KCBR Blog -

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Review: The Forbidden One by Marni Mann

Man, oh, Mann! The Forbidden One by Marni Mann (Weston Group Series #5) is officially my favorite book in the series! ALL THE FEELS with this one. Check out my spoiler-free review below. You can read this standalone with Kindle Unlimited!

Kindle Unlimited Buy Links:

Kindle: https://a.co/d/0c6GWsyy

Audio: https://geni.us/TheForbiddenOneAudio

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

The Forbidden One by Marni Mann Kindle Crack Review

Cover Designer: Hang Le

Photographer: Daniel Jaems

Release Date: October 22, 2026

Synopsis:

An emotionally gripping, angsty, he-falls-first, billionaire romance from USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann …

I don’t believe in love. He’s willing to burn down the world to win my heart. I never expected him to succeed.

They used to call me the sassy one.
Unafraid. Uninhibited. Unstoppable.

Until the night everything changed.
The evening that scarred me and altered my life’s path.
I was left shattered and haunted by who I’d never be and what I’d never have.

Now, they call me the forbidden one.
Closed off. Guarded. Surrounded by affection, but unwilling to love anyone besides my family.

And then, out of nowhere, comes a man I least expect. Impressive on paper, even more so in person, and after each encounter, he leaves me craving …

More than I’ve wanted with any other man.
Moments that will overshadow the darkest ones.

Troy Wolf is everything I’m not looking for.
Everything I don’t want.
And yet he’s everything I need.

There’s just one problem …

My heart is locked.

Can I open it enough to let Troy in? Or will the ghosts from my past stand between us and our forever?

Spoiler-free review of The Forbidden One

The Forbidden One by Marni Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Man, oh, Marni Mann, she did it again! The Forbidden One by Marni Mann is the fifth book in the Weston Group series of interconnected standalones, and dare I say, my favorite! You can absolutely read this book on its own without reading the previous four.

Marni didn't pack on the heat quite like she did in the previous books. Instead, she packed this one with ALL THE FEELS and gave us Troy, a hero in every sense of the word. Seriously, everyone needs a Troy in their life. Total green flag.

Troy and Eden's story is emotional, heartbreaking, and at times, downright devastating. I loved how Marni wove the past and present together, slowly revealing how their lives were connected. I never saw some of those connections coming, and I won't say another word because I refuse to spoil anything. Troy completely stole my heart. His patience, compassion, and unwavering support for Eden made me love him even more. I also loved watching Eden slowly learn to trust and heal. Troy, despite everything she'd been through and all the fears she carried. Their relationship was so much more than just chemistry and attraction.

This story hit close to home for me, which made it even more emotional to read. Marni tackled some incredibly difficult subject matter with compassion and sensitivity. Please take a moment to check the trigger warnings before diving into this book.

I loved this book, especially the ending. After everything Troy and Eden went through, I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying conclusion. The Forbidden One reminded me that sometimes the most powerful love stories aren't about the spice. They're about the heart. Thank you for this incredible story, Marni.

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

First Look: Review of Smash by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

SMASH is officially on my All-Time Best Kindle Crack List! I couldn't put this forbidden romance down! Check out my spoiler-free review of Smash by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland. You can download Smash for FREE with Kindle Unlimited starting October 25th!

✔️ Boyfriend's best friend

✔️ ALL the angst

✔️ Forced proximity

✔️ Forbidden attraction

First Look: Review of Smash by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland Kindle Crack

Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

Photographer: Michelle Lancaster, @lanefotograf

Model: Callum Arnold

October 25th release

A new, shockingly forbidden standalone from New York Times bestselling authors Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland…

Sometimes one floor is all that separates the life you planned from the life you never saw coming…

Moving to New York with my boyfriend, Calder, was supposed to be a fresh start.

A new city. A new job. A beautiful brownstone in Brooklyn we'd call home. The beginning of our forever.

There was just one catch: Calder’s best friend lived in the apartment downstairs.

Rafe—a gifted artist who smashed glass into masterpieces. With his unruly blond hair and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me, he was impossible to ignore.

He was also completely off-limits.

Yet somehow, every walk past his apartment or trip to the basement laundry room turned into another deep conversation neither of us ever wanted to end.

At first, it was innocent.

Then I found myself looking forward to running into him again.

Before long, I was creating opportunities to be around him.

Somehow, Rafe and I made each other feel seen in ways neither of us expected.

I tried to ignore our connection, reminding myself that Calder’s best friend was the last man on Earth I could ever fall for.

But with every stolen moment, that lie became harder to believe.

Maybe some love stories aren't about finding the right person—but what happens when you find them too late.

Get Ready!

✔️ Boyfriend's best friend

✔️ ALL the angst

✔️ Forced proximity

✔️ Forbidden attraction

Amazon US ➜ https://a.co/d/008td2M2

Amazon UK ➜ https://amzn.eu/d/0hiiygTb

Amazon CA ➜ https://a.co/d/0fkCmBrw

Amazon AU ➜ https://amzn.asia/d/05aa6brG

Paperback (Alternate cover) ➜ https://amzn.to/4gXezAY

Multi-cast DUET Audio ➜ Andi Arndt, Austin Stone and Lee Samuels https://a.co/d/0iaHhJUd

Add to your Goodreads TBR ➩ https://t.ly/kR0UB

Review of Smash

Smash by Penelope Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn’t breathe until I hit the last page of Smash by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland. I forgot my phone existed, and that’s saying a lot coming from this book addict and social media doom-scroller. Penelope and Vi absolutely SMASHED this incredible new release.

My advice? Go into this book blind. Don’t read spoilers. Let Talia, Calder, and Rafe’s story unfold exactly the way it’s supposed to. It’s complicated. I mean, what could possibly go wrong when you move in with your meh boyfriend and his hot, talented best friend lives one floor down?

My favorite writing duo unleashed the angst, heat, and heart with this one. Talia, Calder, and Rafe’s tumultuous relationship felt like watching a car crash unfold in real time, and I couldn’t look away. The guilt eating Talia alive. The passion. The impossible choices. THE ANGST. There were moments when I wanted to skip ahead because I had to know what happened, but I didn’t want to miss a single word. My blood pressure meds need a refill after this one. At times, I wanted to smash my Kindle or hug all three of them.

Smash was messy, emotional, sexy, and completely addictive. This is the most forbidden book Penelope and Vi have written, and I want more, please and thank you.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Review: In Another Lifetime by Swati M.H.

In Another Lifetime by Swati M.H. is live and one of my top reads of 2026. Check out my spoiler-free review below. This second-chance romance is available to download using Kindle Unlimited. Enter for a chance to win a $10.00 gift card from Swati here.

Download In Another Lifetime on Amazon https://a.co/d/0dui9WbZ

In Another Lifetime Swati M.H. Kindle Crack

Series: Calla's Pieces #1

Release Date: October 13, 2026

Genre: Multicultural Romance Tropes: Age Gap, professor/student, second chance at love, Grumpy/Sunshine, soulmates/fated love, jealous & possessive hero, angst & longing, emotional slow burn, dual timelines

Cover Design: Cover Me Darling

Synopsis

If I ever believed in soulmates, or fate, or the idea that two people are destined to find each other, I buried that belief twenty years ago, along with everything else I lost that year.

Since then, I've built my life around certainty and routine.

Boundaries and distance.

The quiet knowledge that guilt and grief will always be my companions.

But then she walks into my lecture hall, twenty years old, my student, looking at me like she already knows me.

Like she's been waiting her whole life to find me.

Every instinct tells me to keep my distance.

She's too young. Too outspoken. Too distracting.

Instead, my eyes linger a little longer. My hands itch to touch what they never should. My excuses to stay away continue to lead me back to her.

It's not just her impossible eyes that undo me. It's the impossible coincidences I can't explain away.

It's the unsettling feeling that I should know her, too.

Wanting her could cost us everything—my career, her future, and the little semblance of control I've managed to piece back together.

But walking away from the woman who feels like she's always been mine . . .?

That's the kind of loss I wouldn't survive again.

Spoiler-free review

In Another Lifetime by Swati M.H.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Did you ever read a book and immediately decide you need to read everything the author has ever written? Because that's exactly how I feel right now. It takes a lot to blow me away these days. Well…consider me BLOWN AWAY. How did I ever not read Swati M.H. before? This was my first book by this author, and it definitely won't be my last. I think I need to read everything she's ever written.

In Another Lifetime broke my heart into a million pieces and somehow managed to stitch it back together. I experienced just about every emotion possible while reading this devastatingly heartbreaking, beautiful, and completely soul-consuming love story. There were moments when I had to put my Kindle down just to come up for air.

I loved the multilayered plot and how Swati incorporated reincarnation and Hindu teachings into this contemporary romance. Two souls finding and recognizing each other across lifetimes? I was hooked. I've read thousands of romances over the years, but never anything like this. I loved how the story unfolded and how all the pieces eventually fell into place.

“The kind that’s rooted so deeply inside you, you don’t recall a time before it existed.”

My advice? Go into this book blind. Don't read spoilers. Just let the story unfold and experience it for yourself. In Another Lifetime left me with that rare, deeply satisfying feeling of everything coming full circle. I went on an emotional roller coaster getting there, but I wouldn't change a single thing. This is the kind of love story that reminds me why I fell in love with reading in the first place. What an unforgettable book. This book is one-click worthy.

About the author:

Swati writes stories full of humor, heart, and heartbreak. She lives in the Bay Area with her incredibly patient husband, two beautiful daughters, and her pitbull, Sadie Sapphire. Her days start with caffeine and sometimes end with a glass (or three) of wine.

Swati is a Texas-raised Indian American living in the Bay Area. With a degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas and an MBA, she's had a successful career building software products but reading and writing are her passion.

Her favorite part of writing is spending time with her characters, understanding their emotions, backgrounds, and what makes them tick. She loves weaving emotion and angst into her stories, hoping to take her readers into a deeper journey that leads to a hard-fought happily-ever-after.

When she's not writing or hanging out in her Facebook group, she's spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, or watching a good binge-worthy show. Some of her favorites are Outlander, Game of Thrones, and Bridgerton. She also loves anything Marvel.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

10 New Romance Books

10 new romance books to read this week. The majority of these titles are available to download through Kindle Unlimited. Happy reading.

The Last Goodbye by Laura Pavlov https://a.co/d/05mefeJ0

Savage Heart by Willow Aster https://a.co/d/09NVLBVd

Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey

Amazon https://a.co/d/02dGpyyb

Apple https://apple.co/4j5aMUZ

B&N https://fave.co/4zkZS29

Kobo https://fave.co/4rRkHjb

Never Been Tamed by Corinne Michaels https://a.co/d/0hK125os

How to Troll a Guy in Ten Days by Pippa Grant https://a.co/d/0g1MQAZt

The Witch by Frieda McFadden https://a.co/d/00IQjnZm

Valentino by TL Swan https://a.co/d/0dW2U1tH

Signed in Blood by Willow Winters & M Robinson https://a.co/d/0gUHxuFW

Rogue Wave by Allison Bette https://a.co/d/01bZzKSK

Victorious by V.E. Schwab

Amazon https://a.co/d/00yes2ox

B&N Special Edition https://fave.co/4hTDlCG

Kobo https://fave.co/4j4Fyxd

Apple https://apple.co/3VWDqOp

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Review: The Last Goodbye by Laura Pavlov

The Last Goodbye by Laura Pavlov is LIVE. Check out my spoiler-free review of this new standalone romance book and one-click it on Kindle Unlimited.

Buy Link https://a.co/d/0c1nzqsh

The Last Goodbye by Laura Pavlov Kindle Crack Review

Synopsis:

A Small Town, Enemies-to-Lovers Standalone Romance from USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestselling Author, Laura Pavlov.

Briar Sinclair is enemy number one.

She came to Blue Sky Bay with a multimillion-dollar plan and one goal: to buy my restaurant.

Too bad it’s not for sale.

She’s pulled every stunt in the book to get my attention, though I refuse to engage with a woman who came here to ruin my life—no matter how relentless she is.

Unfortunately, my restaurant is the last thing standing in the way of her powerful father’s approval.

She’s determined to convince me that this is a good idea.

We can agree to disagree.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying the effort that she’s putting in.

One minute she’s arguing with me about real estate, the next she’s tripping outside my houseboat or falling asleep behind my restaurant after working herself to exhaustion.

Did I mention the fact that she’s insanely beautiful.

I should hate her for what she’s trying to do. Instead, I can’t stop noticing her pretty pink mouth or her sharp tongue.

The more we clash, the harder it becomes to remember that she’s the enemy.

Because somewhere between the arguments, late nights, and undeniable attraction—Briar Sinclair stopped feeling like the woman trying to destroy my future…and she started feeling like she belonged in it.

Spoiler-free Review

The Last Goodbye by Laura Pavlov
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Last Goodbye by Laura Pavlov is the second book in the Blue Sky Bay series of interconnected standalones. You won’t feel lost if you haven’t read the first book—but read it anyway because it’s one of my favorites.

Briar arrives in Blue Sky Bay with one goal: buy out Bass’ beloved restaurant so her father’s company can turn the property into a hotel. Bass has poured his heart and soul into creating his restaurant, and he has zero interest in selling it to some big, greedy company. Briar, on the other hand, is determined to prove herself and show her dad that she’s part of the family business. Needless to say, these two butt heads from the start. Things get tense… until they don’t.

The attraction between Briar and Bass is undeniable, and I loved watching them slowly let their guards down and open up to each other. They’re both dealing with complicated family issues that have shaped who they are. I loved watching them slowly open up to each other, work through all that emotional baggage, and communicate.

Bass, aka Mr. McGrumpy, completely won me over. Underneath all that prickly grump is a man with a huge heart, and the way he showed up for Briar, aka Magpie, especially when it came to her family, made me love him even more.

Laura’s signature text-message banter had me laughing out loud. These characters feel like people you actually want to hang out with. I literally love Laura’s small-town worlds and characters. Every time I read one of her books—and I’ve read them all— I fall in love with the characters and the place. Reading her books always feels like a much-needed warm hug.

The Last Goodbye was hot, sweet, funny, and full of so much heart. I loved Briar and Bass together, and I loved being back in Blue Sky Bay. Did I mention that The Last Goodbye isn’t the end? I can’t wait to read My First Promise (Blue Sky Bay #3) when it releases on January 5, 2027.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

10 New Romance Books to Read Now

10 new romance books to read this week. See them all below. Happy release week.

Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros

Amazon https://a.co/d/04hQ1btz

B&N https://fave.co/4hzDxH1 (SPECIAL EDITION)

Apple https://apple.co/3TfRf9U

Kobo https://fave.co/47upqhe

One Night Band Stand by Julia Kent

Amazon https://a.co/d/01sl6opc

B&N https://fave.co/4z7PxGQ

Apple https://apple.co/4z4EVsf

Kobo https://fave.co/4z7PxGQ

Take Me Darkly by Dakota Willink

Amazon https://a.co/d/0hRpwPc5

B&N https://fave.co/46VG1ui

Apple https://apple.co/4z4Qpfo

Kobo https://fave.co/4ymacH3

In the Dark by Shain Rose

Amazon https://a.co/d/0gNRS5Du

B&N https://fave.co/3TY7RTN (SPECIAL EDITION)

Apple https://apple.co/4dKISdf

Kobo https://fave.co/4hilGFz

Hale Bound by Abbi Glines

Amazon https://a.co/d/03ym1yPr

B&N https://fave.co/4jep59V

Apple https://apple.co/4yqxrQm

Kobo https://fave.co/46PDEJC

Taking Sides by Rebecca Jenshak https://a.co/d/04GU1c3P

When We Fell Away by RK Lilley

Amazon https://a.co/d/0gfdcmVs

B&N https://fave.co/4jepzNh

Kobo https://fave.co/3TqUF9S

Lover Enthroned by J.R. Ward

Amazon https://a.co/d/09oYwpGM

B&N https://fave.co/4ympITp

Apple https://apple.co/3Tw8uUf

Kobo https://fave.co/4e3yY6y

The Forbidden Bodyguard by Juliette N. Banks

Amazon https://a.co/d/073kBIvI

B&N https://fave.co/47rNAcg

Apple https://apple.co/4joPh1q

Kobo https://fave.co/4AFvNfc

Shallow Remains by Kaylea Cross

https://a.co/d/037ivqVL

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Review: Yours Truly, Fall by S.L. Scott is LIVE

Yours Truly, Fall by S.L. Scott is LIVE and available on Kindle Unlimited. Check out my spoiler-free review. This standalone, small-town romance is a must-read.

Yours Truly, Fall by S.L. Scott Kindle Crack

Buy Links:

Kindle: https://a.co/d/06rzQmZF

Audio: https://a.co/d/0ach0sT7 Narrated by Jason Clarke, Vanessa Edwin, Ava Erickson

Special Edition paperback: https://a.co/d/098J5Duy

Synopsis

There are worse things than being stuck alone in a cabin with a hot as sin firefighter who’s good with his hands. A lot worse . . . This should be fun.

Agreeing to help Brandon Culver recover from his injury seemed harmless enough.

Sure, he’s a firefighter and Mountain Laurel Cove’s most eligible bachelor. But I’m too busy focusing on my nursing career to be distracted by a handsome face.

Unfortunately, Brandon is a lot more than a great face.

He’s steady. Dependable. He’s the kind of man who remembers the little things and shows up when it matters. His easy confidence is comforting. His quiet strength makes me feel safe. And the way he looks at me makes me question everything I thought I wanted.

But I’m in his home to care for him, not fall for him.

One tiny slip could ruin all the plans I’ve meticulously made for my life. Romance is a fool’s game and if I’m anything, I’m level-headed. Until his heated gaze and lingering touch threaten to turn the electricity between us into a five-alarm fire.

If I’m not careful, I might be the one getting burned.

Tropes included: forced proximity, small town, firefighter + nurse, workplace romance, friends to lovers, he falls first, feel-good romance.

Spoiler-free Review of Yours Truly, Fall

Yours Truly, Fall by S.L. Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great book! I loved Yours Truly, Fall by S.L. Scott. This is the second book in the Season Sisters series. This second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance had the perfect mix of heat and heart.
Brandon and Autumn (aka Fall) were fire together—literally.

He’s a firefighter, she’s a nurse, and they have a past. Years ago, Brandon broke Autumn’s heart in a big way, and she hasn’t forgiven him. When a bad fall lands Brandon in Autumn’s care, all those old feelings and plenty of unresolved tension come rushing back like an uncapped fire hydrant. I loved their chemistry and watching them work through the hurt and secrets from their past. If Autumn and Brandon have any chance of moving forward, she’ll finally have to tell him the truth.

Yours Truly, Fall was such a feel-good romance. Sweet, sexy, emotional, and full of heart. Reading this small-town romance felt like a much-needed big cozy hug. I’m excited to read With Love, Winter when it releases this November. I’m loving the Season girls!

KCBR bookshelf: read

When August Ends

by Penelope Ward

I spent the day binge reading When August Ends by Penelope Ward. I didn’t want this book to end!!! I seriously can’t wait for you guys to meet Heather and Noah. I loved everything about this book. When August Ends had the perfect amoun...

tagged: arc-or-provided-by-author and to-be-released

Mr. Write

by Monica James

Jayden Evans is a male romance author who was burned by love and is suffering from writers' block. He meets Carrie Bell, a beautiful photographer, who rekindles his desire to write again. The romance deprived duo embark on a people-watch...

tagged: arc-or-provided-by-author and dysfunction-at-its-best

Overture

by Skye Warren

4.0 - 4.5 o·ver·ture Dictionary result for overture noun -an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, suite, play, oratorio, or other extended composition. -an introduction to something more substantial. "the talks were no more ...

tagged: arc-or-provided-by-author, romance-with-a-side-of-smut, dysfunction...

Birthday Suit

by Lauren Blakely

Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely is a heartfelt and sweet tasty treat! This slow-burning friends-to-lovers romance was fun, flirty and chocolatey delicious. You’ll understand the chocolate reference once you read this one. One-Click worthy.

tagged: arc-or-provided-by-author

If I Only Knew

by Corinne Michaels

4.50 - 5 Corinne Micheals did it again! If I Only Knew was sweet, sexy and pulled on my heartstrings. Danielle is a widow with two children. She works her way up the corporate ladder to become an SVP at her company. Milo, her boss’ broth...

tagged: arc-or-provided-by-author

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