Rachel, Out of Office by Christina Hovland
ARC: Release Date- 1/25/2021
#SingleMomRomance #ForbiddenRomance #ARC
5 STARS
Rachel is the single mom who does whatever it takes to hold
it all together. Working from home,
juggling twin boys, her ex and his family is a lot, but she grits her teeth and
makes it happen. But whenever you are juggling
plates, it is only a matter of time before something has to give. Rachel learns that to be happy, she must let
go of her perfectionism and ideas of what is right or wrong. Instead, she must embrace all that brings her
joy, even if that means embracing Travis, her former brother-in-law.
Most moms will be able to relate to Rachel and the chaos
that is her life. I appreciated her
insecurities and her stoicism to do whatever she needs to do for her boys. Travis was a delightful surprise. His charm, the feelings he has, and his
desire to care for Rachel is evident from the beginning. I was obvious to me that he had harbored deep
feelings for Rachel for a long time. I
love how he put her happiness at the forefront and was willing to stand up to
anyone who got it the way of that- even Rachel herself. I appreciated Rachel’s, ex, Gavin, who was
trying to do the right thing, even when he failed miserably. I love the communication that Rachel and
Gavin have as co-parents and the friendship they share for their twins. I really appreciated the physical chemistry
between Rachel and Travis as well as the swoon-y feelings they share. Those
feelings swelled from my e-reader screen and enveloped me in a warm and fluttery
hug. There is humor woven into the story
as well as sage mom advice leading each chapter.
I was not sure how the author was going to overcome the
hurdles that Travis and Rachel faced to be together. I love it when a book keeps me guessing. I was incredibly pleased with the HEA and how
it was accomplished. This book brought all
the feelings out in me and I loved it.
It is well-written in third person from a dual POV. The pacing is perfect and the characters well-developed
and likable. I recommend that readers add it to their TBR
and read this book as soon as they can for the good feelings it brings.
| 4.5 STARS Eddie is an up-and-coming TV actor and Birdie is an art history museum archivist. They have been best friends for six years, since they met in class at UCLA. Their story is written in first person from dual POV and contains several chapters of communication via text and transcribed voicemails. Eddie is the brother of Declan from a Very Bossy Christmas, and there are several cameos and an epilogue written by Pipier, Maddie’s niece. This book can be read as a standalone, but readers might like to read Declan’s book first, especially to get a feel for Eddie’s extended family. The chemistry between Eddie and Birdie is fierce and undeniable. Eddie puts Birdie and her needs first a lot, without even realizing he is doing it. Only after they spend time together in a cross-country train does clarity really come to him as he realizes that he loves Birdie. I love how charming Eddie is and how fun and flirtatious his character is. Birdie is a joy, and she never hesitates to take the handsome actor down a peg when he needs it. I love their friends-to-lovers story. There is heat and many laugh out loud moments. I especially love Eddie’s interactions with his mom and his big brother Declan. I love the texts and voicemails that communicate so much. Eddie really gives Birdie a swoon-y Valentine’s Day and they end up with a charming HEA. |
3.5 STARS
Arianna is a tough businesswoman with a successful club. Blake is a star goalie for an NHL hockey team making a comeback from an injury. When they run into each other, sparks fly. Their story is written in first person from a dual POV.
I loved Arianna and her heart for her family. I love the multicultural dimension to her story with her Filipino heritage. I really enjoyed that the author incorporated foods, language and traditions that were important to Arianna into the story. Blake has a good heart, despite having his father push him ruthlessly, and often unkindly. I really felt for him as he tries to recover from his injury, face challenges with a good attitude, fall in love, and figure out his life, all at once. His father comes around at the end of the book, but it never really felt true- maybe because the speed of it. I would have preferred to either have him be less harsh in the beginning or for there to have been a larger event which changed his heart.
I felt the characters were well developed and complex. The plot was good. There were times when the writing felt a little stilted, especially during some dialogue scenes and during the intimate moments. I think some of that was just word choice. The pacing was ok, but I found that there were some scenes that had a lot of unnecessary detail while others may have benefited from more details and exposition. I think the conclusion could have used a little more development as it felt like it wrapped up a little too fast. The editing was quite good, even with the advance review copy, which sometimes contains errors. Overall, I really did like the book. The characters were especially likable. This author is new to me and pretty new overall. I feel like she has a lot of potential and that she is one to watch. I will be reading her next book to follow her writing and more of these wonderful characters.
Amelia is the manager of a run down hotel in Auburn Hill (Hell) and Titus is a contractor who has been her best friend since they were 12. He has always loved her, and she has always been oblivious. Amelia is a bit of a wild child and she comes across very immature at times. She has a tendency to make bad decisions without a lot of remorse. Titus, on the other hand, is a goofy lovable hero with a heart of gold. I adored him. His patience with Amelia was extraordinary. He has big dreams, is a hard worker, and a fine man. Honestly, I felt like he deserved more than Amelia and her volatile personality.
I love the friend group and how they support each other. Some new details are revealed about some of the town mysteries and some things we have wondered throughout the series are revealed. This was an entertaining read with a HEA and a bonus epilogue that includes Vegas and an Elvis impersonator
Side Hustle (Jobs from Hell #4) by Marika Ray
ARC: Release Date 1/14/2021
#OppositesAttract #ARC
4 STARS
| The final book in the Jobs from Hell series tells the story of Hazel & Rip. They both come from dysfunctional family situations and were friend until one day on high school when everything changed. Hazel is bubbly, fun, and does not seem to take anything too seriously. She is always up for a party and works multiple jobs to get by. Some of her jobs were unpleasant sounding and not what I would want to do at all. I love how she encourages Rip to get out and have a little fun. Rip is quiet, introverted, brooding, and tries his best to avoid any spotlight. I really liked Rip. He is young and he is still figuring out who he is and what he wants to do after spending his life being torn down by his father. I appreciated his growth through the book and his willingness to step out of his comfort zone to make Hazel happy. I loved his good heart and his desire to do the right thing. I adore this friend group of slightly off the wall characters. I love how they support each other and help each other through the tough times. Some of the underlying stories of the town were tied up neatly as well. This story is written in first person from a dual POV. |
Riley is cocky and arrogant on the outside. Once I got to know him as the book progressed, though, I realized that he really had a good heart underneath. He fell fast and hard for Daisy, who was unafraid to call him out. He is persistent and goes all out to win her over. He takes her on dates that sound amazing and she likes the man she gets to know.
Daisy has her own pride issues, but they are not as obvious. She is busy and is getting over her last bad relationship. She has lost the ability to trust her own judgement and she must regain that before she and Riley have a chance.
I love the banter and the push-pull between the 2 characters. There is a bit of slow burn because it takes a while for them to give into the physical chemistry and sparks between them. I love the humor, puns, and that they have so many likes in common. Their HEA is sweet and perfect. I know they appear in other books in their HEA and I look forward to reading them as well.
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