Bonds and Blooms by Polly Maple

3 Stars

She’s wary of alphas. They’re determined to be her safe place.

Faye Nightingale doesn’t want to be pouring tea in a sleepy, small town forever. From day one at Scent Valley University, she knows she made the right choice to leave behind her comfort zone. She’s got a cozy apartment, friends who feel like sisters, and a new sense of freedom.

All that’s holding her back is her underlying apprehension of alphas.

Something she’s forced to face when she stumbles across the most eligible pack on campus, a pack who believe they’re her scent match.

Ren…The sweet bookworm who helps her learn how to trust.

Laz… Her new best friend's lovable, golden retriever brother.

Cole… Their protective leader, whose strong arms feel like home.

Damon… The grumpy biker hiding secrets and a softer side.

After an unexpected heat spike causes Faye’s world to unravel, her body and heart start to betray her. The Silverwood Pack will do anything to prove they’re worthy of their omega, but even fated love isn’t perfect.

Can they find a way to heal a lifetime of hurt to claim the happily-ever-after they all deserve?

This was a light and easy read. Not a lot of drama. I loved the guys and how they were with FMC. FMC had growing to do. I also got really tired of how the slick was talked about and it got old hearing about it.

Book 1 Scent Valley University

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Knots & Needles by Hazel Hern

2.5 Stars

The Golden Ash Alphas seem to be perfect... which means they definitely are not.

Cassie left home to become a flight attendant--and escape her oppressive family's attitudes about what an Omega can or can't be. It was the perfect way to avoid her family. Until the crash. She did her job and saved all twenty-nine passengers, but the scars ended her career.

Determined not to crawl home to Tennessee to a lifetime of I told you so from her family, she purchases a run-down foreclosure in the "if you know, you know" wedding destination of Blue Sun Cove, Maine. The house was cheap, the property taxes are low, and it's a thousand miles from her family.

Except the house also includes some abandoned sheep, a tiny town that doesn't want her there, and said tiny town is crawling with Alphas hoping their Omega comes in with the next wedding party.

And a broken, struggling pack of those Alphas decide she is their Omega.

Jasper wants to declare his love immediately. And also break her addiction to frozen burritos.

Cole wants to be cautious.

Blythe, still wounded from their last Omega's cruelty, wants no part of it.

They swear they don't expect Cassie to change, and they love her the way she is. But Cassie's heard all those lines from Alphas back home, and she's not making the same mistake twice.

If they want her, they won't have to prove it. They'll have to do something even harder. They'll have to be patient.

This was a whole lot of instant love and I am not a huge fan of insta love. I also really hated all of the towns people. They were so rude to her without even knowing her. I get it small towns can be like this but I don’t want to read it.

Book 1 Blue Sun Cove

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Free Falling by Jill Shalvis

4 Stars

Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this new construction project to go smoothly to prove he’s earned his place in the family business. There’s only one problem. The architect liaison assigned to the project is Emma Sumner. As in, the woman who made his life a living hell in college. Now, she’s back in town and already breathing down his neck on the job. Worse? She’s only gotten more beautiful.

Emma’s in love with the beautiful historic building they’re renovating. But her feelings toward project manager Caleb definitely lean more toward hate. Not only is the man making her job harder than it needs to be, he’s the one who took everything from her when she was at her most desperate. Not that she’d ever admit it out loud, but she’s never recovered.

Neither is willing to forgive and forget. But forced proximity and surprising common ground have these enemies starting to wonder just how fine the line between love and hate is. A burning mutual attraction adds complications for them both. Will anything be left standing when their secrets are finally revealed?

I enjoyed listening to this book. FMC was frustrating with her lack of wanting to work with MMC or explain anything to him. I did enjoy them getting their HEA.

Book 2 Colburn Brothers

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Crescent Kingdom by Tessa Hale

3 Stars

Never stop running. And no matter what, never let the world know who you really are.

I’ve spent my whole life hiding. Training. Preparing. Hoping that no one will discover my secrets. What I can do. Who I am. And I’ve gotten so good at it, sometimes even I forget.

Until them.

The wolf pack with a ruthless reputation and a penchant for revenge. The protective fighter. The charming Brit. The shy hacker. The silent mercenary. The cruel assassin.

They see more than anyone ever has before. And even with demons of their own, they give me sanctuary. A place to hide, to rest, and maybe even a place to belong.

Only it turns into so much more. Because when they touch me, everything around me ignites, and nothing matters but them.

But these wolves have secrets. And those secrets bring enemies. And when they find out who I really am?

It’s not their enemies I need to fear. It’s them.

Interesting start to the series. I loved the FMC and several of the guys. There were some that just frustrated me. The cliffhanger ending was frustrating as well. This author is notorious for this type of ending with all of her books.  

Book 1 The wolves of Crescent Creek

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Meeting Mr. Anderson by Elle Nicoll

2.5 Stars

Some people go to Hollywood to chase their dream.

My Hollywood dream is in seat 4A.

After the stunt my ex pulled, no one would blame me if I swore off men forever, especially one like Mr Jay Anderson, Hollywood’s sexiest heartthrob. Maybe undressing me with his striking blue eyes as I perform the safety demonstration on a flight to LA is normal behaviour for him. Maybe not. But I know one thing for sure, he should come with a warning label. Because once you meet a man like Jay Anderson, there is no going back. With his dirty blond hair and those eyes; he’s a beautiful, X-rated fairy-tale. But beauty is a magnificent smokescreen. And a fairy-tale is just that… a tale. It’s never as simple as happily ever after, not when you’re meeting Mr Anderson.

My god have an actual conversation. All of the issues were because FMC wouldn’t talk with MMC. I get it is a book and there needs to be drama but my god was it old really fast.

Book 1 The Men

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Aaron’s Patience by Tiffany Patterson

2.5 Stars

Never trust a billionaire . . .

Aaron thinks he can have anything—or anyone—he wants, including me. But when I discovered I was the other woman, I vowed never to see him again.

Except he’s not the only one with a secret. When a chance meeting brings us together again, I can no longer hide the truth.

Now he wants what’s his—our six-year-old twins. And he insists I’m part of the deal. If I don’t marry him, I’ll be forced to give up my children.

I’ll do whatever it takes for the twins, only I’m not the innocent girl I once was, and there’s no way I’m giving him a second chance.

But when someone dangerous from my past comes looking for me, I start to see a new side to Aaron that makes me question what’s beneath his need for control.

Now the man I vowed never to trust may be the only person who can protect me . . .

I enjoyed this book sort of. Aaron was a dick from beginning to the end of the book. I get why to certain point but it would have been nice to see more growth with him. I still don’t understand why FMC didn’t want her dad involved in the kids life. I am still baffled by why she forgave Aaron for his antics.

Book 1 Townsends of Williamsport

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The Violence of My Affection by Sorcha Black

2 Stars

When we pick up a stranger who would make Satan blush, my husband's fantasy goes off the rails.

Now, the man won't leave us alone. I’d call him a stalker, except we invited him into our bed.

He’s a force of absolute chaos and seems determined to ruin our (currently) long-distance marriage…and now, he wants to get me pregnant?

Loïc is charming. Loïc is unpredictable.

He’s impulsive and dangerous.

If only toxic wasn't so tasty.

The story was interesting. If things with MMC was more clear it probably would have been a 3 star book. I kept questioning whether it was all in his head or if it was an actual person.

Book 1 The Violence of my Affection

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