Happy weekend! I read four ARCs this week. Two were the remaining books in the four book Mom Coms series, and two were football romances.
I really enjoyed the entire Mom Coms series. It was interconnected in a way you rarely see from a multi-author series. The characters were fun and there were lots of laughs through the entire series. Of course, all of these books pack some heat too, which I love. The two football romances are both different and were very enjoyable. In common: both couples have a history that enhances their relationship. I love reading football romances this time of year as everyone is gearing up for the Super Bowl.
I find that I love a cinnamon roll or golden retriever hero. I did marry one, so that makes sense. I also find that I am hardest on the heroines in books that have one of those heroes. Is that just me? I feel a little guilty sometimes. Like, maybe I should be more supportive of the heroines in that situation. I just can't get there.
I hope my reviews help you add some of these new and upcoming releases to your TBR. Truly, you will not regret it. Until next week, happy reading.
Mother Pucker (The Mom Coms #2) by Swati M.H.
ARC: Release Date- 02/01/2024
#Sports #SingleMom #Forbidden #AgeGap #OWYM #OppositesAttract #SecretRomance #ARC
5 STARS
Book three in the Mom Coms series gives Shayla and Rowan
their happily ever after. Due to the
nature of the series, and the closely intertwined cast of characters, it is
important to read these books in order. This book is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV.
After meeting Shay in the previous books, I was very excited
to get into her head and understand her fears.
She has a lot of them. After
losing her husband to cancer, she has taken protecting herself and her son,
Kai, to an extreme. I love how the
author addresses Shay’s fears without overwhelming the book with them. I love how Rowan inspires her to find the
woman she once was, and to live her life and let Kai have some fun in his
too. Shay is kind and truly dotes on her
son. As she loosened up a little, it was
fun to see Kai blossom into an outgoing little boy. Rowan falls hard and fast
for Shay. He knew he would have to be
patient to get past her walls, and he did it.
He challenges her while supporting and understanding her. Though he is 100% alpha in the bedroom, he
has a cinnamon roll heart. The chemistry
between Shay and Rowan is fiery and undeniable.
Though he wants her, he holds back just enough to make her come to him
too. He was a very swoony hero, and I
loved him.
There are plenty of hot times and some definite laugh out
loud moments in this book. My favorite times,
though, were the tender and vulnerable moments between Shay and Rowan. I also really adored the relationship Rowan built
with Kai. It just made me smile all
over. There is a lot to like about this
book. Though a little different from
this author’s other books, I think she nailed it. I also really loved that Shay was eight years
older than Rowan, but since Rowan was a bit of an old soul it didn’t matter at
all. I am really enjoying this series
and I am looking forward to reading the final book.
#EnemiesToLovers #SingleMom #ForcedProximity #ARC
4.5 STARS
This is the final book in a four book, multi-author
series. Because of the closely
intertwined characters and the subplots in the story line, read this series in
publication order. It is written in
first person from an alternating dual POV.
I knew from the start that it would take someone special to
break through the walls Delia had built around her. Enzo was perfect. Strong in his own right, with a kind heart,
and the ability to fall hard and fast for a fiery, strong woman; Enzo was just
the match Delia needed. I loved how he
was with the kids, especially her twins.
The relationship he formed with them and the way he supported them
really moved me. I loved how he was
willing to take care of Delia, not because she needed him to, but because he
wanted to cherish her. Delia was a tough nut.
She has been through some stuff that has made her very distrustful of
men. When she allowed herself to show
Enzo some of her vulnerability, it was all over for him. I loved how steady he was. I loved how much they had in common. I loved their banter and their steamy times. True to the rest of the series, there are
also many funny moments in the book.
This book also tied up the series and the underlying plot points that ran throughout it. I was impressed at how well this series came together with fairly consistent characterization. I would say that I loved Beckett in his book, but less so in the other three. I am not sure what it was about him in those books that was different, but it got to me. The female characters and the kids felt very consistent. All the characters in this series were interesting and I enjoyed reading about how they found their happy endings. Their non-traditional found family was fun and joyful to read.
Surprised and Sacked (Knoxville Coyote Football #2)
by Gina Azzi
ARC: Release Date- 02/05/2024
#SecondChance #SurprisePregnancy #Sports #ARC
4 STARS
Book two in this series can be read as a standalone and ends
with a HEA. It is written in first
person from an alternating dual POV.
Nova and West were everything to each other in college until
events placed an ocean between them. I
adored the love they had for each other.
Their feelings were strong and deep.
This is a couple that would always find their way back to each
other. In this book that happens through
a final goodbye that ends up being not final at all when Nova gets
pregnant. West is all in and has always
loved Nova. In the in between, he goes a
little off the rails. I appreciated that
the author left it a little vague as to whether West actually sleeps with other
women while he and Nova are apart. When he
discovers that he is going to become a dad, he abandons all thoughts of trying
to move on from Nova and turns his focus to winning her and making a family.
West is a puppy dog and has a sweet heart while carrying a
little baggage of abandonment and trauma.
Nova has a supportive family in France and is making her way there. I will admit that I had a little trouble
connecting with Nova. I loved West. I could not understand how she wouldn’t put
more effort into him while he was giving her his all. Ultimately, she comes to
her senses and they find their happy ending.
They have good chemistry and some hot times in this book. West is very swoony as he woos Nova. I appreciated his maturity and determination
to communicate and make their relationship work. I loved his commitment to her and the
baby. My heart ached for him as he
fought hard through all of Nova’s walls and was happy for him when they finally
came together. This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more
books in this series.
Something Like Love (Chicago Grizzlies #3)
by Piper Rayne
ARC: Release Date- 02/06/2024
#Sports #FriendsToLovers #ARC
4 STARS
The third and final book in the Chicago Grizzlies series,
this can be read as a standalone and ends in a HEA. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV.
I have been waiting for Cooper and Ellery to finally admit
their feelings for each other and cross out of the friend zone. Cooper finally gets the push he needs to make
the leap, and it was beautiful when they became a couple. I love friends to lovers because they have so
much history and knowledge of one another that it propels them forward in the
relationship faster than normal. Cooper
and Elle take that leap at warp speed. I
loved how Cooper would do anything for Elle and how he was all-in even before
they became more. Elle is a driven
career woman in her own right. She has
some daddy issues that affect her more than she would like to admit. She must come to terms with a few things
before they get their happy ending. It
was a painful journey to a beautiful future.
I loved Cooper. He is
a bit of a golden retriever hero and I adore that. I love the extended friend group and the
support they offer each other. The
steamy moments are fun and tender. This was an enjoyable read.
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