Showing posts with label Golden retriever hero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golden retriever hero. Show all posts

Monday, July 6, 2026

Book review: TRY AGAIN, BABY, by Julia Wolf

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A warm, emotional second‑chance romance full of heart, family, and one unforgettable little girl! This story gave me big feelings in the best way. It starts with Mazzy, stranded in New Zealand, heartbroken and trying to get home on a cheaper ticket. She’s a mess, she knows it, and she’s honest about it — which is exactly why the cute stranger at the counter laughs with her instead of at her. That tiny moment of kindness turns into something huge when she learns he paid for her ticket and she’s suddenly sitting next to him in business class. Their chemistry is instant, sweet, and a little chaotic, and their one night together feels like two lost people finding comfort in each other.

Six months later, everything changes. Mazzy is pregnant, struggling with bills, trying to continue her studies. When she tries to tell Ben, he rejects her so harshly it breaks something inside her. She moves on, builds a life, and becomes the kind of mother who fights for her child’s health and happiness even when she’s exhausted. I loved her strength — quiet, steady, and so real.


Four years later, fate throws them back together in Denver. They learn that four years ago, she mistook Ben’s twin Roman. And the moment Ben learns he has a daughter? It’s gut‑punch emotional. He’s overwhelmed with joy, grief, and regret all at once. It felt like watching someone’s heart crack open. When he finally meets Katty, he’s done for — completely in love, completely changed. Those scenes made me cry; they were tender and full of longing for the years he missed.


From there, the book becomes a mix of healing, family chaos, and slow rebuilding. Ben is a big‑hearted rugby player with huge emotions and a tendency to leap before thinking. Mazzy is grounded, mature, and protective. Together, they find a rhythm that feels natural and sweet. His brothers fall in love with Katty instantly, and the family moments — the laughter, the teasing, the fierce loyalty — were some of my favorites.


I also loved Mazzy’s support system: Aunt Barb with her prickly love, Kylie with her wild influencer energy, and Shira with her gentle kindness. Katty steals every scene she’s in. She’s adorable, funny, and full of personality, and watching her bond with her dad was beautiful.


There is a lot of sex once Mazzy and Ben reconnect — long, detailed scenes that pop up often. For me, they slowed the story down, but skimming worked fine because the emotional core stayed strong.


My verdict: a heartfelt, funny, emotional romance about second chances, family wounds, and the fierce love between a father and the daughter he never knew he had. Mazzy’s strength and Ben’s huge heart make them easy to root for, and Katty brings all the sunshine. A warm, satisfying four‑star read.


Purchase links


https://mybook.to/TryAgainBaby 

Available in KU



About the author


Julia Wolf writes sexy rockers, grumpy billionaires, snarky heroines, and bad ass women. She’s a firm believer in happily ever afters, no matter how rocky the road is to get there.


She doesn’t believe in “guilty pleasures”, only pleasure. Reading about a plus size woman who gets absolutely railed by a hot rock star is pleasure. Reading about a damaged college student whose flaws are valued and loved by the grumpy guy next door is pleasure. Reading about love in a small town or big city or on a tour bus is pleasure. Reading romance is pleasure!


Julia lives in Maryland with her husband and three crazy, beautiful children. When she’s not writing romance, she’s reading it. Some of her favorite things are, in no particular order: goats, books, coffee, and Target.


Connect with Julia Wolf:

https://www.instagram.com/authorjuliawolf/


Sunday, April 26, 2026

Book review: MIDNIGHT PRINCE, by J. Saman


Once Upon Ever After #2

Rowan & Marcella

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! This book absolutely shines, taking everything wonderful from the first two installments and raising the stakes in the best way. After following King Sebastian’s journey, we step into Prince Rowan’s story and go back into the suspense, the mystery, the menace of the curse, and it’s impossible not to fall right in.

Rowan has always been the charming prince in the background, but here he becomes a man longing for something real, something tender, something his brother found with Bellamy. And when he crosses paths with a mysterious woman who steals his breath—and leaves behind only a diamond earring—he’s caught and is a man on a mission.


Marcella is the heart of this book. Strong, abused, brave, and desperate for freedom, she’s a heroine who grabs you from the first moment. Watching her step into the palace as a simple maid, trying to build an honest life while carrying the weight of her past, is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Initially, she was carrying out a job to honor her slain brother, then she realized the truth and decided to honor that truth, not her owner’s. Her chemistry with Rowan is electric, full of longing, tension, and a sweetness that sneaks up on both of them.


What makes this story unforgettable is how seamlessly it blends romance with danger, secrets, and jaw‑dropping revelations. The last chapters brought new twists, new truths, and new emotional punches.  My jaw was touching the floor, I was so surprised. The suspense keeps you glued to the page, but the love story is what makes your heart ache in the best way.


Rowan’s devotion, Marcella’s courage, the royal family’s warmth, and the unraveling of long‑buried mysteries all come together in a tale that is passionate, tender, and thrilling. It’s a story about healing, choosing love over fear, and finding your place in a world that once tried to erase you.


A captivating, emotional, nail‑biting romance that left me smiling, swooning, and eager for the next chapter in this royal saga.


Purchase links


http://geni.us/MidnightPrince


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

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

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

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









Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Book review: PETTY IN PINK, by LJ Shen


This novella completely swept me off my feet. LJ Shen flipped her usual dynamic on its head, giving me a hero who is not a jerk, but is pure devotion wrapped in a doctor coat, and a heroine who’s all heart, humor, and hard‑won resilience. Layla and Grant’s story was tender, sexy, fun, and hit every one of my favorite romance buttons.

It starts with a pink dress in a Valentine’s day wedding, Layla objecting to the marriage based on her past trauma from the groom, and a wild chase out of the hotel.  Then meeting up with Grant, her friends with benefits of almost a decade.  From that wild, pink‑drenched wedding objection to the soft, steady unraveling of Layla’s trauma, the book balances chaos and healing so beautifully. Grant is the kind of hero who makes you believe in safe love — patient, protective, quietly pining for almost a decade — and Layla’s journey toward trusting him (and herself). It was so lovely to read their story!  Their chemistry was off the charts, the surprise pregnancy just what Grant needed to get his chance with Layla.


I loved seeing old friends Maddie and Chase (The Devil Wears Black) as an established couple, with one little boy and another one in the way.  Maddy continues to be the best bestie, and Chase continues to be the jerk we all love and who loves his wife madly.  It was perfection!


Even as a novella, it felt complete, rich, and emotionally full. I turned the last page grinning like an idiot, wishing only that Jessica had gotten the karmic smackdown she deserved. Otherwise, this was everything I adore about LJ Shen: messy beginnings, deep wounds, big feelings, subtle humor, and a couple who earns their joy. I loved it.


Purchase links


eBook: https://amzn.to/4qVjeqT


Audio (narrated by Erin Mallon and Christian Fox, in dual-narration style): https://amzn.to/3NUy8Pt


**Please note there is no paperback due to its length.


About the author


L.J. Shen is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of contemporary, new adult, and young adult romance. Her books have been sold in twenty different countries, and she hopes to visit all of them.


She lives in Florida with her husband, three rowdy sons, and rowdier pets and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows, and reading to her heart’s content. 


Connect with her on her website at www.authorljshen.com or on Instagram (@authorljshen), or join her Facebook group at http://goo.gl/QZJ0NC. 


Sign up for her newsletter at https://bit.ly/3LhsIrb, and text SHEN to 313131 to get new release alerts (United States only).




Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Book review: MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY, by Kendall Ryan


This book starts off kind of meh—I wasn’t sure if I’d stick with it—but it turns cute pretty fast. The characters are all connected in the most roundabout way, which makes the whole thing hilarious once you realize who knows who. Midway through, the pace slows down, but even then the characters are lovely and the story intriguing enough to keep me turning pages.

Andi is a morgue technician, sharp-tongued, acerbic, queen of one-liners.  Cole is an EMT/firefighter, golden retriever energy, cocky but kind. They cross paths constantly at the hospital. He falls first (of course), and he’s determined to win her over. She’s a hard case, though—her walls are skyscraper-high thanks to losing her parents in a car accident at 18.


Cole’s teammates make a bet with a checklist: make her smile, hold a five-minute conversation, get a kiss, and finally, score a date. Instead of hiding it, Cole shows Andi the bracket—points for integrity! His persistence is adorable: cherry pie deliveries, pink-frosted cupcakes, quiet dinners instead of flashy outings. He’s relentless but sweet, and she’s attracted against her will.


Meanwhile, there are plot twists that are hilarious:  Jack is Andi’s father best friend, he has been present in her life since her parents died, acting as a father figure. He starts dating Kate (Cole’s mom) who downloaded a dating app thanks to her meddling book club besties.


Jack and Cole already know each other from Search & Rescue work—and they don’t like each other. Cue awkward dinners and tense rescues.


A tragedy occurs that makes shock waves for both Andi and Cole.  And Andi, true to form, retreated back within her walls. I found her selfish and coward, abandoning Cole, just when he needed her the most. In the midst of her turmoil, Jack delivers the wisdom bomb: better to be afraid with the person you love than to live alone with the same pain.


I struggled with Andi, she’s witty and her zingers are fun, but she’s negative, self-sabotaging, and downright Eeyore-ish. On the other hand, I loved Cole. He’s cocky, funny, kind, devoted to his mom, respectful of Jack even when he didn’t like him, but just because he made his mom laugh. He’s the definition of a golden retriever hero—loyal, goofy, and impossible not to root for.


I loved the mixture of humor, heart, and a bit of drama.  I loved the romance part, sweet persistence against stubborn resistance.  The side characters add layers of comedy and warmth, making the story feel like a sitcom family tree gone wild. Cute read!


Purchase links


💜 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4plzeBG

💜 Audible ➜ https://geni.us/SXvtLGx

💜 Special Edition Paperback ➜ https://amzn.to/45IdeJj

💜 Goodreads: https://geni.us/MCEGR


About the author


 Kendall Ryan writes contemporary romance. Her books have been featured on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists a combined total of more than 100 times. 


Connect with Kendall:

➜ WEBSITE www.kendallryanbooks.com

➜ NEWSLETTER www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter

➜ FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/kendallryanbooks

➜ INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/kendallryan1

➜ TWITTER www.twitter.com/kendallryan1




Book review: FALLEN ROOK, by L.J. Shen

Society of Villains #3 Enzo & Tom ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book swept me off my feet!  I went in thinking I understood the dynamic between Tom Ro...