Ascend by Swati M.H. (Elements of Rapture #2)

 💙💙💙💙

Garrett is an amazing book boyfriend! All the great tropes in this book had me hooked from the start.

I love a protective Garrett, especially his bond with sassy little Meena. Children are my weakness in romances, and once G gave her a nickname, I knew he owned my heart.

If you love a good single parent, friends to more, marriage of convenience story - I promise you'll adore the connection between Bella and Garrett.

While you don't need to read Adrift first, the character development and side characters are completely worth devouring both books.

**Fake Relationship
**Marriage of Convenience
**Single Mom
**Witty Romance

SUMMARY:

Did I plan to marry the single mom I've wanted for years on a drunken whim in Vegas? No.

Do I regret it? Heck no!

Bella Patel might think we're just friends, or that I'm nothing but a playboy pilot, or even that this marriage is only a temporary charade...but I'm hell-bent on proving her wrong.

If she's skittish and stubborn, then I'm dependable and determined.

So, when her scumbag baby-daddy threatens her and she asks me to double down on our ruse, I'm only too eager to comply.

My condition? For her and her daughter to move in with me. You know, for 'optics' sake.

Because by the end of this marriage contract, the only jackpot I want to win is a chance at forever with her.

Now available at:

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Damien by Amanda Shelley (Perfectly Independent #3)

 

❤❤❤❤❤

Read this with a side of bacon! Damien finally brings us Vanessa's story, which if you've read Vince's book (I highly recommend doing this first), you're already enamored with Jules.

Vanessa was a teenage mother, then lost both her parents soon after having Julia, leaving only her brother as a support system. She works hard and attends college, all while raising her adorable daughter.

Damien has been burned in the past, but I love that he's willing to be there for Vanessa and Julia, through the good and the bad times. His pure adoration and willingness towards the girls will win him book boyfriend of the year!

A slow burn that's worth the wait! I already loved Jules from the previous book in the series, but she's still one of my favorite scene-stealers. The chemistry between Damien and Vanessa shows through their flirting banter, leaving you counting down until one of them owns up to how they feel. 

Fans of the Perfectly Independent series will enjoy seeing their favorite characters again, not to mention an epilogue for the books! I'm also immediately reading about Damien's sister Dani, who has her own story in Making the Call.

💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

When I walk into the diner, all I'm looking for is a decent meal. As a civil engineer for the largest project on campus, I just want to eat in peace. I'm happy to find this hidden gem since students are scarce. Don't get me wrong, co-eds on campus are beautiful, but I was over that scene when I graduated three years ago. I need to finish this job and move onto the next one by the end of the year.

Then Vanessa walks up with a simple smile and takes my breath away. The next thing I know, I'm making every excuse imaginable to dine with this intriguing woman. She's not only smart and sexy; she's completely focused on reaching the goals she has set for herself.

The more I get to know her, the more I know she's the one. I just have to find a way to make her deviate from her perfectly laid plans and take a chance on me.

Now available at:

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The Dream Guy Next Door by Lauren Blakely (The Guys Who Got Away #1)

 

❤❤❤❤

Definitely listen to this on Audible! The Dream Guy Next Door is a cute romance between two single parents looking for the right person to spend their happily ever after with.

Liam wants to settle down, find Mrs. Right and have more children since he missed out on the opportunity to be a part of the first six years of his sons life.

January is happy with her life and doesn't want to start the parenting cycle over again, but when her feelings grow for Liam, she has to decide what she's truly willing to sacrifice to be happy.

I'd listen to the audiobook on a weekly basis just to hear Shane East's british accent. I always enjoy a good matchmaking-gone-wrong story, especially when it makes me laugh so hard my cheeks hurt.

💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

Just my luck - my new next door neighbor is a unicorn. Yep, the British hottie is clearly a mythical man because - get this - he's a sexy, witty, charming, big-hearted single dad. Who, wait for it, wants to find Mrs. Right and get hitched. He's a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of man, and it's a darn shame I'm not on the market. If I were, his accent alone would melt me. Add in the fact that he's a veterinarian, and my animal-loving heart would be flip flopping.

But my heart's on the mend. I'm a single parent like him, and raising my teenage daughter is my top priority. Plus, falling for a guy who shares your property line is a line you shouldn't cross.

Still, I'm an outgoing gal, so I do the neighborly thing and offer to be his dating insider.

Surely, I can help this small town's most eligible bachelor ever navigate his way through all the fantastic single ladies eager to make his acquaintance.

What could possibly go wrong in helping the dream guy next door find his one true love?

So I set him up on one date, two dates, three dates -- and I'm about to find out exactly how dangerous my offer is.

Now available:

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Pushing You Away by Kennedy Fox (Ex-Con Duet series #3)

 

💜💜💜💜💜

Another epic duet from Kennedy Fox! Pushing You Away was over way too soon for me, but that could also be due to the fact that I've been anxious for Noah's story ever since reading Tyler & Gemma's duet.

Every time I go into book 1 of a KF duet, I know I'm in for a roller coaster ride, and this one was no different. With plenty of character building and trying to correct past wrongs, you'll fall in love with the Katie and Noah along the way.

I'm still questioning how everything ties in, cuz I'm a nut like that, and try to figure the villain out. I'm just proud that I called the crazy right away in one instance, but extremely nervous how everything is going to pan out in the next book.

Definitely counting down the days until Holding You Close releases, and I'm sure #@$% will hit the fan then! Don't miss this heart-stopping, romantic series that will leave your head spinning.

**While this duet can be read as a standalone, the previous duets are not required, but it's more enjoyable if you've read Gemma & Tyler's story in books #1 & 2.

 💧 Drama

💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

I've been in love with my best friend Katie Walker for as long as I can remember. We may have shared our deepest, darkest secrets but that one I've kept to myself. Before I got the courage to confess my true feelings, my cousin Gabe moved to town and swept Katie off her feet.

I should've admitted how I felt but I couldn't -- especially once they got married.

When I caught Gabe cheating on his pregnant wife, I snapped. A deadly fight erupted and before I could comprehend what happened, I was charged with his murder and sent to prison.

The day I'm released, I go straight to Katie's house. But after pushing her away for a decade while I was behind bars -- she slams the door in my face -- wanting nothing to do with me.

While she's determined to pretend I don't exist, this time I'm not going anywhere.

PUSHING YOU AWAY is a slow burn, angsty friends to lovers romance with lots of small-town, Southern drama. It's book 1 in the Noah & Katie duet and must be read in order.

Now available at:

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Penthouse Prince by Kendall Ryan

💛💛💛💛💛

A fast-paced second chance romance! Penthouse Prince is the perfect book to get you out of your reading slump. I adore a good single parent romance, especially one with minimal drama, so this was a pleasant surprise!

Corrigan is the one who put everything on the line when she fell for Lexington, only to have him run scared and never look back. While she's constructed walls around her heart to prevent future heartache, she can't resist the pull that's still there.

Let's be real for a moment though...two year old Grier is the star of the book and steals every scene she's in. I absolutely loved this story and it was a quick read that you can just dive into and forget your worries for a few hours.

💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

Lexington Dane was my brother's best friend growing up.

We did everything together.

He taught me how to throw a punch, how to change a tire...and he taught me how to kiss. I fell hard and fast, and gave him all my firsts.

I promised I'd wait for him...

But I'm done waiting, because he went off to college and never came back. He took his fancy business degree and moved to New York City, where he promptly became a real estate mogul -- turning every penthouse and apartment project he touched into gold.

It's been ten years, and now he's back and needs a favor...someone to watch his little girl. That's right, the cocky penthouse prince and heartbreaker extraordinaire Lexington is back with an adorable two-year-old daughter. Guess who he wants to watch her?

I've never been able to say no to him. I might agree to be the nanny for his precious little angel, but there's no way in hell I'm falling for her hot-as-sin daddy.

Now available at:

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Cutie and the Beast by M.E. Carter (Cipher Office #3)

💪💪💪💪💪

Cutie and the Beast is the perfect blended family RomCom! This new addition to the Cipher Office series is charming, funny and romantic.

Two single parents, both trying to raise their eight year old daughters as best they can on their own. When they decide to live together to help with expenses, things start to work out in ways they didn't plan, but of course there's always an ex or daughter that doesn't approve...

The fact that Elliott is closer to my own age, had me putting myself in her shoes. Abel on the other hand, you can tell he's a "hot dad" from the story, but I love that he doesn't use it to his advantage. His sole focus is providing for his daughter, even if I did want to ring her neck a few times, lol.

I enjoyed this story so much. If you enjoy a good romantic comedy with hilarious family moments, this is the perfect read for you! I can definitely see myself picking this book back up anytime I need a feel-good escape from reality.

😄 Comedy
💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

Living with her mother seemed like a good idea at the time. But Elliot Donovan's living arrangements are not working for her anymore. Desperate to get back on her financial feet after a divorce and out from under her mother's thumb, Elliot takes a job in the child care center at Weight Expectations, a local gym.

It has everything she needs -- family friendly hours, more pay than she expected, and a super cute trainer who just happens to have part of his house for rent.

Abel DiSoto was living the good life until his wife walked out taking half of the family income with her. The blow to his ego was bad enough, but after a fire at the gym scattered Abel's clients, and consequently his commissions, he's stuck figuring out how to make ends meet, too. Renting out the master suite of his house to his new co-worker seems like an easy solution. They're both mature adults, they both have eight-year-old daughters, and their work schedules coordinate so they can lend each other a helping hand to ease the burden of single parenthood.

The only downside? Living like a blended family when you're not actually a family can present some challenges.

Welcome back to Weight Expectations, where the unexpected is likely to happen.

Now available at:

B&N | BookBub | GoodReads | Kindle Unlimited

Getting Played by Emma Chase (Getting Some #2)

💚💚💚💚

Getting Played is a one-night stand you won't forget! A funny and charming tale of making the most out of an unexpected life-changing event.

Lainey Burrows is a strong single parent and I love that she's not shy about what she wants in life, even if that means going it alone.
Dean Walker will make your heart swoon and skip a beat, and his interactions with Lainey and her son will leave a permanent smile on your face.

Such a sweet story of chasing your dreams, even when they're not what you originally planned for. Proof that life can throw lemons at you, but it's your choice to make the best lemonade you can out of it!

😄 Comedy
 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

Summary:
Dean Walker is all about keeping life simple. He's effortlessly talented and intelligent - spending his summers playing drums in the local band and the rest of the year teaching high school in the same Jersey town where he grew up. He likes his love life simple too, enjoying the commitment-free hook-ups his good looks and sexy charm have always made oh so easy.

Then he meets Lainey Burrows. And his simple, easy life gets turned upside down.

One wild one-night stand was all it was ever supposed to be, so Lainey is shocked when she discovers that her sizzling summer fling is also her son's new math teacher. But that's nothing compared to the most unexpected twist of all - their hot hook-up left Lainey knocked up, and now they're about to become parents. Together.

What ensues is an addictive, insatiable, sweet and tender romance that won't be simple, but it will be more than worth the fight.

Available at: 
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