hookedbythatbook's reviews
3146 reviews

My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake

4.0

A chance meeting at a bar, followed by an unforgettable evening and some amusing antics at a reality dating show, leads to a playful, heart-warming romance. 

Anika was passionate about her job and she embraced her newest assignment with gusto, albeit somewhat reluctantly. She took all the unexpected changes in stride with grace and a quiet strength. Her friends and her mom went above and beyond to make sure that Anika is safe. All these phenomenal women added so much heart and dimension to the story. 

Luca was an absolute sweetheart and it was clear that he wasn’t going to choose anyone other than Anika. His reasons for participating in the reality show were well-defined and made sense. Their flirty interactions had me smiling all the way through. 

I didn’t like the way Anika’s boss treated her, even though Anika had nothing but praise for her mentor. The “reality” of reality tv was excellently done and I liked the variety that the other contestants provided. Their little on-air confessionals were hilarious. 

Overall, this was a fun, charming story that also competently dealt with harassment in the workplace. I can’t wait to read Harper’s story. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Scot Who Made June Hot by Fenna Edgewood

3.0

Cameron and June’s journey back to each other was fraught with feelings of betrayal and it definitely wasn’t easy or comfortable. 

I was wondering how the author was going to get June out of her loveless marriage, and that outcome was quite a doozy. June and Cameron had suffered ever since they were cruelly and deliberately kept apart when they were young and very much in love. Cameron was quite mean to June initially and I felt really sorry for her. She was just trying to survive. 

There were a lot of plot lines to keep track of, between June and Cameron’s past, June’s present struggles, and her husband’s nefarious dealings. The story was maybe slightly too short to explore all of these with enough detail, so it felt a bit jumbled together at times and not that easy to untangle. And while I commiserated with June and Cameron, I wasn’t all that invested in their relationship. They did have some emotionally charged moments together, which I enjoyed. 

This is shaping up to be a very entertaining series and I can highly recommend it if you like steamy historical romance. 

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley

4.0

I fell in love with Scotland and Addie and Logan as a couple, as Logan tried to show Addie the magic in the country. I loved the detailed descriptions of the people and the landscape and the way it opened Addie's heart to love again. Addie's continuing grief after her mother's death was so palpable and it painted all the experiences in a bittersweet light. This was a beautiful, sweet romance, but also a kind of poignant love story between Addie, her memories of her mother, and Scotland. 

Betting On You by Lynn Painter

4.0

For the Love of Summer by Susan Mallery

4.0

A feel-good story about finding family in unexpected places and appreciating the one you already have. 

Erica and Allison were both dropped into an impossible situation not of their own making. The only thing binding them in any way was Summer, Erica’s daughter and Allison’s stepdaughter. Summer turned out to be quite the tenacious bit of glue. I had mixed feelings about her. She was only 16 with a whole lot of good intentions, but she did manipulate her mother quite a bit without taking her feelings into consideration. 

I really liked Erica and Allison. They were very different people. Erica’s steely core was the backbone that kept this whole menagerie of a family together. Allison was forced to develop her own inner strength, it was sink or swim for her. Luckily, she didn’t have to do it on her own. It was very heartwarming to see these two women grow closer and form a stronger new-found family. 

The romance between Erica and Killion was like a gentle, meandering river that cut through everything and brought Erica a much-needed safe space. It also wore her defenses down gradually, so that she could see the potential future available to her.  

The story started out a bit slow, but it was engaging and I was heavily invested in the outcome for all of these characters. I can recommend this if you like an emotional family drama with strong female characters front and center. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

5.0

This series just keeps getting better and better. The clever and witty writing style draws you in and makes you feel as if you are in that parlor in The Grand Palace on the Thames. Speaking of parlors, there is one scene where the group has to decide on what book to read aloud next that had me laughing, the dialogue is superb. Dot is still one of my favourite characters, but all of them add so much dimension and pure reading pleasure. As for Dominic and Catherine, they had spades of chemistry between them and I enjoyed their emotional relationship journey. Usually, I'm not bothered by an age gap, but for some reason this one didn't sit that well with me at all times. But Catherine is plenty mature despite her youthfulness and she handled difficult situations with poise and grace. This series is well worth it if you like steamy historical romance. I think it's best to read this series in order.

 

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

5.0

I'm not a vengeful person. Generally, I don't rub my hands in glee when someone gets their comeuppance (okay, maybe a little bit). But I have to tell you, I cannot remember the last time I harboured so much loathing for a character as Liam's father. And Liam was fighting to be free in the best way he knew. Then Anna showed him what he could do and have if he had someone firmly in his corner. This book made me feel all the feels. I loved Anna and Liam and their banter and their developing relationship. Who am I kidding, I loved everything. Read this if you like a strangers-to-lovers steamy romance with incredibly emotional character arcs.

Liar's Point by Laura Griffin

5.0

 A thrilling police procedural that had me at the edge of my seat and guessing right until the end. 

From the moment Cassandra discovered the body of her friend, we were skillfully kept in the dark with just enough crumbs to make us realize that Cassandra was involved, but not knowing how. The story unfolded at a fast pace, with the police scrambling to make sense of the scant evidence in their possession. The unsettling suspense drew me in and I sacrificed a lot of sleep to finish this, I just couldn’t put it down. 

Nicole and Emmett were both very likable characters, but very reserved. And despite a decade long crush, neither were prepared to cross that line. The connection between them was pretty obvious and strong, and it pushed and pulled at them until they couldn’t keep it contained anymore. I loved how they resolved their workplace/relationship conflict at the end. 

I can highly recommend this entire series if you like romantic suspense. This book stands well on its own, but don’t miss out on the others. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

5.0

This book was immensely fun from Josephine's painted toes all the way to Wells' grumpiness. Their chemistry and lively banter kept me glued to the pages and I couldn't put it down. I am not about to become a golf fan, but I enjoyed the passion both of them had for the sport and their appreciation for each other's skills. 

Mind Games by Nora Roberts

5.0

Mind Games is an electric thriller underpinned by the power of family and an exquisitely sweet romance. 

I’ve probably said this before, but Nora Roberts has this uncanny ability to weave a clever and very detailed story so that you feel completely immersed in it, with a pace that is never too slow or tedious. Every word and event have a place and a meaning. 

Just like Thea, I squealed quietly inside when she met Ty and they got to know each other. Their relationship developed gradually, but they had a palpable and real connection right from the start. Every character had so much dimension and heart. I loved all of them. 

This story took us on a wild ride of harrowing experiences and a wide range of emotions. I felt wrung out by the end, but with a goofy smile on my face. The “Mind Games” element to it was truly well done, providing most of the nail-biting suspense. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.