This came as a total surprise for me, but Asher's giving Liam a run for his money as my favorite Hockey House guy. And Lani? I adore her and love her to pieces! These two gave me all the warm fuzzies, and they are so perfect for each other. I appreciated the way Katy Archer handled yet another serious issue and found the perfect balance between heart-wrenching and heart-warming (and hot!).
Can't wait to read Baxter's story! (Oh, and I hope there will be a “Football Frat-not-a-real-frat” spin-off, too!)
I loved it!
Am I biased? Of course I am: I've loved the previous two books in the series, and I've had a soft spot for Brandon Nix since that stunt he and his partner-in-crime Landon pulled in book #2.
He and Andi may not be perfect (and I love them all the more for that!), but they turn out to be just perfect for each other. Chef's kiss
More, please?
Disclaimer: I fell in love with both Irina and Knox even before I started reading their story. (They were both awesome supporting Courtney in book #2!)
Since I'm also a sucker for friends-to-lovers and fake relationships, it was no wonder I was sold on this particular marriage of (in)convenience by Chapter 1. :D
I love the perfect balance of hilarious high jinks with just the right amount of drama and, of course, all the feels (and swoons!) when these two reluctantly (and quite grudgingly) start to discover their feelings for each other.
5/5 just-admit-that-you're-perfect-for-each-other stars
I'm usually not a fan of the love triangle trope, but this one came with a twist. I mean, this was a train wreck waiting to happen (and, oh boy, dit it!), but I loved how the story unfolded, and I was happy to get the ending I was hoping for. :) I enjoyed getting to know Rachel, Chloe, and Hunter, and it was so easy to root for every single one of them, although I'll admit that Rachel's little brother Evan sometimes totally stole the show - and a little piece of my heart, too.
“Meet Me at the Summer Games” is the second book I've read in this sweet YA sports romance series.
I found Dmitri to be one of the good guys and very easy to root for. Reese's insistence to keep him at arm's length - for reasons that were not always based on logic - got a little old at times.
Overall, I enjoyed the pretty low-drama story and had fun meeting Dmitri's and Reese's friends as well.
When worlds collide...
I enjoyed getting to know Jorgie and Hudson, and it was fun to see worlds collide as city boy Hudson learned the hard way that Superiore Bay is a completely different beast than NYC. But I loved to discover the human being behind that arrogant facade, first in the way he opened up to Jorgie, but also in the way he grew to become a part of the small-town community.
Jorgie's story is a real doozy, and I appreciated her initial determination to deal with it on her own, but it was gratifying to see how her family had her back.
While this is book 4 in the Maine Morning series, it's the first in the series I have read. It not only works as a standalone, but it makes me want to read more in the series as well. :).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The swoon is dialed up to 11!
“This marriage is not a cage. It's a home. Maybe the first one I've ever had.”
I didn't think it was possible, but this series just keeps getting better. I fell head over heels in love with both Cayla and Holt, and “Bumblebee” Maddie truly melted my heart. I loved seeing this little family-of-convenience grow ever closer, and I appreciate the way they tackled their problems - both the very real external threat courtesy of Cayla's dastartdly ex as well as their internal hang-ups.
Highly recommended!
This is my favorite in the Fab Forties series! I loved Cassie and Brad (and Levi!), and the story made me smile (a lot) and laugh (and roll my eyes and groan at the Dad jokes - though that's par for the course in the series :) ).
5/5 drama-filled stars
This YA romance gave me some pretty strong West Side Story/Romeo and Juliet vibes with plenty of drama - though, thankfully, minus the tragic ending.
The writing is excellent, and the author manages to capture the intense feelings of first loves and teenage angst perfectly. The story also deals with heavier subjects (TW: sexual assault) in a realistic manner.
Despite the serious topics, the story made me smile and swoon and root for Maverick and Londyn in particular and the Misfits in general. While the main characters felt realistic and well developed, the antagonists seemed somewhat two-dimensional in their entitled snobbery.
I'm definitely looking forward to getting to know the other Misfits better, too! More, please?
Furious - but fitting - finale to this fun series!
I'm so sad to see this fun series come to an end! Who'da thunk that a trio of not-quite-ex hit men would make such wonderful (and funny!) romance heroes?
In this final instalment, Seb “The Dentist” gets to shine - and no, I'm not only talking about his literal killer smile. Behind that glib womanizer facade hides a vulnerable and good (if not necessarily decent ^^) man.
What I like about Nic is her take-charge attitude and her dry wit.
Though I have to say that it's Seb's grandma Terri who totally took me by surprise and turned out to be one of my favorite supporting characters.
Extra bonus points for a fun Juniper Ridge crossover. :)
4.5 / 5 even-their-secrets-have-secrets stars
Not quite what I expected.
While I'm not sure I would classify this story as a typical rom-com (I'm leaning a bit more towards... I dunno... chick-lit? women's fiction?), it was an entertaining read featuring delightfully quirky, likeable (or, in Aunt Bertie's case, downright lovable) characters.
Seriously, I LOVE Bertie! She's a wonderful human being with an interesting perspective, as illustrated by this quote:
“It's funny—we see everyone else clearly, but have to depend on mirrors to see ourselves. Before mirrors were invented, I suppose everyone just assumed they were beautiful. It seems like a much better system, don't you agree?”
Speaking of Bertie, I felt the story was more focused on Ellie's relationship with her aunt rather than her (developing) relationship (or lack thereof) with John, even though Aunt Bertie does her darnedest to push these two together.
IMHO, the romance part felt a bit rushed and went from grudging (mostly) physical attraction to “I love you” with little in between. Still, there were certainly scenes that made me smile (or laugh) - and yes, there were also tears.
4/5 stars
This prequel is fast paced with lots of action, it's entertaining, and the characters are intriguing. I'm in (and adding the rest of the series to my TBR)!
I had so much fun with this book! I loved Hannah, adored Carlos, and swooned over Cal (when I wasn't rolling my eyes at him along with Hannah... :) ) - and I was delighted to see that Ophelia and Xavier played a quite important part in this story, too, heart eyes emojis and all. <3
More, please?
Welcome back to Starlight Harbor!
The story is cute and funny, but it packs quite an emotional punch (among the smiles and swoons and laughter, there may have been tears).
After the initial shenanigans with the kaput sleigh that serves as a catalyst for some forced proximity for our main couple, that part of the story - at least in my mind - took a bit of a backseat to the romance plot and the focus on Cam and Vi's relationship. (I'm not complaining - also, I might simply have a somewhat selective perception... YMMV.)
As always, the main characters are well developed, and they had a lot of backstory to sort through. Cam is probably one of the cinnamon-rollest heroes there ever were, and at times I felt frustrated with Vi's insistence at keeping him at arm's length (and then some). Despite my occasional frustration, I loved both Vi and Cam (and Ty!) and how they worked through past hurts to (finally!) arrive at their HEA.
Of course, the supporting cast of Starlighters is top notch (again), and I simply adore the Ross family! (On a sidenote: Skye is probably one of my favorite supporting characters and I can't wait to read more about her.)
Second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes because there usually is plenty of history to build on. We get to experience some of that teenage love story in a number of flashbacks, and it is fun to compare teenage Tabitha and Noah with the people they have become twelve years later.
This series finale delivers exactly what I've come to expect from a Kate O'Keeffe book: a sweet and swoony romance with likeable characters I can root for (though this was a slooow burn), a close-knit and supportive group of friends, lots of smiles and some laugh-out-loud moments.
While this is the final book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. You might be missing out on some details of the backstory of both Tabitha and her friend group, but the story is still a fun read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“Because love is worth it, however long it lasts.”
Oh, my heart! I don't even know where to begin... This story gave me ALL THE FEELS - I've been rooting for Rachel and Jonah even before this book started, and boy, did they mess it up before they finally got it right... But it was so worth it in the end!
It was wonderful to be back in Eden's Ridge and catch up with the rest of the Bad Boy Bakers and their families, too. I'm looking forward to reading more stories set in this world!
So. Dang. Cute!
This story is totally my kind of quirky, funny, swoony jam! I love this story so much, I can't even say what my favorite chapter is. The one with the “girls” is surely a strong contender for that title (I am a horse geek, so there's that), but the one with Gertrude is just... perfect. le sigh
So, SO many happy sighs!
By the final chapter, I was grinning like a fool - and solidly in love with Candace and Pete myself. (Don't tell my FC!)
I love that neither Pete nor Candace are perfect, but they are perfect for each other - baby hyena, laminated lists, and all... And their friends and family make for a fun and entertaining supporting cast - I can't wait to read Maddie's story (which is hopefully next)!
Apparently, I am approaching Jessie Kwak's universe kinda sideways: I started with Artemis City Shuffle, got drawn in, wanting to learn more about Lasadi and Raj, and went on reading the first novel of the Nanshe chronicles (review for Ghost Pirate Gambit to come).
From there, I set out to start the Bulari Saga omnibus and got sidetracked by a little note right before the table of contents of the boxed set - which led me to this short prequel. How could I say no to more Lasadi and Raj (even just a tiny glimpse at their space pirating days)? Not having met Willem Jaantzen before, this was an enjoyable introduction, and I am looking very much forward to reading more about this intriguing character and the world he lives in. (And I totally agree with the sentiment that he, indeed, needs a better crew...)
I love this series! And I love Aidan! I've had a soft spot for him ever since he turned up as Johnny Kelly's roommate. Marlee is a wonderful shero, and she and Aidan are perfectly matched.
As always, the family shenanigans are excellent (including Marlee's work family at the fire station, of course!) and make this story so much fun!
Super-sweet YA rom-com with a lot of heart. And hairy eyeballs.
I absolutely adored Hannah and Seth (and Ava, and Liam, and Seth's mom and dad, and Hannah's Grammy...), the story had just the right amount of drama, and there were lots of funny and swoony moments that made me laugh or happy-sigh, respectively.
One of my favorite quotes:
“According to Nolan, Hannah was fine, with a capital F. I couldn't agree more. She was fantastic, fun, and fascinating. And forgeous. Okay, that wasn't a real word, but it perfectly described how for-reals gorgeous she was in every way.”
This is the first book I've read by this author, but I have already preordered the next book in the series. And I also want to read the story of Seth's parents. And those of his uncles, while I'm at it. More, please! :)
Oh, my heart!
I love the Troublemakers, and Luke and Ainsley's story is a wonderful addition to the series. Aislynn can be a bit much, but she quickly stole the part of my heart that wasn't solidly in Luke's corner already. I loved how Aislynn and Luke grew close and truly brought out the best in each other.
Once again, Cassie Mae delivered a tale that gave me all the feels: from giggles to outright snort-laughs to swoons to breaking my heart and making me cry.
And here's (one of the reasons) why I love this series so much:
“You want to make your own decisions. I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do. I just came here to tell you that you have options.”
My heart flies straight from my chest and lands in those wonderfully gentle hands of his, and he can have it for the rest of my days.
It is always a treat to return to Juniper Ridge - and Amy and Coop did not disappoint! I've had a soft spot for the youngest Judson brother, and I love the story Tawna had in store for him and Amy. Hollywood's sort-of-fallen angel and the down-to-earth chief of police make an excellent team, even though they both do their darnedest to fight it at times.
While I sometimes felt like giving Coop a thwack upside the head, I absolutely loved to see Amy own her wants and go for them in true d*mn-the-torpedoes-style (with sometimes spectacular results, like one of my favorite scenes, aka “THE GROUP TEXT”).
As pretty much every Tawna book I've read, this was an entertaining read, with plenty of smiles and swoons, occasional snort-laughs, and lots and lots of family shenanigans. Speaking of: I loved to get to know Amy's family and am very much looking forward to reading more about Luke.
5/5 tasseled-wobbegong stars
Quick and fun read! Like in other books by Christina Hovland (at least those I have read so far), it's the family dynamics that make this story so much more fun. (I just adore Tucker's dad...)
Siti is back - and so is Liam! And Joss and Zina and Derek Lee are along for this wild ride, too.
I really enjoyed following the usual suspects along on their new adventure on Darenti, a truly alien world. True to form, Siti once again managed to get herself and her friends into some tricky situations which took a team effort to resolve.
As always, I loved the banter and the pop culture references as well as the twists and turns Julia Huni threw at both her characters and this unsuspecting reader. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect from this book, but this wasn't it. Compared to the previous books in the series, this story packed more of an emotional punch (for me, YMMV) and even managed to make made me cry, dagnabbit!
So far, this is my favorite book in the series, and I sincerely hope there will be many more adventures for Siti and her friends.
Not what I expected - in a good way!
Disclaimer: I've never been a fan of the oops-baby trope, so I was skeptical if I was going to like this story as much as the others in the series.
Even though the story struck a different tone than the others in the series, I appreciate the way this topic was handled. YMMV.