I had a week that was heavy on ARCs that were all excellent. I am really enjoying meeting new authors through the blogging process, especially when they are this good. We readers have a lot of fantastic books to read in the month of December. I can honestly recommend all of this week's reads. I wish you happy reading.
Some books just deliver more. More emotion, more heat, more story, real
characters…just more. Jessica Peterson
does that with this book. This book is
written in first person from a dual POV.
Samuel and Emma felt so real to me. Their struggles felt real. Their chemistry is out of this world. The heat they generate is fantastic- right
out of the gate. I loved their innuendo
laced banter. I loved that he is a big
guy unafraid to make a fashion statement.
I love that she has worked her way through some crappy jobs to get to a
place where she is seeing success as a sommelier. I understand why Samuel is put off by her
presence in the beginning. Does he act
like a jerk? Yes! Does she keep proving him wrong? Yes. I love that they subvert power dynamics in
the bedroom in order to be true to who they are. I love that they can be themselves with each
other. The comfort level they have
physically from the beginning is powerful.
I melted when Samuel cracks open his armored heart and falls hard for
Emma. They have some stuff to get
through to get to their HEA, but they make it.
Samuel’s family is intense in a good way and I loved
them. I loved getting to know Hank a
little better in this book and I can’t wait to read his story coming up
next. I want so badly for him to get his
HEA.
This was my first book by this author, and I am
impressed. I don’t read very many
college-age romances, but this one sucked me right into the story. It is written in first person from a dual
POV.
One of the things I love about hockey romance is the
camaraderie between the players on the team.
This book definitely has that, and I can promise you that I will be
going back and reading the previous books in this series. The humor and goofiness among the players are
hilarious. The respect they have for
each other and their love of the game ties them tightly together like a family. The support they offer Hugo when it is
obvious how hard he has fallen for Crash is perfect. I love that their friendship is never in
question and that his relationship has zero effect on the core of his
team. Both Hugo and Crash’s parents are
both so supportive of the choices their sons make and I loved that they both
had such an incredible support system.
Hugo and Crash are both written as complex characters. I love that they have been best friends since
childhood despite their differences.
Hugo embodies one of my favorite types of hero. He is a big, big guy with a soft heart and an
accepting spirit. I love that he is
fully masculine yet loves poetry. I love
that he is a protector by nature and looks out for Crash when he fails to look
out for himself. I love his willingness
to be vulnerable to Crash both physically and emotionally. I love his desire to work for their
relationship and his recognition that a successful relationship takes
work. I love when he stands up for his
needs and learns to voice them in their relationship.
Crash is a character unlike any I have ever read. He has been abused, broken, used, and
discarded to the point that he no longer sees himself as worthy of more. On the outside he exudes a sassy confidence
that is not completely authentic. He has
so much growing and healing to do for his relationship with Hugo to
succeed. I love that he is
unapologetically feminine at times. I
love that he embraces his sense of style and his fabulous shoe collection. I love when he finally embraces the
acceptance and love Hugo offers him.
More than anything, I love when he finally shows up for Hugo the Hugo
has always shown up for him. He grows so
much over the course of the book. It was
a real joy to read about his evolution over the course of their story.
There is a lot of heat in the physical scenes between Hugo
and Crash. However, what I loved was the
love between them that is so obviously portrayed through the physical
element. The vulnerability they show
each other in the bedroom felt real and it was heart melting. The epilogue shows their relationship 8 years
later, and it is the perfect wrap up to their story with an incredibly sweet,
hard-earned HEA. This may be one of my
favorite M/M romances ever. I highly
recommend.
5 STARS
Bianca and Jack’s story is a stand alone in the Single Moms
of Seattle series. It is written in
third person from dual POV.
Bianca is barely afloat in her new life as a single mom when
she runs into some trouble at work on a day that has only been bad. Thankfully, Jack appears and comes to her
rescue. Their relationship is marked by
an instant and undeniable attraction and an understanding that it can only last
through the summer, then Jack has to leave.
Bianca is a fierce woman who I liked instantly. She is not afraid to stand up for herself and
occasionally her mouth gets her in trouble.
I loved her spunk, her passion, and how hard she was trying to keep it
all together. Throughout the book, I
admired her ability to communicate clearly to avoid having Jack misconstrue her
feelings. I love the heat between the
characters, and it is HOT. I love the
supportive friendships that Bianca has as well has her tight relationships with
her family. Her kids are super
adorable! Little Charlie especially
stole my heart. His interactions with
his sisters and with Jack were cute and memorable.
Jack is a big rough looking guy with a past he has
overcome. He has a protective and
possessive demeanor when it comes to Bianca.
Reading as he falls for her and her kids was heartwarming and
special. I loved his interactions with
her kids. I loved that he boosted her up
in so many ways. I love that he was
there to protect her in a couple different situations.
The characters are well-developed, the plot and pacing are on point, and the book is well-written. I really enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down. There is humor, heart, and heat in this story about living the life you choose to live. I will be reading more books by this author.
Alex and Delilah share a story where fate brings them back
together in a chance meeting. That
meeting leads to what begins as a long-distance relationship, and finally a
sweet HEA. This book is written in first
person from a dual POV.
Delilah did not have a good childhood. She has learned to withhold trust and to rely
only on herself to get through. Alex is
a great guy with a great family. He is
drawn to Delilah and understands her in a way that is soul deep. They have an instant chemistry and are very
hot together. Supporting characters are
wonderful, and I am sure I would recognize them if I had read more of this
series before this book. I liked the fated aspect of the story. I feel like the elements of the long-distance
relationship were handled very well. The
setting of Alaska is interesting, but largely fictional to Alaskan geographic
reality. After living in Alaska for 26
years, I find I am more critical of stories set in Alaska than an average
reader when it comes to geographic creativity.
Aside from that I really enjoyed the story and I will be reading more
books by this author.
Lark convinces his friend Da’Nika to help him out by playing
his fake fiancée when his parents arrive for the holidays. They both soon discover that they do not need
to pretend to have feelings for each other.
Set in Mistletoe, Montana, this holiday novella is super cute but still
packs some heat. The characters are
well-written and likable. The little
town is charming and keeps its Christmas theme year- round. Lark’s family and Da’Nika’s best friend are
supportive and offer some opportunities for laughs. I am definitely going to have to check out
the rest of the Mistletoe, Montana series as it releases this holiday
season. This novella is a perfect quick
holiday read for the busy, busy season.
It is written in first person from dual POV.
This was my first book by this author, but I will certainly
be reading more. This holiday book is
written in first person from a dual POV.
Julia is a second-grade teacher in the small town of Bright,
Vermont. When she grows concerned about
one of her students, she decides to confront his parents. When she does, a passionate argument ensues
between her and the boy’s single father When she ends up in a car accident, The
boy’s father, Buck insists that she spent the weekend at his house to recover.
Buck and Julia both have some baggage that makes it
difficult for them to get close to other people. When they meet there is a mutual and intense physical
attraction. Buck is a big, bear of a man
and Julia goes toe to toe with him. When
they spend more time together, it does not take Buck long to figure out that
Julia is a person who cares deeply and has spunk. He makes some mistakes along the way and
there are some external factors that attempt to keep them apart but ultimately
fail. The HEA for this couple is sweet
and sexy.
The small-town atmosphere is perfectly captured in this
book. Julia is a likable character who
sometimes reacts in a naïve manner. Buck
is a softy under a gruff shell. Once he
allows his armor to crumble, he is a lovable guy. I love the affection and expectations he has
for his son, Cole. Cole is absolutely adorable,
and he completely stole my heart as well as Julia’s. The book is well-written, and the pace is on-point. Buck and Julia share an insta-lust that
becomes insta-love. It is like they are
connected on a deeper level and their subconscious minds draw them together. I love that the book takes place over the holidays
and addresses the role that grief can play into how a person responds to the
normal joy of the season. There is a
depth to the book that I did not expect and it was a joy to read. I will be returning to this author again very
soon to read more of her work.
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