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Rookie Moves
The Rookie Diaries #1
Jodi Oliver
Amazon
September 24, 2027

COLBY

For almost ten years, the world of hockey has had their eyes on me, watching my every move.
I’m projected to be the first overall pick in the NHL draft this summer, and have been nicknamed a franchise altering talent.
But with high praise comes a lot of pressure I can’t escape, and has resulted in me being a rookie in more ways than one.
The only problem is there’s only one person I feel safe with, and I'm pretty sure there are rules about not crushing on your teammate.

TYLER

Ever since I met Colby, I’ve kept an eye on him. No one should have to put up with the pressure the world has laid on his gorgeous shoulders and the defeated look in his beautiful eyes.
But you shouldn’t notice these things about your teammates.
So when Colby asks me to teach him everything I know in the bedroom because I’m the only one he feels safe with?
I should say no, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Colby McKay.
I should’ve known it wouldn’t be as simple as a friends with benefits arrangement.



Some Graphics from Author's Facebook or newsletters
I absolutely adored Tyler and Colby separately and together. Colby is just this kind of sweet sunshine living in a fishbowl with very few safe places to hide. He’s been a hockey phenom all his life, and he’s enjoying one year of college before going into the NHL draft. But despite the pressure and attention, his teammate Tyler becomes one of those safe people. He also happens to be a guy that the closeted gay Colby has been crushing on.

Tyler’s a senior defenseman who is magnetic, protective, kind, and caring. And when Colby asks him to give him sex lessons, Tyler is okay with Colby being a rookie in all ways and him being a mentor. It’s not supposed to be serious. It’s supposed to just be sex lessons, but the more time they spend together,  the more truly intimate they become.  They become each other’s safe space in their chaotic lives as they plan for their futures. Colby's is based on where he’s going to be chosen in the draft, but he’s also keeping a big secret so that it doesn’t become a media frenzy. And Tyler's life has always been planned out by his father, but Colby's helping him realize that he’s allowed to have his own dreams and plans. But Tyler just has to figure out what he really wants to do and be brave enough to go after it.

This is a friends-and-teammates-to-lovers with first times, sex tutoring, and a secret relationship in a college hockey setting. 

Their fling gets complicated by feelings, and they both have to be vulnerable and figure out what they need to be happy and if there’s any way for them to find a way to be more. I loved these characters and even though we were left in a very good place and a HFN, I am looking forward to the rest of their story.  I really want it now because I can’t get enough of these guys. I’m also excited about Beau’s spin-off story, The Redeemer, co-written with Garrett Leigh. 




Rookie Secrets
book 2
Pre-order Amazon



Website | Instagram | Facebook Group | Facebook | TikTok | Pinterest

Jodi Oliver is a British author who writes MM romance, happily ever after guaranteed. She loves donuts, dogs and ice hockey, and when she hasn’t got her head in a book or hiding in the writing cave, you can find her at an ice hockey game.


She lives in England but dreams of living in the Canadian countryside, with some highland cows and otters.

You can find her on Instagram @JodiOliverAuthor or in her Facebook reader group ‘Jodi Oliver’s Sin Bin’


Connect with Jodi Oliver:

https://www.jodioliver.com/links


 



 

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 Painted in Wildflowers
Darling Brothers #4
Emmy Sanders
Amazon
August 27, 2026

𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶
I can confidently say I never thought my crush on my best friend’s older brother would amount to anything.

Until Benson Harper returns to Darling, possibly to stay.

As the forty-two-year-old desperately searches for his sense of self, I begin falling for a man I never truly knew before now. One who’s kind, honest, and caring.

Amidst wildlife rehabilitation, explorations in mountain climbing, and the strained tensions with his brother, Benson works up the courage to tell his family he’s autistic. And I gain companionship that goes far beyond the eldest Harper brother shadowing me on the ranch.

I wasn’t prepared for love to bloom in the quiet days spent by Benson’s side.

Now, I’m not prepared to lose him.

𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴-𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭-𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬, 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘌𝘈. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 4 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.


From Author's FB page
I was so excited to finally read the last Darling brothers story, and I was just captivated by this beautiful story and this couple. 

Remington Darling is the youngest of four brothers. He is an animal lover and caregiver, an artist, and is deaf. He has seen his older brothers fall in love and their family grow. 

Benson Harper has returned to Darling Springs after decades of running himself ragged in the business world. He has been learning more about himself and is trying to figure out his life on his own terms instead of societal expectations.  But he is also having to let down the mask he has put on for decades. 

Benson begins hanging out at the farm with Remi, caring for the animals and quietly getting to know each other again. Benson was always the mysterious older brother of Remi's best friend and is twelve years older. He is quiet, honest, anxious, self-deprecating, and uncomfortable in social situations. 

The more time they spend together, the more their differences blend into a sense of understanding, acceptance, and compatibility. Benson is also learning to accept himself and that he is worthy. And Remi is also learning that he deserves to have someone care for him like he does for others. 

I loved how they complemented each other and how their personal issues made their need for quiet times relatable to each other, and that they supported each other. I found it to be just a beautiful pairing, and I just adored them together. These two guys are so sweet, patient, and understanding with each other, but they also have amazing slow-burn chemistry. 

I thought the author did a very good job of helping the reader feel and understand what it is like to be dealing with deafness and autism, and the importance of having a safe space to be open and vulnerable and feel accepted.

This brings back all of the Darling brothers and their partners, as well as August(Benson's brother and Remi's best friend), and I enjoyed seeing Benson building relationships with them as well. 
And they also have a fun pet. I did appreciate the set of bonus stories.  I am sad to see this series end. I would love to see a spin-off for August because he is also a unique character.





Sweet Like Whiskey
Goodreads
Amazon
Kim's 5 star review 

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙜𝙤.

𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻
If there’s one thing I don’t need upsetting my quiet and comfortable routine in the small town of Darling, Montana, it’s newcomer Ash Alcott crash landing on my family’s ranch like some sort of blonde angel.

I don’t need his flirting. Or his smile. I don’t need the way he makes me question whether or not I’m truly happy being alone at forty. I certainly don’t need to be giving him riding lessons or appreciating the meals he cooks for the ranch.

The man is dangerous for my equilibrium. And he could up and leave at any given moment, tiring of this way of life. It’s happened before.

No, I’m better off ignoring the way he looks at home in a new pair of boots and how my family and the ranchers all adore him. Ash may have brought some sunshine into our lives, but it’s best he learn sooner rather than later…

Ain’t nothing sweet about being saddled with a cowboy like me.

𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺/𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘶𝘵-𝘰𝘧-𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦-𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴, 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘧𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘌𝘈. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 1 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.


Brim Over Boot
Darling Brothers #2
Goodreads
Amazon
Kim's 5 star review

𝙃𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙡.

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻
If asked to list all the folks in Darling, Montana I can’t stand, I’d have a single name.

Noah King.

He’s the second-best farrier in town (me being the first). A royal pain in my behind. And an all-around smug pest I wouldn’t mind knocking down a peg or two.

It’s no surprise after so many years, our animosity has come to a head. I just never in my wildest, hate-fueled fantasies expected Noah’s attack to involve his lips on mine.

It was a mistake, no question. But apparently I still have some things to figure out about myself.

One thing I do know? Noah King and I have been bitter rivals from the start. And nothing, not even the fire he lights under my skin, makes a lick of difference in the end.

Surrendering to my enemy isn’t an option.

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘮 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘪-𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘌𝘈. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 2 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.


Saddle to Sunup
Darling Brothers #3
Amazon
Goodreads
Kim's 5 star review

𝙃𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨. 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩.

𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀𝗼𝗻
Ever since Oakley Beaumont skipped town, it feels as if my life has gone off the rails. Even worse than my divorce and moving back into my childhood bedroom at the Darling Ranch is the fact that I’m learning there’s a whole lot about myself I simply don’t know.

Like whether or not I’m straight.

And why the sudden absence of my best friend left a hole in my chest I haven’t been able to fill in the three years he’s been gone.

First things first: I need to bring Oakley home.

Then maybe I can tackle the matter of my love life. After all, I’m ready to get back in the saddle.

And who better to help me than the cowboy who once promised me forever?

𝘚𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘌𝘈. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 3 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.

Emmy Sanders
Website | Facebook | Reader Group | Instagram | Newsletter

MM romance author Emmy Sanders would describe herself as a lover of love. She's obsessed with both reading and writing romance and believes everyone deserves their happy ending. Queer herself, Emmy has a soft spot for LGBTQ+ fiction, but MM is where her heart lies.

Emmy's books combine sweet, steam, humor, and the occasional kink. And, as always, will leave you with one very happily ever after.


 










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Game Misconduct
Scoring Chances Series# 6
Amazon
August 7, 2026

The last thing Tanner Clayton needs is to fall in love with his rival ...

He loves playing defense for the Boston Harriers, hooking up with anyone he wants to, and hanging out with the boys.

Settle down? No way!

Especially not with Leif Rasmussen—top scorer for their divisional rival—who he loves to torment during games.

But the more time Tanner and Leif spend together at skills camps and tournaments, the harder the sparks fly on and off the ice.

As the top line center of the New York Rockets, Leif is desperate to live up to the legacy of his superstar father and hold his team together while their captain is out with a long-term injury.

Tanner is nothing but a distraction … and everything Leif refuses to admit he wants.

And when the Harriers and the Rockets go head-to-head in the playoffs, there’s more than just the Cup on the line …

There’s a chance at love.

TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING: Realistic depictions of hockey player injuries, mild homophobia from secondary characters, and a side character threatening self-harm.
I was excited to see what was going on under the surface of the on-ice rivalry between Tanner Clayton and Leif Rasmussen.

Tanner is a defenseman for the Boston Harriers. He is extroverted, antsy, energetic, and flirty. He is chaotic sunshine and flirty fun. And his favorite thing to do is get a rise out of Leif. He chirps him relentlessly and pushes all of his buttons.

Leif is a top-line center for the New York Rockets and the son of a hockey legend who is now Tanner's assistant coach.   Leif is a perfectionist, responsible, professional, and organized. He is broody, kind of a loner, and Tanner drives him crazy. Tanner called him Ice Princess. 

There is a history between them that caused Leif to hold a grudge against Tanner. There is friction and fighting on the ice. And now, as they are in one location to spend more time together, that friction is turning into more foreplay and fire. They both think they can just continue the casual fun without consequences, but it seems to be getting more complicated.

From antagonism to hooking up rivals to horny friends to long-distance and messy feelings. These two get more than they bargained for. Neither was looking for love or a relationship. And they are such complete opposites and live in different cities and are on rival teams. They both have their own quirks that often trigger the other, but I liked seeing them try to understand more and help each other.  But they have plenty of challenges due to their careers and lives as well as their own personal issues, needs, and fears. 

This brings back a lot of the characters in Brigham's hockey universe, and I loved spending time with all of them. I always open this author's books and get intimidated at first since this was a 600-pager, but I can honestly say I was sucked right in and was totally invested in their story the whole time. I was sad to see it end. I absolutely loved the curly-topped ball of sunshine, Tanner. He is all over the place, but has such a loyal and caring heart. And Leif really grew on me. He was trying to handle everything, but was so regimented he was not really living.

I am excited to get more with the New York characters. I was really glad to see Nicky back from the last book and there are some other characters that have sparked my interest. 



Goaltender Interference
Scoring Chances Series# 1
Goodreads
Amazon
Kim's 5 star review

The last thing Connor O’Shea needs is more complications …

After too much celebrating at his brother’s wedding, Connor wakes up next to cocky Toronto goaltender Jesse Webber—pro hockey’s reigning f*ckboy. With three kids and a failed marriage under his belt, Connor might be ready to admit he’s attracted to men, but that doesn’t mean his life has to change.

Fate has other plans: Jesse’s been traded to the Boston Harriers, the team Connor captains.

With an intimidating family legacy to live up to, pressure from ownership to bring home another Cup, and a strained relationship with his ex-wife to juggle, Connor reluctantly agrees to let Jesse stay at his place for the season—strictly to keep him in line.

Rules are set, boundaries are clear. But Jesse’s never met a rule he couldn’t break.

Between winning over Connor’s kids, rallying the team, and sneaking past Connor’s defenses, Jesse is determined to prove he’s more than just trouble.

But can he show Connor there’s more to life than playing it safe?


 Body Check 
 Scoring Chances # 2 
Goodreads
Amazon
Kim's 4.5 star  review

The last thing Gavin Racine needs is more heartbreak …

Following an ugly public divorce, all Gavin wants is a little stress relief in the bedroom and to put together a winning roster. Unfortunately, his busy and chaotic schedule as the Boston Harrier’s general manager and president of hockey operations means he cancels more hookups than not.

When Gavin reluctantly hires Dakota Crane as the team’s yoga and Pilates instructor, their first few meetings leave them annoyed … and intrigued.

With a struggling team to manage, a complicated relationship with his twin brother, and a secret from his past threatening to upend the success he’s fought so hard for, Gavin absolutely shouldn’t start something with his employee.

Personalities clash, sparks fly, and the chemistry is undeniable. But neither of them are looking for love.
Dakota’s been burned before and the last thing he wants is another messy relationship. Especially with his new boss.

Falling in love is nowhere on his agenda and nothing is worth putting his fresh start in Boston at risk.
But what if learning to work together is exactly what Gavin, Dakota, and the team needs.


Slew Foot
Scoring Chances #3
Goodreads
Amazon
Kim's review

The last thing Rafael Moon needs is to fall in love with another teammate ...

Following a painful breakup, Rafe is looking forward to a fresh start in Boston, and he’s thrilled when he immediately clicks with his new D-partner, Mickey Krause.

Mickey’s smart, talented, and loves telling Rafe what to do. It feels good to have some structure and, finally, Rafe’s life is coming together on and off the ice.

As their friendship deepens, Rafe slowly realizes he’s falling for Mickey. Too bad he’s been down this road before. He knows exactly how badly it could end.

Roles are defined and tension smolders, but neither of them can stop their out-of-control feelings.

An independent perfectionist, Mickey’s had a rough season so far and he’s immediately smitten with Rafe’s sweet, earnest vibes.

Finally having someone who works well with him in the bedroom and beside him in a game has him hitting all his goals.

But when Mickey’s world is turned upside down following an altercation with Rafe’s ex, he’ll have to learn to let go and let someone else lead for once.

Their relationship and the team depend on it.

Delayed Penalty
Scoring Chances Series# 4
Goodreads
Amazon
Kim's 4.5+ star review

The last thing Thad Racine needs is to fall for a guy playing for his brother's hockey team ...

As an ex-con, Thad’s had a rough life. Getting a job in the social media department of the Boston Harriers is his last-ditch effort at a fresh start.

He may not be raking in money like his previously estranged twin—the team’s GM—but he finally has a career he likes, a regular paycheck, and some stability. There’s only one catch: if he screws around with anyone working for the Harriers, he’ll be fired.

The last thing he expects is to fall for Graham Pennington.

The golden boy. The high-scoring forward who’s a crucial part of the team. The assistant captain.

Oh yeah, and he’s straight.

Falling in love with his GM’s brother isn’t part of Graham’s five-year plan.

Graham knows what he wants: find love and help lead his team to a Stanley Cup win.

So why do none of his relationships with women ever seem to work out?

After a totally unexpected but sizzling kiss with his friend Thad, he’s confused and a little conflicted. Has he been looking for love in all the wrong places?

Graham’s desire to be with Thad wars with his goal of helping the team find success. Despite Thad’s growing feelings, he’s terrified to risk his new career or the relationship he’s slowly rebuilding with his brother.

When the pressure from their secrets threatens their carefully laid plans, will they be ready to risk everything for love?

Cheap Shot
Scoring Chances #5
Amazon
Kim's 5 star review

The last thing Luke Crawford needs is to fall in love with anyone …

He’s got a good thing going as the Boston Harriers’ enforcer, and he likes his classic rides and quiet house to himself. Getting off with strangers is fine, but nobody is going to come in and mess up his hard-won peace.

Least of all Vintage Jersey Guy, who comes to every home game to chirp Luke in the penalty box.

Sebastian Breckon left a thriving business in New York to help his sister, a single mom struggling to manage a demanding job and a kid with a chronic health condition.

However, Sebastian’s new flower shop in Boston isn’t taking off like he planned. Thankfully, he can blow off steam by chirping Crawford for the cheap shot he laid on Sebastian’s best friend and captain of the New York team.

Then Luke unexpectedly lands on Sebastian’s doorstep for a hookup and hatred turns to heat.

As injuries pile up, the team struggles to clinch a playoff spot, and Luke’s upcoming contract is suddenly on the line, Sebastian feels like the only solid thing in Luke’s life.

Except Luke doesn’t do romance. Especially not the white-picket-fence type.

But when Sebastian’s family’s struggles worsen right as the Harriers need Luke to play his best, he’ll have to decide if he’s ready to take the leap and convince Sebastian to build a future together.

Christmas at O'Neill's
Scoring Chances #7
Amazon
December 11, 2026

Brigham Vaughn
Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Bookbub

Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Her books range from short stories to novellas to novels. They explore gay, bisexual, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.



 



 

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 I've Got a Crush on You
Darling Springs #2
Lauren Blakely
Goodreads
Amazon | Deluxe Paperback | Audible
Other Retailers
July 28, 2026

My secret workplace romance starts innocently enough…at a birthday party.
But when a rowdy partier knocks me into a lake and a sexy stranger comes to my rescue – my night becomes one to remember.

A night so steamy I almost forget why I’ve sworn off men after a failed office romance.

But I’m focusing on my shiny new future—my dog-training business is suddenly the hottest thing in town, thanks to a new actress client.

Trouble is, the brand new doggy daycare in Darling Springs that I’ve contracted with… is owned by none other than my sexy stranger. Thanks, fate.

Sawyer turns out to be a total grump in a tailored suit, no matter how sunshine-y I am. Even when he squeezes that hard body past me as I bring donuts to work. Or when he pretends he’s not roaming his dark eyes over me as I teach Fido to sit, stay and come.

But when I need a dance partner for the town fundraiser that my client’s roped me into, I sense an opportunity. And, it turns out Mr. Serious Boss is up for dance lessons.

Then the entire Dirty Dancing experience.

Giving into our chemistry once won’t hurt. Two might be pushing it. By the seventh, it’s undeniable--I’ve got a crush on him too.

Tropes: Workplace romance, oops my one-night-stand is my new co-worker, small town rom com, forbidden romance, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, fighting the feelings, quirky side characters, swoony learning-to-dance scenes



Chloe Rivers is having a bad day. Sawyer Dumont is having an equally bad day. Two strangers meet at a ridiculous party and end up having one ridiculously hot night at a hotel. 

Chloe is a bit of a hot mess. She just lost her job and needs a new one, her car is on its last wheels, and she is struggling to make ends meet. Her ex did a number on her life. She is friendly, easygoing, a bit of a risk-taker, and impulsive. 

Sawyer is broody, confident, organized, alpha, and takes charge. He has been burned by love and is starting over, and trying to focus on business expansion.

Together, they make each other's night much brighter than their day.  

But a funny thing happens on the opening day of the new doggie day care in town.

These two are so much fun together, even when they are not trying to be. They respond strongly, have amazing chemistry, get into their own heads but say what they are thinking, and challenge each other. But they also both have reasons not to act on their attraction or try for anything more. But they taunt, tease, and tempt each other and have a few slip-ups and miscommunication issues. They have common goals and their lives are intertwined by work and their pasts have left trust issues and fears, and they do not want to jeopardize the new businesses they are building.

But sometimes the heart and body want what they want, and the mind starts to lose the battle.

I loved these two! They were opposites but balanced each other. They are both stubborn and confident in what they want, but can also find compromise. They like to one-up each other. They tease and flirt even though they know they shouldn't. It is just so obvious how much they like each other, even when they try not to or upset the other. Their sexual tension and chemistry simmer, and they are combustible in the bedroom together. But they both have big trust issues and plenty of reasons they think a real WE would not be a good idea.

Chloe is sunny, sassy, feisty, impulsive, honest, and she is not afraid to take risks or ask for what she wants. She loves to tease and taunt him and gets under his skin.

Sawyer is Mr. Serious Businessman and Boss, but he knows what he wants. He is usually a rule-follower, professional, efficient, analytical, and stubborn. He pays attention and is a good listener. She crashes into his world, sending it spinning, making him say things he shouldn't, and challenging all of his rules. And they find themselves sharing secrets and gaining a better understanding of each other, and taking baby steps toward building trust. 

This is a sweet, hot, witty, and fun, grumpy-sunshine, opposites-attract, small-town, mixing business with pleasure romance with shared secrets, surprises, teasing, temptation, amazing chemistry, and all the feels. They both have baggage, past pain, and 
trust issues that run deep. They have shared goals. And they try to have boundaries in place, but their rebel hearts do not want to be contained, and those pesky feelings keep getting involved.  This one had me totally invested, smiling, swooning, fanning myself, and having so much fun!
This brings back the girl crew and some characters from It Seemed Like a Good Idea and some other LB world cameos. And there are dogs. Lots of cute dogs. And supportive family and friends wingman-ing and helping along the way.


Sawyer and Chloe meet at a birthday party full of big names and feisty pooches. He comes to her rescue when a particularly rambunctious guest knocks her in the water, and they spend a steamy night with promises of one night only. Both are in the mood to let loose, and embark on a competition about who had the worse day. Their one night passes and Chloe heads back to Darling Springs to pick herself up and put all her energy into building her business. Only, it turns out Sawyer owns the building she has just leased space in.

I loved the banter between these two and the spark that flies from their very first meeting. They are immediately comfortable with each other and though they are only in it for the one night, both find a comfort they weren't expecting. The each have reasons for not wanting things to continue beyond their first night, but their chemistry makes it difficult when they are working in such close proximity. The games they create to continue their interactions only add to the entertainment value of these two. 

Darling Springs is an absolutely darling setting for this series. The doggy daycare/training aspect of this book is so on brand for Lauren Blakely that I’m surprised it has taken this long to get this combo of characters! I love the way the shops in town band together and love watching as the town navigates their booming fame.

This was a charming, sweet and spicy small town romance, and had me grinning from start to finish from so much fun!

SAWYER

“Just like I remembered.”
Her shoulders shudder, and she sounds buzzed as she asks, “Yeah? What did you remember?”
“How good you taste. Your cinnamon scent. The way you melt when I kiss your neck,” I murmur against her soft skin, kissing the column of her throat now.
“It’s my lotion. It’s from Kind. All my lotions are. And bodywashes. I love them,” she says, breathless, babbling as she mentions the brand too, like I needed to know that. It’s sexy, though, the fact that she’s not thinking clearly enough to edit her thoughts. She’s just rambling as I kiss her. And it feels like a peek behind the curtain into her feminine world.
“Drives me crazy,” I say as I travel back up her neck, finding her mouth once more and sealing my lips over hers.
She claws at my shirt as I kiss her. I thread my hands through her hair. The song ends. The car’s quiet for a beat, the only sounds the rustling of clothes, the slide of our mouths, the staccato breaths.
When the next Sam Cooke tune begins, I stop pretending I’m willing to let this night end in the car. I break the kiss, run my thumb across her top lip, then nod toward her home. “What’s it going to be?”
She nibbles on the corner of her bee-stung lips. That just-been-kissed look is real good on her. “What are you offering?”
“You want me to surprise you again, Chloe?” A tremble seems to rush through her. I can hardly wait another second. “Let me come inside, sweetheart.”

It Seemed Like A Good Idea
Darling Springs #1
Goodreads
Amazon | Paperback |
Audible |
Erin Mallon & JF Harding narrate in duet! 
Our 5 star reviews

Grumpy meets sunshine in this charming and hilarious forbidden small town romantic comedy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely! Where there's only one bed in the room...

I really don't need a bodyguard―I run a small-town lavender farm, for bee's sake! But I'm getting one anyway since my identical twin sister just booked the movie role of a lifetime and it's being shot in my hometown. And guess who my new broody, tattooed protector is? None other than the guy I had a one-night stand with last month.

Correction: he's the guy with the wicked mouth and heated eyes who ran out on me before the bang without so much as goodbye. And of course he arrives in my tiny hometown where the film is shooting right in the nick of time to save me from the paparazzi at the market. The coffee shop. The dress shop too. I'm trying hard to stay mad after the third time the sexy jerk rescues me.

To top it all off, he's staying in the cottage at my farm. With me. And there's only one bed.

Maybe just one night would relieve all this tension? But one night turns into another, and then into sharing hearts and secrets that are best locked up. Especially since he's leaving and I'm staying, and there's no way we can be more than a summer romance that ends far too soon.

Small town, rom com, grumpy/sunshine, bodyguard, mistaken identity, forbidden romance, only one bed

Take Me Home Tonight
Darling Springs 3#
Preorder Amazon
March 9, 2027


When You Kiss Me Like This
Darling Springs #4
Preorder Amazon
August 17. 2027

 
Lauren Blakely
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub | Amazon | Newsletter | TikTok

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s cute but spicy. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 




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