I have to gather my thoughts on this review so it may be in progress or may just remain ramblings. I also think I’m done with Hades and Persephone retI have to gather my thoughts on this review so it may be in progress or may just remain ramblings. I also think I’m done with Hades and Persephone retellings because the core story isn’t as much my jam sadly.
Written in third person, single POV of h (though there’s also at least this first book from H’s POV also by the author). Some ow drama with h being jealous of H’s assistant (who he previously slept with a long time ago, once) and some om drama from a coworker of h’s attempting to assault her at one point. H is experienced (he’d been alive centuries) but little is given on his love life and he seemed to mostly be alone, h is inexperienced.
Hades (H) was mysterious, possessive, tempting, and willing to grow and change, I ate up every moment he was on page. He was complex and intriguing. He’s then instantly fascinated with Persephone (h) and spent the book willing to empower and challenge her. Meanwhile she spent the book mainly judgmental, wishy washy, and making me want to throw my kindle across the room ...more
Catherine Cowles knows how to hit hard in the feels with her prologues, though this one didn't wreck me as much as some of her others thankfully. StilCatherine Cowles knows how to hit hard in the feels with her prologues, though this one didn't wreck me as much as some of her others thankfully. Still, Rhodes (h) suffers a devastating loss when she's 13 and fourteen years later, she's finally in a place where she feels like she can move forward and honor what she's lost. Helping her, cheering her on, and giving her lots of hilarious banter are her found family, including her BFF, adopted mom and grandmother, and foster siblings. The found family in this is DELIGHTFUL and heartwarming and hilarious. One of her foster siblings is also best friends with Anson (H), who's leading an important part of the rehab of Rho's home. Anson is also struggling with the demons of his past, except he's not ready to face them or to feel for anyone else. He's shut himself off of any type of deep relationship, even limiting his long-time friendships to a degree. But something about Rho's light shines right into the heart of his darkness.
Not just Anson has some darkness though and there's a lot more happening in this small town and with the past than folks realize...dun dun dunnnnnnn (sorry). It takes a bit but the suspense starts building, the dangers begin to materialize, and in true Cowles fashion, the later part of the book is quite the ride. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, some om drama from h's ex and some hints that a couple other men in their town might be interested in h, and both are experienced (H has been celibate for a long time and h recently ended a casual relationship, with no details on whether they were actually physically intimate or not, but she mostly had casual relationships due to her hangups).
Importantly, CUTE ANIMAL SIDEKICK shelf has a nice addition. Rho has a foster puppy and he is the best. Every moment he was on page, my heart melted out of my chest and my own dogs got jealous (maybe not really). There were also bottle-fed kittens, just saying. Anson also bonds with Rho's pup and the preciousness. Anson and Rho were also precious together, though their introduction and subsequent follow-up interactions were rocky. Anson is guarded and prickly and while Rho has a hard time chancing letting people close enough to become permanent, she's also friendly, caring, and on the sunshine side, so pokes and prods at him. Anson's also protective though and that opens the door for the connection that gets established and that they build from, becoming friends to finally lovers. Yes, there are a couple of steamy scenes, including a couple of interrupted moments (poor Anson), a bit of bondage, and a toy as a helper.
What really hits though is the vulnerability of both main characters trying to open up after losing what they loved and the guilt that they still navigate related to those losses. Anson in particular takes time to peel back his layers and share deeper parts of himself. There are some hard conversations and grief support that happen. Not just between Rho and Anson, but also the supporting characters are there for them too.
Speaking of supporting characters, this is a first in a new series so it's setting the stage for the small town and for this new family, who I assume will mostly get their own HEAs. I adored Rho's siblings and her mom, but her adopted grandmother stole every scene she was in. The diamond painting, the sexual innuendos, and the love she had for her family, magnificent. Rho also has co-workers and other townspeople who surround her. You'll also be side-eyeing several characters btw, trying to figure out who's not on the up and up, good luck, I didn't get it right.
As much as I enjoyed this, I did feel like the pacing wasn't quite on point in places. It was hard to put my finger on. Some details were also repeated a few times, like how much the foster siblings had gone through, for example. I am looking forward to finding out what they've faced however. The build up to the climax was really good though, except the final reveal was a little OTT for me personally. I saw another friend found it to be a stretch in her review and I agree. But the resolution was solid and there is a HEA for our couple. The epilogue is a short jump ahead into the future and I loved it. I got choked up a little, it made me so happy, and there's a bonus scene that can be downloaded to see a little more of the couple. I'm excited to see where this series goes. ...more
It's been almost two weeks since I finished a book so it's a great feeling to like a story and set of characters enough to actually see them 3.5 stars
It's been almost two weeks since I finished a book so it's a great feeling to like a story and set of characters enough to actually see them through their story. Other friends seemed to like this book a bit more than I did and my slump could absolutely make the difference here between a three and a four star. This does have single dad/nanny trope, with no real drama over their romance developing, and some age gap (I think it was about 8 years).
This was a wholesome feeling, sweet read with low internal angst and genuinely likable characters (main and side). The H is a rancher that doesn't get as much time with his kids because he's so busy, making him a bit of a grump. The h is newer to this small Montana town since she came for a vacation and decided to stay. She works in a coffee shop, but gets the opportunity to be a nanny for the H's kids since she wants a second job and is close friends with the H's sister. The romance is cute and very easy, which I liked, but also nothing stood out for me. It read a little generic imo, even though there was good banter and chemistry and nice incorporation of steam too. There's also a small suspense side plot that becomes a focus later in the book that I felt kind of meh about. The H is great though, the h was a sweetheart, and the kids were adorable.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, small amount of om drama regarding a former stalker of the h's, and neither were virgins (not much history given at all). H was married before and the prologue is him losing his wife to childbirth. They were married though because she got pregnant and were more friends than anything else so this isn't a book where the H is a widower still mourning the loss of his first wife.
I really liked both sets of families and that both the H and h had strong family connections and support. I think that this is a second generation series in terms of the h's parents having a prior book by this author, but she was a new to me character. It did mean that some of the fleshing out of her background came a little later in the book for my taste, but it does eventually come about. Although I didn't fully understand some of the h's motivations still. The H was more clear-cut for me. I also appreciated all the scenes of them actually on the ranch and appreciating the wildlife and beauty of Montana.
The ending is sweet (the H offers some great swooniness, including their last scene) and HFN, but clearly they're devoted to each other and planning on building a new life together, we just don't get a peek into their future. I think they'll be side characters as the rest of the H's family finds their HEAs though....more
I’m always going to love taking a chance on a debut author and then finding a book that has heart, excellent cha3.5 stars and a long review, sorry lol
I’m always going to love taking a chance on a debut author and then finding a book that has heart, excellent characters, and great promise for future writing. Some parts of Holding the Reins worked wonderfully for me and some I struggled with a bit. You can tell that the author loves her characters and is setting up this small town to have several future romances and I do think that as she refines her writing, she’s going to be an even stronger storyteller.
The book begins with Cece (h) coming home to her small town in Kentucky from Seattle, after she’s left her cheating fiancé. The opening is her being chased by her BFF’s grandma, who rescued Cece’s vibrator when it fell out of her luggage. What made that scene funnier is how the author chose to have everybody find out about it (at one point Cece asks if there’s a tin can and string set up around town for how info flies around and I died laughing). Cece’s dad passed away a few months prior and as she moves home, she's figuring out what her life looks like now, but she’s got her momma, two brothers, her niece, and a girl gang that are a trip. She also has Nash (H), her brothers’ best friend, and honorary other member of their family. Nash retired recently from the NHL and has a couple of businesses going around town keeping him super busy, while also being very present in the community and in Cece’s family. And though he used to help tease her with her brothers, grown up Nash and grown up Cece want to do a different kind of teasing, despite the possible consequences.
Written in first person, dual POV. Tiny ow moments (h thinks H still dates around like he did in high school and college, but he doesn’t, however he does go on one date while crushing on the h, to try and be with someone more “appropriate” - he spends the date talking about h and then ends the date going to her rescue and forgetting about the ow so it was irritating but also kind of not; h also gets jealous a couple of times thinking about ow he might be hooking up with that he’s not) and small om moments as well (h’s ex is on page a couple times being an ass but he still wants her back and there’re a couple of times also that H loses his mind over om being interested in dancing with h), and neither are virgins (H has been celibate for 19 months *cheers* and h had been with her ex for eight years).
Nash Carter was fire with his jealous/possessive moments, some really hot “my/mine” talk, his equally hot dirty talk, his sweet and caring moments (y’all, he braids her hair back when she’s feeling sick and ties it off with f’ing dental floss cause he doesn’t have a hair tie), and his wonderful nature that made him want to give back to his community. Full package right there (along with an apparently *ahem* large other kind of package). He was emotionally challenged, but it was because of past trauma related to the loss of his parents, so it was hard to hold it completely against him…I also could have done without him constantly thinking of how tiny Cece was.
Cece was also lovable with her intelligence, sassiness, and spark. She was fun when she was pushing Nash’s buttons, but also amazing when she was with her friends or family. I reveled in the moments when she was shown different facets of Nash than what she had pictured too. Which she gets lots of opportunity to see when she starts working for him and because she keeps ending up in his bar with her friends.
Cece certainly wasn’t one dimensional, but I felt Nash did stand out more though since Cece had more to discover about him, while she was more of an open book to him. Also there was a hefty amount of steam in this book and I was there for it (just fyi for my fellow readers who aren’t fans of degradation - there’s one scene with 2 words used that’s super brief but it made me pull up for a moment personally and do a word search, but it’s just those 2 uses).
I did find the writing needed some work but at least there were only a few typos. Sometimes there was floating dialogue where I wasn’t sure if the last person who spoke said something or a new person and transitions between chapters/POVs was sometimes confusing. This is me being nitpicky though and I know it, but I have friends on here that I think might feel nitpicky about it too.
It would have been great if there was more of a catalyst for why Nash and Cece saw each other differently. I was glad this wasn’t a pining situation but it also felt very lust-based at first kind of out of nowhere since they'd seen each other as adults, though always knew the other was attractive. Or if there was a slightly longer timeframe than the couple of months this was. I also couldn’t understand why the details of what happened with Nash’s parents took so long to share. There wasn’t a mystery to it, but it took the reader til 60% to know the facts and it drove me a little crazy with the hints. The scene itself was impactful, it just would have worked better for me if some of the info had been shared earlier and then the rest of the scene played out as is. Pacing in general was slightly off though, but that might have also been because of the timeline.
The timeline is a point that I was seriously confused about. Some milestone moments are given for context and I was still confused. For example, why it took her so long to leave her fiancé once she suspected he was unfaithful, I was surprised how quickly Nash got himself settled back in the area (unless I misunderstood that timing, which brings me back to my concern), and the timing of the events of this story seemed to both fly by and take weeks at a time. There’s a reference at one point that they have time for an event they were planning, that was seriously huge on a short window since I thought they only had a month, then weeks passed, but they still somehow had time for additional arrangements.
Still, this book was packed with small town goodness, funny and sweet side characters, and a sweet romance. The third act conflict was emotional and frustrating, but also had me cheering for Cece not wanting to accept less than she deserved a second time. Even if Nash was there with her but couldn’t use his words well. Her brothers made a stink, but weren’t as awful as they (and I) feared. Plus, Nash shows up in a great way. Then the ending was so amazing. Some of the middle of this story might have been a bit of a valley for me, but the ending was so damn strong. A proposal that had me tearing up and an epilogue seven years later of them married with kids and just adorableness. I’ll definitely check this author out again. ...more
To start, the dedication and author’s note were powerful. I was so touched by the author’s words. Multiple friends have mentioned that I nee4.5 stars
To start, the dedication and author’s note were powerful. I was so touched by the author’s words. Multiple friends have mentioned that I needed to try one of her books so that was one of my goals for 2024 and I’m so glad I did, I can’t wait to read more. Some tropes in this book though are age gap (10 years I think), friends to lovers, single dad, fake relationship, and mutual pining.
Funny Feeling was (unsurprisingly) funny, along with being uplifting, emotional, sometimes sharp, and intimate. Farley (h) is a standup comedian who’s starting to get more recognition and Meyer (H) is her best friend and manager. The story moves between present day and scenes of their past as it highlights their relationship. The initial meeting between them was tumultuous and lovely in the best way. I wasn’t in love with the flow of the present and past chapters though, despite the value and insight I thought they brought. It just threw me off sometimes.
The strength of this story imo was the characters and their experience, how their scenes were imbued with the magic of their personalities, care for each other, and the deep respect and love their relationship was built on (from a friend perspective as well as more). This book doesn’t shy away from the messier aspects of the main characters’ inner thoughts and emotional turmoil, but it also balances those out with loads of laughs, stirring feels, and a touch of steam.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (though one past scene does have an ex of the h’s in it but no on page steam with him) and neither were virgins (H had been celibate for several years and h was celibate for I think about a year - so he wasn’t with anyone after meeting her but she had been after meeting him). The H is a single dad but his child was the result of a ONS and the mother died in childbirth.
I appreciated that Farley and Meyer were equally dependent on each other and that, with Meyer’s daughter Hazel, there was a special family feel to their connection. Also loved the inclusion and representation with Hazel being deaf. Every scene with Meyer’s daughter was adorable and her relationships with both her father and Farley were touching. Farley and Meyer do have many scenes without Hazel too.
The banter was excellent and the mutual pining ratcheted up the tension of when their feelings would come to light. There’s openness and excellent communication except when it came to their romantic feelings and a bit of how it affected their work. That pining was well written while also making me want to hold their faces together and force them to cross those lines, and I thought they could have been honest with each other earlier. As their fake relationship prompted them to talk more about their real feelings, I was almost squealing. Once the steam came about too, I was on cloud nine. It’s not the spiciest steam, though it is satisfying.
The middle did drag for me unfortunately and the flow of the writing sometimes felt off. However I loved the positive therapy discussions and mentions of supporting mental health. Some of the humorous moments were zany and others more tongue-in-cheek. Farley’s sense of humor is raunchy at times so there are some jokes that mention bodily functions, for example. The romance is gooey without being too syrupy. Side characters supported the main ones and moved along the plot of Farley getting the next step in her career. Absolutely adored the strong female friendship vibes.
I wish the climax and mini-conflict wasn’t quite what happened but there’s no third act breakup at least. There’s still a grand gesture that was swoony. The epilogues (yep two) had a tender, perfect HEA tone to them. One is an article format of a journalist interviewing Farley some years later and it provides details of where they are. Then the other happens before that one chronologically and is their wedding day. It was just the best note to end the book on.
Better Than the Beach was a mostly light holiday read with college student Cassie (h) ending up stuck in Denver due to weather instead of on the beachBetter Than the Beach was a mostly light holiday read with college student Cassie (h) ending up stuck in Denver due to weather instead of on the beach, which leads to her meeting PhD student and professor Nolan (H) at his mother's B&B. There's some cheesiness here and some contrived angst with a pretty pat resolution, but I liked the holiday feel of this novella and the ending did leave me happy.
Nolan is 11 years older than Cassie but they felt on the same level for the most part, esp since Nolan acts pretty goofy with his older brothers. Cassie had originally planned on losing her virginity on her winter vacation to Hawaii and lo and behold, her unexpected wintry locale forces her in proximity to a man who lights her up. The attraction is very much mutual and Nolan is both lustful and smitten. I personally thought the focus on her virginity was a little much (this is from her perspective), but their time together at the B&B was cute and steamy. I loved Nolan's mom and how she was sly and very much matchmaking. Nolan had been with a woman that his family hated, but his family loves Cassie from the first introduction. Some of his mom's antics though piled on that cheesiness factor while also making me wonder where she was hiding herself at times.
However, the story took an unnecessarily dramatic turn as Cassie was leaving and immediately following the less than stellar send-off, she thinks she's been ghosted. Despite the way things seemingly ended between them, Nolan had inspired Cassie to grasp what she wanted for her future and 8 months later, she's pursuing what she truly wants to do with her life when she's brought back into Nolan's orbit. Except he didn't ghost her by choice (which is part of the overly contrived part) and all it takes is a bit of catching up for them to pick right back up. The epilogue is a slightly less than 2 year jump ahead and very cute and adorable with their HFN/HEA. I even got a little choked up.
Written in first person, dual POV. No om drama, some ow drama when H's ex shows up because she's a crazy one. H not a virgin but has been celibate for almost a year and h was a virgin. Both celibate during the months that they were apart. ...more
Still 3.5 stars but rounded up and I think the slump may finally have broken *knocks on every wooden surface in my house*
This series continues to be Still 3.5 stars but rounded up and I think the slump may finally have broken *knocks on every wooden surface in my house*
This series continues to be very cozy and sweet. This orc H was one of the ones that falls in the "devoted immediately" category and the way he spoke to her and called her "love" made me melt, his attention barely came off her. He's also an older, scarred orc who had worried his mate wouldn't be attracted to him. The h was so uncertain what was happening and what she should do because of the role she was assigned by her uncle, but I felt like she grew and came into her own by the end. The emphasis placed on how the orc culture thrives in the Hill was wonderful and seeing one of the human women really dive into that and highlight how the orcs were building something superior in contrast to the issues the human kingdoms were facing was so intriguing.
Most of the tension was built really well. And though the burn was slow, the steam definitely gets there and a couple of explicit scenes are on page, including the knotting. I didn't love how the final secret reveal came about, but it also fit very well with the characters and addressed a big question mark for me given the h is sent to the orcs to effectively root out info on them.
There's an adorable cat that didn't get enough page time. It was great seeing some of the prior couples and the next couple is set up nicely too. The ending is an epilogue a few months into the future and covers their HEA, alongside dealing with the h's uncle (this scene was excellent).
Written in first person, single POV of h. No ow/om drama, H not a virgin (h wonders about his history but nothing specific is stated other than knotting is only reserved for mates), and h was a virgin with barely any kissing experience. ...more
Some aspects of Reserved didn't click as well for me, but there's a lot here that did work and that I think some of my friends wo3.5 stars rounded up
Some aspects of Reserved didn't click as well for me, but there's a lot here that did work and that I think some of my friends would enjoy. It is super sweet with some moments of tension and a bit of drama. I do think the overall lack of tension made this a slower read for me (it's so sugary and the H is pretty dang perfect). I would read another book by these authors though and the overall feel of the book is right up my alley. Content notes are at the start of the book and there's a glossary at the back for some Italian sayings.
The prologue starts with Cami (h) having just suffered a betrayal that's very vague. Then we jump into Van (H) and Cami meeting as she's delivering food from her small business as a caterer to his company. Van is a self-made, Italian American billionaire who speaks Italian and is instantly focused on and obsessed with Cami. I did like that he used the online notes section of her ordering system to tell her details about himself and ask about her. It was cute. Van's also big on personal touches, like sending flowers with handwritten notes and encouraging Cami to speak up with what she wants. Though Cami's intrigued by him, she sees a lot of differences given that he's a billionaire and she's supposed to quit her small business in less than a year to go back to her family's farm to take over (which she doesn't want to do). Their romance is adorable with date nights, caretaking, lots of mentions of making food for others, being supportive of each other, and a heck of a lot of explicit steamy times.
Van is kind of grumpy to everyone else, but I thought of him as more directly honest, and Cami's sunshiney, but conflict avoidant so pushes concerns down. It's mentioned that there's a 13 year age gap, but I don't recall specific ages mentioned. This book doesn't have miscommunication, but it has lack of communication as Cami dodges hard talks and Van believes his actions speak for themselves. Written in first person, dual POV. Tiny bits of ow/om drama but with zero interest from the h or H for anyone else, though jealousy does occur (h's ex pops up briefly, another om makes a proposition, and the H has an ow who he attended some events with show up briefly). Neither are virgins, though little direct info is given - it appeared h might have only been with her ex and H had no serious relationships but didn't seem to be a manwhore.
When they were together they were a combo of adorable and smoking hot with Van saying crazily romantic things in Italian and Cami getting treated right for the first time. They have precious nicknames for each other and he's possessive over her in a way that she likes. But Cami also spends a good bit of time questioning how they'd fit together and noticing differences instead of similarities. It was so clear how devoted Van was from the start, while Cami was thinking he must "really like her" at just over 50% lol. The delay in discussing those big picture details honestly stressed me out and I saw the conflict coming from a mile away, it was frustrating. Esp when other areas were clicking so well *ahem* bedroom, or beautiful moments like him washing her, brushing out her hair, and then lotioning her up after those bedroom activities.
Speaking of the bedroom (or other areas of a house) - these spicy scenes were awesome. There's some sensation play, lots of giving from him to her, some toy use, some firsts for her, and some cum play. They also discuss birth control and health status.
Both Cami and Van have loving support in friends and family. Cami had positive female friendships and a wide net of people who wanted to see her succeed. Van was dedicated to his family, though they're not on page as much. I do wish that we'd had scenes of Van bonding with Cami's friend group and of Cami meeting his family, the lack of these was kind of a let down. Van also had a lovely relationship with his older, widowed neighbor (who does meet Cami in a funny and cute scene) and his female business partner.
There is a third act breakup that goes back to that lack of communication, BUT there's also hard truths coming from multiple places, eye opening, and a grovel complete with going down on the knees and some tears being shed. The ending was great and the epilogue is a small jump ahead in time with a sweet HEA and very satisfying in terms of their relationship. The authors have a bonus scene through sign up to their newsletter as well. While my reader mood didn't love this as much as it could have, I feel pretty confident in recommending it to others. ...more
It's been years since I've read a Maiden Lane book, but I fell right back into the familiar and smooth cadence that this author writes in. I don't alwIt's been years since I've read a Maiden Lane book, but I fell right back into the familiar and smooth cadence that this author writes in. I don't always love her characters, but I adored Phoebe (h) and James (H) esp since James is silently longing for her, thinking she's out of reach, and it takes Phoebe a bit longer to consider him as more than that guard who's keeping her in line. Phoebe's the sister of a duke who's extra swaddled in wool and overprotected because she's slowly lost her sight over the course of years. Though she has this disability, Phoebe also maintains a sunny personality and a zest for life, she was a wonderfully sweet character and a fantastic foil for the cynical and life toughened James. James is more than a decade older and was a captain with the dragoons before being seriously injured, to the point that he uses a cane and worries that he may need to step back from watching over Phoebe at some point. But he's not just a general guard for his charge, there's a kidnapping plot afoot and multiple attempts to spirit Phoebe away for questionable purposes.
Written in third person, multi-POV (including some side characters at times). No ow drama, slight om drama from someone who's interested in h but who she rejects. H isn't a virgin but appeared to have been celibate while pining for h and h is a virgin with no prior experience (h does ask H about some of his experience and the masculine outrage made me laugh but he's also upfront with her about his past).
There's angst, push/pull with lots of forced proximity creating additional tension, family drama on both their ends, and an overall sweet romance with a fulfilling HEA. The romance is a slow burn but gets plenty steamy, though the solidification of them as a couple takes pretty much the whole book. Some danger occurs but the suspense is pretty light imo. The mystery over who's behind the plotting isn't super strong, since the hints are clear, but the reasoning why doesn't come out til the very end, alongside the resolution. The epilogue is only two weeks into the future and partially includes a lead-in to the next book/couple, but also shows this couple on their wedding day. Plus, prior characters are featured heavily throughout the series so I would think these two pop back up at some point, though I'm not sure.
I definitely recommend historical readers give this series a try if they haven't. As I said before, not all of the characters worked for me personally, but the ones that did have been ones I've reread. I bounced around and read books out of order back in the day (I'll continue to do so since my next read from these books will be earlier in the series) and you can absolutely do that, just know that minor spoilers may occur and side characters are very interconnected thanks to families, friendships, and social issues. ...more
I loved Bailey (h) and I thought it was wonderful that Beau (H) saw her when everyone else overlooked or looked down on her. This was a soli3.5 stars
I loved Bailey (h) and I thought it was wonderful that Beau (H) saw her when everyone else overlooked or looked down on her. This was a solid read, though not my favorite of the series. I rounded down for more nitpicky things that bothered me than my overall enjoyment though and I'm glad that I did finish the whole series. The Eaton family has been a pleasure to tag along with as they find love, plus Harvey's sense of humor in each book, along with the text chats are fantastic.
Bailey's the daughter of the ne'er-do-well family of Chestnut Springs and Beau's the golden boy, hero of the town. Except Beau's back from a traumatic experience and discharged from the military and he's an ass to everyone as he's silently drowning. His interactions with Bailey bring back a glimmer of feeling to his numbness, which keeps him coming back to the bar she works at and then things developing further from there. Bailey doesn't treat him with kid gloves and she's a little too forthright at times, with a shocking level of comfort with Beau (some of these times reminded me of Willa's boldness but in a different way). Beau ends up feeling protective of Bailey and they form a partnership of a sort hinged on a bet that if they enter into a fake engagement, whether or not being a future Eaton will open more opportunities for Bailey in their town or if everyone will still treat her like crap. There are some sweet scenes, funny antics and banter, plenty of sexy curiosity and dirty talk, and some emotional moments. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, h is a virgin and H is not (not info given on how long it's been but it was hinted that it had been a bit).
Bailey made my heart hurt and melt and made me laugh like a loon at times. She was terrific and her resiliency and determination to rise above what her family was like and what the town thought of her was superb. She was the right amount of vulnerable, sassy, uncertain, and bratty. Beau was understandably complicated and gave a lot of whiplash however, which was an acknowledged character trait in the book. He's lost and in sorting himself out, he's still trying to force himself to be the old Beau, but then other times he's other facets of his personality. It was intentional, but it also gave me whiplash as the reader. Where he didn't waver was how much he wanted to care for Bailey and his interest in her and his protectiveness. His interest did seem sudden, but he was numb and she fired him up so he clung to that. They really both supported each other in many ways. We also do learn what happened to Beau on that last mission and he clearly has PTSD.
Steam-wise, this is a slow burn, but not for lack of desire. I thought there was good tension built between them with the attraction constantly humming. They have some interactions with little to no clothes that don't result in sexy times and they have some frank conversations about sex in general. I liked that Beau held himself back when he did so because of this fake relationship hovering over them, that he wanted them to be real before deeper physical intimacy (though he still cracks a couple times in smaller ways). The steamy scenes were enjoyable.
As part of the fake relationship, Bailey and Beau do go out on the town and attend family dinners, both of which made for enjoyable scenes. It's not just them on the ranch thankfully. Beau has a caveman side to him when it comes to Bailey, that comes out sometimes too, in public and private. Side characters are a given here, all of the prior couples pop up along with Harvey and Cordelia. I love the family ties and love that come through, even with the in-laws. Summer and Willa were esp encouraging and welcoming of Bailey.
I felt like this story's impact was lessened somewhat in a couple of ways. Some of the points were repeated to the point where it irritated me any time they were mentioned, like Bailey's youth. She's 22 and Beau's 35 and that age gap gets brought up frequently, sometimes in ways that read a little awkwardly to me. Bailey being a virgin was also a belabored point esp since she's not completely inexperienced, has a box full of sex toys, and was horny as hell. Seriously, she was DTF Beau pretty early on and she has some choice words for him at times for how he backs off physically with her. And as dedicated as I found Beau to Bailey, I wish that he had gotten therapy or that maybe the book didn't focus on her quite so intently as what bolstered him.
The third act conflict is something that I suspected but wasn't sure about and Bailey's heartache came through hard. Beau had to grovel and he does show up thankfully, in big and small ways. I appreciated that he gave her space while still being present and reinforcing that he was committed to them. The ending was really strong in my opinion, including where they are and their future plans. Plus the epilogue is HFN/HEA of Cade and Willa's wedding (aww) with Beau and Bailey talking about what their wedding could be like. Willa's brother Ford also pops up in Hopeless and he's the H of the first in the next series so there's a bit of a tie-in there. Overall, I liked this but I can understand why others were disappointed or some others loved it more than I did....more
Kidnapped by the Vampire just wasn't for me, although it started off well. I was drawn to the premise of a H who kidnaps a h to protect a su2.5 stars
Kidnapped by the Vampire just wasn't for me, although it started off well. I was drawn to the premise of a H who kidnaps a h to protect a supernatural town and they fall in love, but the execution of this romance was too shallow. The H is a vampire and mayor of the town and the h is a human whose great-aunt recently passed away, leaving her a store and a house. The H exposes himself (not like that) to the h and can't let her leave until her memory is adjusted to forget him. They have interesting back and forth sniping with being at odds over the whole "I'm holding you hostage" start, which I liked. The h is feisty and even though the H is firm in his belief that he's doing the right thing, he's trying to be careful to provide for the h and ensure she's as comfortable as she can be. Written in first person, single POV of h. No ow/om drama and neither were virgins (no sexual history I can recall though).
I thought that the forced proximity would quickly allow them to delve into their backgrounds and personalities, creating a strong bond, but unfortunately this book stayed on the surface for the characters. Very little info on either of them is given and while I liked them, I needed more to feel that their love was believable. Lots of lust and a fated mates feel, although I was never completely clear on that. There's a mention of soulmates later in the story but it was another point that wasn't developed enough for me. The few spicy scenes were good and I liked that they were slower to act on their attraction since the H knew there was a power imbalance present. The h is more of the pursuer on them crossing that line. He is a vampire and fangs are used during the steaminess.
A couple of other paranormal characters are introduced, who were also intriguing, and h's best friend was on page via phone contact only but appears to be the h of the next book. Alongside the hostage plot, there's also a side plot of a lioness shifter who's shady and her questionable son, but it's not resolved and I'm assuming it's an overarching plot that continues through the series. It felt unfinished in a perplexing way though because the lioness was making her conflict personal to the H. Some other inconsistencies and oddly placed internal thoughts also had me scratching my head at times.
The ending is HFN with an epilogue that's a chapter leading in to the next from the POV of the bestie coming to visit the town and of course, also seeing a supernatural exposed (this time, yes, that way). Overall, this can be taken as a quick paranormal read that's not going to be too deep with spicy scenes. Sometimes that's what you're looking for. I just wasn't and was more caught up in the potential to build more with the characters and story rather than the lighter fare that's at the core of this....more
I feel like a broken record lately but 3.5 stars rounded up
Gavin (H) is Lena’s (h) brother’s best friend since college and they’ve known each other siI feel like a broken record lately but 3.5 stars rounded up
Gavin (H) is Lena’s (h) brother’s best friend since college and they’ve known each other since he was 29 and she was 19 (this is an age gap romance obviously). Gavin spent Christmas with her family for years until he stopped coming three years prior. Both have had crushes on each other but Lena was just flirty and sassy while Gavin would never have crossed lines. This Christmas, Lena and Gavin are back in each other’s orbit and having a harder time resisting those pesky feelings. Lots of feels, lots of cute and sweet, great Christmas vibes and family times (the Christmas tree finding tradition was amazing and hello Mr. and Mrs. Claus). This is slow burn with plenty of steamy payoff still, but also some frustrating motivations and choices that didn’t make sense. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama (though h does feel jealous over H and there is a mention of H having caught h making out with a guy three years prior) and neither are virgins (H has been celibate for 3 years; limited info on both for dating).
Gavin has a sad backstory and has felt unlovable because of it. His welcome in Lena's family is special to him so he wouldn’t jeopardize his place in this family that’s opened their home and hearts to him. He's also not afraid to cry and was such a sweet man. The tension of how he felt about Lena, but also how torn he was that he felt that way was palpable. Although Gavin was precious (and has some truly amazing swoony moments), he didn’t quite come across as old as he was imo, he just felt younger. Lena was a harder nut to crack for me and left me confused. Gavin not pursuing her made complete sense, but Lena could have easily let him know years ago, or early on in the holiday time together, that she wanted more with him. Instead she alternately teases and tempts him then tries to push him away by lying and saying she views him as a brother, but then is frustrated with him. She had a far more inconsistent feel. I think this was partly because she was meant to be unsure about her place and her future thanks to being recently laid off. Unfortunately, I just wanted to shake her a couple of times. Meanwhile, Gavin's just adoring her and soaking up any moments he can.
The sexual tension is pretty ramped up between these two and when they do crack, they are s-t-e-a-m-y. Gavin might be a cinnamon roll sweetheart, but he was also a dirty talker. Because of both of their mindsets, their interactions start out more as "I'm giving in because I can't fight this anymore" and then shift to "I had a taste, I can't stay away now". Sneaking around also occurs, because they're trying to hide what's simmering from her family (who of course are going to catch them).
Speaking of her family, I liked them, but for as supportive and loving as they were supposed to be, it often felt like Lena was the odd person out and it made me sad. Her friend group were present via text though and provided a nice helping of texting humor and some truths. Some of the locals were also super cute and played their roles in helping finally bring this couple together.
This book does have third act drama. Both are scaredy-pants and a couple reveals close to the end add to that feeling of uncertainty between them instead of showing them more possibilities. I teared up because of the conflicting emotions and pain, however it's thankfully resolved pretty quickly. Best of all, they both step up and use their words. There's a super sweet expression of the true depth of their love for each other. Then, the epilogue. Y'all, this epilogue was perfect. I got all choked up and teary again. It's a couple years down the road with them settled and in love, with their family started. A special little inclusion was something I guessed would happen but still gave me major heart eyes.
Some of my friends have found this book frustrating, while others really enjoyed it. I recommend giving it a try if any of this sounds appealing. There are just some elements that aren't up everyone's alley and that's cool. ...more
Even though Irresistibly Wild is book 3 in this series, it can be easily read as a standalone (I did it), although prior characters from the earlier bEven though Irresistibly Wild is book 3 in this series, it can be easily read as a standalone (I did it), although prior characters from the earlier books in this series, and from at least one other series, make appearances. Callan (H) and Layla (h) made for a volatile but sweet combo with an intensity to their attraction that was balanced with a lot of care and compassion towards each other. This book does have some triggers regarding loss of loved ones and fighting for guardianship. I also had to suspend some disbelief at times because it veered into some melodramatic moments here and there and some of the circumstances didn't seem as realistic. But this is fiction and it was a solidly entertaining read with just the kind of MMC I like and a feisty and unpredictable FMC.
Callan and Layla meet randomly out one night and have a surprising ONS when they're each in a bad headspace but connecting with each other. They run into each other early the following week and discover that Callan is taking over Layla's med school class as an adjunct professor and working in the same hospital department she is, in addition to also sharing other social connections. Clearly any further relationship is prohibited, but tell that to the crazy energy that pulls them towards each other. Complicating it further, tragedy strikes Callan's family and he wants to become the guardian for his niece, something that Layla could assist with by doing him a little fake relationship favor. While keeping that fake relationship separate from the whole school/hospital stuff. And while resisting each other to avoid further complications. Y'all see where this is going right? Callan falls first and he falls so hard and Layla deserved to have someone step up for her and he deserved to have someone there for him during his struggles. Plus, Callan's niece is all kinds of adorable. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, some om drama from h's ex who wants her back but she has zero desire to listen to him, and neither are virgins (H did sleep around when he was younger and in a rock band, but has mellowed with age and h's relationship ended just a few months prior).
Layla was sometimes chaotic and other times very grounding for Callan. He was generally known as the easygoing guy and I thought it was nice that Layla brought a different energy to his world than he was used to. They have quite the push/pull because of the forbidden aspect and even when they're trying to be cautious and have boundaries, they're reeled back in. Their romance is very steamy, but also has some fantastic emotionally intimate moments. Sometimes those two elements are combined with vulnerable spicy times. And for those who are curious, yes they do get down at the school...where they could easily get caught... There are scenes of them at school besides *those* kinds of scenes and at the hospital as well, but a lot of time is also spent with them out and about or at home.
A whole bunch of side characters make up the supporting cast, who are truly supportive. Callan's niece broke my heart but also made me giggle and you could feel the love he had for her bursting from the page. He also has a found family vibe going with his best friends (and former band members). Layla has a large support system as well from her sister, best friend, and her adoptive family. Layla's relationship with her sister was esp moving and the way that she was able to connect with Callan and his niece about their situation because of what she'd gone through herself was written so well. Lots of positive female and male relationships in this story, which I loved. Of course there are some crappy people including a set of grandparents wanting to steal financial control and guardianship, Layla's awful ex, and an equally awful friend. But there are far more positive relationship dynamics happening in this book than negative.
No third act breakup, woo! But definitely third act drama from the outside forces surrounding this couple. The climax had quite a lot happening in it. The ending is a HFN/HEA with an epilogue 90 days in the future and an update from the events of the climax. It's a very cute and romantic scene that addresses the future and there are bonus scenes available for download from the author as well that I think are more solidly that HEA further jump ahead in time that lots of my friends and I enjoy (I just haven't read them yet). There's also an excerpt for the next book and one for Layla's sister's book (which was in another series). ...more
Reckless Heart is another very steamy small town romance in this fun series with the tropes of sister’s best friend, an 8 year age gap, and 3.5 stars
Reckless Heart is another very steamy small town romance in this fun series with the tropes of sister’s best friend, an 8 year age gap, and a H focused on the h’s pleasure. I've really enjoyed this family and Starlight Cove, but this particular story fell a bit short for me on the emotional side of the romance unfortunately. I do think personal preferences came into play here and I could definitely see how others wouldn't be bothered by the same things I was and would rate this higher so please don't be discouraged from reading this very good story.
Aiden (H) and Avery (h) were so full of heat and fire and tension. From their very first meeting, which was a great one, chemistry abounded. Aiden's stressed and overwhelmed working with his siblings on his family's resort, but also balancing a secret life as a popular fantasy author. Avery's a bit lost and in town to meet up with her college best friend as she waits on an opportunity for a lifelong dream. They have a ONS and Aiden makes sure Avery's very, very...very happy. Then the morning comes, Avery's plans change, and the next time they meet up, they realize the connection and that they'll be in close proximity for months now. While still having sparks and with Avery knowing Aiden's secret about being an author. Cue forced interactions, opening up, lots of steamy times, and both of them having to face the music when it comes to their dreams. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (H had situation ships that weren't fulfilling and were rare and h hadn't had a relationship for a while if I remember right).
I've been pondering why I didn't love this the way I thought I would. I think one reason is because when Aiden and Avery first meet, Avery refers to him as a book boyfriend come to life and I think that inadvertently, the references created a distance for me where I felt like she didn't see all that Aiden was from a more personal standpoint. Then she's the one that really pushes the initial distance between them and Avery's the cause of the third act separation, so I had a hard time with my connection towards her. Some of that was also probably because Avery does have that unsureness to what she's doing and because of that she stumbles a bit here and there, making her an imperfect but relatable character. I just had a hard time relating to her. Aiden was great and he needed to be shown that he could be vulnerable with others with his desires. He was supportive and caring, if grumpy at times, and he was so loyal to his family.
I think I've driven home the point already that this is a fast burn and high steam story. I might not have been in the mood for that when I read it because I did wish that I was feeling more of their emotional connection. They certainly do bond and spend sweet moments together. I wanted more of those on page though. The third act separation made sense for what needed to happen, as a wake up call and growth, but didn’t make sense in how it actually played out in my opinion. It made me question more of that emotional connection because of the specific actions that were taken. Avery does make up for it and she does grovel and take responsibility however.
Aiden's siblings continue to be a highlight, I love their family dynamic, even when they're not getting along. The family text messages are hilarious. I esp loved seeing Beck and Everly because they're amazing. Avery's mom was both flighty and loving, but I wish Avery'd had that supportive base. Her other BFF is a character from another series (which I haven't read) but did also pop up on page through phone calls and seemed like a great supporting character for Avery. Aiden's dad, who's been a millstone around their necks and a dirty secret through the series, does have a couple of scenes and I thought what happened was excellent in that this big thing was addressed head-on, even if the impetus for it was hard.
The ending was strong with Aiden and Avery in their HFN but really you know they're going to be together forever. No more secrets and just both of them finding their footing in their new, happy normal. There's a lead-in for Addison's book (the sister) and it's going to be a second chance and brother's best friend. I still need to circle back and read book 1 of this series, along with a couple others by this author. ...more
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