bribreez's reviews
676 reviews

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

*Check Trigger warnings before reading.

Been a while since I’ve read a book by, Jennifer Hartman, and I’m glad I picked up this book by her. Not only was it nice to read a story written by, Jennifer, but it was also an interesting storyline involving the loss of a loved one, but with a twist. When she lost the love of her life, Melody lost a part of herself, lost that sunshine aura she always had around her. After the tragic death of her husband, Melody dealt with grief, sadness, and a darkness that led to her life almost ending. At a counseling support group, Melody went after her attempt to end her life, and there she met, Parker. Parker was a grumpy, rude, reserved man who didn’t like people, and didn’t participate at all in the group sessions, but only went for the sake of his foster sister. Both, Parker and Melody had faced something dark in their lives, but somehow felt a gravitational pull towards one another. This story was emotional, sad, heavy, and by no means a lighthearted romance. Jennifer Hartman wrote a unique story that hit the heartbreaking moments in both Melody and Parker’s story.

From beginning, middle, and end, this story had me hooked and literally getting that five star feeling while I read! Parker and Melody were two different people, from different backgrounds, and the opposites of each other, and yet they shared a deep connection that grew more intimate and significant over the course of this book. Melody and Parker met under unique circumstances, but unbeknownst to them in the beginning half was that, Parker was the recipient of Melody’s husband heart after he died. Melody and Parker were pen pals of sorts after Melody sent Parker a message wanting to talk to him. Keeping things private and not disclosing personal information, Melody and Parker’s messages were anonymous, and little by little started finding a sense of joy in talking to each other. Ironically enough, Melody and Parker were in the same support group and were face to face with each other without realizing they were each other’s anonymous pen pals! Needless to say, between the messaging, and being in the same support group, Parker and Melody started to form a unique connection in person as well.

I love the grumpy/sunshine trope, and the way Jennifer Hartman writes it just hits the spot in a way that I don’t mind when the male leads are being a bit too rude lol. What I mean by that is, Parker wasn’t always the nicest…ahem well he wasn’t all sunshine and kindness to most, and preferred his solitude compared to being surrounded by people and talking to them. The beginning half of the book showed Parker being distance, grumpy, basically being a bit of an A-hole to others including, Melody. Even as Melody was dealing with her grief, and the aftermath of suicide attempt(s) she still tried to befriend Parker despite his surly and rude behavior. Parker had his own issues that went back as far as his childhood and when it was revealed in his chapters what he went through, it made me empathize with his character and realize he wasn’t rude just for the sake of it, it was more so a sense of protection from others. I would say that don’t be quick to judge Parker was a mean, stand-offish character, just remember that he had his reasoning for acting and responding the way that he did. Once I got to learn more about Parker’s backstory, I could understand how his past affected his connection with Melody. As much as Parker was a grump, there were moments that endeared me to him, and I wanted to hug him and let him know he was safe. (Sigh) I loved him even with all his grumpiness and loved seeing him unravel over Melody.

Melody was also a character I really loved through out this book. Melody was always known as being a sunshine person who smiled a lot, and her personality naturally attracted others to her, but with the tragic loss of her husband, her brightness dimmed. Through grief, and her darkness points of almost leaving the world, Melody went on a journey of finding herself in the new world she was in as a widow. Obviously grief isn’t something that happens over night, and while Melody made small strides to go about living her life, she would occasionally still think of her husband, and the plans they had for their future. The one thing that I wasn’t expecting but was an interesting concept to this book was the whole messaging her husband’s heart recipient. Sounds a bit unusual and maybe not the best idea when trying to move on, but it turned out to be something more when it made Melody feel excited when messaging back and forth with her anonymous friend.

This story took a turn I was not expecting AT ALL! I was minding my own business when out of nowhere a plot twist happened and I suddenly remembered why some people were flabbergasted when they read this book! In some ways, I can see the dramatic appeal with the plot twist and ironically enough it kind of plays into the whole concept of the title, but I wasn’t sure how I felt afterwards when I read it. Regardless, I still very much loved the characters, their stories, and how the romance occurred.

Overall, this was an emotionally packed romance that was unique, immersive, heartbreaking, and ultimately worth the read. Melody and Parker were interesting characters whose journeys over the course of this book changed and grew with the things they experienced and moved forward in their lives. Parker was a man who initially wasn’t the nicest of people, but his backstory revealed a lot about why the way he was, and it really made me feel protective and endeared to him. Melody was a sunshine, even when she momentarily lost her shine, she managed to find a new way to happiness, and moving forward in her life after the loss of her husband. Parker and Melody’s romance was emotionally charged, tension filled, and healing. I genuinely felt like Parker and Melody together were perfect even with all the bumps they faced along the way. Now, would I say I was a fan of the plot twist?…mmm…ummm…not entirely but I could kind of see the appeal for others. As a whole, I was more happy once things settled down, and ultimately Parker and Melody got their happily ever after together. The ending and epilogue really illustrated a happy beginning and future in Parker and Melody’s lives as they enjoyed their marriage, children, and family and friends around them. Also, the EPILOGUE WAS SO EMOTIONAL AND SENTIMENTAL AND UGH I HAD TO HOLD BACK MY SOBS BECAUSE IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN! I really enjoyed this book, and loved Parker and Melody. I couldn’t not give this book five stars, even with my initial mixed feelings on the plot twist, I still adored this book, and it deserves the five stars for bringing Parker and Melody to life within these pages.

Content Warnings

A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal by Holly Renee

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful tense fast-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

*Check content warnings before reading.

4.25⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

I’m going to keep this review short and simple (never thought I’d write that, but oh well). This book started off with the continuation of the cliffhanger from the first book, and very much saw Adara coming to terms with her feelings for Evren, but also feeling conflicted about the truths she was exposed to. In the first book, Adara fought against the reality her life was going to be with Gavril, but also the growing connection with Evren. Evren and Adara’s connection came to fruition especially with the grand reveal of the two of them being mates. If you love the fated mates trope, then you’ll enjoy that trope in this series. Throughout this book, I got to see the Blood Court and much like Adara, I was surprised by how beautiful and not desolate and dark as I originally imagined. Evren was loved by his court and its citizens and it extended to Adara when she arrived. I especially liked seeing Adara learn to control her new found powers, train alongside Thalia and Sorin. Meeting new characters was nice and gave a bit more insight into those close friends that Evren had.

While this book was good, I will say I did feel like there was a bit back and forth between Adara being mad at Evren and then almost making up to then return to being angry at him. I’m not saying Adara didn’t have the right to feel angry over the events that transpired, but at times it did seem overdone when things could have progressed even more in the romance department. That being said, when it came to the romance, things definitely progressed and hey, the spice was always a nice added touch. When Adara finally made up with Evren and accepted being his mate, was when I started feeling hopeful for the two of them. Although, famous last words for me since, just as things seemed to be settling down, Adara and Evren were smacked with the message of Gavriel coming to the Blood court for Adara. As if things weren’t bad enough, the plot twist at the end of this book showed Adara finding out the long held secret of someone she never knew was STILL ALIVE! Ahhh! Needless to say, there was another cliffhanger and I needed answers pronto! Compared to the first book, this was still a good book but at certain points it left me wanting more. I’m still going to continue this series, just might take a small mini break in between. As a whole, I would still say this series is a great choice when wanting to read a fantasy romance, but not with the whole long series feeling that other books have. A fast paced, fantasy romance with magic, some politics, and a spicy romance between mates, and ta-da a good story to read!

A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious fast-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

*Check content warnings before reading.

4.5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

She was meant for greatness, a future in which she played a significant role for the far royalty because, she wasn’t just a young woman who was betrothed to the prince, she was Starblessed, and her name was, Adara. Adara had now from a young age that she was going to marry the fae prince because, with her being Starblessed, it was foretold that the blood running through her veins would give the prince stronger powers than the ones he possessed. The day finally came when Adara was taken from her home and thrusted into the palace of her soon to be husband and his family…as well as his brother, Evren, whom Adara couldn’t stop thinking about. Holly Renee wrote a fast paced, tension filled romance with a unique plot line that really made this fantasy romance entertaining and enjoyable to read from beginning to end.

I have been eyeing this book for quite some time and I finally read it! Adara and Evren’s story was a unique one that had the fantasy elements, magic, royalty, fae, vampires, and a romance that absolutely oozed TENSION! Evren was the perfect male lead/ love interest foe Adara with his strong powerful aura, but also a man who very much said, “hurt her and I will hunt you down, and unalive you,” vibes.

My understanding of the plot was that, Adara was, “Starblessed”, which meant that she had magic coursing through her blood, and stars marked on her body as a physical manifestation of said power. Apparently being Starblessed was a big deal, and for Adara it meant that she was to marry the prince of Citlali, and provide him with her blood for him to grow more powerful than all the faes. Although, the faes weren’t the only ones after Adara’s powers, it was also the Blood court a.k.a. The vampires that were after it too. Adara’s whole life had basically been planned out for her, and she never truly had a sense of freedom since everyone around her had their own agendas and used her for their own. At every turn, it seemed like everyone wanted to use Adara for their own benefit, but through it all, she managed to find an ally of sorts in the broody, dark, and at times flirtatious captain of the guard, Evren.

Evren and Adara had great chemistry from the beginning! Keep in mind that this story was fast paced, but it never felt rushed in terms of the romance between Adara and Evren. The whole time while I was reading, I could feel the tension emanating between Adara and Evren as well as the passion that kept building. There was never a dull moment while reading and it was hugely in part due to Adara and Evren having such a strong connection. I really enjoyed seeing the romance progress over the course of the story as well as the spice! I genuinely think that with the spice it also had an underlying feeling of trust being built between Adara and Evren as well as the deeper meaning of why they felt such a strong pull towards one another. Evren was the captain of the guard, but throughout each chapter, his resolve to protecting Adara and making it known that no one could hurt her without suffering the consequences was really hot to me! Plus, reading about a man going feral with jealousy or just wanting to make her his is always makes me excited! Adara may have initially being unsure of Evren’s loyalties, but he sure made it clear plenty of times how much he wanted her, and wanted to ensure her safety at all times. (Sigh) Evren was THE MAN!

You know, funny enough, when it came down to loyalties this book ended on quite the cliffhanger that made Adara’s trust in Evren change with the plot twist she got. This story was fast paced, and had everything you could want in a fantasy romance, but it also had a good plot twist to keep the story going into the next book. I think Evren’s backstory will be explored more in the next book, as well as show how the events that transpired in the ending will have changed the dynamics between Adara and Evren at least for a bit before hopefully the two of them make up. There’s also the fact of dealing with Gavril and the rest of the fae court so, potentially there might be a war or some type of battle that will break out in the next book. Overall, this was a good start to the series, and it was the perfect fantasy book for me to read! If you’re looking for a fantasy romance that is too long, is fast paced, has romance, spice, a male lead that will unalive and protect his love interest, have passion, tension, and a plot twist, then I would highly recommend this book!

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

Lana Ferguson is one of my all time favorite authors, and once again I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her newest release! This paranormal romance was set in Scotland where, Keyanna “Key” Mackay went to visit family on her father’s side to get to know them and all things related to her father. Key knew that things weren’t going to be easy when seeking out her grandparents, and it wasn’t made any easier with the grumpy yet extremely attractive farmhand who worked on her grandparents home by the name of, Lachlan. Lachlan had his own reasonings for working on the Mackay farm, and it seemed that even the grumpy Scot was hiding even more secrets than anyone could have imagined. Lana Ferguson wrote the type of paranormal romance that oozed with her sense of humor, banter, charm, and the kind of romance that was unique, and entertaining the whole way through. Never in my mind did I ever imagine reading this type of paranormal romance, but alas, anything my Queen Lana Ferguson writes, I’m buying and reading it!

Key was someone who was going through grief, a spontaneous trip that involved meeting her grandparents, and discovering a hidden secret that she literally didn’t see coming. Within the first few pages, Key struck me as the type of woman who was trying to connect with the only other family she had left, especially after the loss of her father. I can imagine it took a lot of strength to muster up the courage to seek out her grandparents, and be in a place she didn’t know much about. Thankfully, Key arrived in Scotland fairly well, and met a grumpy Scot’s man who wasn’t the kindest at first. Nonetheless, Key was thrusted into a new kind of journey that wasn’t just focused on her father, but also with the mystery behind the grumpy man who AGAIN was handsome!

I never get tired of reading the type of scenes that introduce the grumpy male lead! Lachlan was grumpy alright, and his first impression of Key resulted in him calling her, “stupid”…yup…I know! Not exactly the kind of romance you’d imagine, but these things take time even in a romance book! Lachlan wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Key at first, but upon hearing what her last name was, and more specifically whose family she was part of, it became a thing that meant more to Lachlan than it did to me. Little by little, it seemed that Lachlan was hissing something, and had ulterior motives for working on the Mackay farm. I had my suspicions about Lachlan, and lo and behold, it was revealed the truth behind Lachlan, and more aptly…WHAT HE WAS!

If you couldn’t figure it out already from the title, this story was centered on a paranormal romance involving the Loch Ness monster. Yeah, you read that right! LOCH NESS MONSTER! Throughout this book, there’s an element of mystery in which both, Key and Lachlan find themselves teaming up in order to uncover the truth behind the answer they were searching for. Plus, along the way, YOU ALREADY KNOW LANA WAS COOKING UP SOME DELICIOUSLY GOOD TENSION BETWEEN KEY AND LACHLAN! YES! Although in the beginning, Lachlan and Key weren’t each other’s biggest fans, little by little with the close proximity, and working together, those two formed a connection that was so satisfying and entertaining to watch unfold! By the time I got to Key and Lachlan’s first kiss, I was internally cheering and excited for them! All that tension was built up to make it more enjoyable once things started to progress in the romance department.

Lana, my dear, you wrote a fun, spicy, sweet, and entertaining romance that was unique. Key and Lachlan’s story had a bit of mystery with the answers they were searching for, and their family lineage playing a role in it. Never ever did I imagine to read a story about the Loch Ness monster, but hey! Lana wrote it so I obviously read it and it was entertaining the whole time. I really liked Key and Lachlan, they were great together, had good chemistry and tension. At the beginning of this book, Key and Lachlan were at odds with another one, but managed to then come to an agreement to work together and solve the mystery that Lachlan needed help with in terms of his…predicament. I liked how the story added a few fun surprises with Key’s backstory and how it all connected back to Key and Lachlan’s ancestors. Towards the end of the book, things started to get good from the romance, little twist, and a satisfying ending. All in all, it was a good paranormal romance that hit its mark with it being an enjoyable and entertaining reading experience.

I Dare You by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

4.0

4⭐️/ 3🌶️

A football romance with an anonymous secret admirer, now that sounds like an interesting plot line already. In this story, Ilsa Madden-Mills wrote about, Delaney, the Star Wars loving, quiet girl, and Maverick the popular athlete on campus at Waylon University as the two of them formed a connection over…texting. Except, the kicker being Delaney didn’t know the identity of the guy she was texting, but Maverick was well aware it was Delaney he was sending messages to. Ilsa Madden-Mills wrote a unique romance with a mix of lighthearted moments as well as some of the emotional ones that played a part in Maverick’s life. If you love a sports romance where the MMC has always had a crush on the FMC, is determined to make her his, and an interesting twist on the way two people fall in love, then definitely read this book.

I think it’s safe to say when it comes to Ilsa Madden-Mills books, she always finds a way to tug on your heartstrings either in a happy way or sad one. Maverick’s backstory was actually sad due to a horrible car accident that took his mother, and resulted in his younger sister suffering from it. As much as Maverick was the popular guy on campus with big prospects of making it into the NFL, all the girls wanting to be with him, at the end of the day all that mattered was making sure his family was safe, namely his sister, Raven. I wasn’t expecting the story to have a bit of a sad tone to it, but I actually liked it since there was a bit more depth to Maverick’s story as well as the overall one. Seeing the way Maverick took on all the responsibilities ensuring Raven was taken care of at all times, even when that meant driving back and forth between campus and his dad’s trailer, and it resulted in Maverick being tired, he didn’t matter as long as he made sure Raven was taken care of.

One of the things I liked about this story was the anonymous texting that occurred between Delaney and Maverick. Obviously, Maverick knew fully well he was texting Delaney, but Delaney only knew that she was texting someone who was essentially her secret admirer, liked, “The Princess Bride”, and got along with her naturally. Compared to other guys, Delaney finally felt like she had found someone she genuinely loved talking to and wanted to know who the mysterious guy was behind the phone. Thankfully, once Delaney figured out it was Maverick, it was like the pieces coming together, and they finally got together! I could tell that Maverick had always had a crush on Delaney, but because Delaney had been dating Maverick’s teammate he temporarily lost his shot with her…until Delaney became single again! Maverick was determined more than ever to take the opportunity before him, and make Delaney his, and he indeed made her HIS!

Delaney and Maverick ended up finding their happily ever after, and it all worked out. This book was easygoing, had some lighthearted moments as well as some depth to interest readers in both Delaney and Maverick’s story, and the occasional “Star Wars” and “Princess Bride” reference. If you’re looking for a fairly quick and sports romance then I think you’ll like this one. Delaney and Maverick had an instant connection, but didn’t get together until a few years later. Nonetheless, it all worked out nicely, and I loved seeing Delaney embracing Maverick’s sister as her own. I also, loved how the epilogue gave more insight as to what ended up happening with Maverick’s future specifically the NFL, and Delaney’s career that fit her perfectly. Cute romance, with some depth, and two characters falling in love.

Ruled Out by Ruth Stilling

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.75

*Thank you so much to Word Smith Publicity and Ruth Stilling for providing me with an ARC to this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.75⭐️/ 5🌶️

I’M JUST A GIRL WHO LOVES HOCKEY ROMANCES AND RUTH STILLING! I CAN’T BE STOPPED! Ruth Stilling has once again stolen my heart with the type of fictional characters she writes that I forever wish were real people! Before this book, Jessie was always someone that didn’t really catch my attention, but oh boy he sure did in this book! Finally, the time came for Jessie’s story and his second chance romance with Mia…a.k.a. his former GM’s daughter and therefore FORBIDDEN ROMANCE! Mia and Jessie’s story was one that had an emotional backstory that I really honed in on while reading, and also, if the story has something to do with the “broken boy” type slash some angst and heartache, you already know I’m going to be equally loving it whilst I’m an emotional, sensitive mess. Ruth Stilling still brought the deep, loving group of friends from the previous stories while also introducing new characters such as, Mia to round out the found family. If you’ve read Ruth’s previous books in this series, then this is your sign to READ THIS BOOK AS WELL!

No matter what, even with the years between them being apart, Jessie and Mia were always meant to be. The thing I liked that was included in this story was the little flashbacks of when Mia and Jessie were first together. Even in the past, it was obvious that there was such a strong connection between Mia and Jessie, and fast forward to the past, those feelings never went away. Also, kind of an ironic thing, but it’s funny how Jessie and Mia “tried” to keep things platonic and at a distance, but LETS BE REAL THOSE TWO WERE ALWAYS GOING TO BE REUNITED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER! Jessie was the man with both internal and external problems that he kept hidden, but Mia knew him better than anyone else, and was able to pick up on his behavior unlike anyone else. Mia was someone trying to find her footing in the world while going to school and working, and to be reunited with Jessie was endearing because, it was like they picked up where they left off.

(Sigh) poor Jessie dealt with a lot, and his journey over the course of this story illustrated the highs and lows of his life. From a young age, Jessie didn’t have the stable and loving family environment that most kids had. Instead, Jessie grew up in a household with parents or more specifically a parent that treated him horribly. Without giving too much away, just know that Jessie’s story had some heavy topics involved so, please check the trigger/ content warnings before reading. There was often times that I just wanted to hug and protect Jessie! My poor, sweet, beautiful Jessie (sigh) his story made me sad.

Mia was an endearing and lovely person who I found myself relating to. Now, obviously not everything that happens to a character or in a book will be something that I can personally relate to, but something about Mia’s personality and aspects of her, I found myself both admiring her and also understanding her on some level. Mia was a sweet and kind person, she had previously worked with her father on his NHL team, but that wasn’t the career path for her. Instead, Mia sought out to go to school and get the necessary skills and knowledge needed for her future career. I found it interesting how Mia’s major actually played well into her personality since she was so intuitive and understanding of others especially with Jessie. Jessie was use to keeping things guarded, but with Mia knowing him so well, she was often always able to see behind the cracks in his wall of things he kept hidden. Mia’s journey over the course of this story was good as well since she took the initiative and went after what she wanted, and was reunited with her first and only love, Jessie!

This series has officially come to an end *tear, tear. Over the course of this series, I have been introduced to unique characters that I’ve really enjoyed reading about as well as loving them. Jessie and Mia’s story was one that saw them finding that second chance to be together, and get their happily ever after they always deserved. Jessie was a sweet man at his core who always loved Mia, and little by little diminished his walls to reveal the vulnerabilities he kept hidden. As much as I love to see a man be all protective over the woman he loves, it’s an entirely different experience to see a big, strong man break down in tears, and open himself up about his fears, and vulnerable side. Jessie had a horrible childhood and it followed well into his adulthood, but eventually he found himself at a place where he was ready to seek help for his trauma. Mia also found herself back in Jessie’s arms where she always belonged, and found equally loving, kind friends with Kate, Luna, Felicity, Jon, Zack, and Jensen. While this story was bittersweet to and, it was heartfelt to see the epilogue end the way that it did with the entire group together, as well as setting it up nicely for Ruth’s next series with someone who had more face time in this specific book. Bravo, Ruth, you did an amazing job bringing Jessie and Mia’s story together. (Sigh) I really enjoyed this book, and I cannot stress how much you should read this book and every book in this series! Highly recommend!

Content Warnings

Fall with Me by Becka Mack

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

*Check Trigger warnings before reading.

4.5⭐️/ 5🌶️

Each and every book in this series has explored different couples, the found family dynamics, romance, spice, lots of humor, and a wonderful cast of characters at the helm of these books. For Jaxon Riley, he was use to playing on and off the ice, and living his way how he saw fit. Compared to his teammates and friends all being either married/engaged/ dating, Jaxon was now the only single guy in the group, but things started to shift when he went on vacation to Cabo and had a steamy session with, Lennon Hayes. Lennon needed a new change of scenery following her broken engagement with her ex-fiancé. As luck would have it, Lennon got hired to be the photographer for the Vancouver Vipers where…ahem…a certain someone was on that team, a.k.a. Jaxon. This story had, one night stand, a devoted cat daddy, found family, and workplace romance.

Jaxon had joined the Vancouver Vipers the year previously and yet, even as his teammates and now close friends welcomed him with open arms, he still felt like the odd one out since he was officially the only single guy left. From the previous books, we saw Jaxon have his fun hooking up with multiple women, living it up as a bachelor, and slowly but surely joining the guys as they all became good friends. Although with his recent trip to Cabo, in which it resulted in Jaxon meeting Lennon, and them having a hot one night stand together, you could imagine his surprise when he saw her walk into his workplace as the newest team photographer for the Vancouver Vipers. Jaxon was always used to being on his own, never settling in one place long enough to get comfortable and make friends, let alone a relationship, but with Lennon suddenly being in the same city as him, it seemed like Jaxon couldn’t keep his mind off her.

Lennon was a sassy, sharp, and strong woman, but even she had to deal with new changes after her ex-fiancé cheated on her the night of their wedding rehearsal. On what was supposed to be her honeymoon, Lennon took advantage of the trip to focus on herself, and ended up having a one night stand with Jaxon. Now, working in Vancouver as the Vancouver Viper’s newest team photographer and social media manager, Lennon was ready to dominate her new job, but she also found herself face to face with her one night stand, and one of the NHL players on the team, Jaxon. Right when Lennon and Jaxon were in close proximity from working in the same place and eventually having to live together (since Lennon’s apartment was flooded) it was evident that the two of them still held an attraction towards each other, and couldn’t help remembering all the steamy fun they had that night in Cabo. Aside from meeting the playboy hockey player, Lennon found herself making friends with Jaxon’s teammates and their significant others. Seeing Lennon becoming friends with everyone was really great because, one, Lennon had friends who genuinely cared about her wellbeing and two, she became part of the close family those friends had already formed a long time. Lennon’s ex was trash and for all the hurt he caused her, she got to be worshipped by a REAL MAN, CARED ABOUT HER HEALTH, AND HIS ADORABLE CAT LOVED HER! All in all, I would say that the best thing that ever happened to Lennon was moving to Vancouver and becoming Jaxon’s temporary roommate.

OK, BUT WHY DID THIS BOOK ALSO HAVE ME FEELING EMOTIONAL?! While this story had plenty of iconic and laughable moments, it was the vulnerability in Jaxon’s backstory that really had me in my feels! Jaxon was perceived as the tough guy/ playboy on and off the ice, but really he was just a man looking for his space within and believing he deserved to be loved. While I also appreciated the journey Lennon went on of rediscovering herself, seeing Jaxon truly embrace his friends and his new home as his forever home was a new concept to him that he gradually embraced. Jaxon always had one foot out the door, always expecting to either be traded to another team or even being forgotten by his friends and eventually Lennon, but that was the furthest thing from the truth. Lennon and the friend group truly showed how much they loved Jaxon by proving to him that they weren’t going anywhere and would always have his back. Jaxon always had the love and trust of his friends, but it was a long journey for him to finally accept he had found his home with all his friends and Lennon.

Another great book within the “Playing for Keeps” series, and Lennon and Jaxon’s story was fun, heartfelt, emotional, spicy, and again lots of fun! Seeing the rest of the friend group continue to grow and embrace Lennon as their newest family member was heartwarming and sweet. Aside from the close knit group these characters have formed over the course of this series, each one continues to show how much love and admiration there is for each other. If you love the found family trope, read this book! Lennon and Jaxon might have had a spicy one night stand in Cabo, but it was the beginning of forever of those two falling head over heels in love with each other. From becoming roommates, working on the same team, and becoming even more obsessed with Mitten’s cuteness, Lennon and Jaxon were perfect for each other. The ways Jaxon showed his love for Lennon started from the beginning with always buying her favorite pink tulips, taking her to see the Northern Lights, buying her a telescope, and making her an instruction manual to help her make lattes was just a few ways that was so endearing and romantic to me! This was another good story and one that I’m glad I finally got the chance to read! Let’s just say this book ended on quite a memorable moment in the epilogue! IYKYK! Highly recommend!

Content Warnings

Unravel Me by Becka Mack

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

5⭐️/ 4🌶️

*Please check trigger warnings before reading.

I have been saving this book for a LONG TIME! Saving it up for the day that I could give it my complete undivided attention because, when it comes to, Adam Lockwood, he deserves that! Adam had been someone who I always enjoyed seeing in the previous books, but I was yearning to know his backstory and more! Finally that day came, and I was so excited to read his book! Adam was the goalie for the NHL Vancouver Vipers team alongside his teammates and fellow besties. Adam was just coming out of a horrible breakup, and with a number of disastrous dates, it seemed like Adam wasn’t having any luck in the dating world, until he met a sweet and lovely woman during his hike with his dog, Bear. Rosie Wells was an animal lover, future Vet, and an overall lovely person. When Rosie met Adam during one of her hikes walking one of the dogs at the shelter she worked at, it was an instant genuine connection she formed with him. As the connection quickly grew between Adam and Rosie they each realized they wanted more from each other. This story had, found family, swoon worthy romance, an MMC who will make you fall in love with him, humor, emotional connections, and more.

Adam’s story has been a long time coming for me personally, and getting to read his story made me appreciate all the wonderful things about him. If you’ve read the previous books (WHICH YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD!) then you’ll know that Adam had a bad breakup with his ex-girlfriend in which she did him dirty by cheating on him, and basically treating him horribly. After getting back into the dating scene, Adam was met with women who just wanted to date him because, he was a famous NHL goalie, and not for who he was. The way Adam instantly had a genuine connection with Rosie when they first met highlighted how much Adam wanted someone to like him just for him, not for the fame, the wealth he had or anything else. At the core of Adam’s story, he wanted to find his own person, similar to how his best friends and their significant others found each other. I loved seeing how Adam was a nervous mess at times wanting to ensure everything went perfectly according to his dates with Rosie, and later with someone who was a big part of Rosie’s life too. The beginning chapters already sold me on how amazing Adam was, and as per usual, Becka Mack didn’t disappoint!

Rosie was such an endearing character who I immediately adored and her story really hit me in my feels. Just like you would expect, Adam’s love interest was the perfect person for him. Rosie loved being outdoors, loved animals, was kind, and such a sweetheart. Early on, it was clear that Rosie was juggling a lot of responsibilities not only with school in order to become a veterinarian, and her job, but also her biggest priority was raising her adorable son. Rosie was a single mom raising her baby boy, Connor, and she had her days when it wasn’t easy, but it was worth the occasional stress with Connor being the apple of her eye, and did I mention him being the CUTEST! Over the course of this story, I saw the growth in not just Adam, but also Rosie. Rosie at the beginning of this book, didn’t feel like she had ever been anyone’s first choice/ priority, but when it came to meeting Adam and having him in her life, she felt the way Adam always put her first. By the end of this book, Rosie was a stronger version of herself who was surrounded by the love of her little family, and the extension of family she found within the friend group she was welcomed to with open arms.

Despite saving this book up for what feels like a long time, I’m glad I waited to savor every morsel of Adam and Rosie’s story. Once again, Becka Mack DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Adam was truly boyfriend goals with the attention to detail he put in his dates with Rosie, to the way he immediately formed a close bond with Connor (Rosie’s son), and was truly sincere and genuine with the way he cared for Rosie. Even Rosie was such a lovely person from the way she dedicated herself to her studies, was the best single mom ever, and provided the security, love, and warmth that Adam had always been looking for in a partner. As if the romance wasn’t swoon worthy, passionate, and filled with emotional depth, the found family in this book once again made me SO HAPPY! Seeing Carter, Ollie, Cara, Emmett, Jaxon, Jennie, and Garrett welcome Rosie and Connor into the family was heartwarming and special. Plus, there was plenty of hilarious moments sprinkled throughout this book that brought a smile to my face! I can never forget the scene of the guys dressing up as the Spice Girls for Halloween haha! All in all, this book was perfect, ended on quite a beautiful scene that ONCE AGAIN brought me tears of joy, and I’m oh so happy with Rosie and Adam being together with their little family, animals, and their wonderful friends surrounding them. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Content Warnings

Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

*Please check trigger warnings before reading.

4.25⭐️

FINALLY! THE DAY HAS COME WHEN I HAVE FINALLY READ GIBSIE AND CLAIRE’S STORY! WOO! I feel like this story has been one I have been eagerly waiting for, especially with all the small bits and pieces I’ve gotten over the course of the previous books. Claire and Gibsie were always side by side, you’d never not catch them being together since they were the closest of friends, but also shared a deep connection that spanned years since they were little. Gibsie was flirtatious, reckless, fun, loving, and the life of the party, but deep inside he also hide the darkest parts of himself especially after a traumatic event in his younger years. Claire was a sweet young girl who, similar to Gibsie was always smiles, kind, and the best friend a person could ask for. This story illustrated two best friends who were the epitomes of sunshine’s, falling in love over the course of their lives together as they went through highs and lows, but ultimately becoming much more than the friends they originally were.

As much as both Gibsie and Claire were rays of sunshine, this story also had some sadness to it. Like any of the books within this series, there are heavy topics discussed so, please check trigger warnings before reading. Without giving away too much, this story discussed Gibsie’s backstory namely with the trauma of losing both his Dad and little sister in a drowning accident. Many years ago, while out on a boat, Gibsie’s dad, his little sister, and himself fell overboard and into the water. As you could imagine, it was a traumatic experience that even years later still haunted Gibsie and left him with a lingering sadness he could never move pass. The story delved into the aspects of Gibsie’s past and tried to show how he tried to keep the inner demons at bay by smiling and using his humor as a coping mechanisms. After all, if he was busy having fun and making others laugh, then it was the perfect distraction to the thoughts that swirled through his mind. Poor Gibsie dealt with a lot internally, but thankfully with Claire always at his side, he always had her to help him in whatever way possible.

One of the many things I’ve enjoyed about this series is, seeing the characters grow, evolve, and become part of a bigger family. The last two books focused primarily on, Joey and Aoife’s story, but now with this book it not only gave us the story of Gibsie and Claire, but finally seeing every single character together. From the Lynch siblings joining Tommen, to Aoife later coming along, the friend group grew bigger and stronger. Over the course of these books, it has shown, Johnn, Shannon, Joey, Aoife, Gibsie, Claire, the rest of the Lynch siblings, Hugh, Patrick, and the even the parents become more prominent figures. Gibsie and Claire’s story was one I had waited what seemed like a long time, but seeing the rest of the characters come together in this book was heartwarming and so satisfying even when things got intense.

Going into this book I thought I knew what I was getting into, but then it took a completely unexpected turn when I got more towards the end. Like all of previous Boys of Tommen books, each book showed and discussed heavy topics that were sad, traumatic, and tragic. When it came to Gibsie’s story, never in my time of reading this book did I expect to learn what he was experienced as such a young age. Yes, I was made aware early on that Gibsie suffered a tragedy of losing both his father and little sister in a tragic drowning, but when it came towards the almost end of this book with Gibsie revealing a long held dark secret of his past, I legitimately froze up and was in complete shock. Looking back at the story, it all kind of makes sense as to why Gibsie had a certain distance to him when it came to hooking up with random girls, and why he was afraid of feeling nothing when it came to the only girl he ever loved, Claire. Gibsie used his humor to cover up his true feelings, but the mask he used to hide his feelings highlighted just how much he was dealing with under the surface, poor Gibsie, my heart broke for him when he said what he said…

I went into this book with I’ll admit high hopes for Gibsie and Claire’s story, but there was something about this book that felt like it was missing something. I will say, when it came to the revelation of Gibsie’s past in regards to what he endured, I think it should have been included in the trigger warnings as some of the things discussed and shown in this book were very heartbreaking and just something one should be given a heads up just in case. Aside from that, I did enjoy seeing the entire friend group interacting, and seeing the different personalities among the friend group. Although, with the events leading up to the ending, it seemed like there was much to still be answered in terms of the story, and especially with the friend group at odds. Gibsie and Claire’s story has been one that has been building up since the first book so, to finally get to read their story was intriguing, but I do think there was potential for me to explore their friendship going into the romance, if that makes sense. As a whole, I liked this book, I thought it did a great job of illustrating the aspects of Gibsie and Claire’s friendship, seeing the friend group together, the drama that unfolded over the course of the book. I’m curious to see if Claire and Gibsie’s story will be a continuation in the next one or what will happen next since there were a few unanswered questions I had with the way this book ended.

Content Warnings

Redeeming 6 by Chloe Walsh

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

5⭐️

*Check Trigger Warnings before reading

Joey and Aofie were the perfect match for each other, but even with all the love they had for each other, there was still a lot of things they had to overcome. From Joey’s struggles with addiction, his home life being unstable, and generally taking on the role of being a parent to his younger siblings, once again Joey Lynch had the weight of the world of his shoulders. Aofie being the great girlfriend that she was, tried her best to always be there for Joey, but even she had her moments when she couldn’t help Joey because, Joey would push her away in order to protect her. Chloe Walsh continued Joey and Aoife’s story in a heart wrenching moments that spanned over the course of this book, as well as illustrating some unexpected surprises that took me completely off guard. An emotional, angst filled romance that shared its highs and lows, Joey and Aoife’s story wasn’t over, but there was more to be discovered before they reached their happy ending.

As I was reading this book, I came to the realization that both this book and the last basically took place during the events in, “Keeping 13” and “Binding 13”. So, while everything that was going on with Shannon, the events in this book (and the last) revealed all that Joey and Aoife had been dealing with in their own lives, and relationship. From the last book, I completely adored both Joey and Aoife and that love for them grew in this book. Joey and Aoife had a lot of their plates when it came to the looming future in front of them with almost being done with secondary school, but to Joey that was the last thing he was thinking of when he had bigger things to worry about. The one thing I knew going into this book was that, it was going to have even more heartbreaking moments especially knowing what was bound to come. In the other hand, this book also completely caught me off guard with an unexpected trope that dare I say, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it…

If I thought the last book was filled with highs and lows, this book took the cake when it came to the rollercoaster of emotions that went down with Joey and Aoife. As if life couldn’t get any worse, Joey’s struggles with addiction came back with a vengeance as he self destructed, and Aoife had reached a breaking point in seeing all the ways that Joey was acting and how it affected their relationship. Relationships are never easy, but when it came to Joey and Aoife’s, those two really had their fair share of ups and downs. I honestly felt really bad for both Joey and Aoife, but more so for Aoife as her life started to change in a specific way she didn’t expect, as well as how Joey inevitably hurt her by his actions. I think the way Chloe Walsh wrote Joey and Aoife’s story truly illustrated the struggles both of them faced, but also in how Joey and Aoife weren’t by any means perfect.

I could appreciate the raw and emotional impact this story had, and seeing the trajectory the story went into had me fully immersed and quite honest on the edge of my seat at all times. Like I’ve said before, Joey and Aoife’s story as well as the previous books in this series haven’t been an easy walk in the park. On the contrary, this story showed all the heartbreaking moments that occurred in Joey and Aoife’s story from Joey’s fight with addiction and drug abuse, to Aoife’s specific predicament, the ongoing abuse within the Lynch household, and even more as the story continued. Aoife and Joey went through so much that many teenagers their age shouldn’t have to go through, but unfortunately did. My heart broke for Joey and Aoife on multiple occasions, and my biggest hope for them throughout the book was just to see them come out on the other side stronger and hopefully leave behind all the pain in the distance. I would once again urge readers to check the trigger warnings before reading, and be mindful while reading because, the topics discussed in this book aren’t light nor are they to be taken lightly.

THE WAY I DEVOURED THIS BOOK IN TWO DAYS FLAT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK! I did not expect to fall in love with Joey and Aoife’s story this much, but with the way their story unraveled, the character development in Joey’s story arc, and seeing Aoife and Joey go through such a tumultuous journey it was the kind of book where I didn’t lose interest at any point while reading. Initially, this book introduced a surprise trope thank wasn’t sure about, but the more I read, the more I realized how perfectly it fit into Joey and Aoife’s story. Aoife and Joey were always meant to be together and despite all the hardships they faced, they ended up coming out of it stronger and overcame big obstacles most teenagers their age don’t normally face. Aoife and Joey made me fall in love with their personalities and how their banter was always so entertaining to me, and also how their love also held a great friendship. When it came to seeing the rest of the characters play a more prominent role in Joey and Aoife’s story in this book namely seeing Johnny’s parents, it filled my heart with so much warmth and appreciation. For the longest time, Joey and his siblings lived in constant fear and abuse at the hands of their father, but by the time the story ended, all of the Lynch kids, and Joey were living a much happier, healthier, safer, and loving life with the Kavanagh’s. This book truly capitulated my love for Joey, Aoife, and honestly made me appreciate the entire series even more! This story ended on the perfect note with Joey, and Aoife, and if you’ve read this book you’ll know exactly what I mean by how sweet and loving the epilogue showed the happiness that it exuded.

Content Warnings

More...

bribreez's reviews 676 reviews

bribreez's reviews
676 reviews