hollyreadsromance's reviews
1267 reviews

Howl by Meg Alivien

4.0

this is the perfect cozy little paranormal romance!! It was such a good introduction to the town and I can’t wait to be back!! Raegan and Jaime were honestly the sweetest! Friends to fated mates?? It was so low angst but lots of big revelations! And all the drama was external but still gave them a little tension to work through! It was a good time!

Thanks to Meg Alivien for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

5.0

This is the book. I loved this book SO MUCH. It was absolutely wonderful and oh so heartbreaking all at the same time. It is so heavy on grief, and it’s not always pretty, truthfully it’s not pretty a lot of the time. But watching Lenny trying how to figure out how to live without her best friend was written SO beautifully. And don’t get me wrong it was ALSO such a good time. It was fun and silly and sad and full of so much love it made my heart ache in THE BEST WAY.

The SLOWEST burn was so good, and absolutely necessary and absolutely perfect. The fact that Lenny was somehow still the sunshine in hers and Miles’ grumpy/sunshine pair was perfection. The fact that Miles needed Lenny’s help with Reese and Ainsley. Everything about this book was perfect.

Miles and Lenny were such a chaotic pair and they needed each other in such a big way and the fact that they found each other made me so happy. I loved how complex and complicated they both were. Neither of their journeys were easy, and even by the end, nothing was perfect but they were better. The romance was also very much on the back burner for a long time. They both had way bigger things to deal with first, and the way it played out was so good.

I love this book so much and I already cannot wait to read it again.

ALSO a little Ethan and Miriam cameo 🥹

Thank you SO MUCH to Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Sparks Still Fly by Cristina Santos

4.0

I love this little family so much! And I also love a second chance SO MUCH. Maeve and Owen’s story was not an easy one but it was so good. I loved that we got to see where they really started, and how easily things between them developed even while he was deployed. The way they had such an INSTANT connection made my heart ache because I knew the rest of their journey wasn’t going to be as easy. And when you add in a some time apart, a little anger, an accidental marriage turned marriage of convenience, and SO MANY FEELINGS…it was chaotic in the best way. And I loved watching them finally figure it out.

It was rough watching them really struggle with their feelings. It was never really a question on how much they loved each other? Even though they never admitted it to each other, it was obvious they had always been pulled together. And they had so much to work through, and it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t always fun… but when they DID! It was so good!

And just like the last I LOVE how close and supportive and loving their friends and family are!

I am VERY excited for Charlie and Raf’s book, I have a feeling that it’s going to be my favorite!

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn

5.0

Another absolutely perfect book from Erin Hahn!! I have loved this little group of friends so much! And Erin’s writing is full of so much LOVE. Joe and Maren were no different, and truthfully I think she saved the best for last, and I LOVED the other two. But there was something that just felt so special about Joe and Maren and Anders and Lucy that made my heart so happy.

Joe and Maren were honestly everything to me. They were soft and quiet and they tried so hard to fight their feelings because she wasn’t staying and because him and her brother are best friends and she didn’t want to get in the way of that… but it’s so hard to fight what’s MEANT TO BE! And that’s exactly what they were. They both had so much work through and figure out and they both desperately wanted to be able to do it on their own…and they DID but they also needed help and watching them accept help!! I loved them so much.

Every single time Maren was interacting with kids made my heart ACHE. Joe had a lot going on, and didn’t want help…but maybe he didn’t want to have to ASK for help…and Maren just seamlessly inserted herself into their lives and it was exactly what they needed. The way Lucy took right to Maren because Maren was such a safe place for her! And I LOVED that Maren and Anders were fishing partners. I loved that full circle moment for Maren so much.

And not to mention seeing Shelby and Cameron and Lorelei and Craig again was so sweet. They’re such a sweet little family and they are always there for each other when they need it the most. And watching the guys take Joe right under their wing was SO CUTE!

Thanks so much to SMP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

His Greatest Treasure by Hannah Cowan

5.0

As always Hannah has written another perfect book 🥹 I LOVE being back with the Bateman’s. Gracie and Tyler are some of my favorites and getting to see them again and meet Oliver was such a treat!! This whole giant family is my favorite and seeing someone feel like they’re on the outside of it was so tough, but also seeing everyone love Avery and Nova so much while respecting their boundaries was so sweet.

There is something SO GOOD about a grumpy x grumpy pair!! And Oliver and Avery were perfection!! They were also SO SOFT for each other. It was a pretty slow burn for the romance, just because Avery wanted and needed to take things slow for Nova’s sake but the FEELINGS were there almost right away!!

They were both pretty guarded. Avery never really felt like she fit in with her parents friends because she grew up in Sweden and now that she was around them she still didn’t know where she fit in. And Oliver was lonely, even with his entire family always around, he wanted something more. And watching them find each other, and then in turn find what they’ve always needed!!! In each other!!! So good 🥹

Nova was the actual star of the show! She is the sweetest little girl and deserves the world. And I LOVE that both Avery and Oliver give that to her! Oliver stepped up so effortlessly not just for Avery, but more importantly for Nova! And she really noticed and took to him right away!!

The Greatest Love series is one of my favorite and I cannot wait for Jamieson’s book!! but Hannah’s next book is going back to Cherry Peak and I am literally so excited for Bryce and Daisy!!

Only in Your Dreams by Madison Wright

5.0

I’ve been excited about Finley and Grey since Off the Beaten Path and they did not disappoint. Just like all of Madison’s other books, it made my heart ache!! I love everything about this book. I loved being back in Fontana Ridge, I loved seeing Holden, Wren, and June. And I LOVED getting to really know Finley and Grey. They were so soft and tender and just two sad people who didn’t think they were enough. And I LOVED watching them fall in love.

I love a man who is DOWN BAD. And Grey Sutton had it SO BAD for Finley. Their banter was perfect. the tension was SO GOOD. Their chemistry was so good! I loved every single thing about them. They knew each other so well and they were friends, despite the bickering, and they had a lot on the line… but they also had SO MANY FEELINGS. And I loved witching them finally be able to give in.

I also loved watching them finally be able to be LOVED. They both deserve the WORLD. And the fact that they were able to give that to each other made my heart SING.

I can’t wait for whatever is next from Madison!!

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

5.0

Once again Chloe Liese has written one of my favorite books. This series has been such a job to read. I have loved getting to know the Wilmot sisters, their friends and family, and their partners! I can’t believe this is already the end!! But Juliet and Will were the absolute perfect send off! I loved seeing Juliet healing, she deserved so much good and it was beautiful to see her get it. I LOVE seeing Bea and Jamie and Kate and Christopher!! And their little sweet moments in this book! And I LOVED meeting Will and getting to know him! This was the sweetest romance in training to friends to lovers story, they were soft and sweet and so vulnerable with each other!

Juliet and Will were really just two people who didn’t know what to do in the romance portion of their lives. Juliet was hurt and now unsure of where to go from there, and Will was sure he didn’t need, or deserve love because he’s never felt anything even close. And I LOVED watching them reassure each other they did in fact deserve love in all the cutest ways!! The cutie little dates! All the gluten free things Will made sure to include even though Juliet didn’t even tell him explicitly that she was GF right away! How she knew he was sensitive to noise and adjusted things for him! The way he could see her hurting but trusted her to tell him when she needed a break!! The way they both stepped out their comfort zones to make their practice dating work! And FELL IN LOVE A LONG THE WAY!

They were both SO SOFT and I loved that they found each other. They were exactly what they needed and watching them fumble and try their best and be wobbly together!! It was so just so sweet!

I don’t know what next from Chloe Liese but whatever it is, I’ll be here waiting 🥹

Thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

5.0

Wada forever 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 I love these little softies SO MUCH 😭🥹

Rekindling the Flame by Madison Myers

3.0

If there’s one thing I love it’s a woman coming back to her hometown and falling back in love with her one true love!!!! I love a second chance SO MUCH. Aurora and Wyatt were honestly SO good. The way they were able to pick right back up, even though the way she left REALLY broke his heart?? They were meant to be and I LOVED watching them figure it out. And really “If it wasn’t you, it wasn’t anyone.” I MEAN COME ON. 

I also really loved watching Rory make things right with her mom and her sister. They missed so much time and it was heartbreaking that they were back together because her mom was sick. But they really did the best they could with the time they had!! I’m HOPING we’re getting a book for Lexi because I’d love to get to know her!!! 

I have a hard time with parents dying, and I forgot about that when I started this. But while Rory’s mom was ill for the whole book, she was also trying to live her best life while she could. It wasn’t as hard for me to read as I was expecting it too. I also didn’t really love the first….60%??? It was just kind of a lot. The tone just switched around a lot. And it was written WELL! Just a rollercoaster!! From her and her sister fighting, to her mom being sick, and her feeling bad about being gone but also being adamant shes not staying, and her and Wyatt’s feelings, and the absolutely f i l t h y sex they were having. It truly a wild ride!!

Thanks to Madison Myers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Bloom by EJ Blaise

4.75

Another book by EJ Blaise that broke my heart in the absolute best way. Sun Valley and Serenity Ranch are such special places and I loved being back! And Caroline and Hunter 🥹 and Caroline and Lux 🥹 and Caroline 🥹🥹 I loved getting to know her. This one had all the same charm and wit and complicated things as the Sun Valley series but it was a little softer, a little quieter and it was honestly beautiful. 

Caroline is a girl after my heart. She’s just a girl who has gone so long without love and she didn’t know what to do with people who did in fact love her. I love her so much. I loved that she found a home at Serenity Ranch and was able to keep it even after her and Jackson ended. I love her and Lux’s relationship. They needed each other so much, and I loved that they had each other.

I loved that Hunter was a man of few words and big feelings. I loved the Hunter-isms. I loved that he would just let Caroline talk and he would listen because she so desperately needed someone to listen to her.

I cannot wait for the rest of the Serenity Ranch girls. I love them all desperately.