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Stories with a plot point that forces characters to spend time together. These scenarios can vary in forcefulness and isolation but are often when the characters do not want to be with each other. Piggybacking on the Tropes List - Marriage of Convenience post I did a few weeks ago, this week we are talking forced proximity and all of the tension that comes with it. The Forced Proximity trope is versatile, and various degrees of it can be found in practically any romance book. I love the banter that comes from putting characters in uncomfortable situations. Both main characters usually experience some needed character growth as they learn to lean on each other to overcome an obstacle or situation. This trope is an umbrella over many others, including a marriage of convenience, fake dating, small town, and opposites attract just to name a few. For the sake of this list, I am defining forced proximity as books that force the two main characters to either a) work together on a common goal, b) spend a lot of time with one another for any reason or c) share a house/room/bed. As always, I tried to put a wide range of books on my list this week. In no particular order, these books span my definition of forced proximity and the trope makes up a heavy portion of the story's plot. 1. Hearts in Darkness Author: Laura Kaye Series: Hearts in Darkness Duet Series book # 1 Category: Contemporary Romance Blurb Two strangers... When accountant Makenna James finds herself stranded in a pitch-black elevator, she can’t help but wonder about the stranger stuck with her. All she noticed about him before the lights went out was a dragon tattoo; all she knows now is his sexy, gruff voice in the darkness. Four hours... Caden Grayson is inked, pierced, scarred on the inside and out—and terrified of the dark for reasons he’d rather not remember. Trapped in his worst nightmare, only the sweet voice of the red-headed beauty distracts him from his fear. And, oh, man, as the hours pass and the darkness heats up, that’s nothing compared to her touch. One pitch-black elevator... He’s all rough edges and she’s pin-striped skirts, but in the darkness they open up and reach out without any preconceptions to hold them back. But as attractions grows and sparks fly, will they feel the same when the lights come back on? 2. Bound to the Battle God Author: Ruby Dixon Series: Aspect and Anchor Series book #1 Category: Fantasy Romance Blurb When I went to my neighbor's apartment to investigate strange sounds, I never expected to fall through a portal into another world. Yet here I am, a stranger in an even stranger land...and I'm stranded. In this world, might makes right, men carry swords, and gods walk the earth. Within minutes of arriving, I’m enslaved. Fun place. How do I get home? GREAT question. Wish I had an answer. The one person that might be able to help me is also the one person I want to throttle most. Aron, Lord of Storms, Butcher God of Battle, is my new companion. Or rather, I'm his. As Aron's anchor to the mortal realm, I'm the one that's supposed to be guiding him through his exile in the mortal world. Ha. Joke's on him. I know nothing about this place. But Aron and I have a common goal - get home. And we're bonded - anchor and god - with a bond unlike any other. So we travel together. We bicker. We bathe together. We fight our many, many enemies together. And sure, he’s a god, but he’s also an arrogant jerk. Brawny, smoking hot, irresistible jerk. I should want nothing to do with him. I certainly shouldn’t want to do things to him. Mortals and gods don’t mix. We stick to the plan and ignore our attraction. Focused, with one goal in mind. One task. One goal. Focused. 3. Lead Author: Kylie Scott Series: Stage Dive Series book #3 Category: Contemporary Romance Blurb Can rock n' roll's most notorious bad boy be tamed by love? As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it-now he's caught up in a life of hard partying and fast women. When a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant hired to keep him out of trouble. Lena's not willing to take any crap from her sexy boss and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far, he just might lose the best thing that's ever happened to him. Can he convince his stubborn assistant to risk it all and let her heart take the lead? 4. Twisted Games Author: Ana Huang Series: Twisted Series book #2 Category: Contemporary Romance Blurb Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules: 1) Protect his clients at all costs 2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever. He has never once been tempted to break those rules...until her. Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She's nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed. Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defenses until he's faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her. Because she's his. His princess. His forbidden fruit. His every depraved fantasy. *** Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses. But when her brother abdicates, she's suddenly faced with the prospect of a loveless, politically expedient marriage and a throne she never wanted. And as she navigates the intricacies-and treacheries-of her new role, she must also hide her desire for a man she can't have. Her bodyguard. Her protector. Her ultimate ruin. Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a kingdom...and doom them both. Do not become emotionally involved. Ever. 5. Hold Author: Claire Kent Series: Hold Series book #1 Category: Sci-Fi Romance Blurb Find the strongest man there. Give yourself to him in return for protection. It’s the only way you’ll ever survive. Convicted of a minor crime, Riana is sentenced to a prison planet—a dark primitive hold filled with convicts vying for power. Her only chance of survival is with Cain, a mysterious loner who has won his territory in the prison through intelligence and brute strength. Sex is all she has to offer, so she uses it. She’s under no delusions here. No one is ever released, and no one ever escapes. Survival is all she can hope for—until Cain. 6. The Gamble Author: Kristen Ashley Series: Colorado Mountain Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Blurb Love is the greatest gamble of all . . . Nina Sheridan desperately needs a timeout vacation. With a fianc?àö¬© who can't even remember how she takes her coffee, Nina wants some distance to rethink her engagement. Flying halfway around the world from England to a mountain town in Colorado should do the trick. But when she finds a gorgeous man at her rental cabin, Nina's cold, lonely adventure suddenly heats up. The owner of the house, Holden "Max" Maxwell is surprised by the beautiful woman who turns up at his door. But when Nina becomes ill, Max spends days nursing her back to health. A private man with a broken heart, Max finds himself drawn to the strong-willed woman. Soon it becomes impossible for Nina and Max to deny their growing attraction to one another. Yet even as these two wounded souls think about taking a chance on a relationship, a secret from Max's past emerges-and threatens to end their love for good. 7. Go Hex Yourself Author: Jessica Clare Series: Hex Seriesbook #1 Category: Fantasy Romance Blurb When Reggie Johnson answers a job ad in the paper, she’s astonished to find that she’s not applying to work at her favorite card game, Spellcraft: The Magicking. Instead, she’s applying to be an actual familiar for an actual witch. As in, real magic. The new job has a few perks - great room and board, excellent pay, and she's apprenticing to a powerful witch. Sure, the witch is a bit eccentric. And sure, there was that issue with the black cat Reggie would prefer to forget about. The biggest problem, however, is warlock Ben Magnus, her employer's nephew and the most arrogant, insufferable, maddening man to ever cast a spell. Reggie absolutely hates him. He's handsome, but he's also bossy and irritating and orders her around. Ben's butt might look great in a crystal ball vision, but that's as far as it goes. But when someone with a vendetta targets the household, she finds herself working with Ben to break a deadly curse. Apparently, when they're not fighting like cats and dogs, things get downright...bewitching. 8. Wallbanger Author: Alice Clayton Series: The Cocktail Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Blurb Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a Kitchen Aid mixer to die for, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O. Adding insult to O-less, she also has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Every moan, spank, and—was that a meow?—punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has—yep, you guessed it—no O. Enter Simon Parker. When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has…well…mixed results. Because with walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick. A delicious mix of silly and steamy, this is an irresistible tale of exasperation at first sight. 9. The Deal Author: Elle Kennedy Series: Off-Campus Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Blurb She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy… Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. ...and it’s going to be oh so good All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

In my younger hay days, I was just as a vicarious reader as I am now. Maybe even more so because the lack of responsibilities meant more time to read! Go figure, it was way easier to devour a series in a couple of days when I didn’t have to keep two kids, a dog, and a husband alive. I have such fond memories of many of the series I read back in the day, I think it may be time to revisit them. I’ve found there is something magical about the age of young adult books on the cusp of responsibility and new challenges of growing up it opens up the possibilities of storylines. Young Adult books can be read at any age! I’ll say it again... You do not have to be 17 to enjoy a Young Adult series! The only requirement is accepting younger characters and the decisions that they may make may be more naïve than an older character would be. Young Adult books can get a bad rap with older readers. However, most of the time it's because the reader forgets the characters are young - duh! Exploring boundaries, questionable decision-making, see-sawing emotions, and just generally learning about life through tough experiences is part of the gig of growing up. If older readers can keep in mind these characters are just starting off, young adult books open up a new genre that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter how many birthdays you have celebrated. Whether you have already read some of the series below or if you're looking to start a Young Adult series at any stage of life, here are a few of my favorites. 1. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You Author: Ally Carter Series: Gallagher Girls Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"—but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission—falling in love. 2. Ruby Red Author: Kerstin Gier Series: Edelstein-Trilogie Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb Although I had never seen him before, I recognized him immediately. I'd have known his voice anywhere. This was the guy I'd seen on my last journey back in time. Or more precisely, the one who'd kissed my doppelganger while I was hiding behind the curtain in disbelief. Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended - and rather eccentric - family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesley. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past. She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century... 3. Born at Midnight Author: C.C. Hunter Series: Shadow Falls Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world. Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs… 4. Breathe Author: Abbi Glines Series: Sea Breeze Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island. When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star. Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationships never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie. 5. Uglies Author: Scott Westerfeld Series: Uglies Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever.... 6. Poison Study Author: Maria V. Snyder Series: Poison Study Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb Choose: A quick death… or slow poison... About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear... 7. Hex Hall Author: Rachel Hawkins Series: Hex Hall Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her. 8. Marked Author: P.C. Cast Series: House of Night Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny—with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them). ...and one current young adult series you should check out as well! Apprentice of Magic Author: K.M. Shea Series: The Fairy Tale Enchantress Series book #1 Category: Young Adult Goodreads Link Blurb Angelique hates her magic. Her time in the magical academy has been a long chain of criticisms, reprimands, and punishments. Her war-like ability to control any weapon has earned her nothing but the fear and scorn of fellow students and instructors. And now, she finds herself before the highest council just one vote away from having her magic sealed forever. Until Enchanter Evariste appears. The mysterious prodigy is one of the few with the authority to go against the Council. Which is exactly what he does when he takes Angelique as his apprentice. Though his lessons are challenging and eccentric he shows her more kindness than she ever hoped to receive. Everything seems perfect. But things are changing in the world. Dark things. Evil things. Once upon a time is about to become very real… Apprentice of Magic is an epic fantasy fairy tale adventure mixed with clean romance and humor. This new series is a companion to the bestselling Timeless Fairy Tales series.

Stories that feature two main characters who form a romantic connection either while working for the same company or outside of formal employment on a project together. Happy Fourth of July to my American audience! This week's Tropes List is all about office romances, of which the most stereotypical books are the best of both worlds...hot men in suits and smart women. However, per the actual definition of the trope, the two characters do not have to work white-collar office jobs, just work together either at the same company or on a project, even if it is outside of actual employment. I've found the two most likely plot lines for an office romance: competitive employees vying for the same goal or some sort of sunshine/grumpy, employee/boss arrangement. I've read both extensively and each has its merits as a storyline. The necessity to keep the romance a secret is paramount to many office romance trope books, and I like the added weight this gives to the story. There is more sneaking around, higher stakes, and often illicit closed-door "meetings". The ultimate reveal of the romance and the consequences also makes a great third act that usually forces characters to make hard decisions about each other or their careers/goals. I'd say this trope peaked in popularity around 2017 with The Hating Game, but there are still many books published every year that features office romances to be enjoyed. Like any trope, this one bleeds into a couple of others. Some that come to mind are the Billionaires and Forbidden Romance tropes. For this list, I am focusing on only the office romance aspect which is a wider scope and much more diverse. Happy reading! 1. Beautiful Bastard Author: Christina Lauren Series: Beautiful Bastard Series book # 1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard. Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office. As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other. 2. Neanderthal Seeks Human Author: Penny Reid Series: Knitting in the City Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn't know how to knit. After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan—aka Sir McHotpants—witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn to make her an offer she can't refuse. 3. Witches Get Stitches Author: Juliette Cross Series: Stay A Spell Series book #3 Category: Paranormal Romance Goodreads Link Blurb Violet Savoie has a plan. A dream, rather. To open her own tattoo shop, which caters to supernaturals in need of permanent charms. As a powerful Seer, she has the potent magic to cast every kind of spell. Except the kind to give werewolves control over their beastly side. And her business partner Nico needs help in the worst kind of way. Nico Cruz has a secret. A motive, rather. To subtly stalk and seduce Violet until she finally recognizes they are fated to be together. Ever since their heated encounter in Austin on New Year’s Eve two years earlier, he’s been dying to get his hands—and his tongue—back on her body. He knows a woman like Violet can’t be courted in the usual way. Luckily, Nico has no scruples about misbehaving to get what he wants. But when his former pack roams into town, and an old friend is far too interested in Violet, his focus shifts to the threat venturing into his territory. Nico may come across as the quiet, broody one, but the intruders are about to regret stepping foot in New Orleans. And when Violet goes missing, no charm or spell can keep Nico’s wolf at bay. 4. Tangled Author: Emma Chase Series: Tangled Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant, he makes multimillion dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed? He’ll tell you he has the flu. But we all know that’s not really true. Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful and ambitious. She refuses to let anything - or anyone - derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating. Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life? Can Drew Evans win at love? Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing he never wanted in life, is the only thing he can’t live without. 5. So Not Meant To Be Author: Meghan Quinn Series: Cane Brothers Series book #2 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb Am I friends with JP Cane? Ha! That's laughable. Besides the fact that he’s adopted some far-fetched notion from the movie When Harry Met Sally that says men and women can't be friends and work together, it’s safe to say we're not friends. He's annoyingly loud, obnoxiously handsome, and has made an art out of poking all my hot buttons . . . multiple times a day. So you can imagine how disgruntled I am when I not only have to fly to San Francisco with him for work, but stay in the same penthouse. Yup, we're sharing the same air, twenty-four-seven. We're talking full-fledged working roommates. The man doesn't know what it means to wear a shirt, thrives off protein bars, and you guessed it, moans loud enough for people to believe he's Meg Ryan in a restaurant. Spoiler Alert: I WON'T be having what he's having. Tack on his continuous flirting and his polished good looks, and I'm caught staring down the barrel of a seductive temptation that makes it hard for me to sleep at night. But guess who can control herself? This girl. Because if there is one thing I know for certain, it's that JP Cane and I are so not meant to be. 6. Brooklynaire Author: Sarina Bowen Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Series book #4 Category: Sports Romance Goodreads Link Blurb You’d think a billion dollars, a professional hockey team and a six-bedroom mansion on the Promenade would satisfy a guy. You’d be wrong. For seven years Rebecca has brightened my office with her wit and her smile. She manages both my hockey team and my sanity. I don’t know when I started waking in the night, craving her. All I know is that one whiff of her perfume ruins my concentration. And her laugh makes me hard. When Rebecca gets hurt, I step in to help. It’s what friends do. But what friends don’t do is rip off each others’ clothes for a single, wild night together. Now she’s avoiding me. She says we’re too different, and it can never happen again. So why can’t we keep our hands off each other? 7. The Devil You Know Author: Elizabeth O'Roark Series: The Devils Series book #3 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb There’s a devil on my shoulder, and every Monday morning she announces herself. She’s this delicious flame in my chest, a flurry of whispered suggestions in my ear. Suggestions I ignore…because every single one of them is about Ben Tate. Ben—Stealer of Clients, Evicter of Homeless Women, Nemesis. Sitting across from me every damn Monday with his lovely, smug smile and his too-perfect teeth, the living symbol of everything I hate. It’s been my policy to avoid him, but when a case comes into the firm—one that could change his career and mine—I make an exception. It means weekends and evenings by his side. It means enduring his smirk and his smart mouth and never taking the bait. Until the night Ben says, “Beg.” And that devil on my shoulder decides to make a few demands of her own. 8. Taking the Leap Author: Kristen Ashley Series: River Rain Series book #3 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb Alexandra Sharp has been crushing on her co-worker, John “Rix” Hendrix for years. He’s her perfect man, she knows it. She’s just not his perfect woman, and she knows that too. Then Rix gives Alex a hint that maybe there’s a spark between them that, if she takes the leap, she might be able to fan into a flame. This leads to a crash and burn, and that’s all shy Alex needs to catch the hint never to take the risk again. However, with undeniable timing, Rix’s ex, who broke his heart, and Alex’s family, who spent her lifetime breaking hers, rear their heads, gearing up to offer more drama. With the help of some matchmaking friends, Rix and Alex decide to face the onslaught together… As a fake couple.

Stories where at least one of the love interests is either currently or formally in the armed services, FBI, police force, or other dangerous career field. I went through a phase a couple of years ago where I exclusively devoured all of Kristen Ashley's books in 3 months. And let me tell you, if anyone knows how to write a man in uniform trope, Ms. Ashley does. Outside of her many, many series, there are plenty of authors that have taken this trope and ran with it with spectacular results, and I am excited to share with you some of my favorites. One big reason I love the men in uniform trope is that it lends itself perfectly to the romantic suspense sub-genre. A little danger always makes the story more exciting and raises the stakes for the main characters and their relationship. And when the MC can use his highly developed skills to rescue the women he loves....perfection. Fact: Women do not need a white knight in shining armor to save them Also True: It would be nice all the same if someone did come to help every once in a while Another great aspect of this trope is the bonds with team members that the character usually has. I like stories that are a little more fleshed out in terms of secondary characters, and inevitably, one of them is the main character in another book in the series, keeping readers connected to that world for just a little longer. I'll preface the list for the men in uniform trope with a warning that many of these books are at least five years old. I've found this trope isn't as popular as it was once, or at least not many popular authors are writing in this space these days. Still, I encourage anyone who likes a man in uniform to check these out! 1. Mystery Man Author: Kristen Ashley Series: Dream Man Series book # 1 Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb Night time is the right time... Gwendolyn Kidd has met the man of her dreams. He's hot, he's sexy, and what started as a no-names-exchanged night of passion has blossomed into a year and a half-long pleasure fest. Sure, it's a little strange that he only appears in her bed at night, but Gwen is so sure he's the one, she just can't turn him away... Hawk Delgado knows more about Gwen than she could ever imagine. She's gorgeous, headstrong, and skittish about relationships. But Hawk is facing his own demons, demons that keep him from connecting with anyone. Yet when Gwen is drawn into Denver's lethal underground scene, Hawk's protective nature comes out full force. The problem is, when Gwen gets a dose of Hawk's Alpha attitude in the daylight, she's not so sure he's the one anymore. 2. Hard as It Gets Author: Laura Kaye Series: Hard Ink Series book #1 Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too. With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees. Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge.. 3. When You Dare Author: Lori Foster Series: Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor Series book #3 Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb The tougher they are, the harder they fall… Professional mercenary Dare Macintosh lives by one hard and fast rule: business should never be personal. If a cause appeals to him and the price is right, he'll take the mission he's offered. But then the lovely Molly Alexander asks him to help her track down the men who'd had her kidnapped—and for the first time, Dare's tempted to combine work with pleasure. Fiercely independent, Molly vows to trust no one until she's uncovered the truth. Could the enemy be her powerful, estranged father? The ex-fiancé who still holds a grudge? Or the not-so-shy fan of her bestselling novels? As the danger heats up around them, the only anchor Molly has is Dare himself. But what she feels for him just might be the most frightening thing of all… 4. Mr. Perfect Author: Linda Howard Series: Stand Alone Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb What would make the perfect man? That's the deliciously racy topic that Jaine Bright and her three girlfriends are pondering one night at their favorite after-hours hot spot: Mr. Perfect. Would he be tall, dark, and handsome? Caring and warmhearted -- or will just muscular do? As their conversation heats up, they concoct a tongue-in-cheek checklist that becomes an overnight sensation, spreading like wildfire at work and sizzling along e-mail lines. But what began as a joke among friends turns deadly serious when one of the four women is murdered....Turning to her neighbor, an unpredictable police detective, for help, Jaine must unmask a killer to save her friends -- and herself. Now, knowing whom to trust and whom to love is a matter of survival -- as the dream of Mr. Perfect becomes a chilling nightmare. 5. Lover Undercover Author: Samanthe Beck Series: McCade Brothers Series book #1 Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb He’s undercover. She’s in over her head. Yoga instructor Kylie Roberts is the good twin. At least she was—until an accident forces Kylie to step into her twin’s sexy stilettos at a posh Hollywood “men’s club." But nothing could've prepared Kylie for the dead body in the club’s parking lot or the ridiculously hot detective who insists the killer is targeting her regulars. Detective Trevor McCade needs Kylie’s help to draw out the killer. It means long nights undercover and long dances where Kylie’s body tempts him with sensual promises. Dances that leave them both wanting more. But despite Kylie's hidden identity and the danger lurking in the shadows, it’s only a matter of time before Kylie and Trevor take this undercover operation under the covers… 6. Forgotten Sins Author: Rebecca Zanetti Series: Sin Brothers Series book #1 Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true . . . until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked by the hospital calls: Shane has been found . . . at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there. Her Love Can Save Him Shane can't remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside—or who he even is—but he knows something isn't right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he's ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew—one who carries such a deadly secret? 7. Hell on Wheels Author: Julie Ann Walker Series: Black Knights Inc. Series book #1 Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb He’s the bad boy she’s always wanted... Nate “Ghost” Weller has loved Ali Morgan nearly half his life. But he’s done something so heinous he’s convinced she’ll never forgive him if she discovers the truth, so he keeps his feelings and his secrets to himself. Then she blows into town with a mother lode of bad guys on her tail and Nate can’t deny she’s in serious trouble. Unfortunately, he’s the only one who can help her. She’s the good girl he’s kept at arm’s length... Ali knows Nate as the most solemn, aloof man on the planet. Sadly, he’s also the sexiest. For years she’s avoided him, unable to stomach his dark scowls and brooding silences… especially when she secretly yearns for his touch. Now she must rely on him to save her from the malevolent shadows ghosting her every move. When the bullets explode, so does their passion. But can love really conquer all? Or are some things just too terrible to forgive? 8. The Darkest Hour Author: Maya Banks Series: KGI Series book #1 Category: Romantic Suspense Goodreads Link Blurb It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone. His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he's built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond...until he receives an anonymous phone call claiming Rachel is alive. To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

Stories with romantic relationships where there is a significant difference in age between the two main characters. I missed the memo that this trope was on fire, but I'm here now and ecstatic about it. There have been so many new Age Gap Trope books out lately, especially of the extra spicy "daddy" variety, but this trope is far from new. This trope revolves around romantic relationships where there is a significant difference in age between the two main characters, often presenting challenges and complexities that add depth and intrigue to the narrative. One of the primary reasons the Age Gap Trope persists in romance books is its ability to evoke strong emotions and capture readers' attention. The contrasting life experiences, generational gaps, and differing perspectives between the characters create a compelling dynamic ripe with tension, personal growth, and conflicting desires. This trope allows authors to delve into themes such as self-discovery, societal norms, and the transformative power of love. This trope can spark discussions around topics such as consent, power dynamics, and the fluid nature of love. At its core, the Age Gap Trope can serve as a vehicle for exploring the complexities of human relationships and the boundaries of societal expectations. It raises questions about love's ability to transcend age and challenges readers to reevaluate their own perceptions and biases. Many Age Gap Trope books cross over into the forbidden love territory, usually because the love interest is connected to the family as an older brother's or father's best friend/boss/family friend, etc. Critics of the Age Gap Trope argue that it can perpetuate harmful stereotypes or power imbalances, particularly when there is an unhealthy dynamic or lack of agency for one of the characters. Many of the current hot books in this genre are taboo with extensive trigger warnings. With the Age Gap trope list below, I did not venture into the world of daddy kink - I'll leave that for its own Tropes List post eventually. 1. Irresistible Author: Melanie Harlow Series: Cloverleigh Farms Series book # 1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb I’m a full-time single dad to three daughters and CFO at Cloverleigh Farms. I don’t have time to fall in love—I’m too busy trying to run a business, keep the red socks out of the white laundry, and get the damn pillowcases on without owing a dollar to the swear jar. Sure, Frannie Sawyer is beautiful and sweet, but she’s twenty-seven, the boss’s daughter, and my new part-time nanny—which means she’s completely off-limits. It’s bad enough I can’t stop fantasizing about her, what kind of jerk would I be if I acted on the impulse to kiss her? (Exactly the kind of jerk you’re thinking.) Actually, I’m worse than that—because I didn’t stop with a kiss, and now I can’t stay away. She makes me feel like myself again. She reminds me what it’s like to want something just for me. She’s everything I ever needed, but nothing I ever imagined. I’m a former Marine. I should have had the strength to resist her from the start. But I didn’t. And now I have to choose between the life I want and the life she deserves. Even if it means giving her up. 2. Kulti Author: Mariana Zapata Series: Stand Alone Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to. It didn't take a week for 27-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she'd seen in the international soccer icon - why she'd ever had his posters on her wall or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies. Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who hadn't known she'd existed. So she isn't prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team's season: a quiet, reclusive shadow of the explosive, passionate man he'd once been. 3. Forbidden Hearts Author: Corinne Michaels Series: Whitlock Family Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb First rule of being a nanny? Don’t fall for the single dad, even if he is smoking hot. But that’s exactly what happens when grumpy small-town sheriff Asher Whitlock reluctantly hires me to take care of his daughter for the summer. Neither of us is thrilled with the arrangement, but he’s desperate for help, and I need the money for grad school this fall. All we need to do is keep our distance and remain professional . . . turns out, that’s easier said than done. Instead of focusing on my future, all I see is the strong jawline, crystal-blue eyes, and rock hard body right in front of me. We try to resist each other, but we end up crossing every line until I’m in his bed. I tell myself it’s just this once. Okay, twice. All right, every night. But it’s got to end–he’s fourteen years older than me, with a kid and a stressful job. Have I mentioned my dad is his boss? Then there’s the past I’m trying to forget. Secrets aren’t easy to keep and mine are getting too big to hide. Walking away is never simple but when I do, I can’t look back. Even if it means leaving behind the man I was never meant to love. 4. Angels' Blood Author: Nalini Singh Series: Guild Hunter Series book #1 Category: Fantasy Romance Goodreads Link Blurb Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she’s the best—but she doesn’t know if she’s good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option…even if the task is impossible. Because this time, it’s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It’s an archangel gone bad. The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor’s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn’t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break… 5. The Kiss Thief Author: L.J. Shen Series: Stand Alone Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb They say your first kiss should be earned. Mine was stolen by a devil in a masquerade mask under the black Chicago sky. They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred. Mine were broken before we left church. They say your heart only beats for one man. Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end. I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit. Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage. They say that all great love stories have a happy ending. I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter. One kiss. Two men. Three lives. Entwined together. And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever. 6. Gabriel's Inferno Author: Sylvain Reynard Series: Gabriel's Inferno Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love. 7. Dipped in Holly Author: Dana Isaly Series: Nick and Holly Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb Holly was just dumped. Less than a week before Christmas. In public. Dressed as a slutty Mrs. Claus. All she wants is to hide in the bathroom and have a breakdown in peace. But the Silver Fox who owns the bar has other plans. The moment Nick takes in Holly’s grey eyes and sassy attitude, he’s hooked. There’s no denying the attraction that has sparked between them. And when that tension finally snaps, he finds himself taking Holly to bed. A kinky one night stand later, and they’re left questioning if it was enough. 8. Mistakes Were Made Author: Meryl Wilsner Series: Stand Alone Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Link Blurb When Cassie Klein goes to an off-campus bar to escape her school’s Family Weekend, she isn’t looking for a hookup—it just happens. Buying a drink for a stranger turns into what should be an uncomplicated, amazing one-night stand. But then the next morning rolls around and her friend drags her along to meet her mom—the hot, older woman Cassie slept with. Erin Bennett came to Family Weekend to get closer to her daughter, not have a one-night stand with a college senior. In her defense, she hadn’t known Cassie was a student when they'd met. To make things worse, Erin’s daughter brings Cassie to breakfast the next morning. And despite Erin's better judgement—how could sleeping with your daughter’s friend be anything but bad?—she and Cassie get along in the day just as well as they did last night. What should have been a one-time fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around. Worst of all, they start to realize they have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost?

Stories where former lovers reconnect and finally find their happily ever after. I'll say it from the get-go, the Second Chance trope isn't one of my favorites. Maybe I am just an unforgiving cynic, but this trope more often than not grinds my gears too much to be enjoyable. But, contrary to popular belief, the world does not revolve around my preferences, and this trope is definitely popular for authors and readers alike. Things I like about this trope when done right: Time lapses or flashbacks for insight to conflict Character development and maturity Plenty of angst, feelings, and forgiveness Things I don't like about this trope when done wrong: Lack of groveling for BIG mistakes Miscommunication for drama Characters excusing bad behavior during the time of separation So yes, this trope is very hit-or-miss for me but because it is so popular I knew I needed to make a Trope Tuesday Book List post for it regardless. The books below are either a mix of the Second Chance trope romances that I personally loved, or ones that I might have not been too fond of but everyone else seems to enjoy. Happy Reading! 1. The Ex Hex Author: Erin Sterling Series: The Ex Hex Series book # 1 Category: Paranormal Romance Goodreads Blurb Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two. That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all. Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late. 2. For You Author: Kristen Ashley Series: The 'Burg Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Blurb Lieutenant Alexander Colton and February Owens were high school sweethearts. Everyone in their small town knew from the moment they met they were meant for each other. But something happened and Feb broke Colt’s heart then she turned wild and tragedy struck. Colt meted out revenge against the man who brought Feb low but even though Colt risked it all for her, Feb turned her back on him and left town. Fifteen years later, Feb comes back to help run the family bar. But there’s so much water under the bridge separating her and Colt everyone knows they’ll never get back together. Until someone starts hacking up people in Feb’s life. Colt is still Colt and Feb is still Feb so the town watches as Colt goes all out to find the murderer while trying to keep Feb safe. As the bodies pile up, The Feds move in and a twisting, turning story unravels exposing a very sick man who has claimed numerous victims along the way, Feb and Colt battle their enduring attraction and the beautiful but lost history that weaves them together. 3. Meet Me at the Lake Author: Carley Fortune Series: Stand Alone Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Blurb Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn't. At thirty-two, Fern's life doesn't look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern's back home, running her mother's Muskoka lakeside resort--something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend's the manager, and Fern doesn't know where to begin. She needs a plan--a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern's going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern's not sure she wants to know what it is. But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him? 4. Broken by the Horde King Author: Zoey Draven Series: Horde Kings of Dakkar Series book #4 Category: Fantasy Romance Goodreads Blurb Nine years ago, he broke my heart and never returned. I vowed to forget him…if only I could. When I was a child, I fell in love with a Dakkari boy. The prince of our clan. Rukkar, we called him. For he was destined to become the greatest horde king of our time. He was Kiran of Rath Okkili. My friend. My strong, unyielding protector. His mischievous smile and golden eyes made my heart flutter and my soul sing. And just when I began to believe he returned my love…he shattered me so completely and never once looked back to see how I’d survived. Nine years later, he’s returned. Only, he’s not a prince anymore. He’s a horde king. Cold and cruel. With molten eyes like sin and a body made for war. I promised myself I’d never love him again. He intends to make a liar out of me. Because he not only wants my love again…he also demands me as his queen. 5. Still Not Over You Author: Nicole Snow Series: Enguard Protectors Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Blurb I'm SO over that gorgeous, scary, heartbreaking man who hates my guts. I'm just counting on him to save my life. Never, ever fall for your brother's hot older friend. I flunked the test the instant I laid eyes on Landon Strauss. Tall. Ripped. Commanding. Irresistibly alpha. He gave a damn like no one else did. His soul-searing eyes saw me, not just a nerd girl next door. I had my idol, my destiny, and names for our future kids picked. Then I read Landon's little black book. One nosy peek exposed the shock of a lifetime. His confession. His pain. His plan. The sweet boy I loved was gone. Hero-turned-villain-turned-bad-memory overnight. Five years later, an insane slip of fate puts us under the same roof. Sweet closure, I think. I almost forget he hates me. I almost think we'll talk like normal adults. I don't expect the shirtless behemoth who comes barreling through my door. Landon's grown up. All snarls, testosterone, and lethal chemistry. We're in trouble, he says. Oh, Landon. Oh, baby, don't I know it? 6. Bound to Submit Author: Laura Kaye Series: Blasphemy Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Blurb From the ruins of an abandoned church comes Baltimore’s hottest and most exclusive BDSM club. Twelve Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy… He thinks he caused her pain, but she knows he’s the only one who can heal her… Kenna Sloane lost her career and her arm in the Marines, and now she feels like she’s losing herself. Submission is the only thing that ever freed her from pain and made her feel secure, and Kenna needs to serve again. Bad. The only problem is the Dom she wants once refused her submission and broke her heart, but, scarred on the inside and out, she’s not looking for love this time. She’s not even sure she’s capable. Griffin Hudson is haunted by the mistakes that cost him the only woman he ever loved. Now she’s back at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, and more beautiful than ever, and she’s asking for his help with the pain he knows he caused. Even though he’s scared to hurt her again, he can’t refuse her, because he’d give anything to earn a second chance. And this time, he’ll hold on forever. 7. Resting Witch Face Author: Juliette Cross Series: Stay a Spell Series book #5 Category: Paranormal Romance Goodreads Blurb Twelve years ago, Jules Savoie ended her relationship with the vampire overlord of New Orleans, Ruben Dubois. For good reasons. A woman in power must often make sacrifices to protect others. She knows the truth of it down to her aching heart. When Ruben watches his best friend Devraj get married, a stinging realization hits him hard…he’s done waiting. They say time heals all wounds. In this case, it merely sharpened the pain and made one fact crystal clear. Jules Savoie is his soulmate, and nothing would keep him from her. Not anymore. Forced to work side by side to fight for the werewolf cause, they campaign together at covens from New Orleans to London. The reignited spark burns hotter than ever before. But when a power-hungry vampire sets his predatory sights on Jules, will their love be strong enough against black magic? Or will he lose her again? And this time, maybe…for good. 8. Until Lilly Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds Series: Until Series book #3 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Blurb When Cash Mayson was forced to choose between the love of his life and his unborn child, he knew exactly what he had to do. No matter how broken it left him. When Lilly Donovan was forced to accept that the guy she loved wasn’t who she thought he was and became a single mother, she knew exactly what she had to do. Proving just how strong she was. What happens when years later you find out that everything you thought you knew was a lie? Can two people who once loved each other overcome the obstacles that are thrown at them and fall in love all over again? Cash Mayson had forgotten how it felt to be loved Until Lilly came back into his life. And now that he remembers, he will do everything within his power to keep not only the woman that he loves, but also his children. The power of love is a beautiful thing. 9. Whispers of You Author: Catherine Cowles Series: Lost & Found Series book #1 Category: Contemporary Romance Goodreads Blurb One night—a single bullet—cost me everything. My body, broken beyond repair. The boy I’d thought was my forever. The life I’d always dreamt of. Now, Holt’s back. And he’s no longer a boy, but a man with shadows in his eyes and demons haunting him. He says he’s here to make things right. To get back a little bit of all we’ve lost. And he doesn’t show any signs of leaving the small town that has been my refuge. As stolen moments turn to days, Holt’s around every corner. With his burning stare and lingering touches. Before long, my walls come crashing down and I’m just hoping that taking this second chance isn’t as reckless as it feels. But not everyone is happy that Holt has returned. As tragedy strikes again, I’m the one left in the crosshairs. And Holt might not be able to save me this time…

ARC Review - Publish Date: September 17, 2023 Author: Lindsay Murray Series: Beautiful Nightmare Series book #1 Category: Monster Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶️🌶️ Goodreads Blurb "The idea of something in the house that I couldn't explain was the easiest answer for the oddities. But that sound....it chilled me to the bone." - Ava I loved the essence of this storyline, it just needed a little more structure towards the end to tighten up the plot and flesh out the world. I have so many questions about this world and not enough answers! There were a couple of repetitive sentences and incorrect tenses used, but overlooking those, this book was easy to devour. Ava hadn't had the best life since an assault in high school, but she felt drawn to an old house she rented despite it being slightly in disrepair. Bad things in her past have shaped her reading preferences, turning horrible memories into dark fantasies that she did feel some level of shame over. Slowly coming to the realization that her house had a monster living in it who was becoming increasingly obsessed with her, Ava was surprisingly curious about this hidden world of monsters she had no idea existed. "I even seriously considered leaving and getting a hotel for the night. But I knew I wouldn't. Because even though I'd never been this terrified in my life, I'd never felt this alive." - Ava Even after reading the book, Ava's monster was still ambiguously defined and his backstory murky. Monster fed off nightmares, but more than that he was able to control and even destroy using them as weapons. I loved how protective he was over Ava and constantly gave her affirmations when she wasn't feeling the best about herself. "You poor, dear, beautiful thing. Oh, your dreams are so delicious. I am so pleased with you." - Monster. Lovely Dreamer isn't monster smut, in fact, there wasn't a whole lot of spice at all when it came down to it. I'd classify the book as more of a paranormal romance with a monster love interest. Though the book was a decent length, it needed to be twice as long to include all the things missing from the storyline. Who or what the hell is Luce? What is happening with the sentient tree in the backyard? How are the paranormal creatures hiding from humans? Is Ava just a human who dreams more than most? What’s her back story aside from the trauma she endured? In what world are magical spells powered by orgasms? I never had a true grasp of the whole picture, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless. All that being said I'm definitely interested in reading and reviewing the next book in the series, starring Axel. Note: Please be kind to yourself and check the trigger warnings for this book, while I've certainly read darker books there are still some questionable scenes on the topic of sexual assault. Tropes and Themes: Sexual Abuse, Monster, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy. Blurb There's a monster living in my house. I can't see it, but I hear it. Creeping around at night, shuffling through my things, and digging through my trash. It fixes the leaks in my roof, snuffs out the candles it doesn't like, and only occasionally growls at me from under the bed. But then the dreams start... and they're a little too real. The Monster is doing things to me. And I don't know if I like it or not. And then I learn what it is. Noćnamora. Dream Walker. Nightmare. I live in the house of The King of Nightmares... and he wants me as his pet. *I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own, thank you BookSirens for the opportunity. **As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon links.