Hat Trick by Chelsea Curto (2025)
Contemporary romance. Book 4 of the DC Stars series. Starting with a total downer here when hockey player Riley gets injured in a car accident and loses his right leg. We get a story of his progression through grief and rehabilitation, with athletic trainer Lexi by his side. Of course, he’s always had a crush on Lexi and she’s a total commitment-phobe, but let’s be real here, they will most definitely fall in love. I loved the slow burn process of building their trust and friendship and then the slow dance into a physical relationship. I like how they team up together to work on Riley’s physical training and how supportive Lexi is. Plus, Riley has his own ways of impressing Lexi.
Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.
A Most Worthy Husband by Faye Delacour (2025)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Lucky Ladies of London series. Hannah is fed up with her mother’s matchmaking, so she seizes an opportunity to ruin herself by paying a man to kiss her where they can be seen. Silas is all sorts of hesitant, but eventually agrees for the money. It’s a whirlwind of scandal that turns into a fake courtship and a fake engagement. But Silas really is a stand-up guy, even if a bit misunderstood, and totally deserving of love an affection. Hannah is a bit naive in regards to scheming to get her parents back together, but aside from that, she does have genuine affection for Silas. Definitely a case of he falls first and harder though, which I adore.
Advance ebook provided by Sourcebook via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Sparks Fly by Zakiya N. Jamal (2025)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Stella is ready to lose her virginity at a sex club and luckily meets an awesome guy there, Max. But things don’t go as planned and they end up with unfinished business before parting ways. Stella’s in for a rude surprise when Max ends up being the brother of her boss’s boss and at her workplace to launch a new AI writing tool for their company. This would seem like the perfect set up for an enemies-to-lovers situation, but they have very wisely kept their work separate from their personal lives and continue with a semi-secret relationship. This book is all sorts of spicy and the workplace conflict doesn’t affect the romance plot much at all. Loved seeing how Max treats Stella and how they very easily and quickly fall in love.
Advance ebook provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Winds of the Storm by Beverly Jenkins (2006)
Historical romance. Reconstruction-era America. Book 2 of the Le Veq Family series. Archer and Zahra meet during the war when she rescues him from capture and saves his life. They cross paths again after the war when Zahra poses as a brothel madam to gather intelligence. He doesn’t recognize her, but certainly plans to seduce her. We get a simmering seduction here alongside the espionage associated with Zahra’s mission. Steamy and dangerous.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (2019)
Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Game Changers series. The hype is real. Everything anyone says about this book being amazing is true. Did it take a TV adaptation and all the hype to get me to read it? Yes. Have I even seen the show yet? No. But this book was so good. How the heck does a secret romance spanning 8 years over the course of the book hook you in? I don’t know, but it’s amazing. We start with Shane and Ilya being total sports enemies, sports prodigies, totally famous rookies, but also terrified of being attracted to each other. There’s hockey and then there are all the secret hookups, that start off as an angry way to get it out of their systems, but keep happening. For years. And the pining when they aren’t together is insane. Loved this book. It will change your life.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
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