Feeling romantic: Fifth Avenue Flirt

Hi, book buddies :-) This week has been hectic, but it's always good news when we get a book that we are positive to love.

FIFTH AVENUE FLIRT

Author: Louise Bay

Release Date: 22 September 2026

The Manhattan Billionaires

Where to get it

What to expect:

• Forced proximity
• Playboy falls hard
• Roommates to lovers
• One Night Stand turns into more
• Slowburn after the hook up
• He falls first
• He falls harder

One week. No falling in love. Then he’ll get me what I want.

Everyone in New York loves Ben East.

He’s charming. Connected. Infuriatingly handsome. The kind of man who can fix almost any

problem with a phone call and a smile.

I don’t trust him for a second.

Sleeping with him, however?

That turns out to be an entirely different matter.

Our one night together is supposed to be exactly that. One night. No expectations,

no complications—and definitely no repeat performance.

Then the deal for my dream hotel falls apart.

I’ve spent my whole life as the baby of my family, the one everyone protects. This hotel is my

chance to prove—to them and to myself—that I can build something on my own.

And Ben is the one man who can help me get it.

MY OPINION

Hot start, this one. This couple-to-be share an explosive chemistry from night one. And so flirty!

There is this fun pull between Avril and Ben. He's supposed to be a charming master of the masses yet he encounters the most challenging woman who breaks all his expectations. The plot from there is delightfully lively, unexpected and surprisingly intimate.

Once I picked up this book, I devoured it. The story is so easy to read because the narrative feels natural and engaging.

The characters are great. They're very different from me but I wanted to know them. Their issues and longings are relatable, the way they face them and evolve is what makes them human and also interesting.

The romance is hot and fun, yet the relationship also has meaningful depth. I liked the fact that they question things. For example, how Ben is living his life and in terms of connection, or how Avril needs to prove something to herself. I also find it very interesting when the characters are at work, I think it's because they're driven and their jobs are cool ;-)

Ben's arc is thorough and fulfilling. I loved the chats with his brother. However, I thought that Avril's resolution of her conflict wasn't as pronounced and it was resolved in an underwhelming way. I understood her choice but it didn't resonate as much with me.

As a whole, it's highly engaging, hot, meaningful and a pleasure to hang out with all the characters.

*****

ABOUT THE  MASTERMIND

International, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes contemporary romance novels that make you laugh – the kind she likes to read.

Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.

Louise loves the rain, RHOBH, London, days when she doesn’t have to wear make-up, hanging out with her kid, elephants and champagne (not necessarily in that order).

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!

Website - Newsletter - Facebook - Reader Group

💓

 Enjoy your reading life :-)

Love & Law: Motion to Dismiss

Hi, book buddies :-) Summer is almost over and holidays are long gone, but that's no excuse to forgo wonderful books to read. Let's start by one of my go-to authors and her new release, shall we? :-) 

MOTION TO DISMISS

by Whitney G

Find it HERE if you fancy it

I refuse to say that I regret meeting this woman.

I don't.

I just regret falling for her and letting her become something I never intended her to be.

But I'm not chasing after her.

And I'm certainly not groveling or begging her to come back.

She's already distracted me enough, and I've come too close to winning it all to lose focus now.

So, she can walk away from me.

I'll watch her until she disappears.

Because whatever we had isn't worth sacrificing my winning record—or breaking the law for.

Case dismissed.

The final installment in the spicy & thrilling Verdict Trilogy!

💜

MY OPINION of MOTION TO DISMISS

What a fantastic plot. This final installment in the Verdict trilogy is intense, romantic and gripping. Miss Whitney at her best!

I loved the tension that cuts through the whole story. The stakes are high and dangerous. The secret behind the legal cases and how it's narrated feel like the best kind of thriller. And the evil that permeates the events and the characters is matched by Scarlett and Jameson's evolution in terms of the decisions they make and the way those impact their relationship.

I really loved how they couldn't forget each other. What Scarlett did to help Jameson was superb, and his redemption arc is magnificent.

Great trilogy and finale. 5 stars.

READY TO LOVE IT? 

Find it HERE if you fancy it

💜

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Whitney G. is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author. Her books are currently published in over a dozen languages.She lives deep in the Tennessee woods and spends most of her time drinking coffee while penning dirty-talking alpha males.

Find out more about her next project

at www.whitneygbooks.com

Link - Website  - Goodreads  - Facebook - Instagram

💜

Keep calm and read on.

Paranormal fantasy: Ember and Ash

Hi, book buddies :-) Once again, I bring you a book by Lisa Renee Jones though this time in the paranormal genre. Tell me what you think.

EMBER AND ASH

The Thorne saga #1

Author: Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: August 27th, 2026

THE APPEALING PREMISE

In the dark of the night, there is passion and destruction…

Criminal defense attorney Ember Thorne thought the biggest challenge of her life would be her quest to navigate the justice system on behalf of the wrongly accused. That is, until she finds herself in the sights of an otherworldly evil, desperately hunting what she cannot kill, not yet, at least. Nothing in her life, or in this world, is what it seems, and when a blue-eyed stranger named Micah saves her life, their attraction is the fire that could become the death of all that exists or the salvation that blooms with new hope for all. Micah, royalty in his own right, will challenge her to stand against evil, but when you have never known true evil, can you really recognize it where it hides?

In a world where angels and demons are the truth humans call fiction, could it be a lie between lovers that equals salvation? Or is that lie the blade that delivers devastation?

Ember and Ash, the first book in the Thorne Saga, introduces you to a world filled with the magic of angels and the darkness of the monsters they hunt, where secrets and lies, and a passionate forbidden romance hold world-altering consequences.

MY OPINION

I usually read romance books by this author. However, I do love fantasy books and considering her powerful narrative style I thought it would take a chance on a book of her in this genre.

Wow. I'm so glad I did.

It's a thrilling cocktail of suspense, horror and paranormal. I instantly recognised her usual strong female character deep in law and ambition, yet here she's challenged with dangers and beings that trespass into the mystical. Nephilims, those angelic creatures too tempted by human experience to remain pure, abound here in the best and worst ways. It's a battle between light and darkness in a modern context filled with secret compounds, distrust, magical forces and an impending sense of doom.

It's in the quiet moments when we learn about the lore, the dangers and what's at stake, which are also filled with hot tension between the main characters. Sometimes it seemed to me that it dragged a bit because it went over the same things several times. However, it mirrors the labyrinth that Ember treads in her mind while taking charge of her new life and its epic dimension. Imagine a world populated with demons and angels in pursuit of an edge over each other. And magic. Lots of personal magic to wield and manipulate. That's enticing. Much like the Garden of Eden.

So the plot becomes biblical and magical and takes a bit of training to extremes or the world is over. Despite some repetitive parts, I enjoyed the bookish importance of learning, the mysterious prophecy and the time when Ember comes into her powers and takes action. I really want to know what happens after the final scene and how the demons are going to be defeated.

FIND IT 

Special Edition: https://www.lisareneejones.com/thorne-saga.html 

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0HD1G1M5G 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4mT2Apq 

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/41VGgmT 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4lC3fdK 

Amazon Universal: https://mybook.to/5W39vo3 

Follow the saga

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emberthornesaga

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emberthornesaga 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emberthornesaga 

WHO'S THE CLEVER LADY WHO WROTE IT?

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones writes dark, edgy fiction including the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series and the upcoming, crime thriller The Poet. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland and Bad Mom's) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. 

Prior to publishing Lisa owned a multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a cat that talks too much, and a Golden Retriever who is afraid of trash bags.

Newsletter ➜ http://lisareneejones.com/newsletter-sign-up/ 

Bookbub ➜ http://bookbub.com/authors/lisa-renee-jones 

Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/2MoWosB 

Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/LisaReneeJones 

Instagram ➜  http://instagram.com/lisareneejones 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/LisaReneeJones 

💕

Enjoy your reading life :-)

Feeling naughty: Dirty Judge

Hi, book buddies :-) I adore summer. I know it can be too hot sometimes, but it's so full of light and possibilities. What is on your TBR for this month?

I'm designing my own list of books to read this August, but the very first one is DIRTY JUDGE by Whitney G. It's perfect for fun and feeling.

DIRTY JUDGE

by Whitney G

Find it HERE if you fancy it

There are three rules in Judge Ashton's courtroom:

1. Don't ever question him.

2. Try not to look guilty.

3. Never make him remember you.

I just wish someone had told me that before I had a hearing in front of him.

Because this jerk barely listened to my speeding ticket case, ruled me “guilty as hell,” and made me pay thousands of dollars in fees—despite me pleading about how broke and desperate I was.

So, it's only fair that I looked up his home address, found his luxury car, and treated all his windows to some much-deserved damage.

I “allegedly” did it, I mean.

He'll never know…

At least, that's what I thought.

Several weeks later, yours truly was hired to be a new law clerk.

For his courtroom.

Turns out, he remembered me all too well and decided to make my life a living hell.

And he plays dirty.

Far dirtier than anyone could ever imagine…

💜

MY OPINION of DIRTY JUDGE

One of my favourites. It's not only fun and crazy as usual, but it manages to tackle a tough issue, sets up a well-crafted plot with shadowing and secrets, and the romance is top-notch. 

Olivia kept surprising me. Sure, she's a good girl with terrible luck, but she's also occasionally deranged. Hilarious when it comes to plot devices. Liam is the hottest judge on Earth. I love his demeanor, his quirks and his dishonourable honour. This time I ended up feeling sorry for the male character. He's harsh and has a penchant for vendettas, but he finds himself the world's villain and he doesn't even go mad or bad about it. He's solid.

The romance itself is even rounder this time. The couple slow-burns their way into a passion that escalates hotly yet it still feels emotional. I loved the ending with its surprises and its romantic turn. Nicely done, Miss G.

READY TO LOVE IT? 

Find it HERE if you fancy it

💜

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Whitney G. is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author. Her books are currently published in over a dozen languages.She lives deep in the Tennessee woods and spends most of her time drinking coffee while penning dirty-talking alpha males.

Find out more about her next project

at www.whitneygbooks.com

Link - Website  - Goodreads  - Facebook - Instagram

💜

Keep calm and read on.

Feeling romantic: Love Hard by Louise Bay

Hi, book buddies :-) New year, new books. That's one of the highlights, don't you think? I have a romantic recommendation just for you. 

LOVE HARD

Author: Louise Bay

Release Date: 6 January 2026

Where to get it

Are you ready for Jack?

What to expect:

💚Small Town

💚Billionaire Romance

💚Colorado & New York 

💚Long Distance

💚Different Worlds

​​💚Love at first sight

💚Destined to be together

💚Opposites Attract

💚standalone

He’s an uptight New Yorker. She’s a real-as-you-can-get farm girl.

They’re from different worlds, but their worlds just collided!

I’m Jack Alden—the only son of the Alden dynasty. The kind of New York family that’s been around since ships were made of wood and fortunes were built on steel.

My mother’s been trying to find me a “suitable” wife for years.

So naturally, I fall for a woman who couldn’t care less about any of it.

Iris Williams.

I first saw her at the New York City Ballet—crying in the stalls like the music had cracked her open.

They say you can’t choose where you come from.

Maybe not.

But you can choose who you fight for.

And this time, I’m choosing her.

Because when it comes to Iris Williams—I don’t just love.

I love hard.

MY OPINION

A woman with a lost dream. A man with a duty to his family. When their paths cross, there's no turning back.

Serendipity, forbidden romance and male longing that will make you breathless. This is another favourite of mine. Loved it!

This tale of fated romance, legacy and sacrifice feels deeply romantic and intensely sensual.

Jack is a gentleman, sweet and devoted in his relationship with Iris. New York elite meets farm girl from Colorado who dreams of ballet and freedom when she's done her peace with real life practicalities.

It feels momentuous when they see each other for the first time. The connection, the looks, the conversation, they are just fated and profound. I loved the old-fashioned pining and longing, the epic emotional earthquake of their reuniting and realising their bond. You cannot imagine the beauty and sensuality of their first intimate encounter. It's as ardent as it is erotic.

I loved so many things. The family commitments on both sides, how these are taken seriously by both Jack and Iris, how they struggle to make everything work despite the huge chasm in station and expectations. Even the absence of anger is perfect because they treat the obstacles to their romance as real life and not as an offence on anyone's part, so they still love and respect each other through thick and thin. I loved the resolution because it is both fitting and surprising and it wraps up everything so perfectly.

I highly recommend it for romantic readers who need a bit of happiness and some compass to guide them. 

*****

ABOUT THE MASTERMIND

International, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes contemporary romance novels that make you laugh – the kind she likes to read.

Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.

Louise loves the rain, RHOBH, London, days when she doesn’t have to wear make-up, hanging out with her kid, elephants and champagne (not necessarily in that order).

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!

Website - Newsletter - Facebook - Reader Group

💓

 Enjoy your reading life :-)