Heartbreak Hero (Redleg Security #1) by Jackie Walker
ARC: Release Date- 03/23/2022
#RomanticSuspense #CurvyGirl #Bodyguard #AgeGap #ARC
5 STARS
This is the first book in a new series by this author
encompassing the security agents who protected everyone in Love & Other
Accidents. It is a standalone and
ends with a HEA. It is written in first
person from an alternating dual POV. The
author has marketed this as romantic suspense with rom-com vibes, and I would
100% agree with that assessment.
I fell hard for Leo and Sue in Love & Other Accidents. In that book, Sue’s brother Nick finds love
with Millie Amos. Sue and Leo were minor characters, but their spark jumped off
the pages. I also loved how quirky Sue was.
In this book, we learn that Sue is neuro-diverse and has been dealing
with a lot in her 26 years. She has
always recognized that she felt different from everyone around her. I absolutely adore Sue. She may well go down as one of my favorite
female characters. I felt she was
completely relatable. I loved getting
into her thought process. I felt like
Sue and her differences were handled respectfully by the author in her story.
Leo is one of my favorite kind of heroes. I love the big, wall of a man who wants to
protect the heroine no matter what: while having a gooey heart in his
center. I love his patience and
acceptance of everything about Sue. I
love that he understands when she needs time to process events and
feelings. I especially adore that he
always did that, even before he knew more about her. The heat between them is fun and hot. The emotional link they share is beautiful to
read. I love the way Sue trusts Leo
implicitly and that she can relate to him in ways that she never has with
anyone else.
There are laughs as well as a mystery in this book. We know that someone has threatened Sue to get back at Leo, yet we are not sure who is issuing the threats until near the end of the book. Trying to guess was a big part of the fun. They face danger along the way, and I love that Sue has an opportunity to be her own hero in the process. There are also some surprises in this book. As a reader, I enjoyed getting to know the other agents, and I am really looking forward to their books. I hated to put this down for even a moment. I was lost in the world the author created. I have no doubt this will be an even bigger hit than the Love and Laughs series, which I adored.
Off the Deep End by Emily Silver
ARC: Release Date- 03/24/2022
#SportsRomance #MMRomance #OppositesAttract #Workplace
5 STARS
This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed
it. This is a standalone male/male
romance written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Wes is an elite diver coming back from a bad injury to
continue to train for the Olympics. Finn
is a young reporter assigned to cover Wes’ comeback. I love the attraction and sparks they both
feel from the beginning. Both men are likable, and I loved that they are both
confident in their sexuality. Finn is a
little bit shy, quiet, and nerdy (be still my heart) and I love heroes like
that. Wes is focused on his recovery and
works incredibly hard to get back to competing form. His journey to get back to both physical and
mental fitness in his quest for Olympic gold was complex and sometimes
difficult. I love that the author did
not shy away from addressing the mental component of returning to a sport after
an injury and how difficult that can be.
Finn is supportive in a way that any partner would dream of having. He
has faith in Wes’ ability and the encouragement and calm he offers Wes melted
my heart.
I think this is my first sports romance set in the world of diving. I learned about the sport right along with Finn. I could tell the author did a lot of research to provide an insider view of the sport. There is plenty of heat, and I enjoyed that the intimate scenes are grounded in emotional connection. There are few moments that made me laugh, but there were several moments that made me swoon. These two are perfect for each other and I loved their relationship and certainty in each other. If you are looking for a swoon-worthy romance that will melt you, this is it.
#FriendsToLovers #Celebrity #Workplace #ARC
5 STARS
Part of the Lauren Blakely world, this book has cameos from
other characters, but can be read as a standalone without issue. It is written in first person from an alternating
dual POV and ends with a HEA.
Nolan and Emerson have been best friends since they met in
college. They have seen each other through many of life’s ups and downs and
share a strong bond because of it. They
are also co-creators and business partners of a food channel on You Tube where
they flirt and sling innuendo while rating what they eat. They each fight the serious chemistry between
them for the sake of their friendship and their business. Until they don’t.
Emerson and Nolan are wonderful characters that are focused on moving beyond their pasts, but sometimes struggle in the process. Their show is the way they can put the past behind them, so they have a lot to lose if things fail personally. These two are hot, hot, hot together when they finally give in. I love the fun, the passion, and the tenderness that they share. As a foodie, I also appreciated the way they find and review unique food for their channel. I really enjoyed this read, which also sets up some of the future books we can expect. I am looking forward to those books and I expect to see more glimpses of Nolan and Em in them as well.
Just One Wish (Kingston Family #4.5) by Carly Phillips
ARC: Release Date- 03/29/2022
#RockStar #SecondChance #FamilySeries #ARC
4 STARS
This novella is a spinoff from the Kingston family series
and is a standalone. It follows Cassidy’s brother Axel (who is the new drummer
for Dash’s band The original Kings), as he reunites with his high school
sweetheart. This book is written in
third person and ends with a HEA.
I really appreciated the loneliness Axel is
experiencing. He moved across the
country, integrated into a new band, finds himself living in a pretty empty
house, and discovers that he wants a connection in his life that means more. I
love his level of feelings and emotion for Tara. I love how he is firm about wanting more from
her while still being respectful. The
passion, history, and emotion between them is special. Tara must overcome some abandonment issues
before she is able to see what Axel is showing her. Once she lets him back into her heart, a
sweet and gooey HEA is inevitable. I
also appreciated the author’s description of the relationship Axel has with
Xander’s dog, Bella. I loved the message
of adopt don’t shop. There are
several lovable animals in this book.
Bella, Dakota, and Walter all have a place in my heart. This has been a very enjoyable series so far
and I loved seeing Axel find love and a happy future.
#RomanticSuspense #BrothersBestFriend #OppositesAttract #AntiHero
5 STARS
Book one in a new series by this author, this book follows assassin, Dante, as he finds love with Jen. It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV. The series contains three books about three couples and a prequel that sets the backstory for the three men. Since the men are connected and the stories are taking place in order after the last job together goes south, they should probably be read in order to have maximum enjoyment. Thankfully, the author is releasing all the books in close succession so readers will not wait long for the next book.
Dante has lived a life where his main goal was to make bad people disappear. When his buddy winds up in jail, he agrees to check on Matteo’s sisters. His reaction when he meets the youngest sister for the first time was priceless. To read a big, strong, scary-looking guy be gob smacked at first sight was really special. I absolutely adored some of the word play the author uses while Dante’s full identity has not been revealed and Jen thinks he is just hired help. I laughed out loud several times. Though Dante has done bad things, readers learn that he has only done them to bad people. I figured out pretty quick that Dante is actually a big softie on the inside, especially when it comes to animals or to Jen. Jen is strong, tough, resourceful, and brave. She is kind yet fierce. I loved her sass and her ability to hold her own against anyone who challenged her. She is definitely B-A though she doesn’t really see that about herself.
There are the laughs, danger, and suspense, plenty of heat, and lots of wonderful characters in this new world. I will confess that I never usually read book excerpts included at the end of the books I read. I did, however, read the excerpt at the end of this one. It sets up Matteo’s second chance love story and now I am chomping at the bit for his book too.
The Sweet Talker (Boston Hawks Hockey #1) by Gina Azzi
#SportsRomance #SurprisePregnancy
4 STARS
| This is my first book by this author and the first book in the Boston Hawks Hockey series. It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. I needed a book that had a surprise pregnancy for a reading challenge and I had this on my kindle. I had been looking at this series for a while because I love hockey romance. Noah is a hero with a mushy heart and he falls hard and fast for Indy, even though he doesn't realize it at the time. Indy has sworn off hockey players but makes an exception when she reconnects with Noah and their chemistry is crazy hot. It helps both of them that they are able to be friends and enjoy each others company outside the bedroom. They have some moments of communication break down when it comes to admitting all the feelings they each have, especially once a baby is on the way. There is just the right amount of heat. The characters are likable and other books in the series are set up as readers get to know the other players on the team. Though I have other books I need to be reading right now, if the series had been in KU I would have downloaded book 2 and started it as soon as I finished this one. I will be watching this series and I would love to read more of it. |
Comments
Post a Comment