bribreez's reviews
676 reviews

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

4.5

*Please Check Trigger Warnings before reading

4.5⭐️

I’m back in the boys of Tommen series, and with this book focusing on, Joey and Aoife. This series has been an unexpected surprise for me in which to this very day, I still think about the characters and want to know how the story continues. Joey was someone who stuck me as the type who shouldered a lot of the responsibilities at home that someone his age as well as struggle with his inner demons. Now, in this book, I got to see the raw and emotional parts of both Joey and Aoife’s relationship from the moment they met to the tumultuous days Joey faced in his home life. If you’re read the previous books, you’ll know that when it comes to Joey’s story, it isn’t by any means happy, as well as his siblings stories too namely, Shannon. Chloe Walsh did a great job illustrating the highs and lows in Joey and Aoife’s lives that it wasn’t hard to become protective and adore these characters just as much as Shannon and Johnny. Prepare yourselves for even more emotional moments, heartbreaking scenes, and a whole lot of angst, and raw emotions throughout this book.

Going into this book, I knew there was going to be some heavy stuff talked about, but there was still some fun, entertaining moments with Joey and Aoife. Seeing how Joey and Aoife met was an interesting thing, definitely agreed on it being a unique meet cute, and it set the precedent for how Joey and Aoife got along. I immediately loved the banter between Joey and Aoife and how they both went back and forth with the sharp yet also entertaining conversations. Seeing how Joey and Aoife were before they even got together romantically was an interesting experience for me, and I throughly enjoyed it. There was never a dull moment for me while reading that I found myself reading more and more through the day than when I read Johnny and Shannon’s story. Not sure exactly what it was, but there was just something special about Joey and Aoife that I felt the need to keep reading as I got to fully know them, and see all their intricacies in what made them the characters that many love.

I think what I’ve come to love about this book and series is, seeing how the characters are flawed, have their own struggles, and yet later on find some happiness along the way. Joey had taken on the role of being the protector right after Darren, his older brother up and left him and his family right as Joey had started secondary school. Imagine having to take on the responsibilities that Joey had had, but add on the fact that his home life wasn’t by any means safe or easy for him and his siblings? (Sigh) it was terrifying and stressful for Joey, but regardless he did what needed to be done for the sake of his family. Reading this book, I obviously got to know Aoife and Joey on a deeper level from their personalities, and banter, but also how even in the early stages Joey was dealing with a lot already before he fell for Aoife.

Aoife and Joey’s story was compelling, intriguing, angst filled, and a whole lot of obstacles in front of them, but no matter what, I could see the love and care they had for each other. Now, I can see why so many people love this book, and the series as a whole. At the start, I went in knowing it was going to be dealing with heavy topics, but what surprised me was how in the midst of all the trauma, there was also youthful joy in Aoife and Joey’s friendship in the early days and all the way as they grew up into being teenagers. Getting to know Aoife, I got to see how much sass and how unapologetic she was in her confidence and outgoing personality. Aoife was the perfect girl for Joey because, much like Joey, Aoife wasn’t someone you could control, she was a force to reckon with. Joey was a young guy trying to juggle everything all at once, and while his form of coping wasn’t the healthiest, I could see that in his situation, it seemed like the only option for him in order to get through to the next day and so forth. I really did love both Aoife and Joey, and I’m more than interested to see how things play out in the next book, but something tells me there will be a lot more pain and sadness in my future when I read it. Regardless, I’m along for the ride, and dare I say I’m becoming more and more of a die hard fan of this series. Highly recommend this book, and the previous books in the series, and as always make sure to check the trigger warnings.

Content Warnings

Chasing Home by Hannah Cowan

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.75⭐️/ 3-4🌶️ (5 times)

Cherry Peak is the sweet small town that has all the lovely and amazing people that I love. Including a variety of tropes that I equally love! This story followed a character that I have seen throughout the series, and with each book I have grown more curious about. Johnny was that character who always had such a brightness to him that it was easy to have a smile on your face, and wish you could bask in his sunshine personality. When it came to the romance department, Johnny was the single one in the friend group, but that all changed when the new girl strolled into town, and immediately caught Johnny’s eye. Aurora or as she preferred, Rory was the black cat who kept her distance from everyone after arriving in Cherry Peak. Rory felt like an outside despite being welcomed with open arms to the friend group in Cherry Peak, and with a certain ruggedly handsome, young twenty-two year old cowboy wanting to spend time with her, she felt conflicted from her original plan. This story had me falling in love with Johnny from the first few pages, and wanting to know more about Rory, and her mysterious backstory. With tropes like, reverse age gap, love at first sight for him, found family, small town cowboy romance, and more, Hannah Cowan really did write another wonderful story within this series that I love so much!

Ok, but I’m going to need to ask Santa or someone to get me Johnny for myself A.S.A.P.! Johnny was already someone who I liked in the previous books with the scenes he appeared in, but getting to know more about him made him so much more endearing to me. I’m a hopeless romantic and I’m all for romance anything so, to see a male character who was all about romance, and essentially a romantic at heart, I felt a kinship to Johnny. The thing I loved about Johnny was his unabashed affection and honesty about his feelings towards Rory. From the moment Johnny set eyes on Rory, he felt an immediate connection that he needed to see through, and get to know the woman who ensnared him. While Rory was albeit a bit reluctant to move things forward at first, Johnny was never deterred and instead determined to show Rory how serious he was about her. I loved seeing Johnny pulling out all the stops for Rory, and he was perfect example of, “if he wanted to, HE WOULD”. Basically, Johnny was the new book boyfriend for me, and I thank my lucky stars that Hannah wrote him to perfection! Chef kisses all around for Johnny!

This was a great reverse age gap romance! I surprisingly wasn’t expecting to look Johnny and Rory’s story as much as I did. Going into the series, I was obviously looking forward (and ended up loving) Brody and Anna’s story, and even enjoyed Poppy and Garrison’s story too. Throughout the series, Johnny’s character has become more prominent and intriguing to me that when it finally came to his book, I was welcomed with so many wonderful things about him that it made me love him even more. Rory was initially a closed off person, and wasn’t looking to settle down in Cherry Peak, only looking for the answers she wanted answered. With Johnny’s optimism and brightness, and even the rest of the friend group from, Poppy, Anna, and Bryce, and even Brody’s grandparents, everyone welcomed Rory with open arms into the family she found herself becoming part of. The found family in this series has grown over the course of each book, and with Rory’s backstory pertaining to her birth dad, seeing her story come full circle to embracing the family she found in her friends and Johnny was heartwarming and goes to show that family doesn’t just mean blood, but the ones you choose to have in your life. Rory and Johnny were great together, and despite the age gap between them, it wasn’t a glaring problem for them. I often times forgot that Johnny was twenty-two especially with how mature and thoughtful he was in his job, friendships, and romance with Rory. If I could pick which book has been my favorite in the series so far, it might be a tie between this book and the first one. Regardless, I would say read every book in the series because, Hannah Cowan wrote such fantastic characters that are all equally wonderful and amazing. This story wrapped up on a happy ending, and with the epilogue I was more than excited to see the future for the next book with Bryce and…a certain someone’s twin sister! Yay! Johnny and Rory were great! Loved this book!

Catching Sparks by Hannah Cowan

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

4.5⭐️/ 5🌶️ (11 times)

The small town of Cherry Peak has quickly become a favorite of mine with characters such as, Brody, Anna, Poppy, Bryce, and more within this series. This new story centered on, Poppy and Garrison. If you’ve read the first book, then you’ll remember Garrison as the CEO of Swift Edge records, a.k.a. the record label that Brody is signed to. Garrison was always about business and didn’t care much about others concerns, but when trouble finds Garrison at work, he finds himself sent away while the company does damage control from the fall out. The last place Garrison wanted to be was, Cherry Peak, but with residents such as, our very own lovely, Poppy, even the grump himself couldn’t deny how much he was attracted to her. For Poppy, she had always known life living in Cherry Peak, and when the newcomer, Garrison comes into town, she can’t help but want to have some fun with him. This story had, small town, friends with benefits, he’s a grumpy billionaire, she’s a feisty, strong, empowering female lead, spice galore, and a whole lot more!

Hannah never disappoints with her stories, and with Poppy and Garrison’s book, I was once again immersed in the story! Poppy and Garrison’s story was one that I was really curious to see play out especially since, in the first book, I wasn’t a fan of Garrison. At first, I wondered if I would even like Garrison in his own book, but thankfully with Hannah’s magnificent writing, she was able to craft Garrison into a person who had his flaws, but was on his own journey to redeeming himself. As for Poppy, GIRL I ALREADY LOVED HER SINCE THE BEGINNING! Poppy was so upbeat, bright, sassy, and strong. Just the fact that Poppy owned, “Beautifully Bold”, made me want to take a pole dancing class! Poppy was an empowering character, and that came across in the book. In a variety of ways, I got to see how Poppy was a strong female lead, and she continued to impress me. Not to mention, I loved seeing Poppy embrace her sexuality in and out of the bedroom with Garrison. This book stuck me as more sex positive compared to the first book with the way both Garrison and Poppy weren’t ashamed of their wants and desires when it came to being intimate with each other. There was a sense of empowerment in the way both characters were open and vulnerable in expressing what they wanted from each other which was a great aspect to the story.

I think it’s safe to say that before this book, I wasn’t much of a fan of Garrison, but my opinion changed reading this book. Garrison was a grumpy billionaire who was always about business and nothing else. Coming to Cherry Peak changed him in ways even he didn’t see coming. From befriending people like Johnny, and warming up to Wade (Brody’s grandpa), and having steamy, hot sessions with Poppy, Garrison’s initial impression of the small town and its people became positive. When it came to Poppy though, it became so much more than a friends with benefits arrangement. Instead, Garrison became a possessive man who wanted Poppy all for himself, and when it came to owning up to his true feelings, he was made to work for it which I definitely enjoyed seeing when it came to him groveling. Another great thing I liked about Garrison was him using his money to spoil Poppy! We love a man to spoil his lady love, but also when it came to practical things such as, Poppy needing a new washer and dryer, and Garrison using his connections and wealth to buy her the best washer/ dryer set for her. While that may not scream romantic to some, I think it’s showed just how much Garrison paid attention to Poppy’s needs both in and out of the bedroom. The sexual chemistry was undeniable, but seeing Garrison and Poppy’s connection grow outside of their arrangement revealed just how much Garrison truly cared about Poppy.

Pretty sure I’ve said this before, but if not I’ll say it again, I LOVE THIS SERIES! If I could visit Cherry Peak and get to hang out with Poppy, Anna, Bryce, Brody, Garrison, and Johnny, I’d LOVE THAT! This book further showed the close knit group between Poppy and her friend which I’ve come to adore from the first book, and seeing Garrison join them was an unexpected surprise that worked out perfectly. Garrison was initially someone I didn’t like much, but hey, he redeemed himself, and became a better person after having spent time in Cherry Peak, and inevitably falling in love with Poppy. I for sure already loved Poppy before this book, but this story made my love for her grow even more! Poppy was a great female lead with her confidence, strength, and empowerment when it came to different aspects of her life. I think compared to the other book, I really appreciated and loved how this book was sex positive and explored different kinks. Not sure if this was something others noticed but for me I thought this book really highlighted sex positivity and exploring intimacy in different ways. Garrison and Poppy had dynamite chemistry in and out of the bedroom, and oh boy did those two really heat things up in the bedroom! By far the spiciest books in the series so far and again…I LOVED IT! Garrison and Poppy were a great couple together, and seeing them go from a friends with benefits situation to a serious relationship was amazing. Kind of ironic that both Garrison and Poppy weren’t looking for something serious, and yet, they ended up in a serious, committed relationship together haha. Everything worked out perfectly in the end, and with the epilogues showing how blissfully happy Garrison and Poppy were together alongside their friend group was heartwarming to see. Definitely recommend this book if you love, small town, he’s a billionaire, she’s a strong, female lead, spice AF, found family, the groveling trope, and much more. Also read the first book in the series too!

Snow Harm, No Foul by Hannah Cowan

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 4🌶️

Holiday cheer is in the air, and with Hannah Cowan’s Christmas novella, she brought the SPICE, ex-boyfriend’s dad, accidental pregnancy, and being snowed in together! If you happen to be looking for a fast and quick spicy romance with the Christmas cheer then this novella is the one for you!

Ivy and Niko had instant chemistry and it was clear right when they were face to face again, the lust and potent desire was strong between them. If you’re looking for a slow burn, drawn out romance, LOOK THE OTHER WAY! This novella had insta love/ insta lust, and for my spicy readers out there, you’d enjoy this novella! Ivy and Niko had known each other before since…Ivy use to date Niko’s son. Enter in the trope of, EX BOYFRIEND’S DAD! OMG! Needless to say, Niko had BDE and knew how to back it up and show Ivy what a REAL MAN COULD DO FOR HER! WOO! Spice galore mixed in with the Christmas vibes was fun, entertaining, and HOT! Niko was often seen as the grumpy grump around others, but with Ivy he was a soft teddy bear who adored her and doted on her all the time, especially when she became pregnant with his baby. By the way, this isn’t a spoiler, since it’s mentioned in the synopsis, but yeah, this novella also had the accidental pregnancy trope. As you would imagine, Niko took the news well, and was even more excited to be having a baby with Ivy, the woman he always liked from afar even when his son was dating her.

Overall, this was a spicy, fun, entertaining Christmas novella that hit all the marks for me. Hannah wrote a Christmas novella that had a variety of tropes that worked well within the storyline, and the characters. Ivy and Niko had formed a fast and easy relationship that really illustrated how much they got along together. Despite the big age gap, and the obstacle of dating her ex’s dad, Ivy wasn’t deterred from being with Niko. If anything, Ivy was finally with someone who saw her for who she was which was, smart, kind, loving, and bright. Niko found his match with Ivy, and I can only imagine that after the ending of the novella they are happily enjoying life together, preparing for their future child, and living everyday to the fullest. Again, I would highly recommend this novella if you’re looking for a spicy Christmas story that’s fast paced, fun, and entertaining.

Angry God by L.J. Shen

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

*Check Trigger warnings before reading.

4.25⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

L.J. Shen’s “All Saints” returns with the third installment in the series and it had even more darkness with Vaughn Spencer and Lenora Astalis at the forefront. Vaughn was one of the popular boys in school, but his family had power and control over everyone in the town they lived in. With power, popularity, and money, Vaughn was only stranger to controlling others over the whims of his wishes. Lenora was someone who went up against Vaughn and wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of completely controlling her. If anything, Lenora wanted to destroy Vaughn just as much he did to her. This book was dark and by no means sweet so if you’re looking for a cute romance, look the other way. If you want a questionable morally gray character who will do anything (and I mean ANYTHING) to get what he wants, as well as a feisty, equally dark and twisted female lead, then look no further than Lenora and Vaughn.

Little did I expect that Vaughn would be at this level of unhinged! When it came to the flashback moment of Vaughn and Lenora at ages thirteen and twelve, I thought I’d see them just forming their enemies storyline, but oh no I was in for quite the surprise. The thing that really baffled me was when I saw that Vaughn at thirteen knock out a security guard, and snuck into Lenora’s room, like what?! How was he able to do that at a young age?? My point being, that was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to how Vaugh was twisted, dark, and absolutely did whatever he wanted. Even Lenora caught my off guard with her own kind of twisted and unhinged attitude. Lenora was originally a quiet and timing girl, but through the loss of her mother and being done with Vaugh pushing and bullying her, Lenora became a force of her own. Lenora was twisted in her own ways, but she gradually became more intrigued and wanted to taste Vaughn…namely his blood. So, yeah, there was some blood play and frankly one I never saw coming, but hey, that’s the kind of thing that strangely just worked for this book.

Overall, Lenora and Vaughn’s story was an interestingly dark and twisted story that fascinated me in ways I didn’t expect. Vaughn was someone who literally did whatever he wanted, and by all means was able to get away with the things he did. When it came to enacting his mysterious revenge against a certain someone, it was a part of the story that completely took me off guard, and one that was about a heavy topic. Vaughn had his reasons for the things he did, but when it came to Lenora, his way of thinking and acting were turned around in a way he wasn’t entirely sure about. Lenora was the perfect love interest for Vaughn because, she too had her own darkness lurking inside of her, and it just made sense for her and Vaughn to have that special chemistry together. Again, with this book and this series, I would say if you’re looking for morally gray characters, dark and at times questionable actions, as well as a change in your usual romance stories, then this might be something to check out. This wasn’t by any means a cute romance, so if you want a somewhat, almost dark romance, then go ahead and read this book.

Content Warnings

Broken Knight by L.J. Shen

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dark emotional 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

*Please check trigger warnings before reading

4.5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

Luna Rexroth and Knight Cole had practically grown up together since their parents were best friends, it made sense they would see a lot of each other. From a young age, it was always Luna and Knight together, the best of friends, and Knight being the type of person that even from the age of nine, was wholeheartedly or shall we say obsessively in love with Luna. Now, this book wasn’t boring by any means, and with the added touch of angst, darkness, and possessive morally gray characters, L.J. Shen crafted a romance between two young friends, and how over the years their friendship was so much more, as well as the obstacles that came their way. If you want a story that will keep you entertained, a possessive yet lowkey unhinged MMC, and a romance that will keep you on your toes, then this is a book I would definitely recommend.

Now, the only other time I’ve read a book by, L.J. Shen was the one she wrote with Parker S. Huntington. Getting to read a book solely written by L.J. Shen, I was proven right by instantly enjoying this book! Something about the way L.J. Shen writes her books highlights morally gray characters, unhinged MMC’s, and basically the complete opposite to the usual romances I’ve read. This story was a nice change up to the books I’ve read previously, and I really appreciated the way that this book showed me another type of characters that I haven’t read about in a while. Knight and Luna were an interesting couple especially with their friendship having been a strong part of their story from the very beginning. To see how much Knight and Luna cared deeply for each other was clear from the very beginning, but the road to their happily ever after was difficult and by no means easy. L.J. Shen showed that Knight was obsessed with Luna, and over the years, his love and loyalty to her was still strong even with the ups and downs they dealt with. L.J. Shen wrote the kind of story that upped the unhinged and possessive factor to an all time high, and I absolutely adored that part of this book.

I will say, if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like the whole “back and forth” miscommunication trope then maybe you won’t like this book. From the beginning, it was clear that Knight and Luna cared and loved each other deeply, but through Knight’s possessive nature and feeling betrayed by something that Luna did, it turned into a bit of a mess with them not straightening things out. In a way, it felt like the miscommunication trope because, for all the arguments and Knight being rude to Luna, the dynamic between them wasn’t necessarily the same as before. In other instances, Knight and Luna were never officially together so, when it came to them seeing each other with other people, there were a couple jealous moments sprinkled throughout the story. Nonetheless, I wasn’t entirely bothered by Knight and Luna’s miscommunication more so because, I think it revealed the raw and emotional connection between them. Regardless of what happened between Luna and Knight, it was always going to be, “Ride or Die.”

Overall, this was a nice change up to the usual books I’ve been reading as of late. Knight and Luna’s story really caught my attention from the beginning. From the way Knight was always protective over Luna, and softened his harsh exterior around her throughout the years showed how much he cared for her. Plus, Knight was the kind of guy that gave off, “I hate everyone but her” vibes, as well as, “it’s always been you”. Knight and Luna’s friendship was a focal point of the story as it showed the close bond they formed from when they were kids, and how despite their ups and downs, they were always still there for each other. There was plenty of angst, and emotional parts in Knight and Luna’s story so, keep in mind that this wasn’t a cute romance, it was raw and at times hard for both Luna and Knight. I think the way this story was written really highlighted the highs and lows in Luna and Knight’s relationship over the years as well as showing how the romance wasn’t your typical easy peasy path to a happily ever after. Knight and Luna’s story was full of angst, raw emotion, love, and a unique bond together. I liked the way the story ended up being which was unique and interesting. This was my first time reading a book solely written by, L.J. Shen and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much I enjoyed reading this book. Knight and Luna were flawed individuals, but over the course of the story they opened themselves up from their vulnerabilities and fears to each other. If you’re looking for a romance that isn’t your typical sweet romance and are craving something new with morally grey guys, angst, spice, fiends to lovers, and more then I would recommend reading this book.

Content Warnings

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

4.5⭐️/ 2-3🌶️

The picturesque small town of Meadowlark made me want to live in the book right there in Rebel Blue Ranch with the rest of the Ryder family. Since reading this series, I have adored each of the characters for different reasons, and seen glimpses of different characters. Aside from Emmy, Brooks, Ada, and Wes, I think Teddy and Gus were the couple I was most intrigued to read about. For as long as Teddy and Gus had known each other, it was always a battle of backhanded insults, butting heads, and generally not liking each other. If you asked anyone in Meadowlark, they’d tell you that Teddy and Gus were like water and oil, those two didn’t get along at all. Although, things started to shift when Teddy needed a job, and Gus needed help with his daughter, Riley while he was busy maintaining Rebel Blue Ranch. Enter some of my all time favorite tropes, single dad/ nanny, small town, cowboy romance, and forced proximity! Teddy and Gus were in for quite the surprise when the two archenemies found themselves lowering their guards and softening up towards each other.

As much as Teddy and Gus had their issues with each other, things started to change when Teddy became basically Riley’s nanny. Say what you will, but I’m considering this book to have the nanny trope since Teddy essentially was that for Riley. Anyways, aside from that, I really liked the progression in Teddy and Gus’s story going enemies to lovers. Teddy and Gus had always been use to insulting each other, and generally not getting along, but seeing the two of them soften towards each other and be nice was a good change up in their dynamic. Gus being the single dad trying to juggle his responsibilities learned that having Teddy around to help take care of Riley was a great idea in the end. Riley never imagined being around Gus’s more often than usual, but even her perceptions of Gus changed, and she started to admire the real Gus she never really knew. I think in terms of the enemies to lovers trope in this book was good, and seamless illustrating Teddy and Gus becoming more amicable.

This story was not only one I had been really intrigued by, but was also surprised by the emotional aspect to the book. The single dad trope is one of my favorites, but the way this book focused on the relationship between father and daughter made me a bit emotional. Gus’s relationship with his daughter, Riley was precious, and (sigh) so darn adorable seeing how much Gus went above and beyond for Riley. For Teddy, her dad, Hank was always the one that was there for her, and the most important person in her life. Seeing the struggles that Teddy faced with Hank’s health was a bit sad especially when it came to the moments when Teddy would get scared thinking “what if” scenarios surrounding Hank. I think once you read this book, you’ll see what I mean by seeing the depth between the fathers and daughters in this story that will make you a bit emotional as well.

Overall, this was a good book, one that I enjoyed, didn’t want to stop reading until I finished the whole thing! Teddy and Gus’s romance happened naturally and despite the former enemies initially not wanting anything to do with each other, they fell hard for one another. Gus was a grumpy, single dad, but gradually softened his grumpy personality around Teddy. Both, Teddy and Gus were use to doing things on their own, but gradually learned it was ok to ask for help. Teddy for the most part often felt like she was falling behind on things other people had such as, marriage, kids, careers, etc. Regardless, Teddy found her footing and ended up going after her dream that I imagined ended up working out. Riley was a sweet kid, and seeing her with both Gus and Teddy was adorable. All in all, good book, good pacing, not too fast but enough that I wasn’t bored while reading. Always love seeing Emmy, Brooks, Wes, Ada, and Amos in this series. Book ended on quite a cliffhanger so, I can only wonder how the next book will turn out. Nonetheless, I will eagerly be awaiting the next book! Highly recommend this book (and series) if you love cowboy romances, small towns, found family, and a variety of tropes within the series.

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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⭐️/ 2-3🌶️

I just love small town romances, and of course add in cowboys and YESSSS I WILL READ IT! Back in the small town, and where Rebel Blue Ranch was, the Ryder family lived and worked on the land they owned. The first book focused on, Brooks and Emmy falling for each other, and inevitably it being somewhat a forbidden romance and brother’s best friend! Now, back in Meadowlark, the familiar faces of the Ryder family were back, but this time centered on, Weston “Wes” Ryder and Ada Hart. An interior designer and a cowboy have different interests and careers as you could imagine, but after sharing a steamy moment in the Devil’s Boot bar, Ada and Wes shared a connection that was still present even when they found out they were going to be working together. Lyla Sage once again wrote an easy going romance with heart, depth, and a storyline that was easy to jump into and get lost in.

There’s plenty of reasons to read this book and any book by, Lyla Sage. Lyla is one of those authors whose stories are straightforward, easy, immersive, and have heartfelt moments sprinkled throughout the characters stories. With Wes and Ada’s story, it was seeing the two of them share a steamy moment, but then things turning unexpectedly when they found out they’d be working alongside each other on the design project Ada was hired for…by Wes! Ada was a bit grumpy, but more so in the way she was actually shy, but her shyness came off as standoff-ish and unapproachable. Wes was the sunshine in this book, and despite sometimes being at the other end of Ada’s distance behavior, he was still intrigued and attracted to her. Wes was the sunshine to Ada’s sometimes grumpy attitude and they really balanced each other out throughout the whole book.

As much as Ada and Wes were attracted to each other, Ada was determined to avoid Wes at all costs, except they still had to work together so there was quite a bit of forced proximity especially with Ada temporarily living in the same house as Wes too! I don’t know why, but for some reason I thought this was going to be an enemies to lovers trope story haha. Thankfully I was wrong and I was glad that this story was actually a reverse grumpy/ sunshine! Seeing how Ada was initially reluctant to get romantically involved with Wes was interesting especially given her backstory. Wes the sunshine, sweet and kind man that he was, always tried his best to keep his attraction at bay for Ada, but nonetheless he reached a point when he couldn’t not touch her and be around her constantly. I also think that at first I wasn’t sure if I was going to love Ada and Wes, but somewhere along the way I started to love them both, and enjoy seeing them interact with each other. One moment that really stood out to me was when Wes and Ada were driving in the middle of a storm. The way that Wes was so protective and worried over Ada when they swerved out of the way of a calf, Wes got so worried thinking Ada got hurt, but she was thankful ok. Seeing Wes go into protective mode was endearing to me, and I’m pretty sure Ada was caught up in how worried Wes got over her.

Overall, this was a cute, quick, lighthearted, and enjoyable cowboy romance that I enjoyed. I was in the mood for an easy, entertaining, kind of book, and this book was just right for me. I also loved how the book wasn’t too long, kind of quick in terms of the plot line. Ada and Wes were good together, liked seeing the two of them go from sharing a steamy moment to working together, and still growing upon their initial attraction from the beginning. I also loved seeing Emmy, and Brooks (Luke) again from the first book, and getting a few glimpses more of Gus (Emmy and Wes’s older brother) and Teddy (Emmy’s best friend). I love small town romances and with the occasional cowboy gracing the pages of the books, you best believe I’m going to love every single of it! Lyla Sage wrote an easy going romance with dashes of spice, humor, and a few heartfelt moments. If you love cowboy romances set within a lovely small town in Wyoming, found family, a variety in tropes, and a quick read, I would definitely recommend this book and series for sure.

The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

4⭐️/ 1🌶️

*Please check trigger warnings before reading.

Mia Sheridan’s newest release brings suspense, danger, romance, and mystery as two individuals come together to solve the series of cases that keep popping up in San Francisco. Lennon Gray was an inspector in the SFPD, and with the cases she worked on, she was always faced with a new set of circumstances she needed to solve, but the newest case was one that was disturbing and kept wracking up a number of victims. Trying to solve case with homeless people being at the center of it, also brought Lennon’s new temporary partner, Ambrose Mars, a.k.a. an agent from the FBI. A dangerous drug being found at the crime scene, and unusual items left at the scene made Lennon and Ambrose question who was the one behind the hallucinogenic substances and the reasoning why they were targeting homeless people.

As you can imagine, I was really looking forward to reading Mia Sheridan’s newest book. This story had an intriguing plot line with the way Lennon and Ambrose were partnered up together and had to solve the mystery behind the hallucinogenic drugs that had surfaced in each crime scene among the victims. The beginning was a bit slow, but only because it had to set up the story and the small details that would later prove to be more significant. Upon meeting both Lennon and Ambrose, I was curious about the types of people they were and their backstories. When it came to Ambrose, he was someone I couldn’t get a clear reading on, but with each chapter certain things about him left me feeling suspicious as to who he really was. Lennon on the other hand was an inspector and she seemed very insightful when it came to detecting clues, and possible motives in connections to the case she worked on.

I had high hopes for this book especially considering I absolutely love Mia Sheridan’s stories, but this wasn’t exactly the five star read I thought it was going to be. I do think there was some interesting parts to the story including the mystery behind Ambrose which I wasn’t expecting and seeing both Lennon and Ambrose embark on solving the case. Maybe this wasn’t the right book for me at the time, but I didn’t feel a sense of urgency or connection to Lennon and Ambrose. Towards the end, the story felt rushed and ended quickly which I would have preferred it being flushed out a bit more if that makes sense. Regardless, I did like some parts of the story and because I love Mia Sheridan, I’m still giving it four stars.

My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

4.5⭐️/ 3🌶️

Jane Darling and Jasper Jannich were two different individuals. Jane was a single mom, former model, and now matchmaker trying to drum up business for prospective clients. Jasper was the quarterback on a NFL team, and living his bachelor life. Having known each other over the years through the shared connection of Jane’s older sister being married to Jasper’s best friend, the two of them didn’t get along most of the time, but that changed in this story! With tropes like, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, reverse grumpy/ sunshine, angsty, and a protective MMC, there was a lot to enjoy about this story written by the amazing, Ilsa Madden-Mills.

Jane was a single mom, and as you could imagine she was often busy with work but also finding time to spend quality time with her precious daughter. In this story, I got to see more of Jane’s day to day life, and more importantly learn about her backstory. Before Jane became a mother, she was a model, and experienced young love, but that relationship ended badly when the father of her baby wanted nothing to do with being a parent. Between a bad relationship, abandonment due to her mom leaving her and her siblings, Jane wasn’t in a hurry to jump into a new relationship, she’d rather focus on her matchmaking business and her family.

Jasper was quite the player on and off the field, but that didn’t mean he was careless or rude, he was a genuinely kind man with a heart of gold, and charm. I immediately liked Jasper in the first book, and now in his own story, it was refreshing and fun to get to know him better. I expected to see Jasper all smiles and laughter, and while he did have plenty of moments where he was lighthearted, there was also the unexpected truth about his past concerning his biological mother. Jasper’s life wasn’t always great, from a young age he was abandoned by his biological mother, and that affected him. Thankfully, with his adopted family, they loved him so much and that was all he could ever ask for. Seeing Jasper deal with his past coming back wasn’t something I thought would come up in this story, but it did reveal a lot about Jasper’s character and how despite being a sunshine type of man, he wasn’t all smiles all the time. Jasper was much more than an athlete, he was a man who often felt lonely and wished for someone to care about him as himself and not the famous NFL quarterback. Reading this book made me appreciate Jasper even more, and he was a mix of charm, sweet, thoughtful, protective, and a genuine person.

This was a sweet, entertaining, and heartwarming romance that showed the former enemies becoming lovers. Jane and Jasper had come a long way from initially not wanting anything to do with each other, but that changed when Jasper went from a prospective client to Jane’s matchmaking services, to falling for each other. I thought the story was enjoyable especially seeing how Jane was able to open herself up to Jasper as opposed to the usual way she treated him before. Jasper was a fun loving guy who was easy to get along with, but through his backstory it revealed there was more to him than just his smiles and flirtatious attitude. The moments when Jasper and Jane were together were good, I loved seeing them get closer the more the story progressed and even the moments between Jasper and Londyn were adorable. The plot line wasn’t too heavy, but some aspects of both Jane and Jasper’s lives did include some minor heavy topics. This story was pretty easy going, and I liked it for the way it was fairly quick, lighthearted, but also had some depth to it. I wasn’t expecting the specific plot twist later in the story, but I guess it worked for Jane and Jasper’s story and to further highlight the progress in their romance. All in all, this was a good book, I enjoyed it, and anything Ilsa Madden-Mills writes, I automatically read it and love it.

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bribreez's reviews 676 reviews

bribreez's reviews
676 reviews