October is here! This year has really flown by. In the last week of September I read three ARCs and one novella that has been on my TBR for a while. They were all amazing in their own way and you will not be disappointed to read them.
There are seasons in life that seem full of loss. I got word this morning that a friend is losing her husband soon after a recent diagnosis. I am heartbroken. Back in 2016, when I was losing my mom, is when I got back into romance reading after a break of more than a decade. Love of romance was something she instilled in me at an early age as she was a voracious reader. 2017 was a year full of unimaginable loss for me and my family, and romance was there to offer me an escape and hope that happy endings do exist. When I started my blog, it was primarily to help others find the books that can help them in that same way. It is also probably why I tend to lean toward lighter romance. Angst and dark romance are something I personally have to be in the right mindset to read. Today, I will be leaning into romance to move past the deep emotions I am currently feeling over my friend's impending loss. I hope you too can find books that help you through the harder times.
Life is short. Hug your loved ones. Pursue your own happy endings in life. And when sad times come, remember there are so many talented authors out there creating fantastic books to help us escape from reality for just a little while. Grab hold and hang on.
The Romance Line (Love and Hockey #2)
by Lauren Blakely
ARC: Release Date- 10/02/2024
#EnemiesToLovers #Forbidden #ForcedProximity
#Grumpy/Sunshine #HealingLove #SecretRomance #Sports #ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Max is a grumpy, broody, intimidating NHL goalie. Everly is
the PR manager who is the bane of his existence. When he needs an image
makeover to secure his future financial goals, she is on the job whether he
likes it or not. I loved their banter and how they got under each other’s skin
on a regular basis. Their chemistry is palpable. Once they are forced to spend
time together, that chemistry takes over. Just once becomes just once more. I
love how they end up sharing vulnerabilities and forming a strong emotional
relationship as they meet in secret.
Max is a softy under his gruffness. The tenderness he showed
Everly and the way he worshipped the parts of her where she was insecure was
absolutely beautiful. I loved how he treated her like a queen. Everly is so
strong. She has been through a lot. I adore how she finds new friendships and
support with her girls. I adore how she gained strength in those new
relationships and challenged herself to grow. I loved how she protects Max.
These two are very swoony with each other. The emotional warmth and the spicy hot
intimate scenes made this a wonderful read. I love this series, and I am
excited for more of these characters I future books.
Someone You Deserve (Carrington Cove #2)
by Harlow James
ARC: Release Date-10/04/2024
#CinnamonRollHero #FriendsToLovers #SecretRelationship
#SingleMom #SmallTown #ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Penn is the guy that everyone depends on. He has made it his
mission to be helpful when he can. It has led to the delay of pursuing his own
dreams while being comfortable. When his best friend’s widow pursues her dreams
of opening her bakery, it’s the push he needs to move forward. He wants to be
someone she deserves.
Astrid is finding herself and doing what makes her happy:
finally. Four years after the loss of her husband she is ready to move forward
and achieve her dreams. Penn has been her rock and the last thing she wants to
do is anything that might change the friendship they share. When things happen
and their passion and attraction break free, they must adapt their current
relationship into something that could be even better. Their open-door intimate
scenes are hot and the emotional scenes are tender. I love the history they
have with each other.
This was a wonderful story of love after loss, pursuing
scary goals to achieve dreams, and family. I adored how each of them has a
supportive family circle. I love how they stand strong amidst small town
judgement. I adored how Penn serves as a father figure to Astrid’s kids long
before he takes the roll officially. The kids were fun and realistic. Lily at 7 has some fabulous lines that made
me laugh. Bentley is a preteen boy in
dire need of Penn in his life. I didn’t want to put this one down. And the epilogue
left me very excited for the next book in series.
#BestFriendsBrother #FakeRelationship #ForcedProximity
#OppositesAttract #RomanticComedy #SmallTown #ARC
This standalone is written in first person with an
alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA. The setting is the fictional town of
Tinsel, Michigan, where it is Christmas all year round. Dane returns to town
from the west coast for his grandparents wedding anniversary, while Amanda
returns the same week from NYC for her grandmother’s 50th work anniversary and
retirement announcement. Their families have been feuding for generations when
Amanda panics and announces to her grandmother that she is engaged to Dane. The
book begins as she lets him know what she has done, though they haven’t spoken
in almost 15 years.
Dane proves his heart from the very beginning of this book.
He is a man that cares deeply and who is exhausted by the age-old senseless
feud. Together he and Amanda set out to end it with their fake engagement to
bring the families together. Hilarious moments ensue. Eggnog lattes,
gingerbread, fruitcake, ugly Christmas sweaters and snow globes are all a big
part of this story despite it being ninety degrees in August in Michigan. Amanda
and Dane find themselves in close quarters to sell their story and it isn’t
long before another kind of heat is bringing them closer to each other in all
the ways. I loved how Dane is normally reserved and thoughtful while Amanda is
impulsive, independent, and fun. They balanced each other perfectly.
I adored the friendship they formed. I loved their spicy hot
times. I really appreciated Chili the laziest dog ever and his reactions to his
people. It is important that a couple have fun and draw closer to each other
during stressful times and Amanda and Dane do so naturally.
This was a fun read with holiday merriment and a bitter feud
set against hot summer days and nights. The take on the fake engagement was
fresh and I loved the details woven into the story as they bring the town
together. I look forward to listening to the audio. I am certain it will be
amazing.
#MC #InstaLove #HealingLove #Novella
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Monk has been celibate and grieving since the loss of his
sister ten years ago. When he sees Rebel for the first time, he is overwhelmed
with everything he feels. He is a huge, muscled, tattooed biker who owns a
tattoo shop. His tattoo art is the one way he expresses the artistic soul under
the burly exterior. Rebel is fiercely independent, a little sassy, and a lot of
fun. She is also instantly drawn to Monk. Within a very short time, they are
madly in love.
This was a quick and steamy read. There is some br33ding
k1nk and hot times between Rebel and Monk. I loved how it tied into the MC. The
best thing was that I felt like the characters, especially Monk, were more well
rounded than typically seen in a novella. I enjoyed the story and the way Rebel’s
love helps Mon heal and move forward to new dreams. Spicy, romantic, and fun. I
loved it.
(The author does offer some content warnings for readers to
be aware. Please review before reading.)
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