Book review: WHEN SPARKS FLY, by Monica Murphy

This was a sweet, easy romance read with lovely character growth! For me, Monica Murphy is the queen of YA romances, but this one didn’t have quite the same spark as previous ones. Maybe it’s because the characters are older — 22 and 29 — or because the plot is more linear, with most of the angst coming from side characters who will clearly get their own book next. Still, I enjoyed it a lot, especially Wyatt and Rachel.

Rachel starts off as a pampered New York girl who’s been humiliated by a charming British jerk, and she escapes to her family’s house in California to hide and breathe. A small accident (okay… a fire) brings Wyatt, the local fire captain, into her life. He thinks she’s clueless, and honestly, she kind of is — but she owns her mistakes, and that’s what made me like her from the start.

What really won me over was Rachel’s growth. Cut off financially and stranded in a small town, she takes a job at a local restaurant, works hard, makes friends, and slowly proves to herself that she’s capable. Watching her flourish was my favorite part of the book.

Wyatt is a single dad with a sweet daughter and emotional scars. Their romance builds slowly, with both of them fighting their feelings because they know summer won’t last forever. There’s some small‑town jealousy, some family tension, and one big life‑changing event that shakes everything up.

Even though the story didn’t have the usual Murphy magic for me, it was still warm, charming, and full of heart. Rachel and Wyatt are easy to root for, and Rachel’s journey from sheltered to strong made the whole book worth it.

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://bit.ly/3Mt4Uqb

Audible: https://bit.ly/48LYKd6

Narrated by: Tor Thom & Kelsey Navarro Foster

Paperback: https://geni.us/IuaekK8

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4oCZJRR

About the author

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere, along with their four cats and one crazy dog. She's a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to sometimes putting her characters through tough, angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Book review: EVERY SHATTERED NOTE, by Claudia Burgoa

Heartbreak Mixtapes #3

Dexter & Alyssa

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aly is an event planner who feels held together with duct tape and hope. She and her friend June run their business while sharing an apartment, and you can feel how Aly lives in a constant state of stress — juggling contracts, invoices, backup plans, and disasters waiting to happen.

One of those disasters hits when the wedding band falls apart and she’s still missing a guitarist. She storms into the venue lobby, sees a drenched guy with a guitar case, and immediately scolds him into getting presentable in five minutes. From his smirk, I knew he wasn’t the guitarist. Later we learn he’s Dexter Vaughn, rockstar, of the imploded band Dead Moth Parade, and honestly, he handles the whole thing like a champ. He steps in, plays beautifully, and completely floors her. He loves the quiet, intimate setting — no chaos, no crowds, just music. He even tells her to call him again, and she pretends she’s not impressed.

Aly has deep abandonment issues, so she refuses to get attached. Dex comes from a famous musical family, but his life has been loud, messy, and numbed with booze and drugs. He’s convinced he doesn’t deserve anything good, especially not someone like her. Still, they keep emailing and texting, and he keeps showing up as her substitute wedding singer. His friends roast him nonstop, especially Eddie, who warns him that hiding the truth will blow up eventually.

Dex falls first; Aly falls slower and with a lot more hesitation.

When he finally tells her who he really is, she’s shocked and hurt because he made her feel safe. He convinces her to get away for a couple of days, flying her to his grandparents’ place in Baja California. It’s luxurious, and the truth comes out — she’s shaken, but she adjusts. They have a lovely weekend… until a phone call drags Dex back into the nightmare he’s been running from.

We finally learn the whole story: a family scandal, courtesy of his father, and a stepbrother who resurfaces whenever he wants money or attention. This time, Dex decides he’s done hiding and he goes to fix things, asking Ally to wait for him. 

The romance is lovely, and I really liked how honest they were once they let themselves open up. Dex hides his identity, but his feelings for Ally are always real. Ally is scared, but she never pretends otherwise.

My biggest issue is the excessive emotional description. Because Dex is a musician, everything is described in musical metaphors — his guitar vibrating with feelings, sensations layered on sensations. It gets overwhelming, and sometimes the actual story gets buried under all the poetic babble. I also felt like we never got the full backstory for either of them. We see the symptoms — Ally overworking, Dex haunted by his past — but not the deeper roots. I skimmed parts because the emotional overload slowed things down.

Still, their connection is sweet, steady, and worth rooting for. Once they choose each other, they don’t let go.

Purchase links

https://a.co/d/01SdqI8w

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. 

She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breaths away. Her books are the perfect blend of steamy and heartfelt, filled with emotional characters and explosive chemistry. Her writing takes readers to new heights, providing a variety of tears, laughs, and shocking moments that leave fans on the edge of their seats.

She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, her youngest two children, and three fluffy dogs.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At nights, she likes to binge watches shows or movies with her equally geeky husband.

Connect with Claudia Burgoa:

https://claudiayburgoa.com/wp/links/ 

Book review: FOREVER FIGHTING, by J. Saman

Forever Boston #2

Roman & Braelyn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautiful, emotional friends‑to‑lovers story! Starting this book feels like returning to a beloved neighborhood and catching up with people you’ve missed. I love the Fritz family, and Roman and Braelyn’s story pulled me in right away.

They’ve known each other forever, tied together by family and childhood memories, but life has left them both with heartbreak and guilt. When Braelyn’s world falls apart, she runs straight to Roman, and that moment changes everything. Their connection grows inevitably — tender, funny, emotional — especially during their trip to Vegas and Mexico, where their relationship finally shifts into something real. That couples massage scene had me laughing (poor Roman!).

There’s drama waiting for them back home, including a messy ex and a stalker‑level “Corporate Barbie,” but through all the chaos, Roman and Brae choose each other. Their families rally, their friends support them, and Roman finally lets go of the guilt he’s carried for years.

In the end, this story is warm, dramatic, romantic, and full of heart. I loved their banter, loved that feeling of being secure in each other, like they know, in a cellular level, that the other one won’t ever hurt them, and that true confidence that goes deep inside.  There’s friendship, family, drama, it was funny and emotional, everything that I loved in a book. I loved every minute of this saga — the family bonds, the loyalty, the heartbreak, the healing, and the love that was always meant to be.

Purchase links

http://geni.us/ForeverFighting

About the author

J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 40 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side—especially for their women.

Connect with J. Saman

Website: https://www.jsamanbooks.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14923699.J_Saman

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Saman/author/B01FOIUR46

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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jsamansradtasticreaders

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Book review: VICIOUS DEVIL, by Michelle Heard

Kings of Mafia #9

Adriano & Laurie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book felt a little different from the others—grittier in some places, cheesier in others, but in a way that completely worked for me. We get a real look into Adriano’s life: the violence that comes with being a capo, yes, but also the softness of his world. His parents and sister, the other capos who are basically his brothers, the older generation he calls “uncle,” and Rosie, their IT genius who’s like a little sister. There’s a warmth in his circle that balances the brutality of his job.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Laurie, who is living a truly miserable life. She works as an accountant in a construction company, once had her own rented room, and then made the mistake of falling for a coworker and moved in with him. Years later, she’s basically a servant in his home. She works endless hours under the owner’s wife—who is also her boyfriend’s sister—without compassion or extra pay. She’s drowning financially and emotionally, stuck in a hole she can’t climb out of.

Because her workplace is near a club Adriano manages, they have a few chance encounters. Adriano is instantly smitten—this woman becomes the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. And because these capos are possessive, unhinged men, he immediately starts debating whether he should just… kidnap her. Never mind that she has a boyfriend!

Then Laurie’s life collapses in one brutal sweep. Her boyfriend is with another woman and throws her out. She sleeps in the office. The next day she’s fired, falsely accused of stealing from petty cash, and denied her paycheck. Completely desperate, she goes to the club, even considering stripping just to survive. Adriano happens to be there—and swoops in.

And that’s when the story goes full‑tilt crazy.

Adriano is determined to keep her. Laurie needs the money he offers but is terrified of the strings attached. She signs a contract without realizing it includes marriage. Adriano enforces it, of course. Laurie tries to escape multiple times, gets caught every time, and eventually settles into this strange captivity—one filled with luxury, safety, food, clothes, and a roof she can trust. I think the moment everything shifted for her was meeting Adriano’s parents. She received the love and acceptance she never got from her own parents, and that cracked her open.

From there, we slide into the cheesy, swoony part of the story.

Adriano is utterly besotted. Laurie is slowly softening. And now he needs to avenge the cruelty she endured at work. Those scenes were delicious—terrifying, satisfying, and exactly the kind of justice I wanted. It felt like music!

I truly enjoyed this book, just like the others in the series. The men are possessive, jealous, and absolutely whipped once they fall. There are glimpses of the capo world and their business dealings, but this book is really about Adriano’s obsession and the woman who unknowingly owned him. Watching Laurie go from unwanted and unloved to a cherished wife, embraced by a family that actually cares for her, was beautiful. Another winner, and easily five stars.

Purchase links

Amazon: https://geni.us/uteWAK

About the author

Michelle Heard is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon #3 Bestselling romance author. She writes emotional, heart-shattering stories with a whole lot of angst and romance that will leave you smiling with satisfaction. Every book shows the strength of the characters who will burn down the world for each other.

Before becoming an author, Michelle had a career in banking. She lives in South Africa with her son, Sheldon, who's also her right-hand man when it comes to all things publishing, and her daughter-in-law, Tayla, who's her best friend. 

Connect w/Michelle:

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Book review: SOMETHING ABOUT HER, by J. Nathan

Big Air #2

Thayer & Giselle

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story follows Thayer and Kason, two Colorado boys who grew up chasing snow, trophies, and Olympic dreams — until grief knocks Thayer off his axis. His comeback is the emotional spine of the book, and watching him slowly find his footing again, both on the board and in life, is genuinely moving.

The romance between Thayer and Giselle has that familiar push‑pull: history, tension, guilt, and the kind of chemistry that sneaks up on them both. I liked their quieter moments — the caretaking, the comfort, the way they circle back to each other even when it’s messy. Giselle’s struggle between loyalty and longing feels real, even if she hesitates a bit longer than I wanted.

The book shines most when it leans into the brotherhood between Thayer and Kason and the thrill of competition. Their dynamic has heart, humor, and that deep, lived‑in bond that makes their eventual conflict sting.

Where it wobbled for me was pacing. The story moves in bursts — emotional highs followed by stretches that felt a little flat or juvenile. I was entertained, but not fully swept away. Still, the themes of resilience, found family, and second chances land well, and the ending ties everything together with warmth.

Finally, my opinion is that this was a comfortable, enjoyable read — just not one that kept me riveted.

Purchase links

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3OHeEyL  

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/4bJILNu  

Nook: https://bit.ly/4rP31De  

Kobo: https://bit.ly/4t5G7IN 

Google Play: https://bit.ly/4lN9ZqN  

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3NBeOHm 

About the author

J. Nathan is the author of new adult, sports, and rock star romances with cocky heroes and sassy heroines. When she's not writing, she's a crazy baseball mom and a total romance junkie! She loves country music, guys in backward hats, iced coffee, and the summertime.

 

Connect with J.

Website | http://www.jnathan.net/   

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