so, my conundrum is that i really loved how the author described music, and chemistry between the leads, and the friendship group, but i really hated so, my conundrum is that i really loved how the author described music, and chemistry between the leads, and the friendship group, but i really hated the TSwift references (this is a pop punk band, i don't get it at all) and overall the pop culture references and pacing were not for me.
I am also not a huge fan of included materials like fake interviews, articles, tweets, etc etc to build out the past (a la Daisy Jones sort of) and it was all pretty skippable to me.
i know certain readers will love this, i just didn't.
professional review to come for Library Journal....more
A former competitive ice skater turned sports journalist butts heads (and hearts) with an icy Swedish hockey coach. An enemies to lovers tale full of A former competitive ice skater turned sports journalist butts heads (and hearts) with an icy Swedish hockey coach. An enemies to lovers tale full of banter, sexual tension, and an air hockey bet turned into wedding date.
This was my first Lia Riley and I super enjoyed her wit, especially the Star Wars references! Her heroine is a hard working, realist with some self-doubts plaguing her since her sudden exit from ice skating for "not being feminine enough." I appreciated her love of her profession, her age (she's 30), and her willingness to try new things, even dating the damn guy who said he would rather have sex with a penguin (!!), but not without confronting him about it first.
There was enough drama, but no lies. While not my favorite hero, Tor was a hunk who eventually melted my heart.
I do have to say the cover kind of...turns me off? Like, whoa, head right there. But hey, this is an eBook so it isn't like you have to carry it around. Also, the characters names were a bit much and Riley does try to pack in the plot points despite the short length. From ice skating, ex-wives (who, kudos to Riley, was a great but very minor character), a daughter, a car accident, to hockey, and even booby-tassel dancing, some of the things felt a bit rushed when I really just wanted Tor and Neve to be together on the page.
Still, give it a go, you won't be sad.
Thank you to Avon for the free review copy!
Merged review:
A former competitive ice skater turned sports journalist butts heads (and hearts) with an icy Swedish hockey coach. An enemies to lovers tale full of banter, sexual tension, and an air hockey bet turned into wedding date.
This was my first Lia Riley and I super enjoyed her wit, especially the Star Wars references! Her heroine is a hard working, realist with some self-doubts plaguing her since her sudden exit from ice skating for "not being feminine enough." I appreciated her love of her profession, her age (she's 30), and her willingness to try new things, even dating the damn guy who said he would rather have sex with a penguin (!!), but not without confronting him about it first.
There was enough drama, but no lies. While not my favorite hero, Tor was a hunk who eventually melted my heart.
I do have to say the cover kind of...turns me off? Like, whoa, head right there. But hey, this is an eBook so it isn't like you have to carry it around. Also, the characters names were a bit much and Riley does try to pack in the plot points despite the short length. From ice skating, ex-wives (who, kudos to Riley, was a great but very minor character), a daughter, a car accident, to hockey, and even booby-tassel dancing, some of the things felt a bit rushed when I really just wanted Tor and Neve to be together on the page.
Still, give it a go, you won't be sad.
Thank you to Avon for the free review copy!...more
first off, the title and people on the cover do not fit image I have of Nat & Darcy - more masculine leaning, queer, hot babes. MUSCLES. These gals lofirst off, the title and people on the cover do not fit image I have of Nat & Darcy - more masculine leaning, queer, hot babes. MUSCLES. These gals look like pals. Also, they are both former Olympian hockey players from Team USA & Team Canada, and I don't get that here either.
OKAY but the inside story? tons of fun. a second-chance former college secret sweethearts (for team dynamic reasons, not secretly closeted reasons) to rival Olympians and now coworkers creating sizzle reels for the upcoming Winter Olympic broadcast.
Darcy, Canadian, has been in sports news for awhile, and is looking for her big break. She's aghast when her former secret girlfriend and teammate, then Olympic (USA) rival is selected to be her on-camera partner. They haven't seen each other since squaring off in the Olympics, and now Natalie has ~just~ not made the cut for the current USA Women's Hockey Team. She's upset, but hopeful to at least be a part of the games in this way.
being made to look goofy and perform sports they have never tried before brings out both their competitive spirits and past feelings.
i had a lot of fun with this, darcy and nat have great chemistry and Nat is obviously still hurt by the way the older Darcy (senior when she was a freshman in college) hid their relationship. A bit scene-y with all the various sports they have to try, and I did sometimes get confused about who's POV i was in but that's mostly on me the reader.
Great fun, especially if you love competitive women who get dressed up in sexy suits for a gala and good steam!
thank you to the publisher for the ARC; LJ review to come.
i did not realize this is book 2 in a series. it can stand alone, but I did feel really plopped into the action of a huge cast of characters without mi did not realize this is book 2 in a series. it can stand alone, but I did feel really plopped into the action of a huge cast of characters without much backstory to support them. the names of the characters were all very similar to. A Simi and a Simone. A Chloe and a someone else similar I cannot remember.
The romance also made me the reader feel plopped right into something that I didn't have enough backstory besides a prologue "tell it all" from the hero in his POV, then we jumped into single POV from Simi's perspective for most of the rest of the story. Second chance requires a LOT of work, and this felt insta-lust and insta-love without much scaffolding to prop it up or make me care.
The banter was trying really hard to be funny, and the "danger banging" felt a bit out of place. Also I saw this described as "closed door" and I do not find that accurate, as Jack definitely goes down on Simi on page, or at least it is pretty described. I'd have to go back and re-read to make sure, but there's definitely sexual acts described, if not penetrative ones. I would call this more of a fade to black, but that's even pushing it a bit.
the heist aspect was a bit confusing (see, second book) as did Jack's "evil ex."
this was not it for me.
thank you to the publisher for the advance copy; professional readers' advisory review to come for LJ....more
so, any kate canterbary book is ALWAYS a great time for me, this was no exception. that said, the romance pairing here was one of theactual rating 3.5
so, any kate canterbary book is ALWAYS a great time for me, this was no exception. that said, the romance pairing here was one of the more, okay fine? ones for me. Henry Hazlette, oldest in his surgical cohert after starting out med school later in life, felt unexplored beyond his adoration for the woman he has a one night stand with at his best friend's ill-fated wedding. when his best friend dumps a whole lot of drama on Whitney later in the story about Henry, I was like WHERE is some of these issues manifesting? Just a bit too self-actualized I suppose. =
the friendship circles in this story felt like the true stars to me, I loved meeting the newbies and seeing my favs (STREMMEL) so all in all this read like a comfortable hug and return to a world I like to be in. I just wanted Whitney and Henry to stand out a little bit more as individuals and as a couple, together, beyond these other characters.
whitney being the lead of an ethics committee as the reason why they could not immediately begin dating is fun for fiction, but i did have to turn my thinking brain off a bit for it. honestly, could have used more drama from that because i like that angst!
the male narrator also wasn't my fav, his voice read a bit smooshy? i can't describe it, he just had a lispy squishy sounding voice (oscar reyes). I'd listen to narrator Stella Hunter again though!
A debut romance, the vacation adventure setting in Vietnam was so absolutely delightful and fun, and helped off-set some of the heavier themes of grieA debut romance, the vacation adventure setting in Vietnam was so absolutely delightful and fun, and helped off-set some of the heavier themes of grief and trying to find ones-self when your whole life has imploded. Thankfully, while Evie's father is dead (from cancer) it is from a long time ago, and Evie's grief from the more recent death of her beloved aunt (the person responsible for the REQUIRMENT of attending this matchmaking tour) is of a softer variety, one more spent trying to try living as her aunt would have wanted her to.
If only we could all have an Auntie Hảo who bequeaths us a multi-million dollar home in the Bay Area AND already paid for a three week all-inclusive five star tour. Especially if it comes with a stern, laced up Adam to fall in love with.
Fun opposites attract romance, would love to hear this on audio.
thank you to the publisher for the advance copy....more
Absolutely decent contemporary fake dating romance that also grapples with cultural identity and belonging. A great starter romance for those newer toAbsolutely decent contemporary fake dating romance that also grapples with cultural identity and belonging. A great starter romance for those newer to the genre.
about 100 pages too long, and just never really captured my interest. this was fine. fairly standard friends to lovers romance with a plot moppet kid,about 100 pages too long, and just never really captured my interest. this was fine. fairly standard friends to lovers romance with a plot moppet kid, mostly vibes, and the setting was more interesting than the romance itself. there was some steam. I was glad the ex-fiancee of the hero wasn't really villainized in the end (but i was worried there for a bit), and overall i didn't hate the book. I personally don't enjoy such a fluffy, low-stakes friends to lovers romance, but if that is your vibe you will probably really like it!
Content notes: the hero is biracial (Black, father from Nigeria; white mother from Scotland). heroine is assaulted on the way home from a night out (arm grabbed and violence threatened).
professional review to come for Library Journal. ARC provided by the publisher, thank you....more
Prickly and fiery Chloe who is capital A anxious about her upcoming hope for a contract extension, and maybe even a principle dancer position, with thPrickly and fiery Chloe who is capital A anxious about her upcoming hope for a contract extension, and maybe even a principle dancer position, with the NYC Ballet, but has to put her ambitions on hold to help her best friend and fellow ballerina get married...in Australia. Ramming into a sexy stranger who turns out to be a surly jerk, and the best man, wasn't in the plans either. But, if he can help Chloe launch herself into fame with photos around the beautiful Sydney, maybe she can shelve her Pride.
I absolutely loved this romance by Chloe Angyal; Chloe is a beautiful disaster who some may describe as "difficult" but i absolutely loved her character ARC so so so much. I don't want to give too much away, as you all should read this, but Chloe has a condition that causes penetration of any sort to result in massive amounts of pain, and the way the author AND Chloe's new love interest handles this is both so so so important and so sweet, and SEXY. Photographer Nick's research and care and acceptance is what we all need in a romance love interest. WILD APPLAUSE.
Just read this one, you will not be disappointed! I also love how the author depicts ballet; all the beauty and pain, and not romanticized in a way that undercuts the real issues inherent in the sport.
I am friendly with the author online; all opinions are my own!
what a delight. i am thrilled at the growth between book 1 (which i did NOT like) and this five star banger???
softer than what i normally read (see nowhat a delight. i am thrilled at the growth between book 1 (which i did NOT like) and this five star banger???
softer than what i normally read (see no third act break), the pull of this romance was seeing if Nova and Charlie would evolve from "one night, no strings" to slowly falling into a relationship, and both of them figuring out what what they needed to be in one.
Charlie's ADHD was tenderly explored, and I felt a lot of empathy for his people pleasing, his horrible father who made him never feel like enough. Just wanting to feel chosen, and Nova's part in perpetuating that (without her fully realizing it).
Also, there's a whole lot of sexy selfies, great lingerie, biting, a little throat holding, damn how dare this book be so steamy? and romantic?!
great descriptions, loved the tattoo imagery, and that Nova was the bit of a grumpy black cat, and charlie the labrador retriever.
more to come, definitely sold me on this series because I did NOT get it before.
professional review to come for Library Journal as well; thank you for the advance copy!...more
Okay, so I know SMP is re-releasing this soon but as I am not reviewing SMP due to the boycott, I went ahead and downloaded the audio of the original Okay, so I know SMP is re-releasing this soon but as I am not reviewing SMP due to the boycott, I went ahead and downloaded the audio of the original indie release from Libby. I am really falling in love with Tara DeWitt's writing style; she spends MOST of the book with the main love interests ON PAGE TOGETHER. Wow what a concept! That's the romance I want to read! And despite all the ongoing renovation, the growing up, the secondary characters, none of that overshadowed these two's love story.
The setting of scene is also so great. The beachy small town; the ramshackle and falling apart house. Being on a budget, not having enough money, having to fret about the future due to lack of insurance and jobs.
ALSO super sexy; a bit slow-burn but always at a slow roil.
okay. but the narrator for the male main character in this indie audio version is...terrible. He is trying to do a boston accent i think? but wow it does NOT work and we are on the west coast even if the mmc is a transplant. the woman narrator is great, she could have done the whole book imo.
there was a whole lot to really like in this debut, single POV romance. i loved the concept, featuring a buzzfeed-esque content firm where struggling there was a whole lot to really like in this debut, single POV romance. i loved the concept, featuring a buzzfeed-esque content firm where struggling web series producer Hallie Barrett's job is sort of on the line, and she needs a big win to recover from a toxic ex // coworker, so finds the cutest, most promising podcaster and runs with it, even if she's skeptical of his conspiracy theories.
Hayden Hargrove is a big, tall cinnamon roll who only likes the ~right conspiracies~ (not the racist, problematic ones as is pointed out in the story). He agrees to strike out to do more video and a whole show, especially since the studio will foot the bill for sending them on location to find, maybe Bigfoot? aliens? all sorts of cryptids and ghosts and such and stuff. The problem is Hayden is a big ol' flop on his own, but add Hallie's skepticism to the show? Instant gold, and tween shippers (the holy grail).
Told in single POV from Hallie's POV, this was a fun start, and I hope the author writes a lot more!
I do wish we had Hayden's POV (as I always do, I'm primarily a dual POV reader, ymmv). Also, this read a bit scene-y - you get your sick bed scene, you get your only one bed moment, etc. I have no issue with this, but sometimes it feels included more as a trope check off than necessary to the arc. This is also something I, a very very seasoned reader of the genre, notice; this book would make a perfect "try out romance, i think you'll love it" read! and that's great!
I also enjoyed that the heroine enjoyed ~herb~ in this story; recreationally and for funsies.
author includes content notes in the front matter, thank you for that, and thank you to the publisher for the ARC...more
the audiobook is really really gorgeous. I don't even really know what else to write for this review right now, so just read my friend Mel's review ovthe audiobook is really really gorgeous. I don't even really know what else to write for this review right now, so just read my friend Mel's review over on Smexy:
**spoiler alert** i just wrote a lovely review of the audiobook for Library Journal.
This is my personal feelings review; and whew I had them! everythi**spoiler alert** i just wrote a lovely review of the audiobook for Library Journal.
This is my personal feelings review; and whew I had them! everything here is spoilery, so if you intend to read/listen, i'd so go on in without expectations beyond me reassuring you that yes, this is a romance, and yes it has an HEA. also the writing is gorgeous, but the ending hit me so fast i still have a little bit of whiplash.
spoilers:
(view spoiler)[ Ms. Della, you were my favorite. I loved you and Tuesday so much, Ricki is very lucky to have you. Ms Della, I'm glad you got some closure about your mother.
The female relationships in this book were so well done, as were the secondary characters who imo stole the show from Ricki & Ezra. Their love story didn't really work for me, and I'm sorry but choosing to simply get high at the end and "let fate take ricki" and then finding out Ms Della (who had terminal cancer!!) died by suicide? I saw that train coming, but the ending still felt like a brick to the face.
there is a lot going on in this story, and the pull of Ricki and Ezra to each other felt the least explored to me, and in a romance, i personally just wanted more.
also, the whole "I used to be with the mother of your adopted grandma" would make a great book club discussion (it is a no, from me) lol (hide spoiler)]
what a damn delight, truly the epitome of a cozy fuck fest.
i will say, if you have not yet read at minimum the first two books in the Loose Ends seriewhat a damn delight, truly the epitome of a cozy fuck fest.
i will say, if you have not yet read at minimum the first two books in the Loose Ends series, i would advise you to do so. there is a lot of good catchup with the Weatherspoon-verse in this book, and newbies may feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of side characters and names.
that said, if the romance itself is able to stand on its own (if you accept that all of Meegan and Olin's friends are great and you can know them later).
Meegan is a kindergarten teacher who is just almost over having all of her play partners, including her mistress, partner off and change the dynamic in their 'scene.' meegan is treasured by all, but is not ~the one~ for any of them, despite her having real feelings for many. when her friend Xeni offers to connecct Meegan with Olin, a self-made millionaire who'd like some buffer in the form of a beautiful woman to fend off the many others trying to get his attention (and offer support in social situations), Meegan thinks why not? He's offered to pay for her time, outfit her in only the best, and seems to be a really sweet person.
Olin and Meegan both soon realize they might be perfect for each other? both in and out of bed, and the majority of the story is realizing how to involve Olin in the group dynamic Meegan is used to, both friends and lovers-wise.
it was absolutely sexy and fun to read about how Olin negotiated and learned about becoming Meegan's commish, and I don't want to say too much more but do be prepared with some gatorade for the grand finale.
no third-act break, Olin's autism is a part of his character, not the plot, and i love love love these two to the bat cave and back.
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
single pov, 1st present tense (did not work for me at all) and an overall boring romance arc set in a packaged foods competition in chicago between risingle pov, 1st present tense (did not work for me at all) and an overall boring romance arc set in a packaged foods competition in chicago between rival Armenian food makers (and others).
Barely enough time given to the romance over descriptions of Nazeli "ellie" ex-boyfriend and HR software company job, Vanya felt like a completely flat love interest and overall this was just not it for me.
thank you to LJ and the publisher for the early copy; professional review to come for Library Journal
there is some kissing and a fade to black sex scene that almost felt out of place...more
Luna moves out of her cousin's home before his baby is born, and into a boring, standard issue apartment after missing out on Actual rating 4.25 stars
Luna moves out of her cousin's home before his baby is born, and into a boring, standard issue apartment after missing out on her dream lower flat duplex. Too bad the apartment manager is the same guy she annoyed during an impromptu photo shoot for her cousin's jewelry business, but at least she's flustered HIM enough to get him to agree to letting her do some home reno on the place.
Sam Sunderland is aghast when he finds Luna painting cabinets, changing light fixtures, and hauling up maybe a murder rug?? but he did agree, so decides why not help Luna out to make sure she's not doing irreparable harm to his cranky father's building.
Lucky Strike is a lovely, sexy, funny, and poignant contemporary that has everything ~i love~ in a small town romance. Both Luna and Sam feel stuck // trapped in their current circumstances, both have to confront their issues (with each other, and themselves).
Also, banter for days! i love banter.
rounded down a smidge for a pretty abrupt third act break which, per the characters, wasn't "out of character" but still did feel a little sudden.
Funny, with slow-burn pay off. People are sleeping on this author!
*i purchased a copy with my own money **the author is a friend, but the opinions are my own....more
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