For fans of Severance and The Girl Before, The Secretary Volume II is a razor-sharp psychological thriller where ambition is a trap, power is a game, and saying “yes” could cost everything.

Favorite Quotes:

The conference room is cold, expensive, controlled. The kind of place where even oxygen probably has to get approval before it circulates.

Looked like she was about to glitch out of reality.

I should have known. He’s an attorney. If lying was a sport, he’d have corporate sponsorships.

Sleek. Cold. Minimal. A shrine to architectural restraint. The kind of place where even the fruit bowl has performance anxiety.

You seemed like the safest bad idea I could find.

My Review:

This twisty tale kept me on edge from start to finish. Even the little pea in my brain was nervous and deeply disturbed by what was scrolling through my gray matter. I fell into an oddly compelling yet prickly vortex by writing that was taut with tension, as were each of the uniquely complicated, unctuous, and despicable characters. I despised them, deeply, yet I couldn’t put my Kindle down. I ripped through this book in a day and caught myself wanting to hiss at any disruption to my rapt perusal. This crafty wordsmith has done me in, yet again.

Enemies by day. Electric tension by night. Welcome to small town chaos.

Inheriting a rundown bar from the father who abandoned me should be my chance to start over.

Instead, it puts me directly in the path of Hudson Fitzgerald—single dad, small town royalty, and the most insufferable man I’ve ever met. He’s rich, broody, and way too good-looking for my peace of mind.

Oh, and he wants me gone.

But I didn’t come here just to tuck my tail and run away. I came to prove I’m not the hot mess everyone thinks I am. Even if that means going head-to-head with Hudson every single day.

He thinks I’m chaos in a crop top. I think he’s a control freak with a stick where the sun doesn’t shine. But beneath all that tension is something else. Something electric.

And when he kisses me? Let’s just say, for a man who claims he doesn’t do messy, he sure knows how to make a mess of me.

I was only supposed to be here long enough to fix up my bar. I never meant to fall for the man who runs this place like he owns it.

But in a small town like this, love has a way of sneaking up on you.

Fans of enemies-to-lovers, forbidden kisses and grumpy billionaires won’t want to miss this small town romcom packed with laugh-out-loud banter and smouldering tension!

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She stands out like a sore thumb in the sea of pastel princesses, because she’s wearing some kind of dark brown leather bodice, laced so tightly it pushes her breasts up that I swear she’s a breath away from a wardrobe malfunction.

If I thought my heart was pounding before, it’s pretty much launching itself on a suicide mission against my ribcage now.

You don’t strike me as somebody who cares if things are a good idea…

And I promise that no matter how many storms we face, I’ll be your calm in the chaos, your partner in every adventure, and the one who loves you so deeply that even songs can’t do it justice. Forever and always, you’ll be my melody, my magic, and my everything.

My Review:

 

This is such a fun read that I didn’t even mind the angsty part, and I generally despise angst. I adored this couple; they were hot stuff, like atomically combustible hot. The characters were likable yet significantly flawed. Each storyline was engaging, well-paced, cleverly amusing, and provided a significant contribution to the plot. What more could a reader ask for?

About the Author

 

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Ada Rose never expected to find herself homeless in her thirties. Then again, she also never thought she’d encounter a man as heartless as Jonathan Oaks. Her job managing a care home for the elderly is a struggle and the sudden death of her father and stepmother, who she had been living with— has thrown her world into disarray. The house is left to Jonathan, her stepmother’s estranged son, and he wants Ada gone ASAP.

In fact, he’s given her a week to pack her things and move out.

As a resident in the home, Ada knows she has certain rights, but her pride gets the better of her. If Jonathan wants her gone, then she’ll go, and finding herself out of options, she resorts to sleeping in her car. But she’s a survivor and has gotten through a lot worse.

After a week and still finding no apartments in her price range, Ada is getting desperate. She receives a call from Jonathan requesting that she come collect some of her late father’s belongings. She doesn’t expect him to be there when she drops by, and after he takes one look at Ada’s possessions stuffed into her car, she’s filled with a sense of shame. Resentment, too, because he’s the very reason her life has been upended.

Being a wealthy investment banker, Ada anticipates Jonathan’s disdain for her situation but it never comes. Instead he mentions a vacant apartment he owns and offers to rent it to her for a reasonable price. Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, Ada accepts his offer. But what she doesn’t realise is that the apartment is right next door to Jonathan’s, and becoming his neighbour means getting to know him a whole lot better.

Quietly Yours is book #3 in L.H. Cosway’s Quiet Love Series and can be read as a standalone.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

It felt like thorns were cinching around my heart, pricking the tender organ and squeezing tighter and tighter until I couldn’t stand the pain.

If this was what hell felt like, people were right to fear it.

I’m pretty sure that boy came out of the womb and immediately began flirting with the midwife.

My brain shut off, like an electricity grid suddenly losing power. One minute, it was a map of switched on, glowing lights, and the next, darkness. No connections were going through.

Regrets were a problem for tomorrow.

My Review:

This series had an excellent start with Quiet Types, and miraculously just gets better and better. I can’t wait to see what she does next. The writing is emotive, engaging, easy to fall into, and is populated with flawed yet likable and hardworking characters I’d enjoy knowing and would be proud to have as a friend.

Never thought I’d agree to a marriage of convenience to my hot, firefighter ex boyfriend.
Especially after he casually informs me we’ve been married for ten years.

Ten years ago, Wilder and I were so in love that we got married in Vegas for one night only before leaving for college on different sides of the world. He was supposed to mail the annulment papers.

Problem is, he didn’t.
Worse? He didn’t tell me.
Not even when I came back to town to marry another man.

But now he needs my help, and I can’t say no. All I have to do is have to pretend in front of the whole town like we’re married. Hold hands. Kiss. Not throw myself at him when he looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world.

My body might remember him, but the rest of me isn’t ready. Because I’m just learning how to find myself, and if I get wrapped up in Wilder’s world, I’ll lose more than my heart—I’ll lose everything.

Again.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Her laughter is like hearing an old song my heart forgot.

My major organs are playing checkers.

I wonder absently if a human jaw can unhinge like a snake. Molly’s tonsils are on full display.

All I need are more hours in the day and more days in the week. The thought doesn’t burst my bubble, but it definitely springs a leak.

My Review:

This one sizzled with atomic sensual heat and had my Kindle steaming up – or was that from my panting breath? I had to turn up all fans to high and keep libation on hand to stave off dehydration. I adore Staci Hart, she has a wicked sense of humor and was either blessed with a crafty storytelling gene or has a pen blessed by pixies. I covet her main character Wilder, he is the perfect book boyfriend. And BTW, I tried out her ingenious ten-second hugs, and they do work.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

How do I get out of this? Take a fake call? Pretend I just got my period? Menstruation should spook a man his age. I honestly wouldn’t mind talking with the old fellow if he had any sense of boundaries.

Liz is motivated by the same thing I am— naysayers. The moment someone suggests I can’t do or have something, that’s the moment I make it mine.

You know, I was once like you until I got my head out of my ass. I suggest you do the same.

My Review:

This was a fun read that was laced together with sizzle and sass, which are two of my favorite things, so I was elated to find them in this snappy, smartly-paced, amusing, and entertaining tale. I have enjoyed this well-healed family of clever and wealthy brothers finding their soulmates. And while I typically avoid anything with billionaire in the title as they aren’t typically of interest to me or a trope I seek out, I would follow this glib wordsmith about anywhere… except zombies, I draw the line at those loathsome creatures.

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

She was crowned homecoming queen but gave the crown to someone else because it made her ears hurt.

It’s fine. It’s over. I dumped a glass of fancy white wine on his lap so it looked like he peed himself. I would like to move on and never speak of this again.

I guess that’s my love life in a nutshell. Underwhelmed and dissatisfied. Print it on my tombstone.

I’m sure I look like a raccoon that’s been in some sort of street fight over a pizza crust after sleeping on the couch in full makeup,

It’s not American Gladiators, Aiden. Finding me a date shouldn’t be that difficult.

I’m not used to letting myself feel things. I’m not sure I like it.

My Review:

I don’t know how I have been so remiss in not reading this crafty wordsmith before but I am kicking myself for being late to the party. I reveled in this cleverly penned tale from start to finish.

I adored the flawed yet lovable and authentic characters and wanted only good things for them. Each was well fleshed out, keenly witty, knowable, and endearing, even when I wasn’t happy with them.

The writing was superb, well-polished, easy to fall into, humorous, deliciously steamy, and unfailingly entertaining. The dialogues, narratives, and inner musings vacillated from cunningly insightful and perceptive to snarky and highly amusing. You can only imagine my glee when I noticed this lovely tome was the beginning of a series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

We’ve never needed a local paper because Ruth spreads news faster than any newspaper ever could. This’ll be all over town tomorrow.

When she goes boneless, I reposition her so she’s snuggled into my side, her arm lazily draped across my chest. “That was unreal,” she mumbles. “So good.” It was good. Incredibly good. Unbelievably good. If I’m being honest with myself, it might have been the best sex I’ve ever had. And we hadn’t even technically had sex.

“… it’s supposed to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride beforehand.” “Yeah, but that originated when arranged marriages were common and the bride’s family didn’t want the groom to back out of the deal in case he thought the bride was ugly.”

My Review:

This has been an entertaining and fun-to-read series and I have reveled in each sibling’s headlong fall into a surprising and unexpected relationship. I have adored each couple and wanted good things for them.

Allie Winters writes scorching hot and cleverly amusing rom/coms that are giggle-snort worthy, witty, low angst, and cause massive cases of full-body dehydration. I revere her smooth style and keenly perceptive use of humorous observations and insights.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

When I’m next to her, I might as well be two inches tall and built of childish insecurities.

“She get tired of you refusing to let her peg you because you already have a stick up your ass?” Dom chokes on his swallow of beer and pounds a fist on the bar top as he struggles to get the liquid down his throat rather than his lungs. “Maddie!” He gasps finally. “What?” I hide an evil grin behind the rim of my gin and tonic. “I was just asking a question.”

Jeremy is so hot, I used to apply sunscreen before hanging out with him. If I could get sunburn from a person, it would be him. And worse than that? He has a great personality. Funny, smart, and kind.

A childhood that consisted of zero control over my life makes it almost impossible for me to allow someone else to dictate my choices now.

If I have one day left, or thousands, I want you to be in every one of them.

My Review:

This one had me feeling all the feels and produced a thousand pounds of heart-squeezing insights. The writing was cleverly parsed, highly perceptive, and so poignant it grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go. I was turned inside out and upside down and I couldn’t have loved it more. I was totally enamored with Dominic, but Maddie broke my heart, several times. I may have experienced some ocular leakage and hot rocks in my throat in between giggle-snorts and outright laughing aloud. Maddie was concerned that she couldn’t cry, which is also something I rarely do, but oddly enough, I found I had no problem weeping for her.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

You say ‘assistant’ like you’re embarrassed to have one…Like you’ve farted in public or rubbed one out at the dining room table.

Brooke smiles, and my heart flops like a dying fish.

Sometimes you have to say things out loud so they don’t eat you up inside.

This must be what Grace loved so much about travel. Not the places, but the connections. These bright, fragile threads tying people together.

You make me the very best version of myself.

My Review:

 

This was an absolute joy to read, I giggle-snorted and hummed my way through this delightfully scintillating and cleverly amusing tale. The writing was whip-smart, flawlessly witty, titillating, perceptive, and keenly parsed with sensitivity for real-life issues, while also being easy to follow, well-paced, perfectly pitched, and well-honed. Who could ask for more?

I have savored each book in this series and while I thought her last book was her best ever, I do believe my favorite wordsmith has topped herself. This agile storyteller’s craft keeps getting better at an exponential level.

About the Author 

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When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA-nominated, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, stepkids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

It was only one night with my best friend’s new brother-in-law at her wedding. I swore never to sleep with another gorgeous man from the other side of the world. Not even a gentleman with a charming accent.

I have a habit of getting tangled up with unavailable foreign men. Yes, Dr. Mick Bonnaire is the literal man of my dreams, with stunning blue eyes and a touch that makes me weak. Not to mention he’s a renowned heart surgeon and heir to billions.

I’m desperately trying to convince myself that Dr. Mick-dreamy is NOT the exception to my heart-saving rule, especially since he’s still wounded after catching his fiancée cheating on the day of their wedding. Now neither of us can trust in love and happily-ever-afters.

It’s been two months since our night of passion, and now I’m staring at two pink lines on a pregnancy test.

Oops!

Suddenly, Mick’s out of my dreams and in my life again when my movie-mogul father winds up on his operating table in London after a heart attack. The good, handsome doctor saved my dad’s life, but what will happen to our lives when he finds out I’m carrying his unplanned baby?

While my father recovers, Mick invites us both to stay at his gorgeous manor with a staff who treats us like gold. With his bedroom down the hall and the memory of our night together fresh in our minds, he can’t keep his steady-surgeon hands off me.

All I’ve ever dreamed of was a family with an incredible man that I’m crazy about. Carrying his baby while he holds me in his arms makes me feel so complete. But I’m afraid this isn’t what he wants.

Can he open his heart enough to see that this baby may be our only chance at a true happily-ever-after?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

On the outside, I put on a smile but on the inside, I grew cold and emotionless. It wouldn’t have surprised me if someone had opened up my chest and found cobwebs hanging from my ventricles.

Are you Pretty Woman’ing me right now?

My Review:

I loved the story, despite the wretched title. I’m enjoying everything else about this series; the storylines, the wealthy yet endearing and hard-working characters, and the amusing and easy-to-follow writing style. Just ignore the cheesy title, trust me.