#cleo white

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

In the hospitality industry, we have a very important rule which shouldn’t be broken under any circumstances; don’t sleep with the guests.

It’s a terrible idea for a lot of reasons, and as the very professional manager of my family business, The Chestnut Bed and Breakfast, I know to follow that rule religiously.

Except that one time.

And that other time.

Okay, that sounds bad. Questionable choices aside, though, I’m really good at my job. Everyone makes mistakes, and now the most important thing is that I don’t repeat them.

Easy peasy, right?

Wrong. Not easy peasy.

In fact, I can’t think of anything more complicated than spending Christmas weekend alone with the men responsible for my two most epic lapses in professionalism.

Except, maybe learning that Wells Davis and August Vogel don’t just have history with me, they have it with each other, too.

Santa must have a sense of humor, because I definitely didn’t have a hot mess on my Christmas list.

Review:

A hot holiday romance between a hospitality manager and the two men that have her ready to break all her rules. Lacey is spending her holidays alone managing the Chestnut Bed and Breakfast and the last thing she expects is that the two people staying are the two very men she's broken her rules for... who also happen to have a history of their own. Wells Davis is a grumpy bookstore owner who never expected to run into his ex, eye doctor August Vogel. August and Wells both have fallen for Lacey but also still have unresolved feelings for each other after their breakup, so what better way to spend the holidays than to spend it together? This was such a fun steamy holiday read. I adored the chemistry between the three characters and the absolutely fantastic spicy moments. I can't get enough of this book and I am such a huge fan of Cleo's romances. This was another fantastic one

Release Date: November 17, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

-rosievixen

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

ISOBEL

I know a bad idea when I see one, and the unfairly handsome stranger I meet on the airport shuttle is a really bad idea.

Especially when the silver fox turns out not to be a stranger at all, and steering clear isn’t an option.

This isn’t a vacation. I’m in Bora Bora for my sister’s wedding, to connect with my aggressively successful family members and focus on what matters most: getting into medical school.

Judah Hale, with his broad shoulders and growly voice, is a distraction I can’t afford.

The problem is, with every passing day on this island, my sister’s father-in-law seems to be making it his personal mission to make me question everything I thought I wanted.

JUDAH

She’s my daughter-in-law’s little sister, half my age, and the definition of off limits.

I can’t bring myself to care, though. Every time I set eyes on Isobel Bradley, I’m filled with a primal, possessive urge to claim her.

She’s determined to pretend there’s nothing between us, but I know she feels the same connection that I do.

We’re in paradise together for a week, and I’m not wasting a second of it. By the time we leave this island, Issy’s going to be mine.

Author’s Note: Out of Sight is a standalone, age-gap romance starring a college student and the sexy doctor—with all the Daddy dom vibes—she can’t stay away from. Be prepared for a dash of insta-love, lots of spice, and a guaranteed HEA!

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

So, before you judge me too harshly for what I’m about to tell you, I think it’s important to lead with the disclaimer that this is not like me. At all. If somebody Googled "cautious, responsible, people-pleasing eldest daughter", a picture would probably come up of me baking twenty-four loaves of banana bread for all the neighbors in our building after my roommate flooded the bathroom. So, as you can see, I am not the kind of person to catch feelings for my ex’s tech-billionaire father after spending three days stranded at his house over Christmas. Nor am I the type to keep in touch with him after I go home, keeping up the façade of friendship when the unspoken “if only things were different” hangs over our heads. Now, it’s Valentine’s Day, and Julian Ballard is on my doorstep. It shouldn’t change anything. After all, cautious, responsible, people-pleasing girls do not fall in love with their ex-girlfriend’s father. ...Oops. Kissed and Missed is book two in the Daddy Issues series, and while it can be read as a standalone, is best enjoyed after reading book one; Chilled and Thrilled.

Review:

Freshly dumped by her girlfriend she finds herself stranded with said ex's dad for the holidays... it was only suppose to be three days and then she'd be gone, yet three days with this hot sweet billionaire has them both craving for more. Despite coming from worlds, can they really make it work? She was only suppose to stay for three days and disappear from his life... but one kiss has him realizing that he won't miss another chance and to throw caution to the wind and finally be with the woman he's fallen in love with. Oh I absolutely devoured this book. This is the perfect age gap romance filled with spice, charm, and a romance that any girl would want. I loved the relationship between the two characters so much and they were both so charming and sweet to one another. The dynamic between them made sense and when reading the book you can instantly see why they are perfect for one another. I loved reading this book and it can be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading this entire series because it will have you smiling so much!

Release Date: January 28, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

Once upon a time, there was a princess locked in a tower, guarded by an obnoxiously attractive dragon with a superiority complex.

Her crime, you may ask?

A single, topless, crowd-surfing incident. Which was photographed, published by multiple news outlets, and “jeopardized” her father’s high profile election campaign.

Faced with the threat of being cut off—and forced to rely on her non-existent life skills—the princess had little choice but to accept her punishment: house arrest at the family estate for the duration of the campaign.

A campaign which will last eight. Freaking. Months.

As if all this wasn’t terrible enough, the princess’s only company—the dragon—was even more unpleasant than the punishment itself. He hated her at first sight; most likely for the crime of being pretty, and rich, and way better than him at literally everything.

Mean, condescending, and a total turd, the dragon seemed to want nothing more than to assert his authority over the princess. She believed—quite rightly—that being insanely hot doesn’t give you the right to treat people that way.

It wasn’t long before the princess decided her only recourse… was war.

Review:

The second book in the Royally Forbidden Series that will have you absolutely swooning once again!! I devoured this book the moment I got it in my hands. Blair is a wild child heiress who gets a rude awakening when her latest scandal impacts her family's reputation, particularly her father's campaign... so he tells her she has to change her lifestyle if she wants to inherit anything. What blair does not anticipate is the very hot bodyguard or rather her new keeper, Damien, to be as hot as he is. Blair and Damien are stuck together in as they spend more time together not only does the romance heat up but so does the spice! Cleo is just such a fantastic writer and she just has a way with creating such amazing romances. This was a fun read and I definitely need another one in this series!

Release Date: April 24, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

The Prince and Me meets Scandal in this royally high-spice, forbidden romance, from Amazon bestselling author Cleo White. Not every Once-Upon-A-Time ends in a Happily-Ever-After. My fairytale, for instance, didn’t come with a handsome Prince Charming, a night at the ball, or a magical pumpkin carriage. Instead, I got a bearded, bad-tempered king, a sex party for rich people, and a driver waiting to take me home after the royal asshole was finished with me. And they lived Not So Happily Ever After. The End. That should be it, right? Even missing some conventional fairytale elements, it’s clear no one is riding off into the sunset in the tale of the grumpy king and the naïve, much younger actress. Except, a positive pregnancy test just proved that, in this fairytale, the end isn’t the end at all. It's the beginning.

Review:

She's an actress who just wanted a one night stand, he's the older king who needed to blow off steam, and one weekend of romance could lead to more... if he doesn't mess this up. The Prince and Me meets Scandal in this romantic steamy read! Zelda is a sweet and talented actress but just never thought she'd get a fairytale romance until she meets the very grumpy unpopular King Benedict. Benedict is not happy and his reputation is taking a hit... yet when he meets Zelda he knows she's the one for him yet everything about his life makes it impossible for him to be with her... yet when given a second chance he'll do everything to convince her that he's the one for her. This was such a delightful read. I absolutely adored the romance between the two characters and their chemistry was just sooooo good. I am a huge Cleo fan and she just knows how to write a STEAMY romance that will sweep you off your feet! I can't wait to read the next book she writes!!

Release Date: September 25, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

I dedicated my entire life to ballet, and what did it get me? A limp, an intact v-card, and zero job prospects.

Squatting in my sister’s apartment, watching game shows and feeling sorry for myself seems like an ideal way to pass the time until I figure out what to do next.

Unfortunately, my father doesn’t agree. Thanks to him, I’ll now be spending my days stapling pieces of paper together at his architecture firm, under the watchful eye of his business partner.

Holden Ellinger is the last person I want seeing me at my lowest. The man might be obscenely attractive, but he’s also a conceited playboy with too much money and a pathological fear of commitment.

The one silver lining in this situation? My new boss really, really wants me and, as it turns out, I really, really like being a tease.

Review:

A former ballerina falls for the one person she knows she shouldn't but can't resist, her new boss. After a terrible accident that ruined her ballet career, all Lenora Vogel wants to do is sit back and watch game shows and sink into her feelings but her father doesn't agree and sends her to work at his architecture firm under the watchful eye of his business partner Holden Ellinger. Holden is definitely off limits because not only is he her boss but he's a rich older wealthy playboy with a fear of commitment... yet for some reason he's interested in her too. Two people who definitely should not be falling for each other might just be perfect for one another.

I am obsessed with this book and this entire series. Cleo White never fails to write the PERFECT age gap romance!! The romance, the spice, the STORY!!! This was such a fun read that I immediately devoured and I can't wait to read what she writes next. Lenora and Holden had so much chemistry and their story was so good. I was absolutely charmed by this couple and their story and I can't wait to read whatever Cleo writes next.

Release Date: May 6, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)