bribreez's reviews
705 reviews

Beautiful Exile by Catherine Cowles

funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 3🌶️

Back in the small town of, Sparrow Falls, this next installment followed, Arden, the quiet yet strong artist with a background of jujitsu to protect herself against any potential danger, and the hockey team owner and billionaire, Lincoln “Linc” as he started building his own home in the town where Arden and her adopted family lived. Catherine Cowles once again brings an added level of suspense and danger alongside the romance side of this on going series. Arden was someone who had always been guarded and mysterious in the previous books so, to see more of her and learn about her backstory was eye opening and revealed a lot about this young woman who had some darkness and pain from her past still lingering in the present day. If you love a romantic suspense storyline with a billionaire MMC who becomes overprotective, says things like, “Who. Hurt. You.”, forced proximity, found family, and more then you’ll want to read this book. 

The further I get into this series, I more I find myself drawn or intrigued by the characters such as, Arden. In the past books, Arden was someone who kept a close eye on everything around her, but also keeping her solitude. As someone who appreciates their quiet and alone time, Arden was someone I could understand in that aspect. I loved how Arden wasn’t a “damsel in distress”, if anything she was very capable of protecting herself since she was trained in jujitsu and mixed martial arts curtesy of her adopted brother, Kyler.  Arden was also very artistic and used a variety of methods to create her artwork which earned her a great reputation within the art world. As much as Arden had her adopted family surrounding her with love and compassion, there was still the lingering pain and fear from her past in the background of her mind. Just as things seemed to be going well, out of nowhere Arden’s peace of mind was taken away when someone threatened her. 

Of course our story wouldn’t be complete without the perfect counterpart to complement our main lead, and that character was, Lincoln or more commonly called, Linc. Linc was a billionaire, the owner of a successful hockey team, and overall great business man and kind friend. The moment Linc set eyes on Arden or more accurately Linc had a knife to his throat, he immediately fell for her lol. Nothing like almost getting knifed at the gym early in the morning to get you falling in loveeeeee. Linc was a great man, and I loved seeing his progression over the story going from outgoing and flirty to protective, a man in love, and wholeheartedly all about Arden. I especially loved the scene when Linc bought all of Arden’s artwork at the auction her gallery was holding. Linc used his money however he saw fit, and most of the time it was used towards making Arden happy or supporting her in any way possible. 

Like Catherine Cowles’s previous books, there was still that added suspense lingering in the background of the story that little by little built up towards a dramatic moment towards the end. I didn’t see the plot twist coming, and I guess in a way it worked out since it tied other characters into the story. I had earlier suspicions that maybe Linc’s dad would play a role in a future book maybe potentially with Linc’s sister, Ellie coming to Sparrow Falls, but oh well guess I was wrong. Nonetheless, the bit of suspense was good, and I was more than happy once it got to Arden and Linc’s happy ending especially in the epilogue which was heartwarming and good vibes. Overall, another good book in Sparrow Falls series, and I’m really curious to see who will be the next couple in the next book. Definitely recommend this series if you’re looking to read a bit of a romantic suspense story with overprotective MMC’s, found family, small town, lovable characters, and more. 

The Butcher and the Ballerina by Kris K. Haines

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 3🌶️ (only because the spice in this book spanned essentially 2 chapters & it was spicy in my opinion) 

*Check TW before reading 

As much as you might think you don’t need to read this book, I would HIGHLY URGE you to read this book nonetheless! Ronin and Mireille were thrusted into a partnership neither of them wanted to be part of, but when the situation called for Ronin to play the part of Mireille’s boyfriend in order to get close to a mark, it gave a new meaning to the fake dating trope! This fantasy story had, fake dating, action, assassins, spies, she’s a ballerina but also cunning, quick, and able to fight, and he was a ruthless fighter. In addition, the two main characters were WOLF SHIFTERS! So if you love wolf shifters, this definitely had that! Ronin and Mireille’s story held a lot of answers that at first glance may not seem important, but when reading you see just how much of an impact it plays into the overall narrative.

This story was one that I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but the way Kris K. Haines wrote it, she may it better with each chapter. I have never read a fantasy storyline that had fake dating, but they were both spies working undercover on a case they were tasked with! Ronin and Mireille were somewhat different in the way they worked, but gradually the two of them stopped butting heads, and formed a great partnership together, as well as a steamy, passionate, undeniable romance. I will say, the beginning took a bit for me to really get into, but once I got further into the story, I refused to put it down because I wanted to see what else would happen! Ronin and Mireille’s story was entertaining which surprised me because, I imagined it would have focused more on other aspects of the plot, but there was a couple of banter filled moments that made me laugh and really like the dynamic Ronin and Mireille formed. 

Little by little, this story developed into something that caught me off guard and genuinely had me gasping out loud in the way I found out some vital information! I won’t spoil it, but all I will say is, this story does actually play a bigger role in the next book so PLEASE READ THIS BOOK! Also, quick side note, don’t read this book if you haven’t read the first two book because it has spoilers about the other books! Anyways, back to what I was saying, towards the very ending of this book there was some plot twists that shocked me and made me question, “WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW?!” Definitely wasn’t expecting those plot twists toward the end, but Kris wasn’t playing around haha. 

Ok so, main takeaways from this book were, it was entertaining, some action, plot twists, fake dating but their both spies working undercover, magic, variety of different creatures, Fae, and a bigger connection to the overall series! The way this book ended off especially in the epilogue has me so PUMPED UP FOR THE NEXT BOOK! OMG I CANNOT WAIT! I genuinely feel excited and I can only imagine the way things are going to go down! Ronin and Mireille’s story isn’t over by any means, as I have a good feeling that they’ll play an integral role in helping Cassandra, Tristan, and everyone else in BRINGING DOWN THE EMPIRE! WOOO! 

Second Rite by Geneva Lee

dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

*Please check trigger warnings before reading.

Julian and Thea’s story wasn’t over by any means. With a story surrounding vampires, mates, forbidden love, passion, romance, and secrets being revealed, the two main characters were faced with more obstacles than they realized in the first book. Geneva Lee added more stakes to Thea and Julian’s story that elevated their romance together as well as showed how the two of them were determined to face what was up against them in order to be together. Nothing like a bunch of rich vampires and an interesting story line to get things going.

The first book introduced Thea and Julian and how the two of them came from different worlds, but more importantly how they were different in more obvious ways such as, Julian being a vampire. Pretty sure, Thea never expected to fall for a vampire, but hey, it worked out well for her especially having a handsome, overprotective vampire like Julian as her man *wink. The first book I really enjoyed from the luxury and wealth that surrounded Julian’s life, but also seeing Thea explore that world too. Thea wasn’t a wealthy person, she was use to working multiple jobs in order to pay for her mother’s hospital bills, her tuition, and her own living expenses. From the moment Thea was thrusted into Julian’s world, she saw just how much different things were on the wealthier side. The title of this series truly lived up to it with all the filthy Rich vampires spending money like it was pocket change. 

This time around, Thea and Julian were not only faced with the consequences of them being together but also the significant part of them being…MATES! I love a good “mates” trope in books, but I wasn’t expecting this in the first book when I read it the first time! With the fact of Julian and Thea being mates, it brought up even more obstacles for them from Thea being human, Julian being a vampire, the Council not approving of their relationship, and there was also the pesky little detail of Thea’s virginity somehow making things even more complicated. I know that by reading my previous sentence it would sound unusual, but trust me when I say that when you read it in the book, it just makes sense. Anyways, Julian and Thea weren’t completely out of the woods, they still had to deal with Julian’s family namely, Julian’s mother of not wanting Julian to be with Thea, and (sigh) there was a lot to unpack in this book. Poor Thea and Julian, those two loved each other so much, and despite all the love, trust, and admiration they had for each other, they still had a lot to deal with. 

I will say, that one of my favorite things about this series is, Thea and Julian together. Obviously, this story illustrates the story of Thea and Julian falling in love and everything that entails it, but I loved how Julian has always been overprotective of Thea and wanting her to have the best of everything as well as supporting her in everything she wished to do. Although this book in particular, the level of over protectiveness that Julian had was Lowkey unhinged and…I enjoyed it! Nothing says, “I will do anything to protect her” like an overprotective, obsessive, in love vampire wanting his mate forever as Julian showed in this book. Plus, throughout everything that Julian and Thea faced in this book, throughout everything, the love between the two of them grew exponentially stronger and it was a testament to their commitment. I have nothing but great things to say about Thea, Julian, and their romance together.

Wow, I felt like I went through different levels of minor plot twists, and revelations throughout this book! Thea and Julian’s love was put to the test in order to be together, and despite the love they had for each other, there was always something to someone they had to deal with. There was also the side plot pertaining to Julian’s twin sister, Camila, who SURPRISE! WAS NOT DEAD AS EVERYONE BELIEVED! With a faction of Rebel vampires wanting to destroy the hierarchy of vampire life and all the traditions, there also seemed like a specific character who was mentioned might potentially be after Thea in future books. There was never a dull moment in Thea and Julian’s story, especially since this time around the two of them were even more intimate and passionate whenever they had a moment together. Phewwww the spice and romance was good in this book, and needless to say, Thea definitely took advantage of the saying, “bite me” to a new level! I have a feeling that based off the events in this book, the next book will dig even deeper into what exactly Thea and Julian will have to do next in terms of their now ENGAGEMENT and maybeeeee the question of, can Thea even bear Julian an heir?! Geneva Lee has me wanting more of Thea and Julian’s story so I gotta go buy the next book soon! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a vampire romance book. 

Bound to the Orc Ranger by Krista Luna

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Honestly I was just in the mood for a fast paced monster romance and this hit the spot for me. I thought the characters were easygoing, I actually really enjoyed how much the MMC was already obsessed with the FMC. In addition, considering the whole she’s basically his bride was an interesting part of the story. I went into this wanting an easygoing, escapism monster romance with some spice which it delivered on. Every now and then these kinds of stories are entertaining to read, and again I just adored how protective the MMC was over the FMC. Sure, there was some cheesy lines between the characters, but oh well I had my fun reading this.

Cross the Line by Simone Soltani

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5⭐️/ 3🌶️

LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GOOOO! WOO! For my F1 girlies and others, this romance book was full of wonderful tropes, and an accurate depiction of Formula 1 racing. With Willow and Dev at the helm of this story, the two of them had sunshine personalities, an optimistic outlook on life, and wanting to prove themselves in their respective careers. Fresh out of college, Willow was trying to find a job in sports marketing, but with so many interviews, and still no call backs, she was feeling a bit discouraged. Dev, a Formula 1 driver for team Argonauts, was faced with a bit of a dilemma of his own that had him looking not so great in the public eye and in his team. With Willow being invited to come to one of the races with her brother, she was able to see all the glitz and excitement surrounding the race weekend, but also be reunited with her brother’s best friend, Dev. Dev needed help trying to fix his public image, and with Willow’s keen eye and an ability to plan out his next moves, he decided to hire her as his social media manager. Simone Soltani wrote an amazing Formula 1/ Sports romance that had biracial MC’s, brother’s best friend, she falls first, but he falls harder, a whirlwind of excitement, and plenty of romance to keep you swooning and feeling good.

Some of my favorite tropes in romance books is when it’s grumpy/sunshine, but another that I actually enjoy when I find it, is also when both the MC’s are sunshine’s! We love positive, optimistic, and bright characters, and that’s exactly who Willow and Dev were. At first glance, you’d probably think, “oh, maybe that’s too much positive energy to have between the characters,” but you would in fact be wrong! I personally loved how Willow and Dev had sunshine personalities which complimented their friendship/ later romance together. All smiles and lighthearted moments as well as the occasional slip up of innuendo jokes, Willow and Dev got along famously. 

As much as Willow and Dev had optimistic personalities, even the most seemingly happy person dealt with their own share of worries, pressure, and anxiety over the looming future of their respective careers. I think Simone wrote Willow and Dev’s story in a way that illustrated the struggles they were faced with, but also they came to support one another through out the whole book. For Dev, being a Formula 1 driver was a dream he had since he was a kid, and honestly he was a great driver despite being on a team that clearly didn’t prioritize him as they should have. Seeing how Dev handled the pressures of being a driver and how he tried to figure out his next steps following the aftermath of his public image being tarnished was a series of obstacles he had to overcome, and ultimately landed on top in the end. For Willow, she was trying to find her footing in her own career and while she had a degree in sports management and a minor in English, she actually had a fair amount of knowledge to help Dev in his image, and reclaim positive feedback from his fans and hopefully to gain the attention of potential teams who might want him. Willow wasn’t undeterred by the set of challenges set forth beforehand even with her condition, she wasn’t fragile as some might have thought, she was a force of nature that when tasked with something, she gave it her all which was admirable. 

I mean, this was a great sports romance, and more importantly I felt like it had accurate depictions of what Formula 1 was all about. I had heard through the grapevine about this book, and I’m happy to report that it was sweet, funny, entertaining, and lighthearted. Willow and Dev’s relationship was equally wonderful and I really enjoyed seeing the two of them go from mutual acquaintances to working together, and all that forced proximity lending to more opportunities for them to grow closer. I genuinely thought this book was great. As a F1 fan, I’d like to think I know and understand the things that got into the sport, and in the scenes where Dev was racing against the other teams, I could visualize it perfectly. I would say, whether you wanna read a F1 romance or a fan of F1 in general, I would highly recommend this book as it has a bunch of wonderful tropes, and lovable characters. By the end of the book, it obviously ended on a lovely, romantic note for Willow and Dev. I’m not sure what/ who the next book will be centered on, but nonetheless I’ll be reading it! 

King of Sloth by Ana Huang

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

4.75⭐️/ 4🌶️

Ana knows how to write desirable, obsessive, outrageously rich billionaires especially within this series. Over the course of the series, Sloane has been a character who I’ve been wanting to learn more about. Aside from her cut throat approach to her publicist company, she was a loyal friend, but also held herself back from others gleaning information about her past and current life. For Xavier, life was all about parties, doing whatever he wanted, and using his wealth, ahem well his father’s money to go about his carefree playboy lifestyle. When Sloane was tasked with keeping Xavier in line, the two of them were forced to occasionally be in close contact with each other, and from then on it was a battle of wits, and Xavier being a total flirt and a bit of a headache for Sloane. This book really honed in on both Sloane and Xavier’s backstories as well as seeing the two go from client/ publicist to a whole lot more filled with tension, passion, and Xavier falling head first for Sloane.

I’m actually surprised with how much I really liked this book right away. While the other books have been good, I liked each of them for different reasons. This book in particular stood out to me more because, the way it revealed more about Sloane and Xavier’s backstories as well as digging deep into the reasoning behind their personalities. Even before this book, I already knew the type of woman Sloane was. Sloane was always the one that got things done, and she could eviscerate anything that got in her way in the name of her client(s). As much as Sloane often had to deal with getting Xavier to different galas, making sure he wasn’t getting into trouble, and other things, she thrived in the middle of all the things she had to do for her line of work. I admired Sloane, her dedication to always wanting to do the best in her work, and back closed doors when she was with her best friends or a specific someone close to her heart, she revealed her vulnerability that most didn’t see often as Xavier later saw for himself. 

I love billionaire romances, seeing said billionaire man go to absolute lengths to make his lady love happy, but even small gestures worked too. Although, Xavier wasn’t afraid to spend as much money possible in order to show Sloane he wanted her. There were a couple of special moments that stood out to me that had me swooning and literally wishing I was Sloane! Lucky girl indeed since she was surprised by such romantic and thoughtful dates, and gestures from Xavier. I really loved the scene when Xavier had surprised Sloane with a rooftop movie night for their first date and the attention to detail was PERFECT. Xavier may have seemed like the type of man who didn’t care much to others, but he actually paid attention especially when it came to Sloane. The first date, setting up a day to spend time with Sloane’s little sister, knowing exactly which food she liked to eat during specific occasions, and seeing past her guarded personality showed just how much Xavier was down bad for Sloane! I LOVED XAVIER! 

When I started reading this series, Dante and Vivian’s story was an automatic yes for me, and I also enjoyed the other books too, but I gotta say, this was probably my favorite out of the series! Yay! Little did I know before reading this book that I would fall in love with it this much! I genuinely expected to enjoy this book, and go about my day as usual, but NOPE! The moment I started reading Sloane and Xavier’s story, the rest of my day was canceled, and I couldn’t stop reading this book! Something about the way Sloane and Xavier had been working together for years and then suddenly their dynamic changing was fascinating to me. In addition, with the whole knowing each other for years, it gave more of a foundation as to Sloane and Xavier knowing each other, and expanding on it. The romance between Xavier and Sloane was passionate, tension filled, understanding, loving, and the occasional quick banter that made me smile. I genuinely loved Xavier and Sloane together and as individuals. The more I read, the more I saw the changes in Sloane lowering her guards to let Xavier in, and Xavier taking charge of his life, and finding a purpose he was passionate about. This book had everything I wanted and more, and it was really great to read. Even seeing familiar faces from the previous books and from the twisted series made me happy! Nice to see Ana continuing to incorporate her characters from other series as it felt full circle. All in all, LOVED THIS BOOK! LOVED XAVIER AND SLOANE! I’m really looking forward to the next book as the next couple was hinted at in this book, and OOOOO GIRL IM HOOKED AND READY! 

Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past by Lucy Score

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 1🌶️

If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. If you want to read a lighthearted, funny, entertaining romcom with some mystery, shenanigans, and a group of lovable characters, this is the series for you. Riley and Nick were tasked with a new case, and one that hit close to home with Nick and Weber finding out that Weber’s sister, Beth was still alive! With the determination of trying to find Beth, and figuring out what happened to her, Nick was consumed with trying to figure out everything. Meanwhile, Riley was trying to respect Nick’s space as he dove more into the investigation. Little did Riley and Nick know that the answer to all their questions would literally step forth, and ironically enough have more complications to add onto.

Compared to the last book, I liked the plot line of this book more. The way the story went about revealing the truth of Beth in her disappearance, where she was the whole time, and why she decided to come home brought forth a lot of complications especially for Weber feeling relief that Beth was alive, but also Nick too wanting answer. The case in this story wasn’t clear cut to me at first, but the more I read, the more I felt interested in how it all came to be. Like any invested reader, I tried to come up with my own theories about Beth, and where the investigation would go. While I wasn’t spot on with my predictions, I did like how it all came to a dramatic twist towards the end. There was also plenty of shenanigans to keep me entertained from Mrs. Penny running her own unique investigation, and Nick and Riley continuing to be utterly devoted to one another, and trying to squeeze in quality time whenever they could. Plus, poor Nick thought that by him and Riley finally having their own home together would mean, privacy… HAHA WRONG! Literally everyone still came over therefore interrupting any potential sexy time for Riley and Nick. 

Overall, I liked the plot line, I thought this story had my interest a bit more, and I liked how it all came together from beginning to end. As much as I was convinced that maybe Beth was secretly a villain in disguise, turns out she was just really good with manipulation and getting what she wanted. Riley and Nick continued to work on their relationship and Nick once again learning that relationships require open communication and not just demanding your partner to do as you say lol. I started to see hints of something brewing between Jasmine and Weber, but idk maybe it was just me. Definitely happy to have seen more progress in Wander and Gabe’s romance which was sweet. All in all, good romance with comedy, mystery, some slight danger, good plot line, lovable characters, and entertaining all the way through. 

Riley Thorn and the Corpse in the Closet by Lucy Score

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 1🌶️

Riley and Nick were once again on the case, but this time with different victims you never would have thought of together and somehow shared a connection through the killer! Lucy Score brings more lovable characters, mystery, and a whole lot of entertainment with Nick and Riley at the helm of this romcom mystery. 

Compared to the first book, this follow up was good and gave me a happy, lighthearted feel to it. While I wasn’t overly obsessed with the plot line of this book, I still  enjoyed it because, Riley and Nick were entertaining and funny to read about. The thing I started to realize with this book and I’m assuming with the rest of the series, it follows a similar pattern of Riley and Nick being tasked with a new case as they try to solve the murder through finding clues and occasionally using Riley’s psychic abilities to help uncover certain clues that aided them. At first, the mystery in this one left me wondering what the connection was, but the more I read, the more I was pleasantly surprised at how it all connected. I still prefer the plot line to the first book, but I have a feeling the next book will bring even more fun twists and tunes as I have a feeling the ending of this book will set up the next one perfectly.

Nick and Riley had some sweet moments as well as some tension filled ones throughout the book, as well as showed them progressing even more in their relationship. The thing that I adore about Nick and Riley is how even being together, they pushed each other to be better, but also weren’t afraid to lay out the truth as they navigated their relationship. For Nick, he was use to doing things on his own, but he really had to work on including Riley in the decisions put forth in their relationship together. Not to mention, working on the whole trusting one another and trying not to push the line of being overprotective which, in Nick’s defense he was really worried for Riley’s safety since trouble always had a way of finding Riley. Needless to say, Nick and Riley continued to work on their relationship and even had some romantic moments they managed to squeeze in between solving a murder and trying to stay alive from the danger that was nearby. 

Overall, this was a good, cute romcom mystery to read. I feel like if you’re looking for a romance book with mystery, lovable, quirky characters, some paranormal elements (due to Riley’s psychic abilities), an overprotective MMC, some low stakes danger, and humor, then you’ll enjoy this book and series all together. 

The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5⭐️/ 1🌶️

A romantic comedy with mystery, murder, and a bit of fake dating/ engagement sounded like an interesting plot line for Lucy Score’s book, and obviously I was enjoying it! Following the aftermath of her messy divorce, Riley was working a job she hated, living in an old mansion with senior citizens, and oh had psychic powers! Riley wasn’t one to broadcast her ability, but when it came up randomly she couldn’t exactly control especially when sometimes it also stretched to her being able to speak to the dead. Yeah, pretty crazy right? But when written by Lucy Score it was entertaining and fun. This story followed, Riley as she navigated life as she was thrusted into the middle of a murder investigation and helping, Nick Santiago, a private investigator and her pretend fiancé in order to solve the mystery of who killed Riley’s neighbor. Nothing like a good mystery and bits of danger to get your blood pumping, forced proximity, and tension to build up the romance storyline.

Riley Thorn was just trying to get by in life, especially after her horrible ex-husband cheated on her, and basically got her fired from her job, and subsequently took everything from her…yeah, didn’t sound like things had gone well for Riley, but then she was in for quite the surprise of her life. I think the way Riley was written really made me like her automatically. I loved how Riley was just unapologetic herself, and despite having warring feelings about her abilities, I think I’d feel the same way if I could hear people’s most inner thoughts, and couldn’t control it. Riley was the type of person who was trying her best to make the most out of what she had in the present, and working towards the goal of living in a better housing environment, better job, and maybe a romantic relationship later on. All in all, I adored Riley, her sense of determination, willing to work alongside Nick, she was relatable, and lovable. 

Nick Santiago was a private investigator, a smooth, and undeniable handsome man who could charm anyone with his incredible dimples and suave skills. When Nick entered  in the book, my immediate reaction was, “Helloooooooo Handsome ;) “ Nick was the type of man who used his street smart skills and investigative techniques to solve cases, and unbeknownst to him at the time of his current case would meet Riley. Seeing Nick work alongside Riley was a fun and entertaining thing to watch unfold because, one, FORCED PROXIMITY and two, Nick somehow made him and Riley fake date/ fake engaged to each other for the sake of keeping up appearances for the case! Add in the fact that Nick started to get jealous at seeing another man (*ahem, Gabe, who was Riley’s spiritual guide) around Riley, and this man FULLY WENT ON POSSESSIVE MODE WITH HER! YESSSSS! I’m talking pushing her up against a WALL AND KISSING HER PASSIONATELY! WOO! Yeah, so I was eating it all up when it came to Nick and Riley’s scenes together! Plus, Nick and Riley were fully fake engaged, but tell me why Nick was fully in belief that Riley was HIS GIRL/ HIS FIANCÉ! My mans was falling for Riley from the very beginning despite his hesitation of being in a monogamous relationship. 

The story was truly a great mix up of romance and mystery. Riley and Nick had a romance brewing between them through out the story, but they also had to deal with solving the murder of Riley’s neighbor which ended up revealing a grander nefarious plot that I wasn’t expecting. I went into this book thinking that, “oh no, someone died, what happened?” And furthermore thinking it’d be a straight shot to what was the mystery about, but nope! I was in for a wild ride that led to different avenues, characters leading on a goose chase, bar fights, undercover work, and somehow it all adding up to the kind of mystery that revealed a bigger thing than both Riley and Nick expected. I think the way Lucy Score wrote the plot line of this book was amazing, entertaining, and even added a bit of danger with everything going on. There was never a dull moment, and I think it just goes to show that the plot line flowed through perfectly and was executed in a lighthearted and funny way that made me love it even more. 

Yay! This book was so much fun to read! Despite reading this book for the very first time, it felt nostalgic in the way how Lucy Score’s books always bring me joy and happiness whenever I read her stories. Riley was in for the surprise of her life when it came to actually using her psychic abilities to solve crimes and capture the bad guys. Nick and Riley’s partnership was one that was funny, banter filled, and plenty of tension that hinted at their deep connection. Nick was once a bachelor set in his ways, but Riley had him reconsidering his life choices when he couldn’t stop thinking about her not wanting to protect her at all costs. Riley and Nick together were great and I really enjoyed reading their story. From the late night stake outs, going undercover, bar fights, car chases, literally a full on shoot out that left people jumping for cover, there was never a dull moment in this book mixed in with the hilarious humor that Lucy injects into her stories. Safe to say, I’m immediately reading the next book in the series, and most likely binging the series as well. 

Story of My Life by Lucy Score

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5⭐️/ 3🌶️

FINALLY! I have been eagerly waiting for this book, and it gave me all the happy feelings and joy while reading! The way that I would describe this book is, small town, grumpy/sunshine, the type of book for all bookish lovers, and hopeless romantics! As well as feeling relatable to the characters. Lucy Score once again has brought me happiness just by writing this story, and I really adored Hazel, Campbell, and the rest of the characters. If you love a character who’s a romance author, and literary talks about different tropes, storylines, and essentially trying to find her way in the new small town she’s in, this is definitely the book to read! 

Hazel Hart was a romance author, and like any good writer she was great at crafting wonderful small town romance books…until she hit a mental road block and couldn’t write due to a big change in her life. Without revealing too much about what led to Hazel’s lack of writing, essentially she had lost that special spark of creativity that was well known to become best sellers hit on the New York Times, but homegirl was wallowing in her apartment and lacking a sense of hygiene, yikes! Cut to one day, Hazel stumbling upon her folder of potential ideas for a story, and ta-da she found herself inspired to write a story about a certain type of family based off of a news article she found! Even from the beginning, getting to see Hazel become so excited over writing a new story was great because, it showed that she was still capable of writing wonderful stories. Hazel was also a bit spontaneous when the mood struck such as, BUYING A HOUSE SHE FOUND ONLINE FOR SALE THAT WAS IN THE SMALL TOWN OF THE ARTICLE SHE READ! Little did Hazel know at the time of purchasing the idyllic, lovely house would turn in a slew of obstacles she faced when arriving in the small town of, Story Lake. 

(Sigh) did I say how much I loved this book? Yes? Well IM SAYING IT AGAIN! And as if Lucy Score couldn’t have made this book any more perfect, of course she wrote another amazing GRUMPY MAN! WOO! YESSSS! Introducing, *drum roll, CAMPBELL BISHOP! Campbell ( “Cam”) was a man who was obviously grumpy, but when it came to his family, they were his everything and he gave his all into helping them out, especially when it came to a life altering situation that left his sister, Laura needing more help at home. Campbell wasn’t one who did all the flowers and cutesy stuff, but when Hazel came crashing (literally) into Story Lake, he annoyingly could not stop thinking about her. For a man who said he didn’t want anything to do with Hazel, the universe had a funny way of showing him, “sir Hazel is now the newest resident and she’s going to be EVERYWHERE YOU GO” hahaha. I also loved seeing the progression in Campbell by how he slowly but steadily started to have feelings for Hazel. Even when Campbell wanted nothing to do with Hazel, this man was basically getting jealous and angry at seeing his brothers flirt and show interest in Hazel. Say what you will Campbell, but I saw how you WANTED HAZEL FOR YOURSELF! Suffice it to say, Lucy Score gave me everything and more with this book, and I was eating it up from Campbell’s grumpiness to Hazel’s sunshine personality. 

LUCY SCORE HAS DONE IT AGAIN! WOO! This book had the perfect small town atmosphere that made me wish I could live there! Story Lake was lovely, and had a variety of interesting characters and the occasional wacky thing that made me laugh. Hazel was able to get her mojo back in both her writing, but also finding a way to live her life as opposed to watching from the sidelines. My girl, Hazel got her confidence back as well and used it whenever necessary even when it came to making sure Campbell knew when he was wrong. Campbell, my grumpy, hot contractor mmmm he was fine! Campbell was the grumpy man we all fell in love with and even despite his occasional slip ups when it came to falling for Hazel, he managed to fix things up in the end. I also adored, Zoey, Laura, Gage, and Levi. Literally aside from the main characters, there was plenty of reasons to love this book! I felt like I was alongside Hazel and the rest of the characters as they tried to save Story Lake and even as Hazel found her way through this new chapter of her life. This was the book that gave me butterflies, feel the love between Hazel and Campbell, the laughter, the lighthearted joy that exuded from the pages. I could keep going, but my point being this book was absolute perfection! I’m looking forward to the next book in the series! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!