Audiobook Review ~ Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken

Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read as I got to know both Emmerson and Miller and understanding what happened to them in the past and how that has shaped them into the adults they were in the present. Emerson has done all she could to get through life all while looking after her ailing father and missing her best friend but living life without him. Miller resented Emmerson a bit and didn’t want to cross paths with her ever again, but a trade put him back in his hometown. I could see that they had unresolved issues to work through, and it took time to get there. They were both lovely people and I am glad they couldn’t hold grudges.

This read had a third person and boy did I love Grant. He was just the nicest guy and well likeable. He came off as a big personality, but really, he was a nice genuine guy. He was good for both Emerson and Miller and helped bridge the gap between the two old friends.

This was a good book to listen to. The narration was done well and I was quickly immersed into the story. The book didn’t blow me away, but it was an easy read to get swept away in.

Title: Fraternize

Author: Rachel Van Dyken

Series: Players Game #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: September 12, 2017

Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…

No fraternizing with the players.

Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.

Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.

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Review ~ Little Pieces of Light by Emma Scott

Little Pieces of Light by Emma Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed being immersed into Xander and Emery’s world! I loved how they first met and the connection that they had. It was disappointed that their friendship wasn’t able to blossom due to meddling people, so there was some resentment between them when they crossed paths years later. I could see that they still had a connection and knew that it wasn’t going to be long before they became close once again.

My heart broke a little for Xander as he took on so much responsibility for his aging father. There were good days and bad, but Xander would do anything for his father. I loved the kind and gentle man that Xander had become and could see Emery falling deeper each time. It was hard for Emery as her father was such a controlling parent, she had lost one brother and her other brother was rebelling against their father so he was solely focused on controlling Emery’s life.

Xander and Emery’s journey was difficult, but together they became stronger and matured into capable adults. They faced some obstacles but made a beautiful couple. Little Pieces of Light is an engaging read that maintains the reader's interest throughout its entirety.

Title: Little Pieces of Light

Author: Emma Scott

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: October 7, 2025

From USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestselling author Emma Scott comes an all-new emotional, angsty coming-of-age love story.

“The love I felt for Emery could not be measured or formulated into an equation. It wasn’t a finite particle but an infinite wave that rippled out into forever.”

After meeting at ten, a lonely genius and a kind-hearted girl promised to stay in touch. But Xander’s letters never reached Emery, leaving them both feeling betrayed and heartbroken.

Seven years later, Xander returns to Castle Hill and crosses paths with the girl he never forgot. The academy’s rowing team offers a diversion from caring for his ailing father—but can it distract him from her?

Emery Wallace is popular and wealthy, yet beneath her flawless exterior she is crumbling under her father's high expectations. He controls her life with an iron grip, while her mother disappears into alcohol, drowning in grief over losing her eldest son. When their worlds collide again, neither can ignore the magnetic pull that ignited the moment they met. While Xander finds solace in logic and certainty, Emery reveals the humanity in our universe, showing him that, like light, we exist as both particles and waves—individual yet infinite, broken yet whole.

Xander and Emery must battle forces determined to keep them apart. As Xander’s orderly life unravels and Emery’s future slips away, can their light find each other and endure?

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Review ~ Make Me Hate You by Kandi Steiner

Make Me Hate You by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jasmine has spent her life looking for someone to love her and when her mother leave’s her behind she looks for comfort from her best friend Morgan. Only she isn’t there and ends up getting more than she bargained for from Morgan’s brother Tyler – only for him to reject her as well. In the present, Jasmine is back for Morgan’s wedding and doing all she can to fulfil her maid of honour duties, still fighting the feelings she had for Tyler. They both are in relationships, but that pull toward one another is always there.

Jasmine and Tyler’s story was not an easy one. They had issues from their pasts that they needed to work through together to understand what they had lost. The intensity between them was constant and lines were blurred. I felt as adults they did almost all they could and put their hearts on the line. It wasn’t an easy ride for them and I had hope they could find their way back to one another.

Title: Make Me Hate You

Author: Kandi Steiner

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: June 25, 2020

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

Every sip of air is shallow and burning, because in the arms of my best friend’s brother, I’m the closest I’ve ever been to sin.

His eyes flick to my lips, and I remember the first time I tasted him, seven years ago before I left this town and vowed never to return. His hands grip my waist, and I remember the pain when he rejected me, when my entire world crashed down at his command. His jaw clenches, and my senses come alive with one stinging reminder.

I’m not his to kiss, and he’s not mine.

I tried to stay away from Tyler Wagner, putting an entire country between us. But when his sister’s wedding brings us back to the same town, to the same house, I can’t avoid him, no matter how hard I try.

He’s always there, his dark eyes bewitching, luring me into their depths. The memory of us pulls me under like a rip current, and when he flashes that smile, I lose my breath, along with my will, unable to escape his grip and find the surface.

Now, hours before our plus ones arrive for the wedding, I’m in his arms, begging him to make me hate him, knowing he never could.

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

And I’ll take him down with me.

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Review ~ The Tie That Binds by Catharina Maura

The Tie That Binds by Catharina Maura
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’ve read a few books from this author, and I thought that The Tie That Binds sounded interesting, so why not get into a new world. Alyssa’s world was turned upside-down after her father died, and instead of being comforted by her best friend Domonic, she was constantly put into the care of Daniel, his elder brother. Then once the will was read, Alyssa and Daniel are forced to be wed.

Although this started as a marriage of convenience, Alyssa and Daniel soon realised there were true feelings between them. They took some time working through their emotions from the past and present, but it was soon clear they were it for one another.

There were probably too many indecisive moments for me to love this one. They are adults and should speak to each other instead of making harsh decisions. It could of saved a lot of drama and heartache. Overall, I did like Alyssa and Daniel.

Title: The Tie That Binds

Author: Catharina Maura

Series: Serendipity #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: May 27, 2020

A father's last wish results in a marriage of inconvenience for Alyssa and Daniel.

When Alyssa Moriani loses her father, she's faced with an impossible choice: fulfil her father's last wish and marry Daniel Devereaux, her best friend's older brother... or lose her father's company to the one person that'll burn everything she's worked for to the ground.

Her marriage to Daniel was never meant to be more than a business arrangement. They were never meant to be so perfect together, and they were definitely never meant to fall in love. After all, they started their marriage with an end date in sight.

Author's Note: Full length novel with a guaranteed happily ever after. This book contains steamy scenes and an alpha-hole hero.

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Review ~ Wildest Dreams by L.J. Shen

Wildest Dreams by L.J. Shen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading the first book in this series, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Dylan’s book, as I wasn’t a big fan of hers, but I was pleasantly surprised on how fun this book was. Dylan had taken the chance on moving into her brother’s apartment which happened to be right below Rhyland, her brother’s best friend. These two had amusing banter from the very start and I was quickly immersed in the story. They found themselves in a situation where Rhyland needed Dylan to hire Dylan to be his fiancé, and they had insane chemistry and I enjoyed seeing them grow closer, even though it was for show.

I truly enjoyed how much Rhyland grew as a person and how he slowly grew to love Dylan’s daughter Gravity. He tried to keep hidden the amount of trouble he was in, but had faith that his idea would be lucrative. Rhyland was like a knight in alpha male armour and came to Dylan’s rescue numerous times and I knew that Dylan and Gravity were breaking through his walls. This was quite the fun read, and I am looking forward to continuing the series.

Title: Wildest Dreams

Author: L.J. Shen

Series: Forbidden Love #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: April 8, 2025

He'll protect his best friend's baby sister from anything . . . other than himself.

Rhyland

Dylan Casablancas is a forbidden fruit, undeniably delicious, but one bite just might kill you. She's my best friend's baby sister, a single mom, and a royal pain in the ass.

When Little Miss Baggage moves downstairs to house-sit her brother's Manhattan apartment, my potential business partner mistakes us as a couple.

He wants a family guy. I want access to his billions. And Dylan? She needs a big, burly guy to scare off her loser ex.

But pretending to be engaged to the feisty girl next door gets messy when I take a bite of the illicit apple. What can I say? I'm an instant gratification kind of guy.

We made a deal to walk out of each other's lives once my contract is signed. The only problem? She might take my heart with her when she leaves.

Dylan

Rhyland Coltridge is out of the question. Unless the question is: "Who's the biggest man-whore you've ever met?"

Hedonistic. Wild card. Utterly corrupt. And those are just the traits the jerk prides himself on.

My life is too messy for a boyfriend. Even if it wasn't, Rhyland would be the last man I'd consider. He is supposed to be my ticket out of this nightmare.

But he's fast becoming my wildest, most dangerous dream.

Wildest Dreams is the new book in the Forbidden Love series, but can be read as a standalone book. If you haven't read Book 1, Truly Madly Deeply, there's still time...

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Review ~ Dishonestly Yours by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie

Dishonestly Yours by Krista Ritchie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this read, but I can tell you it was a lot of fun! To read about a couple of families that are entwined as their mother’s love to pull scams was interesting to say the least, however Hailey and Phoebe have decided to try life on the straight and narrow. It’s just not as easy as they hoped, when their siblings turn up and old habits are hard to break. It doesn’t help when trouble finds them as well.

I enjoyed getting to know all the characters in this new series. Phoebe and Rocky have spent a lot of time together in the past, but having real feelings for one another was hard to navigate, especially whether they should cross the line or not. I felt this book had it all, a solid storyline, well fleshed out characters and some grit to keep me hooked and wanting more from this world!

Title: Dishonestly Yours

Author: Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie

Series: Webs We Weave #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 2, 2024

Dishonestly Yours is the hotly-anticipated new gritty romance from TikTok sensations and authors of the Addicted series Krista and Becca Ritchie.

Living honestly isn’t in his DNA. Just like it’s never been in mine . . .

The Graves and Tinrock families live life from one con to the next. Phoebe Graves has grown up in a world where stealing and seducing are as natural as breathing.

But, when a job goes horribly wrong, she and her best friend, Hailey Tinrock, decide to leave their life of crime behind. They head to a small college town in Connecticut to start anew. But Hailey’s older brother, Rocky, catches wind of their plans and refuses to let them do this alone.

Phoebe's past with Rocky is downright messy, though – he’s everything she wants, but nothing she can have. And the longer she stays in town, the more Phoebe has to lose . . .

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Review ~ Bad Little Bride by Meagan Brandy

Bad Little Bride by Meagan Brandy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure what I would get from this book and was pleasantly surprised by Boston and Enzo. Boston always though she was second best to her sister and went to Enzo with a plan for them to get married. Naturally, Enzo eagerly agreed, and before long, the two of them were a wed.

The longer I read the more I could see these two were good for one another. Boston was insecure and Enzo hid his feelings for some time, but the passion between them was brewing. There was danger on the horizon and these two would do anything for one another. There were a few twists that were a bit unrealistic, but overall it was a good read.

Title: Bad Little Bride

Author: Meagan Brandy

Series: Girls of Greyson #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: January 7, 2025

A steamy contract marriage standalone romance from bestselling author Meagan Brandy.

All my life, I've always been second choice. Second best. Second born. Maybe that's what possessed me to track down my father's most formidable enemy, the infamous Enzo Fikile.

He's the nation's most eligible bachelor, and the biggest threat to the crime world I was born into. He's determined to claim his place... and I want to make a deal with the devil.

Now I'm engaged to the man the rest of the world fears and there's no going back. Even as it all starts to feel a little too real.

I hate him as much as I crave him, but as enemies close in from the most unlikely of places, I realise something.

No one is allowed to hurt my husband.

Except, of course ... me.

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Review ~ A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner

A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I haven’t read anything by Kandi Steiner before; however, this book intrigued me. I really enjoyed immersing myself into this story and getting to know Brecks and Jamie. Their story wasn’t easy, and Brecks harboured a lot of hurt from her mother and how Brecks came to this earth, but Brecks did all she could to make her life her own. She felt a connection to Jamie from their very first encounter, but their time never seemed to come. They were both in relationships at different times, and their connection was always strained.

There are a few moments that some readers won’t enjoy, but to me it strengthens their story and how connected these two were. They faced so many ups and downs and had to learn from all the decisions they made, but through it all I could see they belonged to one another. It wasn’t an easy story, but I felt the author told it perfectly. To me, the add on of Jamie’s story at the end of the book sealed the deal and I enjoyed the story until the final page.

Title: A Love Letter to Whiskey

Author: Kandi Steiner

Series: A Love Letter to Whiskey #1-1.5

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: October 18, 2021

From USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Kandi Steiner comes this #BestofBookTok favorite - an angsty and powerful story of lovers continually fighting the curse of bad timing.

Brecks Kennedy has spent years writing the story of her life, but there’s one chapter that never quite closed… Jamie Shaw.

It all started with a jog, a clumsy collision, and an instant crush. But while B’s heart skipped a beat, Jamie’s eyes found her best friend instead. And just like that, her crush became her closest friend. Bound by shared moments of music, surfing, and secrets, their connection is undeniable, even as they desperately try to fight it.

But between college campuses, chance encounters, and stolen moments, fate has a way of bringing them together when they least expect it, time and time again.

As they wrestle with their feelings and the choices that have kept them apart, both B and Jamie must decide if they are finally willing to risk everything for the love that’s always been just out of reach. Sometimes, love isn’t about finding the right person, it’s about the moment when everything aligns. But what if that moment never comes?

Heart-wrenching and addictive, this is a story of love, loss, and the years it takes to finally get it right.

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Review ~ The House Guest by Penelope Ward

The House Guest by Penelope Ward
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The House Guest was a sweet slow burn type of romance that I enjoyed. I liked the way that Dorian and Primrose came together due to losing people they loved. The downside – Primrose was essentially squatting on a property owned by her late aunt’s husband, and Dorian wants to sell up the property and more on from the loss of his father.

This read had great moments as Dorian and Primrose got to know one another. Primrose had dreams and was able to share these with Dorain and she began to break down his walls. As their relationship grew, I could see that Dorian wanted to help Primrose, and the sparks ignited between them. There were a couple of twists thrown in and as the characters realised not all as what it seemed. However, I had hope that these two would find their happiness together.

Title: The House Guest

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: August 31, 2025

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

The last thing Dorian Vanderbilt expected was to find me painting in my crop top when he returned to the mansion he hadn’t inhabited in years.
He was understandably surprised I’d turned his living room into an art space.
Life is certainly full of surprises, though, but not always in a good way.
I learned that lesson when my aunt and the billionaire she married died unexpectedly while traveling.
I’d been living with them, and just like that, my life was turned on its axis.
Unsure of what was next, I stayed alone at the barren estate figuring out my next move.
That was when Dorian—the late billionaire’s only son—showed up.
I’d never met Dorian Vanderbilt. He’d been living on the other side of the country.
But now, he was home, left to pick up the pieces of his father’s legacy.
Not only was Dorian devastatingly handsome and mysterious, but he was the sole heir to the Vanderbilt fortune.
He didn’t seem to like me—at first. We were total opposites. But I was grateful that at least he didn’t kick me out.
We stayed out of each other’s way for the most part, save for some late-night kitchen run-ins or unexpected bonding sessions in the home theater.
Over time, though, we grew closer. Turned out, our chemistry was pretty combustible.
I was falling in love with him.
Until everything I thought I knew turned upside down yet again.
And fate left me pining for the one man I’d ever loved.

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Audiobook Review ~ Not Your Biggest Fan by Sara Ney

Not Your Biggest Fan by Sara Ney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun quirky read as I got to know Harlow and Andy. Their first few interactions were amusing as Harlow had no idea who Andy was and was the type of girl who said exactly what she was thinking. They crossed paths a few times and were soon spending time together where the connection between them became stronger. Andy liked how Harlow saw him for who he was, not the famous footballer looking for a new team. He was able to be himself and the passion between them ignited. Even going to Harlow’s hometown didn’t deter him and I liked how he was fighting to have a shot with her despite all the reasons she was hesitating.

Therse two were really cute, and I liked seeing their relationship grow. Harlow’s over protective father and quirky friends were a bit annoying and took up a fair bit of storyline, but it was still an amusing read. I liked that Andy was like an open book and did all he could to chase all her fears away and convince her to give them a chance. To be honest, this story felt quick as they only met on a few occasions and then the book was over.

The narration by Felicity Cross and Alexander Cendese was pretty good, however, they weren’t at the same pace. I felt Felicity Cross was a bit slower and drew things out compared to Alexander Cendese.

Title: Not Your Biggest Fan

Author: Sara Ney

Series: Not Yours #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: January 28, 2025

USA Today bestselling author Sara Ney sizzles with a quick-witted, sexy romp about an eager entrepreneur and a cocky football star who couldn’t be more different—or more into each other.

Harlow James is destined to rock the dating world. The creator of Kissmet, the app helping singles find love, she’s in New York to secure advertisers. But the sassy, small-town girl can’t help meddling in other people’s business.

When she runs into a muscular stranger at her go-to food truck, Harlow doesn’t realize he’s Landon “Andy” Burke, the NFL’s most-wanted free agent, in town to talk contracts. She just sees a hottie about to get burned by undercooked street food. Though she tries to warn him, he shrugs her off, making a little wager instead.

In a messy twist of fate, Andy finds himself in the same hotel as Harlow. When she collects on their bet, they make a mind-blowing—and bed-rocking—connection. But after the weekend, she goes home to Green Bay to her goofy dad and corgi, ready to focus everything on work again. Kissmet, however, has other ideas, when Andy knocks on her door…

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