I finished this book this morning and I'm still sweating! I love a spicy scene and Stilling 100% delivered in Total Shutdown.
Sawyer and Collins'Phew.
I finished this book this morning and I'm still sweating! I love a spicy scene and Stilling 100% delivered in Total Shutdown.
Sawyer and Collins' chemistry was off the freaking charts from the first word on the page. The story begins with a 'one night stand' (yeah, right) and I loved how Stilling gave it us. I don't love the books that start with this vibe, but then you have to wait for a bonus scene or a flashback to live their first moments. Not here! We get it all from the beginning then have to wait it out for their feelings to catch up!
I loved how Sawyer had so many sides to himself in this book. We get an idea of Collins from the beginning, what she's into and how her mind works. Sawyer edged us a bit more, made us work for it to get to know him. I loved how adventurous he was when everything came to fruition- and it wasn't a finding himself story! He knew who he was, he just needed the perfect partner. Phew. Hot.
Overall, this book was great. High spice, low (major) drama, lots of intrigue for future books and all the banter and laughter you expect from Ruth Stilling.
Thank you to Ruth + team for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!...more
Meghan Quinn is the GOAT for me and we all know it! I was so excited to receive this ARC as well as the ALC which made a fun tandem read!
The book starMeghan Quinn is the GOAT for me and we all know it! I was so excited to receive this ARC as well as the ALC which made a fun tandem read!
The book started off with a bang! Sloane was roped into a crazy work situation by her boss Hudson then roped into a fake marriage to go right along with it! It packed all of our favorite MQ spice, banter, and hilarity. The chemistry between Sloane and Hudson in the bedroom was something special to listen to (...more
The Brewer family is giving me all the feels. I love reading through this family rising from the ashes in the wake Another fun read by Adriana Locke!!
The Brewer family is giving me all the feels. I love reading through this family rising from the ashes in the wake of their father's transgressions. I also love how she is keeping the family vibe alive with so many glimpses of previous couples in the current reads!! This is so much fun!
I loooooved the mutual pining that was happening in the beginning of this book. The attraction and chemistry between Gannon and Carys was so freaking explosive I was dying for them to give in! I loved how Tate was so aware of said attraction from the beginning and fought it so hard. I was cracking up!
I loved how the story twisted and turned! I loved how the Brewer family reacted to each new piece of information without a big fuss/unnecessary drama. Even though the tropes aren't usually my favorite, I think they were executed so well and I loved them all!
Overall, another little slice of heaven from Adriana Locke!...more
Logan and Emiline were definitely my favorite! I think if I had been reading this series in real time I would have been sweating for this one. I love Logan and Emiline were definitely my favorite! I think if I had been reading this series in real time I would have been sweating for this one. I love a brother's best friend and I love that the big reveal moment was laced with the trauma of Logan's accident so that we didn't have to live through a dark period where the brothers were so mad. The timing of it all worked in McMahon's favor for sure!
The slow burn of this book was borderline painful, ok? It felt like a slow burn from book 1 but you are a good 20 chapters in here panting for little something-something in the best way. I liked that I read this series back to back so I was able to think back to other POVs and remember the sneaky moments vividly.
I was a bit surprised about Emiline's background when I started reading, it was definitely interesting getting to know her from other people's perspectives before actually getting in her head. Her mental health rep was super relatable and heartfelt and I think that part of her personality was super well done. I also enjoyed Logan's headspace as he navigated the 'what's next' so many 30 year olds face, and paired with his trauma from his dad things were super interesting.
Overall, I think this was a good ending to this series. It was on par with the other books and this couple was definitely my favorite!...more
Talk about an anticipated book release?! I've read Rebecca for years and remember when this series first started. Waiting for this book has been a forTalk about an anticipated book release?! I've read Rebecca for years and remember when this series first started. Waiting for this book has been a form of torture and I was so excited to FINALLY get it in my hands.
Forever Wild packed so many things. We got the moment Tyler realized what was going on and it was one of those moments I needed. I needed the drama so bad and it was gooooood. Jack and Everly have been dancing around each other for like, 4 books now so the tension was there. The banter was there. The frustration from an older hockey player who is injured brought those grumpy vibes we all know and love.
Often times in these books we anticipate so highly, the plot can kind of just stop or only be driven by the brother's teammate trope. Forever Wild did not, it flowed so good and had a few conflict point that kept things moving. The story started after In Your Wildest Dreams and only moved forward. Since I've been waiting for this book so long, I kind of wanted to relive those early tension moments to feel it come full circle from their POVs, but alas. I still enjoyed it so much and love them dearly.
I *think* Jack and Everly are my favorite RJ couple to date.. but a full reread will definitely be necessary to say that for sure!...more
Brooke's books are a true escape for me to read, and I feel like it's because she is so true to her tropes. Often there are so many tropes/things happBrooke's books are a true escape for me to read, and I feel like it's because she is so true to her tropes. Often there are so many tropes/things happening in a book that the deeper meaning behind those situations can get overlooked, but Brooke does a spectacular job honing in on a few for each book and really diving deep with them. I loved how I could feel the motivations from each character as the story progressed because of her attention to detail.
This attention to detail helped me so much in falling in love with Waylon and Harlow. While the trigger warnings in this book need to be minded, I felt comfortable diving in to this emotional journey. There are definitely some heavy bits that held my heart in a vise, but it was so worth it because Waylon and Harlow's story is so beautiful.
Overall, Brooke continues to deliver the kind of books that claw their way into my heart and make me just want more. The whole universe around Sugarland Creek holds such a place in my heart, and each book feels like a journey of emotional heartbreak. I love these stories and the characters we fall in love with along the way, I love how we revisit them just a little bit each time and I love love LOVE guessing what's coming next!...more
Micalea's age gap books are elite. I mean, I was definitely championing this book from the minute Izzy set up Derrick and Via in 11:11. The chemistry Micalea's age gap books are elite. I mean, I was definitely championing this book from the minute Izzy set up Derrick and Via in 11:11. The chemistry between these two is off the charts, and while things move a tad slow in the chemistry department the build up is so worth it!
I loved how twisted the connection was between Izzy and Derrick. Izzy's sister is Via, who is dating Reid. Derrick is Reid's Dad! Derrick's daughter is also Izzy's remote worker/assistant.. and this tangled web was so good! I loved how carefully each relationship was written because of how messy it could be. The story flowed so well and had me on the hook for sure!
Izzy's disposition was a bit unclear at times, like where she was going or what she was really working towards. I didn't quite understand how she was able to afford keeping her LA apartment and comfortable lifestyle while she was, essentially, not working or bringing in any income. While I appreciated Derrick giving her the space she needed to figure out her life, I would have liked a bit more plot with that storyline.
Derrick's desire for Izzy was the most fun part to read, I loved how conflicted he felt with dating again, with how his kids would feel, and with the age gap aspect. I thought Smeltzer's approach to his season of life was a great balance of believable and salacious, and ate up how he overcame his reservations and let go.
Overall, a great companion book to 11:11 and a fun read!...more
Men written by Ann Einerson have my whole heart! I love how all in they are from the beginning, with that boy who's obsessed with her vibes coming in Men written by Ann Einerson have my whole heart! I love how all in they are from the beginning, with that boy who's obsessed with her vibes coming in full force. The meet cute in When You Give a Lawyer a Kiss was epic, I loved that moment so much! I loved the grumpy sunshine vibes we got from Dawson and the way Reese just asked for a butterfly tattoo on her hip.. so funny! So cute! So fun!
I also liked how the tension was scorching for the first, like 1/3 or so of the book. I love a workplace romance and I loved how she didn't realize how rich he actually was. I didn't love how they just kind of ignored the rules, per say, rather than try to skirt them a bit more.. but I still loved the push and pull of wondering if they'll get caught.
This book was an easy, short and sweet, fun read with a great age gap and hot workplace vibes. Dawson and Reese make a cameo in the previous book in the series, When You Give a Billionaire a Bride, and it was so much fun reading that scene from the other perspective! I thought it was well written and flowed so easily from one act to the next.. but I'm most excited for what's next- HARRISON!!...more
This book was a classic hockey romance, and I ate it up. The reporter/coach dynamic was so much fun to read and I loved it! I really loved how the booThis book was a classic hockey romance, and I ate it up. The reporter/coach dynamic was so much fun to read and I loved it! I really loved how the book started, and how we got to see Maddox transition from player to coach. It really amped up the emotions from the start, and they did not waver throughout the story.
I also really liked Bristol's journey as a young reporter. I thought it was relatable and heartbreaking in certain moments, and like we experienced with Maddox's transition we had Bristol's as well. I liked how she was strong and determined to make a name for herself, but the pull from Maddox was HOT.
The best part of this book, for me, was the spice. As my first book by Siena Trap, I didn't quite know what to expect. I went in pretty blind outside of the basic tropes and it was SO GOOD. I loved the grumpy attitude from Maddox and the determination from Bristol and how it all blended together. The book felt a bit repetitive here and there, but overall had great flow and really felt like a journey for each character individually and together.
Overall, I am not a Siena Trap stan and love her endlessly. I am itching to go back and read the Connecticut Comets series because the cameos and easter eggs were just obvious to a new reader to spark my intrigue. This was such a fun read and a great story!!...more
I'm going to be super clear here- this book is packed. The tension between Briar and Hudson sizzled from the first chapter and just kept me on the hooI'm going to be super clear here- this book is packed. The tension between Briar and Hudson sizzled from the first chapter and just kept me on the hook from there. Every other moment was a "no freaking way" moment that made me not want to put this book down. I was addicted, and also loved seeing Walker and Poppy from the opposite perspective.
I did really love Briar as a character so much. She was so strong and a little bit stubborn, but held her own in some rough situations with a moral compass I can respect. She was my favorite kind of MFC, totally falling for the broody, (suspectively) morally grey bodyguard, but true to herself and what she set out to do.
I also liked undercover agent Hudson, a lot tortured by his past but pulling out of his haze and into the new phase in his life. I would have liked a bit more conversation between the two of them about where he was and why he was now moving forward, but instead we got a fast paced and energetic story that did not get stagnant at all.
Briar and Hudson's story, while a smidge on the darker side (mafia) was still easy to read and packed with action. I also loved the other nods to previous books, I was eating it up! Overall, another great story by the lovely Hannah Gray!...more
Phew. Q.B. Tyler is the queen of the age-gap, forbidden romance trope and she did not disappoint with Our Little Secret. The relationship between ChriPhew. Q.B. Tyler is the queen of the age-gap, forbidden romance trope and she did not disappoint with Our Little Secret. The relationship between Chris and Marissa is unconventional for a romance novel, which honestly made me love it more. The one night stand is in the prologue. THE PROLOGUE. The spice starts hot and heavy and it is everything you expect from a QB Tyler book.
This book wasn't a cute little package of falling in love. It was messy, it was emotional, and it was toxic at times. Chris is an absolute dumpster fire of a person at the point in his life when this book starts. I liked how it was him, 13 years older than Marissa, who was a mess. Marissa was strong and pretty confident, she wasn't the kind of heroine who fell at his feet every second. Yes, he's married, and she had a lot to unpack about her feelings regarding that.
The trigger warnings here are so important, because there is cheating, and yes- it's ongoing. While this can be a trigger for me, I knew going in that this book was about a married man who falls in instalust at a wedding, so if that thought bothers you then this book isn't for you. The wife isn't great, so that helps.
I was glued to this book. Mostly because of the steam factor, because QB writes this SO good. Instalust isn't for everyone, but I love it. I love that hot tension from the beginning that captures the MCs and lets them think of little else. I loved how this book in particular showed how lust (or even love) isn't always enough and you have to work on yourself to be the best version you can be for your partner. It was a freaking journey, and I loved every stinking minute.
QB Tyler has a way with words, especially when they are taboo, writing another enraptured book about love and lust and figuring out what's worth it in life. Our Little Secret was the perfect length at just over 300 pages, and while JP and Whitney are still King and Queen of my heart, I will always hold a special place for Chris and Marissa.
4.5 Stars rounded up
Thank you so much to QB Tyler and Good Girls PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!...more
I feel like I waited this entire series to see what Lawson's baggage was, and I was not disappointed. Lawson gave me all the broody dad vibes4.5 Stars
I feel like I waited this entire series to see what Lawson's baggage was, and I was not disappointed. Lawson gave me all the broody dad vibes I wanted, and softened so much for Hallie and her (literally) tortured soul. I think they were my favorite couple, because 1. I was so anxious to find out Lawson's backstory and 2. those tropes are SO GOOD.
I did really like Lawson a lot, and I loved how Hallie came into his life (both times!) A single dad x nanny story with a spicy 13 year age gap is right up my alley, add in the serial killer on the loose and the vibes were vibing. I also felt a bit vindicated because my theories from the last book were not actually all that far off and I LOVED how Cowles weaved this story.
I thought Hallie's journey was captivating to read, and I loved how she connected individually with each of Lawson's 3 boys. I think they way she saw Luke's pain was well written, and while a bit rushed, I think that her trauma helped both Luke and Lawson to communicate and understand each other a bit more. I really enjoyed the story lines with her and the boys, probably my favorite part.
Overall, I enjoyed this series and am looking forward to reading Sparrow Falls!...more
Kathryn Nolan is in her queer romance era and I'm here for it! I didn't know I needed a spicy M/M bodyguard romance in my life... but I sure did.
I felKathryn Nolan is in her queer romance era and I'm here for it! I didn't know I needed a spicy M/M bodyguard romance in my life... but I sure did.
I fell for Luke and his sweet tender heart from the beginning. I kind of unraveled the plot early on for what was going to happen with him and why it was all happening, but it was comforting to just read along for the good stuff. You know, the good stuff.
I loved the age gap, the forbidden relationship, the ending/how it all played out, the tension, the eff it moment, the pining and yearning, the scandal and the whole heart feels that Nolan provided for us throughout the book. I have read every book she's written and I absolutely am not stopping now....more