🔖 REVIEW BLITZ 🔖 Falling for Real by Carly Phillips

Falling for Real by Carly Phillips

Release Date: April 16, 2026

Series: Dare to Fall #2

Pages: 138

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary

One canceled date. One overbooked hotel. One fake boyfriend who feels way too real.

I fly into a destination wedding expecting maid-of-honor chaos—not to share a room with Tristan Hayes, the devastatingly charming nightclub owner I’ve crushed on for too long.

When the hotel runs out of rooms, Tristan gives his to an elderly couple without hesitation. I see the kind of man he is… and offer to share my king bed. Just for the weekend. Totally innocent.

Until my ex shows up.
With a date.

Suddenly Tristan’s hand is on my waist, his smile lethal, and he’s my fake boyfriend. Temporary. Perfect.

Except the chemistry isn’t fake.
And wedding weekends don’t last.

Or do they?

A fun, flirty wedding-weekend romance featuring fake dating, forced proximity, one bed, and a hero who always shows up—with a guaranteed HEA.

AVAILABLE NOW

Amazon

My Review:

What was supposed to be a short arrangement turned into so much more in Phillips’s latest release, Falling for Real. As the second book in the Dare to Fall Series, this romance will leave you wanting for more!

While attending her cousin’s wedding in Key West, Kaylee Martin is hoping that the lack of date can go unnoticed with the rest of her family. Having broken up with her boyfriend not that long ago, she is not ready to face him again. Yet, Mark is part of the wedding party and has brought along his newest girlfriend. So, when her longtime crush, Tristan Hayes pretends to be her date for the wedding. Kaylee goes along with it, not realizing that her heart was about to be put to the test.

When the resort runs out of rooms, Tristan offers to give his room to a couple that was celebrating their anniversary. Leaving him without a room for the wedding weekend, until Kaylee offers to share her room with him. Neither of them bought a date and seeing how her ex treated her was enough for Tristan to offer to be her pretend boyfriend. But the more they got to know each other, the more it became clear that she is it for him, Tristan just has to convince Kaylee to give them a shot before it’s too late.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed reading Falling for Real. This novella might be short, but it packs a punch when it comes to the romance between the characters. They might look like complete opposites, but it’s clear from the very beginning just how similar they both are. While some might think that Tristan is a bit of a playboy, he wants something real and serious. He doesn’t want to waste time dating someone longterm if the chemistry is not there. On the other hand, Kaylee has been hurt in the past and that hasn’t stopped her from wanting something real. It’s the wedding and those around them that ultimately brings them together and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series! I would highly recommend checking out Falling for Real, you will not regret it! :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.***

My Rating:

Meet Carly Phillips:

Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and three crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. Way back in 2002, Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa and was the first romance on a nationally televised book club. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. For more information on upcoming releases, sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive two free books! 

https://www.carlyphillips.com/subscribe-newsletter/ 

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🔖 REVIEW BLITZ 🔖 Only For Him by Natasha Madison

Only For Him by Natasha Madison

Release Date: March 13, 2026

Series: Only For #3

Pages: 368

Genres: Sports, Romance

Nothing could prepare them for what was to come.

Kylie

I learned early in life that love isn’t just given, it’s earned.
Now I’ve decided love isn’t worth it.
At least that type of love.
Until him.
He was broken.
It was safe.
But then I went and did the unexpected.
I fell in love with him, knowing he would never love me back.

Knox

I thought I had it all.
I was playing hockey in the NHL.
Three beautiful kids and a wife who loved me.
Until I walked in on her in bed with my brother-in-law.
Everything I thought I had was a lie.
She was everything I thought I didn’t want, and when I least expected it.
I just hope when I finally figure it out, I haven’t lost her for good.

AVAILABLE NOW

My Review:

Madison delivers a second chance and new beginnings romance in Only For Him. As the third book in the Only For Series, this hockey romance will leave wanting for more!

As a seasoned pro, Knox Tylor has been playing hockey for the past twelve years. Having moved from Montreal to LA took some getting used to for him and his family. Knox was just a newlywed then, ready to start a new life with his family. Little did he know that years later, his life was going to change forever. Walking in on his wife cheating on him with his brother-in-law was not in the cards. Yet, the minute he saw, he made the decision to not have anything to do with the person he thought he loved. But learning to co-parent becomes stressful when the mother of his kids wants him back. It would take an unexpected encounter with his team’s younger sister to make him feel like himself again. Kylie is everything his ex isn’t, for one she hates him at the beginning, but the attraction between them is undeniable. It’s clear from the start that Kylie has been through so much and Knox vows to make her see that they might just meant for one another.

I throughly enjoyed reading Only For Him, the characters were relatable and magnetic. They might not like each other at first, but they are unable to be away from one another. Knox becomes overprotective when it comes to Kylie. Having moved from Arizona to LA, Kylie is still adjusting to her new life and trying to make friends. She is starting over in a new city and with that comes questions about her dating life. Something that she has no interesting in being in a relationship at all. Not after learning her whole life that there is a cost for being loved. Meeting Knox completely changes that and Kylie will have to make the decision to put her heart on the line or risk losing him. All in all, the story was a solid read and the ending was sweet. I would highly recommend checking it out! :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.***

My Rating:

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🔖 REVIEW BLITZ 🔖 Top Shelf Stud by Kate Meader

Top Shelf Stud by Kate Meader

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Series: Chicago Players #3

Pages: 446

Genres: Sports, Romance

The snail doc wants a baby. I volunteered to do the deed. But it isn’t long before I realize a “donation” will never be enough. I want to be a dad, but most of all, I want her.

Franky

When confronted with the cold, hard facts of her diminishing chances to be a mom, what’s a woman of science to do?

Make a spreadsheet of eligible donors, of course.

Finding a man for life is not in the cards, but one for this singular purpose? I can do that. As the daughter of a Chicago Rebels legend and an expert in the field of gastropods—more commonly known as snails and slugs—I have plenty of choices in the worlds of both hockey and academia. The selection process should be easy, especially as my methodology has already eliminated several options, including Jason Isner, childhood nemesis and recently acquired defenseman for the Rebels. I’ve always considered him arrogant, cruel, and to be honest, not the brightest bulb.

I’m rarely wrong. But I might have been mistaken about Jason . . .

Jason

I surprised even myself when I offered to be Franky St. James’s baby daddy, but fatherhood has been a dream of mine forever. If I can achieve my goal without the hassle of a relationship, even better. I won’t be one of those “pump and dump” donors, though. I want the whole package: nighttime feedings, shopping for cute onesies, teaching my kid to skate. I’m in it for life, and as Franky and I travel this road together, I start to imagine what that life might look like. Not just a baby, but a family of my own.

The thing is, the doc has all sorts of hypotheses about jocks and relationships, and it’s going to take a lot of persuasion—sexy and otherwise—to prove her wrong. She might think the mating rituals of her beloved snails are the only “coupling” worth studying, but I’m determined to show her that when it comes to seeking a mate, this player is as driven as any species in the animal kingdom.

Because making a baby is just the beginning . . .

* She needs a sperm donor * Hockey romance * STEM heroine who studies snails * Childhood nemesis * Enemies to lovers * She watches him make his "donation" * Her brain turns him on * Spicy

AVAILABLE NOW

My Review:

Not having read any other books by Meader before, I didn’t know what to expect. Needless to say, Top Shelf Stud is a witty and swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers hockey romance that will leave you rooting for the characters until the very end!

As a world- famous malacologist, Franky St. James has made it her mission to study everything there is to know about slugs and snails. She is at the the top of her career while giving lectures at Lakeshore University. Franky also happens to come from a well-known hockey family, the Chicago Rebels. In her world, she has everything she could possibly want, except for the fact that she is getting older and her time to be able to conceive safely is running out. With her sister already married and having babies, Franky yearns to be a mom. So, as the scientist that she is, she develops a list of potential candidates that would potentially make good donors. The only thing left to do is to go around and start crossing off her list.

That proves to be easier said than done, after getting rejected it takes her by surprise when her childhood nemesis volunteers to be her donor. On the condition that he would like the be involved as the dad as much as possible, throwing Franky off completely. She never expected for Jason Isner to want to be involved, after all they don’t have the best of relationships. Especially after what he called her all those years ago, making her feel odd and unwanted. But it’s been years since that encounter and making him prove that he is the perfect donor is on the agenda, Franky wasn’t expecting to fall for her childhood nemesis in the process.

Having recently signed with the Chicago Rebels, Jason Isner, is ready to make a name for himself with his new team. After going through a rough break up, he is not interested in a relationship at all. His focus is on the game and giving it his all to his team. Until he hears that Franky is looking for a donor with no strings attached in order for her to be a mom. There has always been something about Franky that felt intimidating, he was the jock growing up while she was glued to her snails/slugs. They never got along, but a part of him always wanted to prove that he could be more than just a hockey player. There is also a part of him that wants to be a dad and he can’t let that opportunity go by without convincing Franky that he is the best option. Little does Jason know that his life was about to change forever.

I absolutely loved reading Top Shelf Stud! From the character development to the writing, this story truly had me falling for the characters. They are completely opposites who have a lot in common, so they are able to relate to one another. Making a baby turns into steamy late nights and it’s when the lines are crossed that they have to make a decision not to fall for each other. They also need to navigate how everyone around them is going to perceive their arrangement. They’ve always been nemesis, but Jason is ready to prove that he is it for her. I loved how Jason quickly became Franky’s protector, no matter how much Franky tried to push him away. I loved them together, the ending was really sweet. I would highly recommend checking out this story, I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future! :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.***

My Rating: 

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