Excerpt Reveal: Just Playing for Keeps (Hockey Ever After #2) by Lauren Blakely

When she’s fake dating the hockey star, but he was never faking it…

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the next standalone hockey rom com in her brand new Hockey Ever After series, JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS! This spicy, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, only one bed in a room, opposites attract hockey romance releases June 3rd in all formats, and will be free to read in Kindle Unlimited. Check out the excerpt below, and one-click your copy today!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustPlayingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ Sign up for an alert!
https://www.subscribepage.com/LaurenAudio 

Read the Excerpt: 

“I don’t want to be your plus-one, sweetheart. I want your ex, and everyone else, to think I’m your real date.”

She’s quiet for a long beat. Eyes flickering. Brow furrowing. “You do?”

That might sound f*&k-all pushy, so I amend it. “Fake date.”

She tilts her head, a small, curious smile forming. “You’re saying you want to fake date me for all the wedding events?”

This makes perfect sense to me. A plus-one can be anyone—a friend, a rando, some guy who lives across the country and happens to be in town. But a date? That signals something important.

“What I’m saying is a plus-one is a cop-out. But being your new guy? That says your ex is a dumbass for losing you, and you’re moving the hell on like the f*&king goddess you are.”

Maybe I’ve said too much with goddess, but the way her smile spreads is divine. 

“Looks like you just got yourself a fake date then, mister.”

I inch closer, tuck my thumb under her chin, like I did the night I walked her to her door. Her breath catches. I slide my thumb gently along her jaw. “See you soon.”

About JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Coming 6/3/2026):

Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?

Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when Lake Axelrod, the team’s broody, tattooed right winger, swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.

Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey star insists on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding.

It’s the perfect plan. His family stops pressuring him to settle down, and I’ll get the ultimate revenge, since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.

We need rules though.

1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real couple.

2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.

3. When it ends, we walk away.

But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending. With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in a hotel room.

Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me.

If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake date.

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks 

 

Teaser: One in a Billion (Accidentally Yours #1) by Jennifer Bernard

One In A Billion 

by Jennifer Bernard 

Releases on June 2nd!

https://geni.us/OneInABillion

Available on All Platforms

First in a new series where meet-cutes go wrong… or exactly right.

Pilot Rory Baker was born to fly. Schlepping around Lincoln Kerr, a billionaire with an ego as big as his bank balance? Not so much. Especially when Lincoln suddenly demands they fly to Hawaii despite severe weather warnings. Rory’s perfect flying record is about to crash and burn—literally. It’s a miracle he survives. Even more miraculous that rescuers find him in the middle of a Hawaiian jungle, and one of them is the hottest woman he’s ever seen…who also happens to swing a machete like a champ. Rory makes a snap decision: pretend to be his boss until he knows who he can trust.

Mathilda Wheeler is living on borrowed time. An agreement with her parents has allowed her to live the carefree life of a grad student for nearly a decade, but she’s been avoiding a major decision—one that’s about to track her down all the way from England to a hidden research camp in a lush Hawaiian valley. Why now, when she’s finally found a man she could love? And why him, billionaire Lincoln Kerr, the very type she’s been avoiding? Though…Mathilda has to admit, he’s unlike any rich guy she’s ever met. For instance, even some of her fellow scientists seem to know more about Lincoln’s personal and professional life than the man himself.

Hidden identities, ancient bequests, intimate nights, a jackass billionaire…and speaking of, what was Lincoln Kerr’s super-secret trip to Hawaii all about, anyway? Rory and Mathilda have no idea. But judging by the sudden appearance of murder drones and masked commandos, clearly there’s more to this story than an accidental one-in-a-billion meet-cute.

 

Teaser: A Very Grumpy Veterinarian (Wolf Valley: Grumps #14) by Shaw Hart

A Very Grumpy Veterinarian 

by Shaw Hart 

Releases on May 29th!

https://geni.us/AVeryGrumpyVet

Read On All Platforms

I think I’m finally ready to fall in love… I just didn’t expect it to be with my grumpy boss.

Pearl
I’ve worked at Wolf Valley Veterinary Clinic for years.
I love my job, I love the animals, and I loved working with Dr. Harris before he retired.
Then his replacement gets here, and I realize that there might be something else I love about my job.
Him.
Dr. Wells Bennett.
He’s quiet, brooding, annoyingly handsome, and the kind of man who looks at you once and sees too much.
He showed up a few months ago to help out his mentor, but then he stayed.
Took over the clinic.
Took over my routine.
Took over my peace of mind.
Now I’m dealing with a boss who barely talks, glowers at anyone who smiles with me, and finds excuses to stay late when I’m the only other one here.
I should be focusing on my work, but all I can think about is what it would feel like if my grumpy vet finally made a move.

Wells
I came to Wolf Valley to help my mentor through his last months at the clinic.
I thought it would be temporary.
Then I met Pearl.
She’s sunshine and fire all wrapped into one gorgeous, curvy woman who cares more about animals than most people care about each other.
The first day I saw her hold a trembling puppy to her chest and whisper softly to comfort him, I was done for.
Completely gone.
So, when my mentor retired, I didn’t hesitate.
I stayed.
But things are complicated.
Pearl works for me, and I’m terrified of risking the one bright thing I have here.
Only now, every day she’s near me is torture.
Every smile she gives someone else is a punch to the gut.
And every time she brushes past me in the hallway, I have to remind myself she’s not mine.
Not yet.

 

Teaser: The Ugly Stick (Stallions Hockey Romance #1) by Cori Lane

The Ugly Stick 

by Cori Lane 

Releases on May 26th!

https://geni.us/TheUglyStick

Read With Kindle Unlimited

When hockey’s grumpiest single dad returns to my hometown, he doesn’t even recognize me as the ugly duckling from his past.

I was the most forgettable girl in high school. You know the one – fat, braces, bad clothes, the works. And so painfully awkward that it never occurred to me to fight back, even when the other kids said I got beat with the ugly stick.

But ten years later, I’m a whole new woman. I’ve lost weight, gained confidence, and all I want is to enjoy the new life I’ve built and leave the past where it belongs.

Of course, that would be a whole lot easier if I didn’t just find out that big-time hockey star Caleb Stone, the leader of that crew of popular kids who made my high school life so miserable, is back home to play for the Stallions this year after losing his temper on the ice one too many times to stay in the big league.

It’s bad enough that he’s got the whole town talking, but now he’s eating at the diner where I work, shopping where I shop, and to top it off, he’s even living in my building!

Then I see him with his daughter. Daisy has Down syndrome and a smile that lights up a room. And as the sweet little girl and her single dad melt my heart, I start to wonder if maybe Caleb Stone isn’t the man I always thought he was.

So much for leaving the past behind me…


If you’re craving a clean, no spice romance with elements like:

• a hockey celebrity returning to his home town
• an ugly duckling becoming a swan
• a single dad with a very special daughter
• a cozy small-town setting
• forced proximity
• a grumpy sunshine duo you can’t help rooting for

This is the book for you!

 

Cover Reveal and Preorder: Foolish Pride (The Last Best Place for Love #5) by Giulia Lagomarsino

Foolish Pride

Series: The Last Best Place for Love Book 5

by Giulia Lagomarsino

Release Date: June 1, 2026

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Model: Jonny James

Cover Design: Artscandare

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/49JvjZw

Bookbub: https://bit.ly/3PjjUZA

What to Expect:

Small Town Romance

Friends with Benefits Agreement

Childhood Enemies/Small Town Secrets

Curvy Heroine

Grumpy x Sunshine

Blurb:

Crawling back home with my tail between my legs was not the way I saw my life going.

I had it all.

A fantastic job. A fiancée who adored me, and a life any man would dream of.

That’s about the time it all fell apart.

But Montana has a way of healing all wounds, from the beautiful sunrises to the fresh mountain air.

Sure, my father still hated me for leaving. My mother still defended him at every turn.

And the gossip…

It was enough to drive me insane.

And then I sat next to her at The Beaver and Boot.

Gorgeous, curvy, full of life, and so easy to talk to.

She was perfect.

Until I realized she was the same girl I tormented as a kid.

Yep, I was that boy who didn’t know how to tell a girl he liked her, so he picked on her. And boy, did she let me know how much she hated me.

Every Tuesday and Thursday night.

But the one thing she couldn’t ignore was the undeniable chemistry when my body was pressed against hers.

It was only supposed to be a friends with benefits situation, but she wormed her way into my head, and made it impossible to ignore my own Foolish Pride.

PreOrder Links:

Universal:  https://mybook.to/FoolishPrideTLBPFL

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GRKKLBQS

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0GRKKLBQS

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0GRKKLBQS

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0GRKKLBQS

In the Series (Kindle Unlimited):

Series Universal: https://mybook.to/LastBestPlaceLove_GL 

Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart

Universal: https://mybook.to/HardRockBottom

Real Good Man

Universal: https://mybook.to/RealGoodManTLBPFL

How Forever Feels

Universal: https://mybook.to/HowForeverFeels

Shut Up and Kiss Me

Universal:  https://mybook.to/ShutUpAndKissMe

Author Bio:

I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

Social Media Links: 

Website: https://giulialagomarsinoauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crazybookladylover/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17110361.Giulia_Lagomarsino

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/crzybookladyluv

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/giulia-lagomarsino

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Giulia-Lagomarsino/e/B0779R1L7C

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giulialagomarsinoauthor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1hJvcaUsEG5wQH_K_QDonQ

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giulialagomarsino

 

Audiobook Release: Untamed (Beneath the Reign #1) by Luna Mason, narrators Elle Sonali and Sebastian York

Untamed by Luna Mason is now live on audio! Narrated by: Sebastian York & Elle Sonali   Are you ready for cowboys to enter the mafia underworld? They can come after my ranch, my freedom, even my life. But, no one gets away with touching my wife… Hunter Sterling. People call me by different names depending on which version of me they know. The owner of Sterling ranch. The heir to a mafia empire. The murderer the town wants caged. I have ninety days to prove I didn’t kill the mother of my son or I lose everything. I should be focused on survival. Instead, I fall for the same girl my best friend does. Lola Jackson. The city girl. My firefly. I’m the one she runs to when he hurts her and I’m the one who punishes him for it. And I make her my wife so that the Sterling name will keep her protected long after I’m gone. But it was always more than just names on a piece of paper. It’s the one thing that makes me fight harder to stay alive. When the truth is revealed, it doesn’t just shatter me, it forces me to choose between my empire… or my wife. But they’ve all forgotten who they’re dealing with. And now they’re going to learn what happens when a cowboy stops playing nice and a mafia boss goes to war. Tropes Include: - Single Dad - City girl x Cowboy - Romantic Suspense - Rope Play - Marriage for Protection - A cute pet goat called Gary - Found Family - Possessive MMC Untamed can be read as a standalone, but is the first book in an interconnected series, which will follow each of the Sterling Brothers. Listen today! Audible: https://bit.ly/4niDOAD Amazon: https://bit.ly/4u8V0e8 Goodreads: https://bit.ly/48HuAI4

 

Narrator Reveal: Fire and Ice (Boston Bobcats #2) by Carly Robyn, narrators Summer Morton and Keval Shah

Carly Robyn has revealed the narrators for Fire and Ice!

Narrated by: Summer Morton & Keval Shah

Releasing July 28, 2026 

A spicy Fake Dating, Grumpy x Sunshine, hockey romance from bestselling author, Carly Robyn

One fake relationship, a delicious dash of chemistry, and a recipe that's bound to get messy.

Kennedy Caplan bakes the best cakes in town, but taking her business to the next level requires more than butter and grit. She’s determined to turn her dreams into something bigger, even if the odds—and her bank account—are stacked against her.

Cameron Davies, NHL goalie and resident grump, has perfected the art of shutting people out. He’s content with his small circle, until life throws him off balance: a toxic ex back in town, teammates who won’t stop hovering, and a spotlight that refuses to dim.

His solution is as practical as it is risky: a fake relationship with Kennedy—his sister’s friend and the one person he can’t seem to ignore. The arrangement gives her business the financial investment it desperately needs, and provides Cameron a buffer from his ex and overprotective teammates.

But what begins as a strategic arrangement soon blurs into late-night calls and sparks neither of them can deny. And the more they lean into the lie, they’re forced to face the question they’ve both been avoiding: what if this isn’t fake anymore?

Fire and Ice is a spicy hockey romance with heart, heat, humor, and a guaranteed HEA. This is the second book in the Boston Bobcats series and can be read as a standalone, although reading in order is recommended for the best experience!

Pre-order today!

Audible: https://bit.ly/49hQe5K

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3PsfPSU

Apple: https://bit.ly/4d9WLjY

B&N: https://bit.ly/4uC3fj0

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3ORUDpf 

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4da4U8m 

Cover Reveal: Never After Us (Heartbreak Mixtapes #4) by Claudia Burgoa

Never After Us (Heartbreak Mixtapes #4) by Claudia Burgoa

Releasing June 10th

Model cover

Designed by: @byhangle

Photographer:

@wanderbookclub

Object cover

@pretty_little_design_co

Release Boost: My Whiskey Redemption (The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch #6) by Melissa Foster

My Whiskey Redemption 

by Melissa Foster 

Available now!

https://geni.us/MyWhiskeyRedemption

Available on All Platforms & direct on her store!

Birdie Whiskey has spent years watching love find everyone else. She has a successful chocolate business, an incredible family, and a full life. All that’s missing is someone to share it with. When she gets swept up in a single, unforgettable night with a mysterious stranger, she believes it’s finally her turn. But the man who knocks her off her feet is the last man her family would ever accept.

Four years ago Crew Hendricks shattered the Whiskey family and went to prison. Now he’s standing on Redemption Ranch, desperate to make amends for what he’s done and trying to forget the one woman he can never have.

Come along for the emotional ride as the Whiskeys’ belief in second chances is put to the test, and Birdie faces her toughest decision yet—stay loyal to her family or fight for the man she loves.