Happy weekend. This week I read three ARCs and two books from my TBR. All three ARCs will release the first week of June and the two books on my TBR have been on my kindle for a while. They served as perfect palette cleansers between these wonderful ARCs. Both books from my TBR offered heroines with disability. In The Marquess and I, Willow is blind. In Wolf Signs, the heroine is deaf. I felt like the authors handled both situations well within their stories and it made them interesting reads.
Check out my reviews and add these to your TBR today if they grab you. I don't think you will regret it.
Happy reading!
My Royal Showmance (Park Avenue Promise #2)
by Lexi Blake
ARC: Release Date- 06/04/2024
#Royal #SecretRomance #ARC
Book two in the series is written in first person from Anika’s
POV and ends in a HEA. It can be read as a standalone.
If you love reality dating shows like The Bachelor, you are
going to love this book. Luca, King of Ravalia, is looking for a queen (kind
of). Anika, through a series of unplanned events, ends up as a contestant. Let
the games begin. The other contestants were fun characters to read. I really
enjoyed how so many of them, including Anika, grew through the process journey
of the show. Anik’s friend group was supportive and exactly what she needed. I
adore the friendship that Anika and Luca form. I love that they can talk about
anything for a long time. It gives them such a great foundation. Light heat, sparkling
chemistry, romance, and some laughs made this a very entertaining and fast
read. The author touches on some deeper topics relating to the entertainment industry
with a finesse that adds a layer to the story that was unexpected but felt so
incredibly necessary. I couldn’t put this one down until I reached the end.
Free Fall by Kathryn Nolan
ARC: Release Date- 06/05/2024
#AgeGap #Bodyguard #Forbidden #GrumoySunshine #MM #RomanticSuspense #ARC
Whew! I finished this two days ago and I am still sporting a
massive book hangover. I will try to pull my words together in a way that does
this book justice. Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
book takes Luke and Elijah on a journey to get to their HEA. It is a
standalone.
Luke and Elijah both have baggage and trauma from their
childhoods which they have responded to in very different ways. Elijah (37) is a
man who chooses to respond by maintaining control of himself and of every
situation where he finds himself. This man follows the rules. Getting involved
with a client was never an option. Luke
(27) chooses to rebel against rules and follow the path through life that embraces
joy where he finds it. When they meet, though the mutual attraction is instant,
they do not agree that Luke needs a bodyguard. The spark, the banter, the
pining, that occurs between these two men: so divinely written. This author is
a master of creating that tension between her characters and this is no
exception. Their path to love is littered with danger, suspense, and some action-packed
moments. They form a friendship that rapidly becomes feelings that are more.
They are HOT together and the intimate scenes between them not only bring them
physical satisfaction, but they also break down the emotional barriers between
them.
This was beautifully written and reminded me of the author’s Codex series with the suspenseful elements that kept me turning the pages. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are layered, complex, and a little broken. They find healing and completion in each other, and it was absolutely beautiful to read. This is a book to be savored and I have zero doubts that I will be rereading this in the future. I can tell you now that this will be one of my top reads of the year.
Show off (Juniper Ridge #6) by Tawna Fenske
ARC: Release Date-06/07/2024
#Celebrity #GrumpyHero #SmallTown #ARC
This is the final book in the Juniper Ridge series and the
youngest Judson, Lana, finally gets her HEA. It is written in first person from
an alternating dual POV. I will admit I am a little slow at realizing the
clever significance of the Judson sibling names as it took me till this book for
it to click. The men are all named after
classic screen idols: Dean, Gable, Cooper. The women are all named after
classic screen sirens: Lauren, Marilyn, and Lana. I don’t know why it took me so long to see
that.
I loved Lana and her sensitivity to others as well as her
ability to read a room. Dal is the grumpy chef with six-pack abs and a soft
heart under his crusty exterior. They are perfect for each other, and they each
have a unique ability to understand the other in a way no one else can. I
adored Dal’s protective instincts toward Lana, even though he takes it too far
at times. I loved Lana’s ability to stand up for herself when it mattered. I
really appreciated the relationship she has with her father and how it becomes
stronger. Dal and Lana both have secrets. How those secrets are handled is a
central theme to the book, and sometimes a cause of conflict.
Steamy moments, laugh-out-loud scenes, and emotional bonding between the two main characters as well as with secondary characters made this book a very enjoyable read. I am sad to see the Juniper Ridge series end, but I know we will probably see some of these characters pop up again in other books down the road.
Book one of the Forever Yours series is written in third person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.
Willow is blind from an accident and reentering society. Alasdair has returned from war with new responsibilities as the Marquess of Westcliffe. Torn apart six years ago, they have a new chance at love as long as they can overcome the anger and misunderstandings from their past. I enjoyed the couple's friendship and they longing they had for each other. I also really appreciated Willow's bravery and how she was portrayed despite her blindness. There is a little heat and a some romantic moments along the way to their happy ending. This second chance at romance was fun to read.
Wolf Signs (Granite Lake Shifters #1) by Vivian Arend
#Paranormal #Shifter #FatedMates #Virgin #DisabledMC
Written in third person from an alternating dual POV, and ends with a HEA. As a first book in series it sets up some of the characters to come, pack rules, and the shifter biology in this world. This was a quick read and it was exactly what I needed as a palette cleanser between arcs.
All of the characters in this book are from First Nation and the heroine in this book is deaf. It was wonderful to see that representation. Robyn is 26 and she is strong and brave despite her hearing impairment. Keil is a little older and recognizes right away that Robyn is his fated mate. This was a steamy read with explicit scenes and good chemistry. It was exactly what I needed today.
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