Book reviews for books read the week of August 11th

 

Happy weekend!  This week I read one ARC and two books from my TBR to meet reading challenges. First up, Jessica Peterson has Cash arriving on 8/22 and it knocked my socks off. I am beyond excited for this series. I am still all in my feels over it.  I read my first Evie Dunmore book this week. It has been on my kindle for a while and it was the perfect book to read for a challenge that needed a book with more than ten thousand reviews. I also went rough my library and looked at books that had a pink cover. I have several, and the one that grabbed me was Across From You by A.M. Daniels. It was a fun and lighthearted read that was exactly what I needed for the challenge.

I am back home now after three weeks away, so I am playing catch up on all the home things neglected in my absence. I am hopeful that I will be able to get a few more books in this next week despite returning to work at the job.

Until next time: happy reading!

Cash (Lucky River Ranch #1) by Jessica Peterson

ARC: Release Date-08/22/2024

#Cowboy #EnemiesToLovers #FamilySeries #ForcedProximity #GrumpySunshine #SmallTown

Book one in an all-new series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.

Mollie is a fish out of water as she returns to the ranch of her early childhood after her father passes away suddenly. I adored that Mollie faces complex emotions and feelings about her father and their history. Her emotions felt real and true in her situation. Cash is the foreman to the ranch Mollie inherits with stipulations and things do not go as planned in the beginning. The oldest of 5 Rivers brothers, Cash has a lot of responsibility for his family and their family ranch. He is initially not very nice to Mollie. They each begin with preconceptions and assumptions about each other. It was a joy to read as they learned to set those aside and really got to know each other. There are some seriously emotional moments in this story. I love how the author allows her heroes to feel all the emotions and to show the heroine when they are vulnerable. The bathtub conversation scene was a thing of beauty.

Both characters share an undeniable attraction, even when they don’t like each other in the beginning. They have witty banter that changes tone as their relationship grows but never loses its fun. This author writes some of the hottest s3xy times and this book has lots of heat built in. Delicious! The story carries themes of found family, personal growth, and going after dreams. The ranch is a working ranch, and the story doesn’t hesitate to show the work involved in its operation. Cash is the cowboy all of us would love to have. Mollie is a heroine who helps Cash learn to refocus his priorities. They are so perfect for each other, and I was incredibly thankful they didn’t have to go through the third act break up to get their happy ending. My heart is so full after reading this book. I want the rest of the series now so I can read them through a couple of times back-to-back.

Bringing Down the Duke 

(A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore

#Debut #Historical 

When I needed a book that had over 10K reviews to meet a reading challenge, I did a quick search. I discovered that this book had well over 10K Goodreads reviews and it was already sitting on my kindle. Apparently I bought it over a year ago but it has been moldering waiting for me to get to it.  I like a witty historical romance, so in I went. Written in third person, this first book in series can be read as a standalone and ends in a HEA.

Annabelle's character was interesting. Poverty stricken, servant of her cousin after her father's demise; at 25 she is considered overly-educated and a spinster by her peers. I loved her work ethic and her willingness make sacrifices for a better future. I admired her intelligence and her achievement of getting into the forst Oxford women's college. I also appreciated her commitment to the suffragist cause. I enjoyed her take on managing the men around her and her assessment of the Duke as "a completely unmanageable man."

Sebastian Devereaux, (35) the divorced Duke of Montgomery, is a powerful and wealthy figure. He is reserved, a little cold, brisk at times, and very confident in his place in the world. I appreciated that he had a lot of responsibility at a young age. I also understood how his failed marriage left him a bit jaded. I loved how hard he falls for Annabelle and the conversations they have. I appreciated that they connected on an intellectual level as well as having physical chemistry. 

The writing in this book was witty and fun. Set in 1879 at the beginning of the suffragist movement in England, historical figures are woven into the story as the characters meet, face attraction, and decide what sacrifices they would be willing to make for love. The Duke and Annabelle fall very quickly for each other but their different societal stations make a happy ending unlikely. I appreciated that the author allowed the characters to struggle with finding a solution, and that it was hard won. I liked the spice level of the book. I admired the secondary characters especially the other women who become Annabelle's friends. I also liked how Sebastian's relationship with his brother developed. I felt like this was an excellent debut and it has justifiable earned its best seller status. I am very excited to read the rest of the series (also already on my kindle) and more by this new author.

Across From You (Awkward in Love #1) by A.M. Daniels

#CinnamonRollHero #FirstResponder 

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.

Lexi is doing her best to adult in her life. At 30, she is chronically late for nearly everything, has a string of failed relationships, and a few really good friends. I loved that she didn't have her life all together. I sympathized with her when she was dumped on social media in a way that went viral. I also understood her uncertainty with whether she could trust her instincts after making so many wrong picks. Despite that, she is unflinchingly honest, expressive, sarcastic, and snarky. She is also unfailingly kind and loyal to her friends and her cousin Bev.

Jack is a state trooper, partner to Bev, and a man who wants a forever love. If only he can meet a woman worth having his heart broken to get it. I love that he is a good guy. I love his romantic heart and his self-discipline. I really like how he appreciates so much about Lexi that seems to be overlooked by others. 

He and Lexi are initially drawn to each other in an interesting circumstance. Then they find that they are paired in her cousin's wedding. Sparks fly. They have a few bumps in the road. They must overcome preconceptions and make an effort to actually get to know each other. There is a moment where they disconnect but it is not a third act break up. Thankfully, they find their way back to each other. Open communication saves the day. This was a fun read with likeable characters and situations many can relate to.