Redemption for Them (Nashville Security #5) by Sara Evou

 

Redemption comes at a price. And I'm not sure either of us can afford it...My life was perfect. On the surface. In truth, my husband was a vicious man. I was just a pawn in his dangerous game. But when he was murdered, there was only one obvious suspect. Me. I didn't expect anyone to be there for me. So, imagine my surprise when Chris Rivers showed up to defend me. Chris is a brilliant attorney. Observant. Entirely too good breaking down the emotional walls I've built to protect myself. Falling for him would be a huge mistake. But every time he looks at me like I'm worth fighting for, like the shattered, broken pieces of my heart might fit perfectly with his own, I forget why loving him would be so wrong. So...forbidden. I've trusted Chris with my life. He's the only one who can save me. The only question now is, will he still want to when he learns the truth about what really happened to my husband? Redemption for Them by Sara Evou was published on February 25th, 2026. This is the fifth book in the Nashville Security series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Sara Evou and Love Notes PR. I was really excited to check out this book because I have not read anything by this author. Also that it seemed like a story-line that I have not come across yet while reading. I have not read book one through four yet. So things that I liked were I enjoyed the characters in the book. I felt like the characters had their own faults and secrets that slowly came out through the book. I also liked the plot for the most part of the book. I felt by the end of the book a lot of things were answered in the book. Now, I struggled with the romance part of the book. I felt like it was not needed in the book. It felt like the relationship was rushed especially for someone coming out of a harsh relationship that Lily had. I felt like she would be more uneasy around men and being in a relationship afterwards. All in all I did enjoy the book but I felt like it was lacking something. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Your second favorite? What's your first?"
"These tits. They are magnificent. If I could be smothered by them, I would die, not just happy, but ecstatic." 

Nashville Security Series

1. Found by Him

2. Peace for Her

3. Protected by Him

4. Love for Her

5. Redemption for Them 

Tropes

Forced Proximity

Slow Burn

Forbidden 

Unbroken (The Bradshaw Brothers #1) by Janice Whiteaker

 

I came to Willow Bend, Wyoming with nothing but the clothes on my back and a secret. It won't be easy hiding morning sickness and swinging emotions as the live-in chef for a wealthy tech genius, but I'll do whatever it takes to build a life for myself and my baby. Because I'm in this alone. For weeks I hold my breath, waiting for the moment I come face to face with reclusive Titus Bradshaw and have to explain my ... condition. But when our paths finally cross late one night, I discover why he's hidden away from the world. His scars are deep and far-reaching. A reminder of what he lost. Who he couldn't save. I know I should keep my distance, but Titus's calm demeanor and steady presence draw me in. Make me want things I can't have. Wish for a life that won't be mine. Because my future and his past are incompatible. He's been through enough. I won't make him suffer any more. But someone else might. Someone who's keeping a secret of their own. And they'll kill to protect it. Unbroken by Janice Whiteaker was published on February 27th, 2026. This is the first book of The Bradshaw Brothers series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Janice Whiteaker and The Smuthood. I have to say that I have never read any books by Janice Whiteaker and I really feel like I am missing out on her writings. This book was amazing. It's such a sweet soft type of romance book that leaves you feeling all lovey dovey. While there is smut scenes, do not expect a lot of them and dark romance type. This book is sweet and I love the build up between the characters as they fall in love with each other. I really felt for both of the main characters as they both have a lot of baggage and things that they both needed to work through in the book. Though they found out that they can still love while they work through those things that causes them to be who they are. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend checking this book out. I know I am going to read some more books by this author very soon. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"I'm gonna recommend you don't tell her to calm down...You might end up with - You know what, maybe you should tell her to calm down. You don't need her butting into your business." 

"Good girl." 

"Abso-fucking-lutely not." 

"Do you want to eat only cake for breakfast?"
"No. I don't want to only eat cake for breakfast." 
"You can have whatever you want for breakfast." 
"Whatever I want?"
"Yes."
"What if I want you?" 

The Bradshaw Brothers Series

0.5. Undeterred 

1. Unbroken

2. Unfinished (TBA)

3. Untamed (TBA)

4. Unleashed (TBA)

5. Unbound (TBA)

Tropes 

Boss/Employee

Forced Proximity 

Small Town

Single Parent 

Billionaire 

Cruel Savior (Ruthless Arrangements #1) by Lilith Vincent

 

I saved his life. Now he owns mine. I've lived my whole life in a golden cage, the captive daughter of a powerful Mafia don. When my father arranges my marriage to Vincenzo Vici, a cold-blooded assassin from a rival family, it's a death sentence. For both of us. Because my father uses our engagement to slaughter the Vicis and take their territory. But he makes a grave error. He doesn't kill the most dangerous Vici of Vincenzo himself. I've never met my intended fiance, so when I stumbled upon a handsome, bloodied stranger being tortured in a laundromat in the middle of the night, I follow my instincts and save his life. Big mistake. The man I saved is Vincenzo Vici, and when he discovers I'm the woman who led his family to slaughter, I realize there are circles of hell my father never showed me. Vincenzo should kill me. He wants to kill me. Instead, he decided to make me pay in a different way - by holding me to our arranged marriage and exacting his revenge on me. But Vincenzo isn't the monster I expected. His ruthless kisses light up my soul. His darkness is a dangerous addiction. And when my father hands me poision and orders me to finish what he started, I'm caught between two impossible loyalty to my own blood, or devotion to the darkness that sets me free. Cruel Savior by Lilith Vincent was published February 25th, 2026. This is the first book in Ruthless Arrangements series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Lilith Vincent and The Smuthood. Let's talk about the cover first. The cover of this book is amazing! I feel like this character really brings out the character in the book. It also really drew me to the book so well done on the cover Lilith. Okay, let's talk about this book. This book is grade AMAZING! I could not put this book down for the life of me. I lost many hours of sleep reading this book. This book had the drama, had the romance, had the twist and turns. It had me crying and had me squealing in giddiness. The plot of this book is perfection and I felt like there was nothing that I needed to know more about. It had the perfect amount of background that gave you some answers but yet was not over running the whole book. The smut scenes are tame for a Dark Romance but still hot with tension. The tension between the two main characters is there from the first few chapters that make you want to fan yourself. The two characters are well written. I really like how the author wrote the Mafia princess in this book. You can tell that she was shelter from certain things and yet how she also suffered from abuse. She acted how a person would act if she was abused most of her life. I absolutely loved this book. I cannot wait till the second book comes out in May. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Where do you think you're going, my pretty little Savior?" 

"You're getting off on this? There are bodies right there. We're both soaking in their blood." 

"Doe knows how to handle herself, Zia. First time I met her, she brained me with a baseball bat." 
"Was that before or after you kissed her?"
"After."
"Damn, you need to work on your technique." 

"Eyes on me. I want to see your face when you come on my cock. Want to watch you fall apart for me." 

Ruthless Arrangement Series

1. Cruel Savior 

2. Forbidden Vow (May 6th, 2026) 

Tropes

Mafia 

Enemies to Lovers

Arrange Marriage 

Virgin

Dark Romance 

Slow Burn 

He Falls First 

Maksim (The Korolova Bratva #1) by Katie Ashley

 

Because of the way I speak, everyone judges me the moment I open my mouth. Even though I'm 6'5 and two eighty, they see me as weak. They always have. Even my father who passed me over as his heir. Behind the mask with the automated voice, I'm not weak. Women desire me, and men fear me. As fortunes change within my family, I need to correct my impediment. That's why I seek out one of the best speech pathologists on the East Coast. On paper, Dr. Sarah Whitfield looks boring and rigid. But the good doctor is hiding a secret: she has a kink for Masked Men. She sheds her professional facade on weekends when she attends Masked Events. And I'm here to fulfill her fantasies of being kidnapped by a masked man. But this time, it's for real. Maksim by Katie Ashley was published on January 29th, 2026. This is the first book in the Korolova Bratva series. 

I was given this book for my honest review by Katie Ashley and The Smuthood. I absolutely loved organized crime romances. Somehow they always make me feel good inside when I read them. Anyways, this is the first book that I have read by Katie Ashley and she did not disappoint me whatsoever. I think I highlighted so many good scenes and quotes in this book it is almost all highlighted. I absolutely loved that the big beefy Bratva guy had a disability. For me that was huge that you find out that both characters struggle with things and were not perfect. It made both of them seem so real to me. This book though made me feel the feels. I love how Sarah was not going to let Maksim by when he makes a mistake. Also how she was always trying to fix his disability through the book. Made me giggle so hard because I could totally see how it would cause him to set back some of his ego. I absolutely loved this book so much that I cannot wait to read more from Katie Ashley. Her writing is sweet and yet also makes you feel all tingly. I highly recommend it. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Do you want to be fucked like a lady or fucked like my whore?"
"Like your whore." 
"Good girl." 

"I have no fantasies that involve you."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Absolutely."
"You lie to me, and you lie to yourself."
"You're an egomaniac." 
"When you were making yourself come in the shower, were you thinking about Maksim or me?"
"Fuck you."
"I would love you to."
"I wish it had been Maksim I was thinking of."
"Why? I'm the one who made you come last night."
"He's a better man than you.....I hate you."
"Oh, I know."
"No. I don't just hate you. I despise you." 
"Surely you're aware that angry sex can be very, very hot." 

Korolov Bratva Series 

1. Maksim 

Tropes

Dark Romance

BDSM

Forced Proximity 

Organized Crime 

Sinful Obsession (Sinful Spartans of SCU #1) by Havoc Wilde

 

He's been her hero once. Now, he'll be her ruin. Ramsey Blackwood is a menace on the ice. A bruiser. A fighter. A legacy at St. Charles University, keeping his family name alive even after his cousins have graduated. But his real obsession? Reese St. Pierre. It started the first time he saw her. Years ago, he saved her from a man who meant to hurt her. But it wasn't just a white knight move. It was the beginning of his downfall. She's all he sees. All he wants. All he craves. But Reese is off-limits. His best friend. The little sister of his cousin's wife. A dancer with more grace than anyone he's ever known. The only person who makes him feel like there's a shred of good left inside him. She's also someone else's. Ramsey tells himself she deserves better. That no one is good enough for her - not even him. That he'll protect from the shadows, even if it means burying his own secrets - his violent tendencies, his obsession, his addiction to the darkness his cousin Penn introduced him to. But when he finds out just how unworthy her boyfriend really is, all bets are off. Reese has always known Ramsey was dangerous. But when she follows him into the night, she realizes she never knew just how dark he truly is. And now that she's seen him like this, there's no turning back. She was his once-upon-a-time salvation. Now, he'll be her sweetest sin. Sinful Obsession by Havoc Wilde was published on February 19th, 2026. This is the first book of the Sinful Spartans of SCU series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Havoc Wilde and The Smuthood. I absolutely devoured this book. I mean this book had me drooling in parts and gasping in others. Also had me cheering and me angry muttering in parts as well. This book I could not put down which is really hard when you have four kids and watch your two year old niece. Havoc knows what she is doing when she created Ramsey and Reece. Ramsey had so much depth in him that it made me want to cheer for him to know that he is worth everything even though he is a creepy dude. Then there is Reece who you get to know has many layers as well she is just better hiding them. Both of these characters grew into themselves more as the book progressed. Their romance is top tier and I was a little jealous of parts of how much Ramsey loved her. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed. Also the smut scenes are AMAZING!!!!! 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Like a wolf not even bothering to show its teeth because it knows the lamb is already dead." 

"Who. Fucking. Touched. You." 

"You need to climb that tree as soon as fucking possible. Why wait? The man is a fucking redwood, and you're over here making lists when you should be making babies." 

"Don't waste the fucking time being a white knight....Maybe what she needs is the villain." 

"To be fucked like an animal in the dirt?" 

Sinful Spartans of SCU Series

0. A Very Sinful Christmas 

1. Sinful Obsession 

2. Sinful Ruin (TBA) 

Tropes

Dark Romance

Friends to Lovers

Sports Romance - Hockey & Dance 

College/New Age 

He Falls First 

Roommates to Lovers

Stalking 

Forbidden 

Bad Boy / Good Girl 

Roped In (Windy Peaks #2) by Elle Jordan

 

Twelve years apart. Two broken hearts. One love that refuses to fade. I spent the majority of my younger years dreaming of marrying Weston Taylor, my childhood sweetheart. Until he shattered my heart the night before I left for college. I left our small town, vowing to never look back. My eyes now set on big city dreams. Life took that as a challenge, apparently. Because twelve years later, I'm back in Windy Peaks, and if I want to climb the corporate ladder, I have to knock this project out of the park. The only problem? I'm working on Weston's family ranch for the summer and there's a sparkling engagement ring adoring my left hand. I thought I was strong enough to resist his charm but the more I see him, the more I'm reminded of why I fell in love with him all those years ago. And the more I realize how badly I've been settling in my life. Our fire is burning brighter and hotter than ever. Weston's made it clear he's determined to correct the mistakes of his past. His biggest regret? Letting me go. That's one mistake he isn't making twice. Roped In by Elle Jordan was published February 6th, 2026. This is book two of the Windy Peaks series. 

First off I was given this book for my honest review from Elle Jordan and Love Notes PR. I really wanted to read this book because I judge books by their covers (I know the horror). Anyways, the plot in this story is sweet and it makes you think. I wanted more in some parts of the book as I did not think the FMC was angry enough at the MMC. I mean for twelve years she thought he didn't love her after he broke her heart. I wanted more passion from both characters. I really felt like the two characters were not meshing well in the story except the history was there. I wanted more from both of the characters. I did feel like Weston was a little one sided as well as a massive EGO. Though, through all of that I really did enjoy the book and was able to overlook things. I really enjoyed this story but it is a bit slow through the book. I needed more action throughout the book. I highly recommend checking out this book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

If the ring is off, she's fair game, and I'm coming for what's mine. 

"Are you going to be a good girl and come for me? Be sure to moan extra loud for me. I want to see you come undone." 

"Look at how well you took my come, baby. Such a good little cum slut for me. Come around and sit on the edge of the bed." 

Windy Peaks Series 

1. Spurred On 

2. Roped In 

3. Saddled Up (2026) 

3.5: Wrapped Up (2026) 

Tropes

Second Chance 

Small Town 

Forced Proximity 

Childhood Friends 

Boss/Employee 

Collide (Cedar Lakes University #5) by Meghan Hollie

 

This wasn't the plan. I was supposed to be photographing NFL sidelines, athletes in their prime. Instead I'm working a job that pays the bills and nothing more. Then Liv Matthews barrels into my life and suddenly I've got a roommate. She's real, unfiltered and nothing like the calm I thought I wanted, but somehow she's the first thing that's made this place feel alive again. I promised myself I wouldn't fall for her. But promises don't mean much when she's already in every part of my world. Collide by Meghan Hollie was published on February 5th, 2026. This is the fifth book in the series Cedar Lakes University. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Love Notes PR and Meghan Hollie. It seems that a lot of books are using the cartoon covers more and more. They are not my favorite but this one is pretty cute. This book took me awhile to get through. Not only is it a slow burn but I felt like there was not much actions taking place in the book. I felt like I was stuck on a loop throughout the book. But the characters were a little flat sided and I felt like both characters needed more background to get to know them. Though, not sure if it's because I didn't read book one through four that I missed some of the background. It is sad though that I wanted more of the side characters then the actual main characters. I did enjoy the humor in this book and how the two slowly showed that they had interest in each other. I felt like their love interest was a slow build but it made since in the end. The smut scenes are loosely written which is great for those who don't like a lot of smut scenes. I recommend checking out this book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Hm, seems we're meant to be besties after all, huh?"
"I guess so....Just promise me you won't go jumping off cliffs to save my life and humanity as we know it, hm?" 

"I might not have taken you on the date, but I'm the one you came home to. I can still be the one to end your night right." 

"Most people think 'alive' means staying indoors where the lightning can't turn them into a human toast."

 
"Just ignore it, it'll go down." 
"Just what every girl wants to hear when a boy is about to get into bed with them." 

Cedar Lakes University Series

1. Trouble

2. Fragile

3. Pieces

4. Riptide

5. Collide 

Tropes

Friends to Lovers 

Forced Proximity