Happy weekend! This week I worked way too much at my j.o.b. but I still managed to read three ARCs. The great news is that they were all amazing! They are three very different books and I loved different things about each of them. Truly a reader cannot go wrong here. Check them out and see what may suit your mood. One or more of these books has to be right for you. Until next week, happy reading.
The Honeymoon Trap: Confessions by Christina Hovland
ARC: Release Date 03/08/2024
#Workplace #FakeRelationship #ForcedProximity #SmallTown #ARC
5 STARS
This standalone
is written in third person and ends with a HEA.
This book moved me. The
characters deal with some real-life issues like grief, a history of being
bullied, family dynamics, image repair, and the difficulty of a workplace
romance. I found both characters likable and I was cheering them on to get to
their HEA. Lucy has a way of finding herself in difficult situations, and at
times it really feels like the girl can't get a break. Both characters have
internal issues they need to come to terms with before they can be ready for a
relationship with each other. It was very rewarding to this reader to see them
grow and take some chances to get to the reward. I love it when the guy falls
hard first, and William does this incredibly well. The book was well written
with a steady pace and good dialogue. There are laughs and some heat. I really
enjoyed this story and especially how the couple gets to know each other for a
fake honeymoon that turns into a real relationship.
This new version of the book
also contains more suspenseful elements than the original, and I was here for
it.
This is a wonderful
introduction to this author and readers will want to binge all her books after
reading this one.
Storms and Secrets (Haven Brothers #2)
by Claire Kingsley
ARC: Release Date- 03/14/2024
#RomanticSuspense #SmallTown #BestFriendsBrother
#FamilySeries #ARC
5 STARS
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as standalone and ends with a HEA.
This story does truly stand alone but readers will certainly want to
read the first book in the series and probably the Bailey Brothers series after
reading it.
When you finish a book and immediately want to reread it you
have no doubt that you just finished a five-star read. That was this book. By
about 75%, I knew this was a reread book for me. There are so many layers to
the plot. The story is so very well crafted. The characters are interesting and
complex. There is a little steam (open door but not overly explicit scenes) , a
few laughs, and some suspense. I stayed up late a couple of nights reading this
and found myself dreaming of potential avenues that the plot might take. It
consumed me. Only adult responsibilities kept me from reading it in one
sitting.
Marigold is a strong and feisty heroine who is figuring out
what her dream guy really is all about. Zachary has a bit of an epiphany and
decides to own his feelings for Marigold, yet it doesn’t go easily for him. I
love how realistic Zachary’s feelings, doubts, and overall character felt. Though
Marigold has had a crush on Zachary for a long time, she doesn’t give in to him
right away as she weighs her options. Marigold’s girl friendships are a
highlight of the book. I adore how they all support each other in the very best
ways. Both Zachary and Marigold have moments where they need to be brave, be
proactive, and be decisive in their actions t get the best outcome.
Interspersed throughout this book are several chapters from
another character’s POV. Those are written in third person. They give the
reader a better understanding of the danger that lies ahead and move the story toward
its inevitable climax. I loved the addition of these chapters, and I am beyond
excited to see where this particular character might be in the future.
The ending of the book is sweetly romantic and gave me all
the feel-good butterflies and warm fuzzies I could want. This one knocked it
out of the park for me.
ARC: Release Date- 03/17/2024
#BiIlionaire #OneNightStand #Workplace #InstaLove #Virgin
#ARC
5 STARS
Book one in a new series can be read as a standalone and
ends with a HEA. It is written in first
person from an alternating dual POV. One of the things I loved, however, was
that there are a few times when the POV changes and the reader is taken back in
time a little bit. This allows the reader to experience the same scenes from
both POV, and I loved that.
Dusty (23) is a recent college graduate with her first job
on the way to her dreams. She is a driven and very intelligent heroine. I
adored her confidence, her determination, and her fearlessness in pursuing her
goals and dreams. Cash (27) has spent the last four years building his multi-billion-dollar
empire. He and his brothers work together and have achieved incredible success.
I love how Cash has worked hard, putting aside everything else, to achieve his
goal. He has reasons he is so driven, and I loved that vulnerable side of him.
When these two meet, there is instant lust. It isn’t as easy
as Cash thought it would be though, as Dusty isn’t very interested in a
relationship. When they do decide to pursue a one night only, fake names, hot-hot
night together, their chemistry cannot be denied. Cash realizes that the night
was more than just a typical one-night stand and tries hard to find her again without
success. Dusty’s experiences in Hawaii motivate her to move up her timeline and
apply for her dream job. Then she lands it only to discover that she already
knows her new CEO intimately.
I loved Cash’s obsession with Dusty and his OTT possessive
pursuit of her. These two are H-O-T HOT! This author always does a fabulous job
writing about the hot times, and this is no exception. Their relationship is
fast. They both have internal baggage to overcome, but Cash is ready to wait as
long as it takes for Dusty to get there. It does not take her long to realize
Cash is the real deal. Cash and his company are also facing an external threat
that must be stopped. Even with that distraction, their instant connection
quickly becomes love.
I stayed up reading this until my eyes wouldn’t stay open
any longer. Otherwise, I would have finished this in one sitting. I really didn’t
want to put it down. I loved the characters and the way they were with each
other. I loved that they both had sources of friend/family support. I loved that
they were both driven, Type A people and that it transferred into their
relationship. And I really loved their hot times together. I cannot wait for
more books in this series.
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