Happy weekend. This week I played catch up with three ARCs. I also read a box set of shifter novellas that has been on my kindle for ages. All of my reads this week were fantastic and my heart is full. Ironically, two of the ARCs have a hero names Theo. That is the only thing they have in common. They are very different heroes and I loved the back to back contrast of characters who shared only a name. I hope my reviews help you find some new books to add to your TBR. Until next week, happy reading.
The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant
ARC: Release Date- 04/13/2023
#OppositesAttract #BestFriendsBrother #SmallTown
#ForcedProximity #ARC
5 STARS
This standalone is
not tied to any other books by this author.
It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with
a HEA.
An island resort is the setting for the wedding of Laney’s
best friend, Emma. As a bridesmaid, she
is tasked with the job of keeping the bride’s brother away from the groom as
they are not getting along well at the moment. Theo tries to stay out of
trouble, yet it always seems to find him anyway.
I LOVED Theo.
He has such a positive outlook despite the negative things that go on
around him. I love how he works with his
self-talk. I adore his feelings for
Laney. Laney is at a turning point in
her life. I appreciated that she is finding
herself and that Theo helps her do that.
Her character experiences so much growth and becomes stronger throughout
this book. Theo has a lot to do with
that. Her feelings for Theo have even
more to do with that. They have some steamy
moments that are explicit, yet this book is really all about the feelings they each
have.
Though there are certainly funny moments, and even moments
that are little crazy, this book reads differently that the author’s other
books (and I have read them all at least once).
There are deeper layers to this story.
There are layers of friendship, the history of growing up together in a
small town where nothing is a secret, and some secrets that have been kept.
(Until they are not.) A large piece of both MCs growth revolves around meeting
or breaking the expectations set for them by those around them. Laney’s relationship with her parents is
complex at the beginning, yet only becomes more layered and complex by the end
of the book. Theo has built a successful
life with a side hustle that defies general approval on the surface despite
being a very good thing overall. As a
result, his side hustle is a secret only known by a few at the beginning.
Secrets, small town nosiness, love, friendship, and one-bed
forced proximity make this book a read you won’t want to miss. Blame the author
when you fall for Theo. He is impossible
to resist.
#Workplace #OppositesAttract #ARC
5 STARS
This book is a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV.
Theo is a complex hero and I absolutely loved him. At first, I thought I wasn’t going to be able
to like him, but by the end of chapter five I was completely in love. He is sometimes callous with his words and
actions. There are times he is deliberately
hurtful to Fay. There are times he gets
caught up in a situation and hurts her unintentionally in an effort to play the
game he is trapped in. He is miserable
and Fay is his way to a future with happiness.
Fay is kind of a hot mess, but Theo falls for her fast. He can’t resist her spunky and sassy
personality. I love how she just tells
Theo how it is. She can’t fight her attraction
to him. At times she is impulsive and
that leads her to trouble. At times it
leads to a whole lot of pleasure. The
spice level between the two of them is HOT. Their intimate scenes are 5 alarm
hot and packed with emotion.
There was so, so much to this story. The layers of relationships and the
manipulations within them were intense at times. Work, family, intimate, and friend relationships
all play important roles in this story.
Power in all its forms, good and bad, is explored on the way to this
hard-won HEA. I was gripped by the way power
shaped so many of the relationships and the actions of the characters. This book totally knocked it out of the
park. I think I have a serious book
hangover.
Just One Fling (Kingston Family #9/The Dirty Dares)
by Carly Phillips
ARC: Release Date- 04/18/2023
#Celebrity #Fling #SurprisePregnancy #FamilySeries #ARC
4 STARS
This can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written from a third person POV.
Winter has a secret that is revealed at the beginning of the
book. She and Harrison have a sizzling
chemistry together and they enjoyed their summer fling and a one-night repeat
after Nikki and Asher’s engagement party.
Though they both felt like there was more than a fling, they each were
willing to stick with agreed terms.
I liked Winter. She had a direct personality and was fiercely independent. Harrison has to man up and get over himself before he gets where he needs to be. But when he does, he is all in. I enjoyed the spice level and the emotional connection the two characters share. There are some external factors that try to keep them apart, but thankfully fail. I love the big, messy, family series and this was a wonderful addition.
Black River Pack Series (Fated Mates World Book 1)
by Rochelle Paige
#Paranormal #Shifter #FatedMates
5 STARS
This box set contains the first three novellas in the Fated Mates World. Each novella can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. They are written in first person from an alternating dual POV.The first three books in the series follow the three Tate brothers. Hunter, the alpha of the Black River pack finds his HEA with his human fated mate, Grace. Spencer, the pack beta and enforcer, finds his HEA with Eliza, a wolf shifter with a complicated past. Finally, Parker finds his forever with Annora, a bear shifter.
Each story has an element of suspense, lots of heat, and an emotional fated mates connection. I couldn't stop reading. What makes a five star book? The one that goes beyond my expectations and delivers a story (or stories) that I can't put down.
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