Showing posts with label slow burn romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label slow burn romance. Show all posts

Sunday, August 31, 2025

New Release Review: The House Guest by Penelope Ward

 



Title: The House Guest
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Billionaire Hero/Roommates/Twist
Slow Burn/Angsty/Opposites Attract
Release Date: August 31, 2025


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

The last thing Dorian Vanderbilt expected was to find me painting in my crop top when he returned to the mansion he hadn’t inhabited in years.
He was understandably surprised I’d turned his living room into an art space.
Life is certainly full of surprises, though, but not always in a good way.
I learned that lesson when my aunt and the billionaire she married died unexpectedly while traveling.
I’d been living with them, and just like that, my life was turned on its axis.
Unsure of what was next, I stayed alone at the barren estate figuring out my next move.
That was when Dorian—the late billionaire’s only son—showed up.
I’d never met Dorian Vanderbilt. He’d been living on the other side of the country.
But now, he was home, left to pick up the pieces of his father’s legacy.
Not only was Dorian devastatingly handsome and mysterious, but he was the sole heir to the Vanderbilt fortune.
He didn’t seem to like me—at first. We were total opposites. But I was grateful that at least he didn’t kick me out.
We stayed out of each other’s way for the most part, save for some late-night kitchen run-ins or unexpected bonding sessions in the home theater.
Over time, though, we grew closer. Turned out, our chemistry was pretty combustible.
I was falling in love with him.
Until everything I thought I knew turned upside down yet again.
And fate left me pining for the one man I’d ever loved.








PURCHASE LINKS

$3.99 for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free to read in Kindle Unlimited

Model Paperback: https://amzn.to/4oR8QQe
Special Edition Hardcover: https://amzn.to/4lW44ye
Model Hardcover: https://amzn.to/4lSNVK4

ALSO AVAILABLE







WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

BILLIONAIRE HERO
ROOMMATES
TWIST
SLOW BURN
ANGSTY
OPPOSITES ATTRACT




My review: 5 stars!

I binge listened to The House Guest and loved it so much! Dorian and Primrose's story was so emotional and angsty yet their connection made the slow burn and twists and turns so worth it. Narrated in duet style by Teddy Hamilton and Savannah Peachwood, the audiobook was absolute perfection.

AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD



Sunday, February 23, 2025

New Release Review: The Drummer's Heart by Penelope Ward

 



Title: The Drummer's Heart
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rockstar Hero/"My Wife"/Small Town
Close Proximity/Slow Burn/One Bed
Release Date: February 23, 2025


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

Don’t say her name.
That was the one rule my bandmates followed, because they knew how much it messed me up to think about her, especially on tour.
My ex, Nicole.
The one who got away and the woman who still owned every piece of my heart.
After our divorce, I threw myself into the rock scene, trying to forget my heartbreak.
Three years after we split, a phone call from Nicole changed everything.
She told me her grandmother wasn’t doing well.
Mimi was still family to me, and she apparently had one wish before dying: to spend time with us—Nicole and me.
With Mimi’s caretaker away on vacation, it would be the ideal time for us to move in with her for a couple of weeks.
Of course, I couldn’t refuse.
But there was a catch.
Nicole apparently never told her that we’d gotten a divorce.
She hadn’t believed Mimi could handle it, because her grandmother loved me so much.
So, not only would I have to see Nicole again, but I’d be pretending to still be her husband.
Two weeks in a tiny house in a small town with the woman who broke my heart. Or was it me who broke hers?
It was complicated.
And it was about to be a heck of a lot more complicated sharing one bed in the guest room with a woman who wasn’t mine anymore.








PURCHASE LINKS

Only $3.99 for a limited time and 
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Model Paperback and Hardcovers also available!

Read the first standalone in this series, The Rocker’s Muse FREE in KU and binge this complete duology!






WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

ROCKSTAR HERO
"MY WIFE"
SMALL TOWN
CLOSE PROXIMITY
SLOW BURN
ONE BED





My review: 5 stars

After reading The Rocker's Muse and loving it, I was so excited to dive into The Drummer's Heart and get Atticus and Nicole's story. This story was so well balanced - there was heat and heart and just the right amount of angst. I adored Mimi and how her situation brought them back together. I was able to listen to an advance audiobook, and Sebastian York and Angelina Rocca were excellent. 

AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

NOW ALL AVAILABLE TO READ IN KINDLE UNLIMITED


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



Thursday, February 20, 2025

Excerpt Reveal: The Drummer's Heart by Penelope Ward

 



Title: The Drummer's Heart
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rockstar Hero/"My Wife"/Small Town
Close Proximity/Slow Burn/One Bed
Release Date: February 23, 2025


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

Don’t say her name.
That was the one rule my bandmates followed, because they knew how much it messed me up to think about her, especially on tour.
My ex, Nicole.
The one who got away and the woman who still owned every piece of my heart.
After our divorce, I threw myself into the rock scene, trying to forget my heartbreak.
Three years after we split, a phone call from Nicole changed everything.
She told me her grandmother wasn’t doing well.
Mimi was still family to me, and she apparently had one wish before dying: to spend time with us—Nicole and me.
With Mimi’s caretaker away on vacation, it would be the ideal time for us to move in with her for a couple of weeks.
Of course, I couldn’t refuse.
But there was a catch.
Nicole apparently never told her that we’d gotten a divorce.
She hadn’t believed Mimi could handle it, because her grandmother loved me so much.
So, not only would I have to see Nicole again, but I’d be pretending to still be her husband.
Two weeks in a tiny house in a small town with the woman who broke my heart. Or was it me who broke hers?
It was complicated.
And it was about to be a heck of a lot more complicated sharing one bed in the guest room with a woman who wasn’t mine anymore.








PRE-ORDER LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU


Read the first standalone in this series, The Rocker’s Muse FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

The current paperback pre-order is for the special-edition, floral cover only. A model-cover paperback will be live on release day as well.



WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

ROCKSTAR HERO
"MY WIFE"
SMALL TOWN
CLOSE PROXIMITY
SLOW BURN
ONE BED





EXCERPT

Copyright © 2024
By Penelope Ward

While she was out of the room, I prepared her coffee just the way she liked it. I’d nearly forgotten just how much I loved taking care of her. I felt nostalgic for a moment as I poured in just the right amount of sugar. But taking care of her wasn’t my job anymore. I couldn’t help enjoying these little moments of delusion, though, while I still had them. In less than two weeks, we’d be apart again, and I’d go back to my life without her. This time here would seem like a dream.
Nicole emerged again wearing a cute, floral dress that was almost worse than her shirt with no bra. It had a low neckline and her beautiful breasts were practically busting out of it. I had to wonder if she’d selected that outfit to torture me. She’d also sprayed on a fresh burst of Egyptian musk. I licked my lips.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize my not wearing underwear was that noticeable.” She looked down at her chest. “I’ll cover up from now on,” she said. But the glimmer in her eye told me she had no real intention of accommodating my request.
Okay. She’s definitely f*cking with me. “You drive me crazy,” I growled under my breath.
Suddenly, my attention was diverted to Mimi’s room. I heard voices. I narrowed my eyes. “Who the hell is here?”
“I don’t know.” Nicole walked down to her grandmother’s room as I followed.
There was a woman standing there talking to Mimi.
“Hi there.” She smiled. “I’m Lori McFadden. I live next door.”
“Oh…” Nicole tilted her head. “Hello.”
“I hope you don’t mind. Adele gave me a key a while back, and I check in on her from time to time. It’s good to see you both. She’s always talking about her granddaughter and grandson-in-law.”
“Aren’t they the most beautiful couple you’ve ever seen?” Mimi beamed.
Nicole looked over at me. I was still fired up by her little dress and wanted an excuse to touch her. I decided to play the part for a moment. “Thank you so much,” I said. “It’s our pleasure to be here with Mimi.” I wrapped my arm around Nicole, bringing her close. She flinched at first but then relaxed her body into mine.
I rubbed my thumb along her waist.
Nicole squirmed and cleared her throat. “I’m sorry if I seemed surprised to see you here, Lori. I didn’t realize she’d given anyone a key.”
“Only recently. Just in case her worker can’t be here or is running late. She has my number if she ever needs me.”
Nicole nodded. “Well, I appreciate that so much.”
I tightened my grip around her waist and pulled her closer. “We appreciate that.”
Nicole looked up at me; her face was beet red, and I f*cking loved it. I leaned in and kissed her softly on the forehead. Her eyes were still slightly closed when I pulled back to look at her. As much as I wanted to hang on, I let go and put her out of her misery.
Nicole couldn’t get away fast enough as she rushed past me through the kitchen and into the bedroom. She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “Don’t do that again.”
My stomach sank. It hurt to hear her say that, even if I had crossed the line. “Don’t…what specifically?”
“Touch me.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t touch me again like that.”
That felt like a knife to the heart. “I thought we were pretending to be married,” I whispered. “Married people touch each other.”
Her chest heaved. “Yeah, well, I can’t handle that.”
“Your nipples can’t handle it, at least. They’re hard as f*cking rocks right now. It’s obvious why you don’t want me to touch you, Nicole. It isn’t that you can’t handle it. It’s that you like it. And you don’t want to like it.”
She looked down as her cheeks turned pinker by the second.
My voice was strained. “You tell me not to touch you. And yet you’re intentionally trying to torture me. That f*cking dress. You wore it on purpose because you knew it made your tits look so damn good. And you wanted me to suffer.”
Her gaze lifted to meet mine. “Maybe…”
“You don’t think I’m tortured enough? You put that damn dress on and tell me not to touch you?” I leaned in so she could feel what she was doing to me. “You get off on edging me?” As her breathing became heavier, I inched closer. “You don’t want me to touch you because it makes you feel things you’re trying not to feel? Is that what it is?”
She looked away. “I don’t know…”
I placed my hand on her chin, moving her face to look at me again. “You used to beg me to touch you.”
She licked her lips, and it made me yearn to do the same, to taste her again.
“For the record, Nicole, I will never not be yours to touch. Nor would I be able to pretend for a second that I don’t want you to touch me. You never have to ask permission.” My chest pressed into hers. “You were looking at me our first night here like you wanted to touch me. When I came out of the shower, I could see it in your eyes. Desire. You weren’t happy about it, but it was there. Tell me I’m wrong.”



AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

NOW ALL AVAILABLE TO READ IN KINDLE UNLIMITED


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



Tuesday, December 17, 2024

New Release Review: Between Now and Forever by Adriana Locke

 

Between Now and ForeverBetween Now and Forever by Adriana Locke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Between Now and Forever checked off so many boxes for me- Jay and Gabrielle's grumpy/sunshine, neighbors-to lovers-story was so enjoyable. The characters and dialog felt so authentic and believable. Their slow burn romance felt real and honest and I adored Gabrielle's friends. I listened to the audiobook, and narrators Oliver Clarke and Rachel Vivette were excellent. Both were new to me, and I enjoyed their performances so much that I'll be seeking out more of their work.

View all my reviews

Monday, August 26, 2024

New Release Review: The Rocker's Muse by Penelope Ward

 



Title: The Rocker's Muse
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rockstar/15-Year Age Gap/Small Town
Found Family/Slow Burn/Forbidden
Release Date: August 26, 2024


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

No one but me knew why I was actually in the California desert that day.
Nestled deep within the desolate, rocky area was a recording studio.
When a door suddenly opened, a man mistook me for someone he was supposed to be interviewing for a job.
The next thing I knew, I was whisked inside.
The position? An assistant on the upcoming tour for one of America’s most famous rock bands.
Pretty exciting opportunity for a twenty-two-year-old, just out of college.
Not surprisingly, I bombed the interview.
When I ended up mistakenly walking into the men’s room on my way out, I struck up a conversation with a stranger—not realizing it was the lead singer, Tristan Daltrey.
He seemed to like the fact that I had no idea who he was, that I saw him as a normal person.
That night, I got a call offering me the job.
So began my complicated story with Tristan.
Millions of women loved him.
Yet for some reason, after the shows, he only wanted to hang out with me.
Late-night talks. Casual dinners in his hotel room.
I wasn’t supposed to be fraternizing with the band’s frontman.
Despite our fifteen-year age difference, Tristan and I had a connection.
But I had a secret.
One that would eventually lead to my leaving the tour.
And one that would lead Tristan and the band straight to the small town where I came from.







PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Audiobook coming soon!






WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

ROCKSTAR
15-YEAR AGE GAP
SMALL TOWN
FOUND FAMILY
SLOW BURN
FORBIDDEN




My review: 5 stars!

Oh this was so good! Author Penelope Ward always serves up some twists and turns that I don't see coming, and I am always here for it! Tristan and Emily's story made me swoon and their slow burn romance was so worth the wait. This book consumed me and I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to listen to this on audio!

AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



Tuesday, April 30, 2024

New Release Review: The Pucker Next Door by Sara Ney

 

The Pucker Next DoorThe Pucker Next Door by Sara Ney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
Author Sara Ney always makes me cackle and I adored grumpy introvert Brodie! The squirrel meet-cute was a hoot and this was such a fun read. I definitely liked Lizzy more and more as the book went on and by the epilogue I was all in for this couple. Brodie's roommates were a hoot and I hope Sully gets a book!

View all my reviews

Sunday, October 29, 2023

New Audiobook Release Review: The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

 

The BurnoutThe Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I borrowed the audiobook for The Burnout from my local library, and I enjoyed it so much! (I especially enjoyed that the narrator pronounced the name of the female main character Sasha the same as I pronounce my name- Sash-uh!) Sophie Kinsella has long been one of my favorite authors, and I enjoyed the zany setting of The Rilston with all it's quirks and unusual employees too. Desk clerk Cassidy was a hoot (watch for her hilarious side job) and former surfing teacher Terry's motto "The ride is it." is one we should all take to heart. Sasha and Finn's slow-burn romance was sweet and tender and heart-warming and such a joy to read.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

New Release Review: Hail Mary by Kandi Steiner

 

 

Hail Mary by Kandi Steiner is now live!

 

Leo F*cking Hernandez.

North Boston University’s star running back, notorious bachelor, and number one on my people I would murder if I could get away with it list.

And now?

He’s my new roommate.

I used to think I loved him.

But that was before I hated him.

He doesn’t remember who I am, or how he made my life miserable for years. And before I unknowingly moved across the street from him, I couldn’t have cared less. I was living my life despite him and what happened that summer, chasing my dream of becoming a tattoo artist.

“The Pit,” as the university so gracefully nicknamed the house he lives in with three other football players, has served as nothing more than a pain in my ass and a constant reminder of the boy who broke my heart. Watching him parade his one-night-stands in and out of it never helped, either.

But with rent this cheap and so close to the tattoo shop, I’ve learned to ignore him — no matter how he’s tried to get under my skin.

At least, until this summer. Because when a water and mold disaster leaves me with no choice but to vacate my house, I have nowhere to go. And Leo Hernandez offers me a deal I can’t refuse.

Live at The Pit with him and the guys, free of charge, until my landlord fixes this mess.

Ignoring him was easy when I lived across the street, but in the same house, with him shirtless half the time and watching me with his cocky grin and searing gaze? It’s impossible.

Still, I have to try. I have to push him away, even when he makes it infuriatingly difficult to do so.

He’s broken my heart once.

I won't let him do it again.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QqAF1f

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/HailMaryKS

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3GeXksA



My review: 5 stars!
Hail Mary was such a great conclusion to the Red Zone Rivals Series. Mary and Leo's story was one of my favorites- from the moment we were told that Mary disliked Leo in a previous book, I was dying to know why! I could not have guessed the connection and that Leo was unaware himself. Although Hail Mary would read just fine as a standalone, this group of college football players and their girlfriends that author Kandi Steiner created is such a varied, interesting group that you'll definitely want to read all four books. I loved the epilogue so much!

Meet Kandi


Kandi Steiner is an Amazon Top 5 bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing "emotional rollercoaster" stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance -- in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you're a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she's your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women's Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her "freedom of press."

She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn't writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.

Connect with Kandi

Website: www.kandisteiner.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7319216.Kandi_Steiner

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kandi-Steiner/e/B00JDJOINE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KandiSteiner/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kandilandks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandisteiner/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KandiSteiner

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kandi-steiner

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/kandisteiner

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner

Pinterest: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner

Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her "events" tab to see all the signings she's attending in the near future: www.kandisteiner.com/events




Tuesday, October 11, 2022

New Release Review: Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn

  


“He runs from the altar—and finds love in the place he least expects.”

RUNAWAY GROOMSMAN, a brand new, heartfelt romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn about new beginnings and finding the romanticized happily ever after in the most unlikely of places, is Now Available in all formats! Dive into this slow burn romance with “a healthy dose of humor and heart” (Library Journal). One-click your copy today!

https://mybook.to/RunawayGroomsman

 

About RUNAWAY GROOMSMAN:

Hollywood screenwriter Sawyer Walsh knows a good love story when he sees it. But when it comes to real life romance, he’s a mess. That’s how he finds himself standing at the altar…as his ex-girlfriend ties the knot with his very famous best friend. The pressure, the resentment, the media coverage—it’s all too much—and before he knows exactly what he’s doing, he’s making a run for it, leaving a shocked congregation and flashing cameras in his wake.

Needing to lie low amid the media fallout, Sawyer lands in the charming town of Canoodle, California, where he crosses paths with Fallon Long, who runs the Canoodle Cove Cabins, a family-owned business and Sawyer’s new short-term residence. Overwhelmed with renovations and her long list of responsibilities, Fallon is struggling to make ends meet while attempting to bring the cabins back to their original glory. So when Sawyer arrives, she is grateful for the income, but immediately writes him off as just another vapid Hollywood hack, until he begins to prove her wrong at every turn.

As Fallon comes closer to saving the family business, an undeniable bond forms between her and the handsome screenwriter. But the pressures of her family obligations and Sawyer’s notoriety might prove to be too much for anyone to handle. Could Canoodle be the setting for a new romance—or is true love just a Hollywood cliché?

https://mybook.to/RunawayGroomsman

 


Samantha Brentmoor and Alastair Haynesbridge narrate RUNAWAY GROOMSMAN, and their performances are stunning! Don’t miss this audiobook sure to tickle your ears and heat you up today! 

https://mybook.to/RunawayGroomsman


My review: 5 stars!

I felt an instant and deep connection to this story when heroine Fallon's grandfather Sully was introduced. That relationship and situation was so well done, I could give the book 5 stars just for that. (I have recently been on that same journey with a family member so it really hit home for me.) I found Fallon and our hero Sawyer's story to be so fun and their dialog was so darn funny and witty and I smiled so much. I also loved the connection Sawyer made with Sully and the projects they worked on together. Canoodle was such a neat setting and author Quinn always does a fantastic job with descriptions and neat aspects of small-town life, it all seemed so real. I am crossing my fingers for another book with this cast of characters!

 

ABOUT MEGHAN QUINN:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Never miss another NEW RELEASE, text READ to 474747.

 

Connect w/ Meghan:

Website: https://authormeghanquinn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanquinnbooks/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn