Book reviews from the week of June 25th

 

Happy weekend!  I am working all weekend.  (This is my summer holiday to work.)  I read one ARC and two books from my TBR this week.  C.D. Reiss has been on my list since before Book Bonanza last year and I finally read one of her books.   Anger Bang by Avery Flynn released this week and I had to read it right away.  Finally, Lena Hendrix released her next book in the Sullivan Family series and I was able to read the ARC.  It has all the HGTV vibes so grab it and enjoy the sparks between Kate and Beckett. (Check out my separate blog post to meet Lena and learn about all of her books.)

I read 15 books in June and 10 of those were ARCs.  It is not my biggest reading month, but I also worked a little more than I have been and we had a couple of camping trips. I love spending time with my hubby so I can't regret a thing.

I hope my reviews help you find your next great read.  I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday week with all the books and happy endings.

One Touch (Sullivan Family #2) by Lena Hendrix

ARC: Release Date- 06/30/2023

#SmallTown #BrothersBestFriend #Taboo #ForcedProximity #GrumpyHero #FamilySeries #ARC

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 an alternating dual POV.

I loved Kate in the Redemption Ranch series as one of Gemma’s best friends.  Now as she moves back home to help her aunt, she finds her HEA.  Her older brothers protect and tease her.  They also know that the aunt has a soft spot for Kate and will allow her to renovate the crumbling farmhouse.  Beckett is Kate’s oldest brother’s best friend.  He also happens to be the grumpy older brother of her ex-boyfriend, Declan.  And Declan broke her heart.  There are sparks of all kinds flying when he shows up as the contractor hired to renovate the farmhouse.

There is a lot of witty banter, teasing, and sass that goes on between the two characters as renovations get underway.  Kate decides to document the whole thing on IG as she somewhat objectifies the Brutish Builder and gains a huge and viral following. There are some definite HGTV vibes that I loved. They have a lot of heat between them leading to steamy scenes.  Their relationship is complicated, and they both have some baggage to get through. Beckett falls hard and fast.  They can’t deny their mutual attraction and even friendship that forms.  What starts as banging quickly becomes so much more. Ultimately, when they have their dark moment, it is because Beckett decides to get some therapy to help him be a better person for Kate.  I loved this swoony story.  It was steamy, funny, and full of love received from family both born and found.  (Note: this was not Beckett’s born family.  There is not much love there.)  Beckett was easy to love, and Kate was full of fire:  impossible not to love.

I am super-excited to read the rest of this series.  Outtatowner is a fun small town full of interesting characters and lots of shenanigans. The Sullivan family and a feud with the King family leads to some fun times.  I am looking forward to what’s next.

Bombshell (Hollywood A-List #1) by C.D. Reiss

#SingleDad #Nanny #Celebrity 

4 STARS

This was my first book by this author and it has been on my TBR for a while.  It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.

Cara is a professional nanny who has worked for Hollywood royalty before.  She wants to avoid doing it again for her next job, but she is not so lucky.  She ends up working for superstar Brad Sinclair.  I liked Cara.  She has a bit of trouble standing by her convictions, but she is a likeable character.  She falls in love with the children she cares for and Nicole is no exception.  

Brad is living a life full of debauchery and partying even after he has a five year old daughter arrive on his doorstep.  He has the entourage and all the chaos of a star who works away from home most of the year.  He is selfish, sometimes narcissistic, and at many points in the story very hard for me to like.  He goes after what he wants with little thought to the ramifications, and has a team of yes people who support that.

The story itself is well written and full of heat.  When they decide to give into the attraction, regardless of the consequences, there are a lot of hot times.  Nicole is adorable but not as developed as I would have liked.  Brad and Cara are imperfect characters that are complex and layered.  Their story is not a fairy tale.  There is some drama and character growth necessary to get to their HEA.  Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I find myself thinking about even a few days after I finished the book.

CW: Past abortion, infertility, and learning disabilities.

Anger Bang (The Downside of Dating #1) by Avery Flynn

#OppositesAttract #Fling #RomanticComedy

4.5 STARS

Written in third person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends in a HEA.

Thea is a former child actor who has grown up to be a shy and nerdy paleontologist.  This girl loves her dinosaurs.  Her family dynamic is sometimes difficult.  her sister, Jackie is a TV star, and her mom (momager) is determined to help Jackie succeed.  Kade is the older brother of Dex (also a TV star) and is a true crime author.  When Dex and Jackie sign on to have a reality TV wedding in a sulphureous town in Wyoming, shenanigans are unavoidable. 

I adored both Thea and Kade.  I loved their hot times.  I love how neither one of them ever wanted a relationship and they end up in one before either one realizes it.  There is plenty of family drama, lots of steamy times, and laugh out loud moments on the way to their HEA.  The 80's themed wedding for reality TV is hilarious.  The emotional connection between Thea and Kade is sweet as they protect each other.  I adore that their relationship with their family members are a big part of the story and that they too grow and improve by the end of the book.  I had trouble putting this book down.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.