Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

3 Stars

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

 

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

 

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.

Writing was fine and so was the story. The secret dragged on way too long and it irritated me. I wanted more back story for both Lach and Key. There is so much left out that I wanted to know more about.

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Always the one for me by Carrie Ann Ryan

3 Stars

It took two days for me to know Kendall was the one for me.

And it took two years for me to realize I had to leave in order to protect her.

When I walked away, I told myself it was for the best. But now we work together, and every time we’re in the same room, we end up fighting. If we didn’t, we’d end up naked. Or worse–spilling heartbreaking secrets.

If she knew the truth, she’d either walk away for good or convince me to take a second chance. The first thing would break me, and the second would break her. I can’t let either of those things happen…

This book frustrated me from beginning to end. Should Evan have been more open with Kendall…yes but how does she not get the trauma when she knew he lost his two best friends. The arguing just frustrated me. I did love the narrators. They did an excellent job bringing the characters to life.

Book 2 The Wilder Brothers

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Loaded Laces by Elise Faber

4 Stars

A decade ago she broke me.

Now she’s back…with a kid in tow.

Belle Harrison dumped me right before I got my first big contract, breaking my heart and sending me straight into a life of singlehood.

Once bitten and twice shy, and all that.

Of course that was before she showed up after a decade, asking questions in the locker room after a game.

Questions that make me rethink everything I thought I knew.

And remind me why I never wanted to let her go in the first place.

And why I won’t ever let her go ever again.

I loved seeing this second chance romance between Belle and West. Seeing them come together was so sweet and amazing. They both needed time to grow and change before coming back together.

Book 3 Eagles Hockey

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Duke’s Inconvenient Bride by Jayne Rivers

3 Stars

A jilted duke. A shy wallflower. A marriage of convenience that neither of them wants.

 

When Lady Emma Carlisle’s twin sister jilts the wealthy and influential Duke of Ashford, their distraught parents pressure shy Lady Emma to marry the duke in her sister’s place, dashing her hopes of a love match.

 

Lady Emma is determined to make the best of the situation, but her new husband is cold, aloof, and wants nothing to do with her. In his quieter moments, she catches glimpses of a thoughtful and intelligent man she’d like to know better, if only he weren’t determined to keep her at a distance.

 

Lady Emma is willing to offer the duke her heart, but she knows there’s every chance he’ll break it. After all, why would the handsomest man in the ton fall for his second best bride?

 

If you love the glamor of Bridgerton or the drama of Downton Abbey, then The Duke's Inconvenient Bride is your next must-read book.

This was an ok historical romance. It wasn’t the best or the worst. The drama with the sister irritated me. Add in the duke being an idiot. It was just an ok read.

Book 1 Unconventional Brides

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Safe Haven by Jarica James

3 Stars

Who knew that two words could shatter every hope and dream Briar had for her future.

You’re pregnant.

Most omegas dream of this, but the only thing Briar can think about is that awful night. While she suffers alone, her attacker gets to flaunt his perfect life in her face.

Until his assistant finds out her secret.

Now she finds herself being exiled from not only her dream job, but her home and city. The betrayal cuts so much deeper when her family is the one to put the final nail in the coffin that was her life.

Her brother, and only ally left, calls on his best friend. She knows no pack will want her, she’s carrying another alpha’s baby, she’s damaged goods. To her relief, the pack agrees.

But when she tries to get them to drop her off at the omega shelter, they refuse. Instead they offer her a temporary place to stay while she decides what to do next. The problem is that with each passing day she spends with the pack, she gets more attached.

When she agrees to be their date to a charity event, she didn’t expect it to change their lives. Secrets are revealed and when her attacker crosses her path again, she quickly realizes that her happy ending may be ripped away for good.

Will her new pack claim her as their own, or will she be forced to live a life she never wanted?

This was a hard book to read just because Briar got put through the ringer. I loved the pack with her so much. They were so sweet and wanted her to be happy and healthy. They bend over backwards to keep her safe when the laws are against her. Her brother was also awesome who was willing to go to bat for her and keep her safe.

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Art of Marrying Your Enemy by Alina Jacobs

 

3 Stars

Forget the summer I turned pretty…that was the summer I got hips, acne, and utterly humiliated by Aaron Richmond.

This summer? This is the summer I had to marry the bastard.

When I walk down the aisle towards my enemy, all to save the Coleman family fortune, I shouldn’t give in to my wounded inner 14-year old-self. I should smile, blink up at him prettily, and declare to have and to hate…

Err...hold.

Too bad I’m Granny Madge’s namesake.

As soon as I begrudgingly say, I do, I toss three tiers of wedding cake on my new husband, kick him in the balls, and down a whole bottle of champagne.

He retaliates by dropping me face-first in his foyer after carrying me over the marital threshold.

I respond in a mature manner by eating a bag of chips in his bed and letting my cat puke on his pillow.

Yeah, this is totally how I’d always fantasized about becoming Mrs. Richmond during my teenage infatuation.

That obsession? Gone.

Never to return.

Not even when he takes off his shirt and his hair is slightly messy over his forehead…

In fact, I loudly declare that I am dryer than my mom’s spelt muffins.

Suddenly that six-five muscular body is hovering over me—the deep voice purring in my ear…

“This will go easier for you if you aren’t.”

Gulp.

We’re not married like that.

There’s a dangerous glint in his eye when he drops the 530 page marriage contract on the table, turns to page 280 and informs me that we have to consummate the marriage or the whole thing is null and void.

“You should have read the contract, Coleman.”

Damn him he’s right.

Because if I’d known I’d have to sleep with my husband, I never would have married him.

Daisy was a doormat throughout the story and she never grew a backbone. She was never a priority even after Aaron realized his feelings. This type of book needs to have a redemption and a strong character development and these were missing. It also missed on being labeled a romantic comedy when there was so much trauma and discord between characters.

Book 2 The Richmond Brothers

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High Sticking by Marie M

4 Stars

Ariella Contreras doesn't need distractions.

She’s fought too hard for her independence to let tradition, family expectations, or a man derail her career. So when a tall, cowboy-hat-wearing Texan in too-tight Wranglers approaches her at a bar and begs her to be his fake date to dodge an ex? She should’ve trusted her gut and told him to get lost.

Because the guy she'd never see again?

Yeah, he's Dalton Langley—the star player on the hockey team she's been hired to be the strength and conditioning coach for. Oh, and he's her new boss's son.

Thanks to a dumb team policy, her job is under scrutiny, and walking away from the "girlfriend" charade isn’t an option. What was supposed to be one night of fake dating quickly spirals into something neither of them saw coming. Lines blur, emotions get tangled, and walking away might hurt like a High Stick to the Heart.

I loved this book so much. All of the characters make the book enjoyable to read. I loved Ariella’s cousin Graciella. The interaction between them made me laugh so much throughout the story. I loved the interaction between Ariella and Dalton. Overall, it was a cute romance that kept me entertained.

Book 1 A Scoring Chance

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