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Book reviews from the week of January 22nd

 


Happy weekend!  I am coming to you just a day later than normal this weekend so that I could finish book two in the Mom Coms series before I posted.  I have books three and four as ARCs, and I am really excited to keep reading this fun and engaging series written by four separate authors.  So far, the first two books have formed a cohesive picture of the four moms and their children.  I also read one ARC that will release at the end of this week and listened to one cute audiobook novella.  I hope my reviews help you find some new reads to add to your TBR.  Till next time, happy reading.


Through the Glen (The Highlands Series #3) 

by Samantha Young

ARC: Release Date-02/01/2024

#Celebrity #RomanticSuspense #ForcedProximity #OppositesAttract #SmallTown #ARC

5 STARS

Book three in the series can be read as a standalone and ends in a HEA.  It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.  Because the series is interconnected standalone novels, characters from previous books make solid appearances in this story.

Sarah’s character grows so much during this book.  Her evolution has started before the book begins, but over time she really comes out of her shell.  It was a joy to read as she finds her confidence and forms a friendship and then forever with Theo.  I loved her sass and her determination to live her life.  Her intellect, and the way she and Theo interact together, was really fun to read.  Both characters are writers and word nerds.  They share a mutual love of unusual words, and the book is full of them.  It is almost like they are speaking their own language at times.  Theo has a ton of baggage.  I love how fast he falls for Sarah, yet his fear holds him back.  Sarah is unafraid to stand up for what she knows she deserves, and Theo must deliver to keep her.  I adored the man Theo becomes as he des what he needs to do to let go of his past and embrace his future.

Smartly written, with romantic and steamy times., this book also has an underlying suspense plot that I expected after reading other books in the series.  I appreciated how realistic the characters felt when facing their demons internally.  I loved these characters.  Sarah quickly became one of my favorite heroines in this book.  I also really appreciated the poetic indulgences and the full circle aspect of the story.  No doubt, though I loved the other books, this is my favorite book in the series.


Mother Faker (The Mom Coms #1) by Brittanee Nicole

#Billionaire #SingleMom #AccidentalMarriage #FakeRelationship #CurvyGirl

5 STARS

Book one in a series written by four authors, this tells the story of Liv and Beckett and their happy ending.  Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this was my first book by this author.  The concept of this series really intrigued me.  Book one introduces all four of the moms and their seven children as well as the crumbling Boston brownstone they all live in.  Because the group of found family plays such an important role in each of the books, I am excited to see how four different authors pull off a cohesive series.

Live is a mess masquerading as put together at work. I love how quickly Beckett can see beneath the façade and I love that he liked Liv even more in her natural state.  I appreciated how she had body image insecurities after having three children and her recent divorce.  I love how Beckett makes her feel loved and cherished because of all she Is and not despite it.

Beckett is something else.  I loved his grumpy character with the soft marshmallow heart inside.  I especially loved the way he is with the kids.  The nicknames are a fun twist that I really liked and that made me laugh.  I adore how fast and hard he falls for Liv (or maybe he fell a long time ago, but now he can pursue her).  His relationship with his brothers also brought laughs and a deeper understanding into the kind of man he is.

There were several laugh out loud moments for me while reading this book.  There are swoony romantic times as well.  And yes, there are open door hot times.  Beckett is actually a dirty talker and Liv was into it.  I feel like I was able to get to know so many of these characters and I am excited to read more of this series because of that.  The first book in any series always has a tough job of setting up the world and the players that will become future stories.  I believe this author was very successful in achieving that goal.  In addition, I found the writing to be just the right amount of witty and it was thoroughly enjoyable to read. Like many books, I suppose a reader might have to suspend reality a little bit to believe that Liv would want to stay in the brownstone over a penthouse.  But then again, I have seen stranger things in real life, so no judgement here.  Up next is book two in the series and I am very excited to read it.



Mother Maker (The Mom Coms #2) by Jenni Bara

#Sports #SingleMom #OneNightStand #SurprisePregnancy #OneBed

4 STARS

This series follows four moms who are living together to parent their seven children. Book two in the series is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.  This is a series where each book delivers a happily ever after to one of the moms, but it needs to be read in order.

Dylan is one with the universe.  She is very in touch with herself and the world around her.  She uses crystals and doesn’t let much ruffle her.  I absolutely loved her peaceful personality.  I wish I could be more like her.  Cortney is a baseball player who struggles with OCD and anxiety.  When he is with Dylan, he feels her peace.  He takes care of her when she might not be so focused on the everyday tasks of self-care.  I loved this couple.  Cortney works very hard to prove to Dylan that he is different from her son’s father.  I really appreciated him and his family and how they not only accepted Dylan’s quirkiness but cherished her for it.  I also loved how Cortney works hard to form a relationship with Dylan’s 15-year-old son, Liam.  It was no easy task to win that kid over, but he did it.  The couple has a deep emotional connection that is also hot at times.  Cortney is a seriously swoony hero.

I loved seeing the other moms and Beckett.  The scenes with the kids were also a lot of fun. I love how Dylan encourages their growth without judgement. I feel like each book helps me know the characters better.  I didn’t love the way Beckett interferes with Cortney and Dylan.  There are also several pranks in the book that while a little humorous, didn’t feel true to Beckett and Cortney’s characters because they lacked the maturity I had come to expect from them. 

Overall, I really liked this book, and I am excited about continuing to read this series.


Royal Valentine (Improbable Meet Cute Collection) 

by Sariah Wilson

Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky

#Audiobook #Royal #Holiday #Novella

4 STARS

One of the novellas in the amazon original Improbable Meet Cute Collection, this was a standalone in kindle unlimited which included audio.  I listened to the audiobook and it was the perfect length to listen to while doing household chores. This cute read and listen has no heat beyond a kiss and ends with a HEA.  It is written in first person from Ilaria's POV.

Ilaria just wanted freedom for a couple of days.  I think I and many people would understand the desire to briefly escape our responsibilities.  When she finds herself with Callum, a handsome photographer on Valentine's day, they enjoy the day touring Rome together.  I loved how much they have in common and how they were able to understand each other.  This was a cute take on the royal switch trope with a fun meet cute and a sweet romantic story.  Very enjoyable.



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