The beginning of December has started out full of chaos in my world. In my paying job I work on an as needed basis. So when other people want to take time off, they come to me. That means that I am scheduled to work a lot in December and have already worked 5 12-hour shifts this month. I don't mind since the paycheck is nice to have. I have to support my book habit, after all. But it does cut into my reading time.
Despite my crazy week, I read three books from my TBR. I decided to knock out reading challenge books first this month. All three of these meet at least one reading challenge goal. Marika Ray's Grumpy Little Christmas brought me maybe the grumpiest hero I have ever read. Morgana was exactly what he needed to lighten up a bit. Sierra Simone delivered a smoking hot professor/employee romance. And finally, the book co-written by Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart was absolutely fantastic. Read all about my thoughts on these in my reviews below.
As I continue to tackle some books on my TBR and squeeze in some holiday reads, I am hopeful that I will be able to read more this week than in the last one. Till next time, happy reading!
Grumpy Little Christmas by Marika Ray
#Holiday #GrumpyHero #Celebrity #SingleDad #SmallTown #ForcedProximity #OppositesAttract
5 Stars
This holiday standalone is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends in a HEA.
Morgana is at a crossroads in her life. Her career is stagnant, her muse is gone, and her boyfriend just publicly broke up with her. She escapes on a vacation she never wanted to get her head on straight and finds everything she never knew she needed. Aksel is a single dad of an adorable 8-year-old daughter. A former Olympic skier, he is doing everything he can to save the ski lodge that is his father's American dream. He is a big grumpy Viking. He may actually be the grumpiest hero I've ever read. There is no bordering on rudeness with Aksel; he is all in. Fortunately, underneath all that grumpiness, there is a guy who cares deeply. When he messes up (and he does- a lot) he feels remorse almost immediately. He does not always admit to his remorse, but the reader is aware, and that made him more likeable. Morgana shows up and pushes all of his buttons. In fact, she takes great pleasure in making the grump even grumpier. They eventually share fiery moments together, but not before some tenderness and vulnerabilities are shared between them first.
I really enjoyed that through their new relationship they each grow. Morgana learns to regain control of her life and set goals that actually make her happy. I was thrilled when her muse returns in this process. Aksel has to learn that he can ask for and accept help. He has to come to terms with the fact that people care for him and that he actually has warm feelings for the people around him.
This was a steamy, romantic, funny, holiday read with all the warm fuzzies. The author incorporates a lot of the Norse traditions and language from Aksel and his family and this was something I really enjoyed reading. This would make a wonderful holiday move.
(Pssst: Hallmark or Netflix , are you listening?)
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes (Hot Flash Hook Ups #1)
by Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart
#Sports #FakeRelationship #ForcedProximity #OneBed #SingleMom #SingleDad
5 STARS
I was so excited when I saw the blurb for this book and that these two authors were writing together. I was not disappointed. Book one in this series can be read as a standalone, is written in first person from an alternating dual POV, and ends in a HEA.
Olivia is a 43 year old nerd, business woman, and divorced mother of two college age "kids". I really related to her and the physical things she is experiencing. I love her positive expression of sisterhood throughout the book. I absolutely adored her friendship with her best friend Evie. Her kids were wonderful, and a demonstration of the good mom parenting she has done. I also really loved the relation ship she has with her assistant, Ashley. At 24, Ashley really looks to Olivia as a role model and that is 100% deserved.
Roman, 41, is a professional hockey player who happens to be the father of Hannah. Hannah happens to be roommates and best friends with Olivia's daughter, Holly. This is the connection that leans meddling "kids" to arrange for Olivia and Roman to spend a week together in Belize at Olivia's ex-husband's wedding "fake" dating.
It doesn't take long for fake to be real. These two are fire. There is serious heat between them and I loved that Olivia is an older character that is still exactly what Roman wants. The laugh-out-loud moments are plentiful. As I neared the end of the book, my face was covered in a huge smile that even caught the hubby's attention. Even he could see how much I loved this book.
Olivia is a wonderful and likeable character that I related to on so many things. Roman is hot AF and I loved his journey of self-discovery in this book. Olivia and his daughter help him realize what next steps need to be taken in his life. Olivia's journey involves gaining confidence in who she is now. Both journeys had me turning pages like crazy.
I am here for whatever comes next from this duo. Count me in.
Misadventures With A Professor (Misadventures #15)
by Sierra Simone
#AgeGap #Virgin #OneNightStand #GrumpyHero #BDSM
3.5 STARS
This standalone in the series is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.
Zandy is a bit naive, especially in the beginning. Oliver is grumpy and more than a little broken by his past. Though Zandy makes some questionable decisions at the beginning of the book, she seems to be more mature later. I loved the way she naturally plans everything and her use of spreadsheets to make important decisions. Oliver struggles with guilt and shame over his desires until Zandy helped him see that there is nothing wrong with what he likes as long as both parties are agreeable. There is some spanking and role play built into their relationship from the beginning. I loved Zandy's easy acceptance of that and of Oliver as he is.
There is plenty of heat and a story of accepting oneself and others as they are regardless of the social pressures to have anything outside "normal" considered deviant. Oliver's growth over the course of the book was remarkable and I loved how Zandy helped him get there.
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