I have been working like crazy at my paying job this last week. I am beyond tired. At least I did finish a few books. This week I read three ARCs, one new release, and two books from my TBR. This week held a wide variety of reads and I really enjoyed switching it up a bit. Check my reviews below and add them to your TBR.
ARC: Release Date- 12/06/2024
#Celebrity #HealingLove #OppositesAttract #FamilySeries
#SmallTown #ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Set on the Oregon coast, this
story encompasses themes of friendship grief, guilt, denial, secrets, forgiveness,
healing, and living life fully.
Brooke is a celebrity advice guru who is grieving the sudden
passing of her younger sister. Kaleb is a small-town mechanic trying to come to
terms with his mother being back in his life. There are secrets revealed as
these two characters form a friendship and support each other at difficult
times in both their lives. They are seriously hot for each other and their text
meeting was epic. They both need to get to a better place emotionally to make a
relationship work.
“Don’t end up regretting conversations you never had with
people you love.”
Other things I loved about this book:
- · Kaleb and Brooke both are damaged and need each other to heal. There are some seriously touching and emotional moments.
- · Al Fresco oral (#tireswingsforever)
- · Ribsy the Great Dane rescue
- · Kaleb’s restored 1966 Bronco
·
The author’s handling of grief and the process
felt authentic and was handled well.
This is my favorite book of the series so far. Thank you
Tawna for a wonderful book that left me so emotional that it took me days to
write the review.
#Celebrity #SingleDad #SmallTown #ARC
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. This series is written as a collaboration
between several authors. So far, this is
the only book in the series I have read, but I do want to go back and read the
others.
Magnolia Grove, Alabama is a sweet small town that reminds
me of Hart of Dixie. Laney (27) grew up there.
Knowing her share of grief allows her to connect with Ryan’s daughter,
Pepper, in a way that is both unexpected and wonderful. Ryan (31) is a country
music star with a little girl (5) who is withdrawn and grieving the loss of her
mother. Ryan and Pepper take a break to celebrate the holidays together in
Magnolia Grove and it changes their lives forever in the very best way.
Ryan is a good dad, smoking hot, and grieving the loss of his ex who was also a good friend. Laney is a small-town girl with a big brain and a large amount of motivation. I adored her selflessness. I loved the relationship she formed with Pepper and her chemistry with Ryan. Though they have open door intimate scenes, they are more emotional than steamy. This story was about romance, a second chance at love, grieving those who have gone and the journey that encompasses that. I am thrilled that I received an advance copy of this book, and I am beyond excited at what is coming next.
Choose the Bear (Choose The Wild #1) by Lauren Smith
ARC: Release Date- 02/25/2025
#Shifter #Paranormal #FatedMates #SmallTown #ARC
Written in third person from dual POV, this is a standalone
and ends with a HEA. This book embraces the question of whether a woman would
rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear- but with a twist.
Indiana is a bear shifter who lives a solitary life in the
woods. Hadlee is a city girl from
Chicago who takes a vacation to Colorado with her boyfriend--- only to have
things go terribly wrong.
Hadlee is a survivor. This book chronicles her healing (mentally
and physically) after a brutal attack. (Readers should check the author’s
content warnings prior to reading.) Indiana is protective, fierce, sensitive,
and tender. The magnetic draw and connection he experiences with Hadlee is
truly magical. They have steamy and tender moments as she heals and comes to
understand everything about the man who rescued her. They learn to face danger
together. Their story explores the magic of nature, the power of love, and what
a person will do to protect those they love.
This book had a new-to-me take on the fated-mates
connection. I loved the element of choice. The story kept me on the edge of my
seat while making me smile. I adored the magical and electric connection
between Hadlee and Indy. This is a winner, and I am excited for more.
Holly Jolly Hoax by Jess Bryant
#FakeRelationship #OneBed #OppositesAttract #Workplace
#SmallTown #Holiday #Novella
Written in third person/dual POV, this holiday read is a
sweet romp with some added spice. It is a standalone and ends with a very happy
HEA.
Noah DeWitt is a hero with autism spectrum disorder. He is a
numbers genius, but social interactions are not easy for him. Noah reminded me
so much of my son. When I read books like this, it gives me hope that he, too,
will someday find someone like Quinn who sees the kind heart and the solid man
he is under all the awkward. When Noah goes home to his small Oklahoma town for
the holidays, and convinces his assistant, Quinn, to go with him as his fake
girlfriend, I was already excited to see how it played out. Once it is revealed
that they have had a crush on each other, it is only a matter of time until
they recognize that in each other and have a real relationship.
Quinn is a firecracker with exceptional EQ who really sees
Noah, and she has his back. I LOVED her character so, so much. Her small blonde
ball of energy and fun is the complete opposite of tall, copper-haired Noah’s stoicism.
Noah’s small town, with their Christmas festival and competitions, and his
family who are all about the Christmas season, are fun and festive. The family
has a lot of layers and as each one is revealed the reader becomes aware that
this is not just your typical holiday romance novella. The author packs so much character
development and story into this short read that when I finished, I was all in
my feels. I recognize that part of that was seeing how Noah’s family,
especially his mom, was with him. (I never realized my son was probably on the
spectrum until a few years ago when he was well into his 20s. Knowing what I
know now, I kick myself for all the things I now know were handled completely
wrong. Parent guilt is real, and I have
my share.)
This is a Christmas romance I can see myself reading again and again. Do yourself a favor: don’t miss this one.
Brutal Savage (Savage Kings #2) by Lilian Harris
#AgeGap #Mafia #FamilySeries #SingleDad #MoC #RomanticSuspense
#Kidnapping
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
book can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Readers should check content
warnings on the author’s website before reading. I have been wanting this book
since reading book one of this series and it has been sitting on my kindle for
a while. I am so glad I finally got to
read it.
Tynan is ruthless, exudes power, and is used to getting what
he wants without question. When it isn’t given freely, he has no problem taking
it. Elara is a woman on the run with a
past chasing her. She doesn’t come willingly into her marriage with Tynan, but
in the end, they realize that are so much more to each other than a marriage of
convenience. Tynan is a good man under his harshness and Elara is able to
gradually discover that. Their physical
chemistry is off the charts. When they
come together, combustion is the only option. Little Brody is such a
sweetheart. I adored the relationship
Elara develops with him and the relationship she encourages between him and
Tynan.
There are so many twists and turns in this book! A few surprised the heck out of me. Like most mafia romances, readers should expect a fair share of violence and d3@th. It took me a little while, like Elara, to warm to Tynan, but he ultimately won me over. I felt for Elara as her world is toppled again and again. Her HEA with Tynan is what will eventually give her the peace and happiness she deserves. This was an action-packed read. I am really looking forward to the next in series.
My Fiancé’s Dad (Forbidden Fantasies) by
S.E. Law
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, it can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Cora and Matt have an attraction to each other despite their relationship through his son.
This had some steamy moments but not as many as I expected. I picked it up for a reading challenge, but I probably will pick another book to meet it because I am not sure I can really recommend this one. The writing was a little rough. Cora was naive and impulsive. Matt was a little creepy. some of the basic plot points were substantially weak. Not really a book for me.
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