Rule Breaker (Deep Cove Millionaires Book Club #2) by Lily Miller

 

You could say Jesse Winters and I got off on the wrong foot. The first time I laid eyes on him, I let him know exactly where he could shove that smug grin on his face. I've met plenty of guys like Jesse - handsome, charming, infuriating. He skates through life on good looks and charisma, leaving a trail of broken hearts along the way. It's clear that most girls find him impossible to ignore, but then, most girls haven't been raised with powerful political family legacy resting squarely on their shoulders. My parents taught me to be poised, and perfect. And to stay far away from men like Jesse Winters. Unfortunately, he's one of the owners of the company I now work for and seeing as I uprooted my entire life and moved to Deep Cove for this job, I tell myself just do my best to avoid him. That is, until an out-of-town gala I'm pressured to attend forces us together. An airplane ride away from the office and town we both call home, we're stuck sharing one hotel room. And one bed. Suddenly, Jesse is my fake date for the weekend - only nothing about it feels like we're pretending. Especially not the possessive way he looks at me. Or how much I like it. Rule Breaker by Lily Miller was published on March 1st, 2026. This is the second book of the Deep Cove Millionaires Book Club series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Lily Miller and The Smuthood. This is my first book that I have ever read by Lily Miller and I am so happy that I had the chance to check her book out. I really enjoyed the dynamic of the two characters in the book. I felt like the two characters really fit well together where he was the goofy kid and she was the serious person. I loved how the book started so that you got to know Madeline and see that she is trying to get away from her parents. I then love how that Jesse is though opposite of Madeline he is also a billionaire. They both had a hard time while growing up from their parents. Yet, they were not the same it helped them make a connection that way. The smut in this book is perfect but very light. The tension in this book between the characters is perfect. Though I wish the characters were a little more well rounded. It did not take away from the book. I can't wait to go back and read book one of the series. For sure adding Lily Miller on my favorite authors list. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Definitely not. To recap: Jesse sat down, you froze, he flirted, and then you torched him with that 'maybe focus on one woman at a time' line. Iconic." 

"But sometimes doing what's right for you means pissing a few people off." 

"I'm not gentle when I want someone...I take control. I lead.....But I only go as far as you want, and I'll always stop the second you tell me to." 

"On the bed, Mads, so I can worship you...." 

"Madeline, the man is stupid hot. Like offensively attractive. If that man took his clothes off in front of me, I would need to be resuscitated."
"Babe. I'm literally right here." 
"I married you. You're fine."
"I don't feel fine." 

Deep Cove Millionaires Book Club Series 

1. Deal Breaker 

2. Rule Breaker 

3. Heart Breaker (09/15/2026) 

Tropes

Boss/Employee 

Enemies to Lovers 

Slow Burn

Fake Dating

Forced Proximity

Billionaire 

He Falls first 

Small Town 

Cocky Mother Pucker (Hollis U #1) by Sarah Smith

 

I'm known for three things: I'm the captain of my college hockey team. I'm hot. I've got a big "stick" and plenty of pretty ladies to handle it for me. Yeah, that's cocky as hell, but it's true. One problem: I'm failing my classes. I need to get my grades up or I'm off the team, and i'll lose my shot to play pro hockey. So when Poppy Wylder asks me to fake date her to get back at her ex, I'm in. Under one condition: she tutors me. I've had a crush on this beautiful genius since we went to high school together. She hates me though. But one unexpected kiss changes everything. This good girl with a naughty streak in the bedroom is my fantasy come true. She confides in me about her dreams. I tell her mine. We agreed to call it quits at the end of the semester, but I've caught major feelings...I want to make Poppy mine for real... I just have to convince her to take a chance on the guy she never wanted. Cocky Mother Pucker by Sarah Smith was published on March 9th, 2026. This is the first book of Hollis U series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Sarah Smith and The Smuthood. I am so glad that I was able to read this book as I have not read anything by Sarah Smith before. This book had everything that you would want as a reader. It had drama and it had so many funny scenes that Make you giggle in delight. I loved the drama between Poppy and Nick as it made it even sweeter when they got together in the book. The romance was there in the book from the beginning as they try to figure out ways to get a long. But with all their fighting with each other you knew there was more to the story. The plot was perfect and there was nowhere that I thought it was too slow or too fast of a scene. It had a flow that kept you turning the page to find out what was about to happen. The only thing was I felt like the characters needed more depth to them but it was easy to overlook. The spicy scenes were spicy and at times extra spicy in the book. I highly recommend checking out this great book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Please, Poppy? I'll get down on my knees and beg if I have to." 

"Now hop on my cock and ride me like a good girl." 

"I want to break my rules for you." 

"I wanna see my name and my number on your back when you come on my dick like a good girl that you are." 

Hollis U Series

1. Cocky Mother Pucker 

2. Grumpy Mother Pucker (May 11, 2026) 

Tropes

Fake Dating

Bad Boy/ Good Girl

Sports -Hockey 

New Age 

Sister's Best Friend 

Flock (The Ravenhood #1) by Kate Stewart

 

Can you keep a secret? I grew up sick. Let me clarify. I grew up believing that real love stories include a martyr or demand great sacrifice to be worthy. Because of that, I believed it, because I made myself believe it, and I bred the most masochistic of romantic hearts, which resulted in my illness. When I lived this story, my own twisted fairy tale, it was unbeknowst to me at the time because I was young and naive. I gave into temptation and fed the beating beast, which grew thirstier with every slash, every strike, every blow. Triple Falls wasn't at all what it seemed, nor were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets. Secrets that cost us everything to keep. That's the novelty of fiction versus reality. You can't re-live your own love story, because by the time you've realized you're living it, it's over. At least that was the case for me and the men I trusted my foolish heart to. Looking back, I'm convinced I willed my story into existence due to my illness. And all were punished. Flock by Kate Stewart was published July 27th, 2020. This is the first book in The Ravenhood series. 

I actually read this book a long time ago and just got some time to type up the review. I absolutely devoured this book. I loved the characters in this book that I had to actually read the next book in the series so I could stay with the characters longer. This book had so many twist and turns through out the book. You were caught in the love triangle through the book. The author wrote it to confuse the reader on who the main FMC was going to end up with. I thought all three main characters in this book had so much depth and history that was shown little by little through the book. Though you find out more in the following book. The author had no trouble with the three main characters and kept them straight through the book. The plot in this book is perfectly written. It has lots of spice and smut that will keep you up at night. Like what goes where and that goes there. I highly recommend checking out this book. Just know it's a FMC with two MMC. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"I've been to plenty of parties, Sean. I'm no Little Red Riding Hood." 

"Good, because we don't want to let the Wolf get a whiff." 

...I want it to hurt. When we fuck, I want to feel it with every fiber of my being. When a man confesses his love to me, I expect him to mean it. I don't want to question the words' authenticity. I want to be claimed and owned and ruled and possessed by love. 

"You catchin' feelings for me, Pup?"
"Yes, of course I am. We...I was hoping....I don't know."
"That's right, we don't, so let's not go around getting offended and slinging drama where it isn't needed. You want to trust me, but you're not letting yourself, and there's nothing I can do about that. I can tell you every day you're safe with me, but unless you believe it, it's pointless. And for the record, I caught feelings the minute I laid eyes on you." 

"It's okay to want his dick, baby, I'll watch it go inside you and fucking love the view, and the savage it'll make me." 

The Ravenwood Series

1. Flock

2.  Exodus

3. The Finish Line 

Tropes 

Dark Romance 

New Adult 

Why Choose 

Enemies to Lovers 

Small Town

Perfectly Us (Steel City Legacy #1) by Samantha Brinn

 

Since my wife died ten years ago my life has revolved around two things: football and my kids. Then I met a girl in a bar and one single night changed everything. For six hours I wasn't the veteran Pittsburgh Renegades offensive linemen or single dad of two. I was just a man, and it felt like she was the one I had been waiting for. But when morning came I woke up to an empty bed, the girl of my literal dreams nowhere to be found. Until I walk into work the next day and there she is. Maddy Wright, Director of Sports Psychology for the Renegades and niece of the team's General Manager, is the last woman on earth I should want, but she's the one women I can't stay away from. With my position on the team and her career on the line, a relationship is a terrible idea. But the draw to each other is too strong, the way she fits into my little family undeniable, our chemistry impossible to ignore. We shouldn't need each other like this when being together could ruin everything we've both worked for. I shouldn't feel like I can't breathe without her when dating in secret is our only choice. With our careers in the cross hairs, forever is the last word that should be on my mind. But with my heart utterly lost to Maddy, I'll stop at nothing to make sure that forever is exactly what we get. Together. Perfectly Us by Samantha Brinn was published March 5th, 2026. This is the first book in the Steel City Legacy series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood. Let's just say that I absolutely loved this book. I loved how the book built up the relationship with little things throughout the book. How you fall in love with Cam is this perfect guy throughout the book. The two main characters both have some baggage. Maddy was adopted from the system when she was seven years old and Cam's wife passed right after childbirth of their second child. The plot in this book is perfect, it has a ton of side characters but it didn't take away from the book. I really want to hear all the way the parents in the book met their spouses. There seems to be a story for each couple. I absolutely loved the book and the way the romance was in the book. The smut scenes were tame but still spicy. I highly recommend checking out this amazing book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"You've been my best friend for twenty-three years. You should know I don't have that kind of self-control....He caught me staring at him. What the fuck am I supposed to do now?"
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to lick his forearms." 

"We'll get back to the hockey team because that is straight sexy, Maddy. And that thing you did with your tongue when your head was hanging off the bed? That felt wild to me." 

"Will you come eat tacos with me?"
"What?"
"Liv said your dad made tacos. It's time for dinner."
"It's time for..."
"Dinner.....Come on, Wildcat. I want you to sit by me." 

"Good girl.....Good. Fucking. Girl." 

Steel City Legacy Series

0.5: Merrily Us 

1: Perfectly Us 

2: Irresistibly Us (06/05/26) 

Tropes

Sports Romance - Football

Secret Relationship

Forced Proximity

He Falls First 

Single Parent

Wild Love (Rose Hill #1) by Elsie Silver

 

She's been driving him wild for years. The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild. But mostly, the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her. Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont. After living in the city, Rosie-came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay-friction that soon turns to blistering heat. Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross the line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things. And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her. Wild Love by Elsie Silver was published on April 9th, 2024. This is the first book in the Rose Hill series. This book was also nominated in the Goodreads choice award for favorite romance in 2024. 

I actually read this book awhile ago but now just getting to review it. I absolutely loved this book. The cover attracted my attention just because it's all in one cover and it's not something that I normally see. I loved the tension between Rosie and Ford. They fought so much that you knew once they both gave in to their temptation that it was going to be explosive. Also I fell in love with Ford's twelve year old daughter with her snarky and sass behavior. Though, you will see where she gets it from as you read the book. The plot is great, a little slow in some parts but it is easy to get past it. If you want to build up with some humor this is the book for you. The smut in this book is mild but it is what is expected since it's not a dark romance. I highly recommend checking out this book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"World's Hottest Billionaire."
"I hate you."
"Nah. You love me. I'm the sunshine to your grumpy."
"What?"q`
    "It's a thing in romance books -" 

"Rosalie, when have I ever said no to you?" 

"That journal entry is fascinating, but all wrong. I was at home when you called that night. And I broke every speed limit to get to you." 

"I definitely don't hate , Rosie. Not even close. But I can fuck you like I do if that's what you need." 

Rose Hill Series

1. Wild Love

2. Wild Eyes

3. Wild Side

4. Wild Card 

Tropes

Small Town

Brother's Best Friend 

Friends to Lovers

Single Parent

Billionaire

Grumpy Sunshine

Forced Proximity

All's Fair in Love & Sin (Queens & Heathens #2) by Jenn Plummer

 

He lives by the club's code; she's bound to a man who isn't him. When their forbidden love ignites, every stolen moment binds them together, until they discover secrets that twist their lives in a way they never expected. But some hearts collide despite the cost and fall anyway. After all, all's fair in love and sin. All's Fair in Love & Sin by Jenn Plummer was published on March 5th, 2026. This is the second book in the Queens & Heathens series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Jenn Plummer and The Smuthood. Thanks again ladies for choosing me to review. So, this is the second book in the series and I thought that the first book was written well but I think this book topped it. I absolutely loved the chemistry between the two main characters in this book. You could see them physically falling in love while reading every single page. You also could tell that Sin was okay with just being her friend if that means he gets to stay with her. I also loved seeing the chemistry of Chaos with his Old Lady in this book. This book is so sweet and really outside the norm for dark romance tropes. But I loved the plot where the action really wasn't a huge part of the book. It was the build up between the two characters. The smut scenes were pretty mild for dark romance but I highly recommend checking this book out. I cannot wait to read Malice's story next. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"What? That my best friend has been reduced to the equivalent of a Fleshlight?" 

"You don't even realize what you do to me, the power you hold, how one word from you quiets every storm in my head. I swear, being near you feels like finally finding the place I've been trying to return to my entire life. There isn't a single part of my existence, past, present, or whatever the hell comes next, that doesn't ache for you." 

God, she's everything. My endgame. My future wife. My old lady. My queen. 

"Rhys...I'm....I'll crush you. You won't be able to breathe." 

"Good. Fucking 

Queens and Heathens Series

1. All's Fair in Love & Chaos 

2. All's Fair in Love & Sin

3. All's Fair in Love & Malice (May 1st, 2026)

4. All's Fair in Love & Wrath (August 6th, 2026) 

Tropes

Dark Romance 

Motorcycle Club

Small Town

He Falls First 

Friends to Lovers 

Forbidden 

Behind Closed Doors (Kept in Paradise #1) by Shain Rose

 

He's the forbidden enigma I wanted to ignore...but instead I'll be forced to share a home with him. Jameson Knight arrives at precisely the same time every day to pick up his young daughter from school, smiling as she runs into his open arms. It's the only time I see him smile. I don't ask questions because it's not my place. I'm just his daughter's favorite teacher, nothing more...Until the first bullet flies by us at recess. Suddenly, I'm risking my life to protect her. And then Jameson drags me back to his estate, claiming it's a matter of life-or-death. Now I'm in the most beautiful home I've ever seen, faced with an offer from a man who's just as gorgeous: Be the temporary live-in nanny until he can ensure my safety and find a more permanent solution. It'll be easy, he promises. Yet, the arrangement is anything but simple. Not when Jameson's hungry stare is all consuming and his touch pulse racing. And definitely not when I find that nothing in this neighborhood is as it seems, including Jameson. He may be powerful, possessive, and protective. But he's also dangerous, demanding, and calculating. As more of his secrets come out, I should run but...How do I escape the enigma of Jameson Knight if he's already captured my heart? Behind Closed Doors by Shain Rose was published on February 24th, 2026. This is book one of the Kept in Paradise series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Shain Rose and The Smuthood. I first need to talk about the cover of this book. The cover is AMAZING! I actually wanted to read this book first because of the cover which is a no no in the book world. It drew my attention to the book which made me want to read the back of the book. Of course I have read other books by Shain Rose and yet they didn't even come close to how amazing this book is. This book brought out so many feelings. I absolutely loved the main characters in this book especially little Franny. This book had me smiling every time that I was able to pick it up. But of course with four kids of my own then watching my nieces on top of it. It didn't give me the time I wanted to spend on this book. The plot of this story was perfect as it left me hanging and kept my attention throughout the book. The smut scenes were perfection and made me giggle throughout. I highly recommend checking this book out. I can not wait for the next book in the series. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Don't make me shoot you, Darling."
"What the fuck are you doing?....Don't threaten my daughter's favorite fucking teacher. She's the reason Franny smiles every damn day. You cause her trauma, and I'm gonna kill you. Understand?" 
"Jesus Christ. We don't have time for this."
"Fuck, Jameson."
"My men think before they pull their weapon. Or I blow their brains out. Understood?" 

"Because were about to let Archer grab it for you without a problem." 

"Yes, well. Archer and I are friendly."

"Define friendly, Mia."

"I'm used to Archer's help, Mr. Knight." 

"Dress appropriately around my men from now on, Mia."

"Or what?....I'll pay the consequences?"

"They will, Darling Mia. Not you." 

"Mr. Knight."

"My whole name, Mia. Who's going to make you come all over and leave a mess?"

"Jameson Knight."

"Whose household do you teach within?"

"Jameson Knight's."

"Whose rules do you follow?"

"Jameson, I'm going to act more unprofessional than ever if you don't let me finish."

"Say it then. Whose rules do you follow, baby?"

"Yours, you ass."

"Such a little pretty brat when you could just submit for a second. I'm not an ass. I'm Jameson Knight, your boss, and you should show me some respect. Tell me you'll listen, Mia. Moan it for me out of that snarky mouth. Then i'll let you feel it, that high you want so bad." 

Kept in Paradise series 

1. Behind Closed Doors 

2. In the Dark (09/29/26) 

Tropes

Dark Romance

Forced Proximity

Single Dad 

Mafia Romance 

Enemies to Lovers

Boss/Employee