READ-2-REVIEW - CONTEMPORARY - CHEAP SHOT (Portland Timberwolves, #2) by AJ Alexander

 Coach has one rule: don’t touch his daughter

Cheap Shot, an all-new brother’s best friend, single mom, small town, hockey romance from USA Today bestselling author AJ Alexander is now available!

BLURB

After a heartbreaking loss in the Western Conference Championship, I’m stuck with an ultimatum: play for the Timberwolves or kiss my professional hockey career goodbye. Left with no other option, I move back to my small town, determined to prove I can make my own way—free from the shadow of my older brother’s success. Then I literally run into Michele Mercer.

Sparks ignite between us the moment I lay eyes on her—frustration and attraction blending into something I can’t ignore. Michele is headstrong, independent, and refuses to take crap from anyone, especially me. But when she’s assigned as my physiotherapist, I think I’ve found my chance—until I discover she’s the coach’s daughter and completely off-limits.

I should focus on making it into the starting line up. I should remember that the only person I can count on is myself. But the closer I get to Michele, the more I forget everything but her.

Coach has one rule: don’t touch his daughter or you’re off the team. My problem? I can’t stop thinking about her, and the last thing I’m going to do is let her go. 

𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟐 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . CHEAP SHOT (Portland Timberwolves, #2) . . . Forbidden Ice: The Coach's Daughter is a Cheap Shot of Undeniable Heat! "There was just something about the coach's daughter that he could not resist or obey a direct order," and this book is a steamy penalty box of forbidden desire! As a fan of hockey romances and AJ Alexander's incredible storytelling, this one delivers on all counts. I especially appreciate how this is another authentic and heartfelt interracial romance. Our hero, a hockey player facing an ultimatum after a heartbreaking loss, moves back to his small town to play for the Timberwolves. He's determined to prove himself, but then he literally runs into Michele Mercer. The spark between them is instant—a blend of frustration and scorching attraction that he can't ignore. Michele is everything the hero needs: headstrong, independent, and unwilling to take crap from anyone. But when she's assigned as his physiotherapist, the stakes get dangerously high. He quickly learns she's the coach's daughter and completely off-limits—with the strict rule: don't touch his daughter or you're off the team. The heat is deliciously palpable as the hero fights his attraction. He should focus on the starting lineup; he should keep his distance. But the closer he gets to Michele, the more he forgets everything but her. The desperate struggle to maintain distance while their passion ignites is absolutely intense. He can't stop thinking about her, and the last thing he's going to do is let her go. This is a must-read, sexy, brother's best friend, single mom romance that proves some rules are meant to be broken.

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://geni.us/cheapshot

Add Cheap Shot to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/cheapshotgr  

For more information about AJ Alexander and her books, visit her website: 

https://www.authorajalexander.com

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READ-2-REVIEW - CONTEMPORARY SUSPENSE - HIGH VELOCITY (High Mountain Trackers: HMT 2G, #4) by Freya Barker

High Velocity

High Mountain Trackers HMT 2G, #4
by Freya Barker 
Release Date: May 13th 2025
Cover Designer: Freya Barker Images: Jean Woodfin - JW Photography 
Model: Brandon Thyfault 
Genre: Romantic Suspense 

When the FBI sidelines Special Agent Stephanie Kramer over health concerns, she sees her hard-won dream career go down the drain. Suddenly adrift and without purpose, she jumps at the chance when a friend offers for her to stay in their trailer by a quiet, secluded creek near Libby, Montana. As much as she tries to enjoy the tranquil settings, it’s not long before local wildlife—and the man chasing it—invade her sanctuary. When it appears the job she’s trying to leave behind is following her to Libby, the illusion of her solitary retreat is shattered.

After that last special ops assignment cost Jackson Hart his leg, he’s had a hell of a time getting back on his proverbial feet. Being hired as a member of the High Mountain Trackers team went a long way to reclaiming his sense of identity. He’s back in the saddle and adapting to a pared-down, mostly solitary existence. So the sudden jolt to his gut, when he encounters the blond federal agent he remembers well, is a harsh reminder of what is missing from his life.

Still, as much as they try to avoid the other, they seem destined to cross paths. Whether it is the intimidation of a local predator, or the threat of a former nemesis, it becomes clear they stand stronger together.

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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . HIGH VELOCITY  (High Mountain Trackers: HMT 2G, #4) . . . Shattered Careers and Second Chances: An Explosive Finale!

"I am not ready for this series to end. I have loved both High Mountain Trackers (original and HMT 2G)," and this latest installment delivers a fantastic blend of emotional depth and thrilling suspense!

HIGH VELOCITY brings together two fiercely competent people struggling to reclaim their identities. Special Agent Stephanie Kramer is sidelined by the FBI over health concerns, watching her hard-won dream career go down the drain. She retreats to Libby, Montana, seeking a quiet sanctuary, only to find her life is about to be invaded—both by danger and by a protective hero.

That hero is Jackson Hart, a member of the High Mountain Trackers team who is fighting his own battle to reclaim his sense of self after a special ops assignment cost him his leg. Being back in the saddle as a Tracker helps, but his solitary existence is suddenly jolted by a harsh reminder of what is missing from his life when he encounters the blonde federal agent he remembers well.

The attraction is undeniable, and the stakes are real! As you mentioned, Jackson and Stephanie find themselves working together, with the chance to have more than just a working relationship. And as per usual, Freya Barker makes this a romance with suspense tapping on the doors at almost every turn. They may not be able to do their job in their chosen professions anymore, but protection is their specialty. Whether it's the threat of a former nemesis or an intimidation of a local predator, they stand stronger together and will absolutely get the job done.

If this is indeed the end of the line for HMT 2G, it’s a high-impact conclusion that beautifully wraps up the themes of sacrifice, healing, and finding a new purpose in love. 

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy.

Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

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READ-2-REVIEW - CONTEMPORARY - LOVE, LIES, AND WHISKEY (The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, #5) by Melissa Foster

LOVE, LIES, AND WHISKEY
The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, #5
by Melissa Foster
April 28th 2025

Get ready to fall hard for the mysterious Seeley “Doc” Whiskey and the one woman he never thought would walk back into his life in LOVE, LIES, AND WHISKEY, the NEW title in the fan favorite Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch series. - NOW AVAILABLE at ALL retailers and shop.melissafoster.com!

First loves that were ripped apart, and the epic love that saves them.

At nineteen, Seeley “Doc” Whiskey fell hard for the governor’s daughter, and then she was torn away. He risked his life and his family’s legacy to get her back, only to find out that everything he believed about her was a lie. His heart has been locked down ever since.

Betrayed by everyone she loves, Juliette Chambers has been through hell and back. Now a single mother and veterinarian, Juliette moves back to Colorado to start over. The last person she expects to run into is the man who completely destroyed her.

A chance encounter turns into a moment of fury, sending them into an emotional maelstrom. Tears and accusations fly and passion ignites, but in their wake they discover a trail of secrets and lies and a life-changing blow that takes them to their knees

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This title will be coming to audio soon. Narrated by Aiden Snow and Erin Mallon

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What you will find in LOVE, LIES, AND WHISKEY...

Second chance romance

Single mom

Ranch Veterinarian

Second chance ranch

Always been you

Found family

Secrets and lies 

F*ck with my family and find out

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . LOVE, LIES, AND WHISKEY (The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, #5) . . . Love, Lies, and Whiskey: A Soul-Stirring Second Chance at Redemption Ranch!

Melissa Foster returns to the rugged beauty of Colorado with Love, Lies, and Whiskey, delivering a story that is as much about the healing power of community as it is about the explosive chemistry between two long-lost lovers. If you’ve fallen in love with the Whiskeys before, this visit to Redemption Ranch—a place where both horses and people get a second chance—will feel like coming home.

What makes this story truly shine is the hallmark of any Melissa Foster novel: the unbreakable sense of family. Redemption Ranch isn't just a setting; it’s a living, breathing part of the community. You can feel the deep bonds of friendship and the fierce loyalty of the Dark Knights in every chapter. It’s a world where the characters don't just exist; they belong to one another, making the stakes feel incredibly personal and the "happily ever after" even more rewarding.

Seeley “Doc” Whiskey is a man with a heart under lock and key. After falling for Juliette Chambers, the governor’s daughter, at nineteen and losing her to a web of lies, he has spent years fueled by bitterness. When Juliette—now a resilient single mother and veterinarian—returns to Colorado to start over, their chance encounter is less of a reunion and more of an emotional maelstrom.

The "Second Chance" trope is executed perfectly here. You feel the weight of their history, the sting of past betrayals, and the undeniable passion that never truly faded. Watching them navigate the fury and tears to find the truth behind the lies that tore them apart is a journey that will take you to your knees.

Blurred Lines & Secrets: The trail of secrets and life-changing blows keeps the pages turning, as Seeley and Juliette realize that everything they thought they knew was a fabrication.

The Alpha with a Heart: Doc is the epitome of an "insanely sexy biker" who is fiercely loyal to his family and the woman he once lost.

Healing through Connection: The way the community rallies around Juliette as she tries to rebuild her life highlights Sola’s (and Foster's) talent for showcasing that love has no restrictions and is the ultimate savior.

No Games: With no cliffhangers and no cheating, you can fully immerse yourself in the emotional intensity of their path back to each other.

My Final Verdict

Love, Lies, and Whiskey is a masterclass in small-town romance. It’s an intense emotional rollercoaster that proves that even the most broken hearts can be mended when they’re surrounded by the right people. If you love a story where the family bonds are just as strong as the romantic ones, Seeley and Juliette’s journey at Redemption Ranch is an absolute must-read!

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READ-2-REVIEW - CONTEMPORARY - A SPRING IN MY HEART (Love for All Seasons, #4) by J.L. Lora

 

Lux and Oliver navigate the delicate balance of trust and vulnerability. Just when it seems they’re overcoming their complicated history, their exes lurk in the shadows, forcing them back to square one.

The Spring in My Heart
Love for All Seasons, #4
by J.L. Lora

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BLURB

They’ve tip-toed the edge of desire, but that unforgettable Noche Buena left them shattered and longing for the dreams that slipped away…

Lifestyle influencer Luciana “Lux” Blake’s life is a collage of picture-perfect moments—if you follow her Instagram account. But her world crumbles when her baseball-God-boyfriend cheats with yet another groupie. She swears off men until her brother pushes her to work with his friend Oliver—with whom she shares a sexy history—on a renovation that turns every moment into a minefield of awkward tension and lingering passion.

Haunted by his past, Oliver Amador built impenetrable walls around his heart. He’s devoted himself entirely to raising his daughter, determined to become the father he never had. It’s been a relatively simple task to keep the sucio, his sensual alter ego, separate from the doting father—until life throws him a curveball named Lux. She’s the only woman who tempts him to dismantle the barriers and open his heart, but the fear of being hurt again is a constant battle within him.

Lux and Oliver navigate the delicate balance of trust and vulnerability. Just when it seems they’re overcoming their complicated history, their exes lurk in the shadows, forcing them back to square one.

Can they break through the past’s stronghold and turn their sizzling connection into forever love?

The Spring in My Heart is the sultry fourth book in the A Love for All Seasons contemporary romance series. If you crave deeply flawed characters, intense chemistry, and unforgettable moments, then you’ll be captivated by J.L. Lora’s compelling tale of love and longing.

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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . A SPRING IN MY HEART (Love for All Seasons, #4) . . .  Scorching Passion and Painful Pasts: Lux and Oliver Ignite the Page!

"If you crave deeply flawed characters, intense chemistry, and unforgettable moments, then you’ll be captivated by J.L. Lora’s compelling tale of love and longing." This statement right here pin-points this story perfectly.

J.L. Lora delivers a scorching, intense, second-chance romance with Lux and Oliver that completely consumes you! Our heroine, Luciana “Lux” Blake, is a lifestyle influencer whose picture-perfect world crumbles after a devastating betrayal. She swears off men, but life throws her a curveball: working on a renovation project with Oliver Amador—the very man with whom she shares a history of unforgettable Noche Buena passion and heartache.

Oliver is a hero carved from pain, haunted by his past and devoted to being the father he never had. He built impenetrable walls around his heart to keep his sensual alter ego, the "sucio," separate from the doting father. But Lux is the only woman who tempts him to dismantle those barriers, creating an electric, awkward tension and lingering passion that practically sets the pages on fire!

As Lux and Oliver navigate the delicate balance of trust and vulnerability, the intensity only grows. Just when it seems they might overcome their complicated history, the inevitable happens: their exes lurk in the shadows, forcing them back to square one. Can these two fiercely flawed people break through the past's stronghold and turn their sizzling connection into the forever love they both secretly long for?

If you crave a romance with high stakes, deep emotional wounds, and an intense, undeniable chemistry, this is the sultry ride you need. A captivating tale that proves the heart always gets its way.

Author Info

J. L. Lora is a Dominican-American author of contemporary and romantic suspense. Her stories explore the dark side of good characters—people living in the gray areas of life—playing the cards life has dealt them. Her stories manifest her love for badass alpha heroines and take-your-breath-away alpha men. 

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Giveaway

Enter to win an ebook copy of The Summer I Loved You and $15.00 Amazon gift card. Giveaway ends April 30, 2025. May the odds be forever in your favor! Open to anyone 18 years or older.

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READ-2-REVEIW - CONTEMPORARY - A SCORING CHANCE (Portland Timberwolves, #1) by AJ Alexander

  Just one smile from her sets my entire world ablaze.

A Scoring Chance, an all-new small town, interracial, hockey romance from USA Today bestselling author AJ Alexander is now available!

BLURB

After a devastating knee injury puts my professional hockey career on ice, I find myself in the last place I want to be—back in my small hometown, coaching peewee hockey. I’m determined to focus on my comeback—until Ramona King shows up at my first practice.

Just one smile from her sets my entire world ablaze. I want to know everything about her. But there’s a problem. She’s the mother of one of my players and my sister-from-another-mister’s best friend, making her completely off-limits.

I should focus on getting back to my team. I should remember I have no time for anything besides hockey. But the more time I spend with Ramona and her son, the more the lines between what I should do and what I want start to blur.

Hockey has always been my life, but now, all I know for certain is the one thing I won’t do is walk away from her.

 

THE BOOK JUNKIE READS . . . REVIEW OF . . . A SCORING CHANCE (Portland Timberwolves, #1) . . .  Off the Ice and Onto the Heart: A Must-Read Forbidden Hockey Romance!

AJ Alexander hits the back of the net with A SCORING CHANCE, an all-new, deeply satisfying small-town, interracial hockey romance and the start of the Portland Timberwolves series! As a huge hockey fan, I loved diving into this world.

Cooper hendricks, a professional hockey player, is grounded after a devastating knee injury, forcing him back to his small hometown to coach peewee hockey. He's determined to focus on his comeback, but fate has other plans in the form of Ramona King.

“Just one smile from her sets my entire world ablaze.”

Ramona is the mother of one of his players and, complicating things further, she's his "sister-from-another-mister's" best friend, making her completely off-limits. The internal conflict is amazing! He should focus on his career, and he should keep his distance, but the more time he spends with Ramona and her son, the more those lines blur.

I especially love how AJ Alexander crafts real-life couples and mixes cultures in her stories. This connection felt authentic and grounded, adding wonderful depth to the drama. The journey from "off-limits" to undeniable is intense and heart-melting. He realizes that while hockey has always been his life, the one thing he won't walk away from is Ramona.

If you love the forbidden romance trope, emotional depth, and watching a professional athlete find love and new purpose in a small town, then A SCORING CHANCE is the perfect game-winner!

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZPymtJ 

Add A Scoring Chance to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/ascagr  

For more information about AJ Alexander and her books, visit her website: 

https://www.authorajalexander.com

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READ-2-REVEIW - CONTEMPORARY SUSPENSE - HIGH DENSITY (High Mountain Trackers: HMT 2G, #3) by Freya Barker

High Density
High Mountain Trackers HMT 2G, #3
by Freya Barker 
Release Date: February 17th 2025 
Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Since taking over the veterinary clinic in Libby, Montana last year, Janey Richards has been burning the candle at both ends. She’s grateful she is busy, but there has barely been any time to build a life outside of work. To help pay down her debt faster, she agrees to take on responsibility for the livestock at Libby’s annual rodeo, but perhaps she should’ve thought twice about the added stress. Although, her personal life is definitely looking up.  

JD Watike never thought he’d end up following in his father’s footsteps, but he’s found his stride these past six years as a member of the High Mountain Trackers team. He enjoys the simplicity of small-town living, which has only gotten more interesting since Doc Richards appeared on the scene. Spending most of the past year patiently observing from a distance, the time feels right for him to make his move. Or at least to clear up some misunderstandings. 

The opportunity presents itself sooner than expected, when the pretty veterinarian stumbles onto some serious criminal activity at the Libby Roundup, and a young woman disappears from the grounds, he has plenty of cause to stay glued to her side.

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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . HIGH DENSITY (High Mountain Trackers: HMT 2G, #3) . . .  Danger at the Rodeo: A Gritty, Slow-Burn Trackers Romance!

Freya Barker once again immerses us in the world of the High Mountain Trackers with HIGH DENSITY, a stellar addition to the HMT 2G series! As a huge fan of this series, getting back to Libby, Montana, and these protective heroes was a thrill.

This story focuses on the incredibly dedicated vet, Janey Richards. She's been "burning the candle at both ends" since taking over the clinic, but her dedication lands her right in the middle of a high-stakes investigation. She takes on the livestock at the Libby's annual rodeo, and in doing so, stumbles onto serious criminal activity, leading to a woman's disappearance. The added stress is immediate, and the danger is palpable!

Enter JD Watike, a member of the High Mountain Trackers team. JD has spent the better part of the last year patiently observing the pretty veterinarian from a distance. The time is finally right for him to make his move, and Janey's accidental involvement with the criminal element gives him the perfect, compelling reason to stay glued to her side.

This is classic Freya Barker: a gritty, suspenseful plot blended with a satisfying slow-burn romance. The protective alpha and the busy, resilient heroine must navigate their complicated feelings while evading real danger. If you love a hero who knows what he wants and a heroine who needs protection more than she thinks, this romantic suspense is a HIGH-IMPACT must-read!

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories. With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy. Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

Purchase/Pre Order the rest of the series!!

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