kell_x's reviews
510 reviews

Ice to Meet You by Vicki Hilton

4.0

Esmé is an independent and reliable art gallery owner that is trying to expand her business to Italy. She thrives in order and is an perfectionist. She needs help from one investor to achieve her dream. So, she does what she must and goes to a sky resort to meet her investor and plead her case. 

Matteo is a spontaneous, extrovert and adrenaline addict that loves extreme sports and the rush they bring. He doesn't like predictability or a steady normal and boring job. He tries to please his family by hiding his true self. 

They have a funny and sweet meet cute in the slopes, but they are appart from each other fastest than they could imagine and they never got to exchance their names. 

They meet again when Matteo goes to work in Esmé's art gallery. He needs to please his grandfather and she needs his grandfather's investment in her business. So what can go wrong? Their attractions is off limits, since they are coworkers and investment ones. So why can't they stop thinking about each other? And of each moment spent together?

As time goes by, and their resolve to stay appart (mainly by Matteos perseverance) we see a true bond form between them and with that a good and strong love. 

But what happens when their relationship is discovered? How will she garantee her investment then? How will he explain his grandfather that this isn’t the life for him? Can opposite worlds mingle and comement each other? Heck yes! He helps her be more spontaneous, brave and outgoing. She helps him be more organized, attentive and have structure. He is her ying to her yang and the mix is perfection. 

I really liked and got attached to both main characters. I related to Esmé and her personality and understood her need to make herself succeed. She was sweet, and she needed someone like Matteo to make her come out of her confort zone. He was an extrovert by gosh, oh so sweet. Since he met her he just had eyes for her and made her feel special. 

And Claudette? I do love a book with a furry friend as sweet as her. 

King of Greed by Ana Huang

4.0

In this story we can go through a marriage with a lot of troubles. Being the main ones lack of communication and the other taking things for granted. 

Alessandra was unhappy. She felt her husband was not attentive, caring or loving anymore and after 10 years of marriage, the fact that he missed their wedding aniversary was the last drop. She did what she felt was right for her self care.. she left him!

Dominic was a billionaire, that had to fight and work through hell and back to be were he was now! He achieved and gained a fortune, but all through his hard work. He kept working as hell to maintain and grow is already large empire and status. He never realised there was trouble in his marriage until he was left behind! Kind of naive or oblivious? Yeah, a little. 

After realising what Alessandra felt and why she left, he started to win and get her back. 

Even with his obcession with work and the neglet he put her through and being oblivious about it, I coulnd't help but love Dominic's character. Yes, he screwed up big time, but his intensions were actually good. And in his defense she never made him know how unhappy she was. So if there was no communication how could their relationship be a healthy one? It wasn't only his fault. Even so, she deserved to see him groveling a little, and he sure did!. After he realised he lost her something shifted in him, and he took things into perspective and realised that not only material things and wealth were important! He realised love and family were the main core of his life and worked hard to gain his life back!

Alessandra was a little hot/cold in several parts of the story, but overall I enjoyed her part in the story as well. 

I liked seeing them getting to know each other again and fell in love all over again.

Accidentally checked by my brother's best friend by Abby Greyson

4.0

f you enjoy a sweet hockey romance with a grumpy main character this book is for you. 

Ava is an actress that decides to breackup with her fianceé and return home for a little while. What she doesn't expect is her ex starting so stalk her and to meet Duncan, the one who got away. 

Duncan is an NFL player and as been in love with Ava since forever. But she turned him down when they were younger, so now he made it his mission to stay away from her.

But when her ex gets very overbearing they enter a fake relationship, that may cost them their hearts. 

With each other and the help of family and friends they get closer and admit what was there from the start. 

Besides both main character I adored Scarlett, their 8 year old niece. She was sassy and gave several remarks and her presence made so much sense and was a lot funny. Her dad David should have a story too btw.. 👀

Cursed in Love by Emily Colin

4.0

Well.. it was my first book by this author, but I was stuck in it from the very start. It was such a nice and delightfull surprise to get into this new world that I was flowing through the pages at a remarkeable speed. 

The story has so many laughable moments and at the same time some mystery and suspense princked with a paranormal touch that made it just perfect.

Rune is a woman with magical powers and she can predict the future. But she is cursed in a way that no one ever believes her premonitions. She was labled so many times as a weid person that she learned hoe to conceal this side of her. 

Donovan is a grumpy man, who has an edge to his personality that he uses to push people away. He is kind of nerdy and numbers and computers are his thing. So why is he all hot and bothered with Rune? Why is he acting like a love-sick puppy? Does he need to go back on his interest?

They are forced to work together and everything starts changing. Rune's premonitions start being more frequent and real. Donovan starts to lose control of this walls and they both discover several hidden secrets about their sweel home town. 

And when he is in danger, can Rune get past her curse to help him? To help jerself?

I really liked Rune and her personality. I liked how even with all she had been through she just kept going and made herself a successfull woman and didn’t put her arms down and always pushed through. 

I also liked Donovan, even if I got kind of confused by some of his actions at first. Then with the story we unfold many info that explain some things. He was a tough cookie to crack, but  once it did, he sure was sweet and mellow inside. 

I actually don't know if there will be more books in this world, but I wojld really like to see more from this. Starting with cooper, maybe? Who knows?

On the Slopes of Tahoe by J.A. Forde

5.0

Ohhh my!! What a wonderfull story!

I loved it. It was so easy to flow through the pages of this book. It ended just after I've picked it up with how fast I went through all of it's pages. 

The story itself draws us in, and it grounds us. It's also relatable and down to earth. And then the author can elevate it with so many emotions. I cried several times with this book. And those tears were from happiness, sadness, fury and love. This story made me feel so much, and I'm really thankfull for it. 

I really liked and connected to Rory. She was such a good person, always ready to help others and make them happy, even if it cost her own happiness. And how she felt lonely in the begginkng was a little sad, but I could relate. Sometimes even among others loneliness creeps in, and it takes a little push to make it out. 

Breck was the one. The push over. And, ohh boy, it was good to see him make her out of her shell and really connect to her. To make her feel whole. 

He was grieving his relationship, and learning to be a single parent all at once, but being around Rory's good energy made it all easier. And the way she connected so well with is little girl was perfection. 

And Willow... I adored her character. She was such a perfect addition. 

Lilies, Lies and Love by Marion De Ré

4.0

This sweet story was like a spring breeze and a little breath of fresh air. 

Marion's writing always has a way to engulf us in the story and characters as if we're there with them.

I loved both characters and found them really relatable, down to earth and likeable. 

Asher works in New york and is hoping for a promotion for some time. His boss is a bad person and uses his need to evolve to manipulate him into trying to spy a rival company and steal information from them to their advantadge. He has no choice to agree, and so he goes to Chicago under the pretense to want to start working with that company. In there he finds so much than he hoped for.. he is assigned to Daisy, a sweet and optimistic woman, who loves this city and is told to woo him into moving there. So she goes all in and becomes his tour guide for the week. And thay really hit it off. 

Even if their relationship starts with false pretenses, it clearly evolves (and fast) to something real. They quicky become friends and then fall for each other, one nerdy Chicago fact at a time!

The banter and chemistry between main characters was just spot on, and made me laugh and swoon in several moments. The side characters (Lucy and then Evan) were really pertinent too, and I would really like to see their story as well. 

Never Been Worse by Morgan Elizabeth

4.0

Harper is a sweet and kind woman, who gives her best to others. In her people pleaser way, she can't help but wanting others to be happy. But that doen't mean that this attitude is the best for her! And she learns that the hard way when her ex cheats at her and takes away her hard work. 

She tries to get revenge but it backfires. 

From them on she assumes that she will be alone and that relationships are just not worth it. She can't trust other or even herself. But...who woulnd't want someone to help her fight her battles and even fight them for her just to spare her feelings? Just to protect her? Just to make her happy? Someone who loves her for all of who she truly is. The good, the bad and the ugly?  Someone who brings out the best in her and is cheering for her success!

Well... Wes was like that to Harper. He was into her from afar, and pinned for her silently. When all the craziness affected her life, he took a chance and grabed it from the first minute. When she was free from her previous relationship and when she needed a helping hand, he offered a solution. An unconventional one, for sure, but it was bennefitial for both of them. So.. a fake marriage was made, and honestly, it didn't stay fake all that long! It was impossible not to feel their attraction and chemistry, and growing love between them. 

While their love grows we have a glimpse of those crazy and elaborate revenge schemes we missed from the revenge series and it really made me laugh. 

As usual Morgan's stories are conforting, funny and emotional. I read this story everytime I could, and loved it! I love her characters ( both main and side ones as well), and in this story Wes was such a delight, really. I adored the characters interactions, their banter, their friendship and love. 

And even better was seeing them acomplish all those revenge plans and bring her crappy ex down. Morgan made me hate Jeremy so much. Come on... he deserved all those things and much worse. 

Deeply Examined 3 by Lexi Davis

4.0

In this third part of this story we see West's secrets being discovered (some willingly and others are forced), and we se so many changes in their dynamic. 

They evolve into the next level of their relationship, and love is blooming. Jessica starts to gain some trust and confidence.  West's love not only only makes her feel complete but also boosts her confidence at all times. 

But then all hell breaks loose, when some bad secrets are discovered. How could he do those things, and how can she even begin to think of forgiveness? She should run away, right? Then why dosn't she? We see ourselves at times wondering this same questions in Jessica's poin of view, but in other times... we see ourselves rooting for flawed, dominant, staker West. Can we like him even though he is not exactly good? Hell, yes! I was actually team West all the time. Maybe that makes me morally grey too 🤭

Just as in the previous books we have all the goody spice and some kinks are in play! 

It was a good ending to this 3 part novel, and it also gave us a sneek peak into the next one and the next characters. I'll be waiting for those next stories!

Unafraid: A Small Town, Friends to Lovers, Romantic Suspense by Nyssa Kathryn

5.0

Can we trully escape our past? Run away from our own demons and never look back? Can they find us again?

In this story we meet Aspen, a woman trying to start her life in a new place, away from her toxic ex and mother. Aspen is a brave and independent woman that has had a difficult family and even worse love life. With those difficulties she started having trouble trusting others and even trusting herself. She moves into Ambar Ridge with Jesse, her friend, and even if the change is exactly what she needs it's hard to live with a man who is only her friend but to whom she's so attracted to. 

Jesse is scheriff in Amber Ridge, and takes is job at ptotecting others pretty seriously. And protecting Aspen is no exception. It's even more important than all others because of his feelings for her. But he has to give her time, and he is a patient man. Patient, kind, caring, protective and just amazing really!

When weird things start appening and it's clear she is in danger two things happen: he goes all protective, in caveman mode, and they are forced to trust each other even more and trust their feelings for one another. 

There are twists and turns and surprises that we have a lot going on and keeping us stuck to the pages trying to gather all of it down. It has action, suspense, romance, love and humor.

As always with Nyssa's books, it's a hit!

Just Complicated by Evie Sterling

4.0

We return to the Investigating Love series with another big mystery to solve. In this one they have to find a staker and a man threatning to unleash a biological weapon. In the meantime they have other issues with one subject exposing all their their secrets and try to turn their team against each other. 

In this book we finally see Cassie and Lincoln finally admitting their interest into one another, but taking small baby steps. Maybe the next one shows their relationship grow. 

If you're into a cozy read with mystery and a sparkle of romance this one is for you!