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 

Brat Christmas (Holiday Heat #1) by Melody Tyden

 

Getting drunk after finding out your boyfriend of 4 years cheated? Totally normal. Keying his new girlfriend's car? Understandable. Finding out that car actually belongs to someone else? A nightmare. Now, Maxine finds herself working for Reid to payoff the repairs. He's not all the kind of man she thought she wanted, but the more time she spends under his watchful eye, the harder it is to ignore the sparks between them or the heat simmering beneath his controlled exterior. With Reid as the reward, being naughty has never felt so nice. Brat Christmas by Melody Tyden was published October 31st, 2025. This is book one of the Holiday Heat series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Melody Tyden and The Smuthood. This book had me laughing through the whole thing. It reminds me a little bit like a Hallmark movie if it was a comedy and had lots of smut. The characters were amazing even though they felt like they needed more personality in some parts of the book. The relationship is fast paced and they rarely fought in the book. When they do fight in the book it's quick and no one is really upset. The plot of this book is simple but a really quick read. You know what you are expecting but it didn't take away from the book. The plot is great and and I really loved reading this. This book is a great palette cleanser between some dark books or a book that can get you into the Christmas feelings. I recommend checking this book out as you won't be disappointed through the book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

Besides, there's a twisted kind of logic at work. She took my boyfriend? Fine. I'll fuck her dad. 

"Every time you pass my office, I get a craving for something wet. Must be a coincidence." 

"You might want to pace yourself. You wouldn't want to be up all night."
"You're playing with fire."
"Maybe it's worth getting a little burned." 

"Good girl." 

Tropes 

Holiday

Age-Gap

Single Parent 

Workplace 

BDSM 

Sneak Play (The Playbook #3) by L.A. Shaw

 

I may be known as the campus flirt. But the truth is I've only ever wanted one thing more than hockey...and that's her. Shay Moore. Not only is she my hockey coach's daughter, but she's also the star point guard on the women's basketball team here at Mountain Ridge University. My draw to her is unlike anything I've ever experienced before, but there's one huge problem...her boyfriend. The one who doesn't deserve her. So I've stayed in my lane, admired from a distance, and accepted residency in the friend zone. Patiently hoping for my chance to tell her what I should have told her years ago. Until this summer...Sneak Play by L.A. Shaw was published on December 4th, 2025. This is the third book in The Playbook series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from L.A. Shaw and The Smuthood. So, I am not much a fan of slow burns as other tropes. But then tend to find me and I give them my honest effort to get through them. I have to say though this book surprised me with the slow burn. Though, I think I was rooting for the wrong couple in the book. I absolutely loved the characters in this book especially Mav in the book. He made me laugh at his antics but also fall in love with him. As a mom of a child with autism the author portrayed that aspect in the book correctly. I absolutely loved the characters and wish that I too can hang out with them at the college house. Now, the romance I struggled with. I could see the characters having a friendship but felt like it was really one sided when they took it further. It didn't make me squeal or anything. There is not very much smut in this book except near the end of the book. So if you want some smut and lots of it then this book is not for you. It's a sweet book and it's a feel good book. A good palate cleanser when you have been in the dark romance section. 

Quotes That I Loved 

Sometimes, I want to forget about the fact that she has a boyfriend and pretend she's mine. 

"A morning grope is a great way to kick off my Monday." 

The Playbook Series

1. Replay

2. Trick Play

3. Sneak Play

Tropes

Sports - Hockey/Basketball 

Friends to Lovers 

Slow Burn

New Age / College 

Savage Obsession (Savage Sins #2) by Kate Oliver

 

I'm drowning in grief, anger, and whiskey. Haunted by my father's murder and what could have been. No matter what I do, my demons never stop pulling me under. Then I meet Quinn Summers, a beautiful ray of sweet sunshine. Her innocence ignites an obsession I can't control. She's everything I should stay away from. The last thing I want is to tarnish one of the only good things left in this world. But the more I fight it, the more she becomes my reason to breathe...my reason to live. Savage Obsession by Kate Oliver was published November 25th, 2025. This is the second book in the Savage Sins series. 

I was given this ARC for my honest review from Kate Oliver and The Smuthood. Now that's been said, I absolutely loved this book. So much that I really want to go read book one as I did not read it before I read this one. Though, you didn't need anything from book one I don't think so it's a-okay. Anyways, back to this book. This book has such an amazing plot that it was hard to put down the book to function in the real world. I mean who needs to feed their children and make sure they don't kill each other or sleep. The book had such an amazing plot that it was easy to see the characters Xander and Quinn falling for each other. Though, it cracks me that Quinn knows some of Xander's stalking behaviors that he thinks she doesn't know. I absolutely loved how Quinn brings out the best in Xander but yet doesn't destroy who he is. Both of the characters have so much background that you could imagine how their background created who each of them are. They have a lot of baggage but it was not overwhelming for the reader to understand what was going on. Also it was not taking over the whole plot (a huge plus in my book). Like I said, I fell in love with this book and I can't wait to read more books by Kate Oliver. She just made the top of my favorites list of authors. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Sorry, Lassie. I prefer pit bulls over golden retrievers." 

"I'll never lie to you, Sunshine, so make sure you really want the answers to your questions." 

"No, asshole. I'm just trying to figure out in my head. I happen to have one of the highest IQs in the world, by the way, so I'd like to think I understand most things. But what I can't figure out is why you, the COO of Savage Entertainment, need me to hack your own system for employee information. Dude, if you're too dumb to use a computer, I can send you some videos. I think they're usually for preschool kids, but that's cool. I'm not judging." 

Savage Sins Series 

1. Savage Revenge 

2. Savage Obsession 

Tropes 

Dark Romance

Age Gap 

Billionaire

Boss/Employee 

Stalking 

Mafia Romance

Grumpy Sunshine

BDSM 

Mountain Grump (Mountain Men #3) by S.J. Tilly

 

I have a new house: Well, new to me. Just like living in my own place on top of a mountain, rather than in a city apartment, is new to me. But it's mine now because my Great Uncle Jack passed away, and he left me his freaking house. In Colorado. On the border of Lonely Peak State Park. But that's not all he did. He also left a series of letters. A scavenger hunt of clues that leads me back to Vegas. To his lawyer's office. To the reading of his will. Where I learn I must marry in order to keep my sudden inheritance out of the greedy hands of my family. and since they're the worst, I only have one option. Ask the grumpy park ranger I just met to be my husband. Mountain Grump by S.J. Tilly was published on November 20th, 2025. This is book three of the Mountain Men series. 

I have absolutely loved all the books that S.J. Tilly has produced so far. I am so happy that she is still writing and creating these amazing books of art. This book is the third in the Mountain series and I believe the last book in the series. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Though, I think Ethan's name really doesn't fit him so like Tilda, I want to call him Ranger. I loved the personalities of the two main characters. Their personality while opposites fit so well together. It made total sense how the two of them fell in love. I love how their love is shaped and both make mistakes throughout the book. This plot is top tier and while I am sad that this series is ending. I cannot wait to read the next series that S.J. Tilly has in her brain. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"You gonna take it?"
"You gonna admit your butthole looks like an asshole?" 

"Tilda, this is Fisher. Fisher, this woman is none of your business." 

"Are you my Good Boy?" 

"I've provided my lawyer with a whistle. Please don't embarrass me in death and make him use it." 

Mountain Men Series 

1. Mountain Boss 

2. Mountain Daddy 

3. Mountain Grump  

Tropes 

Small Town 

Marriage of Convenience 

Grumpy Sunshine

Forced Proximity 

Men in Uniform - Park Ranger