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hercozybookshelf's Reviews (184)
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rush the Edge by SJ Sylvis
SJ Sylvis has become the queen of angsty, slow burn hockey romances in my opinion, and this story delivered everything I love: childhood friends, enemies to lovers, workplace romance and a hero whose walls slowly crumble thanks to the heroine’s persistence.
Kane and Daisy’s relationship felt so layered and emotional . I ate up their banter, tension, the push and pull, and I especially loved the thoughtful autoimmune representation.
The audiobook narration was phenomenal. Lilly Drake perfectly captured Daisy’s spark, vulnerability and growth. Aiden Snow delivered Kane with his signature deep, commanding voice that always draws me in, balancing Kane’s intensity with his tenderness.
This has quickly become a new favorite hockey romance series, and I can’t wait to keep going.
Thank you so much to @sjsylvisauthor and @valentine_pr_ for the opportunity to listen and review this gifted audiobook for my honest opinion.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Rookie Season is New Girl meets hockey romance and I couldn’t have loved it more. Instead of a quirky loft of roommates, we get three hockey players and the result is absolute perfection. Noah is broody, protective and deeply loyal, while Allegra’s journey of healing and growth gave the story so much heart.
🎧 CJ Bloom embodied Allegra beautifully, bringing both vulnerability and strength to every scene. Stephen Dexter was the perfect Noah, capturing his gruff edges, humor and swoony tenderness in a way that made me laugh out loud in public more than once. This is a must listen!
Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner have delivered a heartwarming, laugh out loud and emotional listen and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the rest of the guys in 3B!!!
Thank you to @authorKatieBailey, @leah.brunner.writes, and @mustloveaudio for the ALC!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a fun listen! Madden and Kennedy's story is filled with family rivalry, secrets and one swoony hero who knows exactly what he wants! Their initial meeting hooked me right away and even though it's set in the world of football, the real story is the business rivals to lovers tension.
Dual narration performed by Dane Anderson & Avery Caris
Avery Caris was a standout for me. She gave Kennedy this spark that pulled me right into the story. Dane was a new to me narrator brought a steady confidence and delivered Madden with intensity and determination. Together, their voices carried the push and pull of this business rivals to lovers romance very well.
This was such a strong start to Lisa Suzanne's new Bradley Legacy Series!! I cannot wait to see what the rest of the Bradley siblings bring to the table. If you love forbidden vibes, family drama and a hero who falls first (and HARD), you'll love this one.
Thank you to @mustloveaudio and @authorlisasuzanne for this ALC.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Goal Line delivers everything I love about a friend's to lovers hockey romance!!
Luke Hartmann is the golden retriever of my dreams: loyal, protective and completely gone for Eva, even when the situation is, VERY complicated. He's not just the guy you root for; he's the guy you need your romance hero to be. I loved seeing him navigate his own growth, bring that "my wife" energy to every interaction and stand firm for Eva at every
Eva is so well written!!! After she gets pregnant from a one night stand, while chasing her Olympic dreams, she is determined to be the kind of mother she never had. She's strong, ambitious and so deeply human in her moments of doubt and vulnerability. Her friendship and eventual romance with Luke are built on years of history, mutual respect and years of longing.
Julia Connors writes their journey with heart, humor and so much heat! This book has themes of found family, resilience and the kind of love that feels inevitable once you see it on the page. The Boston Rebels series keeps getting better, and Goal Line is my new favorite entry.
Thank you to Julia Connors for the ARC! I can't wait to revisit this one on audio later this year.
funny
lighthearted
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
College rugby perfection!
Red Card is fun, flirty and full of banter! Cillian and Rory's chemistry hooked me from the start and just kept building.
The "lessons" trope was playful, the tension was on point and the found-family moments with the team added so much heart.
The audiobook was fantastic!! Matt Sykes nailed Cillian's charm, swagger and British accent (and he sure did bring the heat). Stella Hunter's narration was wonderful! She balanced Rory's sass, vulnerability and strength throughout the book so well. Together, they made the story come to life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Forever Publishing and Maren Moore for the ALC and ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
emotional
lighthearted
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
My first Amy Knupp book and I’m obsessed! Carter was perfection! Protective, loyal and completely devoted.
Connor Crais nailed the performance (auto-listen status confirmed) and Stella Hunter’s voice was sweet confidence mixed with the perfect touch of vulnerability.
Went in blind, came out in love. 10/10 recommend and I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the series!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Way We Win is small-town romance with Friday Night Lights vibes and a football coach who’ll steal your heart.
Jack Bradford is the kind of single dad romance hero I always fall hard for. He’s protective, broody and quietly selfless. His love for his daughter melted me and the slow-burn tension with Allie had me invested. No third-act breakup, no nonsense, just emotional, spicy, swoony goodness with a little suspense to keep things interesting. I loved the way this book balanced heat with heart.
And let’s talk about the duet narration. Jason Clarke is phenomenal - his range is wild. One minute he’s giving us growly, possessive Jack and the next he’s nailing the ex-husband with terrifying energy. His performance with the kids? Adorable. Flawless. Five stars.
Willa Jaymes was a standout for me. Her southern accent was so natural and soft and she gave Allie such warmth and depth. I was drawn in immediately. Their duet dynamic made this audiobook a full experience.
Though this is part of the Bradford Boys series, it works beautifully as a standalone.
Review: 4.5⭐️
Narration: 5⭐️
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
ALC Review
This was my first book by Lainey Davis and definitely not my last. If there's a hockey romance with a golden retriever hero, I'm in. Gunnar Stag is all green flags: caretaking, gift-giving, dog-loving and fiercely protective. (Oh, and married a cello-playing stranger in Vegas? Casual.)
The audiobook is dual narration, featuring Ehlen Valentine and James Cassidy, both new-to-me voices... and now, officially, voices I'll look forward to listening to again. They nailed the emotional beats and the spicy tension with charm and heart.
It's fast, it's fun and it's full of cinnamon roll chaos. If you love marriage of convenience, spicy lessons, curvy heroines, found family and hockey boys who would burn the world down for you... this one's for you.
Jo Salty meets sweet. On ice. With a stick.
Big thanks to Home Cooked Books and Lainey Davis for this advanced listening copy!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bourbon & Secrets (The Bourbon Boys Series, Book 2)
🎧 Narrated by: Megan Wicks & Lee Samuels (duet narration)
Lincoln Fox has ruined me for all other men.
Single dad. Wears glasses. Built like a Greek god. Protective, broody, bourbon-sipping and devoted to his daughters. The kind of man who paints toenails for his daughters and then breaks bedframes in the next scene. 🥵
Faye is fierce, independent and unforgettable… a private investigator and burlesque dancer with a heart of gold and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude. Together? Fire. Their chemistry is off the charts and the tension?? It’s everything.
Full of secrets, spice, emotional depth and heart-stealing daughters who brought humor and light—this book hooked me from page one.
🎙️ Narration was next-level:
Megan Wicks delivers her signature sultry grit (my forever fave).
Lee Samuels gives his best performance yet, his Lincoln is everything I wanted and more.
Thanks to Home Cooked Books and Victoria Wilder for the ALC. I’m fully obsessed. And yes, that bourbon scene still lives in my head rent-free.
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
This book is pure wedding chaos meets emotional healing.... and I was here for every second.
Essie is all pink, princess, glitter & good intentions. Nate? Broody, burned & a professional at ghosting women who make him feel things. But when they're reunited six years after that kiss and forced to plan a wedding together as maid of honor and best man? The tension is palpable.
The chemistry? Five-alarm fire.
The duet narration is fantastic!!!
Savannah Peachwood IS Essie-sweet, vulnerable and calm... until she isn't. One of my fave performances from her yet.
Peachwood exudes a palpable softness, even during the emotional whiplash. She's got wedding spreadsheets and weaponized sarcasm locked down.
Teddy Hamilton proves (again) that he's our reigning king of grumpy-soft MMCs - he can narrate a grocery list and still have us swooning. His portrayal of Nate's slow unraveling... from cold to cracked wide open, was perfection. His Nate is layered, hot and haunted—in the best way.
Together? Absolute magic. Their voices blend so seamlessly, I got dragged straight into a romantic undertow... zero regrets, no lifeguard on duty and I was loving every second underwater.
The Toronto Terror cameos? YES PLEASE. I loved checking in with past couples and getting sneak peeks of what's to come.
This one is an easy, spicy, summer read.
Big thanks to @helenahunting for the ARC & ALC-I'm so proud to be part of Helena’s Badass Babe Brigade.