Happy weekend! In the first ten days of August, I read three ARCs and one book that has been on my kindle for ages to meet a reading challenge.
I am finishing up a three week stay in West Virginia at the farm where I grew up. I have enjoyed the time with my dad while being reminded of how much work it is to maintain even a small farm. While I was here, I took care of six cows, five calves, two dogs, a cat, and five goats. Over the last two weeks four goats had babies adding an additional ten goat babies to the mix. They are very cute, but they are a lot of work. One f the babies has needed bottle feedings in addition to what he can get from his mother due to a condition she has. It has been something! We never had goats growing up. That is something dad has added in the last five years or so, so I have learned a lot about goats while I have been here.
I started the month with two ARCs back to back set in Scotland. It is a good way to start a month and I highly recommend it. Samantha Young took me back to Ardnoch to find Callie and Lewis all grown up and finding their way back to each other for a second chance at a love that was always meant to be. Emily Silver delivers a fun standalone with a Grumpy Scot hero and a feisty-fish-out-of-water heroine that made me smile, laugh, and giggle. I also read an ARC of Lauren Blakely's next release. Set in the same world as her My Hockey Romance series, I enjoyed seeing cameos from the characters in those books and I am looking forward to more books in that world. I also read my first book by Cambria Hebert. I added in to my kindle in November 2022, and I finally got to read it. It was an interesting book that was full of action and an interesting meet cute and romance premise. It was a really good start to August. It is hard to believe we are already ten days into the month. Until next time, happy reading!
Northern Twilight (The Highlands Series #5)
by Samantha Young
ARC: Release Date- 08/08/2024
#FriendsToLovers #SecondChance #SurprisePregnancy #SmallTown
#ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this book
ends in a HEA. Though it can be read as a standalone, readers may want to read at
least the first book in this series as it addresses the trauma Callie has as a
child and it is her mother’s love story. Family is a very important part of
this series and I recommend all of them.
I adored Callie and Lewis as they go from childhood
sweethearts to seven years apart and then finally find their way back to each
other. It is not without pitfalls. They must each admit their past mistakes and
learn to communicate with each other as adults. They also must stay strong
together through surprises and dangers that come their way. I love that Callie
and Lewis find a new physical passion together and that they are on the same
page with starting a surprise family together. I adore how they fight for each
other and their future. I love how this author sets a scene, and I need to see
Lewis’ in the most desperate way.
I have loved this entire series, and this is no exception. It makes me want to visit Scotland so very badly.
The Highland Escape by Emily Silver
ARC: Release Date- 08/15/2024
#GrumpyHero #OppositesAttract #SmallTown #ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
standalone was a joy to read and ends with a HEA.
Callum and Kirby find themselves at remarkably similar
places in their lives when they first meet. Kirby is nearly 30 when her life implodes, and
she inherits an inn in the Scottish Highlands. Callum’s (>35) life has also
changed drastically in recent months, and he finds himself back in his little
village with his Mum reevaluating his life choices.
After a meet cute that is quite funny and dirty in a way you
might not expect, they start off on an argumentative way. Together they end up
renovating Kirby’s inn, leading to many moments of witty dialogue. I loved
reading as they go from bickering to friends to more. Their chemistry and
attraction is potent and irresistible. They honestly cannot keep their hands
off each other. The result is that there are many steamy scenes as they go from
cooking and renovating to canoodling on the regular. They each have a little
baggage they address as they go, and they finally find the sweetest happy
ending together.
This was a very fun read that I stayed up way too late to finish because I could not stop. I loved the addition of the cow and the rooster. The villagers and small-town antics are fun and interesting. As a standalone, this is a good book to start with to read this author. But I will warn you that you will want to binge her several series of books if you do.
The Boyfriend Goal (Love and Hockey #1)
by Lauren Blakely
ARC: Release Date 08/21/2024
#ForcedProximity#OneNightStand #SportsRomance #ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Josie is a librarian working a temporary assignment in San
Francisco. She has just finished her master’s degree and is getting
started. She is a bookworm, a nerd, slightly
awkward but 100% determined and feisty. I adored her. She has a list from her
deceased aunt, and she is finally ready to address her grief and work through
it. Her character growth in this book was steady as she recognizes her worth
and gets out of her comfort zone.
Wesley happens to be a professional hockey player and the teammate
of Josie’s brother. He has focused on hockey and only hockey for a very long
time. His character also grows during the book. He learns to have some fun. He
also changes his priorities a little bit to allow for more than hockey in his
life and to believe that he deserves more.
These two have a fun and different meet cute. Their
chemistry is solid from the beginning. The way they easily read each other’s
emotions and speak openly with each other was wonderful to read. I loved how
they supported each other and their dreams. I loved that they were both willing
to make necessary sacrifices. In a nutshell I loved these two together.
This was a book I did not want to put down. The story was
engaging. The characters were likeable. Their love for each other was pure.
Fun, romantic, and spicy. I loved it.
Tattoo (Take It Off #7) by Cambria Hebert
#FirstResponder #InstaLove #OppositesAttract #RomanticSuspense
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
This was my first book by this author. I picked it out of my unread kindle library to meet the reading challenge of a book with a black title on the cover.
Taylor is a young woman who is adored by her wealthy father. Brody is a cop who has spent the last several years undercover to bust a gang that has been dealing in a lot of illegal things. When they are both present at a bank robbery, it leads to Brody's false past being exposed and both of them landing in an even more dangerous situation. I liked both characters. Brody has some demons and Taylor has a tendency to let her mouth get her in trouble. I loved her feisty red-headed heroine. She is brave and strong in a tough situation. I loved Brody's protective nature and his passion to keep Taylor safe. They have some open door intimate scenes that are spicy and tender.
Set in Raleigh, North Carolina, this 185 page book takes place in under a week with the exception of the epilogue. Full of action and danger, both characters sustain injuries along the way. I know some reviews note the shortage of steamy scenes, but honestly given the timeframe and of the story and the length of the book it felt reasonable to me. This was an enjoyable first read by this author and I look forward to reading more by her.
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