Book reviews from the week of May 29th

 

Happy weekend! I started this week renting a U-Haul and loading my son's belongings into it to move him cross country.  Six days later, we have arrived, the U-Haul is unloaded and returned, and I feel like I can finally get back to normal.  Since I did all of the driving of the U-Haul truck, it severely impacted my reading time.  I was able to finish three ARCs just under the wire for each of their releases.  They were all very enjoyable reads despite my fatigue and muscle soreness.  While driving, I did get to go back and listen to the prequel and first book of Claire Kingsley's Dirty Martini Running Club series  though.  Thankfully, I couldn't convince my son to listen to the romance audiobook with me and I had to listen through an ear bud.  I say thankfully because I forgot how hot the books were and listening with my 26-year-old son would have been a little on the awkward side.  So we did our own thing on the drive, and that  worked out just fine. I can't say enough about how perfect the narration was on these.  I am still kind of beat, but I have several more ARCs to read with near release dates.  In the meantime, I wish everyone a wonderful week reading and listening.

Offside With #55 (Hockey Hotties #6) by Piper Rayne

ARC: Release Date- 05/31/2022

#Sports #Workplace #ARC

5 STARS

Book six in the Hockey Hotties series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written in first person from a dual POV.

Kane is the “old man” of the team.  He has had a long career as a goalie, and he knows his playing days are numbered.  Jana is the daughter of the team’s owner.  When her dad surprises her by handing her the team and making Kane the new coach, their casual relationship immediately becomes complicated.

Kane is strong and determined.  With Jana he has a soft heart and wants more from her and their relationship.  Jana is also strong.  She is smart and a powerful lady boss. When they enter their new roles, they try to resist each other.  But that can only last so long when they set each other on fire with one look.  I adore the chemistry and the hot scenes between the two of them.  There is so much emotion packed into their physical relationship.  They have a couple of challenges along they way, but I really enjoyed how they work through it.  They have a mature relationship based on honesty, communication, and caring for each other.  I love their happy ending.

Secondary characters provide fun cameos.  I love the way they offer friendship and support to each other.  There are definitely some laughable moments along the way. I am a little sad to see this series ending.  The author does set up the next series in this book and I am super excited to read it.

Wrapped Up With A Ranger (Bad Boy Bakers #2) 

by Kait Nolan

ARC: Release Date- 06/03/2022

#SingleMom #SmallTown #FakeRelatrionship #FriendsToLovers #MarriageOfConvenience #DisabledVet #ARC

5 STARS

Book two of the Bad Boy Bakers series is set in Eden Ridge, Tennessee and can be read as a standalone.  It is written in third person from a dual perspective and ends with a HEA.

Cayla is a single mom who moved home after a disastrous marriage and divorce to raise her little girl.  She is bubbly and fun while still being organized and motivated as she builds her event planning business into something that can take care of her and her five-year-old daughter. 

Holt is a former Army Ranger who lost part of his leg in duty. He was part of a program that taught vets to bake as a way to manage their reentry into society.  He and his two buddies from the program are in the process of opening a bakery in the small town when he meets Cayla. 

This was a steamy, relatively low angst read.  I really enjoyed the chemistry and the friendship between Cayla and Holt.   Her daughter, Maddie, is delightful. She quickly wraps Holt around her little finger.  When Cayla’s ex makes threats against her, Holt steps in and they form a marriage of convenience that quickly becomes very real. They each have some baggage and a challenge or two to overcome along the way to their HEA.  I adore them together in the family life they quickly form.  Holt has one of the best apology scenes ever after a little fight based on communication.  You must read it and I dare you not to swoon. I am loving this series and I can’t wait to read the next one as Jonah finally gets his story.

No One Else (The Ladies Who Brunch #2) 

by Harlow James

ARC: Release Date- 06/05/2022

#SingleDad #EnemiesToLovers #GrumpyHero #GrumpySunshine #ARC

4.5 STARS

Book two in the series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written in first person from a dual POV.

Amelia is a marriage therapist who ends up in a neighboring office to a single dad divorce attorney.  Amelia is the sunshine while Ethan is grumpy.  Sparks fly when they meet and initial spatting between them is interesting.  They both are undeniable attracted to each other, and once they give into that, they form a casual relationship that quickly becomes serious.   Ethan’s son, Oliver is adorable, and I love the relationship he and Amelia build with each other. 

Ethan is not always nice.  There are times when his actions and ideas were more than a little immature.  I understood Amelia’s hopefulness regarding Ethan, but I also felt like she should have been able to see his baggage a mile away.  Work is required to make their relationship into what they both need it to be.  I loved Amelia’s empathy to her clients and her commitment to her career.  I also love the friend group. This read was super spicy and it felt like it flowed better than book one.  I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Everly Dalton's Dating Disasters 

(Dirty Martini Running Club #0.5) 

by Claire Kingsley

Narrated by Emma Wilder

#Prequel #Audiobook #Reread

5 STARS

This is a hilarious prequel to Everly's story.   I really enjoyed how terrible her dates were.  It makes me thankful I am married and a little afraid for the dating world my daughters are entering.

Everly and her sunny personality are sure to brighten your day.

This book is written in first person from Everly's POV.

My reread was through the audio version.  This was great.  I loved the way the narrator brought Everly and the gang to life.  I enjoyed this even more the second time around and went straight into the audio of Faking Ms. Right.  

Faking Ms. Right (Dirty Martini Running Club #1) 

by Claire Kingsley

Narrated by Emma Wilder and Jason Clarke

#Billionaire #FakeRelationship #Workplace #GrumpyHero #Audiobook  #Reread

5 STARS

(I read this book for the first time three years ago to the day.  Since then, I have read almost all of Ms. Kingsley's books and only have a couple left to finish her back list.  She has since become a one click author and I have loved everything I have read by her.)

I have a confession to make.  I have a lot of books by this author on my TBR.  I even own several based on other reader recommendations.  But this is my first book by this author.  Now I know that I will be moving her other books up the list and reading them soon.

This billionaire boss-fake engagement book certainly follows the tropes, yet felt fresh.  Everly's character was one to fall completely in love with-pure sunshine.  Shepherd was a complex and layered character that the reader meets a little at a time.  Together they are a complete swoon-fest.  The heat between these two is C-R-A-Z-Y.  I really loved how they built trust and the roles that extended family play in their love story.  Shep's dad is really a cutie.

I could not stop thinking about this book after I finished it.  In fact, I barely slept last night.  But in the end, isn't that a mark of a good book?

This book is written in first person from a dual POV.

My reread of this was through the audiobook version and it was amazing!  Both narrators are incredible talented.  I was blown away by their ability to have several different voices for the characters in their chapters.  Mr. Clarke as drunk Shep is something I will never forget.  Ms. Wilder is the perfect Emma.  I loved this even more the second time around.