Book reviews fro books read May 1st-16th

 

I have read more books in the first half of May than I did in all of April. For the first time in a while, I did not have ARCs, so I was just following my mood. I read new recent releases and six books from my TBR. Honestly I loved them all. The best thing about following a mood is getting to read a variety of things. It has been a really fun month so far. Check my reviews and add some books to your TBR.

Until next time, happy reading.

High Heat: A MMF Baseball Novella

#MMF #Novella #Sports

Written in first person from Darcy’s POV, this quick, steamy read is a standalone and ends with a HEA. I love everything this author writes.  At times it is truly poetic. I loved how Darcy believes in their baseball ability. I really loved how she is able to see the closeness and unspoken communication ability they have with each other that makes them special on the field.  I adored how Cash and Sawyer are together: tender, protective, and hot.  Darcy is a lucky girl.  I want more of their wonderful relationship.

Lawmaker (Aristocrats of London #1) by Susie Tate

#AgeGap #Billiionaire #ForcedProximity #SingleDad

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  There was a lot to appreciate about this book, and I found myself unwilling to put it down. There is an abusive family, a powerless but brave heroine, a powerful and gruff hero, an adorable little boy, a subplot related to dyslexia, and the larger plot point of healing from traumatic abuse.

I adored the writing, and was completely engaged. I felt Clara’s situation and her helplessness in the depths of my soul. I loved watching Rafe fall hard for the timid teacher. He isn’t always likeable though- he is sometimes assumptive, bossy, and just wrong. I appreciated that when he figured out how wrong he was that he owned that. I loved their attraction. I really loved the man that Rafe becomes at the end of the book. Clara also grows and heals, and I love that she has the opportunity to become stronger and more decisive in defending what she needs in her life. I adored her relationship with Ozzie and her other students, and I understood her willingness to sacrifice herself for her little brother.

One thing this author does exceptionally well is giving the reader characters who are flawed and realistic in their imperfections. She does that again in this book. This was a thoroughly engaging read that kept me glued to the page.

Coronation (Royally Forbidden #1) by Cleo White

#AgeGap #Celebrity #FakeRelationship #Forbidden #GrumpyHero #Royal #SurprisePregnancy

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. This was my first book by this author, and it turned out to be a book I couldn’t put down.

Benedict (41), King of Stelland, meets Zelda (25), young starlet and rising actress, in an unusual way. That doesn’t change the instant attraction and magnetic draw they experience toward each other. The first 40% of this book is a lot of them banging like a screen door. It is hot, intense, and heartbreaking as they come together and fall apart. They do finally overcome the obstacles, sometimes with some romance and sometimes with humor, to move past the tears to a HEA.

Ben is super grumpy, unhappy, and likes to get in his own way. Zelda falls hard for the king despite his grumpiness. I loved it when they worked it out and were able to commit to making each other happy. I adore the accidental pregnancy trope, and I liked how the author handled it within the context of the characters’ relationship. I stayed up way too late to finish this book. It was the royal romance I didn’t know I needed.

Free (707 #1) by Riley Edwards

#Military #FriendsToLovers #SecondChance #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 prolific author, and it is one of her earliest published. I have met the author, and she said her writing had improved over the years. That said, I felt like this was a good read. I enjoyed the plot line and the surprises along the way. I really enjoyed the military brotherhood between Lennox and his team. I appreciated how Lily had taken a rough several years and turned her life around to become a woman she was proud of. I liked her (though she is much more forgiving than I would be in her shoes). Lennox is a damaged character. There were times that I found it difficult to like him. He tries to do what he believes is right but manages to bungle things anyway.

I love a good military romance with suspense elements, and I am excited to read more in this series. 

The C*ck Down the Block (The Cocky Kingmans #1) 

by Amy Award

#CurvyGirl #FakeRelationship #FamilySeries #FriendsToLovers #Sports #Virgin

This is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.

Two of my favorite tropes are fake dating and friends to lovers. I love that friends have a history, memories, and a shorthand to their communication which makes the intimacy all the better when they get there in the story. I had a friend recommend this book to me nearly a year ago after she listened to the audiobook. I listened to the audiobook for the first 4 chapters before switching over to E-reader.  What I heard was good. I just read faster than I prefer to listen to audio.

I loved the family banter of the Kingmans and how they already considered Trixie part of the family. I loved that everyone else already knew Chris and Trixie felt more for each other before they did. The mean girls plot and Trixie finding herself stronger through it was fun to read. I loved the chemistry between Chris and Trixie once they allowed themselves to give in to it. Spicy, funny, family, and football. This was a fun read, and I loved the Kingman family enough that I definitely need to read more of this series.

The Wiener Across the Way (The Cocky Kingmans #2) 

by Amy Award

#Celebrity #CurvyGirl #FakeRelationship #FamilySeries #GrumpyHero #Sports

Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Declan is the linebacker/grumpy brother. Kelsey is the curvy pop star he falls for. I actually liked this book better than book one. I appreciated the little nuances in naming characters and places. Some reviewers have panned this as more of a fanfic of a real-life celebrity couple, but I disagree. I thought the way it was put together was clever and different enough from real life scenarios. I liked how the characters were more of an amalgamation of people as opposed to carbon copies. I loved Declan’s fierce protective instincts. I adore the Kingman family. This was a light and fluffy read with some spice and very little angst. I am excited to read more with this family. Sometimes you need something fun.

Mr. Knightsbridge (The Misters #2) by Louise Bay

#OppositesAttract #Workplace

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

Dexter is such an upright Englishman who is well off. Hollie has been very poor when she takes a chance on an unpaid internship. When they meet, nothing will ever be the same again. I loved the magnetism drawing the two characters together. Hollie is young, 25, but has fought to survive most of her life. Her biggest downfall is taking responsibility for people who should have been responsible for themselves- meaning her parents. She has also shouldered the responsibility for raising her sister and I loved their relationship. Autumn was a fresh secondary character and the sisters’ closeness was special to read.

Dexter (34) has been estranged from his brother for 15 years. Getting to know Hollie encourages him to talk to his brother and I really enjoyed seeing them regain the lost relationship. As always, I love reading about the friendship between these six men and the brotherhood they share.

This was a steamy read with risk, healing, and love. Dexter’s big gesture was exactly what this book needed to give it a special happy ending.

Mr. Smithfield (The Misters #3) by Louise Bay

#AgeGap #Nanny #SingleDad

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

After meeting Autumn in her sister’s book, I was so very hopeful that she and Gabriel would get a chance at a HEA.

It’s not without complications along the way. For one thing, Gabriel is still married (technically). Autumn (23) is starting out in her career and is just working as Gabriel’s nanny until her internship begins.  Gabriel (34) is a lawyer with a successful career in mergers and acquisitions, an almost ex-wife, and a 4-year-old daughter. They are in different places in life. Ultimately, they form a friendship and respect each other in addition to the deep attraction they share. It was really only a matter of time before they gave in. When they did, there were some serious hot times. Who knew Gabriel would be such a dirty talker?

I appreciated Autumns maturity and wisdom when it comes to Gabriel. She recognized before he did that he needed to reevaluate how he viewed aspects of his life and make some changes. When they finally came back together it was magical. Romantic, steamy goodness with a small amount of angst and a gorgeous happy ending. I can’t wait to start the next book.