Review: Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis

Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis
Series: Colburn Brothers, Book 3
E-Book Publisher: That’s What She Said Publishing, Inc.
Print Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781464261060
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Audible
Jill Shalvis Reading Order

Some love stories don’t stay buried, no matter how far you run.

Hazel Pierce has three goals for coming back to Star Falls:
1. Help her estranged dad.
2. Keep things strictly temporary.
3. Absolutely, under no circumstances, fall for Tucker Colburn again.

That plan dies a dramatic, soggy death when a rogue wasp sting sends Hazel swerving off the road and into the river—only to be hauled out, half-drowned and furious, by the Star Falls Fire Department’s finest. Unfortunately, “finest” is ex–best friend, ex–one-night mistake, and the man she’s been avoiding for a decade.

Tucker’s always had a way of getting into her head. And now between a family that thrives on gossip and a town that’s way too small for all this chemistry, Hazel’s running out of ways to avoid the truth. As sparks turn into late-night confessions and slow, toe-curling kisses, Hazel has to decide if she’s done running—from her past, from this town, and from the only man who’s ever made her feel like home. And Tucker has to prove that this time, he’s not just her safe place to crash—he’s her always.

The final Colburn and the one who got away finally get their happily ever after in Falling Into You. Tucker and Hazel have been circling each other since she returned to Star Falls, the unspoken tension simmering in the background. Can these two ex-best friends get their second chance at happily ever after?

Falling Into You is a bit difficult for me to review. On its surface, it’s a fine read. Tucker is handsome, caring, and honestly perfect. He’s a dreamy, modern-day Prince Charming and it’s easy to see why he’s impossible to resist. Hazel has trouble believing in unconditional love. She’s stubborn (sometimes to a ridiculous degree) and has walls so high Tucker will need climbing gear. If this were my first Jill Shalvis book, I’d probably enjoy it a lot more than I did. The issue I had with this story is it’s very repetitive and echoes of so many of Shalvis’s past books are present in this story. There’s falling into comfortable, enjoyable patterns from an author you enjoy and there’s a feeling of copy/paste. Nothing in this book really stood out to me, save for the rather messy and unnecessary dramatic twists in the third act. In all honesty, Tucker and Hazel’s story may have worked better as a novella; the plot was stretched too thin.

As is expected in Shalvis’s work, boisterous secondary characters with no boundaries are everywhere, pushing Hazel and Tucker to work out their issues. I enjoy the Colburn family, but they pulled focus a lot in this book in ways that highlighted the weakness in the main characters’ character development. All in all, Falling Into You is a light and breezy read, even though it touches on heavier themes. I wish I had connected with the story and the characters more, but ultimately for me this wasn’t one of Shalvis’s more compelling reads.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: The Final Target by Nora Roberts

The Final Target by Nora Roberts
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense 

ISBN: 9781250413581
Source: Publisher
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He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.

Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…

An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude—but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility.

Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden's purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?

With its survivor heroine, protective hero, and despicable villain, The Final Target is classic Nora Roberts romantic suspense. It’s the tale of Arden Bowie, a young author who survived a stalker and didn’t let his attack destroy her. With the help of her family, she healed, moved forward in life, and now she and her dog have moved to Oregon to get a fresh start. Said start involves a new home, new friends to go with her beloved family close by, and a handsome ex-cop who’s good with his hands. But underneath the joy in her life, Arden knows the clock is ticking. Dustin, the violent stalker, was only given five years and his release date is coming up…and his obsession with Arden never ended.

If you’re familiar with Roberts’s books, it won’t surprise you that this one has a healthy dose of home renovation, cooking and gathering with friends and family, and adorable dogs. While this story doesn’t offer something dramatically different, it’s highly enjoyable. Arden, Gideon, and their loved ones are delightful and I enjoyed spending time with them. The romance between Gideon and Arden is understated but lovely. The two of them fit each other extremely well and it was easy to see how their lives just slid together.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from our protagonists we have Dustin, who is – as one might expect – a monster. He’s selfish, cruel, misogynistic, delusional, and violent. His fixation on Arden is what adds the suspense to the romantic suspense, so even if his point of view chapters made my skin crawl there wouldn’t be a story without him. All in all, The Final Target is a solid romantic suspense that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781668200056
Release Date: May 12, 2026
Source: Publisher
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Eloisa James Reading Order

In the depths of winter, Lady Genevieve Hughes, her pet piglet, and her septuagenarian husband travel to a haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands. Evie is excited to meet a ghost (perhaps one of her husband’s three previous wives), but didn’t expect the funny, quirky guests to become the friends she’s never had. And she certainly didn’t imagine meeting Sir Godric Everly, a sardonic, witty solicitor who loathes her husband.

Yet as secrets and lies turn Evie’s world upside down, Sir Godric becomes the one person whom she can trust.

When ghosts, multiple wills, and a shocking marriage certificate bring Lord Burnsby’s past crashing into his present, Burnsby promptly dies, leaving Evie free to remarry…though as a virgin wife, now a virgin widow, she is more unnerved by the marriage bed than a spectral visit.

More importantly, she has to figure out whose identity is false, whose vows are dishonorable, whose truths could destroy her reputation—and where her heart belongs.

A haunted abbey, a pet piglet, more shocking secrets than you could shake a stick at, and a hero who is most decidedly not the heroine’s husband… Eloisa James packs The Last Lady B full of interesting twists and turns. It’s both an ode to romcoms and gothic romance, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t, but at least it’s not boring.

Evie married Lord Burnsby in order to secure her sister’s future. It was an unromantic decision and she doesn’t care that she’s the third wife of the lackluster septuagenarian. That is, until she arrives at his Scottish abbey and finds his mistress, some ghosts, a stepdaughter and sister-in-law who have been neglected, and more. If that wasn’t enough of a shock, Evie meets Sir Godric Everly, a handsome solicitor who makes Evie yearn for a marriage that would not be in name only.

The Last Lady B is filled with supporting characters who have a lot of personality, and I enjoyed watching Evie form a family out of this not-so-ragtag group of abbey residents and visitors. Godric is strong, protective, and handsome, and I wish I felt like I learned more about him over the course of the story. I liked him and Evie together, but the chemistry wasn’t as strong as what I’m used to from James’s characters.

There’s a lot going on in the story but the interesting part is watching the twists and turns unspool so I won’t spoil them. And James packs a lot of twists in one story. The overall tone of the book is light and quirky, sometimes leaning into silliness that didn’t work for me (though your mileage may vary). The tone is sometimes at odds with the darker aspects of the story and I felt like some seriousness could have been injected into those parts rather than things being waved away at times.

The Last Lady B was an uneven read for me. I liked that James took some big swings, even though they didn’t always hit. Overall it was an interesting read, even if it’s not my favorite of the author’s work.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Archangel’s Eternity by Nalini Singh

Archangel’s Eternity by Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter, Book 18
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy 

ISBN: 9780593550052
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible
Nalini Singh Reading Order

A thousand years.

It’s been a millennium since Elena’s fateful first meeting with Archangel Raphael. She has survived war and loss, experienced beauty and cruelty. But no matter what, she has always held on to her mortal heart, as she and Raphael have held on to each other. Passionate and vibrant, they’ve built a life that has stood the test of time, growing ever stronger with each turn of the sun.

But change is coming—of a magnitude they could have never imagined—and it will forever alter the trajectory of their existence.

Even as they grapple with the cataclysmic shift in their personal lives, the Cadre of Ten, which has maintained a hard-won peace for centuries, begins to simmer with dangerous fault lines. The specter of madness looms in one archangel, the promise of war burns between two others, and in darkness far from mortal and immortal eyes stirs an ancient, slumbering power.

Suddenly, the future is terrifyingly uncertain…at the very moment that Elena and her archangel need to protect a treasure infinitely more precious than eternity.

It’s been a thousand years since a human Guild Hunter crossed swords with an enigmatic archangel. Neither Elena nor Raphael could have imagined the turns their lives have taken since that first meeting. And readers, since first picking up Angels’ Blood, could not have guessed the wild ride Nalini Singh would take them on through eighteen full-length novels. Archangel’s Eternity brings the Guild Hunter series to a close in a sweet, satisfying way.

While there have been many wonderful characters and romances throughout this series, Raphael and Elena are at the heart of it all, so it’s fitting that the series end with them. I enjoyed seeing how their love has grown and stays strong over not just decades but a millennium. Now they have a new adventure to face and though it’s not hard to guess what that is, I’ll leave it for readers to discover. Suffice it to say that it’s delightful and brings them new challenges and even greater happiness.

Archangel’s Eternity is light on plot, serving mostly as a love letter to the series and the vast and varied cast of characters Singh brought to life. There is some tension with a potential war brewing between two archangels and simmering madness in another, but nothing like what we’ve seen throughout this series. I admit, the first half of the book was slow for me. As much as I adore all the characters, the step-by-step visits felt a little. Things did pick up in the latter half of the story; it brimmed with life, love, and even a few moments that made me tear up. All in all, I found this to be a lovely end to the Guild Hunter series. Singh started the series with blood and ends it with joy; a wonderful bow to tie up all the angels, vampires, and other beings readers have come to know and love.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett

Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett
Series: Leviathan Fitness, Book 2
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Male/Male Erotic Monster Romance 

ISBN: 9780593956991
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

There is only one thing holding back Briar Glenn Parks Department supervisor Reece Rollins from success in his upcoming triathlon—his subpar swimming skills. At the urging of his sister’s wolven mate, Reece joins Leviathan Fitness to train in the gym’s Olympic-size pool. There he meets Cyrus, a charming kraken with unparalleled skill in the pool, and many, many tentacles that both intimidate and intrigue Reece. When Cyrus offers to coach Reece for his race, he happily accepts the help.

For the past few months, Cyrus has been floating through life without his usual spark. He’s even hit a creative block with his painting and hasn’t been able to produce a new piece of artwork in a while. But the opportunity to train this handsome human grump gives Cyrus something real to smile about.

New and unexpected feelings begin to arise from the depths as Reece and Cyrus start to spend time together in and out of the water. But can both men let down their guards enough to be swept away by love?

Tentacles & Triathlons is a super sweet and sexy monster romance. Ashley Bennett’s second Leviathan Fitness novel is a fated mates love story between a kraken and a human.

Cyrus is centuries old and has lost his spark. He hasn’t been inspired to paint, he has friends but feels a bit lonely, and he’s watched his best friend fall in love while worrying he’ll never find that for himself. Then he meets Reece, his best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law and all three of Cyrus’s hearts awaken. Cyrus is a sweetheart with a naughty side. He’s easy to like and he’ll do anything for those he loves.

Reece has never been comfortable around monsters and Cyrus is unique even among the unusual, which makes for an awkward first encounter. Reece has issues he’s trying to work through and he’s making a real effort to not be so standoffish. He’s training for a triathlon and needs help with the swimming portion so he accepts Cyrus’s offer to train him. Cyrus is everything Reece has ever needed and never knew he wanted. I liked that Reece had to work at lowering his guards. His attraction to Cyrus helped with that and I enjoyed seeing them fall in love. Cyrus is patient and giving and Reece learns to open up and enjoys showing care for Cyrus in return. The two of them fit one another and their love story was low on drama, which worked for this tale.

Tentacles & Triathlons is a super sweet story that thankfully Bennett kept from becoming saccharine. There’s a lot of tentacle play for monster lovers to enjoy and the spice balances well with the sweetness. It’s a fluffy story with one perfect hero and one work in progress hero who’s really trying. Muscles & Monsters, the first Leviathan Fitness book, wasn’t for me, but Cyrus and Reece’s romance was a lot more entertaining and made me curious to explore the series further.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows

No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows
Series: Oaks Sisters, Book 2
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9780063416208
Release Date: March 10, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.

Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.

If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.

The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.

She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.

No Place Like You is sweet, funny, and heartwarming. Jillian Meadows’s second Oaks Sisters book features Fable and Theo and I was utterly charmed by both of them.

Fable and Theo have been both friends and rivals and they’re about to become so much more. Theo survived an abusive parent and carries a lot of guilt because of that. He doesn’t do relationships, which is of course famous last words. Fable is at loose ends. She judges herself for starting and stopping things, is struggling with the weight of grief from the loss of her grandfather, and doesn’t wholly believe in herself. I loved watching Fable and Theo find their way, to each other and to what they wanted out of life. Their love story is delightful and they have an easy chemistry that no amount of trying to tell themselves they’re only fake dating can mask.

No Place Like You features not just a loveable hero and heroine but a welcoming cast of secondary characters and the protagonists’ family and friends. I adored the town of Fern River and how everyone totally shipped Theo and Fable. Even though this book deals with some heavy themes, it’s a cozy and welcoming tale that is just lovely.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Male/Male Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9780063429581
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Simon and Charlie, actors on a long-running sci-fi show, can’t stand one another. Charlie is impetuous, outgoing, and basically feral, and Simon thinks he should have stayed in reality television where he belongs. They’ve spent the better part of a decade quarreling over the spotlight and pretty much everything else, and everybody in the industry knows it. Now that Simon’s contract is finally done, he can move to New York, start fresh with work he actually likes, and get away from Charlie.

Simon’s only problem is that people might assume he’s been pushed off the show due to being impossible to work with. And he is kind of difficult to work with. He doesn’t get along with people—unlike Charlie, who somehow tricked everyone on the show into adoring him despite some outrageously bad on-set behavior during the show’s first season. Simon would rather never have to see Charlie again, but reluctantly agrees to stage a very public friendship during the short time before he moves. When Charlie has to leave town to deal with a family emergency, this means Simon comes along. Their road trip brings Simon to places he would never have willingly chosen to visit—and he finds he’s actually not having a terrible time.

The more he gets to know Charlie, the more Simon suspects he’s underestimated his former coworker. Simon also realizes that after seven years, Charlie might know him better than anyone ever has. Even stranger, Charlie seems to be starting to actually like him, despite knowing him so well. Still, Simon is about to move three thousand miles away, so whatever’s starting between him and Charlie can’t really amount to anything... right?

Star Shipped is already one of my favorite books of the year. Cat Sebastian’s first foray into contemporary romance shows that her talent shines in any era. I absolutely loved the complicated, messy, slow burn love story between Charlie and Simon.

For seven years Charlie and Simon have been bickering constantly behind the scenes of their sci-fi TV show. But now that Simon wants to move on, both are looking to ensure that their off-screen quarreling isn’t affecting their professional images. An attempt at public friendship leads to them learning that these opposites aren’t so dissimilar after all. Charlie is the human equivalent of a warm hug; he’s got big extrovert energy and welcomes people in. What people don’t see is where that comes from. Charlie had a difficult upbringing that has left scars, anxiety, and a need to belong. He’s so kind it’s easy to love him but what really charmed me was seeing him open up and be vulnerable to Simon.

As for Simon… I don’t think I have the words for how totally and completely I loved him. Simon is our narrator and I found him deeply relatable in ways that aren’t always comfortable, but Sebastian excels at the mental health rep in this book which is part of what makes the story so appealing to me. Simon suffers from migraines and has severe anxiety and OCD. He’s tense and his world is small for even a successful actor because he’s trying to manage his mental health. He can be standoffish and cold which is hiding someone who desperately wants to be loved and taken care of. Simon feels like he never belongs anywhere and I loved seeing him slowly open up and trust those closest to him to see the cracks he tries to hide.

The romance between Simon and Charlie is tender and sweet, with both men cautiously making an effort to open up and reveal the anxieties and wounds they try to hide from the world. I loved how careful they were with each other, how caring and accepting. The vocal acceptance and effort they put into open communication helps each man on their own journey to accept themselves. They aren’t perfect but they’re perfect for each other. I hated having to put Star Shipped down because I was so drawn to Charlie and Simon and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

Star Shipped is quiet, romantic, and features two heroes whose struggles and quirks make them relatable. Cat Sebastian truly grounds the fantasy in reality and I loved every bit of it.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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