Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Cake In Bed by Sheri Fink is just as light hearted and fun as it sounds. The story follows a 30-something woman called Julie. She has been divorced once, but she is not losing hope of finding love. The night that might have been her first wedding anniversary, she is sitting alone in bed, eating cake. But she is not going down without a fight, and so starts the parade of messy men, bad men, and selfish men. It is great that Julie has Nick, her friend who has always been there for her. There has always been something between them; they had a chemistry they always tried to ignore. But when push comes to a shove, will they finally give in to their attraction or will they still waste time on Mr. and Ms. Wrongs?

Oh boy! I’m a sucker for a sweet, sassy romance. People are calling it a “feel good” romance, and they are right to some degree. But this is just simply pure talent on the writer’s part. Give this story to someone else and they will make it into a long, boring affair. But not Fink! She kept it simple, sweet, passionate ... and a little steamy. From the get go, you are cheering Julie on and rooting for Nick. I don’t think I have had such strong emotions for any characters other than the Harry Potter series. All in all, this is a romance book I would love to introduce to my book club, because we love a nice romance that makes you smile and makes you “feel good” so effortlessly.

Reviewed by James Phillips for Readers' Favorite

Krystina Cole isn’t necessarily looking for a man when she meets real estate tycoon and billionaire Alexander Stone. But Stone is attracted to how smart she is and her sassy attitude. And if Stone wants something, he usually gets it. This is the opening scene of Heart of Stone by Dakota Willink, a saucy romance that brings two characters into the world of BDSM. Stone is open about his tastes in dominance and submissive partners. Because Krystina is quite different than the women that Stone usually takes to the clubs, he is worried that she might be turned off by his unique tastes. But Krystina has secrets of her own, and she isn’t about to share them with Stone until she feels that it is safe. And what is safe about going to a BDSM club to be dominated? In order to be completely submissive, Krystina might have to share her secrets. But only if Stone agrees to reveal his, too.

I enjoyed Heart of Stone. Dakota Willink is definitely a talented author. She easily created a world of dominance that I was drawn into. Even if readers are not familiar with BDSM or are uncomfortable with that lifestyle, they won’t be able to stop reading this book. Willink is that good. She created characters that I liked and was invested in, and I really wanted to know out what their secrets were and how the other characters would react when they found out. If that’s not a sign of a tremendous author, then I don’t know what is.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Missing Pieces by Michael Golvach is the story of a heartbroken woman whose life was all about misery, but one day her knight came and he swept her away from her demons. Mandi has not had a wonderful life. Being abused is not fun, especially when you are just a child. And now, even though she is grown up, she is not past all the abuse she suffered when she was younger. She still lives her life as she did before, but this time, she is depriving herself of all the love and affection she deserves. When Michael Skyler met Mandi, he felt a connection that he'd never felt with anyone before. Always having the feeling that he never belonged, he saw a kindred spirit in Mandi. But Mandi is very hard to woo, she is not letting him in. Can Michael bring down her walls? Can Mandi get past the scars of her past?

There is only one word that describes this novel: “beautiful.” The story is so powerful and poignant that you can actually feel the pain deep inside you. You become one with the characters and that is a major gigantic star for the writer. The story is moving, the characters are strong, and you will simply love them for being the way they are. Many times, writers are not able to write really good dialogues, but in this novel they are on point, like REALLY on point. The characters are beautiful, the story is beautiful, and the cover of the novel is just perfect! You do not want to miss this one; it is a novel that will stay with you for a long, long, long time.

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

A deliciously delightful romp on the fun side, Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya takes its readers behind the scenes of a Hollywood reality TV show called Marry Your Billionaire – what else! – where 20 beautiful young women vie for the affections of one hunky billionaire. Actually, better make that 19 young women. Madelyn (Midge) Knightly has her own agenda for being on the show. Just one semester shy of graduating with a degree in English, her scholarship has lost its funding, forcing Midge to take her father, the legendary Hollywood producer of Marry Your Billionaire, up on his offer to reinstate her trust fund in exchange for becoming one of the contestants on the reality show for only 24 hours, after which she’ll be eliminated from the so-called competition. With absolutely no Plan B in sight and her dreams of graduating in serious jeopardy, Midge grudgingly agrees, but has an absolute panic attack when she learns that the billionaire heartthrob of the show is none other than Brody Prescott, CEO and owner of an online dating company, with whom she’s already engaged in some not-so-nice dialogue and a heated tongue-tango that’s currently going viral on YouTube. Things become even more complicated when Midge learns that one of the other contestants is the vindictive Felicia Davenport, Brody’s ex, who appears to want her man back and takes an intense disliking to Midge when Brody refuses to eliminate her. Felicia makes it known that she’ll stop at nothing to get her prize. Growing suspicious of Felicia’s motives, Midge unleashes her own secret weapon, her roommate Lisa, a gal with a weakness for men with money and a talented computer hack, ready to do her bidding.

While the hilarious premise behind Marry Your Billionaire is enough to make it worthy of a read, it’s the characters of Midge and Brody and how they play off each other that keep readers hooked. Midge grew up in the world of show business, isn’t impressed by it, and is as down to earth as they come, cheesy expressions and all. She’s smart and sassy, a lethal combination, and is fiercely independent, which she’s quick to point out to her father at every turn. However, there’s a core of vulnerability to her, thanks to her inability to believe that anyone would actually be interested in her for herself – and not because she’s the famous Corbin Knightly’s daughter. Brody, on the other hand, is dreamboat material, no two ways about it. He’s hot and he’s super rich – which is pretty much de rigueur in a romance book – but what sets Brody apart from the masses of other hunks in this genre is that he’s got heart by the bucket loads and a soft spot the size of Texas when it comes to his mother and the many charitable causes he supports. And just because he’s gorgeous doesn’t mean the man doesn’t have insecurities. His insecurities stem from the fact that, as the owner of an online dating company, he has been unable to find his own perfect soul mate. It’s these core vulnerabilities which give the two main protagonists their backbone, while their mutual attraction and constant sparring keep Marry Your Billionaire full-out engaging from first page until last.

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever had the urge to indulge in a luscious-looking dessert that’s almost too perfect to eat, and that’s probably laden with a thousand calories – but you’re going to go for it anyway, because you need your feel-good fix? Well, that’s the same feeling you’re going to experience with Something Amazing, Book 4 in the Something Great series of romance books by author M. Clarke. This sexually-charged, luscious dessert of a story will have romance lovers sensually licking their lips in satisfaction – like the proverbial cat who’s had its fill of delicious cream – right until the very end, the perfect forever after.

Rachel Miller’s heart has just been broken after her breakup with Greg, and with her best friend and roommate, Stacey, in tow, the two head off to Kauai for ten days of rest and relaxation in paradise. It doesn’t take the two girls very long to meet two gorgeous guys – brothers to boot – who are more than willing to help the girls occupy their time while on vacation. Hendrix is the entrepreneur of the family and a friend of Rachel’s brother-in-law, Matthew, while Hendrix’s brother, Jackson (Jax), is the more mysterious and certainly the more adventurous of the two. Rachel is immediately smitten by Jax and the feeling appears to be mutual as the two quickly pair off. They both discover that their sexual chemistry is undeniable, yet Rachel is doing her best to put the brakes on her growing feelings for Jax. She’s just come out of a bad relationship and doesn’t want to jump into another one. The only problem is that with her sister, Becky, about to be married to the very eligible Matthew Knight in Paris, no less, Rachel can’t seem to help her growing feelings for the very hot – yet strangely mysterious – Jax.

Something Amazing has some great characters, not only in its main protagonists, Rachel and Jax, but also in its supporting cast of characters, from Jax’s brother, Hendrix, to Rachel’s sister, Becky, to her roommate, Stacey. All of these supporting characters enrich and provide another layer to an otherwise fairly straightforward romance. There’s sexual tension aplenty with lots of hot sex to get one’s proverbial knickers in a knot. All in all, Something Amazing is pretty much the perfect love story. Rather than intersperse the story with conflict from the beginning, Clarke introduces it at the three-quarter mark and when she does, it’s a whammy, followed by a relatively quick resolution. Something Amazing is something pretty darned good.

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

Life as the daughter of two of the greatest rock singers in the world is never easy, and when your parents are divorced and feuding against each other, it is even worse. Sadie McRae doesn't think it can get any worse than this, but she is about to learn that everything can be taken away in an instant. Things Lost In The Fire by Katie Jennings follows Sadie as she rebuilds her life with the help of her grandparents, after she survives a terrible assault in her mother's house. Even if that means she must return to Hollywood and face her demons. Katie Jennings takes the time to develop true to life characters that you can relate to and understand, that you feel for and want to see overcome their pasts and find a brighter future.

Things Lost In the Fire touches on a physical assault, stalking, drugs and rock 'n' roll. The characters are all touched by a fire, or event that destroyed something in their lives, but how each one reacted is completely different. Sadie retreats far from public view and becomes a shy, scared version of herself that needs to be brought back into the world. Her mother refuses to accept anything and lives in an almost fantasy. Katie Jennings gives us a compelling story of life that does not have to be defined by one incident; there is more to each person than one event or one mistake. This is a wonderful book for young adults as well as adults.

Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite

Neil and Candy are happily married and desperately in love. They fought hard for the relationship and it is perfect now, except Neil really wants a baby and Candy can’t give him one. Neil steamrolls over Candy and hires a surrogate as Candy begins to fall in love with a lost little girl inside a local orphanage. The Price to Love is an emotional story about a marriage on the brink of falling apart and how two people cope with changing relationships. Lorhainne Eckhart has written a fantastic novel about secrets, desires and the lengths we’re willing to go in order to make our dreams come true.

The Price to Love is a lot of story and by that I mean that a lot happens in this story, but it isn’t a long one. Candy feels bad that she can’t give her husband the one thing he really wants — a baby — but she also feels unsettled about the situation with the surrogate, rightly so as it turns out. I loved the way Lorhainne Eckhart played the turmoil Candy was feeling; she was still deeply in love with her husband, but his actions were ripping her apart and she was torn. The tension between them was palpable, so much at times that you really just wanted to grab Neil by the collar and say, “Really Neil? Really?!” As much as he was downright loathsome at times, it was a great twist to make the man the one desperate for a child. The story doesn’t quite get resolved at the end of The Price to Love, but it is still one great piece of storytelling.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

In My Serenity by M. Clarke, Seth Stewart was on a fantastic ride that took him only upward. His life is good. He has an internship, even though he just completed his first year at Berkeley Business School. But things take a devastating turn when his father dies. Now, he has to leave all that success behind to come home and take over the family restaurant and garage. He anticipated hard work and sadness, but he did not anticipate walking into Josefina Anders. After they stumbled into each other, it was fireworks all over again.

Josefina Anders knew she was not like other women and she will never be. Her past has done a number on her and she is never getting over it; not soon enough. But when Seth comes back, things get a little out of hand. Her heart is telling her to go back to him and see if their attraction has the potential to become something more. But her past is never left behind. With the arrival of her mother and a nasty ghost of her past, Josefina is stuck in the middle of wanting Seth and protecting him from her past. But can she allow Seth to look her past in the eye and save her? Or will she close her heart and let him go away, again?

Sweet, sassy and endearing: these are the three words that describe My Serenity perfectly. M. Clarke wrote a romance novel with the perfect guy to break down the barriers around the female protagonist’s heart. Seth is passionate and very energetic, but best of all, he is a rounded character. While most of the romance heroes are after sex, Seth craves passion and that is what sets him apart from other heroes in the romance category. This is a class A novel; it should not be missed.

Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite

Thirty-something divorcee Sophie lives a pretty solitary life these days on her farm. A divorce from “The Snake” has soured her on men so she scrimped and saved and finally sets out to enjoy the gorgeous white sandy beaches of the Maldives. But before Sophie can even feel the sand between her toes on her ‘deserted’ island, she meets the oh so unfriendly Lucas. This cowboy, a real life cowboy, is happy to keep his own counsel and has no desire to mix and mingle. But when their journey to paradise is hijacked by true blue pirates, Lucas and Sophie are forced to work together to escape. In Lady Sun, Marni MacRae does a great job with the sharp, short, witty narration. You get to learn a lot about Sophie and Lucas through their dialog as well as their actions because they are two truly unique characters.

Lady Sun by Marni MacRae gets off to a slow start, but once the action starts, you will take part in a fun and exciting adventure that will have you laughing along the way. It’s interesting that even though Lucas and Sophie are divorced, when it really matters they are able to trust one another. That is not only a strong characteristic, but it shows that Marni MacRae is a talented writer. The bond formed between the main characters is touching, endearing, and at times heart-wrenching. Overall, this was a really fun read and Sophie was the perfect narrator because she is irreverent, sometimes tactless, and always honest. By the time the story is over, you’ll have a big goofy grin on your face!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Just when you think that Kathleen Shoop has delivered her most heart-breaking and sensitive romance, along comes Return To Love, book two in the Endless Love series. The novella returns us to the relationship of newlyweds Hale and April, where a whole new level of hurt has cast a shadow over their lives. Hale returns safely, on leave from Vietnam in 1970, to the news that April has given birth to a stillborn child. The novella focuses on April’s journey of processing her grief in a time when mothers were often told to ‘just move on’ after such a tragic loss, but it also gives us Hale’s perspective on trying to heal the wounds of a wife that he couldn’t be there to support during the most trying and terrifying time of her life.

Return To Love is a sensitive and detailed account of a young couple dealing with a tragic loss. For readers like me who know little of Seventies culture, the attitude towards women’s mental health is both shocking and fascinating. Kathleen Shoop creates a wonderful, forward-thinking man in Hale Abercrombie, who recognises the injustice of a society determined to view women’s emotions as weaknesses. The rebuilding of Hale and April’s relationship is bittersweet but ultimately rewarding. It was also wonderful to be introduced to more of the characters that inhabit their world after book one was so heavily focused on the central pair. Little touches like the recipes in the back of the novella were also a surprising delight; I just might have to make that chocolate pecan pie!