In June I read nine books. Four were ARCs. And two were by new-to-me author Koko Heart- who has been on my TBR for ages. I will tell you, I had an amazing month of reads. Considering I was traveling 8 days of the month I definitely think I did more than alright. I enjoyed the mix I was able to pull from my TBR with the ATCs I received. I love mixing it up. I also love bingeing a new author, which I haven't been able to do in a long time. I am thoroughly enjoying Koko's Cooper Sisters series and I won't be able to stop till I am done. (I am also including the review of my last read from May below as I apparently did not add it to my blog when the hubby was hospitalized last month.)
Check out my reviews and add these fabulous books to your TBR.
Until next time, happy reading!
Just Playing for Keeps (Hockey Ever After #2)
by Lauren Blakely
ARC: Release Date- 06/03/2026
#BestFriendsBrother #FakeRelationship #GrumpySunshine
#Sports #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV, can be read as a standalone, and ends with a HEA.
There are a lot of things to like in this book, and I loved
it.
- · Nap lessons with a hot hockey player
- · A list
- · A fake relationship that is more real than fake
- · One bed
- · He falls first and is a bit obsessed
- · Cat daddy hero
- · A grumpy/sunshine dynamic that made me smile
- · A hero that loves to give gifts
Truly, this was a wonderful read that allowed the characters
to gradually reveal themselves to each other on a deeper level. As they did,
they discovered a love that had been simmering beneath the surface. With both steamy and heartfelt moments, I
loved this book.
The Spare (Belvedere #2) by Elodie Hart
ARC: Release Date- 06/11/2026
#Billionaire #MarriageOfConvenience #OppositesAttract #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV. It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Readers who have read book one of the series know Benedict
for the fun-loving, spontaneous, flirtatious playboy younger brother in the De
Vere family. In this book we also learn how loving, loyal, and sweet he is when
he wants to be. He steps up to marry Selena in the Great Groom Swap, and I
think he does it without consciously realizing how much he wants to have a
relationship with her. I loved his astute emotional intelligence and his
willingness to learn and grow into his roles of both Duke and husband.
Selena is controlled, seemingly icy woman raised to be a
duchess. The author did an amazing job of allowing the reader to get to know
Selena and feel empathy and understanding of the way she is driven and the way
she reacts to the things that happen in her life. There is a large portion of
the book focused on why she reacts to things in certain ways as she discovers
that she has undiagnosed ADHD/RSD. I felt like her growth and understanding of
herself was necessary to be the best partner for Ben. That said, there were
times that I wished for the book to be more focused on the relationship and
romance that was growing between her and Ben. I wanted to know him better and
know more of what made him into the man he is. But then, a good author does
always leave you wanting more. Speaking of that, I absolutely cannot wait for
book 3 in this series!
You’ve Got Hate Mail by Pippa Grant
ARC: Release Date- 06/16/2026
#SingleDad #OppositesAttract #RomCom
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. Written in first person from an alternating
dual POV, this can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Cricket is broken by her infamous viral moment, but more so
by her relationship with her family and their lack of support. When she meets
Heath she is at her lowest point. Heat has been surviving his day-to-day life
with his daughter after he lost his wife. When he meets Cricket, he thought he
had his life mostly together.
They come together as friends. They support each other. They
share their vulnerabilities and deepen their relationship. Their attraction is
undeniable, but the emotional connection is what makes the story. They are each
stronger because of each other.
This book sets up a new series in Sonoma,
CA. Laughs, hot times, found family, and healing from the inside
out. I loved it.
Anything For You (Pinecrest, Montana #2) by Emily Silver
ARC: Release Date- 06/26/2026
#AgeGap #DadsBestFriend #Cowboy #SingleMom #SmallTown #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV, can be read as a standalone, and ends with a HEA.
Joey (25) is the single mom to 4-year-old Max. She is
struggling to get by but has the help of her extensive biological and found
family group, including her parents. Sam (45) is her dad’s best friend. When he
realizes he is falling for Joey, he tries to avoid her. Joey, for her part,
loves to flirt with sexy Sam. What starts as a quick fling, quickly becomes
more.
This was a steamy read. Sam is hotter than Hades and a good
man who wants to love Joey with everything he has. They have to overcome the
obstacles of her dad, and Sam’s long friendship with him. Thankfully, it
doesn’t take long for Joey and Sam to fight for the love they have built
together. This was a sweet and sexy read. I am excited for the next book in the
series.
When a Scot Ties the Knot (Castles Ever After #3)
by Tessa
Dare
#Historical #GrumpyHero #Virgin
Written in third person, this can be read as a standalone
and ends with a HEA. I adored the concept of this book. I love that a creative
16-year-old girl makes the most of avoiding her London seasons to become the
spinster she believes she wants to be. I also loved Logan. He was a grumpy,
gruff, broken man full of squish that was unraveled completely by Maddie. He
goes from angry near revenge to besotted protector. As always, this author
delivered witty banter and steamy moments after a bit of a slow burn resistance
on Maddie’s part. This was just the book
I needed to reset and be ready to read the next book on my list.
The Deal (Off Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy
#NewAdult #Sports #FakeRelationship #HealingLove
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. I purchased this book 1/4/2019.
I recently watched season one of the prime video series and decided afterwards
to finally read through this series.
Garrett (20) is a college junior and captain of his
university hockey team. Hannah is a Voice major and also a junior. Both have
had traumatic events in their lives that affect them on deeper levels than
either wants to admit. There are a few things from the book that were changed
in the series. However, I felt like the series did capture the essence of the
love story between Hannah and Garrett.
Garrett is surprised by the way he feels about Hannah and he
definitely falls first. Hannah is snarky with mile-high walls up to protect
herself. Reading as Garrett gradually builds trust while crumbling those walls
was a joy. They become friends and offer each other a level of understanding
and support both were missing. Their steamy scenes and the physical
relationship they build is a necessary part of Hannah’s healing allows readers
to see the good guy Garrett sometimes hides behind his cocky smile.
It’s no surprise this series has taken off in the best of
ways. Though the characters are young, they are complex and have to overcome
real world mature issues to be together. This was a joy to read.
Mr. Park Lane (The Misters #4) by Louise Bay
#FriendsToLovers #ForcedProximity
Written in first person from al=n alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. Joshua is a commitment avoider
while being a huge flirt. Everything
changes when Hartford reenters his life. I loved that the teenager he never
really noticed now holds all his attention. Hartford is passionate about
medicine and committed to making the world better. She wants to avoid all the
distraction Joshua provides, but it is truly inevitable. They were meant to be
and it was really only a matter of getting them both in the same place at the
right time.
This was a sweet yet steamy romance that I really liked. I
love the friend group the guys have and am really enjoying the friendships the
girls are forming as they enter this fabulous found family circle.
Mr. Bloomsbury (The Misters #5) by Louise Bay
#Billionaire #Workplace
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Andrew is gruff but Sofie is determined to ignore than and use
a job with him for her benefit. I adored Sofie. She was confident and
determined and a good person under it all. Andrew grew on me. I liked learning
why he acted the way he did. I think he stuck to the rules a little too much
for his own good at times, but he figured it out. This was a steamy read with
wonderful banter and a sweet happy ending.
I’m All Yours (The Cooper Sisters #1) by Koko Heart
#SingleMom #HealingLove #FamilySeries
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this
series starter can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
This was my first book by this author. She has been on my
TBR for a few years. I saw a teaser this week, was between ARCs, and decided to
jump in. The teaser turned out to be for book 4 in this series though. I like
to read a series in order. I went to book one, and I discovered that this was a
story of Nell finding love after becoming a widow. I almost changed my mind.
Widowhood and that grief is in my near future and I wasn’t sure I could handle
the storyline. Thankfully, I persevered and trusted this author to tackle this
subject gently enough for me to read it. She did so beautifully. Nell’s journey
through the anger and the grief to find herself again was encouraging and made
me hopeful. I highlighted so many passages and quotes. The wisdom gained
through the journey these characters take will be with me forever.
Nell is strong, determined to keep control in her life (I
can relate), and making her way back to herself. The journey is not an easy
one. William falls for Nell at first sight. This man is seriously swoony. Their
shared love of Shakespeare, the quotes, the little gestures: they melted me.
Will has his own traumatic past and his own insecurities to overcome. I adored
how he bravely sought the love he knew they could have. I loved how easily he
fell for Nell’s son, Ben. The characters are flawed and realistic and I was in
it. There are twists and turns along the way to their HEA that felt realistic
and gave the story a complexity and emotional depth I really appreciated. This
is a tight-knit family, and this book allows the reader to meet the characters
in a way that I am now itching to read their happy endings right this minute. I
loved how supportive and loving the sisters are with each other. I loved how
they bicker. I enjoyed the group chat texts immensely. I have been sucked into
the Cooper family and I am totally OK with that.
Till This Night (The Cooper Sisters #2) by Koko Heart
#CinnamonRollHero #SecondChance #SiblingsBestFriend #FamilySeries
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this book
ends with a wonderful HEA. Though the love story between Connor and Juliet is
encapsulated in this book, readers will get the most enjoyment reading this
series in the order of publication.
Juliet (24) is the youngest Cooper sister. She is maybe a
little spoiled and immature and grows up a lot over the course of the book.
Connor is the marshmallow of a man who is her sister Cleo’s best friend. A
couple years older than Juliet in age, Connor has the life experience of a
traumatic childhood which makes him seem older than his years. Both characters
are flawed and complex. They deal with their own insecurities and heartbreak in
their own ways. They make mistakes. They grow. Yes, there are steamy times and
laugh out loud moments along with the angst along the way.
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