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Romantic Reads and Such

Tag Archives: Book Review

Review – Book Boyfriendish

25 Thursday Jul 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Boyfriendish, Book Review, Lisa Wells, Naked Runway series

Book Boyfriendish

Naked Runway series

by Lisa Wells

Blurb:

Professional Day Dreamer Sophie E. Clark has gotten the last laugh.ย 

Those who told her she would never make money daydreaming can bite her curvaceous derriere, because she has just landed the day-dreamiest of daydream gigs with Naked Runway. Of course, if you want to get technical about it, for tax purposes and what not, sheโ€™s listed as a columnist. But her assignment is toโ€”drum roll pleaseโ€”search out Manhattan men who could match up against the winners of this yearโ€™s Swooniest of Book Boyfriends contest.

Former ex-Navy SEAL Stone Blackthorn is on the injured list at the security firm he co-owns with his brothers. When a friend calls in a favor, he reluctantly agrees to become an undercover bodyguard. As such, he will play the part of a cinnamon roll boyfriend for a fluff-reporter. A no-action assignment if ever there is one.

Little does he know, his clientโ€”the president of a romance book clubโ€”will piss off members of motorcycle gangs and mafia sorts in her quest to find real men who are the living, breathing equivalent of the fictional Book Boyfriends her club drools over at weekly meetings.

Coming out of this assignment unscathed isnโ€™t looking favorable for either of them.

Buy Link:

https://a.co/d/fWWCGvR

Available in KUย 

*****

Review:

**maybe minor spoilers ahead … maybe, I’m not sure**

I enjoyed so much of this book. I like Sophie and Stone and I think they complemented each other well – the whole grump/sunshine thing. I think the premise of finding real life book boyfriends is fun (kinda wish we’d gotten more of the guys because it’s a fun idea). But there are a few things I didn’t like as well.

I’ve never read this author before so I had no idea what to expect. A little bit in I found out that there was a smidge of paranormal to this one, which is fine – love a good supernatural romance – but I had no idea it was coming and I’m not sure that I got a good understanding of how their world works. Maybe this story is part of a bigger world that I don’t know about since I’ve not read anything else in the series? But it did make me struggle just a little. Without any kind of background, it just felt like it was vague for no reason or to be mysterious and instead was confusing.

I also wish I’d gotten more of a feel for Stone’s family because I think there could be some great interactions between the brothers. I like Stone as a character and I wanted more of his history, of his family, & what made him into the man he is today. I like him and want to know him even better.

Sophie is an entertaining heroine. She’s bubbly, passionate about her HEAs, and willing to work hard for what she wants. I love her connection with her Poppie and her creativity in making a life she can be proud of. In working with Stone to make sure that her dreams can come true.

The back & forth between Sophie and Stone is entertaining and I was rooting for them to figure things out. It’s lighthearted with a bit of steam and quite a few laughs. I’m intrigued enough I might pick up the other books in the series to see if it’ll help clear a few things up.

*****

Author Info:

Lisa Wells writes romantic comedy with enough steam to fog your eyeglasses, your brain, and sometimes your Kindle screen. On the other hands, her eighty-year-old mother-in-law has read Lisaโ€™s steamiest book and lived to offer her commentary. Which went something like this: You used words Iโ€™ve never heard ofโ€ฆ

She lives in Missouri with her husband and slightly-chunky rescue dog. Lisa loves dark chocolate, red wine, and those rare mornings when her skinny jeans fit. Which isnโ€™t often, considering the first two entries on her love-it list.

Connect with Lisa Wells:

https://www.instagram.com/lisawellsauthor/

~

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Review – Savior Complex

19 Friday Jul 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Crissi Langwell, Savior Complex, Sunset Bay series

Savior Complex

A Sunset Bay Novel

by Crissi Langwell

Release Date: July 19

Blurb:

Heโ€™s perfect for me. Heโ€™s also my cousinโ€™s fiancรฉ.

If thereโ€™s anything life has taught me, itโ€™s that men are not to be trusted. Case in point, the night three men corner me on my walk home. I froze, they closed in, and I was sure history was about to repeat itself. But this time, I had a knight in shining armor. Brayden Winters, who used his quick wit to rescue me and prove that not all guys are bad. In fact, I canโ€™t fight the unmistakable connection between us, including the realization that he fits every single thing I once listed about my perfect man, right down to his deep dimples, love for country music, and the way he calls me Sugar.

But this cowboy isnโ€™t as perfect as I thought. I discovered this at a family dinner, sitting across from my estranged cousin and that gigantic rock on her fingerโ€ฆand Brayden Winters sitting right next to her.

And as if life canโ€™t wait to throw more curveballs, I somehow get roped into letting my cousin live with me. So I not only have to navigate the fragile eggshells of our family dynamic under the same roof, I am also unable to let go of my insane attraction to her fiancรฉ.

Life is about to get messy.

Savior Complex is the story of Nina Chance and Brayden Winters…and Jordy Gallo โ€” a steamy dual POV love triangle romance with sizzling scenes and a fully-developed love story. This is the third book in the Sunset Bay series. All novels in the Sunset Bay series are complete standalones with HEAs and no cliffhangers, and take place in the same small coastal town.

Buy Link:

https://a.co/d/0ZXfYw4
Available in KU

*****

Review:

There’s a trigger warning at the beginning that mentions infidelity, SA, and toxic family relationships (which all are present in spades), so please make sure that you are OK with these. Langwell doesn’t shy away from these and delivers them with a bluntness that may not be for everyone.

As for me, I really wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one because I am not usually a fan of cheating in my romances. But Langwell does such an amazing job of showing how messy and hard and complicated life can be. It definitely helps that we are given both Brayden and Nina’s POV, since that lets us see it from his perspective and have an understanding of where his head is. We truly see the conflict for the two of them and the depth of their connection as they grow closer. It’s so real and raw and heartbreaking. Readers will feel for them as they struggle with an attraction that they shouldn’t do anything about but find too strong to ignore.

*****

Author Info:

Crissi Langwell is the author of 13 published books, with genres that include romance, young adult, and womenโ€™s fiction. Her upcoming novel is Naked Coffee Guy, the second book in her Sunset Bay romance series, which will be released on October 24. Crissi is the vice president, web editor, and newsletter editor of her writing club, Redwood Writers, and she is the Communications Director for Oakmont Village Association. She lives in Petaluma, California with her fellow writerly husband and a sassy Maine Coon cat.

Connect with Crissi Langwell:

https://crissilangwell.com/links

~

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Review – The Baller

16 Tuesday Jul 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Lulu Moore, New York Lions series, The Baller

The Baller

The New York Lionsย #3

by Lulu Moore

Blurb:

My name is Lux Weston and Iโ€™m a matter of national security, apparently.

All I did was meet a beautiful girl in a bookstore, then rescue her. Oneโ€ฆ twiceโ€ฆ and maybe a third timeโ€”from a creeper.

The problem? The creeper turned out to be Secret Service, and the girlโ€ฆ well, sheโ€™s Radley Andrewsโ€”the Presidentโ€™s only daughter.

It has disaster written all over it. I should stay away.

Sheโ€™s a student, Iโ€™m a major league baseball player.

Sheโ€™s trying to hide from the spotlight, Iโ€™m standing underneath it.

Not to mention Iโ€™ve never had a relationship, and Radley has her own demons to battle.

When she starts looking at me the way Iโ€™m looking at her, staying away becomes impossible. Soon weโ€™re sneaking secret dates and Iโ€™m making her breakfast.

While Radley might be the most beautiful girl Iโ€™ve ever seen, sheโ€™s become something better.

Mine.

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4e1Cn4g

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/NgQbWy

Audible: https://adbl.co/45cilQK
Narrated by: CJ Bloom & Chris Brinkley

*****

Review:

This is the first of Moore’s books that I’ve read and from their very first meeting to their HEA, I loved it. Lux is smart, caring, and sensitive to Radley’s needs. She’s dealing with some trauma from her past, but she wants to move on, to be “normal”. And Lux and their friends are there every step of the way to support her, push her, and help her when life throws her a curve ball.

I will say that I wished that Radley was just a touch older. I understand, based on her past, why she needed to be 19. And her history probably helped her to grow up pretty darn quick, but it still is awfully young. I did appreciate the way Moore had Radley working with a therapist and putting those sessions into work in her real life. (I love how authors today are normalizing mental health in stories.)

Full of humor, steam, and straight up adorableness, The Baller might have been my first Moore story but it won’t be my last.

*****

Author Info:

Lulu started writing by accident, and somehow found herself stuck in a fictional world of ice hockey, baseball and billionaires. A world she has no plans to leave. She’s the creator of The New York Players Series, The Tuesday Club Series, and The New York Lions – the worst team in the M.L.B.

More recently she’s ventured across the Atlantic to where her latest novel is set – the beautiful cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the annual rowing showdown on the River Thames.

She’s a big fan of strong heroines, because those fierce alphas need someone to keep them in check. You’ll find hear navigating her way through Romance Land one HEA at a time, and trying to figure out the latest social media platform she needs to post to.

Connect with Lulu

Website: https://lulumoorebooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21005275.Lulu_Moore/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lulu-Moore/author/B08WPY8YSW/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuluMooreBooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/560932142401799

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lulumoorebooks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lulumoorebooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lulu-moore

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lulumoorebooks/

~

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Review – Adventures of a Bookworm

12 Friday Jul 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

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Adventures of a Bookworm, Book Review, Kathleen Brooks, Paige Turner series

Adventures of a Bookworm

Paige Turner #1

by Kathleen Brooks

Blurb:

What happens when the bookworm becomes the main character?

Paige Turner and her book club friends live a thousand lives through the characters of their romance books. In real life, theyโ€™re just one of the millions of people running around New York City. That is until a New Yearโ€™s Resolution to lose her virginity forces Paige to step out from behind the pages of her books. Paige strikes out on romantic adventures inspired by the main characters of her favorite romance books from every genre and trope to fulfill her resolution.

Paige learns that itโ€™s a truth universally acknowledged that billionaire bosses are hot, that some meet-cutes arenโ€™t cute at all, that furries can fill in for shifters in a pinch to fulfill a paranormal romance trope, and sometimes that sexy cop really is there to arrest you.

Paige is in for the adventure of her life, from virginity auctions to secret clubs to emergency room visits. But she learns that itโ€™s not the romance that makes the heroine the main character. Itโ€™s finding her inner strength, determination, and confidence that makes her the heroine of her own story. Can Paige fulfill her New Yearโ€™s resolution without getting arrested or fired and maybe even find herself and love by the end of the year? 

https://kathleen-brooks.com/books/adventures-of-a-bookworm

*****

Review:

I’ll admit I was expecting, based on the blurb, for this to have a HEA/HFN ending but apparently it’s part of a series … good thing it was so dang fun that I’ll be lining up to get the next one! I love Paige and her friends – how they support each other, care for each other, and give each other those little pushes when they are needed. And are right there in the middle of every crazy adventure.

Whew, does Paige have some adventures. I love that she uses romance tropes as the catalyst for each one and Brooks does a good job of making them wacky and humorous, but not so out there that they aren’t believable. I mean, sure there are a lot of coincidences. No way would that many people just happen to be in the same part of New York at these amazingly convenient (and inconvenient) times. But I was glued to the pages, anxious to see what scrapes Paige would get into next, what hottie she would find, and what she’d learn along the way.

Loaded with humor, supportive friends, and more than a few hotties, Adventures of a Bookworm is a fun romp but it’s also more. It’s about Paige and her friends putting themselves out there. Learning about themselves, going after what they want, and growing into more confident, stronger people. I’m not usually a cliffhanger type of person – and its important to note that there is one here – but I’ve discovered that I’m willing to put up a lot for a good read. And Brooks definitely delivers.

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Review – The One I Stood Beside

02 Tuesday Jul 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Piper Rayne, Plain Daisy Ranch series, The One I Stood Beside

The One I Stood Beside

Plain Daisy Ranch #2

by Piper Rayne

Blurb:

Itโ€™s the classic storyโ€”best friends since childhood agree to a fake marriage, thinking they can pretend to love each other without their relationship changing.

Jude would do anything for me. Heโ€™s stood by my side since we were six, and Iโ€™ve done the same for him.

When my father dies, leaving our family farm drowning in debt and on the brink of being auctioned, Iโ€™m not surprised Jude steps in to help. I just never dreamed heโ€™d fall to bended knee and devise a plan for us to fool everyone into thinking thereโ€™s more than a lifelong friendship between us.

Soon, Iโ€™m moving into his house, weโ€™re planning a wedding on his familyโ€™s ranch, and we discover a new side to our relationship. I keep reminding myself itโ€™s not realโ€”itโ€™s only to secure a loan to save the farm.

Iโ€™ve secretly loved Jude all my life, and now that I know how good we are together, Iโ€™m not sure we can return to being just friends.

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4212SRK

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

https://books2read.com/toisb

Audio Narrated by: Troy Duran & Rose Dioro

*****

Review:

Jude & Sadie have been friends for decades and everyone is just waiting for the day that they get together. Of course, they both want more but, not knowing how the other feels, neither is willing to take the chance on losing their friendship. Until life throws Sadie a curve ball that changes everything.

I’ll admit I loved the story leading up to their wedding. They are great friends and there are so many great moments as they work their way to the point of getting married. And I loved them together. Sweet and sexy, fitting together so well. I just wished they’d do a better job of talking to each other … argh! I mean, it’s pretty much par for the course when it comes to their relationship because otherwise it wouldn’t have taken SO long for them to get together. But … *sigh* … Grovelling Jude is pretty darn sweet, tho ๐Ÿ™‚

The One I Stood Beside is a perfect example of why any book with Piper Rayne on the cover is a must read for me. The characters are always interesting, realistic, and fun, with great relationships with their partners, friends, and families. Once they get over any drama, of course. And there will be some kind of issue but it doesn’t seem forced or too much. Instead there is just the right amount of bumps on the way to an enjoyable HEA ending.

I love all of the misc members of the Noughton family and I’m looking forward to what Piper Rayne has in store for us next!

(Can easily stand on its own but there’s only one other story so why not catch up!)

*****

Author Info:

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne

Website: www.PiperRayne.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15810938.Piper_Rayne

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Piper-Rayne/e/B01ND0R15R

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PiperRayne/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PiperRaynesUnicorns

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpiperrayne/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PiperRayneRocks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorpiperrayne

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/piper-rayne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorpiperrayne/_created/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PiperRayne?ref=shop_sugg

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/PiperRayne

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@authorpiperrayne

~

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Review – Restraint

19 Wednesday Jun 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Mari Carr, Restraint, Stingrays Hockey series

Restraint

Stingrays Hockey #1

by Mari Carr

Blurb:

Girlfriendโ€ฆwithout benefits?

Hometown hockey hero, Blake has life completely figured out. Heโ€™s footloose and fancy free with the worldโ€™s coolest job and an endless parade of puck bunnies ready to help him celebrate his victories. The status quo is working for him, so why does he agree to co-parent a stray puppy with his too-serious, workaholic neighbor, Erika? And why is he so annoyed when she suddenly starts dating some tool named Doug? And why canโ€™t he stop finding excuses to see her and touch her and kiss her andโ€ฆ Sheโ€™s not his girlfriend, right?

Erika has enough on her plate as an ER doctor without adding any more stress to her life. So adopting a dog with Blake, the fun-loving, never-take-anything-serious, commitment-phobe across the hall is a stupid idea, right? Of course, she also probably shouldnโ€™t be his plus-one for charity galas either. Or seeking comfort from him during a thunderstorm. Or kissing his five-for-fighting boo-boos better. Or letting him teach her how to โ€œreduce stressโ€ with her personal toy collection. After all, heโ€™s not her boyfriend. Is he?

So what happens when two people reluctant to commit find love where they least expect itโ€ฆ Right across the hall.

Buy Links:

Amazon https://a.co/d/j2e0SxA 

Apple https://apple.co/4bn2qBl 

Kobo https://bit.ly/3wyHdW3ย 

Google Play https://bit.ly/3yoEVZT

*****

Review:

Oh man, this was such an easy read for me! I’m pretty sure this is the first book by Carr that I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. The relationship between Erika and Blake is so sweet and fun. They support each other, make sure that they are taking care of themselves, but aren’t afraid to give each other heck when they need it.

I kinda wish we’d gotten to see them together during the off-season when it seems like they spend the majority of their free time with each other. Or even in casual social situations with the rest of the team. I’d love to see more of those relaxed interactions because they are just the cutest together.

I think the best things are the moments when each of them realize their feelings for the other and the truth of their relationship. It’s funny and sweet and the meet cute equivalent for a friends-to-lovers trope. And while Carr had the opportunity to do some third act super-drama, I appreciate the restraint (pun not intended). The two of them just really deserved more than that so I’m glad she didn’t go there.

Restraint is low on drama, humorous, steamy, and entertaining … just all around enjoyable. And after getting glimpses of the rest of the team, I’m adding their stories to my TBR list. I’m also definitely going to be checking out Carr’s backlist!

*****

Author Info:

Virginia native Mari Carr is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller of contemporary sexy romance and romantic suspense novels. With over two million copies of her books sold, Mari was the winner of the Romance Writers of Americaโ€™s Passionate Plume award for her novella, Erotic Research. She has over a hundred published works, including her popular Wild Irish and Compass books, along with the Trinity Masters series she writes with Lila Dubois.

Connect with Mari Carr:ย 

https://maricarr.com

~

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Review – Hard to Fake

18 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, Denver Kodiaks series, Hard to Fake, Piper Lawson

Hard to Fake

Denver Kodiaks #1

by Piper Lawson

Blurb:

Itโ€™s not every day you ask your older brother’s teammate to be your fake boyfriend. But desperate times call for gorgeous, impulsive measures.

Miles Garrett is a pro basketball player with a heartstopping smile and infamous cocky charm.

But to me, he’s always been more than a celebrity. Miles is the guy who puts friends and family firstโ€ฆand my college crush.

When my sorority sister decides to bring my ex to our reunion, I need a plus-one who can have my back and save my pride. Asking Miles is the perfect solution.

Until he raises the stakes for both of us.

He says heโ€™s only playing to win. He’ll be the best fake boyfriend I’ve ever had.

But his gaze hunts mine across a crowded room. He protects me with a fierceness that steals my breath. Our just-for-show kisses ignite a wildfire inside me.

Iโ€™m fighting feelings that have been simmering for years. Soon our pretend relationship starts feeling dangerously legitโ€ฆ

Because itโ€™s hard to fake whatโ€™s always been real.

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/422dFv1

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3Hj5MI1

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/3Ho2hQw

Nook: https://bit.ly/421HVq6

Kobo: https://bit.ly/48yQjzD

Google Play: https://bit.ly/4aXh8iM

*****

Review:

Like her King of the Court series, Lawson splits this story into thirds. Cliffhangers aren’t usually my thing, and I had no idea that’s how KotC was going to be, but I enjoyed the heck out of it. She showed me that New Adult romances can have a delightful mix of drama, growth, and emotion. And with that one trilogy, Piper Lawson won her spot on my must read author list.

Hard to Fake is just as good as I expected it to be. Brooke is dealing with some issues with her family, her mother and her brother, as well as facing an upcoming sorority reunion where she’s facing a must impress situation. As well as an old boyfriend. It’s putting some stress on her and has her finding help in an unlikely place.

Miles is the good time guy – always up for a joke or a good time. But he also knows the value of hard work and dedication to his team, his family. That includes stepping in when Brooke needs someone at her back, someone to show the haters and support her as she tries to win an important contract. Of course, time spent together, and moments when acting turns to something more, has them quickly finding themselves over their heads.

I love Brooke’s sassiness and her drive to make it on her own. She’s had a lot of years having to watch everything she does, how she looks, how it’s perceived. It’s impressive she’s as solid as she is but as she’s building a life of her own sometimes those expectations don’t match up with her wants. I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like as she embraces being her own person.

Miles obviously has some issues from his childhood, which we see here & there. He’s emotionally available to his grandmother and his teammates & friends, but he’s adamantly against getting involved romantically. There is definitely something deeper going on with him and I’m so looking forward to getting those answers.

Being only a third of the story leaves us with a lot of questions and hints at what might come next. If you aren’t prepared for that I can see why it would be upsetting, but I like the way Lawson builds us up and leaves us wanting for more. We are given an opportunity to get to know our characters a little bit and to have them interact with each other but not rush to a HEA. Bring on book 2, Piper!

*****

Author Info:

Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart and steamy romance.

She writes women who follow their dreams, best friends who know your dirty secrets and love you anyway, and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for.

Piper lives in Canada with her tall and brilliant husband. She’s a sucker for dark eyes, dark coffee, and dark chocolate. 

Connect with Piper

Website: https://www.piperlawsonbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13680088.Piper_Lawson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piperlawsonbooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/piperlawsonromance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piperlawsonbooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/piper-lawson

~

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Review – The Summer Escape

14 Friday Jun 2024

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Book Review, Jill Shalvis, Sunrise Cove series, The Summer Escape

The Summer Escape

Sunrise Cove series

by Jill Shalvis

Blurb:

Secrets are revealed and forbidden sparks ignited in this sizzling Sunrise Cove tale of enemies to lovers, redemption, missing treasures, and love.

Anna Moore didnโ€™t just wake up one day and decide to go on a wild quest โ€” especially since her life no longer lends itself to wild anything โ€” so how in the world does she end up racing against the clock with Owen Harris, a sexy, enigmatic adventurist, to prove her beloved dad innocent of stealing a million-dollar necklace? 

Itโ€™s all Wendyโ€™s fault. Her older, bossy sister, whoโ€™s seven months pregnant and on bed rest in their small Lake Tahoe hometown, is desperate to clear their dadโ€™s name. Owen though is convinced heโ€™s guilty as hell and wants to return the jewelry back to its rightful ownerโ€”his elderly great aunt. Together they go on a scavenger hunt for clues to the past (with Wendy remotely along for the ride via an ear bud, supplying a running wry commentary to boot). 

On opposing sides and suspicious of each other as they are, Anna and Owen still canโ€™t deny the inexplicable and explosive chemistry between them on this heart-stopping adventure, the outcome of which will prove the necklace isnโ€™t the only thing stolen โ€” their hearts have been as well.

*****

Review:

This isn’t a romantic suspense and I think that might help a lot of people. Shalvis writes about her characters – facing their pasts, dealing with secrets, and coming to terms with their emotions. Anna’s job and the mystery over the stolen items is just an excuse to her meeting Owen and figuring out if she’s ready for the HEA.

Anna’s repeated insistence that any relationship with Owen has an end date may get old for some but I think it works for her. You know that what she says doesn’t match her growing feelings for him. She’s scared but her heart really wants something more. She’s just got to give in and trust that he’ll take care of it.

Owen claims to be as relationship shy but he’s much more open to his feelings. I appreciate that, and his patience, as he spends more time with Anna. He’s a good guy, and gives to those he cares about. His willingness to put himself out there is admirable.

I enjoyed Anna’s sister’s bossiness and the love she shows through her pushiness. She’s not going to be for everyone, but I liked her and her relationship with her husband & her sister. And there’s plenty of amusing moments around carrying 3 babies.

There isn’t a lot of action in the book but it’s not that kind of book. It’s about the people and their feelings. I think readers that understand that going in will appreciate it more.

(Part of a series but these are truly stand alones with just a location in common.)

~

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Review – Totally Geeked

11 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Becca Jackson, Book Review, Love in Play series, Totally Geeked

Totally Geeked

Love In Play Series, Book 2

by Becca Jackson

Blurb:

Harrisonโ€™s love life is a parade of fun, flirty encounters thanks to every dating app you can imagine, but nothing sticks. Finally, sick of the endless cycle of Friday night hookups, he hits uninstall on the apps and challenges the universe to show him that he deserves someone better.

What he didnโ€™t expect was the universe throwing him a curveball in the form of his best friendโ€™s younger brother. Despite being best friends with Gordon for years, heโ€™s never actually met his siblings and even half-joked they didnโ€™t exist.

But there they are, at a party at Gordonโ€™s place, and one brother, Arlo, is seriously hard to ignore. Heโ€™s nothing like Gordon. Quiet, adorable, and totally off-limitsโ€ฆ which sucks. But when Harrison spots an opportunity to help him steady his nerves on his childrenโ€™s book tour, he jumps at the chance to get to know him better, because spending time with him feels like the most right thing heโ€™s done in forever.

The more time they spend together, the less Harrison can imagine being with anyone else. But going after what he wants means betraying his best friend. Can he find the courage to catch lifeโ€™s most unexpected pitches?

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

*****

Excerpt:

While Noah was a ball of energy at the outset, Arlo clutches a book against his front with his casted hand like it could somehow create a barrier between him and everything else in the world.

โ€œIโ€™m Harrison, but my friends call me Harry,โ€ I say, and he turns toward me. His big gorgeous blue eyes lock on mine and my stomach does a weird spinny thing. I really should have eaten before I came.

โ€œHi,โ€ he almost whispers, pulling his hand free of his brother and using it to tuck his red hair behind his ears. He really doesnโ€™t look much like Gordon at all, not like Noah. They both have the same flame red hair, sure. But Arloโ€™s is long, and hangs loosely around his face like a curtain he can hide behind, it contrasts beautifully with his porcelain skin and bright blue eyes and I find myself unable to look away.

*****

Review:

Harry has been struggling to find the one, although he’ll admit that using an app is probably not the way to go ๐Ÿ™‚ Then he meets adorable, artsy Arlo. Unfortunately, Arlo is off-limits as the brother of Harry’s best friend. (I think Gordon might be over-reacting a bit – he admits that Harry is a good person – but he’s had lots of years being the one to watch over his brothers so …) But time spent together has them deciding that their attraction is one that can’t be ignored. Which of course goes the way you think it will and, while I do understand why Gordon might be upset with the way things play out, I can also see why the guys think this is the best way.

There’s not a lot of depth or character growth with Harry and Arlo. It’s a quick read but all sorts of fun. Full of sweetness and deepening feelings as readers are given a peek into their growing emotions and their oh-so-spicy alone time.

I’ve only read one other book by Jackson and, based on these two, I think she’s going on my must read author list. Her characters are interesting and her stories are entertaining & steamy. What’s next, Becca?!?

*****

Author Info:

Becca Jackson writes MM romance that delivers heart, heat, and happily ever afters for some totally adorkable and fabulous guys.

Beccaโ€™s books have all your favorites, small-town romances, bi-awakenings, sports, friends to lovers, and enemies to lovers too, but no matter the trope that takes your fancy, youโ€™ll always find a happily ever after.

Connect with Becca:

Instagram: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonInsta
Tiktok: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonTiktok
Facebook Profile: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonFacebook
Facebook Group: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonFBGroup
Website: https://geni.us/BeccaJacksonWeb
Reader Group/newsletter: https://geni.us/beccamail

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Totally Geeked, Becca is giving away a $20 Amazon Voucher!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

*****

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Review – Sterling Streak

06 Thursday Jun 2024

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Book Review, L.B. Dunbar, Sterling Falls series, Sterling Streak

Sterling Streak

Sterling Falls #3

by L.B. Dunbar

Blurb:

Love was a losing battle for this country music darling and a single dad, baseball star until one night brings them together and one small town sets the playing field for a possible winning streak.

They call me Lady Boss. Maneater. Queen. But beneath the makeup, blond wig, and glitzy costumes, Iโ€™m just a country girl who likes to sing. I donโ€™t hate men, Iโ€™m just struggling to find a good one. Iโ€™ve learned my lesson. Fool me once, and it will never, ever happen again. So Iโ€™m baffled when I meet Ford Sylver.

A superstar in his own right as the centerfielder for the Chicago Anchors baseball team, plus a single dad to three adorable little girls, we share a moment when I save his firm backside and pretend heโ€™s mine. Something that he can never be.

Only, when he suffers a season-changing injury and I need a place to disappear, we both end up back in Sterling Falls, where Iโ€™m suddenly and unwittingly his nanny. 

Thereโ€™s danger in having a wild side. Iโ€™ll try anything once. However, forced into close quarters with Ford, acting as his personal nurse, and caring for his three little ones might backfire. Because Iโ€™m staring at all I ever wanted and never thought would happen for me.

After losing at love in the past, could I finally be on a winning streak?

Buy Link:

https://a.co/d/dMtjRK2
Available in KU

*****

Review:

Cadence was the best. She’s strong but also vulnerable, struggling with what the career that she loves means for the rest of her life, her privacy, her relationships. It’s not easy but she definitely handles it like a boss, without letting it make her lose her big, caring heart. I do wish we’d gotten a little more of her side of things outside of her time with Ford because I’d love to see her more in her element. As it is, she’s pretty darn awesome – loving Ford’s kids, supporting him when he needs it, and fitting in seamlessly into their lives.

Ford has had a difficult few months but as a single dad he’s got to keep it together. Even if it means having to deal with unresolved issues from his childhood. I assume that there is more to those family dynamics in some of the other stories, but since this is my first (and it is resolved well) I would have liked a bit more because it is so important to why Ford is the man he is. Probably a good reason to read some more books!

***slight spoilers ahead***

I will say that I expected more from Ford towards the end. I understand that he’s been hurt, fresh out of a relationship (maybe too fresh) that ended badly, but he has some bad reactions and I felt like Cadence let him get away with it a little too much. I understand that he felt bad for it but c’mon man. I mean she does a good job of standing up for herself and removing herself from it, but I think he could have begged a little more ๐Ÿ™‚

My first from Dunbar was enjoyable, sweet, and satisfying. Looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with!

*****

Author Info:

L.B. Dunbar loves sexy silver foxes, second chances, and small towns. If you enjoy older characters in your romance reads, including a hero with a little silver in his scruff and a heroine rediscovering her worth, then welcome to romance for those over 40. L.B. Dunbarโ€™s signature works include women and men in their prime taking another turn at love and happily ever after. Sheโ€™s a USA TODAY Bestseller as well as #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Later in Life Romance with her Lakeside Cottage and Road Trips & Romance series. L.B. lives in Chicago with her own sexy silver fox.

To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her monthly newsletter, Love Notes.

Connect with L.B. Dunbar:

https://linktr.ee/lbdunbarwrites

~

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