Emily

Y'all I am giddy over this book! I loved it so so much! We've had a busy few days and I wanted an easy audio while I ran around with the kids and did things around the house. It did not disappoint! Check & Mate follows Mallory and Nolan. Mallory's life used to be chess until she started taking responsibility for her family's care and finances. Nolan is a professional chess player whose life revolves around chess. Their meet-cute is so cute and sweet. This is a young adult book, but it didn't feel “too young” to me so I'd say definitely upper YA. I found Nolan so precious and sweet. The way Ali Hazelwood writes is so fun and witty. I loved the representation in the book, it felt very inclusive. This was just such a breath of fresh air. Check & Mate is an upper young adult romance, 16+ for themes, language, sexual content.

I read this in high school and decided to give it a reread. It's such a unique murder mystery. Kind of gives “Clue” vibes. Anyway I loved it not too scary or suspenseful. I actually forgot the ending and my mind was so blown!

Spoiler-Free Review:

Why have I been sleeping on this book!? It's been on my TBR for a long time! When I was browsing Libby for an audiobook to listen to for cleaning day and this was available, I jumped at the opportunity. This book was so unexpected, and I went into it mostly blind. This book follows Kasey, our female main character that moves to Miami with her sister in search of a fresh start. There she meets Trent who, like Kasey, has secrets. Kasey has so many walls up and Trent is so patient with her as he tries to deconstruct them. There is also an amazing cast of lovable side characters. Y'all. The twist. The freaking twist! I didn't see it coming, and it made me feel so many things. This book is an emotional rollercoaster in the best way! I listened to the audiobook, which was single narration in first person POV, and I thought the narrator did really well. I was set on giving this book 5/5 stars but then the book ended. I feel like it wrapped up a little too quickly, like the healing and resolution were rushed. Otherwise I loved everything about this story, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. According to the synopsis of the next book, the series seems to be integrated stand-alones. This book is an adult contemporary romance, 18+ for themes, language, mild sexual content. Check trigger warnings.

This was such a light and cute read! I was so excited to receive an ARC for this book as it's set it Louisiana and I'm from Louisiana! Homerun Proposal is a sports romance that follows Hallie, quirky college freshman, and Lane, Hallie's best friend's brother and star baseball pitcher at Orleans University. Hallie is determined to have the “real college” experience and say goodbye to her innocence. She intends to proposition her best friend, Eli, for his help, but ends up accidentally propositioning Lane instead. When Lane agrees to help Hallie with her predicament, they both realize their feelings so much deeper than friendship. So many things in this book reminded me of a 90s RomCom (in the best way) which feels intentional based on the authors dedication and playlist. There was definitely plenty of tension and spice, and I really enjoyed reading a baseball romance. This is the first book I've read by Maren Moore and it was fun and quick read which I needed. Homerun Proposal is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content

Spoiler-Free Review:

I finally wrapped up the last book in the Out of Uniform series, and I loved it so much. The two novellas books have been such fun reads. You meet all the characters briefly throughout the other books in the series, but getting a short glimpse into how their relationships started has been a treat. Hot and Heavy follows Becker, Ryan, and Matt, and once again my only complaint is that these aren't full length novels. I have loved the the men of this series, and it is right up there with the Off-Campus series for me. This book is an Adult Romance, 18+ for sexual content

This book was so stinking cute, and it had me wanting to jump on a plane to Scotland. I'd first like to thank Netgalley for the ARC of Kilt Trap. Kilt Trap is a rivals to lovers romance that follows Addie, a travel consultant who has a hard time letting people in, and Logan, a grumpy tour guide who is very resistant to change. There is great banter between Addie and Logan and lots of tension! But once the tension breaks, the romance heats up! Addie's journey of self-discovery was very well written and I loved the resolution for her character. The epilogue had me absolutely giddy. This was just such a cute story, it was what I needed today! Kilt Trap is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content

Oh my goodness Tessa Bailey for the win with this one! This was such a fun read, I truly devoured it! Fangirl Down follows Josephine, a golf super-fan in need of money, and Wells, a grumpy golfer who is off his game. When Wells wants to reenter the tour, he hires Josephine to be his caddie, and she helps him get his game back. Fangirl Down is a grumpy/sunshine spicy romcom that was truly everything. The medical representation was so well done. I loved the tension between Josephine and Wells and the romance was so hot! No third act breakup, just an absolute win! I never thought I'd be into a golf romance, but here I am absolutely fangirling about this book! Fangirl Down is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content.

Possible Spoilers for Divine Rivals:

The conclusion to the Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross was nothing short of greatness! While I rated Ruthless Vows lower than Divine Rivals, I still believe this is a 5 star series as a whole. The book picks up a few weeks after the events at the end of Divine Rivals. Iris and Roman are separated, and Iris begins to wonder if she will ever see him again. Through a chain of events, they find themselves once again connected by their typewriters. Letters are exchanged, plans are hatched, and secrets are kept as Iris and her friends try to get ahead of Dacre's dark plan. The side characters really come to life in Ruthless Vows, and I really liked the found family trope here. I loved this book and obviously I devoured it, but it wasn't quite as good as Divine Rivals. I think some ends were left a little open and I wanted a bit more closure. The romance between Iris and Roman is so beautiful, I feel like I will be thinking of them for a while. Rebecca Ross's writing continues to be some of my favorite, and reading her words feels so magical at times. Ruthless Vows is a young adult fantasy romance, 16+ for vague descriptions of sexual content

This has been the perfect series for me to read during this busy spring! They're such fun reads, I found myself unable to stop reading. Stealing Home follows Mia, a woman with big dreams she is scared to tell her family about, and Sebastian, adopted brother to James and Cooper and college baseball player. This was forced proximity, second chance goodness. The spice was spicing and I loved the dual POV! The audiobook was well done with dual narration. I cannot wait for the next book in this series! Stealing Home is an adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content

I have literally no critiques. This book is perfection. The representation, the romance, the plot, the feels—perfection! This was my first book by Hannah Bonam-Young, and it won't be the last! Out on a Limb follows Win and Bo and their life together after a one night stand results in a pregnancy. The way the author treats the pregnancy and Win's opinions and thoughts is so great and there were definitely things I could relate to as someone who's experienced pregnancy. And Bo! Bo is so amazing and so tender. His story is so special. I loved it. Every bit of it. The story, the romance, the spicy bits—it was just so good! There's an authors note at the front of the book that discusses some of the themes so please check that out or dm me for trigger warnings. Out on a Limb is an adult romance, 18+ for themes and content

I'm finally catching up on my Laura Pavlov TBR after finishing up a few projects, and I swear reading her work is like coming home. She has become an auto buy comfort author for me when I want some small town romance. Under the Stars is book 2 in the Cottonwood Cove series. Same universe, but different town, as the Honey Mountain Series. There's even an appearance by our favorite Thomas girls! Under the Stars follows Georgia, a -young woman trying to prove she can do things on her own, and Maddox, the grumpy owner of a publishing house. Georgia is hired to be Maddox's assistant and it's only up from there. This is a workplace and grumpy/sunshine romance filled with sexual tension and spicy pay off! I love Laura Pavlov's books because they're a great small town romance but also tend to hit you right in the feels! Under the Stars is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes

More plot than Unfurl and the spice was

This was such a cute and fun read, and I think that if you're in the market for a cute palate cleanser this is a great option! The book is classified as fantasy, but it definitely isn't complex in terms of world building or magic systems. Assistant to the Villain follows Evie, the sole provider for her family who is in the market for a new job, and the Villain, a mysterious man who is in the market for a new assistant. I loved these characters! Their banter was funny and witty and their inner monologues added so much to them. There's tension and a potential romance brewing? I'm really excited to see where Evie and the Villain end up in the next book! Assistant to the Villain is an adult fantasy, 16+ for some language

Oh my goodness, this was such a fun book! I bought this book completely because I thought the cover was cute, but this may be one of my favorite romcoms. The Fake Mate follows Mackenzie, a fairly new ER doctor tired of her grandmother trying to set her up on dates, and Noah, a cardiologist who has a grumpy demeanor and is keeping a secret. They make a bargain that is mutually beneficial to both of them. The Fake Mate is a paranormal romance that I think would be great for people who are curious or new to omegaverse stories. The spice is spicing in this book and I absolutely devoured it! Will definitely be checking out other works by the author. If you're looking for a hot, fun, slump-busting book, check this one out! The Fake Mate is an adult paranormal romantic comedy, 18+ for sexual content.

Another absolutely amazing novel from Jack Whitney! Finding You is a follow up novel to the Valentine's Day novella, Sweet Girl. It takes place 5 years after Gavin and Chloe's Valentine's night together. One of the first notes I made about this book was how much I loved Lana, Chloe's friend, and I love the show of female friendship and unconditional love her and Chloe have in this story. Chloe is the co-owner of a marketing company. One day her business partner is excited to announce that they've been hired by a dating app— Cupid's Arrow. Enter Gavin: so dumbfounded that after searching for five years, he's found Chloe in a completely different place than he left her, both physically and emotionally. Immediately drawn to each other, Chloe and Gavin try and ultimately fail to keep their distance from each other and their relationship strictly professional. This book is a second chance romance with a medium burn and tons of tension. The tension breaks, and y'all it is hot! Gavin and Chloe are absolutely electric! Finding You is well paced and has some elements of Greek mythology with a modern twist. This is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes, check the authors trigger warning page at the front of the book before reading. Finding You releases April 13, 2023

This was such a fun read! Also, how cute are the vintage vibes that the cover gives?! I love it so much! Done and Dusted follows Emmy Ryder, a champion barrel racer who returns to her hometown following an accident, and Luke Brooks, Emmy's brothers best friend and local bar owner. The two start spending time together around Emmy's family's ranch, and although they fight it, their chemistry is undeniable. This is brother's best friend romance goodness! There is great tension between the characters and amazing banter. The romance is hot and spicy— the mouth on Luke Brooks is

This book! Oh my goodness this book! The Jacksonville Rays series is the first I've read from Emily Rath, and it definitely did not disappoint! I read the prequel novella, That One Night, first and I can't recommend that enough. It lays the foundation and sets the stage for what is to come in Pucking Around. Pucking Around is a why choose hockey romance, and it is so much more than just that. These characters feel developed and deep, and their story is such an emotional journey. The spicy aspects of why choose romance are of course there, and they are very hot! Rachel, Ilmari, Jake and Caleb are some of the best developed characters I've read in a why choose book. Pucking Around does have some length to it which had me hesitant to read it, but I really think all those pages were necessary to get the character development and depth that a story like this needs. The shorter chapters and multi-POV kept the pace and story flowing, and it never felt like it was lagging. The author has a very in-depth list of trigger warnings and things to expect in the book, which I really appreciated. Pucking Around and the novella, That One Night, are adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content

Small town romances have become such a comfort for me, and I feel like Laura Pavlov nails it every time! Before the Sunset follows our next Reynolds sibling, Finn, an actor who just got a big break, and Reese, Finn's best friend. Fans of friends to lovers with fake dating mixed in will love this book! I couldn't put it down. After being friends their entire lives, Reese and Finn begin fake dating to make Reese's ex jealous and to improve Finn's image. The burn is a little slower but the tension is so good and the spicy payoff is chefs kiss. I personally loved the ending of this book and I think it fit the characters perfectly. I also love that we continue to get glimpses of the characters from Honey Mountain because I miss them. Before the Sunset is an adult small-town romance, 18+ for sexual content

After having this series sitting on my kindle for the last few months, It's bittersweet to be saying goodbye to Cottonwood Cove. If I know anything about Laura's next series, it's that we will still see some of our favorite characters pop up here and there. After the Storm follows the final Reynolds's sibling, Cage, single dad and major grump, and Presley, Cage's first love who is a successful lawyer in New York. This story is a second chance and single dad romance. After Presley comes home for a few weeks to be with family, tension sparks between she and Cage ,and soon after, they rekindle their romance under the guise that it would only be until she went back home. I loved Cage, but sometimes he was a little too grumpy with no real reason to be

I've been hoping for redemption for Winter since reading Flawless, and boy did Elsie deliver. I sort of knew that I would love her after I read the dedication for the book and that I would relate to her in so many ways. In this fourth installment of the Chestnut Springs series, we get to read all about Summer's sister Winter, a doctor who is perceived as cold but is really just misunderstood, and Theo, Rhett's bull riding protege. After a night of drinking at a hotel bar and a delicious one night stand, Winter finds herself pregnant. Reading Winter's journey into motherhood and those early months was so incredibly relatable and really resonated with me. Elsie did an amazing job at showcasing those tougher elements of motherhood and the toll it can take on a woman. Theo. Freaking. Silva. Perhaps my new favorite Chestnut Springs man? That feels like a big claim after the others, but I loved him so much! He is so tender and considerate and he loves so hard, but the mouth on that boy... swoon. He is just as sweet as he is spicy. The banter, tension, and pay off were all so well done. I love this book so much, and I think many women will see themselves in Winter. Reckless is an adult small town romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes. check the authors note at the start of the book Reckless releases June 9, 2023 and it is available for preorder now!

Spoiler-Free Review:

I've been seeing this book around for a bit, and I was finally able to pick it up to fill a prompt for The Bibliovert Podcast's Maassive Readathon. I really wanted to love this book since there are so many book in the series (y'all know I love a series binge), but it just fell flat for me. I think the pacing was a bit slow, which I expect for a first book in a fantasy series. I also had a hard time connecting with the female main character, Juliette. Her inner monologue was very chaotic which makes sense since she has been isolated for most of her life. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator does a great job of portraying this chaos. I've heard this is an enemies to lovers series, but we don't get much of that in this first book. I may read the second book just to give the series another shot. We do have a friends to lovers bit happening with Adam which is super sweet. I think there's a reason she loves him and feels comfortable around him, and I think it's because, as far has she knows, he is the only one who can touch her without being harmed. Juliette has been searching for acceptance and reasons for why she is the way she is. She doesn't know who to trust or where to turn, and at the end of this first book we discover a secret that's been hidden from her and most of the world. It's been a long time since I've read a dystopian book so it took be a bit to get back into the mindset. Tahereh Mafi does a good job at describing Juliette's character and inner thoughts. She has laid the groundwork for what I hope is a better second book and series. I enjoyed it but didn't love it so it's like more than a 3 star but less than a 4 star in my opinion. This is a YA Fantasy/dystopian 14+ for some violence and themes.