CATEGORIES: Weekly Recap
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Latest Top Recommendations

The Sunshine Vicram trilogy was one of those on-a-whim picks, a blind draw from my endless TBR list, and my first encounter with Darynda Jones’ s delightful writing, and I simply flew through it. Set in the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico, the series centres around Sunshine Vicram who returns to her hometown as the elected sheriff, only to find herself knee-deep in drama and danger on her first day on the job. And then there’s Levi, her childhood crush and the man who seems to be angry at her for some reason; her teenage daughter who fancies herself an amateur sleuth; her meddling parents… Witty dialogues, endearing (and some downright bonkers) characters, and small town shenanigans made this series a hilarious thrill ride I never want to get off, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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Going back to Misted Pines—as murder and mystery ridden as this sleepy little town seems to be—never fails to get me all giddy, but I never expected this story to make me cry so hard. Two bodies are found buried in an unmarked grave in Idaho, leading the authorities to a nearly two-decade-old robbery case in Misted Pines. Lillian Rainier has spent the past sixteen years not knowing what happened to her beloved parents, but fearing the worst. So, when she suddenly finds Sheriff Harry Moran at her door one day, she immediately knows why he is there. But their encounter also triggers something in them both that slowly begins to bring them both to life. Unfortunately, the past is not done with either of them yet, and the more Harry investigates the unsolved case of Lillian’s parents’ death, the more dangerous it becomes for them both. A story of loss, healing, courage, and the immeasurable power of love, everything about this story moved me. I cried, I swooned, I cried some more, and then I wanted to relive it all over and over again.

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I honesty can’t say that I had blood-drinking, winged aliens on my reading bingo card this year, yet here we are. A tale of fated mates, unrequited love, with even a surprise pregnancy thrown into the mix, I devoured this book in a single sitting, hopelessly enthralled with the characters, the plot, the angst, the phenomenal world building. This is one of those stories that consumes you until you’ve gobbled up every last word of it, and then leaves you craving for more. It’s technically the third book in the Brides of the Kylorr series, but I jumped in with no prior knowledge of the series so far, and that didn’t impede my enjoyment of this book. This was my first toe-dip into Zoey Draven’s writing, but it then kicked off a week-long binge-read-a-thon of her books I’m still recovering from.

Read More...

The more I read, the harder I am to impress, and it takes an outstanding book these days to truly shake me into submission. Admittedly, a kinky, sports-flavoured romance penned by one of my favourite writers of late is not a far-fetched bet, yet I never expected to become so infatuated and utterly consumed by this story to the point of re-reading it over and over again in a matter of weeks. Ali Hazelwood continues to bring complex, STEMinist heroines to life with unmatched precision and attention to detail, celebrating their resilience and drive to succeed as well as their softer, more vulnerable parts. And this time around, she does it by deep-diving into the gruelling world of competitive water sports, with the story of two college athletes with something very unexpected in common.

Read More...

Bookish News

We have the cover of the second book in the Gods of the Game series by Ana Huang, out on October 28. This is Vincent and Brooklyn’s story.

Read More...

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NBJ WEEKLY RECAP

New & Upcoming Releases; Bookish News; Latest Top Recommendations

20 May, 2025

NEW RELEASES

BODYGUARD + SECOND CHANCES + DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE

When the world is plunged into darkness,
Who would you turn to?

Amid the sun-drenched orange groves of California, childhood friends Tuck Mattice and Emily Swanson shared a bond that seemed unbreakable—until life ripped them apart.

Thirteen years later, Emily is a rising pop sensation in need of security, and Tuck, a brooding ex-con, is in need of a fresh start. When fate brings them together once again, Emily hires him on as her new bodyguard. They butt heads and bicker, just like the old days—yet neither can deny the heat rekindling between them.

But when a cataclysmic solar flare disrupts the electrical grid, society is suddenly plunged into chaos and darkness. For Emily, the familiar comforts of fame and fortune crumble, but for Tuck, this stark new reality could be the chance he needs to finally prove himself. As they come to terms with all they’ve lost and the bitterness that’s kept them apart, they must find their way back to one another and discover a new place, under the sun.

This is a standalone novel.


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

GRUMPY/SUNSHINE

It’s a thin line between loving and hating…

Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but pretends that she can.

Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . . . but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

This is a standalone novel.


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

RIVALS TO LOVERS + WORKPLACE ROMANCE

Two workplace enemies find themselves in close proximity on a tropical company retreat that challenges their assumptions—and just might make them to fall for each other…

Engineer Trishara Malik once dreamed of being the first woman of color to smash the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell, but after years of dealing with white male privilege and blatant nepotism, she watches her hard-earned promotion go to her nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. Teetering on the edge of burnout, Tris is stunned when she’s picked to attend WMC’s corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program—plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? Rafe is her co-attendee.

Tris plans to avoid Rafe entirely, but when she arrives in Maui, a booking error has them stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. Sure, it’s not all torture. Rafe is a smoldering ten—okay fine, an eleven—but after years of competition, they can barely stand being in the same time zone. As they vie against each other during aptitude tests and team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all. With her dreams at stake, can she learn to trust the man who might have been standing in her corner all along?

This is a standalone novel.


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

SECOND CHANCES

This time, they’ll get it right.

Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as kids, had their son Sam when they were only teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. They were made for one another . . . until they fell apart. Now divorced and in their 30s, Wren runs the bakery in town, while Ellis works as a firefighter. They live separate lives, though they are hardly off each other’s minds.

When Ellis and Wren move Sam into college, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip back to Spunes to see if they can give their relationship one last chance. Amid the gorgeous California coastline and the intimacy they have missed for years, Wren starts to think it just might be possible. But can the past truly be left behind? When words fail and old wounds resurface, it’s a soul-baring letter that could finally reveal the truth—or close the door on them forever.

This is a standalone novel in the Spunes series.

Series recommended reading order: Savor It | Left of Forever


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful lord’s systematic attack on women’s rights in Parliament, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

This is a standalone novel in the all-new The Crinoline Academy series.

Series recommended reading order: Rules for Ruin | The Marriage Method (Nov 2025)


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS + UNREQUITED LOVE + COMING OF AGE

Gabriella Jacobson has one goal for her freshman year of college: Get Matthew Cory to fall in love with her.

Lucky for Gabby, her best friend, Ben, is attending the same college on a music scholarship. He is the perfect resource—girls love him, and he’s more experienced with relationships than her, since she’s never had a boyfriend.

When Gabby panics before her first date with Matt, she begs Ben to show her how to kiss. But Ben has a secret, one he’s been keeping from Gabby for years. He’s in love with her.

One kiss turns into two, leaving Gabby confused and scared that their friendship might not survive the unforeseen emotions. She avoids Ben until something unexpected changes his life forever, and he’s forced to drop out of school.

Gabby tries to contact him, but he won’t respond. And Matthew Cory, her sister’s ex-boyfriend and handsome law student, is ready to fill the void Ben left behind.

Now that Gabby has the man she thought she wanted, can she forget about the boy who kissed her twice?

This is a standalone novel in the Sunday Morning series.

Series recommended reading order: Sunday Morning | The Apple Tree | A Good Book


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print

RIVALS TO LOVERS + SMALL TOWN

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.

This is the second book in The Darling Brothers of standalone novels with interconnected characters.

Series recommended reading order: Sweet Like Whiskey | Brim Over Boot | Saddle to Sunup (Dec 2025)


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

OPPOSITES ATTRACT + SPORTS ROMANCE + SMALL TOWN

A playboy football player. A shy librarian. When old friends reunite, opposites attract in a witty and lighthearted romance about taking chances and falling in love against the odds.

It’s an unwritten rule somewhere: small-town librarians shall not commit spontaneous acts, for fear of mortal embarrassment. I’d certainly just proved it true, though hiring an escort was perfectly logical. How else should I overcome my fear of intimacy without risking heartbreak?

Unfortunately, what came next wasn’t so logical.

Instead of a dating coach, Griffin King showed up. Yes, that Griffin King: my childhood neighbor and now, to my dismay, an obscenely handsome pro football player. He’s not actually an escort, but how was I supposed to know that?

Avoiding him after the mix-up is impossible. The man is everywhere—put in time-out by his agent after a PR snafu. Griffin might be an outrageous flirt determined to torment me until I snap, but he’s also the perfect man to help me.

The lessons aren’t what I thought they’d be. Neither is Griffin. Every time we touch, every time he shows me a different side to myself—and to him—I can’t help but wonder if we’re about to break another rule: the playboy and the good girl aren’t supposed to fall in love.

This is a standalone novel in The Kings series.


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE

Stella Baldwin thought her life couldn’t get worse. Being left at the altar was bad enough, and the drunken rant she posted to her social media followers in the aftermath was the cherry on top. But having to show up at her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas barely two weeks later feels like a cruel joke.

Thomas Maxwell-Brown is just looking for a good time. With his family’s expectations pressing down, his career as a Formula 1 driver threatened by fresh talent, and a new reputation making him the most hated man on the grid, he needs a break to clear his head. And what better way to decompress than with a stag party in Vegas?

Stella isn’t the woman Thomas expects to meet that night. And Thomas isn’t the man Stella expects to wake up next to in the morning—with a ring on her finger. Staying married might be the perfect solution to all their problems, even if it is a little wild. Sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesn’t need to stay there. . . .

This is a standalone novel in the Lights Out series.

Series recommended reading order: Cross the Line | Ride with Me


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

FANTASY/PARANORMAL ROMANCE

 The rebellion’s fight turns into a battle of the heart…

Nox has been steadfastly working for the rebellion for years. They don’t ask for much in return, except for one crucial condition: their ex, the noble Bastian, stays as far away from them as possible. To say things ended poorly between them is an understatement . . . and it’s the only relationship Nox has never quite recovered from.

But now the rules have changed. Siobhan, the rebel leader, has emerged from hiding to tell Nox that Bastian’s been taken captive and the secrets he holds tight are in danger of being revealed. The fate of the entire rebellion now rests on Nox and Siobhan’s ability to rescue Bastian from a Cŵn Annwn ship.

Saving Bastian is only the start of their hardships, as the trio is tracked by ferocious pirates across Threshold. And Nox’s complicated relationships and entanglements with Bastian and Siobhan put not only their life at risk but their heart on the line.

This is the third and final book in the Crimson Sails trilogy.

Series recommended reading order: Hunt on Dark Waters | Blood on the Tide | Rebel in the Deep


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print | Audio

ONE NIGHT STAND + FORCED PROXIMITY + (REVERSE) AGE GAP

Someone should tell Tate Brewer that one-night stands aren’t supposed to come with a sequel.

I’ve learned the hard way—don’t be reckless with anything, least of all my heart. But after one too many vodka sodas, saying yes to a much younger, devastatingly smooth stranger for one wild night seems like the perfect way to forget my brutal divorce. I even gave him a fake name. What could go wrong?

You’d be surprised.

Because instead of being my spicy little secret, Tate is now the chief marketing officer at my new job. He’s determined to prove our night together was only the beginning—and he has the tools to do it.

Chiseled jaw. Washboard abs. Effortless charm. He’s as sinful as he is sweet and knows exactly how to get under my skin and melt my defenses.

I wanted a one-night stand. Instead, I got a “situation.”

This is a standalone novel in the Brewer Family series.

Series recommended reading order: The Proposal | The Arrangement | The Invitation | The Merger | The Situation


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

REGENCY ROMANCE

When a young lady is ruined, her friends vow none of them will ever be ensnared by a scoundrel again. They will resist every gentleman’s charms even—and especially—if it means gaining a reputation for being impossible to woo. It will take extraordinary rogues to break their rules…

It will take nothing less than the promise of a heart-stopping, breath-catching, happily ever after to woo Lady Minerva Halifax into marriage, but that dream seems doomed. She only attracts money- and position-hungry rogues because she’s the daughter of a wealthy duke. Then her friend’s dashingly irrepressible brother, Evan Price, is injured showing off at a house party, and Min ends up caring for him. As unexpected sparks flash between them, she wonders if Cupid may finally be circling.

Evan foolishly falls for his reluctant nurse, but he knows he doesn’t stand a chance of winning her hand without a title. Min is forced back onto the Marriage Mart by her parents, and Evan returns to filling the hollows inside himself with daring adventures and fleeting flirtations. He suddenly finds himself the most desired bachelor in Bath—except by the one person he really wants.

But when an absolute scoundrel swoops in to claim Min, Evan must bare his heart and risk everything or chance losing her forever.

This is a standalone novel in the Rogue Rules series.

Series recommended reading order: If the Duke Dares | Because the Baron Broods | When the Viscount Seduces | As the Earl Likes | Until the Rake Surrenders


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Print

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Latest Top Recommendations

The Sunshine Vicram trilogy was one of those on-a-whim picks, a blind draw from my endless TBR list, and my first encounter with Darynda Jones’ s delightful writing, and I simply flew through it. Set in the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico, the series centres around Sunshine Vicram who returns to her hometown as the elected sheriff, only to find herself knee-deep in drama and danger on her first day on the job. And then there’s Levi, her childhood crush and the man who seems to be angry at her for some reason; her teenage daughter who fancies herself an amateur sleuth; her meddling parents… Witty dialogues, endearing (and some downright bonkers) characters, and small town shenanigans made this series a hilarious thrill ride I never want to get off, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Read More...

Going back to Misted Pines—as murder and mystery ridden as this sleepy little town seems to be—never fails to get me all giddy, but I never expected this story to make me cry so hard. Two bodies are found buried in an unmarked grave in Idaho, leading the authorities to a nearly two-decade-old robbery case in Misted Pines. Lillian Rainier has spent the past sixteen years not knowing what happened to her beloved parents, but fearing the worst. So, when she suddenly finds Sheriff Harry Moran at her door one day, she immediately knows why he is there. But their encounter also triggers something in them both that slowly begins to bring them both to life. Unfortunately, the past is not done with either of them yet, and the more Harry investigates the unsolved case of Lillian’s parents’ death, the more dangerous it becomes for them both. A story of loss, healing, courage, and the immeasurable power of love, everything about this story moved me. I cried, I swooned, I cried some more, and then I wanted to relive it all over and over again.

Read More...

I honesty can’t say that I had blood-drinking, winged aliens on my reading bingo card this year, yet here we are. A tale of fated mates, unrequited love, with even a surprise pregnancy thrown into the mix, I devoured this book in a single sitting, hopelessly enthralled with the characters, the plot, the angst, the phenomenal world building. This is one of those stories that consumes you until you’ve gobbled up every last word of it, and then leaves you craving for more. It’s technically the third book in the Brides of the Kylorr series, but I jumped in with no prior knowledge of the series so far, and that didn’t impede my enjoyment of this book. This was my first toe-dip into Zoey Draven’s writing, but it then kicked off a week-long binge-read-a-thon of her books I’m still recovering from.

Read More...

The more I read, the harder I am to impress, and it takes an outstanding book these days to truly shake me into submission. Admittedly, a kinky, sports-flavoured romance penned by one of my favourite writers of late is not a far-fetched bet, yet I never expected to become so infatuated and utterly consumed by this story to the point of re-reading it over and over again in a matter of weeks. Ali Hazelwood continues to bring complex, STEMinist heroines to life with unmatched precision and attention to detail, celebrating their resilience and drive to succeed as well as their softer, more vulnerable parts. And this time around, she does it by deep-diving into the gruelling world of competitive water sports, with the story of two college athletes with something very unexpected in common.

Read More...

Bookish News

We have the cover of the second book in the Gods of the Game series by Ana Huang, out on October 28. This is Vincent and Brooklyn’s story.

Read More...

Upcoming Releases

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NBJ WEEKLY RECAP – 13 May 2025

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