Not Guilty of Books

Review: This is my favourite book in this series so far. Smartly written, engaging, and comforting. I was hooked early on with this mystery/suspense romance. The murder case was intriguing and keeps you turning the pages. But the homicide detectives leading the case (and the book) keep you equally enthralled. I loved them both. The somewhat mysterious ‘Uncle” Rick who has popped up in previous books, is a perpetual bachelor who became a cop in a family of firefighters. He’s loyal and protective. And John, the new homicide detective with some secrets that make him skittish around the gorgeous Canali. Sweet and eager, he brings new life to Rick's private life. They are both really likable and heartwarming guys that you can just tell will be a perfect fit from the beginning. In the end, you want nothing more than for these two to get the family they deserve. 4.5 Stars 🕮 Hot Pursuit by Eli Easton 📚 Add to your TBR ➟ https://bit.ly/3xVpOmV Synopsis: Solving the case will be tric...

Review: This had such a great meet-cute between a sunshiny 22-year-old with big dreams of an exciting life outside his small town, and the 38-year-old grumpy and heart-wounded Veterinary who’s moved to town, tired of big city life. Joss and Oliver made for a really entertaining couple and story. Surrounded by gossiping grannies, BFFs with some straight-talking words, and some pretty cute animals (and their tiresome owners). The characters were vibrant and the story flowed nicely. Complete with some hurdles and a lovely grand gesture we get to the place we know they deserve to be. Swoon. 🕮 Animal Instincts by @aliryecartauthor 📚 Add to your TBR ➟ https://bit.ly/3QMX4oV Synopsis: There’s a storm coming to Love’s Harbour… Microwave dinners for one and evenings spent alone aren’t what Oliver Strachan imagines for himself when he relocates his veterinary practice to the village of Love’s Harbour. It’s a chance to mend his broken heart, but starting over is tough and Oliver feels more los...

  Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank have revealed the cover for Forbidden Mafia Prince! Releasing: July 25, 2022 Cover Design: Hang Le "What are you going to do with me?" "Whatever the hell I want." In Manhattan, tensions are rising. In a play for power, the Rossetti family has made a decisive blow, crippling their rivals—an act that has forced the Fiores to make a desperate move to maintain their supremacy. Many miles away, Luca Davis, a young medical student, has no idea his life is about to change. No idea that everything he's been told about his  life has been a lie. Enter Domenico Rossetti, the ruthless Mafia prince.  Powerful and unforgiving, he's a savage in a suit—and the one who holds the cards when it comes to his new captive. But when the war escalates and both are forced into seclusion, the two men are faced with a new threat: the rising sexual tension between them. You don't fall for the one person you're supposed to hate, but it's ...

Review: Touch the Sky was a compassionate and moving story of love, friendship, and accepting yourself. It was a tight ball of emotions from the very beginning to the very end. These two guys have been dealt some pretty crappy hands, past and present. When they reconnect, there is no denying their feelings or the bond that they have but is that bond enough to overcome their struggles? Struggles which include guilt, loss, and mental health issues. It’s a lot for two young men to have to overcome. These two fantastic authors handle it all beautifully while creating a very tender and passionate story of very real love that requires taking care of yourself so that you can take of the one you love. This was one of the more natural feeling stories I’ve read. Especially the emails back and forth as teenagers. As someone who came of age when the internet came to be, I can tell you this exactly how things went. Discovering friends online that you would write back and forth with, half da...

Review: A slow burn if ever there was one! These two sweet guys become BFFs while co-starring as romantic leads. I loved their chemistry as friends. They are lovely and find solace in each other as Quell in particular deals with a life that feels like it wants to crush him. This is a 2 book romance so it moves more slowly than usual, giving you the chance to really understand Quell's struggles and the depth of Hale’s devotion (as friend and lover). It compassionately handles so many topics, from depression and loneliness to sexual discovery and acceptance. “He stayed the night and all the nights after. I don’t know if he sensed it in me but he stayed and I was grateful. It saved me night after night. The loneliness I felt being in love with my best friend was more bearable with him there.” I also really enjoyed the moments with their friends/colleagues Ella and Mel, they were both amazing friends and wonderfully entertaining. Looking forward to seeing where these two go from here....

  Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Quarterback Keeper By Rheland Richmond & Emerson Beckett The Package Deal Series, Book 1 Alex I'm the starting quarterback for the Portland Pirates, and I have a thing for my son's teacher. Except I didn't know the cute blonde on the beach with the giant dog was, in fact, my kid's teacher until two months later at Open House. Christian took my breath away during the second week of my two-week vacation at the beach and introduced me to things I never knew could feel so good and be so right. I think he just might be the one who inspires me to tell the world that this NFL quarterback is bisexual and in love with a man. That is until I blew the best thing to happen to me since my kids were born. All I know is I have to get him back. I had to find a way to keep him. Christian I never imagined I would meet the love of my life while being bowled over on the beach by the overeager Newfoundland I was dog-sitting. But tha...

Review: Did you ever wonder about the love life of a romance author?  Do they believe in the tropes they write about? Do they get their own happy ever after? I love when a character is an author in a book, writing the genre that I’m reading. This was a wonderful story that had both the very familiar and usual romance feel, while also feeling completely unique with a style all its own that you can’t quite put your finger on.  It’s a meet-cute story that turns into a BFF-to-lovers story.  But it’s also slow (or maybe soft is the better word) and introspective.  It teases you for more and makes you slow down to listen. But it’s also cute and quirky.  If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a romance author, I suspect Benjii isn’t far off the mark. I love the narration style, and while I often prefer more dialogue, narration worked so well for this. I loved feeling like the characters were telling you their story, while talking about writing a story, ins...

  Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Playing Games By Riley Hart Coming August 25th Franklin University Series, Book 1 Brax Tyson Langley thinks the king in Franklin University Kings is in reference to him. Star lacrosse player and God’s gift to the female and male population, there’s nothing the spoiled jock can’t have. It’s impossible for us to be in the same room without talking crap to each other. But I also have a secret… As much as I despise Ty, I want him too. I revel in our banter and in never knowing what he’ll say next. I’ve spent too much time on the wrong side of the law for someone like Ty, though, and if I want to make it through college and escape my past, he’s a distraction I don’t need.     Ty   Braxton Walker needs to learn to lighten up. If you search brooding online, his name pops up. He’s the bad boy with a leather jacket and a scowl. We couldn’t be more different. Finding ways to annoy him is like the longest foreplay session of my lif...

Review: Levi, sweet, sweet Levi. He’s such a special guy, never having felt like enough for anyone, thanks to his horrible and selfish mother, until he met the boys. This amazing group of guy friends who love fiercely and razz each other just as hard! “What I said earlier… You know that, right? That I’m not going anywhere? I don’t care what kind of family you have or don’t have. I don’t care if you were raised by wolves—unless you’re part werewolf, cuz that would be hot. Just sayin’. I love this series so much, and I wasn’t disappointed for a minute with Levi and Sage. This was a lovely, mushy, perfect feel-good read. With a smidge of sadness just to make sure we get all the feels. Trust me when I say, Levi deserves to be wrapped up in a big ole blanket of love. Thankfully Sage is ready and waiting to do just that. Stars: 4.5 🕮 Landing Levi by @jaclynquinn.books 📚 Add to your TBR ➟ https://bit.ly/3HTkvsZ Synopsis: Sage Rafferty I've wanted Levi ever since my friend Cole introd...

Review: I probably say this a lot, but I absolutely love a BFF to lovers story. Especially one that had them apart for years. And this story absolutely does not disappoint. You could feel the longing and heartbreak between these two. And Travis’ struggles with hiding in the closet. Ugh, it breaks my heart. "The thing about voluntary isolation is, you have to love yourself. Truthfully, I don't even like myself. All the lying and hiding is taking its toll on me and makes me question if I'm making the right decision. Sometimes, it feels like the greater my achievements are, the lonelier I become." I loved everything about this. The flashbacks, their current stories, their reunion…especially the cabin scene. You could feel it all. This was my first Garry Michael book, and it absolutely won’t be my last. I really love his writing style. Stars: 5 🕮 Break Point by @author_garry_michael 📚 Add to your TBR ➟ https://bit.ly/3bcR5cI Synopsis: Tennis's golden boy Travi...

Review: A bit insta-love, a bit angsty, a whole lot of sweet and steamy. This was a really nice read that involved a sweet first-grade teacher, a super hot football star looking to explore his bi side, two adorable children, and some even cute doggos playing matchmaker. Sometimes, even when you’re faced with the ‘one’, it can still be hard to ignore the world around you and its pressures. But thankfully, when you have some great friends to give you the push you need, you can get your second chance. And really cute HEA. Great start to a series by a new collab of authors. Looking forward to book 2. Stars: 4 🕮 The Quarterback Keeper by @rhelandrichmond & @author.emerson.beckett 📚 Add to your TBR ➟ https://bit.ly/3naiv5P Synopsis: Alex I'm the starting quarterback for the Portland Pirates, and I have a thing for my son's teacher. Except I didn't know the cute blond on the beach with the giant dog was, in fact, my kid's teacher until two months later at Open House. ...

  Release Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Make Music Together By Ariella Zoelle Harmony of Hearts, Book 2 Sparks fly when Noctis meets his new neighbor. But will their shower duets lead to true love?   Noctis Ralston How odd am I? I’m a “fall in love with my new neighbor before I’ve formally met him” level of awkward aardvark. But in my defense, this mystery man has a golden voice that gives me chills even in the hottest of showers, thanks to our thin apartment walls. I’d love to be bold enough to introduce myself, but since I have the self-confidence of a dull doorknob, that’s not happening. My life changes forever when I unexpectedly meet my neighbor at an open mic night. Not only is Levi nice, but holy frickenfrack, he’s a “make me forget the entirety of the English language” type of gorgeous . And for some inexplicable reason, he seems interested in me, despite the fact the only “relationship” I’ve ever had is with my right-hand man, if you know what I mean. Can I ...

Review: Leave it to Kate (or Nikki Markham in this case) to pop my FF romance cherry. That’s what happens when you love an author enough to follow them where ever they want to take you. And the writing of this one was pretty spectacular. I would rate this at about 10 hot tamales out of 5. Spicy and kinky and a really great story of self-discovery and trust. These two have such a great connection and really I enjoy a new sub dynamic, I love the learning and exploration. I also like that despite the power dynamic they both help each other to love and accept themselves as much as they love each other. They were sweet and hot in equal measure. I’m not sure FF will ever be a genre I read much of but I'll definitely continue to read whatever Markham writes. Stars: 4 🕮 Impact by Nikki Markham 📚 Add to your TBR ➟ https://bit.ly/3OsmXbV Synopsis: Bailey is 28 years old. She's single, she's bisexual, and after stumbling into the wrong club on the right Friday night, she thinks sh...