Among the Heather (The Highlands Series #2)
by Samantha Young
ARC: Release Date- 12/05/2023
#EnemiesToLovers #RomanticSuspense #SmallTown #ARC
4 STARS
The title of this book is absolutely perfect for this story.
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.
Readers who have read book one in the series already met
Aria, the estate manager of Ardnoch Castle, and North, a Hollywood actor, as
they each played significant roles in that story. The author does a good job in this book of
filling in the history for those who have not read that book. Aria is a much more complex character than I
realized. She is plagued with insecurity
and self-doubt from a lifetime of bad relationships. I appreciated how her self-esteem had been
damaged by the events of her past. I
also felt like her feelings regarding boy image and self-worth are relevant in
today’s world. I am glad they are part
of this story. North has a traumatic history himself. I appreciated his commitment ot living a life
he was proud of. I loved his
protectiveness and his tenderness toward Aria.
From the very beginning he set out to heal her with his love without
even realizing that was what he was doing. Though they start out with a lot of
animosity toward each other, and they both make mistakes, they eventually form
a tentative friendship. Once their
tentative friendship leads to the hot times, I knew they could have, feelings
of “more” are quick to follow.
Their relationship faces some serious challenges along the way. Learning to communicate and to trust each other is a big part of that. Recognizing the love that they share and the respect they each have for each other comes from some swoony romantic moments. There are suspenseful sub-plots working against them. This was a wonderful read that makes me want to visit Scotland even more than I already did.
Something Like Lust (Chicago Grizzles #2) by Piper Rayne
ARC: Release Date- 12/12/2023
#Sports #OneNightStand #SurpriseBaby #SecretBaby #ARC
5 STARS
Book two in the series can be read as a standalone and ends
with a HEA. Readers who would like a
little more background on Damon’s character will enjoy reading book one in the
series first though. It is written in first person from an alternating dual
POV.
I adored Adeline.
When she finds out she is pregnant after a one-night stand, she actually
has a plausible reason for waiting to tell Damon he is going to be a father. She is committed to being the best mom she can
be, even if she must do it alone. The
book begins as he finds out. I enjoyed
getting to know Damon better in this book.
Underneath the jokester is a man with a lot of hurt in his past. He doesn’t trust easily and has high walls to
protect himself from heartache. From the time he finds out about the baby, he
is all in. He is committed to being a
good dad and to being there for Adeline. The relationship they form as friends
and co-parents through the final stages of her pregnancy, delivery, and the
first months of parenthood is primarily platonic. It felt like a believable way
for them to go from practically strangers to working together to raise their child. I loved that they fought their intense
attraction to each other, placing parenthood first. Damon as a dad was 100% swoon-worthy. The love he has for his child is pure and
complete. He falls for Adeline too, but it takes a lot for him to realize and
admit that. Risking his heart was not easy for him but once he did it was
beautiful to read. Their path is not easy, but it felt realistic. Every relationship has its ups and downs. This
was a very enjoyable read and I am excited for the next book in the series.
Almost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson
Narrated by Paula Nederhorst
#InstaLove #TimeTravel #Holiday #Novella #Audiobook
5 STARS
I picked up this novella through Kindle Unlimited read & listen. I was looking for something that I could listen to while I cleaned house for the holidays and finish quickly if I finished cleaning before the audiobook ended. This was actually the perfect length for what I needed to accomplish today, and I finished the audiobook at just the right time. This holiday standalone is written in first person from Maren's POV that ends with a HEA.
Maren is an admirable character. I loved her relationship with her mother and her desire to be with her during her terminal diagnosis. I loved how accepting she is of the time travel and of the people and custom s when she finds herself in 1647. She falls fast for Duncan , and who can blame her? He is romantic, poetic, gorgeous, and a gentleman. Basically, he is all that and a laird to boot.
I really enjoyed the blending of the customs from the two time periods over the holiday. Though this is fairly clean, with only some stolen kisses and some hand holding, I did not miss the heat that is most of the books I read. I think this is partially because I listened to it and steamy scenes can sometimes be awkward to listen to as opposed to reading them. I would say the heat level of this was bout the same as a Hallmark movie-maybe a few more kisses. The author did an excellent job of keeping me guessing as to how they could possibly end up together and how they would overcome the obstacles they faced.
The narrator, Paula Nederhorst, does a fantastic job bringing the story to life. She managed to distinguish each character with a separate voice and it never felt weird when she spoke as a male character. It was also fun to hear her go back and forth from a Scottish to an American accent throughout the book. She made it seem effortless and I was completely engaged. Fun and light with a sweet HEA, I would certainly recommend this audiobook for a holiday read.
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