I had an enjoyable reading week with one new-to-me author and other old favorites. This week's reads included five ARCs and a book club read.
ARC: Release Date- February 4, 2021
#AgeGap #OWYM #SingleMom #CurvyGirl #DebutNovel #ARC
(I actually read this book a few weeks ago but somehow missed it in my weekly post of reviews. My apologies to the author as I really liked her book.)
4 STARS
A captivating debut novel.
Ruby is a single mom of 2 young boys. She meets Eli at a baseball game. She is six years older than him and at a different
place in her life. She also has some
baggage from her ex and her father to deal with. Eli is a very mature 29 who does not see the
age difference as a problem. He falls
hard and fast for Ruby and her boys.
I loved Eli, his passion, his sensitivity, and his good
character. Ruby is an interesting
character who loves her boys and is used to doing most things by herself. I appreciated her growth as she recognizes
that she can learn to rely on the people in her life that love her. I hate that she doesn’t believe she can have
the future she desires and creates hurt because of it. I thought the boys were beyond cute. Ruby’s sisters and Eli’s dad, Bear, are
supportive, and the family dynamics are complicated at times. The HEA is sweet and brought a tear to my
eye.
I enjoyed this debut novel.
There are humorous moments, emotional moments, and plenty of heat. The characters are likable and
well-developed. The book takes place
over several months and I felt the pacing was good. I did feel like there were points in the book
where I would have liked more detail. It
is obvious that Eli is very involved in Ruby’s home life before the black
moment, but I would have loved to read more detail of that happening. That said, I felt like this is certainly a
debut novel worth reading. I look
forward to reading more books from the author as she tells the stories for
Ruby’s sisters. This book is written in
first person from a dual POV.
A wonderful beginning to a new series.
I loved this small-town romance which begins a new series
for this author duo. Cade and Presley’s
story is written in first person from a dual POV.
Cade is the oldest sibling of the large, blended Greene
family. At 30, he has some baggage that
makes him believe he will never give his heart or allow someone close enough to
hurt him. In walks Presley, a beautiful
blond woman, who completely captivates him.
I loved Cade. He has a kind heart
and a good sense of humor. He falls
without realizing he fell. Presley is
wonderful. I really related to her need
for a fresh start, her pain, and her feelings related to the small town. I love the friendships she develops with
Clara and with Cade’s younger brother, Adam, through the story. She is a go getter, and I admired her
willingness to take chances both professionally and personally.
The senior citizens in this town bring humor to the story and I look forward to hearing more about what goes on at the Northern Lights home as the series progresses. The story is well written, and I was sucked in completely by the end of chapter two. I love the large family, the small town, and the history of tragedy and scandal which binds them together. I am waiting very impatiently for every book in this series.
This is the second novel by this author. It is full of laugh out loud humor, a lot of
snark, some serious heat, and a super heart melting HEA. Hudson and Chloe’s story is written in first
person from a dual POV.
Chloe is a serious professional woman who is taking her
dreams into her own hands at the age of 44.
As the oldest Amos sibling, she has always been the responsible one
looking after everyone and trying to fill in for their deceased parents. She is not looking for a relationship. She doesn’t even feel like she needs a
relationship. Then Hudson comes into her
world with a big smile, a world of flirt, and a body she wants to get to know a
whole lot better. I love that through
the story Chloe learns more about herself as she gets to know Hudson. I love her confidence in her own
abilities. I love the relationships she
has with her family members and the banter of the Amos family text
exchanges. (Fun, real, and hilarious.)
Hudson is a hero unlike any I have ever read. He is undeniably masculine. At the same time, he exudes sunshine, joy,
peace, and the desire to make the world a better place. His ability to seemingly not take things too
seriously is in direct contrast to Chloe.
He is an over-the-top flirt, without crossing into skeevy territory. I love how positive he is, how soft his heart
is, and how fast and hard he falls for Chloe.
I love how she is drawn to him like a moth to the light. I love how she learns to see him for who he
truly is and accepts and cherishes him for it.
He really is a joy to read.
The secondary characters continue to have an important role
in this book, as in the first one. They
are well-rounded and I look forward to reading each of the stories of the Amos
siblings. I had trouble putting this
book down to go to work and to go to sleep.
The pacing was quite good. I
loved the first book, and I can see the refinements to the author’s style in
this second book. I predict that this
author is going to be a favorite of many.
Love and Other Mistakes is a standalone in an interconnected series of
books. Though it can be read on its own,
I recommend reading Love and Other Chaos to get her sister, Cara’s, story and
to meet her nephew Miles for a richer experience.
Ruben is magnetic and distractingly handsome. We are given clues early in the book that he is kind and that he has secrets. He has made some mistakes as an adult that put him in a position where he needs to avoid more scandal. His family relationships are strained, especially with his brother the king. As the book progresses the reader is enlightened to the root of the family strain. I love how Ruben falls hard for Cherry. She mesmerizes him. Their attraction to each other is potent and fun.
Cherry is a beautiful, intelligent woman. She uses her beauty and confidence to her advantage. I love her self-acceptance and her confidence in a world that is always telling us we should be different than how we actually are. I love that she gives Ruben the chance to share his secrets with her, and the friendship they develop, before they give into love and the HEA. I adored reading Cherry's POV as a voluptuous woman of color- completely unique.
I liked the way the author developed the relationship between Ruben and Cherry. I liked that they had fights and misunderstandings along the way. I loved that they supported each other when it mattered. Their chemistry is sizzling and the physical scenes are super hot. The pacing is good, though there were some times when I really wanted more details than the book provides, and other times when the details felt like too much. The HEA is sweet-especially the bonus epilogue. I will be reading more of this author in the future.
Locked in Love: A Quarantine Love Story by Jami Albright
ARC: Release Date- March 1. 2021
#SecondChance #ForcedProximity #ARC
5 STARS
A fast and heartwarming read.
This novella began as a serial after the author was inspired
by a tweet during lock down 2020 for the pandemic. The story follows Kara and Rory. It is written in first person from dual
POV.
Kara is surprised when events transpire that require her to be locked in place. Through a series of events, she ends up spending several days with her ex in his apartment. I appreciated that her history with Rory dictated a certain reaction. I love that they both persist until they have open communication and understanding of the past. I love that though they are locked in, it is for a good reason that is not pandemic related. I adore Rory. He is a great guy with a heart of gold. I love that once Kara sees the truth; she cannot resist him. This story has humor, heat, heart-warming moments, and a perfect HEA. Enjoy this quick read that takes a lighter look at lockdown and both the best- and worst-case scenarios.
Three's A Crowd (Love in Apartment 3B #2)
by Everly Ashton
ARC: Release Date- March 1, 2021
#RomanticComedy #BestFriendsBrother #EnemiesToLovers #ARC
5 STARS
Enemies to Lovers/ Best Friend’s Brother/ Romantic Comedy
This is the second book by this author under this pen name. It is a standalone within an interconnected
series and is written in first person from a dual POV.
Keane starts out seeming like kind of a jerk. But as Fiona interacts more with him and they
both attempt to be peaceful; it becomes apparent that he is actually a soft
heart. His teasing and antics are in
many ways a defense mechanism. Fiona
has her own issues that she valiantly tries not to deal with. Ultimately, unresolved issues keep coming up
until they are dealt with.
I loved the growth of the characters through the story. I love that their peace becomes a friendship
that becomes a love. I love that they
both learn to face fears, take risks, and rely on each other. There is a lot of passion, some humor, and a
sentimental HEA. I enjoyed this book and
I recommend it.
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