2 in 1: Reviews of Does He Know? and Is This Love? by Kaylee Ryan

Author: Kaylee Ryan
Publication Date: November 2023
Emerson

It’s not like I planned to fall for my older brother’s best friend.
It just happened. With a perfect body covered in tattoos, and a dirty mouth, Roman is the kind of guy women notice—and believe me, I noticed. Even when I tried not to.
When he finally gives in to temptation, there’s no going back. At least for me. Too bad Roman doesn’t see it that way.
He thinks he needs to protect me and my relationship with my brother, but I don't need him to fight my battles. I just need him.

Roman

My name whispered from Emerson’s perfect pink lips is all it takes for me to betray my best friend.
Before that night, I kept the green-eyed beauty at arm’s length. Watched her from afar and told myself that the chemistry between us was one-sided.
I pretended that I didn’t want her more than my next breath. Which is what’s on the line if her brother ever finds out we’ve been sneaking around behind his back.
But I can’t stay away. Especially after knowing what it’s like to have her and lose her.
Now, I’m given a second chance, and I have every intention of making her mine—consequences be damned.

This is the first book in the Everlasting Ink series.  This one is Roman and Emerson's story.  It's an age gap, friends to lovers story.  Normally, I like these two tropes.  But the one thing that annoyed me about this book was the constant reminder of that age gap. I mean I get it, but at some point you have to move on.  The angst in the story was on steroids as well.  It ended up just being OK.  But I was intrigued enough about the other friends in the tattoo shop to keep reading the series.

Publication Date: March 2024

Legend

A marriage of convenience is one thing… but falling for your fake wife is all kinds of complicated.
Being married for a year is the only way to claim my inheritance. I couldn’t care less about the money. It’s not like I even knew my grandparents.
I wasn’t even considering it until Monroe volunteered. Sweet, sweet, Monroe. I’ve never let myself consider her as an option for me.
She’s been tucked safely away in a box labeled forbidden. That is until she takes my last name.

Monroe
It’s not like I planned to marry one of my friends… or fall for him.
One minute I offer to be his fake wife, and the next, we’re going through the motions— saying, “I do,” and playing house.
Legend is the kind of guy fantasies are made of—tall, dark, and tattooed. Now I’m sharing his bed and his last name for the next year.
Everything looks good on paper, and while this may have started out as playing pretend, the way I feel for him is the realest thing I’ve ever known.
As the weeks pass by, it doesn’t take long before either of us begins to question if we’re just friends or if this is this love after all.

Is This Love? is the second book in the Everlasting Ink series.  It is a marriage of convenience story.  I thought this one was adorable.  I just loved how Legend and Monroe slowly fell for each other. I also loved that the story took place over a long period of time.  It wasn't insta-love.  I was definitely rooting for them.  Out of the first two books in this series, this one was definitely my favorite.