#SecondChance #FamilySeries #ARC
5 STARS
Book 5 in the North Carolina Highlands series can be read as
a standalone and ends with a HEA. That
said, you will definitely want to go back and read the rest of the series. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV.
I have been waiting for Milly and Nate’s story, and this
book delivers so much more than I expected.
This author always blows me away with her character development. The
book begins with a prologue set two years ago.
The reader gets all the heat and emotions of the relationship that Milly
and Nate shared before it ends abruptly.
I also felt all the pain and confusion the characters experienced at
that ending. Chapter one begins two
years later with Nate and Reese, his fiancée, meeting with Milly to plan their
extravagant wedding. I loved Milly and Nate’s determination to keep on the
right side of the set lines, despite heavy feelings and emotions. I loved Milly’s strength and her commitment
to making their wedding wonderful. I honestly wasn’t sure how the author was
going to manage to bring Milly and Nate together for a while. Reese is wonderful. She is not the evil fiancée at all ( I was so
happy about this!) And Nate felt very
real feelings for her.
The Beauregard family is at the center of love and commitment to the family we choose. When the time is right, readers see that the feud between the Beauregards and the Kingsleys might just be at the end. Ending that feud takes some effort, but how it comes about is so, so sweet. The chemistry and friendship and the love that exists between Milly and Nate is real perfection. I love that they have fun together in and out of the bedroom. I love that they can read each other well enough to communicate without words. This books packs heat, love, some romance, and a little pain. There is no cheating. There are some laughs within the family dynamics. And there is definitely a set up for a new series that I am incredibly excited to see come our way. I will also mention that the epilogues are a sweet, sweet way to end the series on the Beauregards. I will miss Blue Mountain farm, but I have a strong feeling we will see more of these characters in future book crossovers. As always, the author does an amazing job making the book something that takes over the senses. The reader feels the emotions, tastes the wonderful food, smells the smoke of the whiskey, sees the gorgeous setting of the mountains, and even hears the crunch of tires on gravel. If you want to be immersed in a story, this author will take you there.
Super Hot Wingman (The Best Men #0.5)
by Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely
#OppositesAttract #MMRomance #SingleDad #Prequel
5 STARS
This prequel sets up the story of The Best Men perfectly. Readers learn how Asher and Mark meet and feel the initial attraction. There is banter and sparks that fly. Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, it is worth the read.
#OppositesAttract #MMRomance #SingleDad #ARC
5 STARS
Mark is a recently divorced single dad whose sister is
getting married. Asher is a former pro
athlete, now photographer, who is the groom’s best friend and his best man.
Their story is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Mark is the hot nerd to Asher’s outgoing charm. Initially they are oil and water as they
fight the attraction they feel for each other.
They never dream that they have a chance with the other man. I really enjoyed their story. As they get to know each other they realize
that their attraction does have possibilities.
A fling quickly becomes so much more.
I love the friendship and understanding they build. I really appreciated how they handle the
obstacles that come their way. I adored
their happy ending.
This book is full of heat, some laughs, and a tiny bit of
angst. I love how they support Hannah
and Flip and their destination wedding.
I loved reading about Miami nightlife.
Reading as Asher helps Mark relax was a blast. The chemistry and feelings these two have
will melt your heart and your kindle.
This author does a fantastic job with male/male romance, and I am here
for it. I loved it.
Just One Spark (Kingston Family #4) by Carly Phillips
ARC: Release Date - 01/18/2022
#RockStar #FakeRelationship #FamilySeries #ARC
5 STARS
This is book four in the Kingston Family series and can be
read as a standalone. It is written in
third person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.
Dash is a stereotypical rock star who has landed himself in
a media storm that does not paint him in the best light. When his publicist suggests he have a fake
relationship to mediate his image and suggests Cassidy, the bands PA, he jumps
at the chance. What Dash realizes is
that he had completely messed up his chance with Cassidy after a previous
encounter and that this was his chance to make it right and his only chance of
possibly winning her.
I love that Dash is ready for change. I also understood why Cass is skeptical that
the changes will last, given his previous lifestyle. Cassidy brings her own
baggage to the relationship that she must work through. I really admire how resilient and brave she
is when faced with opposition. I love
the way Dash makes romantic moments with her and tries to reassure her of his
feelings from the beginning. Things are
hot and steamy between them, and I love the chemistry they have. The Kingston family is fun to read. Each sibling and partner are different yet
bound together by their dysfunctional past. This was a wonderful addition to
the series. A perfect read for my Sunday.
#BrothersBestFriend #ARC
3.5 STARS
This was my first book by this author. I loved the cover and the premise of the
book. It is written in first person from
Gemma’s POV. I really wish that we had
also gotten Josh’s POV, and I will explain why below.
Gemma is the biggest hot mess heroine ever. She makes Bridget Jones (and there are some
similarities) look like she had it all together. She lives her life in a way that skims the
surface without diving deep. She comes
across as a positive individual, but I felt like she was really using all the
positive mantras to avoid looking too closely at the reality around her. Instead,
she comes across as selfish, overly blunt, and sometimes outright mean to the
people around her: all in the guise of delivering truth. She decides to become a single mom and
overcome her infertility using IVF. She
convinces her brother’s best friend to be her donor. This is where I really wanted
the story to become a real love story.
Instead, everything continues to be all about Gemma. I think the story would have benefitted
greatly from Josh’s POV. His character
is likable, and the story is predictable enough that the reader can figure out
some of the plot points well ahead of Gemma, who is so self-focused. Josh is dealing with his own issues and his
character is exemplified by his actions.
He is unselfish, giving, caring, and he has a wonderful sense of humor
and an artist’s soul. Gemma does not
treat him nearly well enough, while he shows up for her time and time again. I
felt like Josh deserved so much better than Gemma.
The story tackles some difficult topics. As Gemma and Josh go through the IVF process,
there are a lot of feelings and experiences that are handled well within their
story. Gemma joins a fertility support
group and develops some strong female friendships along the way. There are a few laugh-out-loud moments, a few
moments with light heat, and a lot of feelings in this story. Overall, I felt the book was well-written as
it covers the fertility journey and deals with loss and grief along the way. My
biggest hurdle was Gemma. I tried to
like her, but I never found her likable.
Even at the end of the book, where she has grown some, I felt like she was
not quite there for me. I wanted so much more from her. I wanted so much more
for Josh. Though there are funny moments, I have a hard time calling this a rom
com.
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