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Book reviews for books read January 25th-31st

 


Happy weekend. Can you believe that January is over? In some ways it felt like it took forever and in others it flew right by. I read two ARCs and two books off my TBR this week.

Personally, this week has brought huge changes to my life. I am hanging in there, but my brain is a little scattered and reading has been difficult. In the coming months, I will do my best to keep up with my reading, this blog, and the romance book world. Meanwhile, I hope you still look to my reviews to add to the never-ending TBR we all have. Until next time, happy reading.

Just One More Temptation (Sterling Family #4) 

by Carly Phillips                                               

ARC: Release Date- 2/4/2025

#AgeGap #GrumpySunshine #SingleDad #ARC

Written in third person, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.

Noah Powers (36) currently has primary custody of his 9-year-old twin daughters while their mother is away in Egypt for a long-term archaeological dig. He is a little grumpy and a whole lot stressed. Fallon (25) is an artist who works in a gallery and is a ray of sunshine. Sparks fly when they meet but they both have initial reservations about acting on them. Noah is a little concerned with the age gap and is overwhelmed by his job and his family. Fallon has some baggage after a previous relationship with an older man left her heartbroken. The twins fall hard for Fallon though and they leave Noah very little choice but to spend time with Fallon.

I adored the chemistry between them. I loved the way they handle their relationship as adults. I really liked the relationship Fallon forms with the girls. Noah is a good guy, and I appreciated that he treated Fallon with the respect and kindness she deserved. Fallon fits seamlessly into his life. This is a story about finding love when you least expect it with a person who is surprisingly perfect for you. It was easy to read with relatively low angst, a little suspense, and just the right amount of heat.


The Roommate Mistake 

(Copper Valley Pounders Rugby #2) by Pippa Grant    

ARC: Release Date-Release Date: 2/6/2025

#CinnamonRollHero #Forbidden #ForcedProximity #RomanticComedy  #SurprisePregnancy #Sports #ARC

Book two in the series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Because Fletcher and Goldie (book 1) are prominent characters in this story, readers may find it most enjoyable to read that book first. This is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.

Holt is a hero that is easy to fall in love with. He is a sensitive soul who is grieving the loss of his brother and doing his best to get on with life. Ziggy has just returned home to Copper Valley after becoming pregnant and being unable to do her job well in that condition. She is grieving the loss of the friendship she believed she had and that her reality of that friendship wasn’t quite true.

This was a funny, emotional, steamy romance that I didn’t want to put down. I adored both characters. I really liked that they did not have a third act breakup. When they decided they were going to be together, they both went all-in. Holt is so loving to Ziggy and the way he sees her baby as his totally melted me. I wanted to stay in this world forever.

My Week with the Prince (Fun for the Holidays #3) 

by J. Sterling

#Royal #Fling #Holiday #Novella

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this is a standalone that ends with a HEA.

Patrick is a real prince who has left the line of succession to run an inn in Ireland. Celeste and her younger sister have just lost their mother after a long cancer battle. They meet when the sisters take the trip to Ireland that their mother planned for them before her passing. Celest and Patrick have an immediate attraction to each other physically. They are also drawn to each other with a soul-deep connection. They have each experienced the grief of losing their mother.  I absolutely adored the way the author allows them to share those feelings and understanding with each other. It forged a bond beyond physical chemistry. I loved how well they communicated with each other, even though they had just met. Their fling comes with an expiration date but neither one really wants to continue without the other.  This would make an amazing Hallmark movie though they would need to fade to black a bit.
There are many quotes I highlighted in this one. I also appreciated the inference to Harry and Meghan in this story. My favorite scene was when they visited the Cliffs of Moher. My daughter and I visited Ireland a few years ago and it was truly a magical place for me too. I felt the same comfort and feeling of “coming home” that Celeste felt while in Ireland.  I came home fully ready to move to a new country. Alas, now is not the time for that. I do want to go back some day. I would love to show my husband the gorgeous green countryside and have him meet the friendly people there.


Vengeance Is Mine (Mafia Brides #2) by Lee Savino

#Mafia #BDSM #MorallyGrayHero #Kidnapping #RomanticSuspense

If I could choose one word to describe this book, it would be “intense”.

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this second book in series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HFN. The author has a long list of CW for this book, and readers should definitely consider those before reading.

Lula is tough and bent on vengeance for her mother’s death. Victor is a hitman. I liked Lula in book one, but her character in this book felt like something was missing. Victor uses some unusual methods to break Lula after kidnapping her. I never felt like I really got to know his character or his motivations. He thinks he loves her but it felt like more of an obsession than love. The book is full of s3xytimes and a lot of BDSM. I felt like I was missing something though. Lula and Victor have a love-h@te relationship. I didn’t understand how Victor could treat Lula the way he did, and I didn’t understand how Lula could like it while still hating it. I kept waiting for a big reveal that explained more of the “why” but it did not come. Or maybe I just missed it.  I have read other BDSM books that I enjoyed, but I guess this was not really my kind of book.


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