Enemies to Lovers – Feed The Bookworm

Book Review: Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶/5

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Nine Month Contract is the first installment in Amy Daws’ newest series, Mountain Men Matchmaker, a spin-off of Max and Cozy’s story from the Wait With Me series. The new series centers around the four Fletcher brothers, with Max, the eldest living in Boulder while his three younger siblings have built homes on what’s now known as Fletcher Mountain.

Following a heated falling-out over a woman, the mountain-bound brothers make a dramatic pact to remain single for life. However, Wyatt, one of the brothers, decides it’s time to become a father, just without the complications of marriage. The only problem? His surrogacy agency drops him because he manages to find fault with every potential surrogate.

Enter Everly, Max’s daughter and a well-meaning schemer who previously orchestrated her father’s romance with Cozy. Now, she’s determined to find her uncle not just a surrogate (though she refuses to call her that, preferring incubator) but also a potential partner.

On her way to confront the surrogacy agency, Everly crosses paths with Trista, a woman recently rejected as a surrogate due to her BMI. Everly instantly feels a connection and thinks Trista is the perfect match for Wyatt—both as a surrogate and maybe something more.

Trista, who dreams of starting an animal sanctuary, is driven to surrogacy to fund her goal. Estranged from her toxic family, she’s more comfortable around animals than people. Soon, she and her goat Millie move to the mountain, and what follows is a heartwarming and hilarious story. From unconventional (and awkward) baby-making efforts to unexpected animals taking up residence in Wyatt’s once-empty barn, the novel delivers laughs, tender moments, and slow-burning romance.

This is, of course, a romance novel, so no spoilers here but expect twists, emotional depth, and a well-earned happily ever after for Wyatt and Trista.

One notable addition is the author’s thoughtful note on surrogacy and the research behind it, which I appreciated. For those sensitive to themes of fertility and family planning, a trigger warning may be appropriate.

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy:

🩷Grumpy x Sunshine

🩷Small town romance

🩷Age gap

🩷Curvy FMC

🩷Found family

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I do wish I’d read the Wait With Me series beforehand, as Max and Cozy are the leads in Book 5 of that series. But don’t worry, I’ll be diving into that one next. And you don’t need to read it first to love this book (and series!)

Stay tuned for my reviews of Books 2 and 3 in the coming days—I binged the entire series and now just need to catch up on writing the reviews! The fourth book in the series is set for release in May 2026, and you can bet I’ll be first in line to grab it.

You can grab your copy of Nine Month contract here.

RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is sexy sexy! It’s also available on KU, which I always love Thank you to the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

Book Review: The Temporary Wife by Catharina Maura

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

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Oh hey bookworms, are you back and ready for more of the craziness that is the Windsor Family? Because our favorite family is back with oh so much more drama. You thought marrying your fiance’s little sister was bad? Well, our friend Luca here is about to marry his secretary!

Luca runs the financial end of Windsor Enterprises and Val is his girl Friday, his secretary that was assigned to him by his grandma 8 years ago. Things get turned on end when Grandma Anne announces that it’s Luca’s turn to get married to someone who is completely wrong for him.

If you haven’t yet picked up the first book The Wrong Bride, I highly recommend doing so before diving into this one. You can read my review here. While each book in the series can stand alone, the story lines and character arcs make much more sense when read in order. Plus, if you’ve read any of the author’s other series, you’ll enjoy spotting the familiar faces that make cameos throughout the books.

The Temporary Wife picks up shortly after the events of the first book, with a bit of overlap to set the stage. Luca has had his secretary, Valentina, by his side for eight years, and their bond has only grown stronger over time. However, with his older brother Ares now married Luca’s own situation becomes more complicated. The Windsors’ formidable matriarch, Grandma Anne, traditionally arranges all the family marriages. After allowing Ares to get engaged for love and dealing with the consequences, she’s determined to take control again. Even though Luca and Valentina are clearly perfect for each other, Grandma Anne has already chosen someone else for him. The story unfolds as Luca and Valentina attempt to navigate the challenges of going against Grandma Anne’s iron will. Specifically by getting married. Luca appears to believe that if he’s already married Grandma Anne can’t marry him off to someone else.

I won’t give away too much because this story is best experienced without spoilers. But trust me when I say it’s absolutely phenomenal. The characters, especially Valentina, are compelling, and the chemistry between her and Luca is electric. Valentina’s strength and resilience make her a standout character, and the way the author brings their relationship to life is truly exceptional.

The author’s writing shines throughout the series, creating a world of powerful men—billionaires who run Windsor Enterprises, a conglomerate with vast interests across media, real estate, and tech development. Then there are the women who bring them to their knees. With five brothers and one sister, the series promises six books, each focusing on a different sibling. Luca and Valentina’s story was the one I was most eager to read because their dynamic just feels so right. We caught glimpses of them in The Wrong Bride, and it’s clear that Grandma Anne knew exactly what she was doing when she placed Valentina in Luca’s orbit eight years ago, despite her lack of experience and status as a college dropout. As the story develops, we discover that Valentina’s ties to the Windsors go far deeper than just her position as Luca’s secretary.

As always, read it for yourself and tell me what you think!

RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is sexy sexy. Don’t be fooled by the pretty cover this book is a scorcher.

BONUS: All the books are in Kindle Unlimited!

One sale now, you can grab your copy here.

And don’t forget to check out the rest of The Windsor Series, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Stay tuned for reviews!

Book One: The Wrong Bride: Ares and Raven’s Story

Book Three: The Unwanted Marriage: Dion and Faye’s Story

Book Four: The Broken Vows: Zane and Celeste’s Story

Book Five: The Secret Fiancée: Lexington and Raya’s Story

Book Six: The Devious Husband: Sierra and Xavier’s Story

Plot Twist by Carmen Sereno

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶️🌶️/5

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💖 Enemies to Lovers

💖 Opposites Attract

💖 Forced Proximity

💖 Workplace Romance

💖 Slow Burn

Plot Twist launches today! It’s a fast-paced rom-com packed with some of my favorite tropes!

Siobhan Harris is an inexperienced romance writer, just trying to make ends meet. Recently ghosted by her boyfriend and stuck in an unaffordable apartment, she’s down to her last shred of sanity and nearly her last dollar when a book offer changes her life.

Marcel Dupont, a narcissistic asshat, ended his phenomenally successful thriller series by killing off its hero in a tantrum. His fans are outraged, and so is his publisher. He’s obsessed with keeping his identity a secret, remaining a faceless author.

Forced onto Twitter, the first thing the social media-naïve Marcel does is start a feud with Siobhan. With her star on the rise and his on the decline, the publisher decides they need to collaborate on a romantic thriller.

Cue the drama. Sparks fly, tensions escalate, and as they get to know each other, they both discover that there’s more to the other than meets the eye. The writing is sharp and witty, and the banter between Siobhan and Marcel is outstanding! Initially, I really, really disliked Marcel, but I eventually grew to love him. Siobhan, however, had my support from the very start! Also…potential 2nd book with Paige and Alex 🤔 🧐

A huge thank you to the author, the publisher Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for sending me this amazing book for my review. It’s on sale now and you can pick up your copy by clicking here.

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶️🌶️/5

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💖2nd chance

💖High School Sweethearts

💖Enemies to Lovers

💖Opposites Attract

💖Grumpy vs Sunshine

💖Long Distance

Just Some Stupid Love Story was a quick read that I really enjoyed. It’s perfect for the beach or if you need something funny and sexy to read.

Grumpy vs. Sunshine is one of my favorite tropes, and usually, it’s the guy who is grumpy and unavailable. I absolutely love when it’s flipped around!

Meet Molly – she’s emotionally unavailable, with a host of problems she’s working through, including anxiety, depression, and some really deep dad issues. (Her dad sucks.) In a delightful twist, she writes rom-com screenplays and is very successful at it.

Meet Seth – an eternal optimist in search of true love. He’s loyal, funny, and just a tiny bit over the top. All he wants is a family of his own. He’s a divorce lawyer who tries his best to help his clients and their families get through a horrible moment in their lives without causing chaos.

The book spans from when Molly and Seth meet up again at their 15th high school reunion in November 2018 through their 20th in 2023. This is quite a time span for one novel, but I feel it was well done and not rushed. I enjoyed the email and text exchanges we got to read. It’s challenging when the characters are apart for a significant portion of the book, as they are here. But between their correspondence, chance encounters, and planned meetings, it was handled very well.

If you’re a fan of Katherine Center, Abby Jimenez, or Ali Hazelwood, I think you’ll love Katelyn Doyle too. The writing is quick, funny, and flows so well. I also really like dual POV in my romance books, so I was happy we got to bounce between both Molly and Seth. There’s also a great cast of side characters that we get to know and love.

The author Katelyn Doyle writes historical romances under the name Scarlett Peckham, but this is her Rom-Com debut. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

A huge thank you to the author, the publisher Flatiron Press and NetGalley for sending me this amazing book for my review. It’s on sale now and you can pick up your copy by clicking here.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🫑/5

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💖Closed Door Romance

💖Forced Proximity

💖Grumpy vs Sunshine

💖Strangers to Lovers

💖 Workplace Romance

🏠 Hollywood Setting

🚫No spice (hence the bell pepper 😂)

Just finished The Rom-Commers and wow, what a ride. Seriously, the ups and down in this book. I can’t even. Even though I usually read romance books with a lot of spice, I adore Katherine Center’s books. The characters she creates jump off the page and come to life. This was no exception.

Emma is so strong and selfless. I instantly wanted to give her a hug. And I also kind of want to shake her. The poor girl has put her whole life on hold to take care of her dad, blaming herself for his accident and the loss of her mom. I really hate that she was manipulated into working with Charlie. Logan sucks. He’s sneaky and tells half-truths and keeps secrets. Thank goodness he somewhat redeemed himself. But he was a pretty awful friend for a while.

It took me a little bit longer to warm up to Charlie. He’s kind of a jerk for the first half of the book. I have to admit I was pretty nervous about his cough, though. As someone who is familiar with sarcoma and its recurrence, as soon as he started coughing I had to stop myself from skipping ahead to make sure he was okay. It’s sweet how he takes care of his guinea pig. By the end of the book, I had heart eyes for him. 😍

I love this ode to romance and rom-coms and the joy they bring. Hands down one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I would have liked it to be dual POV, but if you check out the audio, you get a little sneak peek into Charlie in one of my favorite scenes (the diving board!!!).

As always, I encourage you to read for yourself and see how you like it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

A huge thank you to the author, the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for sending me this amazing book for my review. It’s on sale now and you can pick up your copy by clicking here

Mr. Wicked by Marni Mann

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

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Book #2 in Marni Mann’s Hooked series follows the second of the Hooked boys Grayson after a paparazzi scandal. With the company in jeopardy due to his poor choice of words, he’s forced to face his biggest fear: commitment. In order to restore his reputation, his business partners decide he needs to get married. They hire an image consultant who picks the perfect fake wife. Too bad Jovana also happens to be one of his infamous one night stands. And the one night seems to have an impression on both of them.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was flirty, funny, sexy and absolutely HOT 🔥. Grayson is a complete 🍆 most of the time, and I think it’s great how Jovana not only doesn’t put it up with it, but she sets him straight. She’s convinced she’s going to be the one who changes the forever bachelor.

I loved the twist at the end (didn’t see that one coming) when it turns out Jovana is also hiding a secret of her own.

With a HEA and the promise of Holden’s story in book 3, Mr. Wicked won’t disappoint. Bonus: both the ebook and audio are available in KU!

💖Fake Marriage

💖Billionaire Romance

💖Grumpy vs. Sunshine

💖Forced Proximity

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Montlake and the author Marni Mann for the ARC copy of this book.

Mr. Wicked is available now in KU. Grab your copy here!

🎧 Audiobook Review Hooked: By Emily McIntire

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

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💫 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡，𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 ✨

Hooked is the first book in Never After Series of retellings/reimagining. I picked this up awhile ago thinking it was a straight up retelling of Peter Pan, which is one of my all-time favorite books and my very favorite Disney movie. I put it to the side when I realized that it was a dark romance reimagining. I wasn’t in the headspace for something dark at the time. Recently, I ended up listening to this as an audiobook.

McIntire did a great job creating a villain I was actually rooting for. Yes he might be a murderer and monster, but he’s also extremely loyal to his friends and those close to him. It seems like everyone close to James has disappointed him or betrayed him at some point. Even at the very end. It was really cool how she intertwined Easter eggs from the original Peter Pan book and the movies.

The twists were phenomenal! There was one I feel like I should have expected but didn’t see coming. Another of the twists I had a nagging feeling about through most of the book and it proved to be right.

This is definitely a red hot read with many a spicy scene. Reader be warned this book is a dark one. I’m off to read a cozy or two and maybe a rom com before I’m reading for book 2.

Hooked is out now, and BONUS, it’s on Kindle Unlimited for the ebook and the audiobook! Get a copy here.

RED HOT READ ALERT: this book is hot hot hot. A very spicy 4 peppers (maybe even 5). There are lots of sexy scenes along with some messed up ones. Please check out the author’s website here for the trigger warnings.

Find the rest of the Never After Series and stay tuned for reviews!

Book Two: Scarred
Book Three: Wretched
Book Four: Twisted
Book Five Crossed
Book Six: Untitled, due out 11/05/2024!!!