Reviewed by Tracy Young for Readers' Favorite

Kayla is a hardworking single mom to four beautiful children, or as she calls them “little shitheads.” When she found out her husband had been cheating on her with a stripper, she did what any sane woman would do and tried to drown him! This led to her being handcuffed by the hottest police officer in town. Luckily the judge sympathized with her and she got community service for her misdemeanor. Fast forward a brief time and Kayla and Sage, her BFF, are having a rare night on the town and spot the hottie and his equally good-looking friends. Marc is the officer in question; he is happily single and has no idea what is about to happen to him. Cuffed by You by Nikki Mays is a modern-day love story that will warm your cockles and some other bodily parts!

This is a funny, sexy, rollicking read. Marc and his buddies are great characters and his interaction with his family is amusing and heartwarming. Kayla and her friends and family are also a fun bunch. I love her ex-mother-in-law, Dee. Craig, the ex-husband, is an absolute shithead and you wonder what Kayla ever saw in him. However, the real story is all about Marc, Kayla, and her adorable kids. Cuffed by You by Nikki Mays is a beautifully told story of how love can develop on different levels and can creep up on you in the most unlikely circumstances. The dramatic finale will have you on the edge of your seat and is a thrilling end to a great story. Loved this book!

Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Love Over Lattes (Desert Monsoon Series, Book 1) by Diana Hicks is a contemporary romance novel. Love Over Lattes is one of those quintessential romance novels with plenty of chemistry, mutual attraction, and push and pull between the characters. In this book, we meet Valentina who is a single parent, finishing up college and trying to find a house to rent for her small family. Due to financial troubles, she is unable to find a place, and this is where Derek Cole, a highly attractive man, steps in and offers her a place to live. Derek and Valentina had been eyeing each other in the coffee shop for six months before they finally talked. Derek is also fighting through his own problems with his ex-wife and his company. Although Valentina strictly enforces a no-sex rule, the mutual attraction is undeniable and their romance is what forms the plot of this novel.

Love Over Lattes is a good read for anyone who enjoys love stories. Set in Arizona, the story has all the makings of a good romance novel. I liked the portrayal of both of these protagonists and I also liked the fact that Valentina is shown to be a single mother, willing to do anything for her child, as it provides a realistic and hopeful glimpse into modern life where, in the end, true love is what matters. Cole is, of course, dashing and handsome, and the fact that this novel is written in these characters’ voices provides a glimpse into his male mind, emotions, and motivations. This is certainly a fun and entertaining read for romance fans.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Evie Taylor is obsessed about her work, with decidedly no time for men and she loves her life that way, but she has a secret liking for Michael Marsh, the Diamond Superstar. Michael has been widowed for two years and the young woman who helped close the case on his wife’s murder still haunts his thoughts. Circumstances bring them together and this time their hearts are lit with a powerful flame of desire. And it’s not long before they find themselves poised for an ultimate union. But there is someone who is out to destroy their marriage before it is even consummated, a spy who does not seem to particularly like the Marsh family, a journalist who is about to prove that Michael has an incestuous relationship with his own daughter, Lisette. Will Evie’s investigative skills be enough to stop an enemy hell-bent on destroying the man who’s turned her life upside-down?

Sweet Temptation is another compelling, sizzling romance spiced with detective work from an author that has created her unique signature for the genre with her exciting characters and strong plot lines. Sarah Stuart creates worlds that feel so real and gets her readers into them. I was hooked from the very start of the story, thanks to the tight and exquisite writing. The reader is greeted with action as they start the story and the intensity doesn’t slow a bit. Abduction is introduced at the beginning in a very clever manner, and the reader immediately notices one of the key characters, Evie. I fell in love with her and was keen to see how she develops. The themes of romance, family, and intrigue are so masterfully crafted into the strong plot and readers will want to discover the part each character plays. Sweet Temptation is a well-crafted story that will delight fans of contemporary romance; it is well-plotted and the characters will stay with readers for a long time. I particularly loved the age gap between Michael and Evie. Sarah Stuart successfully establishes herself as a mistress of the romance genre.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Escape by Cybill Cain is a novella that is a cross between a steamy romance and erotica. When Max Alexander, silver screen superstar, finishes his latest movie he needs a break and his old friend offers him exactly that with a month at an isolated beach B&B on the North Carolina coast, all to himself. An opportunity to be pampered is not one Max is going to turn up his nose at, but little did he suspect that this vacation would mark a turning point in his life. Annie Clemons, the woman who runs Escape is a self-contained artist who has spent virtually all her life at the boarding house that has been in the family for generations. She also has an undying movie crush on the gorgeous Max Alexander. When Max first arrives, sparks fly between the pair and so develops an adventure.

It is obvious that Escape is part of a larger series of books grouped together as Chimera Club stories. Although only a novella, I found the story packed full of intrigue and adventure, not to mention the sex, which was hot, steamy and well written by the author. I do enjoy a good, old-fashioned romance from time to time and this is exactly what Escape is – an escape into fantasy and desire. We all dream of the perfect relationship with the perfect man/woman and Cybill Cain brings us that in Escape. Perhaps Max is too perfect physically, but then again, he is an actor so what can you expect. As pure escapism, it is as good as anything I’ve read lately. If you like your romances with some sexual bite, then I’m sure this will prove a winner for you. A good solid five stars for this effort.

Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite

Camden is the story of two brothers, Cam (Camden) and his twin brother Pierce, who couldn’t be more different on the outside. Cam rocked the bad boy look while Pierce was pure Brooks Brothers, but still they became partners at a firm called The Skin Agency, which was created to keep the rich, famous and infamous free from kidnappers, blackmailers and extortionists. Mostly. But one night things go wrong when a burgeoning pop star, Yara Bujold, goes missing. It changes everything for Cam and Xio Axelrod did a fantastic job of showing just how much he was affected by that night. He was tortured and guilty before leaving the agency to work at a bar he owned, and then…in walks the dead pop star he’d helped destroy.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure about Camden at first. Even though his guilt was palpable almost from his first appearance on the page, in my view he was still a pretty bad guy and the more I learned about what happened to Yara, the more that belief stuck. Yara was strong and tough and vulnerable at the same time, so basically she was the kind of heroine you have a really good time rooting for. When Yara and Cam first shared a page, the chemistry was so hot and sizzling, it leapt off the page. Xio Axelrod did a really good job illustrating the inevitable tension between them as the chemistry turned to more. The best thing about this story in my opinion is Yara. She wasn’t a dumb heroine who constantly put herself in danger to find the truth. She was smart, calculating, and cleverly stayed out of sight while she set her plans in motion. Xio Axelrod is a new author to me but Camden is a good, fast read that held my attention from beginning to end.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Lily Reid, the only daughter of an eminent physician, had dropped out of medicine during her residency and had instead focused her life and career on helping medical professionals deal with the overwhelming stress, depression and incredibly high suicide rate that so often is the bane of the medical profession. In The Burnout Cure by Jill Blake, Lily believes vehemently in her advocacy and is a determined, strong and independent woman who has no desire or plans for a long-term relationship or a family. Her work and her passion to help medical professionals is her life. Wolf, a doctor, had it all - drop-dead gorgeous, he lived his life according to his own dictates. He loved women, but he didn't want a relationship. Sex was fantastic, but who wanted to over-complicate it all with feelings? Wolf was of the old school of thought. "If you can't hack the pace of medicine, then look for another job." He looked at medicine like a soldier looks at Special Forces. It takes a special breed of man or woman to be a medical professional. "Suck it up!" was his opinion. When Lily and Wolf meet, the physical attraction is undeniable, but they are so far apart in their views, can anything ever develop?

The Burnout Cure by Jill Blake has absolutely no pretensions. It is pure, light-hearted romance (chick-lit, if you like), but what I loved and what lifted it above your normal hospital, steamy romance story was the seriousness and importance of the backstory to the two characters. Clearly depression, stress and suicide is a major problem within the medical profession and Blake has cleverly used the romance between Lily and Wolf to highlight something she feels strongly about. This is still a story about two disparate people, with virtually nothing in common, who find themselves deeply physically attracted to each other, but the subtext gives it so much more depth. There is the full requisite of hot and steamy love scenes, which are totally necessary and, I might add, extremely well written by Blake so as not to be over-emphasised or incredibly crude as can often be the case. I'm probably not the target market for this kind of steamy romance, but I was certainly glued to the pages and dying to know where it led us next. This is an excellent read and well above the usual hospital romance pap that can be so repetitive and boring. An excellent read from Jill Blake.

Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite

Secrets Hidden in the Glass by Cate Beauman is a romantic suspense novel and a part of the Carter Island series. Callie Davis, a world-renowned stained-glass artist, is in desperate need of a break from her hectic Manhattan life. Carter Island seems like the perfect place to disappear for a few weeks. What she didn’t expect was to fall in love with not only the island, but the handsome sheriff, Nate Carter. Despite the idyllic setting, there is one thing Callie cannot escape—her abandonment as a child by her mother. As old memories begin to surface, sparked by her surroundings, new leads develop in the long dormant case, leaving Callie and Nate wondering what really did happen to her mother all those years ago?

Having read Ms. Beauman’s Bodyguards of LA County series, I was very excited to delve into a new world by an author I had previously enjoyed. This novel presented like a slow burn, with the story developing day by day as Nate gains Callie’s trust and their relationship blossoms. I loved the supporting characters and the descriptions of the island setting. It was nice to read something so thoroughly written, with all the nuances of Callie and Nate’s relationship, and the impact of Callie’s childhood, fully fleshed out. As with her previous series, Secrets Hidden Behind the Glass by Cate Beauman offers readers the chance to really get to know a set of characters and their surroundings, while still offering a suspenseful and engaging plot. I will definitely be following the Carter Island series with great interest.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

When Neil left her for a younger woman, Samantha Decker did not know how to react. A dedicated wife, and mother of teenage Cody, that’s all she knew. All she had to know. Suddenly she is thrown into the position of counselor to her son and fallen woman to her Catholic family. Not only were the Deckers ferociously Catholic, Samantha’s mother and her grandmother were evidently extremely judgmental. Sunday dinner consisted of a barrage of her mother’s negative comments surrounding Samantha’s life, and a constant sprinkling of “holy” water from Mimsy’s sacred stash. Samantha does her best to be a strong parental influence, to the point of shaming her ex into being more a part of his son’s life. Then the web begins to tangle. A one-time babysitting gig reappears in Samantha’s life, leaving a shamed Samantha writhing in guilt. Mix that with her recent contact with her favorite author, Autumn Moone, and Sam isn’t certain which way to turn.

Fiercely honest, brave but lighted-hearted, The Sidelined Wife: More Than a Wife Series Book 1 by Jennifer Peel is one of the best romance novels I have read in a long, long time. Peel’s ability to include laughter in this dark side of marriage is highly effective. The Decker family represents every family of a divorced child. Peel’s narrative is fast-paced and believable while the dialogue, especially between Samantha and Reed, is fun and filled with the age-old yearning of two unlikely lovers. Is Samantha a cougar, or is it acceptable to fall in love with a younger man?

Reviewed by Deborah Adams for Readers' Favorite

Escape Clause by Mary Billiter is a nice vacation/beach read for contemporary romance readers to enjoy on a lazy day. Single mom Kelsey Donigan is just settling into her new life on the Oregon coast when news comes in that her job, and the hotel she’s working for, might not last. Oliver Carlyle works for the rival hotel, but that doesn’t mean he wants to see the Point Resort go under. When Ollie and Kelsey meet at the local historic lighthouse on a publicity adventure, sparks are flying from the start. The two are opposites in most ways, but each one brings to the table something the other can’t help but be drawn to. Through misunderstandings, legal shenanigans, and family feuds, they decide to block out the naysayers and go for love.

In Escape Clause, Mary Billiter hits a lot of great notes, as our two main characters have fun and distinct personalities. Kelsey’s free spirit attitude contrasts well with Oliver’s buttoned-up lifestyle, but they both have the interests of the other in mind which makes for a healthy balance. Escape Clause readers will enjoy the sweet relationship between Kelsey and her 6-year-old son and later the bond her son forms with Ollie. Ollie’s family will drive you crazy and leave you amazed at the patience of the protagonist. If you are looking for a sweet read where love prevails and the good guys win, you will find what you are looking for in Escape Clause by Mary Billiter.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Tate is struggling with the fact that her parents are dead, her Nana is dying, her husband is cheating on her, and she is keeping all of the pain deep within. With her last breath, Nana Maria asks Tate to go to Europe and meet her European family. Over the years, Nana Maria has shared stories of her youth with Tate, but has not told her all of the details. As the story progresses, we read Maria’s story in her own words as she tells us of her life in France. Tate immediately makes plans to travel to Europe and meet her family. Tate is welcomed with open arms and is quickly made to feel right at home. She finds happiness, peace, love, and willingly and happily opens her heart and her thoughts to her wonderful new family. There are secrets to learn, adventures to have, lots of parties and food to eat, and Tate would like to stay forever, but sadly she must go back home to Pittsburgh.

Beautiful Secret is a love story of the present beautifully intertwined in the past. I really loved being a part of Tate and Nana Maria’s story and was drawn further and further in as I read. Beautiful Secret will make you smile and make you cry and it will keep you reading long into the night. The ending has a totally unexpected twist and is one I did not see coming. Dana Faletti is a gifted romance storyteller, creating believable, lovable characters and a plot that has no flaws. I highly urge you to read Beautiful Secret; it is more than just a five star winner.