Honest Mistake by Lisa Suzanne {a review}

I want to be with Tessa. They say when you know, you know, and I've always known it was her.

Today's the day! Honest Mistake by Lisa Suzanne is available! That's right, it's time to pick up with Tristan and Tessa, as well as Savannah and Stephanie. What sort of shenanigans will happen this time around?

Honest Mistake picks up right where Hidden Mistake left off. It was quite the ride, and this season just keeps getting better. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happens next!

My rating for Honest Mistake:

Honest Mistake is filled with passion, emotional moments, revelations, a fresh start, and heartache. Tristan and Tessa have their eyes set on forever, but there are obstacles in their way. Namely Savannah and Stephanie. It's not just them though, there's another who is going to throw a curve ball in TNT's journey toward happily ever after.

I want to say more about the storyline, but since this is a story in progress, it would involve spoilers. Just know that our duo moves forward toward a happily ever after, but naturally there is road blocks in the way.

Oh and there was at least one time where I found myself tearing up. Maybe it was personal experience, maybe it was hormones, or maybe it's just me being me. Then there was the scene that made me gasp out loud. Not to mention the scene where I literally said "UGH" out loud. (and yes, that last scene had to do with Savannah.)

No Mistake needs to appear on my kindle immediately so I can find out what happens next. Because that cliffhanger is playing on repeat in my mind.

Have you started reading this fourth season of the Vegas Aces? Trust me when I say this entire series has me hooked! It's a must read for football romance fans. So steamy and drama filled.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

He’s not the boy next door anymore, and I’m not the girl I used to be, either.

His life is in the spotlight as one of the most popular professional football players on the Vegas Aces, while I can’t afford to have my secrets exposed. But as we work together on a project benefitting our small Midwestern town, we easily slip back into the friendship we once shared.

He introduces me to the people he’s closest to now, and I find myself fitting into his new life as he works to fix the mistakes of his past. But somebody’s digging into my history, threatening to break us before we even get started.

It’s time to be honest about my mistakes.

HONEST MISTAKE is the third book in the VEGAS ACES: THE WIDE RECEIVER series. This series must be read in order.

Thank you to Lisa Suzanne, and Wordsmith Publicity, for providing me with an advanced copy of Honest Mistake.

Also, I am an Amazon Affiliate. Purchases made from links above allow me to earn a small commission. So thank you!

Sideline Infraction by Emily Silver (a review)

Earlier this year, Emily Silver kicked off her Denver Mountain Lions series with the book Roughing the Kicker. I happen to love sports romance, so naturally I checked it out. I was immediately hooked on her storytelling, as well as the characters she created. Needless to say I stuck with the series, and recently read an advanced copy of Sideline Infraction, which is book 3. 

My rating for Sideline Infraction:

Sideline Infraction is by far my favorite of the series! There was just something about Alex and Carter that drew me in. These two are absolutely fantastic. Their chemistry is superb. Loved their shared interests. Fully enjoyed how when they were together they just felt at peace, as though they could finally relax and be their true selves.

Carter's past relationship definitely had him looking for the red flags, and trying to protect himself. As for Alex, he was all about continuing to keep this secret, as well as spend every moment he could with Carter. It was definitely love at first sight, but I don't care. This book was so well written, the characters are likable, and everything just felt right.

The moment of conflict...I knew it would have something to do with Alex not being out. I did. I just wasn't fully expecting it to unravel the way it did. I wasn't expecting the blow up. Nor was I expecting how it was resolved, and everything that went with it. The conversation between the coach and Alex had me in tears. You could feel the love pouring off of the coach, and his understanding of the topic. Coach stepped out of his professional role, and into the role of a parent in that moment. I absolutely loved it.

Emily Silver has created a marvelous football series, and I cannot get enough.

If you are looking for a m/m romance then you need to read this one. Plus it's sports romance, it's instalove, and a bit forbidden. (considering who Carter's dad is.)  

Have you checked out the Denver Mountain Lions series yet? Do you plan on reading Sideline Infraction? I promise the series, and this book, are absolutely wonderful.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

What happens when I find the right guy at exactly the wrong time?

I’m Alex Young. Star quarterback for the Denver Mountain Lions. Captain of the team. Son. Brother. Teammate.

And I’m gay.

No one can know. My secret could destroy everything. I lock myself up in the closet and throw away the key. It’s better this way. I can focus on football and being the best quarterback I can be.

Until him.

With that first look, I’m a goner. I’ve never met anyone like him. With each touch, he’s breaking down the walls I’ve worked so hard to build.

But what if someone finds out? What if I’m outed to the world and cut from the team I love?

I can’t risk it.

But when Carter kisses me like that?

I just can’t resist.

I’m in so much trouble.

Thank you to Emily Silver, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Sideline Infraction.

Also, I am an Amazon Affiliate. Therefore purchases made from links in this post allow me to earn a small commission. So thank you!

Seducing the Playboy by Amanda Usen {a review}

“Love is everything. Without love, life is nothing but work and sleep.”

Seducing the Playboy by Amanda Usen originally released in May 2014, and has been on my kindle since April 2022. The description had caught my attention, and so I downloaded it. Then it sat on my kindle just waiting for me to pick it up. This weekend I was caught up on ARCs, and didn't know what to read. As I scrolled through, I realized NOW was the time for Amanda's book. So I immediately loaded it up.

My rating for Seducing the Playboy:

I went into the story knowing what the description relayed to me, and knowing that it featured one of my favorite tropes. Which obviously is brother's best friend. That being said, while that trope was there, it wasn't front and center. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that Cole lives on the opposite side of the US from where Jenna is visiting Roman. Had all parties been local to one another, I think that influence of big brother would have been stronger.

I did love the way these two reconnected at the Beach House. Jenna knew what her plan was, but had yet to spring it on Roman. Then there was the way their relationship began, and I have mixed feelings on that. Yes, a friends with benefits relationship can work, but it was obvious from the start that it would be extremely short lived. It was in Vegas where I started to see a future for these two, but things happened in Sin City, and that future was crumbling quickly.

Jenna's character was one that I really liked. She came across as genuine, and her reasons for going to Roman truly started off as needing help. Then that childhood crush came back fast, and while the reasons didn't dissipate they were thrust to the back burner.

Roman I didn't vibe with as much. He was arrogant, and it truly seemed as though he was stringing Jenna along. He was also only in it for himself. But I get it, he's this big name doing amazing things in the business, and she's just this reminder from the past.

The reunion scene had me smiling. It may seem simple to some, but I loved how it played out. Including the conversation between Roman and Cole. I also loved the family conversation in the kitchen prior to Roman's arrival.

All in all Seducing the Playboy was a decent story, and I plan on picking up another book by this author to see what else they write. Especially since Seducing the Playboy was my introduction to Amanda Usen. Have you read any of Amanda's books? Is there a specific book I should read?

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

The best desserts are worth the wait…

Pastry chef Jenna Cooper crushed hard on playboy chef Roman Gallagher when her older brother brought him home to share their family Christmas six years ago. Now she’s old enough to do something about it, and she won’t take no for an answer—for anything.

Out of the frying pan into the fire…

Roman has one hard and fast rule—don’t sleep where you eat. But he can’t say no to Jenna’s plea for him to help her save her family business. Soon she's working for him, and their scorching chemistry melts Roman’s resistance.

If you can’t stand the heat…

Jenna knows Roman has reservations about enjoying the heat between them, but she’s got a plan. She’s going to keep this sexy man so satisfied in—and out—of the kitchen, he won’t regret a thing. But Roman has his own ideas. He wants more than a few hot nights, and he's going to teach Jenna a lesson about playing with fire.

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program, and purchases made through links above can allow me to earn a small commission. Thanks!

Fake Love by Jocelyne Soto {a review}

Maddox Bauer is the type of man I wish I could spend the rest of my life with. 

Jocelyne Soto released Fake Love on October 13, 2022. This book features a professional baseball player who has seemingly hit rock bottom, has been given a fresh start, and has met a woman who has deeply affected his life. Fake Love features the instalove trope, the fake relationship trope, and a bit of the workplace trope. This book was so dang good, I honestly could not put it down.

Maddox and Jen's introduction was one that was just supposed to be for a night. It wasn't supposed to be anything else. Except when Maddox returned to San Francisco, Jen immediately came to mind to handle his social media, and become his fake girlfriend. Meanwhile Jen was busy living her life, and finally deciding to make the jump to becoming a full time social media manager. She just needed to find her first client.

My rating for Fake Love:

Fake Love was full of emotional moments. It was a roller coaster ride that took us through drug addiction, a parent's health issue, being traded from Chicago to San Francisco, and entering into a fake relationship that would change their lives. Everything that happened after the relationship was created had me unwilling to put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen. What would be the breaking point? What would cause the conflict between Maddox and Jen? How would they reunite? How would they heal their relationship, and move forward?

The drug addiction was difficult to read, but witnessing Maddox go through everything that he did garnered a lot of sympathy. I say that because Maddox was not my favorite character. His actions didn't sit right with me, and while I could understand the heartache he was dealing with, and the grief he was feeling, I couldn't understand his reasoning behind his choices. I will say that as the story progressed my opinion of Maddox did change. Maybe it was seeing his eyes open at everything he could lose.

When it comes to Jen, I did like her character. For the most part. She was strong, passionate, sympathetic, and she was determined. Jen knew everything that Maddox was dealing with. She saw the man behind the mask, and fell in love with him regardless. Now I will say that I didn't like the fact that her job just disappeared and wasn't really mentioned, but I'll just assume that was happening in the background and therefore it wasn't necessary to mention.

The scene at the aquarium had me on edge for a moment. You see as that date was playing out, and a photo was snapped, my mind went to the worst case scenario. I thought for sure that it was going to wind up for everyone to see, and that there would be a gigantic fall out from that. If you caught my update on Goodreads, it was about this scene!

Let's talk about the conflict between Jen and Maddox. That was not what I was expecting at all. But when you look at everything that was shared in the story up until that point, it makes sense. It does. The fight or flight also makes 100% sense. I was not expecting our main character from Powerful Deception to make an appearance. Dante had a major influence in all of this, and so that cross over was interesting to read. 

Jocelyne Soto created a wonderful story. Fake Love was emotional, it was steamy, and I could not put it down. Also getting to catch up with previous characters always puts a smile on my face.

If you were paying attention in the story, then you may have noticed the set up for a few new books. There is Lucas’s story, as well as that new hockey romance series! I am loving the stories that Jocelyne creates, and she is working her way on to my auto-buy author list.

Go grab Fake Love. It is one of those books that just grabs hold, makes you tear up a bit, and has you rooting for a happily ever after.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads

I had everything going for me.

Drafted right out of college. Signed a multimillion dollar contract. Slated to become a hall of famer.

All my prospects were looking up… Until a diagnosis caused me to ruin everything.

It took me a season to destroy my career and now I have to work to repair it.

Step 1 : Get clean.

Step 2 : Show my new team that their investment isn’t a waste.

Step 3 : Find a woman and convince her to be my fake girlfriend and make my mom happy.

1 and 2, I got a handle on. Step 3 is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought. Finding a woman was a piece of cake, convincing her is a different story.

Jen Zaragosa is hardheaded, feisty, and a pain in my behind. But even with her being all those things, I start to fall for her

And hard.

This started out as something to make my mom happy and it’s turning into me planning our future together.

Jen is my grand slam and there is nothing fake about it.

*FAKE LOVE IS A COMPLETE STANDALONE. THIS STORY DOES CONTAIN CONTENT WARNINGS, FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE.*

Thank you to Jocelyne Soto, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Fake Love.

Also, I am an Amazon Affiliate. Purchases made from the links above will allow me to earn a small commission.

 

The Troubles with Heartbreak by Brittany Taylor {a review}

"But I think hatred is often used as a disguise for the truth. Sometimes, it looks the same as love."

The Troubles with Heartbreak is the third, and final, book in the Heartbreak series from Brittany Taylor. This book is full of fabulous tropes, such as hate to love, enemies to lovers, fake relationship, forced proximity, and single bed. This book is quite the ride, and I loved every moment of it.

My rating for The Troubles with Heartbreak:

So here's the deal, Levi and Cassidy have known each other since they were seniors in high school. They have also hated each other since high school. Flash forward roughly 5 years, and they are now coworkers at the newspaper. They try to stay out of each others way, but considering Cassidy is the photographer, it doesn't always work out.

When Levi is invited to a hotel opening slash college football team reunion, he is hesitant to attend. After all he and the hotel owner are former teammates, and the relationship they have is non-existent. Things happened in college that tarnished that friendship, and it is still a touchy subject. Rightfully so. Yet Levi sees the possibility of an article that he could write about the new hotel, and pitched it to his boss. It was the boss who said that Cassidy should attend with him so there would be photos for the article.

What happens next? Well there's only one bed in the hotel room, and of course there are no other rooms available. So these two are being forced together in that regard. But then at a team get-together, Levi mentions that he's engaged. To Cassidy. Thankfully she agrees to play along. Except of course as the days go on things begin to shift. Feelings are emerging, passionate moments are shared, and heartbreak is on the horizon.

Things are going relatively smoothly. Yes those feelings are there, and the lines are being blurred. But then comes THE moment. The moment where the shit is about to hit the fan. The drama is strong. History is revealed, and a blow up happens. It was alot! Naturally this affected Levi and Cassidy's relationship as well. Throughout the hotel scenes I was wondering when things were going to blow up, and what the triggering moment would be. Oofta! That was a doozy. Yet now that all that information is out there, and emotions aren't as heightened, we're in the heartbreak stage. Their journey towards a reunion wasn't easy. It involved an outside party stepping in, and giving a little assistance. I loved how their reconciliation happened, and the truths that were shared in that moment. So good. It gave them both the information they needed. They shared that history, and eyes were opened.

This book is full of banter, passion, steamy moments, hate to love, and realization that the hate they felt might have been masking their true feelings. I also enjoyed how we were able to briefly meet up with the characters from the previous books in the series. Whenever previous characters make appearances it makes me smile as it reminds me of their stories, and allows me to see a glimpse into their current lives.

OH, and Cassidy's dad? Did not see that one coming. Okay maybe a little bit, but I wasn't fully expecting it. My mind actually went worse case situation. So there's that.

Loved this book. Loved the characters. Loved this series. Cannot wait to see what comes next from Brittany Taylor.

If you haven't read the Heartbreak series, please do. There are so many tropes covered between the three books, and there is really something there for every romance reader.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚 #1: 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙞 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙨... 𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨.

Levi Hawkins has been trouble since the first time I saw him through the lens of my camera our senior year of high school.

He was the star quarterback.

I was the yearbook photographer.

Although Levi’s hatred for me was no secret, I spent the entire school year fighting my feelings for him, counting down to the day of graduation.

When that day finally came, I foolishly thought I'd seen the last of him. Until five years later, when he walked into the same newspaper I worked for. Only now, he was no longer a football star. He's the paper's newest reporter.

Disguised by a grand opening of a hotel on the shores of South Padre Island, Levi dragged me on an assignment. His college football reunion.

But just when I thought he'd roped me in enough trouble, he asked for one more favor.

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘é... 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.

I knew he had dragged me along to get a story, but it wasn’t long before I realized there was more written between the lines.

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙... 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙞 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚.

Thank you to Brittany Taylor, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced reader copy of The Troubles with Heartbreak.

Also, I am an Amazon Affiliate. Purchases made from links in this post allow me to earn a small commission.