to do or how to handle it all. The only thing that seems to brighten his day is Arabella. Rowan has a protectiveness to him over Arabella even as friends. They have fantastic banter, wonderful chemistry. Getting to see them get to know one another and break down their walls and getting to know one another was just the book that I was looking for.