The Backup Plan is a quintessential Jill Shalvis love story, full of her trademark feels, humor, and heart. Eleanor knew what she was doing when she brThe Backup Plan is a quintessential Jill Shalvis love story, full of her trademark feels, humor, and heart. Eleanor knew what she was doing when she brought Alice, Knox, and Lauren together after her death. She might have gone about it sneakily, but it turned out for the best. Bringing Knox and Alice back to Sunset Cove, and having them work with Lauren on the inn, allowed them all to confront things from their pasts that had just been festering, and and it made them all stronger in the end.
I really enjoyed the journey each of these characters took over the course of the book. They each had their own individual matters to work through, while Alice and Lauren also needed to address what caused the end of their friendship. I liked that this wasn't just a romance between Knox and Alice, it was a chance for her and Lauren to reconnect as well.
This was a really wonderful, heartfelt story about love, loss, and finding your way back home....more
Buns by Alice Clayton is the third book in her Hudson Valley series, coming after Nuts and Cream of the Crop. Although it's the third book it can defiBuns by Alice Clayton is the third book in her Hudson Valley series, coming after Nuts and Cream of the Crop. Although it's the third book it can definitely be read as a standalone- I haven't read the first two books and I didn't feel lost or as if I was missing anything. Although the couples from the previous two books did make a few appearances in Buns, Ms. Clayton gives enough of their backgrounds so that you're not wondering where these people came from. And I appreciated that! I usually like to read a series in order, and I do have both Nuts and Cream of the Crop on my Kindle, I just hadn't gotten around to reading them before I got wrapped up in Buns!
Let's just start by saying I have complete job envy of Clara! What an absolutely awesome career she has- going into these incredible hotels and revamping them, freshening them up, bringing them back to life. As someone with an interior design degree who is not working in the field, I feel like I really missed out! Her newest job has taken her to the Bryant Mountain House- a grand old hotel that just hasn't been living up to its potential. But standing in the way of her plans to refurbish and renovate BMH so that it's once again the place to visit in the Hudson Valley, is one Archibald "Archie" Bryant- the son and heir to the Bryant legacy. Archie is steadfast in his ways and fights Clara at every turn.
Even as Clara and Archie butt heads over her ideas for the hotel, an undeniable attraction is building between the two- and it was just so delightful! I love when a couple is so determined to fight their attraction to each other until there's nothing left for it to do than combust. And combust it does! Clara was so set on keeping things on a professional level with Archie, but sometimes the heart wins out over the head. The fact that Archie is technically her boss is enough on its own to make things tough for them, but add in the fact that they are both dealing with issues from their pasts makes for even more complications and heartache.
Buns is a really fun, hearfelt, and emotion-filled story of two people struggling to come to terms with their pasts while opening themselves up to the future. The romance, the chemistry, the banter, and especially the simmering tension, between Archie and Clara made Buns a book that was hard to put down. Archie is so utterly swoony. He's had a lot of heartbreak in his life but with Clara he's taking a chance on love again. Clara is so strong and independent, it's hard for her to let someone in. But Archie is so caring and tender, the walls she's built around herself are slowly crumbling down. I really enjoyed the journey this story took these two lovely, determined, and dedicacted people on, and I just adored seeing their love blossom.
***Arc received via NetGalley, reviewed for The Book Enthusiast....more
This book is a GEM! This story is so lovely and beautiful, I want everyone to stop what they are doing and read it! My heart is completely full, SophiThis book is a GEM! This story is so lovely and beautiful, I want everyone to stop what they are doing and read it! My heart is completely full, Sophie and Charlie have burrowed themselves into the very marrow of my being. As soon as the tears cleared enough I was on my computer ordering myself a paperback copy of Back To Yesterday because I needed to own it, like it owned me.
"I wanted to explain, to tell her that, since meeting her, my heart was in jeopardy of ruin, and she could be the one to ruin me. I wanted to tell her that when she plowed into me that day in the diner that she had leveled me in more ways than one. I wanted to tell her all of that, yet I couldn't tell her any of it. I needed more time to ease her into it."
Back to Yesterday is one of the most captivating love stories I have had the pleasure reading. Like Sophie did to Charlie, this book did to me- it plowed into and completely leveled me. Their love story is one for the ages. I didn't want to let this book go, I didn't want to say good-bye to Sopie and Charlie. Goodness, I'm tearing up again just thinking about them! This book took me on such a journey- I felt like I was living everything Charlie and Sophie went through.
I don't know how some books can be so simple and pure, yet so incredibly profound in their simplicity. Pamela Sparkman honestly weaved magic when she wrote this story. Back to Yesterday is breathtaking and utterly stunning, it's truly remarkable.
"I'm ever letting go of you," he said, stroking my hair. "Understand? I'm never letting you go. So don't let go of me. Okay? You and I, we're in this together."
Oh don't you worry Charlie, I'm never letting you and Sophie go.
Cheater is a hard book for me to review. I love RVD romcoms and hoped that this would be something along the lines of the Consequences books- light, sCheater is a hard book for me to review. I love RVD romcoms and hoped that this would be something along the lines of the Consequences books- light, silly, fun, with a touch of heart. It had some fun moments and there are aspects to Cheater that I liked- the witty banter between Lucas and Avery, her snarkiness and sarcasm, and her friendship with Austin. But there were more issues with this book that I really didn’t care for, or understand- particularly how over-the-top and meddling his mother is, why she thought things would magically be repaired between the families if Lucas and Avery got together (this honestly completely perplexed me), and particularly Lucas’s “in your face” attitude when it came to his daily bimbos, even after Avery showed back up in his life. I wasn’t put off by the “cheating” per se, because once you get into the story you’ll understand that a little better, but throwing it in her face, after everything that happened in the past, was hard to accept.
With that said, I definitely felt a connection between Lucas and Avery. There's a lot of shared history with them, so it bothered me how glib, at least on the surface, Lucas was towards her. I did feel bad for him, to a certain extent, because of some of the things that we learn through the book, when it comes to what happened with his engagement to her sister 4 years ago. But my biggest issue, and what really held me back from enjoying this as much as I could have, was Lucas’s age. He’s 32 years old but acts more like he’s in his mid-20s. And honestly, if he had been in his mid-20s I’d have a whole different outlook on this book. It’s hard to get into detail, without giving too much of the storyline away, but I found his actions and the way he dealt with things to be very immature. Avery is 22 and he came across closer to her age instead of a grown man a decade older. I really wish he had been 25, 26, 27 years old. I feel the story would have played out much differently if he had been a younger character, and I would have more than likely really enjoyed it.
Sometimes, as much as you want to love a book it just doesn't happen- and you can't force it. Sadly, this was the case for me and the book just didn't work. I'm a big fan of RVD's so I'll just chalk this up to an anomaly and look forward to what she's got coming up next.
***Reviewed for The Book Enthusiast, copy courtesy of NetGalley....more
After reading The Trouble with Mistletoe I have to wonder why in the heck I haven't read any Jill Shalvis books before! It's not like I don't know who she is...I follow her on Facebook, and actually own a couple of her paperbacks. But for some reason I've just never them, I guess I have my never ending tbr pile to thank for that-that all changes now!
I love when an author creates a world that totally captivates you and pulls you into it. And that’s exactly what Ms. Shalvis did with this book…I want to jump right in and be a part of this awesome group of friends! I want to join in on their pub nights, pizza nights with the girls, and morning muffin time at South Park. What a fun and eclectic collection of characters she’s put together.
Willa and Keane are such an engaging couple. For everything Willa had been through when she was younger, she’s come out an absolute winner- she’s kind-hearted, caring, completely loyal to her friends. She’s made quite a name for herself as the owner of South Bark, she’s respected and trusted in her community. Willa is someone you’d want by your side and in your corner! Keane is really quite delicious! He’s stoic, completely alpha, and a tough nut to crack. He’s also charming, thoughtful, and utterly sexy.
Neither Willa nor Keane feel they are capable of any type of relationship, and that's cause for some push and pull between them, but there’s no denying the chemistry when they cross paths! Their story is filled with so much sweetness and romance, although there’s tension and uncertainty, as they both have past baggage they need to deal with.
Overall this is a really entertaining read. It’s lighthearted, cheerful, and quite merry…it is a Christmas story afterall! It’s the best of chicklit, just a little more on the steamy side!
***Arc received and reviewed for The Book Enthusiast....more
This is the first book I have read by Ms. Barker, and it was such a beautiful and compelling introduction to her work. TF is completely enthralling an This is the first book I have read by Ms. Barker, and it was such a beautiful and compelling introduction to her work. TF is completely enthralling and held me in its grip from start to finish. It's a story of hope, of redemption, of survival...it's a story of love, of overcoming your circumstances, and building a life you deserve.
Although Through Fire is the 3rd book in Freya Barker's Portland ME series, it can be read as a standalone. I have not read the first 2, From Dust and Cruel Water, but didn't feel like I was really missing out anything. I definitely want to go back and read them now, though- I want to get to know the rest of this cast of characters.
"The black paint is me, and the last thing I wanted to do was turn your white world grey."
Ruby is such a strong character. She's gone through so many unspeakable things in her life, things that a weaker person could never have survived. She's understandably leery, and very cautious, about letting anyone get too close. But she has an amazing group of people surrounding her, and one incredible man willing to put it all out there for her, if only she'd take a chance. Tim is protective and caring, he's fiercly loyal, and with Ruby so patient and kind.
There was so much depth to this story, so much emotion and heart, I was truly captivated by it. I love a book that makes me think, one that makes me appreciate the life I live.
***Arc received and reviewed for The Book Enthusiast....more
"And you were right. Alone is better, which is exactly how I planned to spend this night. Until I saw you and alone wasn’t better anymore. And now I k"And you were right. Alone is better, which is exactly how I planned to spend this night. Until I saw you and alone wasn’t better anymore. And now I know why. You want what I want."
Hard Rules is a sexy, suspenseful, and downright confusing at times, story of family, loyalty, and the ties that bind. It’s the first book in the Dirty Money series, a series that, from even just this first book, is shaping up to be quite the Brandon family saga. Secrets and lies, mystery and intrigue, passion and betrayal…sounds just like all the things to love about a soap opera, doesn’t it?
Shane Brandon- the lawyer, the good son, the one who plays by the rules and does things by the book, has returned to Denver to help turn the family business around. Actually, “turn the family business around” is not quite accurate- he’s there to make sure business is, and stays, on the up and up. He’s in for a fight not only with his brother, but with his father as well, both of whom have no problem straddling, and more often than not, crossing the line into some shady situations. At times it was hard to understand exactly what was happening- how the dots were connecting. There was so much going on I honestly found myself a little lost at different points in the story. The prologue had me intrigued right from the start, but then it seemed either I got off course, or the story did, at least as far as what was happening with the Brandon family empire. I never quite figured out how the prologue related to the rest of the book. And that could just be on me, and maybe I need to go back and read that part again.
What I really enjoyed the most about Hard Rules is the relationship between Shane and Emily. They started with a “meet cute” but from then on nothing about their interactions was cute…and I’m so okay with that! These are 2 lonely people who just, luckily, happen across each other, at a time when both could really use some human connection. Things heat up pretty quickly between them, but that’s not all there is to them. They’re both very intelligent, and Emily is able to hold her own with the very alpha and dominant Shane. But Emily is a mystery. As much as she opens up to Shane there are still things she’s hiding- she’s got secrets that so far she’s not comfortable sharing, and that may be just what ends these 2 before they can really begin.
And can you say holy cliffhanger?!? That ending has left me with more questions than answers! And I need answers, desperately!
Callie is such an Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker is a charming cozy mystery, a perfect read to snuggle up on the sofa with on a Sunday afternoon.
Callie is such an endearing and relatable character- she's intelligent, successful, and fiesty; she has an awesome friend and business partner, and a sexy cop who is quite determined to finally make her his. But like a lot of women she's not comfortable with her body and has a hard time accepting that hot cop Ben could be really interested in her, because of course the ex broke up with her due to the little extra weight she's carrying around...the jerk. Determined to get Callie more comfortable and accepting of herself, Anna, cute little pixie Anna, signs them up for a pole dancing class...and that's where the fun begins!
I got such a kick out of the the antics Callie and Anna went through as they tried to clear Callie's name and solve the mystery of Dolly's murder themselves. These 2 are so fun, I really enjoy the friendship they share- Anna is such a great friend and supporter of Callie. And Ben, oh sweet sweet Ben! Such devotion and patience he's had for Callie... "Fight me all you want, Callie, but you're mine." "Sweetheart, give me this. You getting hauled into the police station scared the pants off of me. I'm finally getting the chance at making you mine. I can't lose you now." Swoon!
This is just a really cute read, it's light-hearted, sweet, and funny. I hope we get to see more of Callie, Anna, and Ben in future books...I can only imagine the troubles and hijinks these characters will get into!
Copy received and reviewed for The Book Enthusiast.
The Beaver and the Super MC are back and they're getting married and I'm so pucking happy!
Forever Pucked is everything I could have hoped for, and so The Beaver and the Super MC are back and they're getting married and I'm so pucking happy!
Forever Pucked is everything I could have hoped for, and so much more than I could have ever even imagined, in the continuation of Alex and Violet's unconventional and kooky love story. This book is full of laughter, silliness, and sexiness...all things we love about these 2 quirky characters. But it's also touching and tender, and we get to see sides of both Alex and Violet that we haven't before. Helena Hunting has really outdone herself.
This book is overflowing with the awesomeness of Violet and Alex, but we also get ample time with the other characters that we have grown to love over the the course of this series...Sunny and Buck, Lance, Randy and Lily, and it wouldn't be a wedding if we weren't treated to visits from the out of control mothers as well. The Pucked family is here in full force, and they all make for one heck of a good time.
Violet has got to be one of the most offbeat characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. You never know what is going to come out of her mouth, and sometimes I don't think she knows either. "Well, yeah, of course. The Super MC and my beave are soulmates, so logically that means the rest of our bodies are soulmates, too." Alex is just as goofy as Violet, in his own unique way. That I also refer to my dick as a person is probably something most people would suggest therapy for. If ever there were 2 people meant to be together it's these 2. And I'm so happy we have front row seats to their happily ever after.
"Super MC deserves a wedding all his own. We'll have a private Super MC and beaver ceremony." I've thought about this a lot. I've even researched the costumes. Not that Alex needs to know this. A beaver only gets promised to her Super MC ones in a lifetime.
***Arc was received and reviewed for The Book Enthusiast. ...more
So good! So fun! Pucked Over is the third book in the Pucked series and it features Randy and Lily. We met Randy briefly in Pucked and he and Lily botSo good! So fun! Pucked Over is the third book in the Pucked series and it features Randy and Lily. We met Randy briefly in Pucked and he and Lily both appeared in Pucked Up, where their “relationship” began.
"I like that she's my kind of crazy."
I really adored this book, almost as much as, if not more than, Pucked! It is funny and sexy and silly and hot and sweet. Randy “Balls” Ballistic has become my new favorite hockey player, my new favorite bbf, and I have a major girl crush on Lily - she is such a great character, funny, sassy, feisty! (To be perfectly honest after reading Pucked Up I wasn't sure what to expect with her.) The relationship between these 2 was just fantastic- it started with a kiss and after a few bumps along the road it grew into something so sweet that I just melted.
After their brief hook-up in Pucked Up Lily does her best to avoid Randy, but circumstances and friends conspire to keep throwing them together. Trying to deny the attraction between them doesn't work so well and it ends up being easier, especially for Lily, to just give in, thus beginning their friends-with-benefits arrangement, which seems to suit them both. Until it doesn't. You know how those pesky feelings have a way of creeping up on even the most unsuspecting and unwilling of people, and that's what happens with these two.
Randy and Lily are such the perfect match, I love seeing relationships like theirs evolve. The chemistry and sexual attraction was there, no doubt about it, but to see them both grow and come to terms with their feelings for each other was probably the best part of this book. Neither was looking for anything permanent, they weren't expecting this thing between them to be any more than a fling. And I think that is sometimes how the best relationships start.
Everything about this book was just plain terrific- Randy and Lily and their relationship; having the rest of the Pucked gang involved- I swear Violet is one of the best characters in contemporary fiction, she is so flipping funny and there is nothing forced about her humor; the family issues...this book had it all. I absolutely loved it.
***An arc was received and reviewed for The Book Enthusiast....more
I'm a bit of a purse junkie so the title and cover alone were enough to draw me in, add in the fact that 3.5* Clutch is a cute, quick, and easy read.
I'm a bit of a purse junkie so the title and cover alone were enough to draw me in, add in the fact that the h is a handbag designer and I was sold.
"...you find something you love and you just hold onto." Wise words spoken to 7yo Caroline, by her Aunt Mimi. Thanks to those words, and a hot pink purse, Caroline's love affair with purses began.
On her first day at Harvard Business School Caroline meets Mike, and a great friendship was born. After graduation Mike convinces Caroline to move to LA to start her business and that's where the fun begins.
The "chapters", (named after purse styles which I thought was a cute touch), chronicle Caroline's ups and downs in the dating world of LA- she meets quite a cast of characters and has some interesting dates. Mike is the one constant in her life, but other than one night during college there's never really been anything more between the two, they've settled into a best of friends relationship, which seems to be working well, at least for Caroline.
I kind of figured out from the beginning how this book was going to end, but it was an enjoyable time getting there. Although it is pretty predictable, and I would have liked most of the chapters to be a little more meaty, I thought it was a fun read, and a slightly different take on the friends-to-lover trope- since we aren't treated to Mike's pov we never get the feeling that there's any angst or drama to their friendship, we just saw his reactions briefly and from afar.
If you're a fan of chick-lit/beach reads this would be the perfect one to grab to while away a couple of hours.
Secret Sisters is a perfect blend of mystery and suspense, full of unexpected twists and turns, with a little romance thrown in to round off what is aSecret Sisters is a perfect blend of mystery and suspense, full of unexpected twists and turns, with a little romance thrown in to round off what is an excellent story.
Madeline and Daphne are the "secret sisters", friends from childhood who are reunited as a long hidden secret starts to unravel. Madeline is called home to Cooper Island, the small island in the Pacific Northwest where everything began. The death of her grandmother, and now the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the caretaker of her abandoned family hotel, have brought the secret sisters back together again. With the help of Jack Raynor, security expert for the chain of hotels Madeline inherited at her grandmother's death, and his brother Abe, the foursome works to figure out who is behind the murders and why everything is coming to a head after 18 years.
This is a book that will pull you in and keep you guessing right up until the end. It's gripping and engaging...you'll think you know where the story is taking you, but then Ms. Krentz throws in another twist to keep you on your toes.
While the plot of this book is captivating, the characters are what hooked me. Madeline is such a strong female lead, with just a touch of vulnerability that she does her best to keep hidden. Jack is gruff, he doesn't mince words or use them unnecessarily, but he also has a side to him that he's not comfortable sharing. There's just something about the 2 of them together that brought out the best in each other. The secondary characters, Daphne and Abe, were a great addition- together they brought a little levity to the story and played off of Madeline and Jack perfectly.
If you're looking for a book with intelligently written characters, a locale you can picture, and a tension-filled plot, Secret Sisters will be sure to please.
3.5* This book read like a soap opera to me...I could see tuning in every week to see what was going to happen. It's brash and ballsy, it's a bit over-3.5* This book read like a soap opera to me...I could see tuning in every week to see what was going to happen. It's brash and ballsy, it's a bit over-the-top, it's sexy and funny, and it has an underlining endearing quality that wasn't expected.
I've not read any of Avery's books before, although I have her entire The Undergrad Years series on my Kindle to be read, so I wasn't sure exactly sure what I was getting into with this book...and I was actually pleasantly surprised.
Lex and Masi don't get off to the best of starts, when she unapologetically interrupts his holiday. His textile company supplies the fabrics to her design house, but as Fashion Week looms and she hasn't received her most recent order she decides to takes matters into her own hands and shows up in Italy to confront the Prince. Sparks fly and the attraction between the 2 is immediate, but things don't go quite as smoothly as she'd hope, and she has her work cut out for her to convinve him to releae her order. As they grow close and see what they other has to offer they hash out a plan that will be mutually beneficial for the both of them.
I was equally parts thrilled, enthralled, and appalled by this book. I cringed a little, I laughed a little, I swooned a little. And I was thoroughly entertained. It really did play out like a television show and I look forward to seeing what's to happen in the next episode.
***I received a copy courtesy of NetGalley and Book Enthusiasts Promotions in exchange for an honest review....more
Devil on one shoulder, and a tarnished saint on the other.
He’s the president of the Hunter MCs, she’s the daughter of the man whose land he’s comeDevil on one shoulder, and a tarnished saint on the other.
He’s the president of the Hunter MCs, she’s the daughter of the man whose land he’s come to claim. He’s overbearing, has no filter, is completely and utterly clueless when it comes to interacting with women other than club whores. She’s feisty, tough, and doesn’t back down when it comes to him.
Jaeger Dalton‘s first glimpse of Phoenix “Nix” Ward was of a scared, anxious young woman, clinging to an older man at one of his fights. He was completely intrigued by her wild red hair and innocence. But before he could find her, and claim her, the fight was over and she’d disappeared. Fast forward 10 years and next thing he knows she’s at the end of the shotgun that’s pointed in his face.
Jaeger is a a foul-mouthed arrogant jackass but like Nix, I really kind of adore him…much to my chagrin. “He’s a walking, sexy, testosterone-fuelled hornbag.” There’s no more apt description for Jaeger than that. But he’s also caring and protective of what’s his, and he’s got it in his head that Nix is his…not that she will be his, but that she already is his, from the moment he saw her all those years ago.
"All I want to do is get off this bike, kiss her and tell her everything’s going to be okay."
He’s such a knucklehead, some of the things that came out of his mouth had me both laughing and cringing. “I’m a guy.” That’s a defense isn’t it? "What a stupid-ass description. Alpha males don’t exist. There are only men with balls and men who are pussies." "Screw getting into the minds of chicks. They’re seriously fucked up." "That’s fucked. She should just do what I say and be happy with it." "Well that’s shit too. How am I supposed to know when I have to do and say romance crap to her."
In theory this is a book I should not have liked, at all. AT.ALL. It’s about an obnoxious and overbearing, and at times domineering, biker who tends to treat women like crap. But I’m here to tell you I did like it, I liked it a LOT.
It's gritty and raw, and at times tough to take. But it's also funny and sweet in its own unique way.
***I received a copy through Book Enthusiast Promotions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
"The dark isn't embracing me quickly enough. My heart is still beating and I wish it would stop so I could finally go to my love."
There aren't a l"The dark isn't embracing me quickly enough. My heart is still beating and I wish it would stop so I could finally go to my love."
There aren't a lot of books that I've come across with such a vulnerable and broken male lead as Pierre in Monster Chef. Although his wife has been gone 4 years, to him it feels like just yesterday. It was heartwrenching reading his thoughts, as he spoke to his love as if she was still there with him, I can't count the times I teared up.
"I know you didn't want to to leave, but you're gone and I don't know what to do. You were the only thing that ever made sense, and now you're no longer with me. I don't know how to go through the next forty or fifty years without you."
Eva's death has left Pierre a bitter and unhappy man. He's mean and angry towards his coworkers, but his work as a chef is the only thing that keeps him going, until Holly's arrival.
Holly lost her husband not quite 2 years ago, and though it's been tough on her she seems to be handling things much better than Pierre has been able to. She's decided it is finally time for her to get back to work, after spending time at home with her daughter and mother-in-law. She ups up as the maitre d' at the restaurant where Pierre is the chef.
From the moment these 2 meet, sparks fly- and not just in a good way. Heads butt, feelings are hurt, tempers flare. But like all good love stories the balance shifts, there's a kiss that leads to more questions than answers, and uncertainty rears its ugly head.
Monster Chef is a complex and compelling read, full of emotion. I really enjoyed Pierre and Holly as a couple, although there were a few things that happened between them that bothered me, and kept it from being 5*. Even with the tears, I loved watching Pierre work through the love he still had for his wife, as he tried so hard to keep her a part of him while learning to let go and move on. I loved his protectiveness and his dirty mouth. Holly is such a strong person, who has dealt with a lot of loss in her life.
"I am finding it increasingly hard to not fall into whatever we have. I think I need for us to try, to descend so deep we are unable to see the light without the other. You have made me want to live my life, not just exist by breathing."
***I received a copy through NetGalley and Book Enthusiast Promotions in exchange for an honest reveiw.
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