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 

3. Fearlessly Us 

Tropes

Sports Romance - Football

Secret Relationship

Forced Proximity

He Falls First 

Single Parent

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 

Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2) by S.J. Tilly

 

Moving into my dad's house at age thirty-two because my roommate scammed me out of my rent...not exactly what I'd call winning at life. So on my drive to Colorado, I decided I need one more night of freedom, and the cute motel on the side of the road is the perfect place to stop. Bonus that it has a bar. Extra bonus when I spot him sitting at the end of the bar. The super hot silver fox, with biceps testing the limits of his flannel. I debate between sitting alone or being bold. But when I catch him watching me, like I'm watching him, bold wins. He's charming and sweet, and I can practically feel the chemistry crackling between us. And when I give my room key...he uses it. But we both know this is just for one night. That we'll never see each other again. Until a week later. When he shows up at my house. Because he's my dad's best friend. Mountain Daddy by S.J. Tilly will be published on July 31st, 2025. This is the second book in the Mountain Men series. 

I was given this ARC for my honest review from S.J. Tilly and The Smuthood. First off let me tell you a few things. I absolutely love all of the books that S.J. Tilly so far. I literally screamed in excitement to see that I was getting the ARC for her newest book. Second thing, I screamed and gasped loudly when I saw that the female main character and myself share the same name. I actually told my friends it was a good thing that I didn't have an audio-book of this one because I would totally be blushing and would have to pause the thing 100 plus times. Okay, now let's talk about the characters. I fell in love with Kendra so much. I loved her story from the beginning. I love that she had a relationship with her dad that they tried new recipes together over the internet. From that moment, I knew that she was close to her father. I felt like Kendra and I were good friends and I cried in some parts of the book when you find out more about her. I absolutely loved Luster/Rocky in this book. His character is so well rounded and we are not shoved from the beginning into his background. But we learned with the other characters through the book. The story-line in this book kept me up at night just thinking about it. I felt like I was witnessing everything that was happening on every page. I never felt like the scenes were dragging. They flowed so well together and I always knew who was the voice in the chapter. I do think we need a book about Joe. When you know you know. The smut in this book was top notch. I am not much into the Daddy kink but this book really made me rethink it. I highly recommend checking out this book because if I keep talking I am going to spoil it for you. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"I've never met a Kendra before." -I have heard this quote myself in the world. 

"That's right, Kendra. I'm your daddy now too." 

"The second problem is....I like you a brownie amount." 

"Crawl to me."

Bareback sex is hot. But the aftermath is real. 

Mountain Men Series 

1. Mountain Boss 

2. Mountain Daddy 

3. Mountain Grump 

Tropes 

Small-town

age-gap

forced proximity

single dad

forbidden love

he Falls first 

Latte Darling (Darling #2) by S.J. Tilly

 

I signed myself up for a dating app, and agreed to meet with the first guy that messaged me. And now here I am, at the bar. Only it's not my date that just sat down in the chair across from me. It's his dad. And holy hell, he's the definition of Silver Fox. If a Silver Fox can be thick as a house, have piercing blue eyes and tattoos from his neck down to his fingertips. He's giving me Big Bad Wolf vibes. Only instead of running, I'm blushing. And he looks like he might just want to eat me whole. Latte Darling by S.J. Tilly was published in September 2022. This is the second book in the Darling series. 

I have to admit that I am absolutely in love with the way S.J. Tilly writes her books. They have a lot of components that I enjoy. There is lots of humor, sweet talk, but also very naughty pieces that make me want to squeal. This book was no different in those facts. But this book had such a fun writing to it that kept me engage with every scene. It didn't feel like I was reading a book but watching it in person. The characters in this book made me fall in love with their thoughts that were never spoken but also their spoken ones. Also the steamy scenes and scenes leading up makes you blush. The flow of each scene meshes together so well that it ebbs and flows. I didn't feel like any scene dragged on and how they all ended in the final moments. Every scene in the book was perfect and I didn't feel like any didn't need to be there. I highly recommend checking out this book out but not only that but the author. 

Darling Series 

1. Smokey Darling

2. Latte Darling 

Tropes

Age-Gap

Small Town

Single-Dad

Grumpy-Sunshine

Quotes That I Love 

"Holy hotdogs, I'm staring at a crotch that's level with my table." 

"...There are consequences for your actions, Baby Doll. And you're about to find out what happens to naughty girls who misbehave." 

"Your cute little tummy is not gonna be a problem for me. It's not gonna be a problem for you either. Because you're perfect. And if you need me to come all over that pretty body of yours to prove it to you, consider the task accepted." 

"I thought you liked when...I called you something else."

"You can call me Darling in public, but it's Daddy in the bedroom."