Happy weekend! Eleven days into May and I have finished eight ARCs. Some might say when it rains, it pours: but I can tell you this has been a very enjoyable storm. Each of these books captured me in their own way. I loved them all. I also really appreciated the variety built into this month's arc reads.
Those following me may notice that I am no longer going to attach a star rating to my blog reviews. I have to for other platforms because it is either required, necessary for authors to be seen in algorithms, or both. I realized this week (it took me a while) that I don't have to assign that here. I am honestly not a huge fan of the star rating system. Two books can both be five stars in my eyes for very different reasons. Maybe one would be 8 stars if that was an option, but there is no where to rate that.
The purpose of my reviews is to share what I liked or even loved about the books I read. In all reality, if I am not loving it, I will DNF the book and not review. There are so many excellent writers and books out there. Life is too short to read bad books or even books that aren't hitting me right at that time or for whatever reason. .
That said, if they appear here, I read them and you know I liked them. Check out my reviews of these amazing arcs to determine which ones you need on your TBR. I know there will be a few for you to add. (You can find links to these and others on my Recent Release and Coming Soon pages.)
Until next time, happy reading!
#Age Gap #SingleDad #Nanny #SmallTown #Virgin #ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
new addition to the Puffin Bay series can be read as a standalone and ends in a
HEA. I will warn readers, though, that this book will make them want to read
the rest of the series if they haven’t already.
Clover is the favored daughter of Puffin Bay. When Grayson
arrives as a new resident, new town doctor, and a single dad, they were already
written in the stars. They meet as he comes into town in an adorable, totally
Clover, meet cute. The stars align and Clover becomes the nanny Grayson needs
to five-year-old Luca. Together they care for Luca as they navigate the new
changes life has handed them. They form a friendship that becomes so much more
as they learn to work together and rely on each other. And then there is the
chemistry between them. Whew! Seriously, her V-card was going to get punched.
I have grown to love this little town so much over the course of this series. The characters have a history with each other that has drawn me in. I just want to go and find Puffin Bay and stay there for a while to soak it all in. This fishing village has me completely hooked.
The One I Hate (Rolling Hills #4) by Chelle Sloan
ARC: Release Date- 05/02/2024
#CurvyGirl #SurprisePregnancy #EnemiesToLovers #SmallTown #SecondChance #ARC
When you finish a book and your first thought is, “That was
epically awesome.”
The final book in the Rolling Hills series can be read as a
standalone, though readers will get the biggest benefit from reading this
interconnected series in order. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.
This author keeps getting better and better. This series is
everything you want in a small town, found family series. In addition, this
book takes an enemies-to-lovers + surprise pregnancy trope to a new level. Simon
and Charlie would have ended up together no matter what. I believe that, even
though it took a few tries to get there. They really just had to find the right time
for them. The surprise just cemented their relationship.
Simon, who I met in previous books, is his own character
that is unlike any other. Charie is determined to succeed, strong, stubborn,
and smart. The banter between them is wonderful and I loved it. I love that
Charlie has a small support system of her own that stands in the gap when necessary.
Simon’s brothers from another mother and their group chats are hilarious and
wonderful. Together they are sparks that lead to fire on the page.
There is so much to love in this book including an
interesting take on a good grovel. I adore Oliver beyond belief, but this just
became my new favorite in this series.
#Sports #FriendsToLovers #WhyChoose #ReverseHarem #ARC
Book four in the My Hockey Romance series can be read as a
standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from multiple
POV.
Briar is a yoga instructor who is surprised by a messy
breakup with her boyfriend at the beginning of the book. He is a piece of work,
but don’t worry, karma always comes around.
I loved her resilience and her determination to succeed in her business.
She is a hard worker with a sunny disposition and a little bit of emotional
baggage. Three hockey players from the rival team assist her in a sticky
situation and then end up being her roommates for a weeklong festival. Sparks
fly.
Hollis is Mr. Sunshine who has his own reasons for pushing
for success. Rhys is the Brit who is facing some of his own insecurities. Gavin
is the wall of a man who is broody on the outside and vulnerable on the inside.
Together, they each form a relationship with Briar that is special and unique. She
completes each of them in her own way while they each offer her something she
didn’t know she needed. This author does a fantastic job with the spice in this
series, and this is no exception. Unlike some books that fall into this genre,
things develop at a pace that is believable and though spicy, are also very
intimate and emotional. I enjoyed that the spice is there but not necessarily
the focus. The relationships between the characters, and the individual growth
each one has through the course of the book are what makes this book a success.
I well and truly enjoyed this book.
#FriendsToLovers #MarriageOfConvenience #SecondChance #SmallTown #ARC
This was the perfect book to wrap up this series. Written in
first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and
ends with a HEA.
Zeke. Where do I start? This man has a heart of gold and will do anything for his girl, even after she hurt him. His character and all his emotions felt so realistic. I adored him. Rainey comes home for her inheritance. After 12 years of roaming, she is still trying to find herself. She was shocked when she figured out that finding herself meant being with Zeke. I loved her determination and grit to stick when it would have been easier to run again. She fights for their HEA and I loved her for it. Funny moments, steamy scenes, and banter as these two find their way back to the friendship they used to share and then some made this a fantastic read.
#MarriageOfConvenience #OppositesAttract #SmallTown #RomanticSuspense #ARC
Book four in this interconnected series can be read as a
standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV. The author does offer a content warning for this book on
her website that sensitive reads should consider.
The beginning of this book begins with a prologue set
basically where the series left off. At the beginning of chapter one, Ardnoch
has now moved five years ahead. Allegra, now 25, and Jared (30) come together
in this marriage of convenience initially as a business deal. As they form a
friendship, neither can resist allowing the feelings they have attempted to
smother to bloom. Sparks fly and these two cannot get enough of each other as
they decide to make their marriage real.
These two characters are so incredibly beautiful together inside their “bubble” of Scottish farm life. The real world makes some valiant attempts to drive them apart, but they persevere. I loved the personal growth arcs of both characters, and I adored the trust they placed in each other very early on and loved watching that grow. They have some difficult moments that only allow them to grow more personally and then grow even closer together. They each have secrets in their past they must overcome, making their happy ending that much more special.
On The Map (Mile High Stallions #1) by Christina Hovland
ARC: Release Date- 05/10/2024
#AccidentalMarriage #MarriageOfConvenience #Celebrity #Sports #ARC
Salt and Pepper FTW
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
book can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Sloan and Maya wake up married after a wild one-night-stand
gone awry. Since Sloan has already been in the news, their wedding makes some
serious headlines. After a discussion, they decide to make a go of it and set
the foundational ground rules of their marriage. The number one rule is
communication. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated this couple’s
willingness to talk it out. Their salt and pepper conversations reminded me so
much of my own marriage of almost 33 years. When we were newlyweds, we used a
nerf football, standing in the kitchen, tossing it back and forth for important
discussions. Sloan and Maya used this same premise but with salt and pepper.
Sloan is giving, kind, and down to earth. I love how he shares parts of himself with Maya that others do not see. Maya is guarded at first, but she falls for Sloan without realizing it. I loved her work ethic, her creativity, and her physicality with Sloan. I appreciated the difficulty and the effort they put into maintaining their relationship through the challenges of distance, travel, and time zones. I loved that Sloan has his coach, the voice of reason, reminding him of truths when he needs to hear them. I loved seeing cameos of Bax, Hans, and Brek. I also loved how the author brought in members of the Denver Stallions and gave them more personality that we sometimes get with secondary characters. Steamy in places, with sweet, romantic, moments (like lying on the couch holding each other as they face being apart for a while): This is my new favorite book by this author. The relationship that they build felt real to me. It will definitely be a reread.
Second Time's The Charm by Stephanie Rose
ARC: Release Date- 05/10/2024
#SingleDad #SecondChance #ARC
Right person. Right the second time.
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
standalone introduces readers to new characters. Set on Long Island, this sweet
second chance ends in a very happy HEA.
Emily and Jesse had a high school romance that was intense
and ultimately too much emotion for their age. When they are reunited 20 years
later, the feelings bubble back to the surface. They never really went away for
either of them. The trick is navigating those feelings while facing new adult
pressures and the baggage they acquired during their time apart. Jesse is a
golden retriever hero who goes all-in very quickly. Emily has her reservations
but cannot help how she feels. Jesse’s niece Maddie is a doll who is easy to
love. Jesse as her father figure is heartwarming. He tries so hard to be her
everything while they are both grieving. One of my favorite things in this book
is the honest discussion of grief as the family, friends, and even the
community, adjust to life without a special someone in it.
Second chance is probably my least favorite trope. I trusted
this author to deliver a story that was real and believable because that is
what she does, and she did not disappoint me. Well written, with realistic
emotions, doubts, fears, and hope: she nailed it. This was a beautiful book
that should give any reader hope that they too can get their happy ending.
ARC: Release Date- 05/14/2024
#MMF #BiAwakening #Menage #AgeGap #WhyChoose #ARC
Written in first person from three alternating POV, this book
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Readers who have read the
other books in the series will appreciate the cameos from previous books and
all the beauty of Gen and Anton’s wedding. Those who haven’t will not feel like
they are missing anything. I have zero doubts that if this is your first
Alchemy book, you will want to read the rest ASAP, but it not necessary to
enjoy this book on its own.
Darcy (25) is a dancer who has recently returned from time
away in Australia and is is Gen’s little sister. If you have read the series,
then readers will recognize her from mentions in Unveil. I also met Max (40)
for the first time in Unveil, and I am beyond excited that he gets a happy
ending here. Dex (30), Belle’s brother, is mentioned in the first book of the
series. It is no surprise, after reading Belle’s journey in Unfurl, that Dex
also must overcome the strict beliefs they were raised in to find his
happiness. This book is his journey more than anything. It is difficult and
painful at times while being glorious at others.
Darcy is a free spirit who knows her own mind, what she
wants, and is brave in her pursuit of it. Max is a business titan, loaded with
charm, charisma, and a bit of a daddy dom vibe. He is delicious. Dex is a
little broken and a lot repressed despite his career success. He has so much to
overcome to allow himself to completely experience the love of Max and Darcy. Darcy
gives so freely to her guys. Max is the guardian, the feeder, the one who
nurtures and cares even if it means handing out tough love. Dex needs both of
them, and they each need him. Though they all share a very hot physical
relationship detailed through open door scenes, their physical moments are demonstrative
of the emotional turmoil, and finally acceptance, as they take their
relationship from experimental to enduring. Together they build a beautiful
love story.
This book is beautifully written, very steamy, and confronts
extreme beliefs boldly while detailing how these three people become everything
to each other. 5 stars is truly not enough for this one.
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