Book reviews from the week of April 10th

 

Happy weekend! Spring is in the air and the hubby and I are road-tripping this weekend to see some sights, attend a car show, and generally spend some time together before it gets hot outside.  I read three ARCs this week and they all release next week on the 19th.  In addition, it turns out they are each number five in their series, which I thought was kind of fun.  It was an entertaining week and I hope you find these new releases to be books you need to add to your TBR.  Happy reading!

Take Me There (Dare With Me #5) by J.H. Croix

ARC: Release Date 04/19/2022

#SmallTown #FriendsToLovers #HealingLove #ARC

4 STARS

This is book five in the Dare with Me series.  It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, it is set in the fictional town of Diamond Creek, Alaska.  Readers who have read more books by this author will recognize recurring secondary characters in this story from other books.

Skylar is fairly new to the small town and making a fresh start in a way she never anticipated. She has had a difficult life full of fear and loss, and she has scars from that.  Tucker is one of the pilots who flies small planes for Walker Aviation.  He was in the air force with Flynn and some of the other guys.  He learned at a young age that life is not fair, so he resists relationships in an effort to avoid hurt.

Their romance moves slowly at first as they each deal with their fears.  There is an undeniable physical attraction between the characters that results in heated scenes.  I love how they each grow and process their losses through the course of the book.  Then they come out more complete on the other side. Once they are finally in a place where they can each move forward, they can accept the love that is possible between them. This was an emotional book as the characters process grief, loss, and fears on the way to their HEA.  It makes their happy ending that much sweeter.

Second Shot with #76 (Hockey Hotties #5) by Piper Rayne

ARC: Release Date- 04/19/2022

#SecondChance #Sports #ARC

4 STARS

This is book five in the series, but it can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.

Cory is the rookie and one of the few black men to play professional hockey.  He takes his responsibilities seriously for the most part.  Except for when he is a little too free with offering love to women after the vacation fling he had with Ande at Ford’s wedding. (Readers can find more of that story in Tropical Hat Trick.)  I love the relationship Cory has with his parents and they way they encourage him, even if it is with some lectures.  Sometimes a lecture is deserved. I love his determination to win Ande and the way he romances her. Reading as he falls head over heels was really something.

Ande has some family drama with her sister, who is very unlike Ande.  When Ande ends up in Cory’s town and he decides to pursue her for more than a fling, things get complicated very quickly.  I like the couple together and I was happy when they finally got their HEA.  There is a lot of heat between them once they give into that element. She has to make some decisions about who is most important to have in her life and how to make that happen.  I understood her heartbreak and the conflicted emotions she was facing. The brotherhood of the men on the team is special, especially the relationship between Cory and Kane.  This was an entertaining read and I will admit that I am dying for the next book in the series.

Just One Dare (Kingston Family Series #5) 

by Carly Phillips

ARC: Release Date-04/19/2022

#Billionaire #SecretBaby #SingleMom #SecondChance #FamilySeries #ARC

4 STARS

Book five in the series allows Aurora to find her HEA and can be read as a standalone.  It is written in third person from a dual perspective.

Nick Dare is swoony.  He experiences a shock when he runs into the woman he could never forget six years after their one night together.  He is even more shocked when he discovers he has a five-year-old daughter from that night.  Aurora is floored when she sees Nick.  Since they never exchanged last names or life details, she had never been able to tell him about Leah.  Now she knew her life was going to change, and Leah would have a father in her life.

Nick was awesome.  I loved how he was all-in even before he knew about Leah.  Aurora struggled to overcome her justifiable trust issues when it came to her relationships with Nick and her family.  I loved reading as she decided that taking a risk was worth it.  The scenes with Nick and Leah are special.  I love what a good dad he is. Leah is a little scene stealer.  She is a sweet and sassy little girl who is completely adorable.  Nick and Aurora have just the right amount of heat and share some steamy open door bedroom scenes.  More than anything, I loved the emotional connection between them and the reinforcement of that bond through parenthood.  I enjoyed meeting Nick’s family and I seriously hope they are up next.  I can’t wait.