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The One I Didn't See Coming by Piper Rayne
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately it fell a little short for me. I am going to give it a solid 3.5 stars. The story felt a little off pace for me. I had a harder time believing the shift that happened to these characters than in the others. Like there was chemistry but it happened the wrong way maybe? I didn't understand why all of a sudden Emmett was not being a playboy even before Briar was in the picture. I had a hard time connecting with Briar as well. Though I understood her a little more when her "secret" was revealed, she came off as a little more than b**chy to Emmett. And Gillian was acting like a crazed mother hen guarding her sister. Where was the respect for Emmett? It seemed like everyone was selling him short except his cousins. With all that being said, I did like when the corner was turned and I started seeing the sweeter side of Briar. I liked watching her realize how wrong she was about Emmett and how much people had the wrong idea about him. Emmett was a SWEETHEART all along. He had great ideas. Was sweet to everyone. Went above and beyond. He just knew his part. I found myself loving how much he was supportive of Briar even though she was mean to him from the jump.
Briar's life has changed in the craziest way. She went from being in a relationship with someone she loved to finding out he was not what he seemed at all and having to leave town with her tail between her legs. She now finds herself back in her hometown with her half sister and her husband's fam. She finds herself around Emmett. The boy/man she had a crush on in high school until he crushed her heart in the worst way. She has to keep her distance because he looks sexier than ever. But when her living situation changes again she finds herself accepting his invitation to move in with him. She finds herself liking coming home to him. She finds herself cooking for him and taking care of him and opening up to him. She can't reconcile this man with the man who said all of those hurtful things in high school. But maybe they were said out of context? Because this man is quickly becoming her everything. He knows everything that she is going through and is still accepting her. He wants to shout it from the mountains that they are together but she wants to wait to tell her sister. She wants to sit in this bubble that they have built for themselves a little while longer before she has to face reality. But of course things don't go as planned. Will everyone be able to accept and understand the decisions she has made that led her here?
Emmett is frustrated. His family doesn't take him seriously. He has ideas. He has thoughts that will help propel their ranch beyond what they could dream of. But no one listens to him. And now she is back. She being Briar. His sister in law's little sister. Who he has been told numerous time to stay away from. She is fragile. She went through something and no one knows what. She is straight up mean to Emmett and he wants to know why. What could he have done to make someone treat him this way? But he puts on his charm and tries to get her to open up. He convinces her to move in with him when her situation changes. He is on his best behavior all the time around her. And then he figures it out. Why she ran and instead of judging her as she thought he would he keeps the secret with her. He has decided he wants more. He doesn't want to be the playboy who wakes up to someone new all the time. He wants someone invested in him. He wants Briar and all that comes with her. But will his family see that he really cares about her? Will they finally realize what he can bring to the table?
Overall this was a pretty quick read. These kind of read like longer novellas which I don't mind. We get hot cowboys in a small town with nice spice. This one was just ever so slightly off for me. I am however looking forward to Brooks and Lottie. They have all kinds of juicy things going on and I can't wait to read about it!
Thank you Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Briar's life has changed in the craziest way. She went from being in a relationship with someone she loved to finding out he was not what he seemed at all and having to leave town with her tail between her legs. She now finds herself back in her hometown with her half sister and her husband's fam. She finds herself around Emmett. The boy/man she had a crush on in high school until he crushed her heart in the worst way. She has to keep her distance because he looks sexier than ever. But when her living situation changes again she finds herself accepting his invitation to move in with him. She finds herself liking coming home to him. She finds herself cooking for him and taking care of him and opening up to him. She can't reconcile this man with the man who said all of those hurtful things in high school. But maybe they were said out of context? Because this man is quickly becoming her everything. He knows everything that she is going through and is still accepting her. He wants to shout it from the mountains that they are together but she wants to wait to tell her sister. She wants to sit in this bubble that they have built for themselves a little while longer before she has to face reality. But of course things don't go as planned. Will everyone be able to accept and understand the decisions she has made that led her here?
Emmett is frustrated. His family doesn't take him seriously. He has ideas. He has thoughts that will help propel their ranch beyond what they could dream of. But no one listens to him. And now she is back. She being Briar. His sister in law's little sister. Who he has been told numerous time to stay away from. She is fragile. She went through something and no one knows what. She is straight up mean to Emmett and he wants to know why. What could he have done to make someone treat him this way? But he puts on his charm and tries to get her to open up. He convinces her to move in with him when her situation changes. He is on his best behavior all the time around her. And then he figures it out. Why she ran and instead of judging her as she thought he would he keeps the secret with her. He has decided he wants more. He doesn't want to be the playboy who wakes up to someone new all the time. He wants someone invested in him. He wants Briar and all that comes with her. But will his family see that he really cares about her? Will they finally realize what he can bring to the table?
Overall this was a pretty quick read. These kind of read like longer novellas which I don't mind. We get hot cowboys in a small town with nice spice. This one was just ever so slightly off for me. I am however looking forward to Brooks and Lottie. They have all kinds of juicy things going on and I can't wait to read about it!
Thank you Valentine PR and Piper Rayne for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Bad Liar by Tami Hoag
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I appreciate when books that say they are a standalone are truly standalones. I felt like I missed a little bit of the backstory with the two MCs but other than that this was a classic whodunnit. Let me rephrase it was a classic whodunnit done WELL. I really enjoyed this one. Watching it unfold and trying to figure out what had gone down kept me pushing through this one. There were some heavier topics discussed- drug use, physical abuse, addiction to name a few just as an FYI. I was drawn in the by the characters and wanted to know how it was all going to shake out. I like B'Lynn the most. I felt a connection to her. She was just so hopeful that her son was going to be ok. She had been down the road of h*ll with her son and his addiction but somehow still held onto hope. Then we had Marc who was the golden boy that left to get away but found himself drawn to the place where he was kind of treated like a god. We had his henchmen and brother and their whole family dynamic. And then we had the police officers and everything they came with. Most notably that the two MCs are married with a son, and Annie just came back from an injury that had everyone shook up. This is the story of how hard it is for some people to move on from their past for better or for worse and the decisions that they make to either live in it or move on.
A body has been found by the bayou basically without a face. Now begins the work of putting all of the clues together to determine who it is. He had connections to a junk yard service where Nick Fourcade finds out that a member of that family happens to be missing. On the other side of town, Annie is at the police station when a woman comes in visibly shaken. She is claiming that her son has been missing for several days and no one can be bothered to help her. While they are both working their own cases, clues keep popping up that lead them further and further down the rabbit hole. Until it is revealed that the two missing men are connected. They went to high school together and while one was injured with his life forever affected, the other moved onto to be a super star and go on to college. They haven't seen each other in years. So what brought them together now? What changed that made things from the past come to light? What do crooked cops have to do with all of this? And through it all a domestic violence case gets thrown into the mix. Will Nick and Annie be able to crack the case before anyone else gets hurt?
I enjoyed watching these puzzle pieces get linked together. Tami did a wonderful job of that in my opinion. I enjoyed getting different POVs even of somewhat minor characters. Tami had a wonderful way of getting us inside their heads to clue us in on what they were thinking. I find myself intrigued enough to go back and read the other books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
A body has been found by the bayou basically without a face. Now begins the work of putting all of the clues together to determine who it is. He had connections to a junk yard service where Nick Fourcade finds out that a member of that family happens to be missing. On the other side of town, Annie is at the police station when a woman comes in visibly shaken. She is claiming that her son has been missing for several days and no one can be bothered to help her. While they are both working their own cases, clues keep popping up that lead them further and further down the rabbit hole. Until it is revealed that the two missing men are connected. They went to high school together and while one was injured with his life forever affected, the other moved onto to be a super star and go on to college. They haven't seen each other in years. So what brought them together now? What changed that made things from the past come to light? What do crooked cops have to do with all of this? And through it all a domestic violence case gets thrown into the mix. Will Nick and Annie be able to crack the case before anyone else gets hurt?
I enjoyed watching these puzzle pieces get linked together. Tami did a wonderful job of that in my opinion. I enjoyed getting different POVs even of somewhat minor characters. Tami had a wonderful way of getting us inside their heads to clue us in on what they were thinking. I find myself intrigued enough to go back and read the other books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
What we Keep by Jennifer Millikin
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was a HUGE WOW for me! I knew going into it that it was going to be heavy and man was I right BUT I would like to point out that it also felt so real. Like this could happen to anyone. The reactions were perfect. There was just enough to detail to give you an idea of what was happening but not too much detail to make you depressed. I did find myself crying throughout this one though multiple times. With that being said, I was also smiling SO hard and cheering for these two SOOO hard once part 2 hit. I loved getting dual POVs after only having one. I loved the vulnerability between these two and the undeniable chemistry. I found myself dipping my tow in with some hesitation but then I was legit HOOKED.
Avery and Gabriel fall hard and fast for each other. He literally saves her from a burning building. They move in with each other. Get married. Avery is working towards getting her career on track which means that Gabriel is supporting them. Slowly but surely Avery starts to see things that make her start to question other things. Gabriel never wants to talk about his brother who passed away. He has a hard relationship with his parents though he works with his dad. These are things she can work through but then something tragic happens at work for Gabriel. And EVERYTHING changes. His drinking problem he kinda sorta mentioned comes out to play in the worst way. She doesn't recognize their life anymore. What happened to planning a future? She is too ashamed to talk about it so she hides her head in the sand until she can't. Now the whole town knows what is going on and Gabriel is going to be out of her life for a while. That's ok though. She can hang in there. She knows that they love each other. But then he files for divorce and she loses her grip on reality.
Fast forward to two years and Avery is writing a book. She has rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere and is on her way to pick up something for her sister's wedding when she runs into none other than Gabriel. The same Gabriel who didn't even talk to her about his decision. The same one who took away her choice. Gosh she finds herself still so drawn to him but she was so hurt. Slowly but surely they start to reconnect. They kind of dabble about what happened but there is just so much trauma and hurt. Avery finally finds herself having to make the decision- is their love worth having another go? Will she ever be able to trust him again?
Gabriel has moved far away from Phoenix. He hasn't talked to the love of his life for years. He did this on purpose. He wanted her to succeed and thrive. But then he sees her at this shop and realizes how much he was lying to himself. He only wants her to succeed and thrive with him. He loves her so much he only sees this as a sign that they really are meant to be together. Now he has his work cut out for him because he has to get her to see that too. Will his love be enough?
This was just a FANTASTIC read. Wonderful characters. Crash and burn romance with a plot twist of an HEA. Wonderful character growth. Large conversations around mental health, addiction, the loss of a sibling and best friend, and trauma. Very well done Jennifer. I have only read one other book by her and this one blew that one out of the water (in my opinion).
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jennifer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! HIGHLY recommend.
Avery and Gabriel fall hard and fast for each other. He literally saves her from a burning building. They move in with each other. Get married. Avery is working towards getting her career on track which means that Gabriel is supporting them. Slowly but surely Avery starts to see things that make her start to question other things. Gabriel never wants to talk about his brother who passed away. He has a hard relationship with his parents though he works with his dad. These are things she can work through but then something tragic happens at work for Gabriel. And EVERYTHING changes. His drinking problem he kinda sorta mentioned comes out to play in the worst way. She doesn't recognize their life anymore. What happened to planning a future? She is too ashamed to talk about it so she hides her head in the sand until she can't. Now the whole town knows what is going on and Gabriel is going to be out of her life for a while. That's ok though. She can hang in there. She knows that they love each other. But then he files for divorce and she loses her grip on reality.
Fast forward to two years and Avery is writing a book. She has rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere and is on her way to pick up something for her sister's wedding when she runs into none other than Gabriel. The same Gabriel who didn't even talk to her about his decision. The same one who took away her choice. Gosh she finds herself still so drawn to him but she was so hurt. Slowly but surely they start to reconnect. They kind of dabble about what happened but there is just so much trauma and hurt. Avery finally finds herself having to make the decision- is their love worth having another go? Will she ever be able to trust him again?
Gabriel has moved far away from Phoenix. He hasn't talked to the love of his life for years. He did this on purpose. He wanted her to succeed and thrive. But then he sees her at this shop and realizes how much he was lying to himself. He only wants her to succeed and thrive with him. He loves her so much he only sees this as a sign that they really are meant to be together. Now he has his work cut out for him because he has to get her to see that too. Will his love be enough?
This was just a FANTASTIC read. Wonderful characters. Crash and burn romance with a plot twist of an HEA. Wonderful character growth. Large conversations around mental health, addiction, the loss of a sibling and best friend, and trauma. Very well done Jennifer. I have only read one other book by her and this one blew that one out of the water (in my opinion).
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jennifer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! HIGHLY recommend.
Powerless by Elsie Silver
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I know a bajillion of you have already read this but this series is one where I would want to go back and read again for the first time to be able to experience them. They are just getting better and better and all of the tropes are so different and done perfectly. It is impressive to read how much Elsie's writing and storytelling has improved in each book. This one was just chef's kiss for me! I have only read a handful of friends to lovers but this one is making me want to read more of them. The angst is so different from others but yet so the same. The big hold up seems to be that they don't want to ruin what they already have by admitting their feelings. I loved both of these characters. I loved how kind of broken they were. I loved watching our "grump" that is Jasper come to the realization that he has feelings for Sloan. And Sloan realizing that he has feelings for her and holding her own. I kind of expected her to jump to him but she didn't. She ruminated. It made me admire her strength that much more.
Sloan doesn't recognize herself anymore. She has lost track of who she is and what she wants. She knows WHO she has always wanted, but that ship has sailed. So here she is on her wedding day getting ready to marry a man who she finds tolerable when she is handed a gift from the gods. Proof that she has lost her mind. And who ends up being her savior from the wedding from h*ll- Jasper Gervais. The love of her life who only sees her as a sister figure. Or so she thinks. He swoops in and gets her home. He talks her through her decision. He LISTENS to her. And now more bad news come ins about Beau. She can tell Jasper is spiraling and so she does what he did for her- she puts him first. She says yes to a road trip even though they will be in close proximity and she feels like she is losing her mind. Because Jasper is starting to look at her differently. She swears she has caught hints of desire in his eyes. But that can't be write. This is Jasper. The boy who has basically outright rejected her. But then the unthinkable happens. He admits he has feelings for her but he didn't know how to act on them. He admits he has had them for a while but then she got engaged. He admits she is who he wants. And that just pisses her off because WHAT?? This is what she has wanted to hear for almost 20 years and now he tells her. What has changed? Why is she overthinking this and not staking her claim? She finds out that Jasper has certain needs in the bedroom that he is worried will intimidate her- and of course they don't. Of course their chemistry is off the chain. So they are doing this. They are seeing where this goes. But what happens when her dad steps in? The same dad who did damage before without her knowledge. Will Jasper make a stand? Will he show her what she means to him?
Jasper feels dirty. He is realizing that his feelings have evolved for Sloan and he REALLY doesn't like who she is marrying. How has no one said anything to her? He almost doesn't recognize her. So he says what he thinks. Of course that's when he sees the fiery girls who so likes. But then it's her wedding day. He has missed his window because he is realizing that he really cares for her. He is attracted to her. But he never knew how to make a move. Then things change. She isn't getting married anymore. His career is in jeopardy. He is spiraling and who saves him- Sloan. She says yes to a road trip together. She says yes to eating greasy food and trying cheap beer. He decides to throw caution to the wind and tell her how he feels. And true to who she is- she gets mad at him. She fights it. She doesn't jump his bones like he thought. But he is a patient man. He can wait- but will she be ok with the needs he has? Has never been self-conscious of them but then again he has really never been in a relationship. But this is SLOAN he is talking about. She has already seen everything he is- one more thing won't scare her right? So now they are doing this. They are trying it. They are working and it is beautiful. He is happy. He is loving life. He is turning a corner. And then her dad steps in and he freezes. Will he be able to show Sloan all that she is to him?
The arcs for these characters was just epic in my opinion. They both grew and were stitched back together. Their spice was LEGIT OFF THE CHAIN! When he said crawl- I had to re-read it like 4 times to make sure I was seeing that right haha. They just made each other better which is all we want and hope for our MCs. The text banter was absolutely on point once again. And Harvey calling their babies tail babies was epic. His sense of humor is a thing that I love about these stories. I am looking forward to watching Winter and Theo!!
Quotes that hit hard for me:
"For too long, I was a soft, demure little dove. And then they burned me. Scorched me. Turns out I'm a dragon and I'm fed the F up with boys and their BS."
"I hate losing...and yet, to see him smile like that, I'd lose over and over again. Id' sit on a cold roof. I'd dance in the rain. I'd go on a road trip and drink s**** beer and eat greasy foods."
"I've never known a soul more truly present. The way he is? It speaks to me. It always has. He's like a warm blanket that I want to wrap myself up in. And when his eyes are bright and his smile is soft like right now? Forget it. He's breathtaking."
"No one was ever up to par for me. They were all just okay. Fine. Passable. And I had started to think I was too picky. The dating scene had turned into my own real-life version of one of those Wish.com memes. I kept placing an order for Jasper Gervais and the universe kept sending me these laughable cheap-A knockoffs."
Sloan doesn't recognize herself anymore. She has lost track of who she is and what she wants. She knows WHO she has always wanted, but that ship has sailed. So here she is on her wedding day getting ready to marry a man who she finds tolerable when she is handed a gift from the gods. Proof that she has lost her mind. And who ends up being her savior from the wedding from h*ll- Jasper Gervais. The love of her life who only sees her as a sister figure. Or so she thinks. He swoops in and gets her home. He talks her through her decision. He LISTENS to her. And now more bad news come ins about Beau. She can tell Jasper is spiraling and so she does what he did for her- she puts him first. She says yes to a road trip even though they will be in close proximity and she feels like she is losing her mind. Because Jasper is starting to look at her differently. She swears she has caught hints of desire in his eyes. But that can't be write. This is Jasper. The boy who has basically outright rejected her. But then the unthinkable happens. He admits he has feelings for her but he didn't know how to act on them. He admits he has had them for a while but then she got engaged. He admits she is who he wants. And that just pisses her off because WHAT?? This is what she has wanted to hear for almost 20 years and now he tells her. What has changed? Why is she overthinking this and not staking her claim? She finds out that Jasper has certain needs in the bedroom that he is worried will intimidate her- and of course they don't. Of course their chemistry is off the chain. So they are doing this. They are seeing where this goes. But what happens when her dad steps in? The same dad who did damage before without her knowledge. Will Jasper make a stand? Will he show her what she means to him?
Jasper feels dirty. He is realizing that his feelings have evolved for Sloan and he REALLY doesn't like who she is marrying. How has no one said anything to her? He almost doesn't recognize her. So he says what he thinks. Of course that's when he sees the fiery girls who so likes. But then it's her wedding day. He has missed his window because he is realizing that he really cares for her. He is attracted to her. But he never knew how to make a move. Then things change. She isn't getting married anymore. His career is in jeopardy. He is spiraling and who saves him- Sloan. She says yes to a road trip together. She says yes to eating greasy food and trying cheap beer. He decides to throw caution to the wind and tell her how he feels. And true to who she is- she gets mad at him. She fights it. She doesn't jump his bones like he thought. But he is a patient man. He can wait- but will she be ok with the needs he has? Has never been self-conscious of them but then again he has really never been in a relationship. But this is SLOAN he is talking about. She has already seen everything he is- one more thing won't scare her right? So now they are doing this. They are trying it. They are working and it is beautiful. He is happy. He is loving life. He is turning a corner. And then her dad steps in and he freezes. Will he be able to show Sloan all that she is to him?
The arcs for these characters was just epic in my opinion. They both grew and were stitched back together. Their spice was LEGIT OFF THE CHAIN! When he said crawl- I had to re-read it like 4 times to make sure I was seeing that right haha. They just made each other better which is all we want and hope for our MCs. The text banter was absolutely on point once again. And Harvey calling their babies tail babies was epic. His sense of humor is a thing that I love about these stories. I am looking forward to watching Winter and Theo!!
Quotes that hit hard for me:
"For too long, I was a soft, demure little dove. And then they burned me. Scorched me. Turns out I'm a dragon and I'm fed the F up with boys and their BS."
"I hate losing...and yet, to see him smile like that, I'd lose over and over again. Id' sit on a cold roof. I'd dance in the rain. I'd go on a road trip and drink s**** beer and eat greasy foods."
"I've never known a soul more truly present. The way he is? It speaks to me. It always has. He's like a warm blanket that I want to wrap myself up in. And when his eyes are bright and his smile is soft like right now? Forget it. He's breathtaking."
"No one was ever up to par for me. They were all just okay. Fine. Passable. And I had started to think I was too picky. The dating scene had turned into my own real-life version of one of those Wish.com memes. I kept placing an order for Jasper Gervais and the universe kept sending me these laughable cheap-A knockoffs."
Frozen Over by Ruth Stilling
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really like this world and was excited to get to read the reawakening of Zach Evans! I liked these characters a lot. I also liked the snippets we got of Jon and Felicity and then Kate and Jensen (their book is going to be epic- I just KNOW it!). Zach is a bit broken at the beginning of this book. Not necessarily in grump mode but definitely closed off. Watching him unravel and open up with Luna was wonderful! It's like he realized that he had been looking at women wrong the whole time. She was supportive and pushy and had great energy. Meanwhile Luna gets the chance she never got with Zach. I have to say I got a LITTLE bit annoyed with how she tried to push Zach away BUT at the same time get it was for the right reasons (at least in her head).
What a s**t show the end of last season was for Zach. The woman he thought he loved tells him she is pregnant but that it might not be his. So Zach spirals. He moves home to Florida to fix up his house there. He has no expectations but to get better after a terrible injury and lick his wounds. What he doesn't expect is Luna Johnson. The girl he kind of had a crush on back in the day before she started dating his friend. The girl who has volunteered to help him fix up his house. The girl he can't stop thinking about even though he knows he has nothing to offer right now. But then as the summer goes on that starts to shift. He can picture a future with her. She is his sunshine. She makes him feel like himself again. She is supportive and everything he wants in a partner, but then she says they have to go back to being just friends. He doesn't know if that is possible with the summer they have just experienced together. He decides that he will take what she will give but his goal is going to be to get her to move to Seattle. He is determined to show her what she means to him which is the world. Will it be enough though?
Luna is on summer break and to her surprise Zach Evans is home. The Zach Evans that she has been crushing on for forever. The one she has kind of just thrown herself at by offering to help him fix up his house this summer. The one that is starting to look at her differently than he used to. Does he feel it too? This chemistry brewing between them. She makes her move and it pays off. But she has to remind herself it is only for the summer. They live on opposite coasts. She doesn't want to hold him back anymore than he already has been. She wants to be supportive of him not a hinderance. But then she realizes that is all a lie because she wants him. She just has to decide if she should listen to her heart or reason?
This was a fast paced read with a medium burn. Their chemistry was fantastic. Zach was the absolute best book boyfriend. He treated his woman like a QUEEN even when she was "just his friend." I cannot wait for more from these characters and this world- next is Kate and Jensen. And as we all know there is a fine line between love and hate LOL. Hope you guys enjoy this one!
What a s**t show the end of last season was for Zach. The woman he thought he loved tells him she is pregnant but that it might not be his. So Zach spirals. He moves home to Florida to fix up his house there. He has no expectations but to get better after a terrible injury and lick his wounds. What he doesn't expect is Luna Johnson. The girl he kind of had a crush on back in the day before she started dating his friend. The girl who has volunteered to help him fix up his house. The girl he can't stop thinking about even though he knows he has nothing to offer right now. But then as the summer goes on that starts to shift. He can picture a future with her. She is his sunshine. She makes him feel like himself again. She is supportive and everything he wants in a partner, but then she says they have to go back to being just friends. He doesn't know if that is possible with the summer they have just experienced together. He decides that he will take what she will give but his goal is going to be to get her to move to Seattle. He is determined to show her what she means to him which is the world. Will it be enough though?
Luna is on summer break and to her surprise Zach Evans is home. The Zach Evans that she has been crushing on for forever. The one she has kind of just thrown herself at by offering to help him fix up his house this summer. The one that is starting to look at her differently than he used to. Does he feel it too? This chemistry brewing between them. She makes her move and it pays off. But she has to remind herself it is only for the summer. They live on opposite coasts. She doesn't want to hold him back anymore than he already has been. She wants to be supportive of him not a hinderance. But then she realizes that is all a lie because she wants him. She just has to decide if she should listen to her heart or reason?
This was a fast paced read with a medium burn. Their chemistry was fantastic. Zach was the absolute best book boyfriend. He treated his woman like a QUEEN even when she was "just his friend." I cannot wait for more from these characters and this world- next is Kate and Jensen. And as we all know there is a fine line between love and hate LOL. Hope you guys enjoy this one!
The Summer I First Saw You by Elizabeth O'Roark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was my intro to this world! I have had this series on my radar for a bit and even have the first one, but when I got the ARC for this one obviously I had to jump in. I will say that though this is able to be read as a standalone, I feel that I would have known more about these characters and others had I read the others first. All that being said- this book was GREAT! It was a true SLOW burn yall. The buildup was perfect. These characters were pretty perfect for each. We have Daisy who has been secretly crushing on Harrison from a far since she was a kid. And then Harrison who has been checking all of his boxes in his life plan not really thinking through what he would do if his life plan fell apart. They have history together. They have trust. I LOVED how Daisy helped Harrison get out of his shell- she helped him realize how to change his priorities and recognize what he could be doing with his life. Meanwhile Harrison helped Daisy feel understood and not as a placeholder for something or someone else but for her and who she is as a woman. This book was HOT too- loved the touch her and die vibes and how Harrison's brother was messing with him to bring that side out. I also think Harrison was kind of a grump so again watching him unravel was FUN! All that being said- there are some heavier topics discussed so I would check TWs if that gives you pause.
Daisy is going home for the summer. She needs it after the semester she just went through. The semester from hell that NO ONE knows about but herself. Then of course she gets home and her stepfather Scott is being his lovely self and so she decides she is going to "break into" her uncle's BF's house. Harrison. The man she has been crushing on from afar for forever. The man who is married to the worst woman in Daisy's opinion. He is supposed to be traveling so imagine Daisy's surprise when he finds her entering his home and he is drunk. Like drunk drunk. There is clearly more going on in his life than he is letting on. So Daisy sets her sights on making him smile again. Making him come alive again. Making him become the man she wants. Meanwhile she is going to use this time to reset and surf and remember what matters to her. But when Harrison starts looking at her like a woman and not the kid he remembers her as, her plans change. She is now determined to unlock him in a totally different way. She has to keep reminding herself though that she has to go back to school in August. She has to go back early for reasons no one knows, but when her and Harrison finally happen she falls harder than she thought. Could they make it work from afar? Or will he get tired of her like the men in her past have? Could they go the distance even though their relationship is considered taboo? What will happen when everyone finds out?
Harrison is in hiding. He has lied to his friends about having a fake GF to disguise that his marriage has imploded. The thing is that he isnt even upset about the implosion. He is upset that his life has become derailed. He is realizing that he has made the wrong choices and instead of doing what he wants, he has been doing the life that he thought he wanted. Now he is just going to hide away until he can talk about it. Or that is the plan until Daisy shows up. His best friend's niece who is NOT the 16 year old he remembers but has become this beautiful woman with luscious curves and some sass that he kind of needs right now. He absolutely can't go there though. And he tries to fight it. Lord does he try but then he realizes that she is what he wants and he is done doing what he should do. So he makes a move and MAN does it pay off. They fall into a regular rhythm. He knows she is hiding things from her past and of course it bothers him but he trusts she will share when she is ready. He does NOT expect what she tells him and how it makes him feel like he is in the wrong. He knew they would have to end when she went back to school but had kind of started thinking maybe they could go the distance. Will he be able to get out of his head and realize they could before it's too late?
While this was a slow burn, it was an easy fast read. I enjoyed watching this world come together and am sad to hear this is the last one in the series. I found myself hopeful in this one. I smiled and laughed out loud at Daisy's sass to the world. I loved her carefree energy. I also found myself heartbroken for her and what she had gone through. But wow what a strong woman. Her and Harrison were just YUM. And I just got the novella of their wedding- diving in now!!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Elizabeth for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review :)
Daisy is going home for the summer. She needs it after the semester she just went through. The semester from hell that NO ONE knows about but herself. Then of course she gets home and her stepfather Scott is being his lovely self and so she decides she is going to "break into" her uncle's BF's house. Harrison. The man she has been crushing on from afar for forever. The man who is married to the worst woman in Daisy's opinion. He is supposed to be traveling so imagine Daisy's surprise when he finds her entering his home and he is drunk. Like drunk drunk. There is clearly more going on in his life than he is letting on. So Daisy sets her sights on making him smile again. Making him come alive again. Making him become the man she wants. Meanwhile she is going to use this time to reset and surf and remember what matters to her. But when Harrison starts looking at her like a woman and not the kid he remembers her as, her plans change. She is now determined to unlock him in a totally different way. She has to keep reminding herself though that she has to go back to school in August. She has to go back early for reasons no one knows, but when her and Harrison finally happen she falls harder than she thought. Could they make it work from afar? Or will he get tired of her like the men in her past have? Could they go the distance even though their relationship is considered taboo? What will happen when everyone finds out?
Harrison is in hiding. He has lied to his friends about having a fake GF to disguise that his marriage has imploded. The thing is that he isnt even upset about the implosion. He is upset that his life has become derailed. He is realizing that he has made the wrong choices and instead of doing what he wants, he has been doing the life that he thought he wanted. Now he is just going to hide away until he can talk about it. Or that is the plan until Daisy shows up. His best friend's niece who is NOT the 16 year old he remembers but has become this beautiful woman with luscious curves and some sass that he kind of needs right now. He absolutely can't go there though. And he tries to fight it. Lord does he try but then he realizes that she is what he wants and he is done doing what he should do. So he makes a move and MAN does it pay off. They fall into a regular rhythm. He knows she is hiding things from her past and of course it bothers him but he trusts she will share when she is ready. He does NOT expect what she tells him and how it makes him feel like he is in the wrong. He knew they would have to end when she went back to school but had kind of started thinking maybe they could go the distance. Will he be able to get out of his head and realize they could before it's too late?
While this was a slow burn, it was an easy fast read. I enjoyed watching this world come together and am sad to hear this is the last one in the series. I found myself hopeful in this one. I smiled and laughed out loud at Daisy's sass to the world. I loved her carefree energy. I also found myself heartbroken for her and what she had gone through. But wow what a strong woman. Her and Harrison were just YUM. And I just got the novella of their wedding- diving in now!!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Elizabeth for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review :)
Swear on My Life by S.L. Scott
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This series has been popping up on my feed for a minute, and so I decided to finally dive in to see what the fuss was all about. Also I have to say that SL Scott's male model covers are GORGEOUS...moving on LOL. I liked this one. It was unexpectedly better than I thought. I liked the meet cute and then the redo meet cute. I liked the characters themselves and the whole "wrong side" of the tracks vibe. I haven't read a college romance in a bit but I enjoyed the depth here. This was a boy whose family is loaded who has all the privilege that is possible and he falls for a girl who works for the catering company that his family uses. They have more in common than they would think. I loved and hated Harbor's sacrifice- I understand the reasoning but man did that hurt. And I liked the unexpected separation of several YEARS. This was an unknown second chance novel for me and I LOVED that bit of it.
Lark is working towards her dream of being a doctor. She is working as many jobs as she can while also studying and getting the grades she needs to be able to get to where she wants to go. She doesn't have time for anything else which is why she is so resistant at first of Harbor. The hottie she meets at a gas station of all places. The same one who she finds herself working for at his family's house. The same one who doesn't seem to take no for an answer. Now she has a boyfriend who is also premed so they can study together. But she really doesn't seem to grasp the wealth and options he has. Either way she falls for him and the story they weave of their future together. She helps him through his darkness that is his cousin's death. She supports him how she can. She feels supported and is excited when they both get into the school they want to go to. Harbor feels like home to her so she doesn't question how fast things are going. But then Harbor disappears from thin air. He misses her graduation. He leaves without a trace. She is broken but keeps her eye on the prize of med school and beyond. But then he is back. He wants a do over. He wants to explain. But can she open her heart to him and trust he wont bail again? Can she trust her feelings for him?
Harbor is at a low point. He seems to just be coasting at this point. His life has not been the same since his cousin died. Especially since no one knows what really happened. But then he meets Lark whose name has a whole meaning behind it that he will tell her someday, and he feels like a new man. He has a purpose again. Something to help make him smile. Something to put his focus back on. Something to maybe help him FEEL things again. And he finds himself falling hard for her. He doesn't care that she doesn't have money or that she didn't grow up how he did. He does everything he can to make her comfortable and feel supported. He wants her dreams to come true. He wants to be her number one cheerleader which is why when her dreams have a possibility of not happening he pulls out all the stops. He calls on his family. They don't agree but he doesn't care. He is doing this for Lark. He is sacrificing them for her and he hopes that she will be able to forgive him because he is going to come back when she least expects it. He just hopes he won't be too late.
Like I said the timeline in this story was very unique for me. I can't think of another one like it which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it as much as I did. I liked the pacing and how their feelings developed- it took me back to college! I am really looking forward to continuing on through the Westcott family and seeing who all they end up with. I think I am most looking forward to the playboy- those are always fun to watch settle down. I would definitely recommend this series if you haven't already started it!
Lark is working towards her dream of being a doctor. She is working as many jobs as she can while also studying and getting the grades she needs to be able to get to where she wants to go. She doesn't have time for anything else which is why she is so resistant at first of Harbor. The hottie she meets at a gas station of all places. The same one who she finds herself working for at his family's house. The same one who doesn't seem to take no for an answer. Now she has a boyfriend who is also premed so they can study together. But she really doesn't seem to grasp the wealth and options he has. Either way she falls for him and the story they weave of their future together. She helps him through his darkness that is his cousin's death. She supports him how she can. She feels supported and is excited when they both get into the school they want to go to. Harbor feels like home to her so she doesn't question how fast things are going. But then Harbor disappears from thin air. He misses her graduation. He leaves without a trace. She is broken but keeps her eye on the prize of med school and beyond. But then he is back. He wants a do over. He wants to explain. But can she open her heart to him and trust he wont bail again? Can she trust her feelings for him?
Harbor is at a low point. He seems to just be coasting at this point. His life has not been the same since his cousin died. Especially since no one knows what really happened. But then he meets Lark whose name has a whole meaning behind it that he will tell her someday, and he feels like a new man. He has a purpose again. Something to help make him smile. Something to put his focus back on. Something to maybe help him FEEL things again. And he finds himself falling hard for her. He doesn't care that she doesn't have money or that she didn't grow up how he did. He does everything he can to make her comfortable and feel supported. He wants her dreams to come true. He wants to be her number one cheerleader which is why when her dreams have a possibility of not happening he pulls out all the stops. He calls on his family. They don't agree but he doesn't care. He is doing this for Lark. He is sacrificing them for her and he hopes that she will be able to forgive him because he is going to come back when she least expects it. He just hopes he won't be too late.
Like I said the timeline in this story was very unique for me. I can't think of another one like it which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it as much as I did. I liked the pacing and how their feelings developed- it took me back to college! I am really looking forward to continuing on through the Westcott family and seeing who all they end up with. I think I am most looking forward to the playboy- those are always fun to watch settle down. I would definitely recommend this series if you haven't already started it!
Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I legit LOVE this series! I love these characters. I love this world. I love how they seem to be getting better and better. I mean this is the 14th book in this series, and I feel more invested than before. I do wish there was a little more open door scenes but at the same time how Patricia handles those scenes fits with the rest of her writing. I also feel like there are a lot more of these to come. It just seems like this world is getting bigger!
Mercy and Adam have found themselves involved in yet another adventure. Mercy's brother has showed up at their house but can't seem to see or speak. Mercy relies on her relationships to figure out how to best fix the situation and finds herself in the middle of Montana in a terrible storm with her mate. They end up in a deserted resort with fae, goblins and vampires. Sounds like a bad bar joke LOL. There is more at play than meets the eye. Are these people working together or against each other? There is a wedding that is supposed to happen and a missing musical instrument. Oh and also another creature that has power unlike anything Mercy has encountered before. And during all of this they all have to remember the traditions and things they can't say. Will they be able to stop the end of the world before it is too late? At this point it does seem like they can handle anything that gets thrown at them.
I enjoyed watching all of the revelations that we had in this one. Watching Sherwood's power unfold. The wolf interactions. Mercy having remnants of the Soul Taker and how that has affected her bond with Adam. And of course Zie and the reminder that the big bad vamp still wants Mercy. If you haven't picked up this series or her other one (Alpha & Omega) I absolutely recommend it. They are entertaining in every possible way!!
Mercy and Adam have found themselves involved in yet another adventure. Mercy's brother has showed up at their house but can't seem to see or speak. Mercy relies on her relationships to figure out how to best fix the situation and finds herself in the middle of Montana in a terrible storm with her mate. They end up in a deserted resort with fae, goblins and vampires. Sounds like a bad bar joke LOL. There is more at play than meets the eye. Are these people working together or against each other? There is a wedding that is supposed to happen and a missing musical instrument. Oh and also another creature that has power unlike anything Mercy has encountered before. And during all of this they all have to remember the traditions and things they can't say. Will they be able to stop the end of the world before it is too late? At this point it does seem like they can handle anything that gets thrown at them.
I enjoyed watching all of the revelations that we had in this one. Watching Sherwood's power unfold. The wolf interactions. Mercy having remnants of the Soul Taker and how that has affected her bond with Adam. And of course Zie and the reminder that the big bad vamp still wants Mercy. If you haven't picked up this series or her other one (Alpha & Omega) I absolutely recommend it. They are entertaining in every possible way!!
Broken Pact by Penelope Black
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my first book by Penelope Black, and I REALLY enjoyed it. I am a SUCKER for second chances and this one did not disappoint. I liked the characters. I liked the added MC element. I liked the world building. I definitely felt ok reading this as a standalone but found myself intrigued by the Rosewood characters. I also enjoyed the suspense- if done well I think that can add a lot to a story. It was clear from the beginning that Jasper and Coraline still had feelings for each other. I liked the pacing- everything felt natural. I enjoyed watching Jasper try to play it cool when his plan the whole time was to get Coraline to agree to make their fake thing not a fake thing. I also enjoyed reading Coraline unravel while trying to convince herself what she was feeling was fake.
Coraline is following her dream. She is using the money her grandma left her to open her own bakery. She doesn't anticipate the building that she is renting being sold and now being blackmailed by someone unknown. She doesn't anticipate her ex making waves and trying to get her back. But what she really doesn't anticipate is her ex Jagger AKA Jasper coming to her rescue. Now she finds herself fake dating him to keep everyone at bay. But she realizes that what she is feeling isn't fake. Maybe she misunderstood what she saw a few years ago. Maybe she made a rash decision when she left and ended what they had without a word. She feels at home with him. He is supportive and builds her up. Maybe they should see if they could go the distance because the way he looks at her makes her think he is feeling the same thing. But now her insecurities are at play. She is finding things out that he didn't tell her but was it to protect her? Is she going to stick around and find out?
Jasper AKA Jagger has won the lottery. He has been thinking about Coraline on the reg for the last two years. Ever since she left unexpectedly without a word and then started treating him like he was the enemy. Now he realizes that she needs his help- so he presents a solution. He wants to fake date for a bit. He wants his mom off his back about settling down and he can keep her ex at bay. His real plan though is to see if he can get her to open up and drop the walls that she has built around herself. He wants to see if they still have the chemistry that they had before. If what he is imagining and remembering is as good. Of course it is better and he finds himself letting her in when he hasn't really before. He finds himself falling hard and fast. He will do anything for her. He will protect her and make sure she is good even if it is from her family and friends. He tells himself he is doing things to help her and will tell her at their own pace. But what happens if someone tells her one of his moves before he can? Will she run again? Will he be able to prove how much she means to him before it's too late?
Like I said, I enjoyed this one. I had a hard time liking Coraline's family- especially her mom but that might just be me. I found myself wanting to see who Hawke is going to end up with- the scene with the three of them was HOT by the way! But to my understanding the rest of the series will revolve around Coraline's brothers and sister? Either way I am in for more!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Penelope for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
Coraline is following her dream. She is using the money her grandma left her to open her own bakery. She doesn't anticipate the building that she is renting being sold and now being blackmailed by someone unknown. She doesn't anticipate her ex making waves and trying to get her back. But what she really doesn't anticipate is her ex Jagger AKA Jasper coming to her rescue. Now she finds herself fake dating him to keep everyone at bay. But she realizes that what she is feeling isn't fake. Maybe she misunderstood what she saw a few years ago. Maybe she made a rash decision when she left and ended what they had without a word. She feels at home with him. He is supportive and builds her up. Maybe they should see if they could go the distance because the way he looks at her makes her think he is feeling the same thing. But now her insecurities are at play. She is finding things out that he didn't tell her but was it to protect her? Is she going to stick around and find out?
Jasper AKA Jagger has won the lottery. He has been thinking about Coraline on the reg for the last two years. Ever since she left unexpectedly without a word and then started treating him like he was the enemy. Now he realizes that she needs his help- so he presents a solution. He wants to fake date for a bit. He wants his mom off his back about settling down and he can keep her ex at bay. His real plan though is to see if he can get her to open up and drop the walls that she has built around herself. He wants to see if they still have the chemistry that they had before. If what he is imagining and remembering is as good. Of course it is better and he finds himself letting her in when he hasn't really before. He finds himself falling hard and fast. He will do anything for her. He will protect her and make sure she is good even if it is from her family and friends. He tells himself he is doing things to help her and will tell her at their own pace. But what happens if someone tells her one of his moves before he can? Will she run again? Will he be able to prove how much she means to him before it's too late?
Like I said, I enjoyed this one. I had a hard time liking Coraline's family- especially her mom but that might just be me. I found myself wanting to see who Hawke is going to end up with- the scene with the three of them was HOT by the way! But to my understanding the rest of the series will revolve around Coraline's brothers and sister? Either way I am in for more!
Thank you to Valentine PR and Penelope for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had a harder time with this one than I would have thought. I enjoyed book 1 but it took me a lot longer to get into this one. I think there was just a little too much going on from the jump. We are getting 3 different women's POVs and until almost halfway through the book do not really understand how they are connected. Somehow Audrey and Jackson were worse in this one than the last one- just straight up despicable people. I did like getting glimpses into Audrey's past but man it was so much worse than I could have thought. I also don't like it when it is so unclear what is happening that there is a full rundown at the end- I feel like you should be able to pick up on more throughout the book.
Daphne- Her oldest daughter is confused and angry as to why she can't be in her dad's life. Daphne is convinced to go back East for the summer so that Tallulah can get to hang out with her dad. Of course s*it hits the fan when they get there. I did enjoy reading the challenges that Daphne was facing with trying to protect her children without making them hate their dad.
Audrey- Has moved on with her life. She is focusing on the next con. She does not anticipate Jackson to get out of jail when he does. She does not anticipate him catching on to her con or being willing to help her with it. But of course he has aces up his sleeve- is she prepared for them though?
Daisy- Her dad was killed a few years ago by a younger woman. When Daisy runs into said woman at a trunk show for her jewelry line all bets are off. Daisy will stop at nothing to get this woman arrested for the crimes she committed.
This wasn't terrible but also not my fave. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Daphne- Her oldest daughter is confused and angry as to why she can't be in her dad's life. Daphne is convinced to go back East for the summer so that Tallulah can get to hang out with her dad. Of course s*it hits the fan when they get there. I did enjoy reading the challenges that Daphne was facing with trying to protect her children without making them hate their dad.
Audrey- Has moved on with her life. She is focusing on the next con. She does not anticipate Jackson to get out of jail when he does. She does not anticipate him catching on to her con or being willing to help her with it. But of course he has aces up his sleeve- is she prepared for them though?
Daisy- Her dad was killed a few years ago by a younger woman. When Daisy runs into said woman at a trunk show for her jewelry line all bets are off. Daisy will stop at nothing to get this woman arrested for the crimes she committed.
This wasn't terrible but also not my fave. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!