Book Lover by Emily Henry

4 Stars

Nora Stephens' life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

I was surprised by this book. The description didn’t really move me but once I started it I blew through the book so fast. I hated the sister so much for her antics. She is allowed to want what she wants but to guilt her sister because her sister wanted something different crossed the line. I loved MMC and FMC. The banter between them was amazing and made the book so enjoyable to me. Watching them find ways to make it work when they needed to be in different locations was amazing.

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Tamed for Her Pleasure by LV Lane

 

3 Stars

When the king of a barbarian horde turns out to be unexpectedly hot…

All I wanted to do was stop a war.

A sensible princess would have talked to her father and beseeched him to see sense. Instead, I do what I absolutely should not do: take my horse and leave the safety of my castle to parley with the enemy myself.

Only the barbarian horde waiting to besiege our home turns out to be larger than I expect… and deeply unhappy when I incapacitate half a dozen of their best men.

They take me to the king in charge… which is where my plans come undone.

Instead of declaring my intentions to help free their brethren from my father’s dungeon, I throw a challenge at their king’s feet.

Why?

Because if there were degrees of alphaness, the seven-foot-tall barbarian with a stern glint in his eyes and an air of deadly grace would be at the top. When he makes an allusion toward taming me, well, it’s a challenge I can’t possibly resist.

I want him to try.

I might secretly want him to succeed.

Just a little taste of the forbidden. Just one touch. An experience I can take away lest I wonder for the rest of my life what it might have been like.

Only barbarians play by their own rules. I am tossed over his broad shoulder, taken to his tent, and subsequently liberated of all my daggers… even the hidden ones that no one finds.

There are very few occasions in my life when I feel like I might have bitten off more than I can chew, but as I am dropped, weaponless, to his fur bed, I believe this is one.

I loved Alfred and Penelope. Penelope took no shit from anyone and could take on the barbarians with ease. It was fun to see them put in their place. I also loved how in love Alfred was with her and how unwilling he was to walk away from her. It was nice to see two strong characters come together and neither of them lose themselves.

Book 4 Coveted by the Barbarian

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Hero She Loves by Anna Hackett

4 Stars

The last thing he wants is to hunt a dangerous fugitive in the Alaskan wilderness, especially with a tough, stubborn US marshal.

Parker Conroy moved to Alaska to be alone. His military career in Ghost Ops ended with an explosion and three torturous weeks of captivity. It’s left him scarred, wanting to avoid people, and hating being touched.

When US Marshal Jenna Sheriden knocks on his door, he has no time for the attractive marshal. But she isn’t taking no for an answer.

A dangerous fugitive is on the loose, and he happens to be a rogue Ghost Ops soldier.

Jenna Sheriden lives and breathes being a marshal. Her past has left her with something to prove. She has zero interest in love, relationships, or anything that slows her down.

She needs help hunting a deadly murderer. She needs Parker Conroy.

The gruff, lean loner radiates a dark intensity she can’t ignore, but he has the skills to help her track down her quarry. Thrust together, they’re sharing the same bed, the same tent, and working together every hour of the day.

As they draw closer to catching the killer, Jenna sees under Park’s scarred exterior to the man beneath. A man who tempts her in ways no one ever has before. A man who will do anything to keep her safe.

If they survive this hunt, then Jenna knows she’ll have the biggest challenge of all—convincing her scarred hero to take a chance on love.

I loved this book for the man hunt more than the romance. The back and forth between FMC and MMC was amazing. The romance was very much secondary to everything else.

Book 5 Unbroken Heroes

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At First Meet by Carrie Ann Ryan

4 Stars

I fell in love with the wrong man and learned the hard way to ask for help. 

I don’t plan on falling again and have no intention of trying.

But when I get invited to a high-powered CEO retreat, I know I can’t say no.

And I can’t go alone. 

When my frenemy, Nick, invites himself as my escort, I should walk away.

But there’s no stopping the connection we’ve both ignored for far too long.

Only Nick’s past is far darker than he lets the world know, and the shell he encased himself in is stronger than my own. And when the pain from my past comes back with a force, I’m afraid that walking away will be the only choice—even if it breaks us both.

I loved Nick and Lake. There were times Lake frustrated me because of how she acted but I get it. She was in an abusive relationship and had trauma to work through. These two just worked well together and when they get out of their own way the book was amazing. Loved the narrators.

Book 2 Montgomery Ink Legacy

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When the Weaver Met the Gargoyle by Lila Appleton

3 Stars

A shire-esque party forces a straight-laced human weaver and a brooding gargoyle guard together in the most delightfully tension-filled ways.

I have one talent, and it’s not relationships. It’s weaving. But I have one chance to keep my cozy little life in the magical Leafshire Cove and it’s going to require a partner.

I swore off romance—my last relationship was a humiliating disaster. But to enter the mayor’s tapestry contest, and win the contract attached, I need a date, thanks to a ridiculous ancient faerie spell requiring attendants to bring a potential partner.

When my frenemy suggests the new watchtower guard, a growly gargoyle named Romulus who never speaks and hides inside a massive cloak, I think she’s finally lost her mind. But said frenemy refuses to back down, and suddenly, the gargoyle and I are forced into a temporary match.

Romulus is employed by the mayor so he has no choice but to go. Because of a past issue with his stone magic, he’s dead set on remaining single, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

Until we share the wrong pot of tea…

I wanted so much more information on the world and character development. So much was missing from the book because this stuff wasn’t included. Otherwise, it was a super quick read and short. I enjoyed the writing enough to try other books by the author.

Book 1 Leafshire Cove Monsters

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Their Lethal Pet by Lexi C Floss

3 Stars

Run. Hide. Fight.

It’s Monsters Night, the annual event where the portals to other realms and realities open, and monsters flood the streets to search for their potential mates.

And I’m one of the candidates.

Why?

Because I broke all the rules. I fought back against the elitist system hellbent on enslaving humankind. And f-ck if I’m going to let one of these monsters take me. Let alone three of them

Orcus.

Flame.

Reaper.

They saved me from a compromising situation, all because they think I'm a rare Omega. A Goddess. Their chosen mate.

You can run and hide, little one.

But we’re the monsters of the night.

And you are our chosen bride.

So be a good girl and let us worship you

This book was so long and it didn’t need to be. Add in FMC becoming a whimp once she finds her men it just became an ok read. The author has better books.

Book 1 Monsters Night

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Alpha King’s Runaway Mate by Elara Haze

2 Stars

I spent a night with the alpha king

Then he rejected me and said “You’ll never be my mate.”

The night I was supposed to be presented to an alpha like a good little omega, I ran.

I wanted nothing to do with him, nothing to do with the bond.

So I slipped away into the gardens… and straight into the arms of a gorgeous, mysterious guard.

His dark eyes and scars screamed of danger, but I let myself have one forbidden night.

But the next morning, our bond snapped into place.

But it turns out, he wasn't a guard. He was Magnus Ashfjord, The Alpha King.

The ruler of over a hundred wolf packs.

And the man my pack once betrayed.

So when he found out, he rejected me.

And I did what I had to—I ran.

For three years, I’ve built a life without him.

Until fate rips us back together.

Because when I see Magnus again, with another woman around his arm, I want to tear her throat out.

My wolf snaps. I thought our bond had died, but it's stronger than ever.

And when I go into heat, there's only one king that can satisfy my needs.

But this time, I won’t let him break my heart…

There was so much repetitiveness in this book. I started skimming the story to finish the story. I liked the king and he tries so hard to make up with his mate but she was just awful. I struggled so much with her character and why she did what she did. Overall, I would skip this one.

Book 19 Forbidden Alpha Kings

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Claimed for Their Pleasure by LV Lane

2.75 Stars

For as long as I can remember, Brandon has been my obsession. But the shifter warrior had far higher standing in the clan and barely noticed me.

Until one day he did, and everyone assumed we would wed.

Then war arrived and brought a forgotten Alpha back into my life.

Gage, the mysterious warrior I found injured in the woods. Son of a clan king, he is also our enemy.

I can’t deny that I want Gage.

But I want Brandon too.

Then I revealed ...

Now both men want me.

Once again, war is coming, only this time ... it is over me.

I struggled with reading this one because the pacing was just off. Add in me bing reading all of them I didn’t need a recap of book 1 which is several chapters in this book. Once the book picked up about halfway through I enjoyed the reading. Brandon and Gage working together to please Jessa even though they sort of want to kill each other was a fun read.

Book 2 Coveted by the Barbarian

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Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon

4 Stars

He is a hulking winged beast, complete with claws and fangs, and she is trapped alone with him in a dark tower. She should be terrified of him, so why does he turn her on?

Princess Candra must remain locked inside a tower for seven long years in order to protect her people from their goddess’s wrath. Seven years without a friend—or a lover—by her side. And locked inside the tower with her? A fearsome winged Fellian warrior, Nemeth.

He’s terrifying, cruel, and disturbingly magnetic . . . and the only other living being in the tower. Candra is torn between wanting to kill him for his supplies or having her way with him.
After all, seven years is a long time to be alone.

 

I really enjoyed this enemy to lovers story. Candra was a bit of a dick through half ish of the book until she started to fall for her enemy. Nemeth was awesome and even though she was his enemy he was willing to help her. I loved the interaction between the two of them and the ending was amazing.

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Falling Stars by Lex Martin

4 Stars

Falling for the guy who broke my heart years ago wasn’t on my to-do list when I snuck into his condo.

Maverick Walker was my best friend, my safe place—the boy I trusted with my whole heart—until one reckless kiss in high school ruined everything. Now, he’s an NFL football player, and I’m a struggling small-town hairstylist, newly single and expecting a baby. With my ex gone and someone vandalizing my business, my life feels like it’s crumbling beneath me.

When my best friend Paige suggests hiding out in Maverick’s swanky condo to regroup while he’s recovering from an injury in New York, it seems like a lifeline.

Except he comes home. Unexpectedly. When I’m half-dressed.

Now I’m stuck in his orbit again, unprepared for the way he still makes my heart race. Maverick is charming, ridiculously hot, and as off-limits as ever. But I have bigger problems than his smoldering smile—like figuring out who’s targeting me and why they won’t stop.

As the threats escalate, so do Maverick’s protective instincts. But with his life in New York and mine in Texas, our worlds couldn’t be further apart. And yet, with danger closing in, his arms are the only safe haven I have left.

But how do I let him protect me without risking my heart again—when loving him feels as out of reach as a falling star?

I really loved Maverick and Baylee’s romance. The friends to lovers is always hard to write well because of having to balance the romance and the friendship. This book balances out nicely. I loved how in Maverick was from the beginning of the book after his accident. He kept getting her things for her kid even though he didn’t have too. Baylee makes a hard decision for them when she breaks up with him cause she doesn’t want him to be forced to pick between her and his love of football so she takes herself out of the equation. You know what he is going to pick but how he tells her was amazing and I loved it. The mystery part of who is doing the vandalism was interesting choice. How they are caught was heart breaking. I did want more on that but it wasn’t vital to the story. Can’t wait for the next book.

Book 2 Wild at Heart

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Hero She Deserves by Anna Hackett

3 Stars

When he goes to investigate a blaring smoke alarm, the last thing he expects to find is Hollywood’s hottest actress…naked.

Deputy Sheriff Sawyer Lane likes the pace of life on Maui. After years as a Navy SEAL and in Ghost Ops, he likes that no one shoots at him. Coming to the island saved him. He still can’t sleep, but he’ll take the sun, sand, and solitude.

Then Oscar-winning actress Hollis Stanton rents the house next to his and torpedoes his solitude. When she sets her coffee machine on fire, he meant to help, not see every glorious inch of her from her russet-red hair to her red-painted toenails.

Soon, they’re running into each other everywhere, and it doesn’t take all of Sawyer’s finely-honed skills to know she’s in trouble and hiding from something. Or someone.

Hollis Stanton usually loves her life—movie roles she enjoys, an Oscar on her mantel, financial security. She’s come a long way from the poor, gangly redhead in hand-me-down clothes. But one stupid party held by a powerful movie producer changes everything.

She accidentally overhears something she shouldn’t have.

Now, someone is following her, breaking into her house, and crashing into her car. Her plan is to lay low in Hawaii. What wasn’t in her plan is the big, muscular, and rugged deputy sheriff next door. Nor is their scorching attraction.

When danger closes in, Hollis realizes Sawyer is the real deal—a hero with scars, who helps those in need.

A hero who will do anything to protect her.

I think this was my least favorite book from all of her books. Normally with series this author includes other characters from previous books but in this one it was just the couple. Which if I liked both of them might not have been bad but I really didn’t like FMC. I also had so many questions on how they kept finding Hollis. Add in some too stupid to live moments it just led to me not loving the book.

Book 4 Unbroken Heroes

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Traded for Their Pleasure by LV Lane

3 Stars

My husband conned two barbarians out of ten chickens.

Now they’re at my door demanding recompense.

I’m sick of my husband’s nonsense and nefarious trading ways.

Enough is enough, I’m set to leave him tomorrow.

Only the barbarians demand a trade for their ten lost chickens.

My scoundrel of a husband has just offered me.

Where I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book this one worked better for me. I liked how MMCs were with Megan. She had a crappy husband who when caught defrauding the barbarians gives her to them so he can get away. They take him up on it because they want her. Even though she was traded to them against her will they took it slow and made sure she was happy. The story just worked for me.

Book 3 Coveted by the Barbarian

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Bottles and Blades by Elise Faber

 

4 Stars

I fell in love with a billionaire. I just didn’t know it. Jean-Michel Dubois is the owner of the professional hockey team, the Oakland Eagles, and established the world-renowned Oak Ridge Vineyards.

And…he’s fallen for me.

Me. The boring woman who spends her time studying, baking cookies, and nannying for an adorable little girl.

A relationship between us makes no sense—I’ve tried to make him see that.

But he’s a successful businessman for a reason.

He's ruthless and goes after what he wants.

And he’s decided…That’s me.

I loved seeing how this book played out. The age gap between Jean-Michel and Tiffany was large but it worked. I loved how Tiffany got on with Jean-Michel’s daughter. One thing I wanted more on was what happened with the ex-wife. It was a big part of the book but seemed by the end it was swept under for the relationship.

Book 1 Eagles Hockey: Oak Ridge Vineyards

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Cover Reveal: Lex Martin

 

#PreOrderHere

https://geni.us/BurningSkiesEbook

 

What you will find inside…

🔥Enemies to Lovers

🔥Small Town

🔥Romantic Suspense

🔥Forbidden Romance

🔥Cowboy Romance

🔥Firefighter + Teacher

 

Crossing a line has never felt this good.

I’m what you’d call a good girl—at least that’s what my family thinks. But I’m tired of living by everyone else’s rules. So when I sneak into a scandalous, masked costume party and spot Beau Walker—my longtime crush and family’s sworn enemy—I do something bold: I throw caution to the wind and cross the one line that's utterly forbidden.

Hidden by shadows and masks, we lose ourselves in the hottest night of my life. Until I accidentally moan his name, and everything comes crashing to a halt.

Beau says things I can’t forget, and my fantasy of him shatters along with my heart.

But when a series of fires at the high school where I teach becomes suspiciously frequent, I’m forced to see the one firefighter I wish I could forget.

And when our long-simmering tension finally ignites, the heat between us lights up the sky—and reveals a danger neither of us saw coming.

Burning Skies is an enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance that features a scorchingly hot firefighter and the little sister of his long-time nemesis. If you enjoy cowboy families, old vendettas, and small towns brimming with secrets, this one is for you!

✨INFLUENCERS: Sign up to review here: https://bit.ly/burningskiessignup

Sable Peak by Devney Perry

Vera Gallagher is chasing constant. For four years, her life was anything but normal. And the years before that she refuses to even remember. Dwelling on the past only hurts. Life is fragile, a lesson her mother taught her well. She’s determined not to waste a moment of her newfound freedom.

Maybe some would consider her crush on Mateo Eden wasted time. Maybe some would call her a fool for loving a man who hasn’t once dropped a crumb of interest her way. Still, to Vera, it’s Mateo or nothing.

He’s handsome. Charming. Witty. And he loves his family the way Vera loves—with her whole heart.

Maybe he’ll never notice her. Maybe she’s too damaged, too broken, to find that normal life she craves. Maybe her secrets will always keep them apart. But Vera will love him anyway. Whether Mateo realizes it or not.

Vera and Mateo make such a cute couple and I loved the family were happy for them. However, Vera needed to get so much therapy after everything she had been through to work through her issues and she never did. This led to all the problems in the relationship.

Book 6 The Edens

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Rustler Mountain by Maisey Yates

3 Stars

Tourists may flock to Rustler Mountain, Oregon for its Wild West reenactments, but for locals, the feuds between the outlaws and the lawmen are still very much alive in this new series from New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates - ideal for fans of Lyla Sage, Elsie Silver, Jennifer Ryan and Robyn Carr.

 

Every year, thousands of people come through Rustler for the rodeo, historic home tours, old-fashioned candy making demonstrations, sharpshooter shows—and to see the site of the 1800s shootout in which notorious outlaw Austin Wilder was killed by Sheriff Lee Talbot. Now Millie Talbot, the sheriff’s descendant, wants to bring back the town’s Gold Rush Days. But she needs the current Austin Wilder’s support to make her dream a reality. . .

 

The Wilders are rumored to be as true to their last name as their ancestors. Nonetheless, Austin is agreeable to helping Millie. But he wants something in return. Austin is working to clear his family name by writing the true history of his outlaw ancestors and Millie might just hold the key.

 

When Millie wrangles Austin into helping plan Gold Rush Days, he figures it’s a chance to get to the truth of the past. . . . But when sparks start to fly between this bad boy and good girl, will either of them come out of it unscathed?

 

Who doesn’t love a librarian with a cowboy. I loved these two finding their HEA and getting the town to get over their prejudice. The world and characters are well developed. I am invested in reading more from the Wilders.

Book 1 Rustler Mountain

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Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

4 Stars

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

This book took the miscommunication trope to the nth degree. They both wanted the fake relationship to be real but thought the other didn’t. Jacob didn’t feel like he could ask cause of his anxiety. While Briana thought he was still in love with his ex. It didn’t help that they both had crappy ex partners and that played into the miscommunication. This is the biggest drama in the book and once they figure it all out they were just so cute.

Book 2 Part of Your World

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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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