Duty Unbound - Dominic Pierce (Calamitte Jane Pub - June 2025)

Series: Citadel Solutions (Book 1)
 
Duty was supposed to be simple -- until she walked into his mission.
 
Ethan Cross doesn't get emotionally involved. As the head of Citadel Solutions, he handles high-stakes security with military precision and zero distractions. Protecting international pop star Nova Rivers from a dangerous stalker? Just another job.
 
Until he meets her sister.
 
Melanie Rivers is the quiet force behind Nova's chaotic empire -- efficient, invisible, and utterly selfless. She's spent her life in the shadows, sacrificing her dreams to hold her family together.
 
But Ethan notices what no one else does -- the way she shoulders everyone's burdens without complaint, the quiet fire burning beneath her calm exterior. She's not the client. She's not part of the mission. Yet the longer he's near her, the harder it gets to remember the lines he swore he'd never cross.
 
But in an industry full of secrets, danger lurks closer than anyone suspects. And one wrong move could cost them everything.
 
He was hired to keep one woman safe… but the one he can't stop thinking about might be the one who brings him to his knees.
 
When two of my favorite romantic suspense authors recommend a brand-new author, it is definitely motivation to try them. I was not disappointed, as this book reminded me of Janie Crouch's Linear Tactical books and Josie Jade's Resting Warrior Ranch series. The characters were complex, and the action scenes kept me glued to the pages.
 
Ethan is the founder and head of Citadel Solutions, the elite security firm he started after he left the military. He has a reputation for being cool under fire and impossible to distract. If he's haunted by the things he experienced, well, staying busy keeps the ghosts at bay. Being hired to protect pop star and diva Nova Rivers is just another day at the office.
 
Nova's sister, Mel, has devoted her life to making Nova's dreams come true. She's quiet, blends into the background, and puts everyone else's needs before her own.
 
Ethan's first meeting with Nova and Mel doesn't go well. Nova laughs off the idea of a dangerous stalker, resists any notion of restricting her activities, and generally behaves like a spoiled brat. Mel's business-focused attitude rubs Ethan the wrong way because she reminds him of his ex-fiancée. He turns down the job initially, but reconsiders when the stalker strikes again.
 
The mix of suspense and romance was very well done. Ethan and his team settle in to protect Nova and Mel while investigating the stalking situation. As he spends more time with them, Ethan begins to see them differently. He is drawn unwillingly to Mel, seeing past her professional façade to her warm, caring nature. Mel doesn't know what to think about Ethan. He's the first person to see her, from her growing exhaustion and burnout to the dreams of home and family portrayed in her paintings. At the same time, Mel sees past Ethan's control to the memories that haunt him. I liked seeing how happy he was when he was with her.
 
The suspense builds as they prepare for Nova's multi-city tour. Each city brings new challenges and escalating threats. Each one added more intensity to the team's determination to identify and stop whoever is behind them. Just as I thought I had it figured out, an unexpected twist threw my theory out the window. The final confrontation was a nail-biter and kept me glued to the pages to the end.
 
Once the danger is past, Ethan and Mel will have to decide if their burgeoning relationship has a future. I liked their honesty with each other and seeing how they worked things out. The epilogue was terrific and I can't wait to see them in future books.

The Lyon Loves Last - Charlie Lane (Dragonblade - Aug 2025)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 88)
 
What's dangerous, necessary, and arranged at the Lyon's Den? A marriage of convenience between childhood friends.
 
Felix Canterbury, Viscount Foxton will never return to his childhood home. Nothing but nightmares there. He's happy to gamble the house away to win a bride at the Lyon's Den. Especially since his beloved grandfather is demanding he marry… and soon. Felix never expects the prize bride to be his childhood friend, the woman he deliberately enraged.
 
Miss Caroline Maxwell needs a house for the women's refuge she's building. Even if it means landing a husband along with it. She doesn't need love, after all. She already gave her heart away to Felix, who promptly dropped it. With the Widow of Whitehall's help, she snags a husband and a house with ease.
 
The house is perfect.
The husband—and arrogant and all too virile Felix—not so much.
 
They agree to a marriage in name only, but when circumstances trap them in the house he hates, desire tests their resolve.
 
Unless Caroline can help Felix overcome his childhood ghosts, fear will shape their futures instead of love.
 
Good second-chance romance. Caroline and Felix were friends and neighbors as teenagers until Felix cruelly stomped on her growing feelings for him. They haven't seen each other since then. Neither has married.
 
Raised by a progressive father and taught to stand up for what is right, Caroline plans to open a refuge for abused women. She needs a house to carry out her plan, and finds that being a woman alone is an obstacle. She went to Mrs. Dove-Lyon with her plan - find her a husband who has a house to spare and doesn't care if they live apart.
 
Felix likes his life in London, where he's happiest engaging in risky behavior. Haunted by a childhood tragedy, he never intends to return to the house where he grew up. He doesn't want to marry, but his grandfather insists it is time. Rather than take the traditional Marriage Mart route, Felix joins one of the bride contests at the Lyon's Den.
 
This contest was one of the Black Widow's more unusual competitions. Instead of physical prowess or gambler's luck, these contestants had to answer riddles. The contest itself was interesting as Caroline disguised herself as a man to run it herself. Her dismay at Felix's participation was evident, as was his when he realized it was her. Neither is happy with the outcome, but a Lyon's Den contract is unbreakable.
 
Neither expects nor welcomes the attraction that sparks between them. After avoiding a post-wedding kiss, they part ways as agreed. Caroline starts her shelter project while Felix continues his life in London. But Felix's grandfather isn't satisfied, and guilt-trips Felix into checking on Caroline. Felix is horrified to discover that she is alone at the house with just a maid and that the building is in far worse condition than he thought.
 
I enjoyed watching the development of Felix and Caroline's relationship. Felix wants to protect her, but the memories, nightmares, and guilty feelings have such a hold on him that it is difficult for him to function. I ached for Felix and the pain he couldn't escape. Caroline focuses on her plan and dreams of sharing it with him. There are clashes and confessions, and a growing respect for each other. Underneath it all, the sparks of attraction intensify, leading to unplanned intimacy and deepening connection. But can they overcome the obstacle of Felix's trauma and make a happy life together?
 
Unexpected danger brought Felix's fears to life, but also opened his eyes to why he pursued those risks. I liked seeing him put those fears to rest and open his heart entirely. The epilogue was great. I especially enjoyed seeing Caroline's exuberance over her new plan. 

Meet Me in the Orchard - Carolyn Brown (Sourcebooks - Aug 2025)

Series: The Paradise (Book 1)
 
Two and a half months have passed since Brodie Carter showed up in Spanish Fort, Texas to meet the father who never knew he even existed. Well, family is family, and Brodie is welcomed in (once everyone gets over their shock). Getting to know his seven half sisters and all their spouses has not been an easy job. Add to that Audrey Ross, the obnoxious, sassy, overbearing woman who owns the orchard next to his. Between Audrey haggling Brodie to buy his property and his matchmaking Great Aunt Bernie setting him up on flop dates, nothing seems to be going right.
 
And then a tornado demolishes the house Brodie and his brothers live in and everything they own. At least the orchard and farm are left untouched. Luckily, his new family offers up rooms to Brodie and his brothers while they work to rebuild. They move into the former brothel known as the Paradise, and try to get on with their lives.
 
Audrey claims the storm is an omen that Brodie should sell, but that's the last thing he's going to do. No one boils his blood like she does, and Aunt Bernie can see it. Can Brodie and Audrey stop arguing over their properties long enough to realize the spark that's growing between them?
 
Fun enemies-to-lovers, family-centric romance. In the previous series (which I haven't read yet), Brodie came to Spanish Fort to find his biological father. Once Joe Clay and his family got over the shock, they embraced Brodie and his two brothers. Brodie bought an organic orchard that was once part of a feuding family's land. He's determined to make a go of the orchard, but matters are complicated by the woman who owns the land next door, and a tornado that levels his house. His family invites Brodie, Knox, and Tripp to move into their home until they rebuild.
 
Audrey wants that land back in the family. The backstory of how it came to be split was a vital part of the story. She constantly harasses Brodie about selling to her. Audrey's great aunt Hettie lives with her and hates Brodie's family with every fiber of her being. She pushes Audrey even harder to get the land back.
 
Audrey and Brodie's encounters are antagonistic from the start. She pressures him to sell to her, telling him he'll never succeed, and mocks his organic principles. But underneath the antagonism are sparks of attraction that neither wants to acknowledge - until they can no longer resist. Their interactions are particularly enjoyable, especially in scenes like Brodie's blind date and the encounter with the stray pot-bellied pig. Their antagonism diminishes as they get to know each other, and friendship grows, with stronger feelings not far behind. I appreciated how they took their time getting to know each other, ensuring their feelings were genuine rather than reactionary.
 
Their lives and relationship become complicated by their families. Brodie's Aunt Bernie is an unrepentant matchmaker, determined to find him a wife - anyone except her nemesis's niece, Audrey. Audrey's Aunt Hettie is even more vocal about her disgust for Aunt Bernie, who used to own a bar, and whose family owns the house that used to be a high-end bordello a hundred years ago. I enjoyed watching Audrey and Brodie navigate the obstacles and find their path to happiness. There are twists involving Hettie and Bernie that caught me by surprise and added both tension and hilarity to the story. I liked the ending and look forward to seeing more of Brodie and Audrey in future books.
 
Though I haven't read the previous series, Sisters of the Paradise, I never felt lost. References to the past usually came with enough explanation to understand the connection. I thoroughly enjoyed the family relationships on Brodie's side of the family. I liked how the sisters and their husbands jumped in to help when the tornado leveled Brodie's house, including assisting with the rebuilding. Aunt Bernie was a hoot with her matchmaking attempts, and her feud with Hettie provided some wild scenes. I liked Brodie's brothers. The relationships among the three brothers were close, giving support, teasing, and the occasional kick in the pants. I loved how they were just as welcomed into the family as Brodie, even though they are not blood-related. I look forward to Tripp and Knox's stories.
 
For Audrey, the family mainly includes just her and Aunt Hettie. There is a cousin that Audrey has little contact with because of the family feud. Audrey promised her uncle she'd care for Hettie after his death, but it isn't always easy. Hettie isn't just contrary; she can be downright mean, which frequently frustrates Audrey. I liked seeing Audrey stand up to her in the end, but I didn't like Hettie's reaction or her actions. That's one character I wouldn't mind never seeing again. 

 
 
 
 
 

He Falls First - Jill Shalvis (Sourcebooks - Aug 2025)

Series: Colburn Brothers (Book 1)
 
No one is going to convince her to fall in love again...
 
Penny Rose has learned her lesson and now she's paying the price. That's why she's sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It's a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there's amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?
 
One thing's for sure, she's never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she's built.
 
Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who's a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He's got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.
 
Ryder doesn't mind playing the hero for the skittish, independent woman. Maybe it's the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he's compelled to get closer.
 
This is the first book in a new Jill Shalvis series, and it completely lived up to my memories of previous series by this author. The characters were realistic with believable faults and fears, making it easy to root for their happiness.
 
Penny recently returned to her small hometown to help her grandmother and twelve-year-old brother, Wyatt. Though her dream is to own her own café, she needs an income that will pay the bills. She applies her stellar chef skills to her work for Hungry Bee Catering, providing meals for local businesses. Her return came with a promise to herself - no more relationships. The last one left her with a scar on her chin and a deeper one on her heart.
 
Ryder is the oldest of the four siblings and the one who has taken care of everyone onto his shoulders. On top of his successful building restoration business, with multiple projects and one hundred employees, he is always there for his family. He watches out for his widowed sister and is an awesome uncle to his three-year-old twin niece and nephew. He cares for his formerly abusive father, whose personality underwent a 180-degree change after a stroke. Ryder is also still grieving the loss of his best friend and business partner, and blames himself for Auggie's death. He has no time or desire for a relationship, until he's bowled over by the lovely caterer he saved from being run over in front of his business.
 
Ryder was smitten from the first, though it took him a little while to realize the depth of his feelings for Penny. Penny was attracted from the start, but determined to keep her "no men" promise to herself. However, it wasn't easy to keep him at arm's length while he helped renovate her grandmother's kitchen. Their banter was fun and had me laughing out loud frequently. Ryder recognized his feelings pretty quickly, but also knew that he had to earn Penny's trust before anything could happen. I loved his sensitivity to her fears and how he let her set the pace. He never pushed, but he never gave up on her. One of my favorite things about this couple is that they talked to each other openly and honestly. The ending was sweet and emotional. I look forward to seeing more of them in subsequent books.
 
The secondary characters were well done. Ryder's brothers were great with the way they poked at each other while also being there when needed. Their sister, Kiera, intrigues me. Her grief for her late husband is always there while she raises their twins. I could feel her struggle as she kept her business going despite her grief. Her relationships with her employees seem to be a little rocky at times because of her swinging emotions. I loved the twins. Their love for their uncles was adorable, and they brightened any scene they were in. I especially enjoyed Kiera's description of them as "feral wolf cubs".
 
Hank Colburn was the surprise. The story opened with a scene when the siblings were kids, dealing with Hank's abusive actions. But in the current day, Hank is a non-verbal stroke survivor whose personality has completely changed. He is always happy and shows no signs of his earlier abusive actions. This messes with Ryder and the others, who have trouble reconciling their memories of him with the way he is now. It will be interesting to see how these relationships progress in later books.
 
Penny's grandmother is a hoot. She's feisty and independent and cares deeply about her family. She is also a bit of a matchmaker and wants to find Penny someone to love. It was fun to see her push Penny and Ryder together. Wyatt was a typical twelve-year-old boy, seemingly oblivious to the world around him when caught up in his own activities. His relationship with Penny is a mix of pesky younger brother, protective brother, and mother/son. I loved the boost in his confidence when he started working with Ryder on the kitchen renovation. There are hints about their mother, especially when it came to Penny's childhood, but not much detail. Knowing more might have given a little more insight into some of Penny's issues.
 
I'm looking forward to the next book, which is Caleb's story.

The Lyon's Dilemma - Jude Knight (Dragonblade - July 2025)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 87)
 
She shattered his heart—now she's his perfect match.
 
Felix Seward, Duke of Kempbury, does not want to be at a house party. Any house party. But the matchmaker Mrs. Dove Lyon has promised him that his perfect match will be there, and Felix yearns for a wife.
 
He is horrified to find that the woman who meets the matchmaker's description is Adaline Beverley. His nemesis. His Achilles heel.
 
The one woman on God's earth he will never marry. Not after what she did last time they were betrothed.
 
This was a fast-paced novella of second chances, where Mrs. Dove-Lyon brings together two people who were meant to be, despite their rocky past.
 
The main characters, Felix and Adaline, were engaged ten years ago, until her stepsister played a nasty trick on them. Felix believed Adaline betrayed him and refused to listen to her side, walking away from her, and leaving her at the mercy of Society's gossips. Felix's mistrust of women was mainly due to his stepmother's actions, and these feelings spilled over into his relationship with Adaline.
 
Ten years later, neither has quite moved on. Adaline married another man shortly after the breakup, but has been a widow for several years. She supports herself and her daughter by working as a private investigator, specializing in retrieving stolen property from Society members. But she is lonely and wants a father for her daughter, Melody. She hires Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find her a suitable husband, in exchange for finding items stolen from her. To do so, she attends a house party at the culprit's estate.
 
Felix has never married and is envious of his friends who have found happy matches. Unwilling to enter the Marriage Mart and deal with matchmaking mothers and empty-headed debutantes, he asks Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find him a wife. He wants a woman who is more interested in him as a man than in his title. She sends him off to a house party, promising him that his perfect match will be there.
 
Needless to say, both Felix and Adaline are dismayed by each other's presence. Felix still hasn't gotten over his feelings of betrayal, and Adaline still resents his refusal to listen to her. But when he takes one look at her daughter and realizes that he is her father, he knows he has to talk to her. I liked the ensuing conversation. Adaline calmly lays out the sequence of events, and Felix finally accepts the truth, sincerely apologizing to her. I loved seeing them rekindle their relationship. There were some adorable scenes with Felix and Melody, which looked promising for the future.
 
But there are still some twists in their future. Adaline needs to complete her task for Mrs. Dove-Lyon. It is a tense situation, and I enjoyed seeing how she pulled it off. However, not everything is smooth-sailing, and Adaline's past comes back to bite her in a terrifying way. I was on the edge of my seat as the scene played out, hoping that Felix would see the truth. I loved Melody's part in the ending.
 
I enjoyed catching up a little with the characters from Thrown to the Lyon who play a significant role in this story. 

 
 

Storing Secrets - Janice Kay Johnson (HI #2306 - Aug 2025)

Someone has secrets
They'll kill to keep buried
 
Erin Reed's life spirals into terror after she barely escapes an arson attack with her little boy in her arms. As the threats against her life multiply, she discovers that Detective Sam McKeige is a man she can rely on to protect her and her son. What begins as trust turns into something that might be love…if she and Sam get the chance to explore it. Can they uncover the identity of the serial killer who's been stalking her before this monster rips the future away from them?
 
Gripping tale of suspense and romance. Both main characters are realistically portrayed with believable backstories that made me eager to see a happy outcome for them.
 
Erin is a single mother of an adorable three-year-old son named Toby. Her ex-husband is not in their lives, leaving her to support them on her own. She has a thriving business reselling items she purchases at estate sales and storage unit auctions. She's stunned when her latest storage unit purchase contains many high-end items. While talking to the facility's owner about finding the unit's previous owner, an arsonist sets the office on fire. Erin and Toby barely escape with their lives.
 
Sam is the detective assigned to the case. Drawn to Erin and her son, his protective instincts hit hard, especially since Toby reminds him of the son he lost. His scenes with Toby are especially emotional. I loved how sensitive Erin and Sam are to each other's pain and the love and trust that builds between them.  
 
The suspense was terrific. The intensity of the search for the suspect and his missing items, especially after a gruesome discovery, kept me glued to the pages. As the perpetrator visited other dealers and left destruction in his wake, the pressure on Sam and Erin grew. They knew it was only a matter of time before he circled back to Erin. The build-up to the final confrontation kept me up way past my bedtime as I couldn't stop until I knew how it ended. 

 
 

Beckett - Josie Jade (Calamitte Jane Pub - Sept 2025)

Series: Warrior Security (Book 1)
 
Beckett Sinclair doesn't do complicated.
 
He trains K-9s at Pawsitive Connections, runs ops with Warrior Security, and keeps his PTSD under control. Until a dead friend's little sister shows up.
 
Audra Cartland is jumpy. Exhausted. Sleeping in the equipment shed when she thinks no one's watching. Beckett knows that look—he's seen it in combat zones, in victims, in his own mirror.
 
Someone's hunting her.
 
She won't talk. Won't explain the fear in her eyes or why she flinches at shadows. But Beckett made a promise to her brother years ago in Afghanistan, and those debts don't die.
 
Beckett should walk away. He's got enough ghosts without taking on hers.
 
Instead, he arranges a job. A safe place to sleep. His protection.
 
When the hunter becomes bold enough to strike in his town, on his watch, Beckett stops playing defense. He's lost too many people already. Failed too many times.
 
Not Audra. Not this time.
 
Some battles choose you.
 
Fantastic start to Resting Warrior Ranch's spin-off series, Warrior Security. This is another book that grabbed my attention and didn't let go until I finished it. The story is fast-paced and emotional, with intriguing characters told from the dual first-person viewpoints of Audra and Beckett.
 
Audra has been running from a stalker for more than a year. She's at the end of her rope physically and emotionally when she arrives in Garnet Bend. Her late brother told her stories of his fellow soldier's life there growing up, telling her to contact Beckett if she ever needed help. She winds up at Pawsitive Connections, where Lark puts her to work without asking too many questions.
 
Beckett works for Warrior Security and trains K-9s at Pawsitive Connections. His survivor's guilt and PTSD keep him from getting close to anyone he might lose. The dogs and cats he works with give him focus, purpose, and healing. Beck is suspicious of Audra when they first meet. He can tell that she's hiding something, and his protective instincts kick in.
 
I enjoyed watching Beck and Audra's relationship develop. It is purely a working relationship at first, as both fight the attraction that pulls them together. Things change when Beck discovers one of Audra's secrets. I loved his brusque and matter-of-fact attitude as he fixed her living situation while trying to hide his attraction. It takes Audra a while to overcome her wariness and trust Beck with the truth about her situation. Once she does, it doesn't take long for her heart to get involved. However, both Beck and Audra will have to overcome their reluctance to let anyone close to them before they can have the future each longs for. There are some gripping, emotional scenes as those walls begin to crumble.
 
The suspense of the story was terrific. Audra's fear was palpable on every page, as was her determination not to endanger the people she cared for. I loved it when she finally opened up to Beckett after the stalker found her again. The intensity of his protectiveness and his immediate involvement of the men of Warrior Security showed how seriously he took the threat. I was intrigued by each member of the team and how they used their various skills. The escalating danger kept me glued to the pages as the team closed in. The evilness of the stalker oozes off the page, intensifying the threat. A twist in the investigation led to a nail-biting conclusion.
 
I enjoyed getting to know the other members of Warrior Security better. Travis and his quirks are especially fascinating, and I look forward to his story whenever it comes. I especially liked Cooper's interactions with Beck, from his teasing to his help with Beck's PTSD episodes. Pawsitive Connections owner, Lark, also intrigues me, and I'd like to know more about her. But my favorite secondary character was Jet, the failed security dog who instantly connected with Audra. He was adorable and clearly worshipped her. I loved how everyone underestimated him.