REVIEW TOUR - Smash by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

 

Title: Smash

Authors: Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Forbidden Romance

Release Date: October 25, 2026

BLURB

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.

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This audiobook was an absolute delight! Talia and Rafe’s forbidden romance pulled me in from the start, with a beautifully written connection, undeniable chemistry and plenty to keep me listening.
Talia has moved in with her boyfriend, Calder, but what happens when she finds herself attracted to his best friend, Rafe, the artist living downstairs? The romance and tension make this such an enjoyable story!

The narration was spot on, with Andi Arndt, Lee Samuels and Austin Stone bringing the characters to life. Austin Stone’s sultry voice as Rafe was absolutely perfect. 

I could picture him so clearly, and he was absolutely mesmerising! 

Smash is a smash hit of a story with turmoil, tension and a forbidden romance!

My heart didnt know what to do! 

There were a few times I actually had to put the book down coz I was nervous at what potentially lay ahead! 

I genuinely liked the characters and felt the overwhelming angst made my heart hurt! 

I felt so many emotions throughout that I had veritable whiplash with, will they, wont they?

Talia moves to New York to be with her boyfriend. She has a new job as well and being in a new city is hopefully the start of a great life for them. That is until she meets his best friend Rafe. 

Omg the tension, the connections along with the secrets and lies, made for a very rough and unpredictable journey for all involved. Quite the story indeed.

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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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, 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 - 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.

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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.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Opposites Attract

Under the Tuscan Sun Vibes

Found Family

NYC Heroine x Italian Hero

Late-summer Magic

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EBOOK

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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.

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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.

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

WEBSITE

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GOODREADS