I thought I was signing up for a fall vibes, 90s nostalgia fest, sweet, small town romance about two divorced characters finding 4.5 stars rounded up
I thought I was signing up for a fall vibes, 90s nostalgia fest, sweet, small town romance about two divorced characters finding love. This delivered on those, but also brought the angst and complications. It was about finding your people and place, even in an unexpected way, that squeezed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The writing style and flow wasn’t always my favorite, but these characters and the atmospheric setting felt real to me and I told a friend that from the moment I started the book, I was completely engrossed and rooting for them. I had a hard time putting it down to be an adult.
Michelle (h) starts the book off at the service for her mother, who recently passed away. She’s dealing with complex feelings because of her relationship with her mom and her awful ex wanting to announce their divorce too. She briefly sees a man there before the drama reaches its crescendo. Flashing forward a couple months, because her mother had opened a bed and breakfast on the other side of the country, Michelle puts her successful advertising career on hold to run the B&B for the fall until her younger sister graduates from school and will take over. Cliff (H) is the man she saw briefly at the service and her new neighbor. He’s a single dad of a teen and an elementary-aged child who runs his own bakery and has a snarky sense of humor. He’s also caring, touchy-feely, and frankly overwhelms Michelle. I saw another review mention this had black cat x golden retriever vibes and I can see that, though Cliff didn't quite feel that way to me because of everything he had going on with his little family.
Cliff’s warmer personality contrasted with Michelle’s thick walls, but a partnership and friendship forms that develops into something larger and deeper. They’re both stubborn and messy and totally different spectrums on love languages and expressing themselves but they’re also puzzle pieces that slot together. The progression in realizing they’re in love felt so intense and frustrating with wanting to pick them up and mash their faces together lol. But the struggle bus smacks them because despite their attraction and their longing, both were told negative things about themselves as a partner by their prior spouses, as well as the reality that Michelle is in town temporarily.
Written in first person, dual PoV (with one different POV for the epilogue that should not be missed). No ow/om drama regarding the main characters’ relationships but both are divorced and their exes each appear separately on page, sometimes being awful. The h does set the H up on a date with her sister but the sister quickly realizes they’re into each other thankfully so it’s only nerve-wracking for a tiny moment and I didn’t truly consider it ow drama. Both are experienced but H had only ever been with his ex and it’s been years for him. Some small details about how he loved his ex but they weren’t good together. The h also hadn’t been with anyone for a while and her ex cheated on her.
The beauty of Michelle and Cliff’s romance, for me, was in all the details. From their daily flow with how he’d stop by her B&B and she’d look out for his kids to how he kept trying to figure out what baked item was her favorite and captured her essence (his internal thoughts comparing his daughter’s boyfriend to treats were hilarious btw). There were many little and important moments between them, but also some painful ones. This is also a slow burn, which completely makes sense. There were only a couple of on-page spicy scenes, but they’re good ones and fit their dynamic perfectly.
The supporting characters were crucial in setting the stage for this book. From Cliff’s daughters to Michelle’s family to all the townspeople to Michelle’s ex’s dog who’s expressive and becomes part of their wider sense of family too. Everyone felt like they belonged in this book. There are festivals and trick or treating and people checking in on each other. Plus all the little 90s details mixed in.
The third act is bittersweet with the clock ticking down for when Michelle’s supposed to head back to her “real life” and there’s a sense of longing that I felt jumped off the page. I was crying and then laughing and swooning over how this was resolved. My heart was full reading this book, even with the roller coaster of tension and nerves that this author also took me on. It’s cozy but heavy in places. Then the book ends with an epilogue 8 years later that I’m getting choked up even typing about. It was perfect and beautiful and I hope if friends give this book a chance, it resonates with them as much as it did me, but in case it doesn’t, please at least read the epilogue. I’d been meaning to try this author for a while and her note mentions that this was a passion project for her and I’m so glad this was my intro to her writing, I’ll certainly be reading more from her.
Content warning: grief over loss of a parent, divorce with past partner making toxic comments, discussion of teen pregnancy/parenting, mentions of disconnection between parent/child...more
Despite Golden Touch having a suspenseful plot at its core, with Livia (h) in danger for the majority of the book, this was actually an easy read thatDespite Golden Touch having a suspenseful plot at its core, with Livia (h) in danger for the majority of the book, this was actually an easy read that was fast-flowing, digestible, and entertaining. I liked Livia's brashness when she let it out and esp how much Nash (H) adored those moments. Nash was also very likable with his bad boy exterior and heart of gold inside, he was a charmer. There are references to past domestic violence and Livia is in hiding from her ex as he's a very real present threat so be aware if those are triggers. Toxic family relationships are also highlighted.
Livia and Nash have a unique meet cute at the start of the book when she thinks he's trespassing and she calls the cops, landing him in handcuffs when he's just there to takeover managing the brewery given that his dad is in the hospital and his sister is pregnant. But then they each realize they already had a sort-of meet cute months earlier at a rare night out for Livia, though nothing came of it when she pumped the brakes at the end of the night. The description of that scene was really fun.
Now in the present, Livia and Nash are working closely together in the day to day of the brewery running and also roommates in the building behind it so yay forced proximity. She cooks for him, he appreciates her, and he never acts the way she expects. Now Nash does make suggestive comments to her and his nickname for her is "pussycat", but he's never aggressive. It's always lighthearted while being seriously attracted and he's not in a position of power over her so it didn't give me the creeps. He actually points out that his father's more likely to send him packing than her esp since Nash and his dad have a contentious relationship when it comes specifically to the brewery. Nash notices right away that Livia's scared and as he becomes fully aware of what she's facing, he works to make her feel safer, even as that danger comes literally knocking at the door.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, I guess you could say there's om drama since her ex is hunting her, and both are experienced (not much history given other than that, though h fell for bad boys and H didn't seem to get turned down, though I didn't get true manwhore vibes from him).
I liked their relationship and all the little moments between them, but I did also feel that the romance itself was missing something that truly made it feel like deep love. It's hard to explain because there was excellent chemistry and they clearly cared for each other, but I never felt that swoony sensation. Maybe because Livia was still facing her various traumas from her past relationships so didn't feel like there was a future for them for the majority of the story. I did like the steamy moments between them once the clothes hit the floor though so there's that.
Side characters are present, but definitely in the background to Nash and Livia. His sister and her boyfriend (who appear to have been book 1) have a baby so that should delight folks who read the first book. The boyfriend's brother, who had a book in another series, is also seen later in the story and I liked him. Nash's dad was hard to truly like, but he does grow by the end. An old school friend of Nash's was hilarious and looks like she's getting a second chance with Nash's brother, not sure what the story is there but it definitely has some pain points. You know what would have been great as an addition to this cast? A guard dog, a giant, fluffy guard dog, but that's just my animal sidekick seeking heart.
The climax ramps up the tension and I was not expecting the bit of twist of what happens. The characters' actions though made complete sense given background and how they were set up, so while I wanted to yell at a certain someone, it was hard to not also acknowledge that it was expected. The other certain someone doesn't let the situation just slide however and puts forth a lot of effort to have a heart to heart. The epilogue is several months down the road and they're in a HFN, figuring out work and living together and it's sweet. I expect Nash and Livia will feature in the next Giltmaker book too. This isn't a new favorite, but I could see myself rereading it again when I'm in the mood....more
I've wanted to read more of this author's books and unfortunately I had DNF'd the first book in this series because of a couple of reasons. But then II've wanted to read more of this author's books and unfortunately I had DNF'd the first book in this series because of a couple of reasons. But then I saw friends' reviews that described this as sweet, funny, and slow burn, which is exactly what I was in the mood for and this read ended up being a great time for me! Also, I liked that even though this is sort of a second chance, it falls closer to missed opportunity, which I tend to have more luck with.
Posy (h) is a baker/cafe owner who divorced her husband about a year ago when he came to her requesting that they open up their marriage while in the midst of a midlife crisis. She wasn't happy with him anyway, but he does strike a large blow to her self-confidence in the process and make the concept of being with someone else intimidating af. She's trucking along trying to keep things afloat after being upended when Gunnar (H) enters back into her life.
Gunnar's an operative with the high tech security group, The Company, but back in the day, he was the man who competed with Posy for the bar manager position at her father's restaurant when they were in college. However, he believes that Posy got him fired from that job (it does take time for them to discuss this so we do have to listen to some of his frustrations about Posy in the meantime), while she's instantly reminded of all the charisma he naturally throws around, hence the title. Gunnar's not back in NY for old times though, he and his associates are trying to track down and gather evidence on shady parties involved in high security risks. And one of those shady individuals is posting things on the Dark Web from Posy's wifi, so Gunnar is covertly investigating as a barista (his training to do this was hilarious). This had lots of humor (some that might not appeal as much, like that her hormones "speak" to her at times), some feels, and a good bit of suspense.
Written in first person, dual POV (with one POV chapter from a side character that I believe is connected to a future book but I actually found unnecessary). Small bit of om drama in that h's ex is nearby still and she unfortunately has run-ins with him and his new partner and some small blips of jealousy because the H is sooooo flirty with customers and others. Both are experienced, though h has only been with the ex and the H comes across as maybe a manwhore (though nothing is seen on page and I believe he'd been celibate since seeing Posy again; I can't remember if any solid details were given on his history).
I found both Posy and Gunnar to be genuinely likable and I was rooting for them from the start, even while Gunnar was still more annoying Posy than anything else. I loved that he slowly morphs into being more sincerely caring and concerned for her, not just teasing or lusting. I did feel that they had excellent chemistry. I also liked not only how Posy finds out what's actually going on, but how she's confrontational to get the full picture despite that not being a trait that comes naturally to her. They also don't get physically intimate with each other before everything's out in the open (though some kisses are shared and there could have been more but they're interrupted). Gunnar was clearly conflicted over the secrets he was keeping, especially as he came to know this adult Posy.
There are explicit steamy times on page with a couple of scenes. Posy does tell Gunnar about her hang-ups from her ex and his response is perfect. There's also the tiniest bit of exploration that ends up coming in handy later in a more practical way. Even though a lot of lusting happens, these two also take the time to share their vulnerabilities and I could easily see how they would work long-term given all the time they spent in close proximity in the cafe, but also once they're spending more romantic time together.
The side characters were also fun with Gunnar's best friend and boss, Max, along with some of the other operatives. I adored Posy's sister and nephew, as well as a couple of her employees. I couldn't figure out who the person was because the author did a good job of making a few people mysterious but also questioning how they could be the one.
There is a third act conflict, which felt realistic to me given that Gunnar had consistently said that he hated New York, so it's not automatically clear that he'll stay for Posy. The climax though was a nail biter, even knowing that surely it was all going to be ok, the suspense dialed up tremendously. But the ending is HEA with an epilogue several months down the road and Posy and Gunnar making their next steps into the future. I was a little worried we weren't going to get closure on one element but it's right at the end and even though it wasn't perfectly answered as to why, it made sense. ...more
I can't remember how I found this, but it ended up on my TBR because it had a cozy sounding vibe and after my last read put me in a bit of a slump, I I can't remember how I found this, but it ended up on my TBR because it had a cozy sounding vibe and after my last read put me in a bit of a slump, I was trying for more coziness. Common Grounds does have the cozy factor with a beautifully described setting of a multi-generational coffee shop and its gorgeous owner, Trevor (H), whose unfailing optimism won't keep his shop in business much longer, thanks Big Business competitors pushing out the lil guy. The book also has some frustrating moments with Emery (h), who gets her world rocked in a ONS with Trevor and then ends up using his coffee shop story in an article series she's writing to win a challenge with her boss at the lifestyle magazine job she hates. Trevor is enamored with Emery and she starts off trying to keep her distance, but can't help but melt for him (same, he was such a great MMC). These two have some rockiness in terms of will they/won't they for their relationship and for pulling off a save for Trevor's shop.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, small om drama when h does go out looking to maybe connect with someone else (nothing happens, but she also has a run-in with her ex on top of that), and both are experienced (not much history given other than H hadn't put himself out there much and h only had hook ups occasionally).
Where Trevor is all warmth and sparkle and carefully curated lattes, Emery is prickly and puts distance between herself and any potential for new relationships. Both of these characters are older (Emery is 37 and Trevor is 40) so yay for that representation, I just didn't feel like Emery read as mature as her age would suggest that she was. Her emotional hang-ups, while valid, encompassed her entire personality at times. She had a rough few years with a divorce, a layoff, and the implosion of her relationship with her parents, but she also had a lot of positives like a wonderful relationship with her sister, her childhood BFF being married to that sister, and supportive co-workers at the job she landed at. I understand that no angst/drama can sometimes drag a book down, Emery's angst just didn't work for me well unfortunately. But Trevor, sigh, he blushes AND gives her a nickname in Croatian that's precious. This book does have steamy times too and it's an area where they communicate and click well from the start at least.
The premise of helping Trevor save his shop from going under was intriguing, I didn't fully love the execution with the articles though. It felt like more was needed and even Emery thinks that at some point. It was lovely how side characters were so willing to jump in and help from Trevor's best friend hopping behind the counter to Emery's pregnant sister making him a business plan to the progression of Trevor's employee going from abysmal to actually helpful. The sense of community that Emery's articles capture also played out well on the pages. It was a little weird how often the sister and BFF referenced their bedroom activities in front of Emery, but they were such a cute couple I could forgive them.
There was one scene that truly did not work for me at all and I'll spoiler tag it: (view spoiler)[ Emery goes out to try and see if she can find someone else in the midst of fighting her attraction to Trevor. He happens to go to the same bar and they end up talking more, until out of nowhere Emery's asshole ex interrupts and says some horrendous things to her. Trevor defends her but in an awkward way at first and eventually this scene gets taken outside with the ex and Trevor devolving to some punches being traded. I loved that Trevor was so quick to defend Emery and his reactions oddly reassured her, but I couldn't get one of the first things he said back out of my head and I felt like the whole scene was too forced. (hide spoiler)]
The third act conflict is the culmination of Emery's insecurities and even when it's resolved in a sweet moment, I wondered if it would keep coming up. She really needed to talk to a therapist, not just her support system. We also get the work challenge and the coffee shop's future tied up with neat little bows. The ending is HFN with an adorable moment of them visiting Emery's new niece. I think there are a lot of positives in this story, there just wasn't a good match between my personal tastes and the FMC. It happens and I think others may be less frustrated with her and just be able to sink into the cozy parts....more
Light and sweet romance with a small town feel and an itty bitty touch of angst. This appears to be a start to a new series, but in a town where a priLight and sweet romance with a small town feel and an itty bitty touch of angst. This appears to be a start to a new series, but in a town where a prior series took place, so some past character cameos, but reads fine as a standalone.
The book starts with Boone (H) getting forced to take time off from his park ranger job after a run in with a bear (he had 60 stitches and even though it's mentioned that his leg bothers him a couple times, I'm pretty sure if *I* had 60 stitches up my inner leg, I wouldn't move for a week and definitely wouldn't be getting up to the shenanigans he does). Jem (h) is the manager of their small town cafe and she's coming back from another town when she's caught up in a snow storm, runs out of gas, and hikes out, landing at the front door of *gasp* Boone's cabin! Some forced proximity and a couple accidental sexy moments later, these two are gettin something going physically and romantically. Character-driven with a focus on the start of their relationship so no big bad or craziness happening. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither were virgins (it had been a while for both).
I appreciated that neither Jem nor Boone had looked at each other romantically before, despite being peripherally connected through mutual acquaintances and their town. I like a good pining moment at times, but it's so rarely done well. However, the flip from generally knowing who the other was to being boyfriend/girlfriend was mighty quick, with no other catalyst besides being stuck together. It would have felt more natural for me personally if the timeline of events in the book took place over a bit longer period and maybe included some sweet dating post-cabin time. I did like them as a couple though and they were very cute, as well as steamy. This shorter book has a few spicy times and Boone's a dirty talker.
In addition to the physical intimacy, some nice emotional depth is built with them being open with each other about their past family struggles and, in Jem's case, future plans and dreams. My heart broke for Boone, who let his grief over a loss overtake him and then didn't know how to bridge the gap with his loved ones. I loved when the two of them went to visit Boone's family and the whole energy that his brothers and father brought. Also, how supportive and caring Jem was, even though she was new to the girlfriend role.
I did feel that when a question arose about how they were going to handle a certain situation that the solution was kind of a no-brainer and was surprised that it took time to get there and that it was an outside person who suggested it. But all's well that ends well and Jem again stepped up to be extra awesome, as did Boone's family. The epilogue is a few months into their relationship and ends with some extra sweetness (that I started to get a bit nitpicky on too but just went with it). I enjoyed this book and I'd read more in this new series. The next one is Boone's grumpy oldest brother and he's definitely got some stern energy but with a bit of a hidden softness. ...more
It's been almost two weeks since I finished a book so it's a great feeling to like a story and set of characters enough to actually see them 3.5 stars
It's been almost two weeks since I finished a book so it's a great feeling to like a story and set of characters enough to actually see them through their story. Other friends seemed to like this book a bit more than I did and my slump could absolutely make the difference here between a three and a four star. This does have single dad/nanny trope, with no real drama over their romance developing, and some age gap (I think it was about 8 years).
This was a wholesome feeling, sweet read with low internal angst and genuinely likable characters (main and side). The H is a rancher that doesn't get as much time with his kids because he's so busy, making him a bit of a grump. The h is newer to this small Montana town since she came for a vacation and decided to stay. She works in a coffee shop, but gets the opportunity to be a nanny for the H's kids since she wants a second job and is close friends with the H's sister. The romance is cute and very easy, which I liked, but also nothing stood out for me. It read a little generic imo, even though there was good banter and chemistry and nice incorporation of steam too. There's also a small suspense side plot that becomes a focus later in the book that I felt kind of meh about. The H is great though, the h was a sweetheart, and the kids were adorable.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, small amount of om drama regarding a former stalker of the h's, and neither were virgins (not much history given at all). H was married before and the prologue is him losing his wife to childbirth. They were married though because she got pregnant and were more friends than anything else so this isn't a book where the H is a widower still mourning the loss of his first wife.
I really liked both sets of families and that both the H and h had strong family connections and support. I think that this is a second generation series in terms of the h's parents having a prior book by this author, but she was a new to me character. It did mean that some of the fleshing out of her background came a little later in the book for my taste, but it does eventually come about. Although I didn't fully understand some of the h's motivations still. The H was more clear-cut for me. I also appreciated all the scenes of them actually on the ranch and appreciating the wildlife and beauty of Montana.
The ending is sweet (the H offers some great swooniness, including their last scene) and HFN, but clearly they're devoted to each other and planning on building a new life together, we just don't get a peek into their future. I think they'll be side characters as the rest of the H's family finds their HEAs though....more
Cute and quick holiday-themed paranormal romance with a lovable single dad lion shifter H and a struggling musical artist h who's in a small town to vCute and quick holiday-themed paranormal romance with a lovable single dad lion shifter H and a struggling musical artist h who's in a small town to visit her sister for the holiday. I really liked the start of this book with how kind the H was and how sweet the h was. I liked their chemistry and the sweetness of the h interacting with the H's daughter. The H has a failing family bar and offers to have the h sing in it, then gets all protective over her. They spend time together and it's just light. There is on page steam that is explicit (with spanking, which I wish there had been some talking about beforehand just saying). Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (H's ex isn't in the picture) and neither were virgins.
I didn't love that both the H and h were intrigued with the prospect of extending their time together and that the H was thinking of her as a potential mate, but not saying anything to her, so she felt conflicted about staying. For as short as this was, the lack of communication when they'd otherwise been open to each other was frustrating. I also wish the epilogue was further out than it had been, it was so adorable and lovely, I just wasn't sure about the h's aspirations and whether she'd get those dreams, even if everything else was going amazing after being together. Still, this was a fun holiday read that flew by. ...more
I love single mom romance, but I tend to avoid the secret baby romances because of the angst of a child not knowing one of their parents. In Tattered,I love single mom romance, but I tend to avoid the secret baby romances because of the angst of a child not knowing one of their parents. In Tattered, I appreciated that the author didn't have Thea (h) hiding from Logan (H). They had a one night stand and didn't exchange information, putting Thea in a hard spot when she learned she was pregnant. Logan attempted to reconnect with her months later, returning to where he'd met her, but she'd left town by that point. A chance meeting in Montana later, Logan learns he's a dad to an almost six year old and Thea is fearfully hopeful what that will mean for her little family. Logan's from a wealthy family in New York and is a workaholic lawyer there, while Thea works with her best friend in her adopted mother's bar/restaurant in this small Montana town. They're from opposite worlds and different states, but they have this small person who has to be the top priority.
Written in first person, dual POV. Super tiny moment of ow drama (ow H briefly dated shows up and is obnoxious but H shuts her down) and small moment of om drama (h's best friend kisses her to try and get a rise out of the H but has no actual romantic interest). Neither are virgins (h had been celibate since she got pregnant and H was in a long term relationship for a few years, then the hookup with the ow).
Once Logan learns about Charlie (their child), he just wants to be a good father. I loved the softness he had trying to win Charlie over and the fears over how to be present. I also liked that Logan quickly realizes that he still wants Thea and that she feels the same, that their chemistry still burns super bright. But there is angst over how they have to find a way to co-parent, along with how a relationship would work between them since Logan's life is all in New York and Thea not only hates NY, but Montana is home for a variety of reasons. Logan has to show up and consistently prove himself to Charlie and Thea. Their little family moments were precious, all the bonding and sweetness. Even the moments they didn't get it right had me all up in my feels.
As much as I felt for Thea and loved her, I wished that she had found the strength to open up to Logan. She did not do vulnerable easily and wasn't even able to talk about her past, despite it weighing on what their present looked like. How that's unveiled was a frustrating scene for me. Logan constantly working towards a possible move, assuming he could make it work no matter what, also drove me nuts. Overall though the angst never felt overwhelming, but I did get teary a couple of times. For the actual romantic relationship, I enjoyed the way it developed and how their physical attraction had to be contained at times and then it was unleashed at others. There are a few steamy scenes in this one despite there being a small child around so good for them lol.
In addition to the character-driven focus, a side plot line pops up that injects a bit of mystery/suspense. It's not a huge focus, and the story would have been perfectly fine without it, however it did add another element to what was happening. I liked the side characters in Montana, with the family that Thea had built, and the assistants that Logan worked with. Thea's best friend had his head up his ass for a while, but he also had his own fears and it came from a place of protectiveness (seeing him in the epilogue and the positive relationship he had with Logan was amazing). I was not a fan of Logan's family (other than his grandma), but after a rocky start, I could see how an effort was made and I warmed up to the idea of them.
The climax of the book is everything coming to a final head and how it's all resolved (including the bit of mystery). In a rare turn of events, the woman doesn't have to do all the sacrificing and I applaud the author for this. Plus, the ending is such a fantastic HEA, including an epilogue several years later with them married, their family growing, and Thea being such a relatable angry pregnant lady (sorry, my moods were all over the place when I was pregnant with my kids and I esp dealt with out of nowhere bursts of anger focused on a single person at times). I'm so glad I picked this up!...more
3.5 stars but this is a personal taste rating and I think this could be higher rated for others
You know what's great when you're buried in blankets an3.5 stars but this is a personal taste rating and I think this could be higher rated for others
You know what's great when you're buried in blankets and not feeling well? A delightful debut that's lower on the angst, high on the tension but also the cute moments, and features a pup that I wanted to reach into the pages and drag out so that I could snuggle with her. It wasn't a perfect debut but I'm very curious how this author's writing will progress and interested in continuing more of her books.
Allie (h) is a coffee shop owner with big plans to purchase both sides of the building where she's currently renting one side so that her BFF can open an office right next to her. Her plans are blown up when her landlord sells the building to an unknown entity, who turns out to be Luke (H), who is trying to honor his grandfather by opening a motorcycle shop with a connected bar. Luke goes forward with the motorcycle shop with the plan of opening the bar where the coffee shop is once Allie's lease runs out. Allie is immediately antagonistic towards Luke (though she's in love with his dog) and Luke is immediately infatuated with Allie. The story focuses on their shifting dynamic, the slow slide into feelings, and ultimately what Allie will do. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither were virgins (H appeared to be celibate since meeting h; unknown details about their history).
One element of this book that threw me off somewhat was the lack of background on Allie. Maybe I read past it too quickly, but I don't recall reading anything about her family or her history, other than going to college with her best friends and moving to Palm Springs. In contrast, Luke had an extremely detailed background that supported his character's motivations and behaviors really well. I loved his caretaking nature and how competent he was. Allie was also competent in her business and she had a strong personality. I was frustrated with how she blamed Luke for her dream involving the building not coming true. She called him a jackass and was really mean for the first 30% of the book, when all he did was purchase a building (with no heads up from the landlord that Allie had also been interested in it). Once she had a realization moment while talking with her friends, I did like Allie more and felt like her character became more balanced. Even then though, it was bizarre that Luke showed so much more interest in what was going on with Allie than she did with him. She even thinks later in the book about how she knows so little about him on a personal level and she doesn't correct it on page!
The chemistry between Luke and Allie was built well and used a wall of windows between their two businesses to great effect. Loved every time that Luke looked up and was overwhelmed with seeing Allie and the times that Allie saw Luke and got caught up in what he was doing. Before they became friendlier, Luke would look out for Allie, but once their friendliness was solidified, their interactions showed how each cared for the other in small ways like Allie telling Luke to eat. Steam-wise, this is a slow burn to get to the physical intimacy and emotional intimacy, but once they start getting their hands on each other, whew! The spicy scenes were hot and there were plenty of them despite being in the latter part of the book.
Side character wise, this had many found family vibes between Allie's friends and coffee shop regulars and Luke's best friend and motorcycle family. Plus Luke's dog, Betty, was the best supporting character. Luke's mother and sister are also important, but don't spend as much time on page. Luke's mother was a sore spot for me in this book because of how she impacted Luke's actions. I disliked how his mother's whole side plot line was handled.
How the building is resolved and where Allie's coffee shop will be was not my favorite. I liked the ultimate solution and how Luke's priorities changed, because of course your priorities can shift. But I would have enjoyed this more if they had come to the solution a different way, possibly by a friend suggestion or maybe by Luke and Allie talking late one night and realizing how they could come together. This was a nitpicky sticking point for me unfortunately. HOWEVER, the ending was super sweet and I loved how happy and in love they were at the end. The end is a HFN ending of them living together with an epilogue a year into the future and some more cuteness. I'm sure these two will be side characters in the next book, which has Allie's BFF as the FMC. ...more
3.5 stars rounded down (the start was stronger than the finish for me)
This had several positives going for it, including a hilarious opening scene in3.5 stars rounded down (the start was stronger than the finish for me)
This had several positives going for it, including a hilarious opening scene involving a man shifting into an animal to dine and dash. Overall the book had a fresh take on small town shifter romance feel with a police officer H, who’s unaware of the paranormal, and a single mom widow who’s a shifter. Some Native American mythology woven in, small town politics, cute kids, large friend group, and different shifter dynamics all built up the story well. On the negative side, some of the events were convoluted and I don't know if this writer is a good fit for my personal taste as the progression of the plot and the writing style didn't gel for me totally. I did like the humorous moments, as well as the sweeter ones. The suspenseful parts fell the flattest for me. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither were virgins (h had only been with her husband; H was divorced but not a manwhore).
The attraction between the main characters was instant and held some nice charm, but the pacing for the romance was off imo. The H did the pursuing and the h pumped the brakes for reasonable reasons (him not knowing about the paranormal and her fears of losing someone else she loved to name a couple). While her reasons made sense given her backstory, she gave the H whiplash at times, which he absolutely did not deserve. I definitely liked the H more than the h, but they were both sympathetic characters. The H had a bit of swagger and competency with a protective streak and a hidden vulnerable side due to darkness in his past. The h was an excellent mom, as well as being loyal and also protective. She also had some big fears. They did fit each other well and I would have preferred that they were a solid couple earlier so that there wasn't friction over the relationship status in addition to some of the dangerous moments. Some steam that’s only somewhat explicit was kind of a bummer given the sparks flying between these two.
Supporting characters were critical for the book as many will likely be getting their own books or at least featuring in the rest of the series. The h's friend group were supportive and caring and also able to lay down tough truths at times. Not that they had their lives all together either of course. The other townsfolk were fun characters or suspects or a combo of both. The h's children were at times funny and other times emotional. The H had several outstanding scenes with the kids, mostly funny ones.
The investigation for the murder mystery was sadly more frustrating than intriguing for me. Though a twist involving the H did add some of that intrigue back in, then promptly deflated it slightly with the reaction of other characters. There were multiple suspenseful scenes where there was danger from other shifters and I ended up more confused by these scenes than anything else. The climax was dramatic and also a bit messy. But the ending is HEA and the epilogue is several months in the future with some cuteness injected. I felt very much like this was a mixed bag where what I liked, I liked a whole lot, but what didn't work for me is still bugging me....more
I love this world and I enjoyed Calix (H) and Levana (h) with his grumpy charm and her sweet, but uncertain, nature. It was also refreshing having theI love this world and I enjoyed Calix (H) and Levana (h) with his grumpy charm and her sweet, but uncertain, nature. It was also refreshing having the first Shade/Shade pairing and hearing about another part of the realm. The author has said this started as a bonus but turned into a novella and I still wished there was more. There are several time jumps in this novella starting with the prologue then moving forward seven years and then shorter spans of time with some that coincide with events from the prior books (like Ophelia coming to the realm and shaking things up).
Calix is the head chef at the palace and Levana is the second daughter of a noble family who’s working in the Guard. These two have instant attraction but Levana is operating under a dark cloud knowing her father could demand she return home at any time. Their relationship is initially a ONS that isn’t enough for either, but each subsequent time is tinged with the knowledge Levana won’t let it be more. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (no history given).
Levana’s family is complicated and unhappy. Her friendship with Ophelia is shown slightly in this book, but it’s such a fantastic relationship that I love. Calix has a nice relationship with his parents but his life centers around his kitchen. His staff were hilarious and cute.
While there are sweet moments between our mains, along with a few excellent steamy ones, I did wish for more happy connection scenes and some extra emotionally intimate ones. It makes sense that there weren't as many since this is a novella that wasn't even supposed to be a novella to start, but I'm greedy. Calix was accepting what he could from the situation and Levana disappointed me with how she was blinded to her options. I preferred how gone he was for her over how she held herself back somewhat. It takes a hard wake up call for Levana to realize she can pursue what she wants, which of course includes Calix. Thankfully she does make the step to go to him. The ending is HFN/HEA of them married. I'll continue to read anything in this series!...more
Some aspects of Reserved didn't click as well for me, but there's a lot here that did work and that I think some of my friends wo3.5 stars rounded up
Some aspects of Reserved didn't click as well for me, but there's a lot here that did work and that I think some of my friends would enjoy. It is super sweet with some moments of tension and a bit of drama. I do think the overall lack of tension made this a slower read for me (it's so sugary and the H is pretty dang perfect). I would read another book by these authors though and the overall feel of the book is right up my alley. Content notes are at the start of the book and there's a glossary at the back for some Italian sayings.
The prologue starts with Cami (h) having just suffered a betrayal that's very vague. Then we jump into Van (H) and Cami meeting as she's delivering food from her small business as a caterer to his company. Van is a self-made, Italian American billionaire who speaks Italian and is instantly focused on and obsessed with Cami. I did like that he used the online notes section of her ordering system to tell her details about himself and ask about her. It was cute. Van's also big on personal touches, like sending flowers with handwritten notes and encouraging Cami to speak up with what she wants. Though Cami's intrigued by him, she sees a lot of differences given that he's a billionaire and she's supposed to quit her small business in less than a year to go back to her family's farm to take over (which she doesn't want to do). Their romance is adorable with date nights, caretaking, lots of mentions of making food for others, being supportive of each other, and a heck of a lot of explicit steamy times.
Van is kind of grumpy to everyone else, but I thought of him as more directly honest, and Cami's sunshiney, but conflict avoidant so pushes concerns down. It's mentioned that there's a 13 year age gap, but I don't recall specific ages mentioned. This book doesn't have miscommunication, but it has lack of communication as Cami dodges hard talks and Van believes his actions speak for themselves. Written in first person, dual POV. Tiny bits of ow/om drama but with zero interest from the h or H for anyone else, though jealousy does occur (h's ex pops up briefly, another om makes a proposition, and the H has an ow who he attended some events with show up briefly). Neither are virgins, though little direct info is given - it appeared h might have only been with her ex and H had no serious relationships but didn't seem to be a manwhore.
When they were together they were a combo of adorable and smoking hot with Van saying crazily romantic things in Italian and Cami getting treated right for the first time. They have precious nicknames for each other and he's possessive over her in a way that she likes. But Cami also spends a good bit of time questioning how they'd fit together and noticing differences instead of similarities. It was so clear how devoted Van was from the start, while Cami was thinking he must "really like her" at just over 50% lol. The delay in discussing those big picture details honestly stressed me out and I saw the conflict coming from a mile away, it was frustrating. Esp when other areas were clicking so well *ahem* bedroom, or beautiful moments like him washing her, brushing out her hair, and then lotioning her up after those bedroom activities.
Speaking of the bedroom (or other areas of a house) - these spicy scenes were awesome. There's some sensation play, lots of giving from him to her, some toy use, some firsts for her, and some cum play. They also discuss birth control and health status.
Both Cami and Van have loving support in friends and family. Cami had positive female friendships and a wide net of people who wanted to see her succeed. Van was dedicated to his family, though they're not on page as much. I do wish that we'd had scenes of Van bonding with Cami's friend group and of Cami meeting his family, the lack of these was kind of a let down. Van also had a lovely relationship with his older, widowed neighbor (who does meet Cami in a funny and cute scene) and his female business partner.
There is a third act breakup that goes back to that lack of communication, BUT there's also hard truths coming from multiple places, eye opening, and a grovel complete with going down on the knees and some tears being shed. The ending was great and the epilogue is a small jump ahead in time with a sweet HEA and very satisfying in terms of their relationship. The authors have a bonus scene through sign up to their newsletter as well. While my reader mood didn't love this as much as it could have, I feel pretty confident in recommending it to others. ...more
Miles (H) made this book so enjoyable with his golden retriever energy and caring nature. Annie (h) was a super introvert and ball3.5 stars rounded up
Miles (H) made this book so enjoyable with his golden retriever energy and caring nature. Annie (h) was a super introvert and ball of anxiety who overthought everything. She really needed a cheerleader to open her eyes to her strengths and successes, which hello Miles! I appreciated how her anxiety was represented on page, while I also struggled a bit with it and really wish that therapy was mentioned. Annie’s a pie shop owner with a double life as a bestselling romance author and she's been receiving semi-threatening packages from an unknown person. Miles is the bodyguard hired to protect her and he shakes her world up, while also falling head over heels for her. He's the book boyfriend fantasy delivered who earned his spot on my favorite heroes shelf. Annie also grows and turned into a stronger character by the end, which I'm always a fan of. This book isn't perfect (no book is, I don't care what anyone says), but it has tons of quotable lines and scenes and had a huge smile on my face for much of it. The suspense does ramp up substantially close to the end and the humor disappears briefly, before our characters get their fulfilling HEA.
Written in first person, dual POV (plus a couple chapters from the villain’s POV). No ow/om drama (though the H does get jealous over a perceived interested om), and neither are virgins (H is a reformed manwhore from his UFC days that's only briefly mentioned and h did have a disappointing sex life where she couldn’t orgasm - she was too in her head and needed patience and removal of pressure, which the H provides, but I know some friends dislike this trope).
Miles brings such awesome wonders as outfits of swim trunks and crocs to professional situations, making Annie a fanny pack (he calls an Annie Pack) filled with things she needs as she attends book signings, has a slew of adorable nicknames for her, and is a shining light throughout. I loved him y'all, I realize that's clear. Annie was very cerebral and harder to get a handle on until she opened up more. She does come out of her shell at times, like when she's reconnecting with friends or when she's put on her author armor and is pretending to be that identity. The book was a little too meta when it came to romance books and the author lifestyle, though this might be a personal preference of mine. Some of the conversations Annie had with author friends or romance readers felt a little contrived. I'm also pretty certain that several of Annie's fans that show up, were also characters in this author's prior books, which was a little awkward imo.
Miles does have his more serious moments, including sometimes in the bedroom, though he also encourages having fun there. This book is pretty steamy and Miles helps Annie get out of her head during those scenes. There's a small amount of kink here and there (she crawls to him, he ties her up, toys are used). I did feel their emotional intimacy was established before the physical since they were in forced proximity and it was obvious that they cared for and trusted each other. I was bummed that a couple of the first scenes involving kissing and making out ended abruptly.
Most of the side characters were fun and added superbly to the vibe of the story. Annie's assistant was also hard to get a handle on and some elements of her personality and past are hinted at, so maybe she's getting her own book in the future. Miles's family were awesome and I did love his coworkers. I believe they're getting set up for their own books, because they were on page a lot with hints at potential love interests amongst them.
The book was too long for me so the pacing was affected. It does pick up when the suspense and danger do though. I also had some nitpicking about some of the protection details. The procedures weren't always consistent and some of what happens for the big final conflict left me a little confused.
The climax is a lot with some triggers and I was glued to the pages until our characters were safe again. I did like that the author doesn't immediately jump to the epilogue, but rather had some transition. I again wished that therapy was mentioned. But Annie and Miles had each other and all sorts of support around them. The epilogue is very much a HEA and a hilariously sweet one that gave me back my laughter and heart eyes. This was a bit uneven overall, but I really had a fantastic time with it.
Trigger warning: (view spoiler)[ mental health including on page panic attacks, threats, vague references to domestic abuse (not main characters), kidnapping, physical assault, death on page (not main characters), unwanted press attention (hide spoiler)] ...more
Isabella has been reading this series and tempting me with her reviews for months so when I saw her review for this one, I decided to make it my introIsabella has been reading this series and tempting me with her reviews for months so when I saw her review for this one, I decided to make it my intro to the author's work cause Christmas, golden retriever energy, and "it's always been you"? Sign me up!
I adored Bobby (H) and his adoration of Mari (h) from the prologue in high school to the start of the book a few years later. These two have known each other since they were little kids and he's had a crush on her for years. He's the sheriff now and Mari's returned to her small hometown to work at her mom's bakery after being in NYC. Bobby is her good friend and a good guy and suffering from being constantly overlooked by Mari, when everyone in town knows he's crazy about her, except for her. But his chance is coming, because Mari's ex, that destroyed her artistic dreams, has come to town thanks to a Christmas movie filming and she claims Bobby as her fiancé. Mari thinks it's all fake and Bobby is going to turn fake into real. Their romance was fun, funny, sweet, and had emotional undercurrents, all with a heaping dose of the holidays and small town. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, some om drama from h's ex being an ass, and neither were virgins (very little given on their histories - we know H had hookups sometimes and h was with her ex but unknown about anyone else, neither seemed to flaunt anyone in front of the other).
From the hints of their youth to the Christmas dates Bobby takes Mari on to the realness that develops, I enjoyed their romance. Mari's prickly but also feels deeply, while trying to protect herself. Bobby was caring and supportive. It was nice to lean into their history, but also have them be surprised at discovering new information about each other. Also, Mari learning that Bobby had some caveman tendencies and a dirty mouth was awesome. I did spend a good amount of time laughing and swooning, but also worried that Bobby had heartbreak headed his way. Their connection though was built well and the steamy scenes were so spicy!
I didn't love the storyline about Mari's ex and his shadiness. It felt a little messagey about fighting toxic men taking advantage of women (which is important, don't get me wrong), but shoehorned in to what was otherwise a lighter and sweet holiday romance about a relationship finally getting its chance. I was glad that the ex appeared to be getting his comeuppance though. It takes a while for Mari's past with him to be fully revealed and then I was so enraged on her behalf.
Side characters got a chance to shine next to our main couple. I think a few already had their romances, this does read as a standalone with no issue, and there are hints for others in the future. Bobby's dads and Mari's mom were especially wonderful and loving of their kids. We need more supportive families in romance and it lights me up every time I see them.
The final conflict confused me a little, I had a sense that it would be coming, but the way it played out on page wasn't my favorite and didn't feel like it fit the characters imo. But it's resolved quickly and in a way that let Mari show how much she felt for Bobby, which he needed. I loved that for him after pining for her for so long. The ending is HFN with another cute Christmasy moment and adorable. I'm assuming that they'll show up throughout the series so no extended epilogue, but still it left me feeling satisfied and happy....more
Eat My Moon Dust is the second in a series that's meant to standalone, however the author provides a "The World So Far" section and an exhaustive listEat My Moon Dust is the second in a series that's meant to standalone, however the author provides a "The World So Far" section and an exhaustive list of characters (including descriptions of the various alien species) to help, because this is a spin-off series of a greater world. This series is lighter (but still emotional) and more slice of life than the first series though. I enjoy this author's sci-fi romance, but they are very descriptive and sometimes a little confusing. That's not meant to discourage anyone, because clearly I've liked this series a lot, but it's a head's up.
I wanted to give Tinsley (h) and Hunar (H) and Hunar's kids hugs so bad for a good portion of the book. Tinsley is coping post-alien abduction and with her human refugee status, but she misses her life on Earth, because there's not a comparable role in their community. She was a baker and unfortunately, food is created mechanically and some ingredients aren't able to be processed. Tinsley's a big ole ball of sunshine despite some of her more down moments and she decides to lead the community in decorating for and celebrating Christmas to lift her spirits and others. Hunar is the chief engineer and he's been accused of being a grump, however his life is pretty sad. He was in a toxic relationship and has three kids that he supports, but isn't able to spend much time with, until he goes for a visit and his ex effectively tosses them out so she can start a new family. Except when Hunar goes to get his kids approved for returning to the human colony with him, he learns that he has to fulfill a relationship provision in his contract or lose his job.
This is the set-up that leads to a fake relationship between Tinsley and Hunar, lots of Christmasy in space moments, delving past the surface with someone you dislike and learning things you love instead, and the building of a new family. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (H is done with his ex emotionally, but physically had some repercussions from the ending of their relationship years ago because of his species), and neither are virgins.
Tinsley and Hunar do get a bit angsty because Hunar hasn't always been kind to Tinsley and their fake relationship status comes about in a foolish attempt of hers to help him. But they were so sweet together as they spent more time together and especially as Tinsley understood more about what Hunar and his kids had experienced. Their cultures are very different and I appreciate that the author focuses on cultural differences, without making them giant misunderstandings to drive the plot. Hunar's kids and Tinsley were adorable together and Hunar getting to truly be a dad was wonderful. There were lots of really sweet scenes in this book, some frustrating ones, and yes, there are some pretty steamy times (including solo moments and couple ones). Hunar's species is a fascinating one anatomically and he's the same species as the H from book 1, but his experiences are unique in some ways.
Because this is a slice of life type series, no major action occurs. The suspense of whether they'll pull off the fake relationship (that gets real fast) and what their future holds is what drives the tension and the story. There is a great scene of Tinsley standing up for Hunar. There's also an equally great one where Hunar makes a big gesture. The ending is HEA of them mated and in love and with a final beautiful moment of Hunar supporting and loving Tinsley. This really hit the spot for me with the holiday theming, the emotional impact of the characters' journeys, and then an ending that left me super happy. ...more
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