Book review: CRUEL SUMMER, by C.W. Farnsworth

Kensingtons: The Next Generation #3

Wren & Sawyer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book felt like a warm, messy, perfect summer romance—the kind that gets under your skin in the best way. Cruel Summer is all about two people from totally different worlds who keep crashing into each other, and every time they do, the pull between them gets stronger. Wren and Sawyer have that spark that feels instant but also real, like something that grows in the quiet moments as much as the big ones.

I loved how the story moves through their almost‑moments, their missed chances, and the way they keep finding their way back. The class divide adds tension without taking over the heart of the book, which is really about two teens trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be—with and without each other. It’s emotional without being heavy, sweet without being cheesy, and full of that delicious slow ache that makes you root for them from page one.

It left me smiling, a little breathless, and very attached to these two. A true five‑star summer love story.

Purchase link

https://amzn.to/4sayqAA

About the author

 C.W. Farnsworth is the author of numerous adult and young adult romance novels featuring sports, strong female leads, and happy endings.

Charlotte lives in Rhode Island and when she isn't writing spends her free time reading, at the beach, or snuggling with her Australian Shepherd.

 

Connect with Charlotte

Website: https://authorcwfarnsworth.com  

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/485RndP 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4agSCsy 

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

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

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

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

Book review: TAYLOR’S FATHER, by Penelope Ward

An utterly delightful, heart-squeezing delight of a book!  Penelope Ward gave me everything I crave in a vacation‑fling‑turned‑forever story. Blair and Tate’s connection in Midnight Key starts off as pure spark—fun, flirty, a little chaotic—and then quietly deepens into something so much more meaningful. I loved watching Blair shift from pushy and horny (girl was on a mission!) to mischievous, warm, and genuinely good for Tate in a way he didn’t even know he needed. And Tate… oh, Tate. His backstory is heartbreaking without ever feeling heavy for drama’s sake. He’s a man who’s been through it—loss, guilt, fractured family ties—and seeing him slowly open up again was incredibly moving.

The four‑year time jump absolutely delighted me. That reunion scene? Deliciously shocking. The emotional stakes skyrocket, yet the story never loses its tenderness. The way Ward handles the complicated family dynamics—Tate, Blair, Taylor, and little Nicholas—felt honest and generous. No villains, just people trying their best to love each other well. And that’s my favorite kind of romance.

This book gave me laughter, longing, a few well-earned tears, and a full-body swoon. It’s heartfelt, engaging, and beautifully hopeful. I closed it with a big, goofy smile and that warm, satisfied feeling only a truly delightful romance can deliver.

Purchase links

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4kXFqP4

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3MCEvXv

About the author

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

 

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

 

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world. 

Connect with Penelope: 

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

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

Instagram: http://instagram.com/PenelopeWardAuthor

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PenelopeAuthor

Book review: NEVER STOPPED LOVING YOU, by Siobhan Davis

I feel like Siobhan Davis told me “let me ruin your emotional stability and then rebuild it with hope”—and honestly, I loved every second of it. This book is the perfect storm of angst, despair, longing, and that delicious slow‑burn ache that makes you read with your hand pressed to your chest like you’re personally going through it. I actually felt palpitations and bit my nails to the quick!

The emotional tension is chef’s kiss. Every interaction feels loaded, every glance has history behind it, and the chemistry? It hums under the surface in that way I love—intense, intimate, and earned. Siobhan Davis balances heartbreak with healing so beautifully that I found myself rooting for these characters and demanding revenge to be served soon and brutally.

What really got me is how grounded the story feels. The relationships—romantic, familial, and found—are messy in the most human way. There’s vulnerability, growth, and those small, quiet moments that hit harder than any dramatic twist. And yes, the angst is real, but it never feels manipulative. It feels true.

If you love romance that digs into the emotional marrow, characters who feel like real people trying their best, and a love story that refuses to let go, this one delivers. It’s heartfelt, addictive, and full of that Siobhan Davis intensity that keeps you turning pages long after you promised yourself “just one more chapter.”

A five‑star, stay‑up‑too‑late, hug‑the-book-after kind of read. One day later, I’m still processing!  I’d give it ten stars if I could!

Purchase links

US: https://amzn.to/49htHp9

UK: https://amzn.to/4oXwV70

AU: https://amzn.to/4s2wI5e

CA: https://amzn.to/4iWHWE1

Worldwide: https://bit.ly/NSLYEBA

About the author

Siobhan Davis™ is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Top 5 bestselling romance author. Siobhan writes emotionally intense stories with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She has sold millions of books and her titles are translated into several languages.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.

Originally from Ireland, she now lives in Cyprus with her husband.

Join the author's mailing list to receive a free e-book plus tons of bonus content. Refer to the official author website.

Book review: FOREVER UNDONE, by J. Saman

Forever Boston #1

Ashton & Skylar

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A deliciously messy, emotionally rich, slow‑burn‑turned‑wildfire romance, this book grabbed me from page one and never let go. Ashton and Skylar are the perfect storm of unresolved tension, old wounds, and that brand of snark that’s basically foreplay in disguise. Their history is chaotic, their present is complicated, and their chemistry is undeniable. I loved every second of watching them circle each other, clash, retreat, and collide again.

What really sold me is how much heart sits beneath all the banter and snark. Ashton’s journey as a single dad rebuilding his life, Skylar’s healing after an abusive relationship, and the way Zoey fits into both of their worlds—it all feels tender, grounded, and deeply earned. The found family threads, the hospital setting, the forced proximity, the “we’re married but not like that (until we very much are)” dynamic… it’s delicious.

Despite the heavy topics, the story balances humor, vulnerability, and heat beautifully. The emotional payoff is huge, the character growth is satisfying, and the romance is the kind that makes you root for them with your whole chest. And it has just an itty bitty feeling of suspense!

The author takes us again to the Boston Fritz’s world, now joined with the Hughes family, powerful and rich, although not like the Fritz royalty.  I think this new series will include the younger generation of grandkids of Octavia Fritz, the matriarch of the empire, and I’m all for it!

If you love grumpy‑meets‑sunshine energy, protective heroes, resilient heroines, and a slow burn that eventually erupts, this one is a must‑read. I devoured it.

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

http://geni.us/ForeverUndone

Audible: https://bit.ly/3MbCWPW

Narrated by: CJ Bloom and JF Harding

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/43WmxVs

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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jsamanbooks

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

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jsamanbooks

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-saman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jsamanbooks/

Book review: STERLING STONE, by L.B. Dunbar

Sterling Falls #7 

Stone & Taxi

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Super cute meet‑cute in Knoxville! This story hooked me from the moment Stone and Taxi did that awkward little hallway dance—you know, the sidestep‑sidestep “oops, you go first” shuffle—right before they nearly knocked heads picking up her fallen book. It felt like pure serendipity, the kind of spark you want to bottle.

Stone finally gets the happiness he deserves, and watching him open up—this serious, steady, quietly shy man who’s spent his whole life protecting everyone else—was incredibly moving. Taxi, with her art, her humor, her nomadic heart, brings color to his beige world, and their chemistry is warm, slow, and full of promise. I loved how the story lets her grow, gently and honestly, as she faces the patterns she’s been running from.

The Sylver family is as lively and loving as ever, and the Sunday gatherings feel like a hug from a whole town. The pacing is thoughtful and introspective, the emotional payoff so satisfying, and the ending left me smiling like I’d just watched two people finally step into the life they were meant to build.

A beautiful, heartfelt romance about choosing to stay, choosing to love, and choosing each other. I adored it.

Purchase links

Amazon US: https://a.co/d/7GmOhyS

Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/6EPEo05 

Amazon AU: https://amzn.asia/d/6gAYPJO 

Amazon CA: https://a.co/d/7z7pxYC 

About the author

L.B. Dunbar loves sexy silver foxes, second chances, and small towns. If you enjoy older characters in your romance reads, including a hero with a little silver in his scruff and a heroine rediscovering her worth, then welcome to romance for those over 40. L.B. Dunbar’s signature works include women and men in their prime taking another turn at love and happily ever after. She’s a USA TODAY Bestseller as well as #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Later in Life Romance with her Lakeside Cottage and Road Trips & Romance series. L.B. lives in Chicago with her own sexy silver fox.

To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her monthly newsletter, Love Notes.

Connect with L.B. Dunbar:

https://linktr.ee/lbdunbarwrites 

Book review: INTERCEPTED, by Aleatha Romig

The Coopers #1

Maeve & Fin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a solid, engaging second‑chance sports romance with a hero I absolutely adored and a heroine who… tested my patience. The football world is incredibly well done—detailed, immersive, and clearly written by someone who knows the inner workings of a stadium on game day. I loved that part.

Fin completely stole the show for me. He’s mature, upfront about his feelings, and deeply committed—to the game, to his team, and yes, to the woman he once loved. Watching him navigate the physical toll of being an older QB while still showing up with heart and grit made him such a standout.

Maeve (Vee), on the other hand, was harder for me to connect with. Professionally, she’s brilliant—ambitious, sharp, and genuinely passionate about the Coopers. But emotionally, she’s so guarded and uptight that it dragged the romance down for me. Her denial, her formality with Fin, and her refusal to confront their past until almost the end made it tough to root for her.

Still, the family dynamics, the behind‑the‑scenes football operations, and the slow unraveling of old wounds kept me turning pages. And the cliffhanger was absolutely brutal—in the best way for a series, the worst way for my heart.

A strong four stars for a compelling hero—

Purchase links

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/48IBQm4

About the author

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis as well as part of the year in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her friends and family, including her beloved grandchildren. 

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than a million e-readers. Her next series, INFIDELITY (not about cheating) hit New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller lists. Aleatha has since released over fifty novels in multiple genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, thriller, and romantic comedy. She went back to her edge of your seat romantic suspense thrillers with her WEB SERIES trilogies, Devil’s Duet, Kingdom Come, and most recently with her suspense series, the Sin series, ready to binge.

The titles keep coming. Be sure to check out her website to stay up to date. 

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America, NINC, and PEN America. She is represented by Danielle Sanchez of SBR Media and PR with Wildfire Marketing.