Michelle Heard is a Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author who loves creating stories her readers can get lost in. She resides in South Africa with her son where she’s always planning her next book to write, and trip to take.
My one-night stand.
A ruthless bastard.
A heartless billionaire.
The man who ruled his empire with a cold head and an even colder heart. And most importantly, my son’s father. Except, he wasn’t aware of that little fact. To the media, Byron Ashford is a Billionaire King. To me, he’s a reminder of the hottest, most forbidden, night of my life. And my biggest mistake.
I hadn’t seen him in years and hoped we’d never cross paths again.
But then, my best-laid plans always seem to go astray. Now, I need his help to bail me out of trouble. He’s a billionaire and I’m just a broke, debt-riddled surgeon.
Against my better judgment, I sought him out. It should have been easy, in and out. Except, nothing with Byron Ashford was ever easy. He refuses to hand out free favors. And the price for his help?
My freedom. Literally.
He wants to shackle me to him with a marriage I don’t want then throw away the key.
His demands are scandalous. His rules are dangerous for my heart.
It was supposed to be a mutually beneficial deal, but nothing about Byron is ever that simple. Once he slips the ring onto my finger, the rules change.
His demands grow. He no longer just wants to own my body. He also wants my heart and soul. But I’m not that young, naive woman anymore.
Too bad this billionaire forgot one thing. Nobody can own your heart unless you give it freely.
And this time, I’m not blinded by his smile and especially not by his lies.
Eva Winners released her first novel Second Chance At Love in 2020 and has been writing vigorously ever since. She writes about everlasting romance for every century focusing on characters emotional development and always guarantees an HEA.
She loves yoga, wine and her kiddos. In her spare time, she seeks adventures either hiking through trails or exploring the beaches.
Writing books has always been her passion and she brings real life to the forefront in everything she writes about.
Deeply passionate characters and stories will draw you in and you’ll never want to leave.
Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!
My one-night stand.
A ruthless bastard.
A heartless billionaire.
The man who ruled his empire with a cold head and an even colder heart. And most importantly, my son’s father. Except, he wasn’t aware of that little fact. To the media, Byron Ashford is a Billionaire King. To me, he’s a reminder of the hottest, most forbidden, night of my life. And my biggest mistake.
I hadn’t seen him in years and hoped we’d never cross paths again.
But then, my best-laid plans always seem to go astray. Now, I need his help to bail me out of trouble. He’s a billionaire and I’m just a broke, debt-riddled surgeon.
Against my better judgment, I sought him out. It should have been easy, in and out. Except, nothing with Byron Ashford was ever easy. He refuses to hand out free favors. And the price for his help?
My freedom. Literally.
He wants to shackle me to him with a marriage I don’t want then throw away the key.
His demands are scandalous. His rules are dangerous for my heart.
It was supposed to be a mutually beneficial deal, but nothing about Byron is ever that simple. Once he slips the ring onto my finger, the rules change.
His demands grow. He no longer just wants to own my body. He also wants my heart and soul. But I’m not that young, naive woman anymore.
Too bad this billionaire forgot one thing. Nobody can own your heart unless you give it freely.
And this time, I’m not blinded by his smile and especially not by his lies.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“You alone have the power to destroy me.”
First there was Alessio. Now Byron. Give me an Ashford any day! 😍 Phew. This was another exceptionally addictive love story from the Billionaire Kings series, but even more so, another phenomenal piece of narrative writing from Winners! I can’t get enough of her books.
Byron and Odette had me mentally and emotionally invested in their journey from the very first page. The opening scene alone had me perking up with giddy interest. I hadn’t expected more than half of the developments that occurred and I just about broke down in tears through a handful of them. I couldn’t have asked for two more lovable, relatable, genuine MCs to read about. Their story was swoony, unpredictable, suspenseful, and all-around heart-palpitating.
This is a dark contemporary, billionaire romance with an age-gap, second-chance premise. Winners has an intricate web of interconnected books/ characters from different series’ that can all be read as standalone novels. If Winners is a new-to-you author, you’ll learn character crossovers are a common trait in her books. There are a handful of supporting characters that make appearances in this one that have/ or will have their own books. The gradually developing secondary storylines are the perfect addition to the main narrative. They add further zing and dimension to the overall storytelling, and just made me anticipate reading their books even more.
It’s well-paced and told from both MCs points of view. From the misunderstandings, to the secrecy, to a lot of the what-ifs between Byron and Odette wrapped up in crackling sexual tension made this one massive page-turner! I enjoyed this book so much I could’ve read more, but will happily settle for rereading instead.
I enjoyed the smattering of dark and gritty elements incorporated in the story that helped build-up and maintain suspense throughout. It toes the line of mafia themes too, giving these characters’ world a sense of danger. The world-building is vivid, extensive, and gives a taste of what Byron Ashford’s life is like having endless money, luxury, and powerful influence.
I found Odette to be a likable heroine. At times she was a little out of her depth, but her constant determination, love of her family, and fierce values made for a relatable character I easily connected and sympathised with. For a powerful billionaire running an empire, Byron has a lot of common dreams in life. Despite his difficult upbringing and brutal experiences, he’s protective nature and willingness to choose a different path makes him such a striking hero. There’s a slight push-and-pull but there’s no denying these two opposites fit so well together.
It does contain sensitive subject matters that may be triggering/ difficult for some readers to read. It touches on depression, suicide, physical assault, drugging, and graphic violent acts. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
The writing is effortless to follow and sucks you in immediately through its characters. Byron and Odette had an initial fling the quickly evolved into more. Although there’s some surprising twists and turns, the growing complexity and angst in their relationship had my undivided attention. As backstories and recollections of past events are steadily revealed, you’ll eventually see Byron and Odette’s relationship come full circle.
I’ve become obsessed with this book. It’s now one of my top favourites by Winners. It has a satisfying combination of romance and suspense within an in-depth storyline. The synopsis hooks you in, the characters keep you intrigued, and the overall storytelling makes it unputdownable. The familial dynamics and interactions were another addition that I truly enjoyed seeing. There’s a diverse cast of personalities that brought about a lot of heart, cheeky banter, and genuine bonds.
I would absolutely recommend this book (and the series) to fellow romance readers. I think it has a little bit of everything that makes it a worthy read. It has a solid plot that was well-executed, captivating, fleshed-out characters, a constantly progressive narrative, and a romance the concluded on a well-deserved HEA! I’m not complaining about the locations this story was set in either. It had me travelling to different places without leaving the comfort of my own bed. I couldn’t have asked for a better romance book to escape into. It left me happy sighing!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Eva Winners for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💙
🔔 Interested in reading Misdeeds Of A Billionaire? Grab your copy here: Amazon | Amazon INTL
The first time I met Alessio Russo I was eighteen. He’d barged into my room. I yelled. He yelled. We argued.
I slammed the door into the jerk’s face. Then I discovered that the drool-worthy prick was my best friend’s oldest brother — who had connections to Cassio King and the mafia. The freaking mafia!
The second time I saw him was at his mother’s funeral. He didn’t seem to recognize me. Or so I thought until we ended up tangled up between the sheets and he referred to our first encounter.
The next time we saw each other was at his father’s funeral – the funeral of the very same man that had threatened my life.
It turned out Alessio Russo was a gentleman even when he was a savage. We bickered. We kissed. We fought. We made love.
He thrilled me and scared me. Still, we slowly started to find a way to each other but before I had a chance to come clean with him, I had to leave the country.
Then all hell broke loose.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“I had always wanted him. He was my everything. Until he wasn’t.”
Woah, wait a minute! This is looking very much a contender for a spot in my top reads of 2023! I think I have a new favourite series by Winners (and that’s saying a lot as she has so many damn good ones)!
A billionaire romance with a sprinkling of dark mafia themes? Umm, yes please. Everything about this story called to me. The romance was on point… and highly swoony! There was plenty of suspense and plot twists to keep things extra juicy, and the world-building was easily addicting to learn about. Alessio and Autumn’s world was crazy thrilling from the travel destinations, to the romantic entanglements, to the intriguing circle of individuals that made appearances. This was absolutely my type of romance read!
✔ Contemporary Billionaire Romance
✔ Age-Gap
✔ Secret Romance
✔ Dark Mafia Themes
✔ Second Chances
✔ Opposites Attract
✔ Instant Attraction
✔ Suspense
I don’t know if this story was on the shorter side or if I was just overly absorbed by it that I read it too fast— either way I want more! I NEED MORE!
Winners’ writing style has fast become one of my favourites and always look forward to her next release. This book was just so effortless to follow, the synopsis has you curious to know more, and once you begin the MCs immediately catch your attention. There was the prefect amount of romance elements to its dark mafia counterpart. I was hooked by the organic progression of Alessio and Autumn’s relationship. It may have started out as a sizzling hook-up but it evolved into such an angst-ridden love story between the two. Sigh.
Alessio is rough around the edges and possessive as hell but he’s also just as protective and when he loves, he loves wholeheartedly. Trust me when I say, he is one breath-taking man. Autumn is the type of heroine who may be young but intelligent and sincere. She’s a bright light, lives life to the fullest and is the softness to Alessio’s hardness. What can I say? I think they’re a superb pairing.
It was constantly developing with plot twist after plot twist, obstacle after obstacle dead-set in keeping Alessio and Autumn apart. Although it’s a relatively shorter read, the developments felt gradual and genuine. It didn’t feel rushed through or unrealistic.
Alessio and Autumn’s opposite worlds collided and they navigated through the differences, especially with Alessio’s gritty criminal underworld and seedy connections. Backstories and past events bulked up the narrative and added believable years of history between these two MCs. The amusing moments, comic relief, and flirty banter throughout injected lightness and kept the story from going too dark.
“She was my first love and my last love. My only one. Without her, I was just existing. With her, I was living.”
It does broach on sensitive subject matters that some readers may find triggering or disturbing such as graphic violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, drugging and torture. Intended for mature readers 18+ only.
This was one hell of start to the Billionaire Kings series, and I’m itching to read the rest already. I’ve only read a handful of billionaire romances, but the quality of this one far outweighs those other books. I think the storytelling is exceptional. I was invested from beginning to end. The characters’ emotions leaped off the pages and I connected without fail.
The secondary characters are also worth mentioning. I love a good friendship and familial bonds, and this had some heart-warming ones that were just as much highlight as the relationship between Alessio and Autumn. I’ve read quite a few of Winners’ books, and she has written some amazing relationships. This is was no different.
The characters are all well-developed. You’ll get your fill of morally grey heroes, strong-willed heroines, good-hearted side characters, and sneer-inducing villains that ‘ll raise a variety of reactions out of you.
If you like any of the romance tropes I previously mentioned, this is must-read! I cannot recommend this book and Winners’ writing enough. It packs a punch and the romance is beyond. If you get a kick out of MCs who go through the wringer before they reach their HEA, then add this one to your TBR!
We were off-limits to each other right from the start…
I’m the governor’s daughter and he’s a mafia boss in the Bratva.
It was a no-brainer.
I was forbidden to him and him to me.
But when we met at his nightclub, I thought he was my prince charming.
I couldn’t fight my attraction to the tattooed Russian god, any more than he could for me.
Dante Levitsky is tall, dark and dangerously handsome with Mediterranean blue eyes you could swim in forever.
Our chemistry is the type people read about and wish for their whole lives.
After the accident a year ago that nearly stole my life, he felt like my second chance at living.
Saying no to a secret relationship when he asked me felt like losing a limb.
So, I agreed, thinking it was the best idea ever.
Until it wasn’t. And I find out he lied.
Then his dark secrets slapped me in the face.
Secrets and plans for retribution against my father that will turn my world upside down.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for the villain.
But at the time I didn’t know he was my enemy.
Or that I would become his new obsession.
He’s the monster I never saw coming and he plans to take everything.
Including me.
Ruthless Sinner is a dark mafia forbidden romance. It is book 1 of the Empire of Sinners series. It is inspired by Romeo and Juliet. This book is a 100K word standalone romance that contains dark themes, dubious situations, mature content, and graphic violence some readers might find offensive and/or triggering.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“If she’s who you want, fight for her. Even if you have to fight yourself.”
Ruthless Sinner was my introduction to Faith Summers (aka Khardine Gray) and her writing. This is the first book in the Empire of Sinners mafia series, and it was the initial Romeo & Juliet inspired premise (and duh, the sexy cover) that had me intrigued to read the story.
It introduces a complex mafia world-building and Dante’s role in it, but as far as dark mafia elements goes, this one is relatively mild. Whilst sensitive subject matters are touched on, it’s not overly graphic or detailed. I would’ve loved to have felt a sense of thrill and suspense, especially during certain scenes where there’s supposed to be life-altering developments for these MCs. Unfortunately it was missing that oomph to really elevate the storytelling and overall reading experience.
Most of the plot revolved around the sexual content between Dante and Serenity. It broached on BDSM (albeit minor), and if I had known beforehand, I probably would’ve had second thoughts about reading this book. I have nothing against this particular romance theme, it’s just not a preference of mine. But if you don’t mind a little BDSM, then you’ll enjoy the raunchy content included.
This book is a bit of a mix bag. There are some definite pros but also some cons. What I found piqued my interest the most were the secondary characters, mostly Virgo— Dante’s best friend and a fellow mafioso. Based on the chain of events that occurred and with how it eventually concluded, Virgo’s story is likely the next book in the series, which I’m keen to read.
The friendships within are one of strength, love, and support, and the minor storylines added dimension. They also provided light-hearted moments, and at times some much needed sound advice for both Dante and Serenity.
It’s relatively steady-paced and told from dual POVs. I only wish the characters had been more in-depth and fleshed-out. There wasn’t as much character growth exhibited and I couldn’t help but think it impacted the genuineness and relatability of their relationship too. The attraction and sexual chemistry were evident, but anything deeper between the two needed further development— their relationship evolved quickly over a short span. The writing is a little choppy, cutting out details that in my opinion were needed to build suspense. Despite that, it was easy enough to follow with just enough progress throughout to hold my attention.
Nothing against Serenity but I had difficulties connecting with her. She’s a decent and all-around good-natured character but can also be quite juvenile, and a lot of her reactions were questionable. I found Dante to be a more likable MC but as far as someone of his importance in the Bratva, he’s pretty tame. I didn’t get any sort of powerful, alpha leading man vibe off him. He’s thoughtful, sweet, a little cheeky at times but other than that he’s a subdued mobster. He’s certainly a distinct change of pace from the usual danger-infused morally grey heroes I’ve read in other mafia romance books. I do like that he put Serenity’s wellbeing first and foremost knowing it wouldn’t bode well for him or the people closest to him.
Although I found it somewhat predictable, once I settled into the book, it still had me curious to see how it will all end. I do think this series has plenty of potential especially if the world-building expands to other factions of their criminal organisation and further characters are introduced.
This book would be a great starting off point for romance readers wanting to try mafia romance without all the grittiness and graphic dark themes as of yet that usually go hand in hand with this romance sub-genre. It’s heavy on the romance element with a just hint of danger. If you like forbidden romances, secret love affairs, and/or opposites attract romance tropes, give this one a try.
It does contain sensitive subject matters that may be disturbing or triggering for some readers. It touches on violence, death, sexual assault, kidnapping and child abuse. There’s also strong sexual content. Intended for readers 18+ only.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Faith Summers/ Khardine Gray and Give Me Books PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💙
Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments.
Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.
We were off-limits to each other right from the start…
I’m the governor’s daughter and he’s a mafia boss in the Bratva.
It was a no-brainer.
I was forbidden to him and him to me.
But when we met at his nightclub, I thought he was my prince charming.
I couldn’t fight my attraction to the tattooed Russian god, any more than he could for me.
Dante Levitsky is tall, dark and dangerously handsome with Mediterranean blue eyes you could swim in forever.
Our chemistry is the type people read about and wish for their whole lives.
After the accident a year ago that nearly stole my life, he felt like my second chance at living.
Saying no to a secret relationship when he asked me felt like losing a limb.
So, I agreed, thinking it was the best idea ever.
Until it wasn’t. And I find out he lied.
Then his dark secrets slapped me in the face.
Secrets and plans for retribution against my father that will turn my world upside down.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for the villain.
But at the time I didn’t know he was my enemy.
Or that I would become his new obsession.
He’s the monster I never saw coming and he plans to take everything.
Including me.
Ruthless Sinner is a dark mafia forbidden romance. It is book 1 of the Empire of Sinners series. It is inspired by Romeo and Juliet. This book is a 100K word standalone romance that contains dark themes, dubious situations, mature content, and graphic violence some readers might find offensive and/or triggering.
Faith Summers is the Dark Contemporary Romance pen name of USA Today Bestselling Author, Khardine Gray.
Warning!! Expect wild romance stories of the scorching hot variety and deliciously dark romance with the kind of alpha male bad boys best reserved for your fantasies.
Aislinn Killeen is a good girl. When her sister goes missing during a trip to New York, Aislinn leaves her hometown Dublin behind to search for her. She finds shelter with her uncle, a priest in the biggest Irish-catholic parish in the city and also the confessor for the Irish mob. Her investigations soon lead her to the criminal underworld, and one of its major players: Lorcan Devaney.
Lorcan Devaney’s reign is brutal, his temper feared and his patience non-existent. Aislinn is sure he’s the man who knows what happened to her sister. She realizes too late that attracting the attention of a man like Lorcan is a horrible idea. When secrets from her family’s past are revealed, she’s forced to marry the man who might be responsible for her sister’s disappearance.
Will she find her sister and escape the unwanted marriage, or will she be the second Killeen to disappear?
•••
— TEASER —
•••
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•••
— CHARACTER REVEAL —
It’s time to meet the ruthless leading man of Dangerous Innocence: Lorcan Devaney
The head of the Devaney Clan…
•••
It’s time to meet the leading lady of Dangerous Innocence: Aislinn Killeen
CoraReillyis the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.
Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn’t spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.
•••
Follow CoraReilly on her social media!
Keep up-to-date with Cora’s latest news, upcoming release plans, teasers, and book covers!
If you’d like to help spread the word about future cover reveals, sales, teasers etc, then you won’t have to sign up separately anymore if you’re on said Master list. You’ll be emailed the images and info directly. So if you want to spread the Cora mafia love, please sign up here: CoraReilly MasterList
Aislinn Killeen is a good girl. When her sister goes missing during a trip to New York, Aislinn leaves her hometown Dublin behind to search for her. She finds shelter with her uncle, a priest in the biggest Irish-catholic parish in the city and also the confessor for the Irish mob. Her investigations soon lead her to the criminal underworld, and one of its major players: Lorcan Devaney.
Lorcan Devaney’s reign is brutal, his temper feared and his patience non-existent. Aislinn is sure he’s the man who knows what happened to her sister. She realizes too late that attracting the attention of a man like Lorcan is a horrible idea. When secrets from her family’s past are revealed, she’s forced to marry the man who might be responsible for her sister’s disappearance.
Will she find her sister and escape the unwanted marriage, or will she be the second Killeen to disappear?
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“She wasn’t sure if I was her savior or her demise.
Neither was I.”
Ooh I am buzzing. This was an exceptionally intricate new mafia world Reilly has created. I’m already anticipating more from the Davaneys… one brother in particular. 😍 Eeep. There’s a lot to take in, but overall, this book was an introduction to the world-building, the Irish mob, and to the Davaney family.
Lorcan and Aislinn have a push-and-pull relationship all throughout, but there’s no denying the insurmountable attraction and lust whenever these two are together.
Reilly’s mafia romance books all have a certain amount of spicy content (and this may just be me), but I found this had an extra level of heat. Phwoar. It has copious amounts of smutty, filthy, sweaty, NSFW scenes that will just about make you fan yourself. Lorcan and Aislinn have somewhat of a Dom/sub dynamic in the bedroom and on occasion toes the line of CNC, but make no mistake Aislinn is fiery and strong-willed and Lorcan is fiercely protective over her. If you like a little taboo in your romance reads, you’ll get a dash of it in this story.
They also have quite an age-gap between them, but in all honestly, they have similar levels of maturity. Aislinn has had to grow-up and take adult responsibilities pretty early on in life, and it exhibited in her personality and through her actions in certain situations. But in saying that, if you’re not a fan of teenage FMCs (although already of age) getting together with MMCs well into their adulthood, you may not be in favour of Lorcan and Aislinn’s relationship. Please take into consideration before starting this book.
Don’t compare Lorcan to Reilly’s other mafiosos. He’s definitely his own person, with his own beliefs and a backstory that explains why he is the way he is in the present. He’s undoubtedly dangerous, connected, and holds influence, but in the end he’s also very human. You’ll witness his limitations, his desires, and in time see his defences lowering. If you adore morally-grey heroes who fall first, add Lorcan to your list.
Although there’s a good amount of mafia elements, this book is romance heavy. It focuses on developing Lorcan and Aislinn’s relationship. The mutual attraction’s evident from the very beginning, but anything deeper between the two was a slow-burn process. I quickly became invested in seeing how their relationship would evolve. They deal with a range of real-life struggles as a couple and separate insecurities that many can easily relate to.
“You are bound to me.
But I think you’re scared of liking me.”
Other than the MCs, there’s an intriguing cast of secondary characters and strong familial dynamics introduced that I can’t wait to see more of in the series, but you can already get an idea of their roles and personality traits from their appearances here. There are also minor characters that added more dimension to Lorcan and Aislinn’s world. I always enjoy some brotherly banter and there was plenty of it throughout that I’m sure will make you smirk just as much as it made me.
There are sensitive subject matters included, one in particular I thought was well thought-out with care and written beautifully. Not only did I love the additional element, but it added diversity, another layer of relatability, and a sweet innocence to these MCs’ story. On the flip side, there are also dark themes that some readers may find disturbing or triggering such as flesh trade/prostitution and graphic, brutal violence and abuse. It’s gruesome, bloody, and may be tough to get through. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
It’s well-paced storytelling with a vivid backdrop that transports you effortlessly into their world. I was immersed in Lorcan and Aislinn’s Irish roots and it gave me such wanderlust from the scenic locations, to the comforting food, to the close-knit community.
It does conclude with a “happy-for-now” ending, so I’m taking a stab in saying we’ll see more of Lorcan and Aislinn in the following book(s). Their characters weren’t as fleshed-out as I would’ve liked, but if their story continues, I’m hoping there’ll be more developments to come. I did find the conclusion to their book refreshing, showing the start of their lives together rather than years down the track. It’s open-ended and leaves room for possibilities which I’m totally down for!
I’ll be honest, the next book centres on a character I very much was not a fan of in this one. I’m already curious to know how Reilly plans to turn this character around, and who they’ll be paired with. Double eeep.
This was a highly anticipated book for me and it was undoubtedly a gripping read. A little slow to kick-off, but once Lorcan and Aislinn get in the thick of things, you’ll be hard-pressed to put it down. It’s sweet AND spicy. It’s official— the Irish mobsters are here and they’ve left quite an exciting first impression!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Cora and Emily for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💚
🔔 Interested in reading Dangerous Innocence? Grab your copy here: Universal Link
Valley U’s hottest QB has heard in detail how I want to climb him like a tree.
One viral video and my life as a wallflower is over.
Felix Walters knows exactly how I feel about him—so does everyone else on campus.
It was supposed to be a private conversation between friends.
Now I’m the butt of every joke and everywhere I turn all eyes are on me.
It’s every shy girl’s nightmare.
Except now the hottest guy on campus wants to be my fake boyfriend.
Six weeks. Just pretend.
I’m a wallflower fake dating Valley U’s hottest player.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“He has charm for days and that smile…damn that smile makes me forget my own name.”
I am obsessed! This series gets more and more addictive with each new book. Just when I thought Gavin and Violet had cemented themselves as my favourite couple from the Campus Wallflowers series, Felix and Dahlia do a sneaky-sneak and steal the throne right from under them!
Amazing. Swoon-worthy. Un-frigging-putdownable. So many adjectives pop into my head when I think about this book and what it evoked out of me. But the one that probably sums it all up best for me is: PERFECT. (Yes, caps needed!)
It’s one of those romance books I wished lasted a little longer. It has world-building I easily pictured in my head and would totally watch on screen if it was ever made into a tv show or movie. It was vivid, constantly evolving, and with a college backdrop I’m lowkey jelly of as my university was never hustling and bustling with as much curricular activities as Valley U. 😅
Jenshak has taken the opposites-attract trope— which, in this case is the popular jock/ shy heroine and the fake dating relationship trope and created a magically delicious narrative. Felix and Dahlia are two fictional characters who I couldn’t fault. I love them to bits! Did they have hiccups, and mishaps, and tons of embarrassing moments between them? Yes. But you know what? It was a rom-com lover’s dream seeing these two interact, and getting insight into their internal monologues. I belly-laughed, I ooh-ed and ahh-ed, and dammit even the waterworks started up. There was a steady build-up to the developing relationship that really amped up the anticipation of their HEA. Although they intended it to be a fake-dating relationship, Felix and Dahlia develop a friendship that’s just as noteworthy and substantial as those already existing in their respective circle of friends.
I am certain this book will end up in my top reads of 2023. It’s well-paced storytelling and told from interchanging POVs. It can be read as a standalone, as is with the other books in the series but I recommend for a fuller reading experience to read in publishing order. Certain secondary characters that make an appearance in this book are already established couples and certain parts would make a lot more sense if you already know their backstory.
I rarely read NA romance books anymore, but this series called to me like a siren song right from the very first premise of the very first book. Now onto this third and I am floating on a cloud. I am all-in with these cool, fun girlfriends, and the charming young men they’re each crushing on.
It’s not hard to see why Dahlia had eyes only for Felix. He is the quintessential popular guy that stands out from the crowd. Not only because of his drool-worthy good looks and athletic prowess, but because of his caring, protective, and outgoing nature that gradually eases Dahlia out of her cocoon.
Dahlia toes the line between shy “nerd” and athlete; being a golfer. But this heroine has plenty more talents, and getting to know her personality was both highly entertaining and heart-warming. She’s thoughtful, down-to-earth, and I found to be such a genuinely relatable character.
I adored the friendships present in this book too. Both Dahlia’s close-knit friendship with her roommates, and from Felix’s banter-fueled friends and teammates. Not that this story needed any more comic-relief with the number of funny scenes included, but the group dynamics definitely added more amusement to the overall reading experience.
It’s an overall feel-good, comfort read that I can (and will) go back to time and time again and never tire of seeing Felix and Dahlia’s adorable relationship evolve.
With storytelling that was effortless to follow, intriguing characters that immediately hooked me in, and copious amounts of college-focused events, this book was buzzing with excitement from start to finish.
If you’re looking for a contemporary college romance, look no more! There’s a good balance of sporting elements, overall school setting, and personal growth. I can’t say enough positive things about this one. The characters are well-developed, the plot well-written and fleshed-out, and the romance department isn’t lacking either. Be prepared for some LOL moments, second-hand embarrassment, and heart-palpitating dialogue.
This book is dedicated to the sporty ones, but I also think it’s for those, like me, who may have been the shy girl in school, the invisible girl, the girl who got teased, the girl who never got chosen for anything, the girl who wasn’t in the “clique”. Because Dahlia gets you. And Daisy, and Violet, and Jane.
Jenshak has a knack for writing unbelievably sweet, light-hearted romances that still deal with real-life struggles that plenty of readers may resonate with. This is book is love, family, and friendship. It’s wholehearted, and filled with positivity and solid pillars of support. Felix, Dahlia, and their story has left an imprint of happiness on me. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Rebecca Jenshak and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! ❤
🔔 Interested in reading Scoring The Player? Grab your copy here: Amazon | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo Coming Soon!
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