Actual rating - 4.5 (the cover is NOT to my taste and did back-shelf this for a bit for me).
Former college and professional basketball star Elle CochrActual rating - 4.5 (the cover is NOT to my taste and did back-shelf this for a bit for me).
Former college and professional basketball star Elle Cochran is suddenly a foster parent to high-schooler Vanessa, who is encouraged to join the school basketball team. After a disasterous pro-career ending in injury and depression, Elle is anxious about re-entering the world of basketball, even as a spectator. So when the coach asks Elle to help co-lead the team, Elle is reluctant but finally says yes, even if it is mostly to get closer to the adorable Julie.
Julie is utterly star-struck by the woman who's poster she had taped up in her teen-hood bedroom, and is elated to get a chance to work alongside her hero. When Elle offers to coach Julie in dating and relationships, she jumps at the chance to explore her sexuality.
what a great book. i had so much fun with Julie and Elle, and I love how tenderly Julie's sexuality was discovered. Julie has landed on the ace//demisexual label, but isn't quite keen on even having a label, and Elle is comfortable to explore that with her. Elle herself has depression, and seeing how her depression was also hard and hopeful. There's no easy "cures" or "solutions" in this romance (as there should not be, because that's not how it works) but seeing how Elle and Julie fell in love and made it work was so gorgeous.
basically if anita kelly writes it, i'll read it. period....more
may all contemporary romances featuring partners who fiercely defend each other, especially against toxic family. who aren't perfect, but are perfect may all contemporary romances featuring partners who fiercely defend each other, especially against toxic family. who aren't perfect, but are perfect for each other. gosh i loved these two a whole lot, their online gaming 'meet cute friendship' of mistaken identity (she thinks he's a 20something and he think she's his mother's age), and their gentle love story. Nerds falling in love, my fav!
Also, Maggie is a great mom to her kid, and I loved seeing the balance of her "do as I say, not as I do" and his pushback on that. Aiden's demi // bisexual identity is also lovingly explored and Maggie's casual acceptance, ability to help Aiden find the word's to describe himself, and fierce defense against his biphobic sister-in-law//ex-fiancee were just the best. I also appreciated that Aiden was not forced to forgive his family's toxic behaviors, instead finding balance and boundaries.
Honestly, imagine this as a slower-paced and middle aged Hackers lol (with a takedown of toxic family instead of a capitalist overlord). I loved Otter & Bogwitch and I hope you do too!
This is definitely a slowburn, but with heat payoff that made sense for the story! Also, loved the caretaking scenes when Aiden hurt himself SO much - especially since Aiden (as a end-of life nurse) is usually the caretaker.
CW: grief, parental death (in the past), toxic family - countered, biphobia, countered....more
A really sweet and short PNR shifter romance about a wolf shifter who finds his fated mate, his asexual fated mate. Sex is needed to complete the matiA really sweet and short PNR shifter romance about a wolf shifter who finds his fated mate, his asexual fated mate. Sex is needed to complete the mating bond so that his fated mate can also shift into a wolf, but after learning about what his new love's needs (and wants) are, they make it work for them, not how everyone in Brandon's pack expects him to act as the alpha/leader.
this is very short, but the writing was fun as was the premise. ...more
too much curling, not enough romance for me. appreciated the asexual rep and the adult ADHD rep, but these two did not spend nearly enough time togethtoo much curling, not enough romance for me. appreciated the asexual rep and the adult ADHD rep, but these two did not spend nearly enough time together for my personal romance reading preferences.
if you like a lot, and i do mean A LOT, of sportsing event description with your romance, definitely give this a go...more
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