It is a long holiday weekend in the US and the sun is shining here. I am looking forward to eating some yummy food and enjoying the outdoors and a little reading while I spend time with the family.
This week I was able to read three ARCs and three more books from the Stacy Reid rabbit hole I have fallen down recently. The three arcs were all excellent. There are some amazing new releases coming in the next month and I am so happy to have the privilege of reading early for some of them. Stacy Reid delivers witty heroines in passionate stories. I am definitely not done with her rabbit hole yet.
I hope everyone out there is enjoying some time with their loved ones this weekend and these book reviews help you find some excellent new reads.
Reckless With the Rockstar (Mile High Rocked #5)
by Christina Hovland
ARC: Release Date- 05/25/2023
#Rockstar #OppositesAttract #ARC
5 STARS
Book five in the series can be read as a standalone and ends
with a HEA. It is written in third
person from an alternating dual POV.
Mach has been such a playboy in earlier books of the series,
and I wasn’t sure how this was going to go.
The author knocked it out of the park though. Readers gradually learn
why Mach has avoided attachment. When he
met Darla, it was quickly apparent to me that she was going to help him over his
hurdles. Darla is an emergency room
nurse who wins the contest for a date with a rock star. There are misunderstandings on that date that
had me giggling.
I loved Darla for Mach.
I loved that she didn’t pressure him.
The friendship they form on their adventure is fun and relatable. They share passion and an emotional
attachment that takes them both by surprise.
He must make a journey within himself to get his HEA. He has to recognize his value and that he
deserves the love Darla offers him.
I loved this whole series so much! This book was the perfect end to it and the transition to future reads. The author regularly impresses me with her wit and with the way she turns of phrase and makes me smile, laugh, and swoon. (The flat tire is a great example.) I highly recommend this book and this whole series.
The Marriage Solution by Stephanie Rose
ARC: Release Date- 06/02/2023
#MarriageOfConvenience #FriendsToLovers #ARC
5 STARS
This standalone is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.
It is worth much more than 5 stars: I would easily give it ten if I
could.
Landon and Julie have been best friends since their freshman
year of college twenty years ago.
Through relationships, job promotions, grief, and life they have always
leaned on each other. Their friendship
is so solid and true and deep. They have
been each other’s people and would never consider an alternative. They arrive in Las Vegas to attend the wedding
of their other two college friends after not seeing each other for 6
months. When Landon learns of Julie’s
recent diagnosis and the problems she is facing, he doesn’t hesitate to suggest
a solution.
First, Landon was incredible. I loved his protectiveness toward Julie. I loved how tender and caring he was. He handles his fear of her diagnosis with
research and all the ideas. He does everything
right. Oh, and he is gorgeous, kind,
intelligent, driven and really everything a girl could want. Then there is
Julie: her confidence and sense of identity
have been shaken by her diagnosis and the events that followed. She questions
who she is. She wonders what kind of
future might be possible. She worries about the unknowns. And she learns to accept herself as different
but never less because of the turn things have taken in her life. She is afraid to make those she cares about
worry about her. She finally leans on Landon and accepts his solution. I love that their first kiss is when they say,
“I do.” I adored the passion and heat
between them that took them by surprise.
They have been in some kind of denial about their true feelings for a
very long time and it takes them both a little while to fully realize what all
these feelings mean. Their friends and parents are wonderful additions to the
book. I really liked the fact that they
have a support system that lets them figure things out on their own- but with
little nudges. Once they come together,
they are insatiable and steamy as they make up for lost time.
This book is something special. I am full of emotion trying to find the words
to do it justice. Friends to lovers is
one of my favorite tropes and this is at the top of my favorites list for books
with it. Julie’s emotions as she finds
her new normal, deals with illnesses that become more too fast, and sinks into
the feelings she has always had for the man who is now her husband are
turbulent, raw, and real. I appreciate
that their black moment is scary but not due to anything in their relationship. They are so solid. There were lots of romantic and steamy
moments with a side of fun banter. I am
left with all the warm fuzzy feelings. I don’t know if this review actually
expresses how much I loved this book. I
will just say, “Read this book now.”
Everything to Lose (Newberry Springs #1)
by Harlow James
ARC: Release Date- 06/02/2023
#FriendsToLovers #SmallTown #ARC
5 STARS
Book one in the new series can be read as a
standalone and ends in a HEA. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV.
I had just finished another book that was also a
friends-to-lovers trope and hesitated to jump straight into this one.
However, once I started, I was hooked before the end of the prologue. I
quickly fell in love with Kelsea and Wyatt and the whole Gibson clan.
Kelsea is a wonderful heroine. I love her kindness and her strong
spirit. Wyatt is pursuing his dream with his best friend at his
side. They have been best friends since they were in diapers.
All their key life moments were shared. As they got older, they each
developed feelings that were more than friendly, but both were afraid to take
the risk if it didn't work.
I really loved Kelsea. She reaches a point
where she needs to take some risks and Wyatt is one of them. Wyatt
doesn't always react the way I wanted him to. I had to remind myself that
they are 26, and sometimes reactions aren't the most mature at that age.
Kelsea has lived her whole life in her small town. She has dreams of
leaving and dreams of staying at the same time. Together, they have a deep
emotional connection and a mutual attraction that can no longer be
denied. When they come together, they have some seriously heated
moments. Romance, steam, and a forever friendship make them a couple that
I couldn't get enough of. The small Texas town has its own
personality. The moments shared within the Gibson family are
something special. I am so excited to read more books in this series.
Wicked in His Arms (Wedded by Scandal #2)
by Stacy Reid
#Historical #Virgin #OppositesAttract
5 STARS
Book two in the series can be red as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in third person from a dual POV.
Tobias is extremely reserved. Olivia is exuberant and more outgoing than she ought to be. She is young and wild. I loved her spirit and her determination to live her own life, even if not practical. They have witty banter and fiery passion between them. I adore when Tobias loses control of his emotions around Livvie. He makes some mistakes and is sometimes cruel with his words. Ultimately, he has to make the best groveling grand gesture to win her back. Olivia's family is cruel and I admired her creativeness in finding an escape from a horrible future.
This was a very enjoyable read that I didn't want to put down. I am 100% sucked into this series.
How to Marry a Marquess (Wedded by Scandal #3)
by Stacy Reid
#Historical #Virgin #FriendsToLovers #SingleDad
4 STARS
Book three in the series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV.
Richard and Evie first meet when he is only 16 to his 24. They develop a friendship based on honesty and lively discussions. Richard has been black balled by the ton, yet maintains his scandalous friendship with Lady Evie. Though both have desire for each other, a relationship with him would ruin Evie in society's eyes. I met both characters in book one and have been looking forward to their story.
I adored Evie. I loved her spunk and her determination in the face of her parents' demands. After book one, I wasn't sure how this would go; yet the author does a fantastic job allowing the reader sympathize with Evie's motivations. I liked Richard in book one. I loved learning more abut him in this book. I adored his reformist policies and his devil-may-care attitude. I was able to understand his scorn for society. I loved how he acted with his daughter and the other children. What drove me nuts was the way he made decisions for Evie instead of believing her ability to make those decisions on her own. At times, he really was a rake and a scoundrel. There were moments I was unhappy with how he treated this woman who was also his friend. I loved the moment when he finally pulls his head out and realizes he needs to win the girl. The ending was romantic and everything I wanted from this couple.
I am moving straight into book four of this series I can't quit.
When the Earl Met His Match (Wedded by Scandal #4)
by Stacy Reid
#Historical #MarriageOfConvenience
5 STARS
Book four of the series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV. This is undoubtably my favorite book in this series.
Hugh has some secrets and seeks a wife through a newspaper ad. He has reasons for this that are astounding. Lady Phoebe initially responds to his ad to call him out for him ungentlemanly behavior. They develop a witty back and forth through the letters that I loved. When Phoebe is compromised and betrayed, she realizes she must take her future into her own hands. She was incredibly brave in the face of her desperation, and I adored her. She is kind, smart, and a lovely person. She runs to Hugh in the hope that he can save her and they strike a deal.
I love the tenderness that develops between them. There are seriously so many truly romantic moments. It made me swoon. Hugh tries to maintain his reserved façade but Phoebe cracks his shell. His care and protection of her, their passion, their friendship as they build communication; there was so so much to love here. He accepts her and her and her situation completely, yet he has to learn to trust her and his feelings for her. He must open himself up to hurt to feel complete joy.
This may be one of my favorite historical romances of all time. The hurdles they must overcome are unusual to see in a Regency romance, and I loved it. There are a few very distracting consistency errors that should have been caught by a proofreader. I wanted to reduce the star rating because of it, yet I ultimately could not. I loved this book that much.
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