Fix Your Crown Anthology by Multiple Authors
ARC: Release Date- 9/28/2021
#Anthology #Charity #ARC
5 STARS
This is an anthology written by women, with stories
featuring strong women who support other strong women. Many of these authors were new to me. The stories are short and easy to read. The plots are varied from mafia romance to
college age romance and more. Many of
the heroines have had to work hard to find their strength and they are not
giving it away easily. I really loved
this anthology. It introduced me to
authors who I will be looking to read more of in the future. Several of these shorts are prequels or
introductory stories to other series and I am really excited to see these
characters in full books.
Picnic Perfect (Kismet Cove Single's Week) by Xavier Neal
ARC: Release Date- 9/29/2021
#OppositesAttract #Fling #SmallTown #RomanticComedy #ARC
4 STARS
This was a short and delightful read. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV. In addition, both
characters break the fourth wall to speak directly to the reader throughout the
book while sharing their feelings and reactions to the things said or happening
around them.
Warren is awkward and nerdy, especially around Katy. I absolutely loved it when this successful man
stumbled all over himself around her. Katy is confident, self-assured, and
successful in her own right. She is a
character that is almost fearless. She
is strong and will not settle for less than she deserves. What starts as a fling, quickly grows to be
more. It doesn’t take long for them to
be head over heels for each other. They
share hot physical chemistry that is fun to read. They also have a wonderful
and sweet HEA.
On The Ropes by Kathryn Nolan
ARC: Release Date- 10/1/2021
#FriendsToLovers #Opposites Attract #ARC
5 STARS
This steamy standalone set in a South Philly neighborhood is
the newest release by Kathryn Nolan. It
is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. I am visiting Philly for the first time in
November and I have a lot of places to see while I am there after reading this
book.
One of the things Ms. Nolan does so well is to make the
setting of her books a living and breathing character on its own. I could hear the music pounding, the
neighborly discussions in multiple languages, and smell the spices cooking in a
melting pot neighborhood. The
neighborhood itself is made up of interesting characters who are opinionated,
gossipy, and protective of each other like a small town within the city. The story itself is more than a love
story. It is an ode to caring for the
people you are lucky enough to have around you regardless of sexual
orientation, skin color or heritage. It
is about community and how individual threads can come together to become a
strong rope that can function in a positive way. The author has put a lot of herself into this
story and it was absolutely beautiful.
Dean was sweet, sensitive, strong, and yet vulnerable. To say I adored him would be a gross
understatement. He was passionate yet
careful as he rediscovers his own strengths and moves forward into the life he
was meant to live. Tabitha is colorful,
strong, feisty, and exuberant. She is
exactly what Dean needs. I love how
their friendship develops. I love how
they can see past the walls they each put up the vulnerabilities each has
underneath. There are so many swoon-y,
sexy scenes. My kindle had to sigh even
a few times. I loved it when Tabitha and
Dean get their HEA: so well- deserved.
Five stars doesn’t seem like nearly enough for this well-written,
emotional, and hot read. I recommend you
grab it up quick and enjoy a book trip to South Philly this weekend.
All Mine (Hart Valley #1) by Terri Jones
ARC: Release Date- 10/1/2021
#EnemiesToLovers #SmallTown
4.5 STARS
This is the first book in a new series by this author. Set in the small town of Hart Valley, it is
written in first person from an alternating dual POV. It can be read as a standalone and ends with
a HEA.
Lauren and Camden start off at odds when his business
success relies on her business failure.
Lauren is a strong and vibrant business owner whose bakery is her
life. It represents financial and
personal freedom after a really bad marriage to her ex finally ends. I loved her strength, her spirit, and her
perseverance. Camden grew up poor and
fought for the success he has achieved.
He leans into his success a little too much at times, coming across a
little snobby. The chemistry between
them is hot and intense. I loved that
the feelings the develop for each other is also intense. I loved them together.
The author does a good job setting up this small town full of interesting characters. I am honestly dying for the next books in the series. The story is fun, steamy, has conflict, and a bit of danger. Though it took me a few chapters to get into the book, I didn’t want to put it down after that. If you like a small-town enemies-to-lovers story, you won’t want to miss this one.
The Stopover (Miles High Club #1) by T.L. Swan
Audible Narration by Sebastian York and C.J. Bloom
#OneNightStand #Workplace #Billionaire #FamilySeries
4 STARS
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
is the first book in a series and can be read as a standalone.
Jameson and Emily meet on a transatlantic flight and follow
it with a smoking hot one night stand.
Twelve months later, they meet again when Emily gets a job at Jameson’s
company. It doesn’t take long for them
to reconnect. They fight, and they have
s3x. There is a lot on angst and drama
in their relationship. Emily is
sometimes needy and ridiculous. Jameson
is sometimes intentionally callous and hurtful to Emily. There are times when I really hated him for
causing her pain and hated her for allowing him to hurt her again and
again. I struggled to understand their
relationship. It felt like the very
antithesis of a healthy connection.
Their chemistry, desires, and emotions were unquestionably strong, yet
not always productive. On a positive note, I did like Jameson when he was soft
and sweet with Emily. I also understood
her desire to care for him, even at her own detriment. It was like a train wreck, and I could not
look away. I am giving it four stars
because I felt the need to know how it would eventually get to the HEA.
I felt like the story was drawn out a little bit, and I
could have lived without some of their relationship ups and downs. I read and listened to this book through KU.
I thought the narration was superb, though the book certainly gives the reader
more of Emily’s POV. I would have loved
more of Sebastian York as well as more of Jameson’s POV. It may have helped me
like and understand Jay more. There are
secondary characters who are introduced and set up for later stories. I am looking forward to Tristan and his love
story. It will be my next read and
listen.
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