Axel by Samantha Whiskey

3.5 Stars

The NHL’s been at my door since I was 18. But I’d never leave the Swedish Hockey League— Not while raising my little brother. But now he’s grown and the Carolina Reapers show up with my greatest weakness: Langley Pierce, their new head of PR.
I’ve never been able to say no to her.
She’s fierce, independent, and the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. She also has a stubborn streak wider than my entire country. One comment from her smart mouth about never dating again, and I propose.
No, really, I actually propose: A six-month marriage contract in exchange for signing with the Reapers. I want to date this woman so badly that I’m going to marry her first.
I’ll use each day to show her how a queen should be treated.
Our wedding day started a countdown I’m powerless to stop, and the faster the months fly, the harder I fall.
She’s sworn she’ll never choose a man over her career, and I promised never to ask her to. Until I’m forced to.
How can we move forward when we started this whole thing backwards?
If I can’t convince her this marriage is anything but fake, the next document we sign will crush us both.

I loved Axel so much. The FMC not so much. She waffled so much throughout the story and she was so rude to Axel. She acts like he wants to force her into a specific role but all he does is want to love her. Enjoyed the writing and the world that I will continue reading.

Book 1 Carolina Reapers

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The Brood by Devney Perry

4 Stars

The last thing Wilder Abbott needs is a houseguest. Solitude has been his stoic companion for nearly a decade. He prefers to brood over his mistakes in seclusion. Besides, he gets enough social interaction as a high school science teacher in Calamity, Montana.

But when his oldest friend calls, begging for a favor, Wilder begrudgingly agrees. For the next two months, he’ll give up his guest room to his friend’s little sister.

Iris Monroe isn’t the girl Wilder remembers. Gone is the shy, quiet mouse ten years his junior who always had her nose in a book. Grown-up Iris talks too much and asks too many questions, especially about his past. And her bright smile and clear blue eyes are hard to ignore.

Two months. He just has to survive two months. Except Iris is as nosy as she is beautiful. And his secrets prove hard to hide when she’s living under his roof.

I enjoyed this book. The age gap and friend’s little sister tropes were fun to read. They worked well together and the way they both wanted the other to be happy was perfection. The twist with MMC former wife was interesting.

Book 6 Calamity Montana

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Pucking Feral by Lenore Rosewood

 

4 Stars

For two months, I've been hiding in the last place my NHL ex-fiancé would ever look.

The home arena of the Ghosts, his team's fiercest rivals.

And it's working. No one knows I'm here.

Until Wraith—the mute, scarred "monster" power forward fans whisper about—discovers me sick and weak in the maintenance tunnels that are his sanctuary.

Instead of turning me in, Wraith helps me hide. And when the team's new winger, Valek, discovers me, my feral-alpha-turned-personal-guardian-angel attacks him to protect me.

I finish the job with a fire extinguisher.

Now Valek's recovering in the Ghosts' pack house with a concussion, and I’m hiding in Wraith's loft.

The Ghosts are offering me a choice. A home. Protection from my ex without strings attached.

The problem? I don't know how to trust anymore.

Not when the last alpha's promises ended with me burning off my mark.

I LOVED this book if not for the cliffhanger ending. The ending was surprising and I can’t wait for book 2. The characters were well developed. I loved that FMC was all in with the one mate who everyone was scared of. I enjoyed her interactions with the rest of the mates.

Book 1 Ghostverse

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Misfit Monsters by Eva Chase

3 Stars

Three delinquent monsters with fearsome powers. One girl made of pure sunshine. Can she save this team of misfits?

My past? Let's just pretend it never happened. All I want is to spread enough joy to make up for the pain I've caused.

So it'd be nice if my unexplainable powers would stop going haywire.

When I start blitzing my fellow monsters as well as mortals, the authorities of the supernatural world give me a final chance to avoid banishment.

I’ve got to join three monstrous criminals on a dangerous mission no one wants to take. Strange creatures are attacking innocent humans, and we have to stop their rampage.

It’s up to me, a frigid winter fae, a brutal basilisk shifter, and a chaotic kitsune to figure out what’s gone wrong—and fix it. Which would be a lot easier if my teammates didn’t see me as a ditzy pipsqueak.

And if they weren’t so distractingly, deliciously handsome.

Um, don’t tell them I said that part.

I’m sure my cheerful optimism will win them over so we can get home in one piece. That is, as long as I don’t blow us all up along the way...

I was irritated with reading this book and not sure if I will continue the series even though it ends on a cliffhanger ending. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story and there wasn’t a lot of explanation as to the world development.

Book 1 Pack of Outcasts

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The Brawl by Devney Perry

4 Stars

On Ronan Thatcher’s first week in Montana, he spots the most beautiful woman in the world. Love at first sight? Nah. He doesn’t believe in love. But he wouldn’t mind a date or two with the local beauty. Ronan is the type of man who gets what he wants, and he wants Larke Hale.

Except Calamity’s sweetheart has sworn off men. The last time Ronan was rejected was, well . . . never. Yet Larke dismisses him without even batting those pretty brown eyes.

Bruised ego in check, he’s about to walk away when a teenager marches into his office and asks to hire Ronan as her lawyer. Something about a bad grade and a ruined grade point average that will inevitably destroy her future. He’s about to lecture the kid for being melodramatic until he learns that the teacher she wants to sue is Larke.

Suddenly this frivolous lawsuit seems like a bright idea. Ronan wants Larke’s attention and this is guaranteed to snag it. So let the brawl begin.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I loved Ronan and Larke. I really wanted them to take in the kids but how it played out was still nice.

Book 5 Calamity Montana

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Catch her Heart by Julia Jarrett

4 Stars

I’m the oldest virgin in major league baseball. And I’m in love with a woman who’s about to marry someone else.

Listen. It’s not like I planned to still be a virgin at twenty-eight. Or to fall in love with the team trainer, who apparently would rather date a guy who wears polo shirts instead of baseball pants.

But life doesn’t always go according to plan.

When I first laid eyes on Lark Miller, I knew she was something special. Unfortunately, so did her boyfriend.

For years I kept my feelings hidden. I accepted my role as best guy friend, and focused on my career. My priority needs to be securing another contract with the Vancouver Tridents so I can help my parents retire. I can’t afford any distractions.

But then the day comes that Lark shows up at my door, and tells me she’s ended her engagement. Not only that, but she’s broken up with polo shirt guy.

And then she kisses me.

My fantasy becomes my reality. Lark wants me. Me. She’s perfect, we’re perfect, everything is perfect. I’ve got the woman of my dreams, and the best part is she understands how important baseball has to be for me right now.

But remember what I said about life not going according to plan?

My name is Dan “Monty” Montgomery: Formerly the oldest virgin in baseball, and now the newest expectant father.

I loved this book. Dan being a virgin and yearning for Lark made the book. I loved when they got together and his reaction to her saying she was pregnant. It was so sweet and he was all in.

Book 3 Vancouver Tridents

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Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young

3 Stars

When a mysterious time capsule leads a Toronto teacher to England, she discovers some loves are worth crossing oceans—and decades—to find, from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Bonam-Young.

When a history teacher receives a letter from her deceased grandmother revealing a secret love affair in the 1950s, it leads her to a time capsule hidden decades ago. But it’s the charming grandson of her grandmother’s lost love who changes everything, proving that sometimes the heart knows exactly where—and when—it belongs.

Cute and quick read. Narrators were amazing.

Book 2 The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances

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