REVIEW TOUR - The Challenge by Penelope Ward

 

Title: The Challenge

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Single Dad, Second Chance, Forced Proximity

Friends to Lovers, Small Town, Found Family

Release Date: August 30, 2026

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

Nothing says welcome home like accidentally moving in with your first heartbreak…and his little girl.

Coming back to my small Wyoming hometown was supposed to be temporary. I only planned to stay long enough to help my ailing mother and sort through the mess of my family’s old belongings.

Instead, I somehow ended up living in Evan Ricci’s house. The single dad now owned a bunch of properties and one of them was the place I’d rented. He’d taken it off the market and moved in before I got there. I just never got the memo. Unfortunately, there was no other place in town available, so Evan let me stay.

Evan—the guy my parents took in years ago after his mother died.

The same Evan who used to dare me into ridiculous challenges that somehow always made me stronger—a game we’d dubbed The Challenge.

The same guy who ultimately rejected me before I left for college after I’d finally garnered the courage to shoot my shot.

Now Evan was a rugged single dad with an eight-year-old daughter, a cocky attitude, and a dangerous ability to make me forget every reason I should still hate him.

Sharing a house with him should’ve been unbearable. Instead, it felt dangerously familiar, nearly making me forget that I had a life and a job to get back to in Chicago. I realized the biggest challenge wasn’t surviving living with Evan Ricci.

It was not falling in love with him all over again.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

Special release price of $3.99

for a limited time only!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

DUET AUDIO

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

A model-cover paperback will be live on release day

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

SINGLE DAD

SMALL TOWN

FRIENDS TO LOVERS

SECOND CHANCE

FORCED PROXIMITY

FOUND FAMILY

Audiobook Review: Wow, what an experience! The narrators, Desiree Ketchum as Chloe and Connor Crais as Evan, are a match made in heaven—absolutely spot-on with their performances! 

This captivating single dad spicy romance is packed with all the feels you could ever want! It’s a stunning second chance love story that had so much drama since they last crossed paths. But let me tell you, their chemistry this time around? Off the charts! 

Effie, Evan’s adorable daughter, is such a thoughtful and sweet character, written with so much love that you can’t help but fall for her! 

And can we talk about Evan’s growl? Pure perfection! This audiobook is simply marvelous—absolutely perfect in every way!

Wow! My heart is overwhelmed. The Challenge is a very heartwarming but also emotional story. Of friendships, family, second chances and a little girl who stole the show!

This book is beautifully written. Its packed with emotions and characters that have some very important life choices to make. 

When Chloe has to return to her hometown for her mothers ailing health, seeing Evan again brings back so many memories!

Realizing that the house she booked for her visit isnt just hers, makes for interesting conversations for sure! 

Needless to say with them both having alot on their proverbial plates and their chemistry still shining through, can they co exist happily, or do past emotions become too difficult!

This book was the highlight of my week and I highly recommend it!

AUTHOR BIO

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

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REVIEW TOUR - The Fall Affair by Vi Keeland

 

Title: The Fall Affair

Author: Vi Keeland

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Opposites Attract/Found Family

Release Date: August 18, 2026

BLURB

She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay.

Some people go to Tuscany to find themselves.

I went to escape—New York, my ex’s new relationship, and a career that derailed the moment I was passed over for partner.

My plan was simple: settle my eccentric Italian grandmother’s estate, sell whatever wasn’t nailed down, and return to the life I’d worked too hard to lose.

Instead, I walked into a mess—a crumbling antique shop, two hundred acres of leased vineyard land, and one infuriating clause in the will: Live and work in the shop for three months, or inherit nothing.

Then there’s the neighbor I clash with instantly. Matteo Lucchese is the infuriatingly handsome winemaker who leases my family’s land and refuses to be impressed by my credentials—or my attitude. He’s rugged and stubborn, stuck living in a time that has long passed us by, and the word rush isn’t part of his vocabulary. Basically, we’re exact opposites.

But as the days stretch into weeks, Tuscany chips away at the armor I didn’t realize I was wearing, and Matteo shows me the appeal of slowing down, of staying rooted, of wanting something other than climbing the corporate ladder.

I came to Tuscany to escape.

But now that the countdown to going home was on, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to leave. And the life I was falling for came with a looming expiration date.

ADD TO GOODREADS

WHAT TO EXPECT

Opposites Attract

Under the Tuscan Sun Vibes

Found Family

NYC Heroine x Italian Hero

Late-summer Magic

PURCHASE LINKS

EBOOK

AUDIOBOOK

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

eBook available in Kindle Unlimited

What an incredible audiobook! 

I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t stop listening to this beautiful audiobook! Connor Crais and Andi Arndt were absolutely fantastic and brought every emotion to life.

Set in the stunning Tuscan countryside, the story follows Allegra as she travels to Italy to settle her grandmother’s estate. She doesn’t trust easily, and neither does her neighbor Matteo, a winery owner still carrying the scars of a past relationship. Their friendship slowly grows into something more, but both are afraid to take the next step.

The story weaves between the present and Matteo’s past, revealing why his heart is so guarded, while Allegra uncovers family who I secrets that change everything she thought she knew.

I loved watching this story unfold. It has romance, mystery, family secrets, and a wonderful cast of characters. From start to finish, I was completely invested and highly recommend both the book and the audiobook.

The Fall Affair is a wonderful, intriguing story. It is full of surprises, secrets and of course, romance. 

Allegra Bianchi travels to Italy after her grandmother passes away. The will has some stipulations and Allegra has to navigate her new life as it where. Meeting Matteo though, who knew her grandmother, makes her life more interesting. Oh yes.

The sizzling chemistry that bubbles to the surface between them, is difficult to ignore, however Allegra is undoubtedly undecided about her future. I mean, who could blame her. 

I really loved Matteo, he’s caring, charming but also guarded. 

I feel like, throw in the Italian countryside, the slower pace of life, a hot Italian man 

and certain things Allegra finds out, should be a no brainer, however she does have to make some decisions. Will she choose wisely, taking everything into consideration and throw caution to the wind or go back to her life in New York? 

I have to say though, my heart belongs in Italy now….

I loved how the storyline unfolded and especially how it ended. Well done!

AUTHOR BIO

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria, Israel, and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

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REVIEW TOUR - Crooked by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

 

Title: Crooked

Authors: Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Bodyguard, Close Proximity

Mafia Daughter, Forbidden

Release Date: March 29, 2026

BLURB

A new, sexy standalone novel from New York Times Bestsellers, Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward…

 

The last thing I needed was a live-in bodyguard. And I definitely didn’t want him. Six foot two, with broad shoulders that were impossible to ignore and a talent for getting in my way, Wes Callahan was a walking bad decision.

 

But when you’re the daughter of a notorious mob boss, apparently your opinions stop mattering the moment your father ignites another war. I’d spent my entire life trying to escape that crooked world—new name, new city, newfound freedom. At least until I was suddenly shacked up with my new bodyguard. 

 

Wes knew exactly how to push my buttons. He was also infuriatingly protective. And smart. And funny. And thoughtful when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.  Little by little, the walls I’d built started to crack, and falling for the bodyguard became the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done. Because if my father found out, Wes wouldn’t just lose his job. He’d lose his life. 

 

Getting involved with him was reckless, yet I couldn’t find a way to stop it, no matter how hard I tried.  But while I was busy losing my heart, the man who took it was hiding a secret. 

And it turned out, the most dangerous man in my life wasn’t my father after all—it was the one who threatened to break my heart.

GOODREADS

BOOKBUB

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE

ALTERNATIVE COVER PAPERBACK

AUDIOBOOK

Audiobook Review – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Magnificent!)

This mafia romance was absolutely magnificent. It features an incredible bodyguard hero who, surprisingly, brings plenty of humor—especially during a book club scene where he’s hilariously the only man present.

Juliette, the daughter of a powerful mob boss, finds herself in need of protection… enter Wes, her brooding and captivating bodyguard.

The banter between Juliette and Wes is simply fantastic. I laughed until I cried—some moments are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.

The story itself is wonderfully written, engaging from start to finish, with just the right balance of romance, tension, and humor.

The narration truly elevates the experience. Andi Arndt and Aiden Snow deliver outstanding performances, bringing the characters and story vividly to life.

Crooked is without a doubt one of the most interesting and intriguing books I have read. I mean a bodyguard and a mobsters daughter, yes please …lol

I think what I really enjoyed most was the way Wes and Juliette’s journey went and their banter is very entertaining but also emotional at times. I was on tender hooks through most of the book and I honestly was thrown by the way the storyline flows. 

I love how the authors threw a different direction in, than what you think may be happening. 

Wes as a bodyguard is protective as well as caring and will do his utmost to shield Juliette from harm. His relationship with his family made me swoon. 

But all is not what it seems and oh my goodness you will be shocked. 

I liked Juliette but felt she was a bit reckless in regards to her personal safety and lack of consideration to those around her. 

All in all this is a truly wonderful story!

VI KEELAND

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

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PENELOPE WARD

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

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REVIEW TOUR - Taylor's Father by Penelope Ward

 

Title: Taylor's Father

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Age Gap (17 Years), Best Guy Friend's Father

Single Dad, Forbidden, Second Chance

Protective Hero, Sassy Heroine

Release Date: February 22, 2026

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

When my best friend Taylor gifted me a vacation at a resort owned by his grandparents, the last thing I expected was to bond with a man seventeen years older.

Tate was also vacationing alone.

He’d come to Midnight Key to clear his head and reevaluate his life.

I’d come to get over my high school sweetheart who’d dumped me.

I’d spotted the brawny, tattooed Adonis in the lobby on the first day and thought he had to be someone’s hot dad.

But then we matched on an app that paired single men and women by proximity.

The problem was? At nineteen—almost twenty—I’d lied and said I was twenty-nine.

Tate outed me on our first date, and I fessed up to my real age.

But we continued to run into each other.

And eventually we found our connection was too magnetic to deny.

While we agreed to only use first names and to part ways at the end of the trip, I’d really fallen for Tate.

I never forgot him and knew he was the one who got away.

Remember that guy friend who gifted me the trip?

Well, four years later, Taylor got married.

He’d been estranged from his dad for years, though recently they’d reconnected.

What I didn’t know was that the man I’d had that torrid affair with at the resort would be standing next to Taylor in the receiving line.

My dream man Tate? Was Taylor’s father.

GOODREADS

BOOKBUB

PURCHASE LINKS

$3.99 for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

FREE to read in Kindle Unlimited

 

ALSO AVAILABLE

 

AUDIO

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

 

A model-cover paperback will be live on release day.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

17-YEAR AGE GAP

BEST GUY FRIEND'S FATHER

SINGLE DAD

FORBIDDEN

SECOND CHANCE

PROTECTIVE HERO

SASSY HEROINE

What a wonderful audiobook experience. 

 Blaire and Tate face significant challenges—first their age difference, and then the complicated reality that Blaire, Taylor’s best friend, falls for his father. The story beautifully explores tropes like age gap, second chances, unexpected pregnancy, and best friend’s dad— Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke delivered an outstanding performance. They brought the passion, tension, and humour to life.

AUTHOR BIO

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

AUTHOR LINKS

FACEBOOK
FACEBOOK GROUP
INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK
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OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

SEE ALL BOOKS HERE

REVIEW TOUR - The Exception by Vi Keeland

 

Title: The Exception

Author: Vi Keeland

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Boss/Intern, Dominant Hero, Billionaire

Release Date: January 11, 2026

BLURB

He lives by a set of rules. She might be his one exception.

I just wanted a distraction, something to take the edge off before facing a wedding I was dreading. So on the flight back to New York, I signed up for a dating app. Harmless enough, right?

Wrong.

Turns out, it wasn’t just any app—it catered to people with very specific tastes. By the time I realized it, I was already on my date.

Tall, confident, and sinfully handsome, Jagger Langston seemed like the full package. The chemistry between us was instant—electric enough to burn the whole city down. Though things took a turn when we figured out I’d misunderstood who should join the app. We laughed it off, said goodbye, and went our separate ways.

Or so I thought.

Until I walked into my new internship Monday morning, ready to put the weekend behind me, and there he was—my boss.

Now I’m caught between the rules he lives by—and the temptation to make him break every single one of them.

GOODREADS

BOOKBUB

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE

AUDIOBOOK

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

5 stars plus

Well I think Ms Keeland has outdone herself!

Right from the start the sizzling energy could be felt as I read! I kept picturing in my mind the cover model as Jagger and oh my goodness me…. It certainly took a delicious turn!! Hehe!! 

I feel this book is very well written and had my attention from the very start with the amazing characters! I especially liked Suttons friend Miles, he’s a hoot and someone who is definitely good for a woman’s moral!

What can I say about Sutton. I admire her immensely. Her struggles, her attitude and her ability to overcome life’s obstacles thrown her way….. 

Jagger though, what a complex man. He’s entirely unexpected. 

An exceptional read! Please go 1 click, you wont be sorry.

5 Stars plus! 

Audiobook review.

After matching on a “dating” app and discovering on their first date that Sutton had misunderstood the app’s purpose, Sutton and Jagger part amicably—despite an instant, undeniable attraction. That is, until Sutton realizes the man she met on the app is also her new boss.

That’s how this book begins.

From there, the story becomes increasingly detailed—and I mean detailed. As Sutton and Jagger slowly fall for each other, Jagger’s commitment issues add tension and  depth. 

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York, and it was absolutely fabulous.

AUTHOR BIO

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria, Israel, and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

AUTHOR LINKS

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