Whisky and Roses (Loch Morven #2) by Bella James

 

Tilda MacLean's life is officially off the rails. Her ex ran off with her business (and her bank balance), and her dad left her crumbling cottage on a Scottish Island. Even Flora, her basset hound, is judging her life choices. Tilda's plan? Fix up the cottage, sell it fast, and escape - before anyone realises she's completely winging it. There's just one problem: Finn Kinnaird. He needs a gardener to help save his distillery. And Tilda, broke and stranded, needs a job. They're opposites in every way - but they're going to have to make it work. Whisky and Roses by Bella James will be published January 1st, 2026. This is book two of Loch Morven series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Bella James and Love Notes PR. First off, I didn't read book one before I read this book. Though, it was not needed in this book as you didn't get left behind if you read this book first like I did. Now that being said, I felt like this book was slow. Even slower than most slow burn type of books. There were times that I thought I needed something to happen and it didn't. I felt like some of the build up needed to be taken out or for something exciting to happen in the plot. Also there were some Scottish terms that went over my head. As both of the characters knew what the word was but I did not. So I had to do some research for parts of the book. Though, soon the plot picked up and I wasn't so worried about the other things. The ending of this book was perfect and I could not put the book down. If you need a good palate cleanser this book is for you.

Quotes that I Loved 

"I'm not really a dress sort of girl, but -"
"I prefer you in your dungarees, with mud on your boots, and hair in your eyes, Chaos." 

Loch Morven Series

1. Duke It Out

2. Whisky and Roses 

Tropes

Grumpy Sunshine

Forced Proximity 

Slow Burn 

Small Town 

Enemies to Lovers

Boss/Employee

No Longer Innocent (Rags & Riches #3) by Alora Kai

 

I wanted peace. A few weeks in the mountains to forget my family, my name, and everything waiting back home. Then I met him - quiet, rugged, and nothing like the men I was raised around. One night with Ivan felt like a lifetime. But when I returned home, my father was dead...and danger was suddenly everywhere. Now I'm trapped between grief and suspicion, and the only man I feel safe with is the one I'm forbidden to have. No Longer Innocent by Alora Kai was published on December 19th, 2025. This is book three of the Rags & Riches series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Alora Kai and Love Notes PR. First off I need to say that I have not read book one or book two of this series. I didn't feel like though that I was lost at all in the book by not reading the first two books in the series. So I would say that this can be a standalone book as well as in a series. I have to say that I actually enjoyed reading this book. I am not much for slow burn type of books and I thought at first this was not one of those books. As it starts off right away but then it fizzles a bit. I do say though it does pick up after you get some more information. Though I felt like some of the information in the beginning could be less. The characters in the book, Ivan and Poppy are really well written. While they are not as well rounded as I would have hoped they both had some growth through the book that you expect. The tension in this book is great and keeps you holding on to the bitter end. I really enjoyed this book. I am hoping to read the first two. Great job to Alora Kai. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"You're going to trip running around like that..."

"You could always catch me."

"Don't tempt me, Poppy." 

"Just who do you think you are?!"

"Ivan Cristof is what it says on my birth certificate, I mean, last I checked."

"You were fired." 

"I need a shower..."

"Yes, a shower would be good....I think a shower sounds like a great idea."

"I meant alone."

"That's okay, I have more than enough toys to..." 

Rags & Riches Series

1. No Longer Safe 

2. No Longer Mine

3. No Longer Innocent 

Tropes

Bodyguard

Forbidden

Virgin

Slow Burn 

He Falls First 

Stalker

Mafia 

Forced Proximity 

The Mr & Mrs Mistake (Steel Brothers of Starlight Cove #3) by Brighton Walsh

 

My best friend's little sister has been getting under my skin for decades. She's my lifelong nemesis and now - apparently - my wife. When Willa Jameson stumbled into my bar drunk, heartbroken, and desperate to save her family farm, I offered to marry her. For "Convenience." Which is hilarious, because nothing about my attraction to this hurricane with hips has been convenient. Now we're sharing a roof, a bed, a potential felony thanks to our fake marriage. It's supposed to be a favor between not-quite-but-not-quite-enemies. Then our late-night arguments turn into practice make out sessions. But according to her, that changes absolutely nothing between us. No matter how many lines we draw, we keep crossing them - in the kitchen, on the porch, in the tiny bed that's become both heaven and hell. And the woman who swears she hates me starts looking at me like I might be exactly what she needs. She calls me her temporary husband. I call her my daily torture, because every day we play house, it feels less like pretending and more like home. When this ends, I don't know how i'm going to forget what it felt like to call her mine. So either I walk away with her, or I don't walk away at all. The Mr & Mrs Mistake by Brighton Walsh will be published on January 1st, 2026. This is the third book in the Steel Brothers of Starlight Cove Series. 

I was so excited to receive this advance copy for my honest review from Brighton Walsh and The Smuthood. That being said, I read this book within a day as I could not put it down. That is saying something when I received it right after Christmas. I absolutely loved the first two books of this series and I absolutely loved the other books that are based in Starlight Cove. I mean can we all have a small town that must have something in their water to have all these alpha males that live there. I have to say that I loved this book so much. I could not stop sharing quotes that I read through this book. Let me talk to you about Willa. Willa acts strong and that she doesn't need help from those around her. When in reality she suffers daily pain from her body betraying her. I felt for her right off the bat as I myself suffer from daily pain. I was born with arthritis so my life is full of pain. I could feel her independence in this book and most likely thinking that no one wants to be with her because of her pain. So she has to take care of herself. Let me tell you Brighton wrote Willa perfectly and I cried at the way Lincoln took care of her. It reminded me of my husband forcing me to take a step back at times when I am in a ton of pain. It really shows how much he cares for her throughout the book. I loved the characters in this book and I love how the drama in the book was not really over the top. This book had me laughing, crying, and giggling. The plot in this story never felt like a bore as it went up and down perfect flow. I highly recommend this book because I absolutely loved it from the first page to the last page. I cannot wait for Declan to get his own book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"I mean, getting married isn't the only way to make you a family. I could also do what your latest book boyfriend excelled at and breed you..." 

"If I stay here another second, I'll stab you with that fork."
"Ohhh...fork play. I didn't read about that in Bred by the Moonlight, but I'm up for trying anything with you." 

"You're anything but weak, hellcat. You deal with unimaginable pain every day and just go about your life as usual. What you are, though, is so goddamn stubborn that you'd rather crawl across broken glass than admit you need help." 

"You taste like my wife." 

Steel Brothers of Starlight Cove Series 

1. The Grump Next Door

2. The Live-In Temptation

3. The Mr & Mrs Mistake

4. TBA 

Tropes

Marriage of Convenience

Enemies to Lovers

Forced Proximity

Small Town

Brothers Best Friend

He Falls First 

Grumpy/Sunshine

Reckless Need (Russo Mafia #3) by Lena Vox

 

I was given one order - watch her. Not want her. Not touch her. Definitely not make her mine. But Elena Messina is a beautiful disaster - sharp-tongued, reckless, and hiding secrets that could destroy us all. She slips past my men like smoke, playing games she doesn't understand, and walks straight into danger with those caramel eyes wide open. My job is to uncover her secrets. To keep her from becoming a threat. But the more I watch her, the more I crave her. I'm not her savior. I'm her shadow. The consignee who's seen too much blood to pretend I'm anything but deadly. And I'll protect her from the Irish, her father's debts, and every threat that comes her way. Even if the most dangerous thing in her life...is falling for me. Reckless Need by Lena Lox was published December 18th, 2025. This is book three of the Russo Mafia series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Lena Lox and Literally Yours PR. I loved this book with the banter between Marco and Elena. They have this love hate relationship from the start of the book. The relationship was naturally building through the book. The characters were at the beginning flat but over the book they grew more rounded. I was able to picture the characters through the book. The plot of the story started slow and it was hard to get into it. But as you read further to give it more time it gets more active and it picks up fast after that. I highly recommend checking out this book and this series. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"It's not up for debate. You can hang out with your friend but I'm going too."
"I'm sorry--did you not hear the words 'girls' night'?......Is there a vagina hiding under that towel that I should known about? Because last I checked, you're very much not a girl." 

"You want me. I can see it every time you look at me. But you won't do anything about it. So forgive me if I went looking for someone who actually---" 

"Fuck it" 

Russo Mafia Series 

1. Savage Union

2. Brutal Kiss

3. Reckless Need

4. Wicked Games 

Tropes

Mafia 

Bodyguard

Age Gap

Grumpy/Sunshine

Forced Proximity

Forbidden 

Dark Romance 

Mountain Boss (Mountain Men #1) by S.J. Tilly

 

I'm just so exhausted - always living on the edge of desperation, one paycheck away from ruin. But this new job...It could be the fresh start I need. It could change everything. The contract is only for three months, but if I keep my head down, work hard, and prove myself, maybe I could stay longer. Maybe I could make Black Mountain Lodge my home. As I pull down the gravel drive, surrounded by the forest and mountains and bright blue skies, I feel something I haven't felt in a while. I feel hope. Mountain Boss by S.J. Tilly was published on March 27th, 2025. This is the first book in the Mountain Men series. 

I absolutely love S.J. Tilly books that I have read so far. Her writing in her books sends you to the setting. Where you can picture the scenes in your mind. You are able to see the characters and watch them fall in love. Also it helps you fall in love with the characters that she has in her mind. Like most of her books the men are grumpy and get thrown for a loop when they meet the female lead character. But what is different in this book is that the setting is in a small town in the mountains. I absolutely loved the story in Mountain Boss. I loved Courtney and the mix up that had Sterling hire her. Right off the bat, I knew when these two finally admitted that there is mutual attraction. This book made me chuckle throughout the book at their antics. I love the smut scenes in this book and I love how they are involved in the plot. S.J. Tilly has created yet another great series. 

Book Quotes that I Loved 

"I called you Cookie for two reasons. And neither of them had anything to do with the shape of your perfect fucking body...Reason one.....You literally threw a cookie at me. And two....I call you Cookie because you're sweet and delicate and....I want to eat you." 

"That's my good girl." 

Mountain Men Series 

1. Mountain Boss 

2. Mountain Daddy

3. Mountain Grump 

Tropes

Age-Gap

Enemies to Lovers

Boss/Employee

Forced Proximity

Small Town

Grumpy Sunshine 

Keep Me (Sinful Manor #1) by Sara Cate

 

All Killian Barclay wants is to be left the hell alone. He's had enough heartache to last a lifetime, and he has no more need for love - earning him the reputation of a broody Scot and eventually turning his famous ancestral home into a den of iniquity. It doesn't take long for tales of his raunchy house parties to reach the rest of his family, though, inspiring them to hatch a plan to shake Killian out of his routine. Keep Me by Sara Cate was published on December 3rd, 2024. This is the first book in the Sinful Manor series. 

I read this book awhile ago but I absolutely loved this book. It starts off slow but picks up quickly. I love the antics of Killian in trying to make Slyvie not fall in love with him. But of course it didn't work. The characters in this book are very well rounded. I could picture the characters. Both had faults and strengths. They also grew through the book to be able to get better when they were together. I could totally see how the characters balance each other and would work best together. The plot is great and easy to follow I didn't feel like there was anything that was left hanging at the end of the book. I recommend checking out this book from Sara Cate. 

Quotes that I Love 

"Where the fuck have you been?"
"Killian?"
"Get in the fucking car, Sylvie." 
"I'm not getting in there with you if you're going to yell at me like that." 
"I told you to get in the fucking car, women. You can either listen to me, or I'll toss you over my shoulder and put you in there myself."
"What is wrong with you?"
"For fuck's sake..."
"Okay, okay!....I'll get in. Just...relax."
"Relax?.....You have had us worried sick. Peter came looking for you, but you didn't answer your phone, and he couldn't find you." 
"I lost track of time. I'm sorry." 
"Just get in the fucking car." 

"You're all bark and no bite, my wee wife."

"Oh, I'll bite." 

Sinful Manor Series 

1. Keep Me 

2. Promise Me (TBA 2026) 

Tropes 

Enemies to Lovers

Marriage of Convenience 

Age-Gap

Dark Romance 

Billionaire 

Grumpy/Sunshine 

Ruthless Obsession (Crecent City Sins #1) by Rayna James

 

The masquerade gala was full of secrets, lies, and bloodstained power plays. It was also the beginning of my doom. When I stumbled into something I was never meant to see, the masks come off-and the danger becomes real. The mayor's men want my silence. My boyfriend's lies are unraveling. And the only person who seems to care whether I live or die is a stranger with murder in his eyes and a smile on his lips. Ruthless Obsession by Rayna James was published on April 23rd, 2025. This is the first book in the Crescent City Sins series. 

I was given this book for my honest review by Literally Yours PR and Rayna James. This was such a quick read that had me laughing at the antics of the characters. I fell in love with Kate in this book with her history that you get to know through the book and how strong she gets through the book.  Then there is Bastian who acts like this tough guy and you find out that in reality he is a giant teddy bear in the book. I still feel like the story is missing some history between the two characters. I felt like Bastian has known about Kate way before the book started. The plot in this book made me giggle and could not put the book down at all. There are minor errors throughout the book but the book was so well created that it's easy to overlook. The smut in this book is light but the romance gets you through the book. I highly recommend checking out this book. I know I want to read the next book in the series. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"This is where you pressure me. Say something like, 'Oh, the gentle giant groping your friend? He wouldn't hurt a fly." 

"Warning bells are clanging in my head."
"Because I called you beautiful?"
"No. This. All of this. Including you. It screams danger. And yet, I don't feel threatened. Maybe you're like a Venus flytrap, daring people to get close, charming them into safety...and then boom!" 

"Perhaps, I'm just marking my territory."
"First you say things like 'belong,' now 'territory." I'm not a remote island that needs to be colonized, you know."
"Either way, I'm planting my flag." 

Crescent City Sins series 

1. Ruthless Obsession 

2. Crowning Temptation 

Tropes

Mafia 

Dark Romance 

forced Proximity 

Billionaire 

Stalking