#SecondChance #SecretBaby #Military #SmallTown #ARC
5 STARS
This novella is a part of the Bad Boy Bakers series but can
be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV.
I am so happy that Rebecca got her HEA. As Jonah’s mom, she has been an important
support to each of the characters in this series. When her first love returns to town, things
get interesting as he seeks a second chance at a future with her. Her secret is revealed, and emotional moments
happen as everyone comes to grips with the new reality.
Rebecca has been a wonderful character throughout the
series. She is strong, and she has
survived a lot of heartache to be the successful and complete person she
is. Grey is a wonderful hero. He is an all-around good guy. After retiring from the Navy, he returns to
his hometown to try for a second chance with Rebecca. I love how he romantically pursues her. I love his steady presence when Jonah needs
it.
This was a swoon-filled book with a few steamy moments. I adore that this couple in their early 50’s
finally gets the HEA they always wanted.
I love their mature relationship and how they handle things that come
their way. I really like the way this
book wraps up the series. The bonus
epilogue also sets up the author’s next series and I am excited to read it.
This debut novella was everything I hoped it would be. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. There is no cliffhanger and I feel like the couple gets their HEA in a non-traditional but exciting way that suits them.
Nora and Bowie are acquaintances who quickly become more. One of the things that drew me to both characters was that they each were confident in their own skin. Nora is a curvy girl who is career focused and not looking for a relationship. I appreciated the insight into Nora's pursuit of acting in L.A. while not fitting the stereotypical California actress profile. I love that she knows what she needs and is not afraid to ask for it. One of the most powerful statements was when she tells Bowie that he cannot be her everything. Relationships that rely on one person to be another person's everything are doomed to fail. Bowie is a business owner who exudes confidence despite his average height of 5'7"/5'8 ". He understands all the positive things he brings to the table. I did also appreciate his vulnerability and loneliness being so far away from his family and England. I adore that he is a hot ginger. The book world needs more heroes like Bowie.
Though this book is novella length, it reads like a full-length novel. Characters, even several secondary characters, are well developed. Relationships between the characters are dynamic and important to the story. I adore the number of secondary characters from the LGBTQ+ community and their roles in the story. The pace of the story was good and I read it in one sitting. The heat level is five-alarm-fire hot, so have your ice water ready. The dialogue is witty and the banter between the characters is fun. This story takes place over the holidays. Though it is now October, I was excited to read my first holiday romance of the year. Now I am thinking of Christmas and all the heart warming things the season brings. Thanks to this book, I also really want a gingerbread latte now.
On the Rocks (Kingston Brothers #1) by Isabel Lucero
#LoveTriangle
#OneNightStand #SlowBurn
4.5 STARS
Book one in this series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Royce begins the book with a fascination for London. The attraction is mutual. Their flirty banter is fun to read. London is in an unsatisfying relationship with Hunter. While she and Hunter, there is flirting, but no cheating. When London and Hunter break up, she comes to Royce. They have a wild and wonderful night together. Royce has fallen hard for her, but when he fails to communicate that, she ends up getting back together with Hunter.
I loved the journey both of these characters take on their way to each other. Royce has been a playboy who never got vulnerable enough to allow someone to get close. London has her own baggage that she needs to get beyond. I love how they eventually open up to each other and share their past hurts. I adore the friendship they form. I also really loved how Royce fought for his chance with London. There is plenty of heat in the few scenes where things get physical. There are also some funny moments. I loved being introduced to Royce's brothers and I am seriously looking forward to reading their books. I also really appreciated Midge and the friendship she has with London.
This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to meeting her at Indies Invade Philly and reading more of her work.
This was a quick read with low angst and a little steam. It is a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from Madison's POV.
Who hasn't had the fantasy of having the big star pick you from the crowd and fall head over heels for the "normal" girl? This book delivers this fantasy with a surprise twist. Madison works for a talent agency and has a boss who is absolutely horrible! I hated that she put up with him, but given her youth and the entertainment industry, I was willing to accept that she would hang in there despite his horrible nature. Walker is a swoony hero. I wish he would have communicated to Madison more clearly a bit earlier in the book. But then the book would have been shorter. There is a little heat and some romance along the way.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that requires a full suspension of disbelief. It is a sweet and romantic fantasy. I felt that the writing was good and the pace of the story kept me engaged. I think it is only a small taste of what this author can deliver. Though this is my first book by her, I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
This is book one in the series and it ends in a cliffhanger. I didn't know that when I started this book. It seems like book two is coming soon, and I am anxious to read it. This book is written in first person from Ariel's POV. There are scenes where the reader is aware of Ryker's thoughts and feeling through the mate connection, but I wish I had the opportunity to know more of his thoughts. I honestly don't read a lot of single POV, and I am hopeful that I will gain more of Ryker's perspective in the next book.
The author creates a world that makes anything possible. As I read the book, I was constantly guessing what the answers might be to the many questions presented. I thought the world building was engaging, and I honestly stayed up way past my bedtime to read this on two consecutive nights. Ariel is an interesting, if sometimes clueless, character. I can see a lot of growth coming to her character as she learns exactly what she is and how to manage that. I also found her impulsiveness annoying. I really just wanted her to find her patience and settle in with Ryker to figure things out. She is a character who jumps first and questions her actions too late. Ryker is a possessive alpha hero who has waited for his fated mate. Initially, he fights the attraction but once he realizes there is more there, he is all in. I love his possessive and protective nature and I adore his wolf and his man. I am excited to get to know more of him in the next book.
There are several steamy, and explicit scenes: and I am here for it. One of my favorite things with the fated mates trope is the connection between the characters and how that enhances absolutely everything. When I reached chapter 20, I realized this was probably going to end in a cliffhanger. Normally. I do not read these unless I can binge on ahead into the next book. Yet at that point I was in it. I am excited for the next book. I hope it comes out soon.
Steamy heat, excellent world building, characters with room to grow, and so many secrets: I need the answers now.
This short and steamy standalone is part of a series about holiday mountain men. (Who can't love that?) This is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.
When some friends decided to read this at the same time, I jumped in too. It was a quick read full of heat and instant love. Graham kidnaps Magnolia to save her from her stalker and she falls fast and hard for him. Graham is a burly mountain man who does everything to convince Magnolia she was meant for him.
This was a fun, steamy, short read with an OTT scenario that left we feeling warm and fuzzy. Sometimes you want a hot, low-angst, short read and this fits that bill perfectly. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Hwy 550 (Rock Point #3) by Freya Barker
Narrated by Sebastian
York and Brooke Hayden
#RomantricSuspense #MC
#FakeRelationship
5 STARS
Book three in the Rock Point series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. I listened to the first part of this book on audio and read the last third via E-book. The narration was wonderful. Sebastian was the perfect Ouray with his deep and growly voice. Brooke really captured Luna's toughness and her attitude. They really brought them to life. When I was reading the last third, I still had their voices in my head. I am in awe of the way narrators can have so many different voices within their part. It was amazing to hear. Set in Durango, where I live, there were a couple of mispronunciations that drove me a little crazy. (The same things were mispronounced in book 2's audio.) I wish they had caught in audio proofing, though one might need to be more local to here to catch them. (Ouray is pronounce "Ooo-Ray" instead of "Your-ray" and Ute is pronounced "Ooo-t" instead of "You-t".)
Ouray is a fantastic hero. I love his growly loner mentality. I really appreciated how he could push Luna's buttons. Luna is tough because she had to be. Her character has a lot more depth than I expected. Actually, both characters were very well-developed. They felt real with their complex histories, emotions, and reactions to what happens along the way. I love how Ouray helps Luna come out of her shell and gain confidence in her femininity. She has some Miss Congeniality moments. I loved her as a biker babe, but even more, I adored how Ouray takes care of "his woman". There is plenty of heat between the two of them as make believe becomes reality. There are a few funny moments even in a story with its fair share of suspense. There is a young boy in the story who will melt you- I promise. His character is important and well-developed. I love what he adds to Luna and Ouray's love story.
There was a lot to love
about this one. It is my favorite of the series so far. My hubby
even listened to the audio with me, and he really enjoyed it. In fact, he finished the audio book on his own.
Thank you for the fabulous review for HWY550!!
ReplyDeleteI am loving the whole series. I can't wait to meet you in Philly.
DeleteLooking forward to it!
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