justmevictoria's reviews
510 reviews

Seeing Red by Bailey Hannah

4.5

When the least likely person accidentally becomes your baby daddy… 

 

Cassidy Bowman has always had a rule about dating locals, but given that her non-local ex screwed her over, the rule doesn't seem to be working for her. While at the local rodeo and with a few drinks under the belt, she decides to get a little revenge after a run-in with her ex - hooking up with someone on the hood of his vehicle. There aren't many options in Wells Canyon, so she propositions the one guy who can give her what she wants without getting messy with feelings - Red Thompson. Only, Cassidy doesn’t' realise that Red has always had a soft spot for her, and when her life plans are thrown off-course by two little pink lines, he's the last person she wants to be stuck co-parenting with. Having had her own mother pop in and out of her life, Cassidy gives Red an ultimatum - he's either all in or all out when it comes to their child. Red knows he's not good enough for Cassidy, but he's determined to prove he can step up and be the best dad he can despite the actions of his own father. The pair have barely ever been friends, but the lines between acquaintance, friends and platonic co-parents quickly blur as Cassidy's pregnancy progresses, leaving both to question whether their original ground-rules are worth breaking. 

 

As if Bailey couldn't make me love another couple as much as I loved Austin and Cecily, she goes and gives us Red and Cassidy! Red had some great banter in the previous book that had me intrigued to learn more, and while we only briefly got to see Cassidy, she seemed like a fun character, so getting both on them in the same book with such a fabulous story was perfection! Just like the previous leading characters, these two have quickly become one of my favourite small town romance couples! 

 

Although it's clear the Red and Cassidy were simply acquaintances, bordering on potential friends, there was so much obvious chemistry between them from the moment we see them together. Add in the fact that Bailey served up such a spicy scene between them in the first couple of chapters, there was no denying how right these two were for each other, despite their initial beliefs that a relationship was a no-go. Watching them navigate the pregnancy, hormones and emotions while slowly falling in love with one another was everything I was hoping for with this story and more! They had some of the sweetest and heartfelt moments, sprinkled with plenty of *chefs kiss* spice. 

 

Obviously, this book has the major content warning for accidental pregnancy, as well as fertility talk in regards to Hashimoto's Disease and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). As Bailey notes at the beginning of the book, you can totally skip this book if reading about pregnancy isn't for you, and you won't be lost in future books in the series. It was great to see discussions around Cassidy's two chronic illnesses and how they impacted on her view on the unplanned and accidental nature of her pregnancy. Trigger warning also for discussions of body image issues, on-page physical violence, and discussions of previous domestic violence, child abuse and alcoholism. 

 

I loved Bailey's inclusions of how big the baby was in comparison to the weirdest objects. Aside from just being a helpful way to track Cassidy's pregnancy and the timeline of the story, it was a fun little addition that added an extra little touch of comedy throughout the book, especially the times when said size is also referenced by the characters. 

 

If someone is willing to buy me a one-way ticket to British Columbia to find the IRL Wells Ranch filled with swoony cowboys and ranches, I'd be ever so grateful! Between Bailey Hannah and Elsie Silver, the Canadian cowboys are capturing the hearts of small town romance girlies everywhere! 

Off to the Races by Elsie Silver

4.5

Horses and hearts are racing… 

 

After the death of his grandfather and the news that he was involved in race fixing, Vaugh Harding is hiding out at Gold Rush Ranch wondering how he can save his grandfather's legacy. And it all starts with hiring a new trainer. On the recommendation of one of his grandfather's best friends, he agrees to interview Billie Black who Hank raves about. What Vaughn doesn't expect is for Billie to be a young woman who isn't afraid to call him out on his bullshit. The pair don't get off to the greatest start, and Vaughn has a plan to have her out of his hair within three months - she has to show results with a horse that many have deemed wild and untrainable. It doesn’t take long for Billie to prove her worth, and their back-and-forth banter has them growing closer and closer. In the sport of kings, Billie doesn't want to look like a woman sleeping with her boss to get ahead, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and for the first time ever, someone is actively choosing her first. 

 

Taking it back to where it all began with Elsie and it's clear to see she's been knocking it out of the park since her debut! After getting to see the Gold Rush Ranch characters in Powerless, I've been so keen to get to see all of their stories unfold, and Vaughn and Billie were the perfect place to start! Just with the Chestnut Springs books, I was hooked from the get-go and loved getting to be welcomes to the world of Gold Rush Ranch. 

 

The chemistry between Vaughn and Billie was clear from the beginning, and their enemies/frenemies-to-lovers romance was the perfect amount of slow-burn, emotion, heart, and swooniness. Their witty and sharp banter was super fun and helped add a whole other layer to their romantic relationship. And in true Elsie Silver fashion, she absolutely DELIVERED on the sizzling spice between these two, again showcasing that she has been writing top-tier romance since the very beginning. 

 

As usual when it comes to interconnected companion novel series, we got a great introduction to some of the future leading characters. While we didn't get to see a great deal of all the secondary characters, they fleshed out the world of Gold Rush Ranch so well and it'll be fun to keep learning about these characters as the series progresses. I've been wanting to follow Violet Eaton's story from the moment she popped up in the Chestnut Springs series, and while I'm bummed this series didn't start with her, the introduction to her and Cole's story has me itching to pick up book two immediately! 

 

As I've said previously, I don't know what Elsie laces her books with because I adored being pulled into the world of Gold Rush Ranch just as much as I did Chestnut Springs. Her writing and characters are like a big warm hug that I never want to pull myself out of, and I'm already dreading catching up on her books and having to wait for more to be released, and I've still got five books and a few novella/bonus pieces to go! 

 

If you're yet to start your Elsie Silver journey, going back to the very beginning of her work is a pretty damn good place to start! Small town romance girlies will absolutely eat up this romance and be tempted to buy a one-way ticket to Vancouver to find the IRL Gold Rush Ranch and it's swoony staff. 

Don't Call Me Daddy by Jeré Anthony

4.0

Call him daddy, you know you want to… 

 

With a month left until she's on a plane to Romania, Ivy Lane is roadtripping through the Appalachian Mountains in an attempt to check off as many items as possible from a checklist she made with her twin sister seven years earlier. Along the way, she's also wanting to find the perfect spot to spread her sister's ashes. When she runs off the road to avoid hitting a shadowy figure, Ivy finds herself in Ashford Falls thanks to the help of a grumpy stranger. When he has a medical emergency in her presence, Ivy rushes him to hospital and several hours later finds herself as his fake fiancée. With his father passing him over as the next CEO of their family's company, Leo Kingsley thinks showing his family he does in fact have a life and serious relationship outside the office is the best option to secure the CEO position. He doesn't expect that the woman he roped into this charade to be the annoying and bratty woman he's been missing from his life. For years, he's kept a part of himself locked away, but when Ivy jokingly calls him "Daddy", that part begins to set itself free and he knows it's going to be near impossible to watch Ivy leave in month without being left heartbroken. 

 

A charming small town in the Appalachian Mountains with a swoony but grumpy billionaire in need of a fake fiancée? Oh and there's an age gap with daddy dom/brat vibes? Yes, sign me the hell up! As soon as I read the synopsis for this one it went straight to the top of my TBR and I have no regrets about shafting the million other books I have to read - Jeré delivered exactly what I was looking for with this read! 

 

Ivy and Leo had the best grumpy/sunshine dynamic, made even better with their daddy dom/brat & baby girl dynamic. Am I into the latter dynamic IRL? Not particularly. But when it comes to books, I will eat that shit up! These two had such great chemistry as they progressed from faking it to giving into their attraction to one another to then getting their kink on. Their banter was also super enjoyable, and the sweet and emotional moments between them, particularly when it came to Ivy talking about her grief and Leo sharing his past trauma, added so much depth to their relationship. 

 

The spice also spiced extremely well. Imagine Fifty Shades Of Grey with less messy drama and more realistic storyline development, but still with all the fun of a red room… 

 

Jeré added a fun layer of depth by diving into the lore of Ashford Falls and their cryptid the 'Phantom'. The town gives off Point Pleasant vibes with Mothman, with a central part of the Ivy and Leo's story revolving around them organising the town's annual Phantom Festival, this year marking the 150th anniversary of the Phantom's sighting. I'd give anything to visit Ashford Falls, experience it's small-town charm, and explore the lore of the Phantom! I'm keen to return with the next book and get to see more of the Kingsley family! 

 

Small town romance girlies won't want to miss this trip to Ashford Falls and getting to meet the Kingsley family! 

Alive and Wells by Bailey Hannah

4.5

Escaping the darkness to become the sunshine you were meant to be… 

 

Finally working up the courage to escape her abusive husband, Cecily Kennedy finds herself in Wells Canyon and on Wells Ranch, a million miles from her old life. After connecting with a domestic abuse survivor online, she offers Cecily a place to stay and a job, and while working on a ranch is far removed from her life in the city, it's a change she welcomes. Everyone on the ranch welcomes her with open arms, everyone except owner boss Austin Wells, who knows this city slicker will be hightailing it out of Wells Canyon in no time. Austin is sure Cecily will be a distraction to his team of cowboys, but it turns out she's a massive distraction for him the more he gets to know her. Austin has faced his fair-share of the people he loves leaving him and he knows he shouldn't get attached to Cecily since she'll just end up leaving too. But when her ex manages to finally track her down, he's willing to risk his heart again if it means keeping her safe. 

 

I've seen so many people talking about how much they love Austin and Cecily and now I totally see why! These two have certainly become one of my favourite small town romance couples - they had so much chemistry, heart and emotion, as well as so much personal growth that helped make their relationship be so much stronger. For a debut novel, Bailey absolutely smashed it with her world and character development - I'm totally tempted to buy a one-way ticket to British Columbia and find the IRL Wells Ranch filled with swoony cowboys and ranchers. 

 

Austin and Cecily had instant chemistry as they went from a mutual annoyance with one another to mutually pining for each other. The progression of their relationship, despite being a slow burn, moved at such a natural and realistic pace, especially when it came to Cecily having to learn to trust again and Austin being super patient about gaining her body's trust. They had so many cute, sweet and swoony moments, plus some very swoony and spicy moments. I just freaking loved everything about them! 

 

Trigger warning for on-page domestic violence (emotional and physical), which is seen predominantly at the beginning of the book. It's emotional and confronting, but Bailey handles the situation with care, showing Cecily working up the courage and strength to get out of that situation, even when it would be so easy for her to just continue to reconcile KJ's actions and stay. This abuse then has repercussions throughout the book as Cecily learns to trust the actions of men again, particularly when it comes to her developing relationship with Austin, who is understanding of her past trauma and is patient with earning her body's trust. 

 

The secondary cast of characters are all really fun and I'm excited to see where Bailey takes these characters as the series progress, as well as continuing to see Cecily and Austin in the background. If this is where Bailey has started her writing journey, it's only going to be amazing with each new book! 

 

Add another yeehaw romance to your TBR and fall in love with everyone at Wells Ranch! 

Hopeless by Elsie Silver

4.0

Two lost souls finding strength & purpose with one another… 

 

After a heroic act that left him with severe scarring, both physically and mentally, Beau Eaton has returned to Chestnut Springs after his last military tour totally lost. The whole town sees him as the golden boy who risked his life serving his country, but he doesn't see himself as a hero. Back in the town he's always enjoyed escaping from, Beau isn't sure what his next move is and he spends most of his time pushing away friends and family. Everyone except bartender Bailey Jansen, who he can't help but be drawn to. Bailey has worked hard to keep her head down in order to make enough to finally leave Chestnut Springs in her dust, but coming from the family she does, it's been impossible for her to pick up work outside of the bar. Beau can't believe that Bailey's last name has that much effect on her life and suggests she takes his in order to prove her wrong. The plan is simple - they pretend to be engaged until Bailey can land another job and save up enough to move to the city. But nothing has even been simple for either of them, and as these two lost souls grow closer the line between real and fake quickly blurs and neither want this arrangement to end. 

 

What a way to round-out this fabulous series! I've been hanging out for Beau's book since the moment we met him and Elsie has teased and woven the set-up to his story throughout the previous four books so well that the wait has definitely been worth it! Throw in a fake engagement and 2am skinning dipping and you've got yourself another great read from Elsie! 

 

Bailey has intrigued me ever since we met her way back in book one and I enjoyed finally getting to know her story after getting glimpses of it through the eyes of the Eaton family. From being seen as reserved young woman who keeps to herself to seeing that she is quiet sassy and isn't afraid to put the town's golden boy in his place, she's a character that I really enjoyed getting to know. 

 

I'm a sucker at the moment for age gap romances, and with thirteen years between Beau and Bailey, Elsie didn't hold back on giving all the age gap angst. At times, Beau was a little too hung-up on Bailey's age (and her virgin status), but overall they had great chemistry despite the number of years between them. The forced proximity and the slow burn had me hooked and plowing through this beauty. 

 

While Elsie does explore Beau's trauma and PTSD, there's definitely more that could have been done in terms of Beau taking a step towards therapy, and taking more responsibility for reckless choices he made, like drink driving. Bailey too had trauma from growing up in an abusive family that could have also benefitted from therapy and while we didn't need to see on-page therapy, it would have been nice to see both of them take more proactive steps to looking after their mental health. 

 

This was such a nice end to this series, outside of Harvey's epilogues, and it's sad to say goodbye to Chestnut Springs - this is by far one of my favourite romance series and one I definitely plan on revisiting in the future. For now though, it's time to dive into the rest of Elsie's books and fall in love with even more swoony cowboys! 

Branded Hearts by Elle Mariah

4.0

This book was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

 

When the quiet school teacher finally manifests romance with her grumpy police officer. 

 

Ever since she laid eyes on Bradley Mitchell, her best friend's older brother, Amelia Brown has been smitten. She's been crushing on him for years, knowing her would never be interested in her. But now that the years have passed and they're both adults, it's hard not to ignore the pull that is strengthening between them. Bradley has always had a bit of a soft spot for Amelia, but he's always kept his distance, something made easy by his brooding persona and the fact that he keeps most people at arm's length. But when a robbery in town brings them together, it's hard for Bradley to keep his personal promise of keeping a distance. Despite their age difference, there's a bond between them that's stronger than either of them realise, and it's easy for them to read  each other's thoughts and feelings. And when Bradley learns just how inexperienced Amelia is when it comes to guys, he's determined to be the one to give her all those first experiences with him. 

 

Second book slump? We don't know her because Elle has once again knocked it out of the park! With all the swoony & spicy small-town vibes we've come to know and love from US authors, there's a fun Aussie twist with all the Australian heart and humour that you find IRL in rural and regional communities throughout Australia. 

 

I've been absolutely living for age gap romances recently, especially when it comes to small-town and cowboy romances - give me all the sweet and swoony couples with several years separating them! Bradley and Amelia had some super cute chemistry in the first book and I've been hanging out for their story ever since! Elle totally made the wait worth it because I could not get enough of these two - they had everything I love about the bestie's brother / sister's best friend trope, with a lovely dash of age gap, and a nice cherry on top in the form of a virgin heroine who gets spice lessons from the hero. 

 

Bradley and Amelia's mutual pining really hit the spot in the build-up to their relationship - this is what I want when I say I want a slow burn! These two couldn't simp for each other more if they tried, and I ate up every single second. And the spice certainly spiced in all the best ways! I connected so much with Amelia and I loved getting to see the quiet shy girl get the guy she's always had a crush on. 

 

Just like in the first book, I absolutely adored this cast of characters. Elle has created such a great group of friends with a super fun dynamic that is only going to get better as the books go on. With another three books lined up for this series, it's going to be fun to continue getting to know all these characters, seeing where these current relationships go, and how future relationships will develop. 

 

For all the small town romance girlies out there, you won't want to miss a trip to Wattle Creek and all the Aussie goodness that Elle has packed into her books. 

Reckless by Elsie Silver

4.5

All it takes is one lovable and happy-go-lucky bull rider to put you back together… 

 

After temporarily moving to Chestnut Springs for work, Winter Hamilton has made the move permanent by finally taking the steps to free herself from her toxic husband. The only person she hasn't cut ties with is younger sister Summer, who welcomes her with open arms to her Chestnut Springs family. Winter and Summer have never been particularly close, thanks to the tumultuous relationship between their dad and Winter's mother, but there's no time like the present to rectify that. Always viewed as an ice queen, it's hard to Winter to let people in, but within five minutes of meeting bull rider Theo Silva, she finds him hard to resist, even while angrily yelling at him. Theo has never met a woman like Winter and offers himself up for one night, even though he knows instantly that he wants her forever. If one night is all she's willing to give right now, then one night is what he'll take. Their night together is meant to remain a secret, but when Winter does some period math, it turns out it might be a little harder to keep things under wraps. Winter has struggled for years to have a baby and now her dream is finally coming true. And while Theo wasn't on the cards, she wants to make sure her child doesn’t have the same upbringing as her and Summer. She just has to open herself up to trust that Theo really does want her, regardless of whether there's a baby involved or not. 

 

This man is just a giant walking green flag! I didn't think Elsie could make me love her leading men more and more with each book, but she's done it with Theo! And as much as I don't want to admit it, I think Winter & Theo have knocked Willa & Cade out of top spot - these two just had everything wrapped up in a sweet, swoony and spicy romance! I genuinely don't know how I'm going to be able to move on from these two because I just loved them so much! 

 

I am so glad that Winter was given her own book, had some redemption and got a much-deserved happy ending. I would have been totally fine if we only got snippets of Summer and Winter mending their relationship in the background of the other books, but I love that Elsie gave her to happiness and romance that she so rightfully deserved after everything we've learnt about her. I would also have been fine with Theo not getting a book either, but having gotten inside his head I wouldn't have had it any other way! 

 

Winter and Theo's story really tugged at the heartstrings and I definitely shed more tears in this one book than I have in the entire series. Their story was just so beautiful and filled with so much chemistry, heart and emotion as Winter learned to overcome her trust issues and ask for help, and Theo worked to show Winter he was in this for the long run. This little unexpected and unplanned family was imperfectly perfect in all the best ways. 

 

Again, I don't know what Elsie laces her books with (honestly, who needs drugs when you have these books) because I just adore being pulled into the world of Chestnut Springs. Her writing and characters are like a big warm hug that I never want to pull myself out of. If there weren't a million and one books on my TBR, I'd be rereading this book and series over and over again until the end of time. 

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is a reason Elsie's books are so hyped up and you 100% need to read them if you haven't already! These are the perfect small town and cowboy romances, and you'll be falling in love with the entire extended Eaton clan from the moment you meet them. 

Cross the Line by Simone Soltani

4.0

This book was kindly sent to me by Pan Macmillan  in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

 

Driving fast cars isn't as dangerous as falling for your best friend's sister… 

 

After a social media disaster at the hands of his ex-social media manager, F1 driver Dev Anderson is on thin ice - sponsors are threatening to pull out, his team are pissed, and the media are having a field day. Adding to that is his somewhat poor performance on the track thanks to his team's boss who seems determined to prevent him for succeeding. Dev desperately needs someone in his corner to turn his image around, but he's wary of letting just anyone manage his socials. Until his bumps into Willow Williams, the little sister of his best friend, who he just happens to have been thinking about since they kissed last year and she admitted to having a crush on him. Having graduated with a sports and marketing degree, Willow has been struggling to find a job that will allow her to put her passion and skills to use, so when Dev offers her a job she's torn between accepting it because it's her dream and turning it down so she doesn't have to spend so much time in close quarters with Dev because her heart won't be able to handle it. But it's an opportunity she can't pass up on, so with a fixed end date marked on the calendar, she begins working to transform Dev's image while they both toe the line both are desperate to cross but know they shouldn't. Despite relationships and careers on the line if they were to give into their feelings, it might just be a risk worth taking. 

 

As a sports romance lover, I've dabbled in many ball sports but never Formula 1, and while I'm not into IRL F1, I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing it in book form! Simone has knocked it out of the park with this debut and I'm already so excited to see what's she's cooking up next, both in terms of what's next for this series and outside of this series. I don't have any interest in jumping on the F1 train, but I will 100% devour whatever F1 goodness Simone plans on writing after this first foray! 

 

I'm definitely a sucker for mutual pining, long-held crush and brother best friend/best friend's sister, and Simone served all three up with all the swoon and a dash of spice. Dev and Willow had lots of great chemistry and sexual tension, as well as some fantastic banter thanks to all their history with one another. There's just something so warm & fuzzy about watch friends and people with so much history together fall for one another and finally act on those feelings. 

 

It was so nice to read a book with lots of love for culture, particularly when it came to Dev's Indian heritage around his love of Bollywood films and the wedding of his sister Alisha. It added such a nice layer to the story, to Dev's character, and to Dev and Willow's relationship.  

 

I have no idea who is coming next for this series, but all the singles we've been introduced to are all quiet fun and interesting characters, so I'll be happy with whoever Simone lands on. Although, I do really want to follow Chava as he was such a fun side character in Dev and Willow's relationship! 

 

It's time to get in the fast lane with this swoon-worthy sports romance! And if you're like me and don't really care much for Formula 1, I can guarantee that you will enjoy it in book form! 

Powerless by Elsie Silver

4.5

 

When you're saved from marrying the wrong man by the guy you've crushed on for forever… 

 

Sloane Winthorp has had a massive crush on hockey star Jasper Gervais since the day she first laid eyes on him as an 11-year-old and he lived with her cousins on Wishing Well Ranch. And she's never been that subtle about her crush either. But the years have gone on and now she's about to walk down the aisle to marry a man her father picked out for her and who doesn't make her nearly happy enough, but she's fine to just settle for him rather than trying to survive the dating pool. Fortunately, before she finds herself in a loveless marriage, her wedding day falls to pieces and Jasper is there to whisk her away and finally let her live her life on her own terms. When the Eaton family are struck with horrifying news, Sloane and Jasper are there to support one another, heading off on an impromptu road-trip to haul hay to Sloane's cousin Violet across the mountains. Alone in each other's company, Jasper doesn't hide how he feels about Sloane, and it's all her teenage self could dream about. But as much as she wants to give into her feelings and finally be with the man she's always dreamed about, Jasper is going to have to step up to prove that he really wants her after years of continually showing her they're not meant to be together. With a world of heartache in his past, truly letting someone in is hard for Jasper because every person he's ever loved has left him in some way. And potentially watching Sloane walk away would totally destroy him, but maybe it's a risk he's willing to take to have forever with her. 

 

Someone needs to point me in the direction of Chestnut Springs and the Eaton family because this is the place I want to be! I don't know what Elsie puts in her books, but I cannot get enough! Her writing just pulls you into the lives of these characters and the world of Chestnut Springs, and I'm already sad about leaving these characters behind come book five - if I didn't have a ridiculous TBR I'd 100% be rereading these books for eternity. 

 

Sloane and Jasper were everything I wanted and more after the snippet of their chemistry in the previous book. Childhood friends to lover and teenage crush to lovers is always such a swoon-filled, kick-your-feet trope and Elsie absolutely nailed it. The slow burn, the mutual pining, the chemistry, the tension, the spice - this book had it all and I couldn't get enough! There's so much history between these two, and both have a lot of past trauma and baggage to deal with individually as well as together, and there's a lot to deal with emotionally. But it all ultimately deepens and strengthens their connection, tears and all. Cade and Willa are still my faves (at this point in time) but Sloan and Jasper come really close to taking the top spot! 

 

Also Harvey Eaton is the absolute bomb and needs to be protected at all costs! I'm so glad Elsie is telling his story through bonus chapters because I was about ready to demand he get his own full-length novel. He's just the cherry on top of the entire Eaton clan whose dynamic I absolutely adore. While I'm here for the romance, it’s the family banter and relationships that really sucks me into these books like a big warm hug. Also we got a snippet of the Gold Rush Ranch couples, which is a nice cameo for those who have read the earlier series, or for me, a great little insight into the stories I get to follow when I finally read those books. 

 

Again, there's a reason that everyone LOVES Elsie's books and Chestnut Springs, and I can tell you now that the hype is 100% deserved! If you're a lover of small-town romance and cowboy romances, THIS is the book and series you need to read ASAP. 

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson

4.0

 

Cooking up a relationship with your forever crush… 

 

TV baker Delilah Baker has been crushing on her brother's best friend Ian Chase since the moment she met him. And just when she thinks her twenty-eight year old self is over her crush, Ian is back in town for the first time in years to rejoin the Boston Druids for what is potentially his final season playing hockey. After trading to Calgary after his divorce and negative press attention, Ian's PR team in looking to help give the press something positive to focus on when it comes to his return, meanwhile Delilah's PR team is needing her show's numbers to increase, so it's decided to bring Ian onto her show as a guest. Their onscreen chemistry is undeniable and both PR teams urge them to play into a potential relationship that leaves social media in love with the are-they-aren't-they narrative playing out before them. But with Delilah's highschool crush still bubbling under the surface and Ian realising that Delilah isn't the kid he remembers, there's a fine line between faking it for the media and giving into their real attraction to one another. But Ian's past press drama is forever circling, threatening to destroy not only their budding romance but their careers and the relationships around them. 

 

She's done it again ladies and gentlemen! I genuinely think Lana can do no wrong - she's three for three when it comes to swoony and spicy romances, and it only makes me even more excited for every new release! Lana has filled this book with everything to love about the brother's bestie/bestie's sister trope with a fabulous sprinkling of spice, banter, and a side of family drama. 

 

The brother's best friend/best friend's sister trope is always a favourite of mine, and Delilah & Ian embodied all the banter and chemistry that I love about this trope. From the get-go you can feel that there is a lot of history between the duo, a history that Ian in particular has to reconcile with when it comes to the kid he knew years ago and the woman he has reconnected with in the present. This history leads to lots of fun banter that leads into cute flirting as they both lean into their attraction to one another. And topping it all off is some top-tier spice that has become quintessential in Lana's books - the shower scene? YES. 

 

Compared to Lana's previous two books, this didn't quiet hit the mark like I was expecting it too, although I did still thoroughly enjoy the romance she has cooked up. I felt like I wanted more out of Delilah & Ian's relationship - I'm all for low/no-angst romances with no third-act breakup, but I felt like these two needed a little something-something to just kick things up a notch a little. Regardless, I'm hanging out for a potential Jack book as he's an absolute riot and I predict his potential pairing will be top-tier chemistry! 

 

For my sports romance girlies, add this beauty to your TBR and fall in love with Delilah & Ian, as well as Lana's writing - you won't be disappointed! And if you haven't already, make sure you catch up on all of Lana's backlog before Under Loch and Key is released (already counting down the days!).