Review
Book Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Year of Reviews - 2023

Review – Cruel King by K.A. Linde

Cruel King; Cruel #7
(#7 within a series)

Publication Date: March 28, 2023

Genre/Tropes: Contemporary/Fake Dating/Billionaire Romance

Author: K.A. Linde

Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:
Gavin King is total book boyfriend dreamy!

Gavin hasn’t forgotten Whitley, even though their past says they aren’t relationship people, Gavin knew Whit was the woman for him, especially once he had a taste of her. With her back in NYC he knew he had to play it differently this time around or chance losing her for good. Between good morning coffee’s and subway rides he works his charm on her before asking Whit to attend a family wedding as his fake fiancé. Gasp! So many steps were leaped over.

This is the point I would recommend reading Cruel Kiss, the prequel to Cruel King before diving in. It gives a peek into Gavin and Whit’s friendship, their flirtatious nature with each other, and the hot trip that crossed boundaries which was the catalyst that sent Whitley running three years ago, but now she’s back in NYC and more importantly back in Gavin’s orbit and this time he’s not giving her a chance to escape.

As lines begin to blur it isn’t long before wedding plans are being made and with a twist of fate their relationship could really be turning into something real. That’s scarier than anything Whitley has ever faced before.

Between Gavin’s notorious past and Whitley’s skittish relationship past, these two seem like the least likeliest pair to ever settle down, or does that make them the most likely to end up together? Time will tell as they bring two families together between the glam of NYC and the big belts of Texas in this Cruel world romance.

Synopsis:

A new stand alone fake relationship romance set in the glitz and glamour of the Cruel world from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…

The most eligible bachelor in New York City just asked me to be his fake fiancé.

Gavin King is six and a half feet of delectable billionaire with a devil’s smile that says he knows exactly what he’s going to do to me later. Because he has.

Three years ago, I caught him in the shower and promptly fell into his bed. But neither of us were relationship material. Not to mention I’d just broken up with his best friend.

Now, I’m back in the city and he has a plan:

Go to his cousin’s wedding.
Convince his family that he’s not an eternal bachelor.
Post a huge elaborate break up later.

With those big puppy dog eyes begging me to agree, claiming I’m the only one who can pull it off, I say yes. What could go wrong? Other than pulling it off so successfully that the line between real and fake blurs.

When my family flips the whole script, I can’t see a way out. And I’m starting to wonder if I even want one.

A sexy one-night stand romance set in the glitz and glamorous Cruel world by USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…

Gavin King is not boyfriend material.

And neither am I.

That’s how our friendship works. We flirt and tease and joke, but at the end of the day, playing wingman is preferable to risking my heart.

Until I break up with my boyfriend the day that I leave for a two-week Caribbean vacation. And Gavin and I are the only single people on the island.

But remember that boyfriend I dumped?

Yeah, it’s his best friend.

The last thing I want to do is come between friends. And I swore the green eyes, wicked dimple, and chiseled body weren’t enough to convince me. But then I caught him in the shower…and he said he was thinking about me.

Now, I can’t stop picturing what I saw.

Maybe my ex doesn’t ever have to know.

Find more of my reviews on Amazon under Kayreader
on Goodreads under Kay Daniels Romance
At Bookbub under Kayreader
or you can follow me on Facebook at Kay Daniels Romance

Review
Book Reviews, New Adult, Sports Romance, Year of Reviews - 2023

Review – Break the Ice by L.A. Cotton

Book cover for Break the Ice: A Brother’s Best Friend Sports Romance (Lakeshore U) by L. A. Cotton

Break the Ice; Lakeshore U #1
(#1 within a series)

Publication Date: March 28, 2023

Genre/Tropes: New Adult/Sports/Brother’s Best Friend Romance

Author: L.A. Cotton

Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:
This new adult, sports romance was way more emotional than I was anticipating. Aurora – or fondly known as Rory, begins college carrying deep emotional scars that pulled at my heartstrings through the entire book. Her journey is heart wrenching so grab some tissues before turning the pages and then snuggle in as Noah steals your heart.

Noah Holden is your average college sports player and all around just player. He’s sampled more of the female population than even he can tabulate as a business major, but when his best friend’s little sister moves in at the beginning of the year his player status doesn’t feel quite right anymore. Rory has him tied up in knots and everything he knew turns upside down. For someone who never dates, or ever intended to fall for a girl, Noah finds himself in uncharted waters with Rory and while it should feel all kinds of wrong, there is something about Rory that feels all kinds of right.

There is something connecting Noah and Rory at a deeper level, but even with that connection, Rory struggles to be herself. It’s heartbreaking to read her story, but probably because I connected with so much of what she went through. People who should unconditionally love you but don’t, is a tough pill to swallow, but I love that Lianne didn’t shy away from the tough topics and gives Rory this real life outlook that many young women face, along with the tools on how to get help.

These two were great and I loved so many of the secondary characters, although I did want to kick Aiden, Rory’s brother, a few times and not for the reasons you may think. I’m looking forward to more in this world as it continues to grow. Bring on the Lakers.

Synopsis:
From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author L A Cotton comes a brother’s best friend sports romance. Lakeshore U, where hockey is religion, and the players are gods. Are you ready to fall in love with a Laker?

When Aurora Hart moves in with her brother and his two teammates, it’s only supposed to be a temporary fix.

Enter Noah Holden.

Cocky. Heartbreaker. With enough game to have every girl on campus falling at his feet.

When Noah’s best friend asks him to look out for his sister, he doesn’t expect to find her so resistant to his charm.

Or find himself so interested in his new housemate.

He’s Lakeshore U’s biggest player.
She’s quirky, shy, and one hundred percent not his type.

Can Noah help Rory let go of the insecurities holding her back from embracing life?

Or will he be unable to break the ice around her heart?

*Break the Ice is a 100,000-word standalone novel set in the Lakeshore U series. It contains mature content for readers 18+

Find more of my reviews on Amazon under Kayreader
on Goodreads under Kay Daniels Romance
At Bookbub under Kayreader
or you can follow me on Facebook at Kay Daniels Romance