Romance level: Kisses Only
Language: None
Content Warning: murder, assassins, mention of torture, child abuse(past), loss of parents, attempted assault on a teen(not graphic), violence 
Genre: Contemporary Mafia Romance
Lily’s verdict: A new favorite 

I fell in love with this story immediately! I think Christian mafia romance may officially be my new favorite genre

Grace is a new favorite character of mine, and I absolutely LOVED the way she broke things off with Bryan (FINALLY lol). She was such a sunshine character, making friends everywhere she went, and I just adored her personality so, so much!

This book has EVERYTHING… laughs, tears, mafia drama, and of course, SO many butterflies The humor was perfectly woven throughout the story, balancing out the more intense moments without taking away from them.

And can we talk about the faith themes?! Carrie did such an amazing job weaving them throughout the story, and I genuinely loved seeing faith play such an important role in a mafia romance!

Definitely found a new favorite right here I seriously cannot get enough of this story and am on pins and needles waiting for book two to release!!!

Christian Mafia Romance
He Hunts Her
Mistaken Identity
He Takes Care of Her
Grumpy x Sunshine
“Who Did This To You?”

BLURB: Grace Goodwin doesn’t look like a killer. She doesn’t act or think like one, either. But after accidentally witnessing a back alley murder, Grace finds herself the number one suspect and a target of both drug cartel and mafia organizations. There’s no one left whom she trusts except for her Italian pen pal—and she doesn’t even know his real name. Armed with nothing but “Jesus and jokes,” Grace zigzags the globe, running for her life while trying to uncover the truth.

Mafia enforcer Rafael Moretti was born into a world of darkness, where disloyalty is deadly and violence is expected. Trying to keep his family safe, he takes on another unwanted assignment. A pink-haired, kitten-loving American has been uncovered as the ruthless assassin known only as “The Ghost.” The longer she eludes him, the more his curiosity is piqued by the cat-and-mouse game they’re playing. But no matter how much he secretly wants her to survive, Rafe knows he will lose everything if he fails in his mission.

Will Grace and Rafe discover the truth about their identities before they irrevocably destroy their future?

The post Made Like The Moon by Carrie Cotten (Book 1) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

I was fully invested in this story from PAGE ONE!! It was genuinely impossible to put down

And I LOVE HUNTER SO MUCH!!! Forget green flags, this man is the entire forest The way he cared for and supported her throughout this story?! His character was absolutely top tier. Hunter Dawson is the new standard! 

OH MY GOODNESS the hot tub scene had me in TEARS. It was one of the absolute sweetest moments and I don’t think I’ll be recovering anytime soon.

The romance, the small town setting, the characters, the emotional moments, I adored all of it. I just felt completely invested in these characters and their story from beginning to end.

Tiffany and Lindsay did an absolutely stunning job with this one, and I need everyone to read it immediately!! I genuinely don’t think I’ll ever stop ranting about Hunter

Small Town
He Falls First
Marriage of Convenience 
Protective Marine
Splash of Suspense 
He Yearns For Her

BLURB: Hunter Dawson left town nearly a decade ago with two goals: serve his country and get over Ellie James.

He accomplished exactly one of them.

Now he’s back in Starlight Valley—and Ellie is the one thing he never managed to leave behind.

Ellie James never imagined she’d be back at her parents’ house—pregnant, overwhelmed, and recovering from an abusive marriage. The last thing she expects is for Hunter—the boy who always made her feel safe—to walk back into her life.

When Ellie is in need of protection, Hunter is willing to do just about anything to provide it. A marriage of convenience seems like the perfect solution.

Publicly, they’re the ideal couple. But privately? It’s getting harder to remember where the act ends and the truth begins.

The post Promise You The Moon by Lindsay Rochester and Tiffany Noelle Chacon (Book 1) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Romance level: Kisses Only 
Language: 1 use of h*ll
Content Warning: grief, anxiety, panic attacks, neglectful and critical parenting, parental loss
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Lily’s verdict: It Was Good

This was such a sweet, emotional read with SO much angst

I absolutely loved the deeper book discussions between Logan and Georgie. As a fellow book lover, those were some of my favorite moments and I felt like they added so much depth to their relationship

I also really loved seeing the character growth in both Georgie and Logan throughout the story. They were both carrying so much and watching them slowly work through it and grow was really beautiful.

And I have to mention Olivia because her completely unfiltered comments had me dying

Also…the sideways ice cream cone IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW.

Overall, this was a sweet sports romance with lots of emotion, bookish moments, and a very caring MMC

Sports Romance
Bookish MCs
So Much Angst
He Takes Care of Her
Found Family 
Cinderella Inspired 

BLURB: He spent six months looking for the beautiful, bookish girl who dropped a patch.

Finding her was the easy part.

Logan Fischer grips too hard. It’s the problem with his pitch, his family, and getting over Georgie—the girl he met six months ago at a Spring Training fan event. The girl with the dimpled smile, a coffee-shop patch on her Chucks, and a beat-up paperback in her hands.

Instead of fixing the spiraling anxiety wrecking his pitching career, Logan searches every ballpark and coffee shop his team passes through. The patch she dropped is the only proof he didn’t imagine her.

Then he gets sent down to the minors, walks into a coffee shop that feels like home… and there she is.

For Georgie Ashman, a dream is a wish that breaks your heart. Since losing her mother, she’s kept her world small, working in her mother’s coffee shop—now run by her stepmother—and avoiding anything that risks her guarded heart. But then the handsome athlete she met six months ago walks back into her life with her name on his lips, and believing in more gets dangerously quickly.

Somewhere between bookish debates, quinceañera dance floors, taste-testing autumn drinks, and a Jeep the color of a pumpkin, Logan starts questioning if he really has to hold everything so tightly—his career, his family, even his grief. But just as Georgie lets her guard down and lets him in, Logan gets the call he’s chased his whole life: he’s heading back to the Majors for the World Series. The Fall Classic itself.

With everything he’s ever wanted within reach, Logan is terrified. When you’ve spent your whole life gripping the things you’re afraid to lose, how do you know the difference between holding someone… and holding on too hard?

The post The Fall Classic by Kate Watson (Book 4) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Romance level: Kisses Only 
Language: None
Content Warning: abduction, torture, sex trafficking, drugs, murder, parental abuse(past) 
Genre: Romantic Suspense 
Lily’s verdict: Absolutely Loved 

This story was absolutely gripping!! I was hooked from the very beginning and genuinely did not want to put it down The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and I was dying to know how everything was going to come together!

I really loved the way the two storylines unfolded alongside each other. There were so many pieces to the mystery and watching everything slowly connect made this such an addictive read.

And THAT ENDING?!? I need the next book immediately!! I seriously cannot wait to see where this series goes next.

If you love Christian romantic suspense that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go, definitely pick this one up!

This is book three in the Jeopardy Falls series, and I definitely recommend reading the series in order for the best experience

Christian Fiction
Romantic Suspense
Healing From Trauma
Mystery/Thriller
Dual Storylines

BLURB: A suspicious death. A desperate search for truth. With danger hovering, can they uncover the killer’s plan?

Private Investigator Deckard MacLeod is thrilled when Harper Grace returns from her humanitarian trip overseas. It’s been three months since he’s seen her, but when she shows up on his front porch haggard, with a desolate look in her eyes, he knows something has gone very wrong. 

Harper, a forensic botanist, needs refuge, and that can only be found with Deckard, who is a protector at heart. But after what she’s endured, how can she possibly move forward with a relationship? Deck deserves someone whole, someone present, and her mind is still imprisoned in that desolate land.

She’s barely set foot on Deck’s ranch when news comes that her dear friend died suddenly. A heart attack in her early thirties? Something feels very off. As clues surface and suspects become evident, Harper trusts her gut to lead her and Deckard forward, but the closer they come to the truth, the closer they get to death. And if they aren’t careful, it’ll be their own. . . .

The post Three Steps Behind by Dani Pettrey (Book 3) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Romance level: Kisses Only 
Language: 1 use of jacka**
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Lily’s verdict: A New Favorite 

I loved this one immensely It drew me in immediately and was genuinely impossible to put down! I fell in love with the MCs almost instantly, and I related to Rosie WAY too much with her chaotic way of getting things done

I honestly didn’t want this story to end. I could have stayed with these characters for so much longer! The banter was EVERYTHING, the chemistry was perfection, and I absolutely loved watching these two fall for each other

And can we please talk about the rooms?! I SO wish I could see them in person because every single one sounded absolutely stunning The whole setting made me want to pack my bags and move there immediately.

This book just had that something that made me completely fall in love with it. The characters, the romance, the setting, the banter…I adored all of it. Definitely a new favorite

Grumpy x Sunshine 
Small Town 
Only One Bed
Finding Home
Fall Romance 
He Takes Care of Her

BLURB: Rosie Harper is great at a lot of things. Saying no is not one of them.

As the owner of Once Upon an Inn, a newly opened princess-themed inn in the charming town of Autumn Ridge, Vermont, Rosie has said yes to everyone—the town’s fall festival, a neighbor’s truck in her only garage, and every favor anyone has thought to ask. Meanwhile, her guest rooms are unfinished, and a balloon payment is coming due whether she’s ready or not.

Then Dean Alden arrives with a rolling suitcase, a month-long reservation, and absolutely no patience for inefficiency.

A business consultant by trade, Dean is only in Autumn Ridge long enough to decide what to do with the abandoned apple orchard his grandmother left him before returning to the life he’s built on hotel rooms and temporary addresses. Staying was never part of the plan.

But somewhere between fixing Rosie’s curtain rods, getting pulled into small-town chaos, and watching her make room for everyone except herself, Dean begins to see more than a disorganized innkeeper with impossible plans.

And Rosie begins to wonder what might happen if, for once, she stopped giving everyone else what they wanted and admitted what she wanted too.

Because Dean Alden was only supposed to be a guest.

He was never supposed to feel like home.

The post Once Upon A Fall by Becky Monson (Book 5) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Lily’s Content Guide

Romance level: Kisses only
Language: None 
Content Warning: homelessness, victim with suicidal thoughts, human trafficking of women and children, vigilantes eliminate human traffickers, physical & emotional abuse in childhood, implied sexual abuse in childhood, drug dealers, parental abandonment, dementia
Genre: Contemporary romance
Lily’s verdict: Loved it

This was such a great addition to the Sweet Chaos series!

If you love protective MMCs, this series absolutely delivers. Every single book somehow manages to introduce another hero that steals my heart, and Vandal was no exception

I also really enjoyed the addition of the third POV. It made the story feel different from the previous books, and I completely fell in love with Vandal and Lola. Their relationship had me rooting for them from the very beginning and I sincerely hope we get to see more of them in future books!

One of my favorite things about this world is how interconnected everything is. There are so many familiar faces from both the Sweet Chaos and Sweet Atonement series, so I’d definitely recommend reading them in order to fully appreciate all the character crossovers and relationships.

And can we talk about Sheri’s friend group? I adore them. Watching each of their stories unfold throughout the series has been one of my favorite parts.

My final thoughts:
NOOOOOOO!! That ending could not have been the end! I immediately needed the next book. I have so many questions, and I honestly can’t wait to jump back into this world.

Dark Romance
Protective MMC
Never Been Kissed
Touch Her And
Morally Grey MMC
Millionaire x Homeless

BLURB: Sheridan
Evicted…
This is the third time I’ve been evicted, and instead of dealing with the problem, I do what I always do and walk away from it…well, more like fly away to one of my best friend’s wedding reception, which is being held at a motorcycle gang’s clubhouse. Being surrounded by sexy bikers isn’t usually a problem, except I’m not the type to kiss a man once…or twice and walk away.
Though I am the type to forget what I was doing and walk away from most anything, which is why I’m in this predicament. That kiss changed something in me. Maybe it’s finally time to start dating.
Fly
I’ve always known how dangerous a kiss could be, but until her, I didn’t know how addictive it could be, either. My brothers and I have enough going on with the club. Getting distracted by a beautiful woman isn’t a good idea right now. If things go wrong, she could get caught up in the crossfire…

Fly’s Path is a no spice dark motorcycle club suspenseful romance, featuring steamy kisses with a decided lack of cursing and violence.

The post FLy’s Path by Rora Noir (Book 3) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Romance level: Kisses only
Language: 1 use of arse 
Content Warning: past emotionally abusive boyfriend
Genre: Contemporary romance
Lily’s verdict: Loved it

MY REVIEW: This was such a fun vacation read From the very first chapter, Malcolm and McKenna completely won me over. Their chemistry felt so natural, and the slow burn was absolutely worth the wait.

Malcolm was such a sweetheart, and I loved the way he cared for McKenna throughout the story

I also really appreciated seeing celiac disease representation woven into the story. It added another layer of authenticity and was wonderful to see represented so thoughtfully.

If you’re looking for a cozy romance with a charming Scottish hero, beautiful vacation vibes, and a relationship that’s impossible not to root for, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR!

Vacation Romance
Celiac Disease Rep
Scottish MMC
He Takes Care of Her
Slow Burn
Only One Bed
Insta Love

BLURB: I can see myself falling so obnoxiously in love with her that my family would force me to move anyway.

Plagued by the memory of her ex’s voice and the sting of her recent firing, Makenna Fore flees to Scotland on the vacation of her dreams. She expects stunning views, lots of history, some sheep, and maybe even a kilt or two. What she did notexpect was to land in the hospital. Even more, she would never think she’d end up in her doctor’s care afterwards.

Emergency Department physician, Malcolm Robertson, isn’t looking for love. Especially not with a woman who doesn’t call the Scottish Highlands home. But when the same woman is unexpectedly thrown into his life twice in less than twenty-four hours, he straightens up and takes notice.

But what happens when their attraction threatens to outlast the vacation?

Click the photo above to read this story!

The post Highland Stars by Lindsay Rochester (Book 2) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Romance level: Kisses only
Language: None
Content Warning: past child abuse and neglect, ptsd, past loss of a parent, grief
Genre: Contemporary romance
Lily’s verdict: Absolutely adored

Series: Kansas City Crowns

MY REVIEW: I think this story healed a little piece of my heart.

I don’t even know how to put into words how much this book meant to me. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place.

Adrian Ortiz… oh my goodness. He has officially claimed a permanent spot on my list of favorite book boyfriends. The way he loved Samantha, with so much patience, gentleness, and unwavering support, completely melted my heart.

Samantha’s journey was one of the most beautifully written healing arcs I’ve ever read. Watching her face her past, work through her trauma, and slowly learn to hope again was incredibly moving. I found myself crying right alongside her more than once.
And can we talk about Griffin and Danae’s wedding? Jason? My heart absolutely could not handle those moments.

Adrian and Samantha were simply beautiful together. Their relationship felt so genuine, so tender, and so full of grace. They reminded me that healing doesn’t happen overnight, and sometimes the right person simply walks beside you through it.

By the time I reached the last page, I was smiling through tears. This is one of those stories that lingers long after you close the book.
I know without a doubt this will be one of my favorite reads of the year, and a story I’ll carry with me for a very long time

Sports Romance 
Brother’s Best Friend
Friends to Lovers 
He Falls First 
Golden Retriever MMC
Mental Health/Healing Journey 

“We can grieve the lives we should have had even while we’re grateful for the lives we do have.”

BLURB: She thinks her past left her too broken to find love. Her brother’s best friend thinks she could be the one he wants to love forever. 

Adrian Ortiz lives at the top of the world. He’s the star third baseman for the Kansas City Crowns and a favorite player of baseball fans everywhere. His contagious energy and playful approach to life have opened up one amazing opportunity after another. But after watching his best friend and former teammate, Griffin West, fall in love last year, Adrian realizes he’s missing the most important piece—his person to share those experiences with. And he thinks he knows who he wants that person to be.

Griffin’s younger sister.

Sam West has been around the professional baseball world—and Adrian—for years working as Griffin’s personal assistant. Now, she’s pursuing her own passion in cosmetology school, carving out a corner of the world for herself. She’s almost wholly content, until Griffin’s approaching wedding stirs Sam’s longing to find a love of her own. There’s just one problem—Sam buried that desire a long time ago. Her difficult childhood and time in foster care prior to joining the West family left her feeling too broken to experience a healthy relationship.

Will Sam choose the chance at love right in front of her? Or will she let her past dictate her future?

Click the photo above to read this amazing story!

The post Run Home by Tracy Baack (Book 2) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

I loved watching the relationship between Daisy and Stone unfold. He never gave up on her, gently breaking down her walls piece by piece, and Daisy’s emotional growth was so beautifully written. Their relationship felt genuine, tender, and full of so much heart.

This was such a sweet, swoony slow burn that was nearly impossible to put down. If you love protective heroes and romances that take their time, I definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR

Sports Romance
Protective MMC
Slow Burn
Past Childhood Friends
He Saves Her
Summer Read

: Kisses Only
: 1 use of p*ssed
childhood trauma

BLURB: What happens when the one person you thought was in your past ends up right in front of you?

Stone Reilly is the guy everyone counts on—the steady hockey star, the loyal teammate, the ultimate good guy. But when an all-star tournament brings him to Washington, DC, the last complication he expects is running into a girl from a part of his life he’d locked away a long time ago. Now she’s all grown up . . . and wants nothing to do with him.

Daisy Bennett is too busy juggling two jobs—including housekeeping at Stone’s hotel—to get tangled up in the past. Their lives couldn’t be more different, and she’s worked too hard to move forward to risk slipping back into old patterns . . . or old feelings.

But between shared hallways, unexpected run-ins, and a hockey player who keeps showing up exactly when she needs someone, Daisy finds herself pulled back to the one person who once made the world feel a little less heavy. And the more time they spend together, the harder it is to ignore what’s still there.

Because some connections don’t break. They wait.

Will they finally get a second chance at the one thing they could never let go of?

Click the photo above to read this amazing story!

The post O’er The Ramparts We Watched by Larissa Hommes (Book 7) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Tank and Rose’s first interactions were some of my favorite moments in the entire book, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.

One of the things I appreciated most was how thoughtfully this story handled love after loss. Watching both characters learn to open their hearts again was beautiful, and I loved that their relationship was built on honesty, patience, and healthy communication

I was also so excited that we finally learned the story behind Wolf’s bunker Watching his character grow throughout the series was incredibly rewarding.

And the family dynamic? It was one of my favorite parts of the book. The love between Tank and his children added so much warmth and heart to the story, making this feel like the ultimate comfort read.

This was such a beautiful conclusion to the series. It made me laugh, smile, and tear up, and by the final page I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters and the town of Sheet Cake

Tropes
Love After Loss 
Midlife Romance 
He Takes Care Of Her
Small Town 
Sizzling Chemistry 
Second Chance At Love

: Mild Innuendo, Kisses Only
: 1 use of h*ll

BLURB: Single dad and former football star Tank Graham has watched his children find love in the town of Sheet Cake, Texas. Now, it’s his turn. 

Theodore “Tank” Graham has spent the years since his wife died investing fully in raising his children and helping them find their happiness. And, more recently, buying and revitalizing the town of Sheet Cake, Texas.

Now, it’s time to find his own happiness.

But turning his focus to himself is easier said than done when he’s spent so long putting others first.

That is until a building issue leaves Rose Roberts, the newest baker in Sheet Cake, without a kitchen or a place to sleep.

Tank steps in to help–but only because as the owner of the building where she lives and works, it’s his duty.

But duty isn’t why he finds himself giving up his own loft for her or buying every baking supply Rose could possibly need while her commercial kitchen is out of commission.

Tank finds himself lingering in her presence, prolonging conversations, and thinking about her far more often than he should. Especially when he has a new grandbaby to fuss over, a collapsing house to renovate, and Wolf Waters to support in his mayoral race.

Still–the pull toward Rose becomes hard to resist. And why should he? For the first time since he lost his wife, Tank is feeling something big.

It’s been literal decades since he’s been in a relationship, but Tank has always lived by a go big or don’t even think about going home philosophy.

And now … the idea of home doesn’t sound complete. Not without Rose.

please click the photo above to read this amazing story!

The post To Have and To Fold by Emma St. Clair (Book 5) appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.