bribreez's reviews
679 reviews

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

4.25⭐️

As an avid bookworm I love to read. Getting to read about different stories, characters to fall in love with, being immersed into different worlds, it’s the perfect escape, and yet sometimes I wish I could be part of the story, simply jumping into the book to be part of it. For Elieen “Elsy” Merriweather, she loved to read, and on her way to a trip to a cabin for her book club, the last thing she expected was to get lost along the way. Ironically enough, just as Elieen found a small town to gather herself before continuing on her way, she realized that the small town she was in was actually the one from her favorite romance series! Meeting the actual characters from the series she adored so much was wild, but also amazing, but one individual stood out from among the rest, and that was the grumpy bookstore owner named, Anderson. Ashley Poston once again brought magical realism to this story, and crafted a cozy, heartwarming, and lovely story to dive right into. As a reader, this was the kind of book that had a storyline I wished happened to me.

I wanted a cozy, warm romance book to read, and just like Elsy I got what I wanted by reading this exact book! I think so far out of Ashley Poston’s books, this might be a top contender for me with the way it absolutely wrapped me in a warm hug, and I felt like I was in the book alongside Elsy. I had heard mixed reviews from others, but with any book I read, I like to go in with an open mind, and make my own observations. I thought the way magical realism was used in this story was unique, but I think it also served a purpose. Just like us, Elsy had her favorite romance series she always adored, and secretly wished to be part of, but to actually be in the small town of the series was a big surprise for Elsy. Outside of the fictional small town of Eloraton, Elsy was escaping the reality that was her life. After a bad breakup with her ex-fiancé, and other aspects of her life changing, Elsy felt the need to regain some semblance of peace and comfort. I think in some ways I could already imagine what I would do if I were in Elsy’s shoes, getting to literally escape into the fictional world of one of my favorite books, and enjoying it for what it was, an escape from my life. Try as she might though, some things Elsy couldn’t forget about because, sooner or later she had to face the facts that she needed to work on herself.

When I imagined Elsy being in the small town of her favorite romance series, I knew she was going to love seeing all her favorite characters, but I don’t think she was prepared for all the things she discovered. One thing I found really interesting was the way the fictional town started to change once Elsy came, and more specifically Elsy started to notice the subtle things that were left unfinished by the author of the series. From some characters not having their stories finished to present characters storylines changing, it all seemed like Elsy felt at fault for what was happening, but that wasn’t the case. I was in between whether or not Elsy was responsible for the changes occurring in Eloraton, but I do think regardless of what Elsy said or did while in town, there were some definite differences between characters that Elsy picked up on. 

This was exactly the book I needed and wanted for this moment. Ashely Poston wrote this book in such an immersive way that it made me think about what I would do if I were suddenly in the world of one of my favorite romance series! This book was cozy, cute, heartwarming, and heartfelt. Both, Elsy and Anders had to come to terms with the obstacles they faced, and fully take in the reality that they now were faced with. I think the way Elsy and Anders grew over the course of the story really highlighted how much they grew to care for one other. Kind of crazy to think that initially Anders and Elsy didn’t exactly get off on the right foot, but regardless they later formed a truce of sorts, and kept building onto their eventual romance. The characters from the book series were an interesting bunch and reminded me of some of my favorite romance series. Overall, this story served its purpose not only for us as readers, but also for Elsy and Anders to get to their happy ending. This book is for the girlies who wish they could live in their favorite romance book, but with Ashley Poston’s writing it had a bit more of an emotional twist alongside Elsy and Anders story. Great book, throughly enjoyed it! 

Unloved by Peyton Corinne

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

*THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO ATRIA AND PEYTON CORINNE FOR THIS ARC! I greatly appreciate it!!!!

5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

WE’RE BACKKKKKKK! Waterfell University a fictional school that I adore only because it has the incredible people I love so much, Sadie and Rhys! But this time around, we got to focus on Matt “Freddy” Freddric and Ro Shariff. Freddy was one of the most well known hockey players on the Waterfell hockey team, and was bound for the NHL after being signed to a team. With senior year approaching some big milestones, Freddy’s biggest concern was passing one of his classes or else all his hard work would result in not graduating and potentially not being able to play hockey. Ro was the hopeless romantic who hoped and dreamed of meeting someone who would give her the butterflies, feel a genuine connection, and more, but that wasn’t the case with her trash of an maybe ex boyfriend, Tyler. Aside from trying to figure out her relationship status, Ro was an intelligent young woman who worked also as a tutor to help students, and could you imagine who her newest student was?!?!? None other than…FREDDY! This hockey romance once again brought me immense joy, found family, tackled some deeper moments, heartfelt connections, and obviously a swoon worthy slow burn romance that was well worth the wait! Peyton Corinne did a fantastic job with this story being the next in the series! 

I think seeing Ro in this story allowed me to not only get to know her better, but also to see some similarities that I didn’t expect to see while reading. When I say, similarities I mean in the sense that I could relate to some of what Ro experienced specifically with wanting to find love, and trying to make her relationship (with Tyler) work. Ro always tried to bend, and shape herself in a way that fit the type of relationship Tyler wanted, but it wasn’t fair for Ro because, she was putting so much effort into a relationship that honestly wasn’t worth her time, and Tyler treated her horribly. I once experienced a relationship where I was like Ro, dreaming of a love so grand like the ones I read in my books, but it didn’t turn out that way. Ro was such a heartwarming person so to see her light be dimmed by someone like Tyler was sad. Although, when Ro was with Freddy, she wasn’t shamed or treated disrespectful. Instead, Freddy treated Ro like…A TRUE PRINCESS! Ro’s journey through finding love was an obstacle, but it allowed her to truly see what kind of love she deserved, and Freddy was always the one right in front of her showing her ways that he cared even before they became romantically involved.

Matt “Freddy” Freddric was a known flirt, and kind of a Casanova, but he was actually a lot more than people expected. Freddy was a known flirt who got around, and enjoyed his time on the ice, and occasionally hooking up with whoever he wanted. The thing about Freddy though was that, there was a sense of loneliness to him that he felt especially following the events of Rhys’s big injury on ice (book takes place during the same time in “Unsteady”). For all his smiles, flirtatious moments, and fun going personality, Freddy often times was masking his true feelings beneath his smiles. Right at the beginning, even hearing that some guys like *Ahem Tyler saying horribly rude things about Freddy made me mad, and ready to fight for him! Freddy struggled with having ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia so, when it came to his classes it was often a struggle for him to keep up with the material. Thankfully, having Ro as Freddy’s tutor ended up being the best thing not only in the academic sense. I could see that similar to Ro, Freddy longed to have a genuine connection with someone, someone  who saw past his pretenses, and appreciated him just how he was. Seeing how Freddy was around Ro was, endearing, sweet, and heartwarming. Freddy being all protective over Ro was great, but also getting to read how he tried to make Ro smile whenever he could, keeping a mental list of things that made Ro smile, and overall thinking of her, and about her at all times just highlighted the level of respect and love Freddy had for Ro. 

Often times throughout the story, I could see Freddy’s sense of loneliness slip in, and he would feel isolated like he didn’t really have that support he use to have with his mom, but with Ro, she became that person who went up to bat for him. Ro was a sweetheart, and when it came to helping Freddy with his tutoring, she accommodated his sessions since he had ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. Ro became the person who fought for Freddy when many before her didn’t truly help in in regards to his learning disabilities, and for that it made me love Ro even more. Ro was often shy, but best believe when it came to Freddy’s wellbeing she became fierce and determined to protect and help him in anyway possible. 

(Sniff) ok, but like, why was this book so perfect?! Scratch that, this book met my expectations and raised them even HIGHER! Peyton Corinne can do no wrong and once again she captivated me with her writing and the emotional depth she imbued with Freddy and Ro’s story. Freddy and Ro’s character growth in this book was excellent because, they each worked through their vulnerabilities, and embraced the beauty that was their true selves. Freddy often fell back into the flirtatious, fun loving guy most people on campus viewed him as, but with Ro, he was stripped bared, and was just Matt, the guy who opened himself up to Ro and she embraced him in everything that he was. For Ro, she was lead to believe she needed to be a certain way in order to attain affection, love, and respect, but with Freddy, he showed her all the ways she deserved to be treated which was love,and kindness, and so much more! The thing that stuck out to me the most was, the way this romance book had so much emotional depth, and subtle details in regards to both Freddy and Ro that, it made me both appreciate the characters, and feel invested all the way through. I’m really happy with the whole book, and how it was written. Peyton did an amazing job illustrating Freddy and Ro’s story, and once again have me getting emotional at certain points. I loved the way the book ended, especially with the epilogue! (Sniff) had me crying and feeling so happy seeing Archer also included in it alongside Freddy and Ro! Definitely recommend reading this book! 

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

emotional hopeful reflective 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⭐️

A woman going about life as a single mother, recently divorced, and maintaining her business of artworks, Solène was an independent woman, but also a very devoted mother to her daughter. As most parents would do, they do everything possible to make their child happy, and for Solène she played chaperone to her daughter and her friends as they went to go watch August Moon in person. What should have been an easy trip to Vegas, ended up being the moment that Solène met Hayes, a.k.a. one of the lead singers of August Moon. This story had, Reverse age gap, rockstar romance, and exploring the realities of being famous that Hayes faced especially when initially trying to keep his and Solène’s relationship hidden. 

I’m a big fan of reverse age gap romances so, when I stumbled upon this book I knew I had to read it! This story followed, Solène and Hayes as the two of them navigated this unique connection they had as well as a relationship that was entirely different to the one Solène had ever been in. With Hayes being in a famous boy band, he was recognizable anywhere he went, and that meant Solène would sooner or later become known to everyone as being involved with Hayes.

This wasn’t your typical romance in the sense that it was more character driven, and less plot heavy. With Solène and Hayes starting up a relationship of sorts in the beginning, it all seemed fun and casual, but the more time they spent together, it quickly became more serious than the two initially anticipated. I think the way the book was written really highlighted the drastic changes that occured within Solène and Hayes relationship, and it kept me somewhat intrigued to see it all unfold. 

This book started off with mixed feelings for me. Initially I thought I was going to love it, then I felt unsure whether this was the book for me, but ultimately I’m glad I stuck til the end because, whoa, this book truly surprised me. I had thought this book was just going to be about a single mom and a famous singer forming a relationship and eventually happily falling in love, but not everything was as easy as one would have hoped. Solène and Hayes on the outside were in different points in their lives, but somehow meshed well together. Over the course of the book, I got to see exactly how Solène and Hayes’s relationship unfolded into a passionate connection, but also one that faced the difficulties of the media, fans, and the world. Solène knew going into the relationship that it wasn’t going to be easy nor a happily ever after, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t greatly affected by the onslaught on hate messages from fans, and it bleeding over into her family life and work. The relationship had its moments of hope and happiness for both Solène and Hayes, but as much as they cared deeply for each other, the outside forces grew exponentially to making Solène feel isolated and targeted by Hayes fan base and even people in her life distancing themselves from her. 

Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re looking to dip your toes in the reverse age gap trope, but more so in seeing a complex relationship unfold through unique circumstances. Solène and Hayes shared a deep connection, and despite their age gap it didn’t deter them from developing feelings for each other. My favorite aspect of this book was seeing the reality of Solène’s life clash with Hayes at certain points in the story. Solène and Hayes were in different points in their lives, and as much as they hoped for it to work, ultimately their story was one that unfortunately wasn’t meant to be forever. I will say, the more I read the more I got into the story, and really felt captivated by the raw emotions between Solène and Hayes. A unique reverse age gap that left me appreciating it the more I thought about it, and how it didn’t hold back on illustrating the difficulties Solène and Hayes faced. A book that you should read at least once, and now I’m curious to see how the movie is compared to the book, but let’s be honest the book is always better! 

Divine Sense by Rebecca Wrights

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

*Thank you Rebecca Wrights for providing me an ARC of your book, I greatly appreciate it. 

*Check Trigger warnings before reading.

4.75⭐️/ 3🌶️

Rebecca Wrights has written another wonderful story, and let me just say, within the first few pages, and chapters, I WAS HOOKED! This story followed, Kolbi Vesey and Magnolia St. Clair as the two of them formed a connection as Kolbi’s security firm was hired to provide security for Magnolia and her family as her father ran for a senate seat. Magnolia and Kolbi came from different backgrounds, but regardless of their upbringing’s, they still connected and couldn’t help the growing attraction between them. Kolbi was a hard working man, thoughtful, strong, protective, and honestly such an amazing man! Magnolia was fashionable, classy, but also capable of snapping back when necessary. Kolbi and Magnolia were the perfect couple together, and seeing their romance unfold was a treat to see, but also explore the difficulties they faced along the way. The second book in the interconnected series by Rebecca Wrights was amazing and one I would highly recommend. 

(Sigh) is it too soon to say I fell in love with a fictional man within the first few chapters? Because, if that’s the case then I feel head over heels in love with Kolbi! Kolbi was such a great character, and getting the chance to dig deep into his backstory and learn more about him was great. Kolbi didn’t come from a rich family like Magnolia, but through hard work and determination he was able to create a very successful security firm in Charleston which provided to be the perfect opportunity to bring Magnolia and him together. Kolbi was a great MMC, his protective nature over Magnolia was great, he was so thoughtful like the gift he gave her, and overall supported her throughout different situations which I liked to see especially since Magnolia had only ever had two people who truly cared for her. Kolbi is the kind of character that will leave you wanting more of him, and absolutely falling head over heels for. Plus, Kolbi was a man of action and he made sure to Magnolia just how much she meant to him A LOT! 

Magnolia came from a wealthy family, one would say she came from “old money”, but even with all the money she could have, there was one thing or namely one person she wanted most of all, Kolbi. When Magnolia first met Kolbi, it wasn’t exactly the meet cute you would have imagined, but it set up the way for when Magnolia would once again come face to face with Kolbi when he was hired to provide security for her father’s upcoming campaign. Having always been surrounded by wealthy people, and individuals who were so focused on their images, Kolbi was a breath of fresh air to Magnolia. I could see right away that Magnolia fell first for Kolbi and as much as he tried to keep a “professional” relationship, Magnolia was determined to have him for herself! 

Throughout the story, Kolbi and Magnolia’s relationship was one that continued to grow, but also faced some challenges before they got to their happy ending. Not only did Magnolia and Kolbi come from different upbringings, but with the way Magnolia’s parents were determined to control every aspect of her life including the man they thought she should be with, it became clear that Magnolia’s relationship wouldn’t be accepted by her parents. Magnolia had always been the dutiful daughter, doing everything possible to earn her parents approval, but at a certain point Magnolia finally realized that she needed to live her life according to HER OWN CHOICES. When the time finally came that Magnolia stood her ground, I could tell it was a bit of a big moment, and although it ended up in a blow out with her parents, at least she finally had everyone know how much she loved Kolbi. 

Rebecca Wrights did a fantastic job bringing to life Magnolia and Kolbi’s romance. Through the obstacles of them trying to be together, facing judgment, and harsh treatment, Magnolia and Kolbi overcame it all in order to be together. This was a romance that had its fair share of hardships, but through it all both Kolbi and Magnolia grew stronger, and in Magnolia’s case, changed her mindset on who she really wanted to be. Now, even though this story tackled some heavy topics (which Rebecca did a good job in respectful writing) there was also more of that found family that I absolutely adored like in the first book, “Mending Me”. Getting to see Hank, Bailey, Malcom, and Conrad was great and I got to see a bit more of their different personalities and the overall friendship within the friend group. Everyone welcomed Magnolia witnessed open arms and just like that there was a new person in the found family! There was also the swoon worthy romance between Kolbi and Magnolia that I also LOVED! Magnolia may have been the first to make moves on Kolbi, but he fell even harder for her! Once Kolbi and Magnolia got together, Kolbi was a man in love and wholeheartedly devoted to Magnolia which again, I FREAKING LOVED! There were so many great aspects to this story that once you read it, you’ll also love the characters, and appreciate the subtle hints and details spread throughout it. I’m eagerly waiting for the next book, and I have an idea on who might be next in the interconnected series! 

Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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⭐️/ 4🌶️ 

*Check Trigger warnings before reading 

I have FINALLY read my first book by, Stephanie Archer, and all I have to say is, I can understand the hype around her books! This was a book I had on my tbr for quite some time, and had been saving it for a special day. As an avid hockey romance reader, seeing Stephanie’s newest series be all about hockey players, it was an instant YES to finally dive into her books. This story followed, Pippa Hartley and Jamie Streicher as the two worked together since Pippa became Jamie’s new personal assistant. There was also some slight history between Jamie and Pippa as the two of them once went to the same high school, and unbeknownst to them, they had crushes on each other! Now, as adults Pippa and Jamie navigated a busy career, trying to find their footing, and growing closer as they spent more time together. If you’ve been wanting to read a book by, Stephanie Archer I would highly recommend this book to be the one you start off with!

You know what else I love among soooo many reasons about reading hockey romances? It’s when it’s also grumpy/ sunshine and the MMC secretly has been PINING OVER THE GIRL FOR A LONG TIME! In the case with, Jamie, he had a crush on Pippa when they were in high school, and now having her as his assistant definitely brought back those feelings he had for her back then. I found it ironic how Jamie was crushing on Pippa again especially after seeing her for the first time in years, but due to him being frazzled and nervous around her, his responses and behavior accidentally came off harsh and grumpy. Meanwhile, Pippa just thought that Jamie was rude and grumpy, but nope, Jamie was just a nervous mess around her haha. I also loved reading Jamie’s point of view because, seeing how much he was affected by Pippa’s presence in his life made it clear he was head over heels for her. Plus, with Pippa spending more time around Jamie as his assistant, Jamie’s grumpy attitude lessened and he became more soft and protective with her. All in all, I very much adored Jamie and his way of pushing Pippa to pursue her love of music once again, supported her, and above all was a man who loved anything and everything Pippa did. I LOVE A MAN OBSESSED WITH THE GIRL AND THAT WAS HOW JAMIE WAS WITH PIPPA! 

Another reason why I loved this book so much was how fast paced it was, and yet it didn’t feel rushed at all. The way Stephanie Archer wrote this book, and I’m assuming her other books feels like once you’re reading the book, you’re fully in it, which was how I felt while reading about Pippa and Jamie. I loved how immersed I was in this book, and how grumpy Jamie was, but also how Pippa didn’t back down from Jamie’s bossy attitude at times. There was a lot to love about this book, and I can only give high praises for it. Plus, once again WHO DOESN’T LOVE TO SEE JAMIE BEING ALL ABOUT PIPPA EVEN WHEN SHE DOESN’T KNOW HE HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON HER?! 

As much as Pippa and Jamie had feelings for each other, there was some obstacles they faced. For Jamie, he was always in the mindset that his career and his family (his mom) always came first, but with Pippa coming into his life, his priorities started to shift. Jamie didn’t do serious relationships, he was more of the casual hookup type, but Pippa was someone who couldn’t do casual which was totally fine. I could see that Pippa and Jamie had good chemistry together, and even when things got spicy between them, there was still that level of concern and worry over potentially losing the special connection they formed  especially since Pippa became Jamie’s assistant, which added a bit to the problem of them being together. Like any romance, in order to achieve their happy ending, Pippa and Jamie had to go through some tough things, and reconsider what they truly wanted moving forward, especially for Jamie to think about if he could truly give Pippa all his affection and more. 

Overall, this was worth the wait, and I definitely enjoyed reading Stephanie Archer’s book! Stephanie wrote a well rounded hockey romance that highlighted the journey of Pippa rediscovering her confidence, and reigniting the desire to pursue her dreams with music. Jamie as much as he was initially a grumpy man in the beginning was actually a big supporter to Pippa, and always showed his passion and enthusiasm with Pippa’s songs, and singing. If there was ever a man who was to be known as Pippa’s number one fan, it’d be Jamie. Jamie also managed to make peace with his past, and how he always assumed his career and his mom’s needs had to come first before anything else. I did like seeing how Jamie and his mom eventually worked through getting her the help she needed, but it was something that took time for Donna to finally understand she needed to do what was best for her health. The romance and spice in this book was amazing and yeah Stephanie really gave plenty of swoon worthy moments as well as Jamie being a possessive, protective man over Pippa which I LOVED! There was lots of love about this book, and with the way it all wrapped up it was perfect. With the scenes we got with Hazel and Rory in this book, I can only hope their book ends up being great as well. Highly recommend this book if you love, hockey romances with spice, lovable characters, character growth, depth, and humor. 

Penalized Love by Emery Paige

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 3🌶️

*Thank you to LoveNotesPR and Emery Paige for providing me with an ARC of this book, I greatly appreciate it. 

*Check Content Warnings before reading 

We are back in the world of Crestwood University and with new characters to fall in love with. The last book centered on, Levi and Hailey, but this time it was all about Asher Bennett (Levi’s teammate and best friend) and Isla Johnson, Coach Johnson’s daughter! Asher and Isla had a bit of a past together as they once dated when Asher was a freshman at Crestwood and Isla was in her senior year of high school. Though the two of them dated in secret, they had a love that was serious and meant a lot to them. Unfortunately, due to some inexplicable things on Asher’s part, he broke up with Isla and left her heart broken. Fast forward to the present where the book starts and it’s been a few years since Isla and Asher have last seen each other, but now with Isla being a student at Crestwood University and the hockey team’s newest photographer, Isla and Asher were going to be seeing a lot of each other. With a second chance romance, Coach’s daughter, kind of forbidden romance, found family, and invisible disability representation, this book covered a wide range of tropes and themes that will intrigue you to read. 

The last time Isla saw Asher she was heartbroken and determined to move on from him, but now seeing him again brought back those feelings that never truly went away. Right from the beginning, Isla’s story was one that made me see all the different sides of how her life wasn’t going in the direction she had hoped for. From a breakup that actually hurt her to dealing with health issues, and trying to balance some sense of normalcy and peace, Isla was really going through it in this book. Although, with everything that Isla had going on, there was still strength and determination to push forward which I really admired about Isla. Even when it came to Asher being back in her life, Isla took her time to ensure she did what she felt was right for her. Needless to say, once Asher was back in Isla’s life, she couldn’t deny that those feelings built back up with a vengeance.

Asher was a fellow team player, dedicated to his work, and helped his family in whichever way possible. An all around great guy, but even Asher had his moments where he felt immense pressure to maintain balance in his life. I could tell that Asher was the kind of guy who didn’t like to leave things unsaid or tense such as, seeing Isla again and having her not wanting to speak with him. Asher was determined to set the slate clean between him and Isla, but that didn’t take away from how he still felt strongly about her even years after he broke up with her. The one thing I will say that really cemented Asher as the guy who genuinely still cared for Isla was when he admitted that Isla was the one that “got away”, and he regretted it. 

Emery Paige did a wonderful job writing Isla and Asher’s romance. With a second chance romance set within a sports romance storyline, and not to mention Isla being Asher’s Coach’s daughter, there was some obstacles in the way of Isla and Asher reigning their relationship. The thing I loved seeing between Asher and Isla was how they seamlessly reconnected again and felt natural. Never once did I think that Asher and Isla weren’t a good match, in fact I think they balanced each other out perfectly. Asher was a man on a mission to have a second chance with Isla and he did a pretty good job of showing all the ways he was still serious about Isla. Also, once you read this book and get to see how Asher was around Isla you’ll swoon a bit and go “AWWW” at the thoughtful and sweet things he did for her. I once again loved seeing the found family in this story expand to include new characters, and seeing familiar faces like, Levi and Hailey! This book ended on the perfect note with Asher and Isla being back together again, but more importantly setting the crumbs out for the next couple in the series!!!! I cannot wait to see how the next book will play out! Definitely recommend reading this book and the previous one if you’re looking for a college hockey romance with second chance romance, Coach’s daughter, and found family! 

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn

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

5.0

5⭐️/ 4🌶️

I’m in the HOLIDAY SPIRIT! With Meghan Quinn writing a Christmas book that had The Grinch vibes, a small town, childhood enemies, and a Christmas competition to become the town Kringle, I was very much hooked from the moment I read the first page! This story followed, Storee Taylor and Cole Black as the two of them were once again around each other during the holiday season and the competition to become this year’s new town Kringle. Storee had mixed feelings when it came to Kringletown, but for Cole it was home. With Cole being the town grump, he didn’t have the fondest feelings when it came to the holiday season especially after a tragedy struck his life, but with the news of finding out that Storee entered the competition to compete for town Kringle, Cole wasn’t going to let that happen! With his best friend, Max, Cole was determined to pull out all the stops to win, and along the way he and Storee found themselves stuck in some forced proximity moments especially considering she was his neighbor for the time being while she cared for her Aunt Cindy. With Meghan Quinn’s amazing writing, unique and wild shenanigans written into this story it was very entertaining, laugh out loud, and the kind of story that got me in the Christmas mood right away! 

The competition was ON! Both, Storee and Cole were determined to win by any means necessary in order to secure the honor of being Christmas Kringle. Between the competition and coming up with ideas in order to win each round, Storee and Cole got on each other’s nerves and were very much not treating each other in the Holly jolly Christmas spirit. With an enemies to lovers trope included in this story, I was enjoying seeing the two of them go at it each other, and it also made the tension between them build more as the story continued. Storee was only competing in place of her Aunt Cindy, but with securing a win, and seeing the lot of Cole’s losing face, it was clear that Storee got into the spirit of wanting to win it all! Even Cole was determined to win in order to prevent Storee from winning, but even he couldn’t help but enjoy the cheers and appreciation from his fellow townspeople. The Christmas spirit was all around, but with Meghan Quinn’s twist on it, it was hilarious and very entertaining. 

In the midst of everything, imagine also fake dating your enemy in order to save face among the townspeople of the small town?! Because, that’s exactly what Cole and Storee did! When Cole’s plan of pretending to be a lovesick man who had harbored a long time crush on Storee (in order to gain sympathy from the townspeople), his plan backfired when Storee agreed to go on a date with him. The date itself was just for appearances and it worked in both Storee and Cole’s favors, but I KNEW deep down inside Cole and Storee enjoyed aspects of their fake date like for instance…THAT KISS UNDER THE MISTLETOE!  Not to mention add in the fact that this was also ENEMIES TO LOVERS, Storee and Cole’s dynamic really changed over the course of the story that had me seeing them at each other’s necks trying to beat each other, but also seeing the attraction they felt for one another. If you love enemies to lovers, you’ll definitely enjoy reading how Storee and Cole are in this book! 

Most Christmas books I’ve read have not been a fully flushed out book, more so novellas, but once again with Meghan’s writing she created such a lighthearted, humorous romance that also tugged on my heartstrings. Cole was use to being known as the town grump, being secluded, and not participating in the town activities. With the Christmas Kringle competition kicking off, it lit a fire in Cole that he hadn’t had in a very long time, and that was partly due to his competition with Storee. The more the story progressed, the more I got to see just how much was underneath the grumpy exterior of Cole, and how he was actually a man who was still dealing with the past of his parents death, and past with Storee. Seeing Cole open up to Storee about why he was so angry with her, and generally just making her aware of his feelings really helped Storee see that Cole was still that boy he once had feelings for when they were kids. Seeing the softer and lighter side to Cole made me love him more, and want to hug him and console him! Cole may have acted like a Grinch in the past, but there was more to him that made him endearing and lovely to me. 

Overall, this was a great Christmas book to read! I cannot recommend this book enough! Truly, this book had me hooked right away, I was invested in Storee and Cole’s story, and I genuinely loved them. The way Meghan Quinn wrote this book had a great mix of lighthearted humor, funny shenanigans, but also heartfelt moments that tugged on my heartstrings. The characters in this book were lovable, unique, and in Meghan Quinn fashion hilarious! The romance was well worth the wait going from enemies to lovers. The spice was perfect for this book, and now I know why everyone was losing their minds over candy canes in this book…I now know what they meant, and will never be able to look at a candy cane the same after reading this book haha. Storee and Cole’s story was all kinds of fun for me to read about from their past together to being around each other as adults now, and their feelings for one another coming back full force. This is the perfect book to read this holiday season, and it’s an addictive read that you won’t want to put down. I loved this story for the way it just sucked me into Storee and Cole’s world, and I felt like I was alongside for the ride the time. Highly recommend and a good well done, Meghan Quinn! 

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

4.25⭐️

A vibrant world set around magic, dragons, dragon hunters, action, and mystery was one that was uniquely crafted by Isabel Ibañez. This story followed, Zarela Zalvidar, a well known young woman who’s parents will widely known in Hispalia. Zarela’s mother was a famous flamenco dancer whereas her father was a Dragonador (a dragon fighter). The Zalivdar family were legendary spanning centuries from the dragons they slain, to the heroics they were known for. Until one day, a horrific tragedy occurred in the arena of the Zalvidar’s. With dragons somehow escaping their cages, and many being slaughtered, it was a massacre that left Zarela’s family in dire consequences. Now faced with a mystery of dragons being let loose, and Zarela’s home and father on the brink of destruction, she needed to take control of the situation as best as she could. 

Zarela had a lot of things she had to deal with. From the incident of dragons being somehow getting out of their cages, the massacre that followed, her father’s injury, and basically her family name and wellbeing all at stake, Zarela had to do anything and everything to save it all. The one thing I definitely didn’t see coming was Zarela deciding to become a Dragonador like her father. Zarela was known for being a flamenco dancer like her mother so, for her to take on this new endeavor wasn’t decided lightly. The likelihood of surviving in the ring up against a dragon was life or death, and in order to live to see another day, Zarela needed all the help she could get. 

This story was uniquely written in a way that  combined the danger of dragons, Spanish culture, and a strong female lead going up against surmounting odds. Zarela always tried to live up to the expectations of her family name, and throughout the book it was an exploration of Zarela finding her true self. Aside from the mystery of who was trying to sabotage Zarela’s family name,  training to become a Dragonador was a new venture she didn’t expect to take on, but nonetheless came out stronger in the end. Alongside having the ever so grumpy Arturo helping Zarela, the two of them always butted heads, but there was still that great tension that built up all the way till the end that made for a satisfying slow burn romance. 

Arturo was an interesting character who for a majority of the book was a mystery to me, and with the added bonus content of his chapters sprinkled throughout the book really gave me a bit more insight into what he was thinking throughout the story. Plus, seeing the way Arturo tried so hard to refrain from his growing attraction to Zarela was something that I loved to watch unfold! This man went out and caught the loose dragon that Zarela purchased and brought it back for her, helped train her to become a Dragonador, and later in the story showed her a side of himself that no one had ever seen, including a deep secret of his that blew Zarela’s mind away. The more the story progressed, the more I was caught off guard with what I learned about Arturo from his real identity, his past, his influence, and the big secret that shook Zarela. Arturo wasn’t just someone who was formerly a Dragonador, there was more to his character that I appreciated learning more little by little, as it made it more eye opening to see who he really was.

Isabel Ibañez knew how to write such a fun, fast paced, action packed story with a slow burn romance that had tension, great banter, strong and lovable characters with a unique plot, and of course, DRAGONS! Isabel Ibañez has quickly become a favorite author of mine with the way she crafts such captivating storylines that I haven’t read before. This story stood out to me with the story revolving around dragons, but also with how the world was special in how it turned out. Zarela started off in one path in the beginning of the story, but by the end she truly found her place in the world with a newfound sense of direction that combined her love of dancing, adventure, and a newfound venture that changed the way of the world she lived in. Arturo was a great love interest for Zarela as he was someone who went toe to toe with her, challenged and pushed her like no one had ever done. The romance was more in the background of the book, but when there were some moments between Zarela and Arturo, they were SOOOO GOOD! If you’re looking for a book with dragons, plot twists, unique world building, lovable characters, and a subplot of a slow burn romance, I would recommend reading this book! 

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

4.75⭐️ 

A highly anticipated book for me especially after reading the first book in this duology! Inez and Whit stole my heart in the first book, as well as had me feeling like I was in the midst of everything as they traveled through Egypt, and discovered untold secrets about Cleopatra, and even more. Isabel Ibañez wrote Inez and Whit’s story in an adventurous way that made reading this story immersive, exciting, and worth the wait! Inez and Whit wanted to take control of their lives, and with the cliffhanger from the previous book, this story picked up right where we left off, and oh boy was I in for a treat! More adventures, mystery, secrets, betrayals, and a dash of romance, Isabel Ibañez crafted a magical world where I couldn’t get enough of.

Fair warning ahead, this review may have spoilers so, if you haven’t read the first book, don’t read this review!

With the way the first book ended on a dramatic note from the things that occurred between Whit and Inez to the betrayal Inez experienced with her mother, and the horrible loss of her cousin, Elvira, a lot happened. Now, picking up where the first book ended off on, Inez was asked a question that not only provided her a means to get out of having her uncle be her guardian and therefore in control of her life, but a means to take her life by the reins. For Whit, when he asked that specific question to Inez, I was flabbergasted and SHOCKED! Like come on! The book ended with that cliffhanger and I needed answers right away! Nonetheless, once I got to reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised and pleased to see how Whit and Inez found themselves helping each other in a way that differed from how they were originally in the first book. I don’t want to necessarily say what occurred between Inez and Whit, but if you’ve read the first book, then you’ll have a good idea as to what I’m implying. There were some moments that sparked between Inez and Whit that greatly filled me with glee at what I read, and omg when you see for yourself just what I mean, I have a good feeling you’ll feel some of the excitement that I felt while reading this book. 

Compared to the first book, this follow up had a bit more plot twists, adventure, mystery, and a bit of navigating the different motives some characters had. Through it all, I was giddy and happy to see any romantic moment between Whit and Inez! With the added marriage of convenience, Whit stepping it up even more with his protective instincts over Inez, I was swooning with the way those two were great together. Despite some trouble between Whit and Inez, they managed to find their way back to each other, especially after one again being caught up in a dangerous, death defying situation. The history interwoven throughout the story was rich, vibrant, and eye opening. The more the story progressed, the more the little pieces all added up to quite the dramatic climax! There were a few plot twists I definitely didn’t see coming that were shocking and whoa, the ending was all kinds of danger and truths. Through it all, Inez learned that through her time in Egypt, she finally took control of her life as she sought fit. Even with making some mistakes along the way, Inez was fine with that because it meant it was something SHE decided for herself. One thing Inez didn’t regret was marrying Whit. (Sigh) Whit was once again a favorite of mine, and seeing him with Inez again made me really happy. I think the way this story ended was exciting, but also gave me a bit more than I originally thought. The ending, and the epilogue really tied up everything nicely, but this may just be me thinking but I have a feeling there may be a potential spin off with two characters who were introduced in this book! Anyways, I’m really happy with the way Whit and Inez’s story ended and I can see their relationship grew stronger through all that they experienced. Totally recommend this duology if you’re looking for an adventure filled story with magical elements, historical romance, and a dash of romance that will make you swoon. 

On the Way to You: Special Edition by Kandi Steiner

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5⭐️/ 3🌶️

A cross country trip, exploring different cities, and new things, Cooper and Emery joined together on a road trip with one specific destination in mind. A story that focused on the journey, self growth, and the character’s journey, this book was a character driven storyline that Kandi Steiner wrote with picturesque views, and a variety of things along the way. 

I went into this book expecting a road trip, potentially a big twist that played into the story, and a bit more of a connection to the characters, but unfortunately this book didn’t land the mark for me. As a fan of Kandi Steiner’s book, most if not all books by Kandi, I have loved and raved about to this day. This was the kind of book that majority of the time, I wasn’t sure which direction the plot was heading in. Once I got towards the end, and realized what was the big plot point involved I was kind of surprised. Looking back, I can understand now that the little details all added up when it came to one of the characters, and how the overall themes in this book really connected back to that specific character. While I do think that Kandi did a good job of illustrating the theme of depression in this story, I still didn’t feel a deep connection to either Cooper or Emery. Maybe this was a, “right book, wrong time” for me situation, or it just wasn’t for me. Regardless, maybe other readers will enjoy it more for what the story does explore and like Cooper and Emery.