It was a busy week at home but I am happy to say that the ARCs lined up for the week delivered in a big way. I had variety in story, heat, and humor in three well-written books that do not disappoint.
Evers & Afters (Dare With Me #2) by J.H. Croix
ARC: Release Date- February 16, 2021
#OppositesAttract #GrumpyHero #SmallTown #ARC
4.5 STARS
I loved this opposites-attract, small town romance between Elias and Cammi. I loved that Cammi was independent and strong as a businesswoman. I adored Elias’ need to protect Cammi (that surprised him out of the blue). I just love it when a grumpy hero falls fast and hard, and this book delivers. I loved how physically affectionate he was with her and that he couldn’t stop wanting to be near her. I also really appreciated Elias’ patience as he gave Cammi time to come to terms with risking her heart again. I loved that she had to relearn to trust herself and her judgement before she could move forward after her past hurt. I love the circle of friends in this Alaska town and the way they support each other. There is humor (Alaskan Men doing yoga, anyone?) and plenty of heat in this true love, heartwarming book set-in small-town Alaska. This book is written in first person from a dual POV.
My One Week Husband by Lauren Blakely
ARC: Release Date- February 17, 2021
#FriendsToLovers #FakeRelationship #Fling #ARC
5 STARS
Scarlett and Daniel are friends and business partners. They each accept that they have chemistry and
attraction to each other, yet they have never acted on ot except for a little
flirtation. That is until they spend a
week posing as newlyweds traveling through France to check a chain of small
hotels for potential investment. Then
they are unable to stop themselves from becoming so much more, though the road
to more is often not easy. Their story
is written in first person from a dual POV.
Scarlett and Daniel both have some baggage. They have both had their trust broken by
someone close to them. Neither one of
them is looking for love or forever. When
they set out on a fling with definite parameters, they do not expect to find so
much more in each other. What they did
not count on was having the foundation of a forever relationship already
constructed through their friendship, mutual respect, mutual admiration, honestly
and patience that they had already developed.
I love that they are both successful businesspeople. I love that they are honest with each other
over tough things in their past. I love
that Scarlett has Nadia for a friend who encourages her to take a chance. I love that Daniel has Cole, who has known
everything about him for so long, and helps him understand what he cannot
explain.
This story has beauty woven throughout it. It is filled with natural beauty of the
settings, the history of the towns they visit, art, and music. There are layers of beauty mixed with the
passion and trust between Daniel and Scarlett that I found mesmerizing. This story packs five alarm heat, like the
Extravagant series. What I loved the
most, however, was reading as Scarlett and Daniel expanded their mutual trust,
exposed their secrets, and moved forward to live the life they never imagined
they could have. A beautiful, passionate,
love story.
Marrying Mr. Wrong (Dirty Martini Running Club #3)
by Claire Kingsley
ARC: Release Date February 18, 2021
#RomanticComedy #AccidentalMarriage #CurvyGirl #ARC
5 STARS
I absolutely loved this book. Sophie and
Cox wake up in Vegas after a wild night to discover that they are married.
This book is written in first person from a dual POV.
Sophie is clumsy, and a bit of a hot mess at
times, but she has a heart of solid gold. She is smart, kind, dependable,
and has sound instincts which serve her well as the assistant of the stoic
Shepherd Calloway. I love that she rolls with whatever comes her
way. And what comes her way is often both funny and a bit
disastrous. Sophie operates on the principle that if it can go wrong,
then it probably will go wrong for her in a most high profile way. I
adored her relationship with her dad, and I thought he was an amazing side
character. When she tells Cox that her dad not only has rough edges, but
is rough all over like sandpaper, I seriously had to laugh out loud. I
love that she can see past Cox's defenses to his heart before he does. I
love how free she is with her good spirit.
Cox won me over immediately when he assisted
Sophie off the balcony. I could 100% hear his voice with that Matthew
McConaughey drawl. I loved that he was a driven person who made his own
success. I love his relationship with his mom and how he takes care of
her. (She is another really interesting side character.) I
love that wants to be a better man, and when he makes a mistake he owns it
immediately. I love how hard and fast he fell for Sophie. I
love that creeped under his defenses and that the man who never thought he
would marry, consistently avoids divorcing his accidental wife.
Oliver, Cox's assistant, is perfect and I adored him and his story: another
romance built in to the main story. I want to have tea with Oliver every
day and I am jealous that he is a character and not real.
The story has many funny moments, some drama,
and plenty of heat. I love the secondary characters, their friendships,
and the way they support each other. It is especially worth mentioning
that I adore the relationship that has developed between Shepherd and Corban- a
real treat. There is a beautiful HEA which brought some tears to my eyes
and was absolutely perfect. This is book #3 in the Dirty Martini Running
Club series but can be read as a standalone. It was everything I needed in
a book this week and I highly recommend it.
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