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kerosenelit's reviews
198 reviews
Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner
4.0
The woodsy, rustic cabin setting combined with the soft, cozy writing was so dreamy! I'm mentally packing my bags for Wildwood, please and thank you.
Trent Stewart was such shy-boy, rugged goodness, much preferring to work on his treehouse build than deal with nagging guests. He's a man of few words, and I loved the grumpy-sunshine banter as travel blogger Sydney nuzzles her way into his life with her sassy mouth and bright ideas as the new property manager.
Of course, not so deep down, Trent has the most tender of hearts. The small but monumental ways he steps up, forcing himself out of his comfort zone in the process to care for Sydney, will melt your heart. Their romance is pure sweetness with very minimal drama, but it's one of those stories where you can find absolute joy and comfort in the quiet moments. And I have to add, the kisses were seriously fiery!
Rest in peace, Hailey. Your stories will truly be missed.
(heat level: kissing only)
(heat level: kissing only)
Off the Hook by Julie Olivia
4.0
I'm obsessed with the Peter Pan vibes threaded throughout this story! It’s not a direct retelling by any means, but from the large, close-knit family to the quaint, cozy seaside town of Never Harbor, and the subtle yet meaningful dialogue and interactions, the parallels were so fun to piece together in a contemporary setting!
Never Harbor’s port captain, Jasper Davies, is a bit of a recluse, struggling and overwhelmed but doing his very best to care for the boy left in his care after a tragic accident. In a major childcare pinch for the summer, he reluctantly hires the lovely Wendy Darling as a nanny!
And to make it even better, their slow-burn romance is all kinds of forbidden! Wendy just so happens to be a family friend AND the ex-fiancée of none other than Peter Davies, Jasper’s charismatic, overly free-spirited brother. THE TENSION. The dynamic between Peter, Wendy, and Jasper was so deeply layered and uniquely complicated. I am dying for a book about Peter!
I absolutely loved how Wendy brought whimsy, sunshine, and adventure into Jasper's world, slowly bringing out the soft, deeply caring but understandably broken side of him. And in turn, Wendy experiences, perhaps for the first time, what it truly feels like to be wanted just as she is. It was so good, and I can't wait to continue in this series!
(heat level: 5 open-door scenes, explicit details)
(heat level: 5 open-door scenes, explicit details)
Swept Away by Beth O'Leary
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
5.0
This book is the very definition of my reading taste! It's adventurous, funny, heartwarming, unpredictable, and just the right amount of messy. From the very beginning, I was hooked. What starts as a one-night stand on a houseboat quickly turns into a fight for survival when Lexi and Zeke find themselves literally stranded in the middle of the ocean.
I loved the awkward tension of two strangers who already know each other intimately now being forced into a life-or-death situation. I won’t say how long they were stranded, but with nothing but endless hours together, it’s inevitable that they’d open up about their family, traumas, past regrets, and everything in between. Given the intense circumstances, confined space of the houseboat, and the very palpable chemistry between Lexi and Zeke, I thought the emotional progression felt incredibly real.
I was honestly content with just the survival aspect of this story, but of course, Beth O’Leary wasn’t finished yet. WHEW! The ending completely threw me for a loop, but if you know me, this full-circle conflict is exactly my kind of drama! I absolutely loved it.
(heal level: fade to black)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved the awkward tension of two strangers who already know each other intimately now being forced into a life-or-death situation. I won’t say how long they were stranded, but with nothing but endless hours together, it’s inevitable that they’d open up about their family, traumas, past regrets, and everything in between. Given the intense circumstances, confined space of the houseboat, and the very palpable chemistry between Lexi and Zeke, I thought the emotional progression felt incredibly real.
I was honestly content with just the survival aspect of this story, but of course, Beth O’Leary wasn’t finished yet. WHEW! The ending completely threw me for a loop, but if you know me, this full-circle conflict is exactly my kind of drama! I absolutely loved it.
(heal level: fade to black)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
3.0
Apparently this was inspired by the relationship between Mariah Carey and Derek Jeter in the ’90s! A relationship I know very little about, but a fun tidbit to mention for those who do!
I was rooting so hard for Ella, a Grammy-winning pop and R&B superstar in the midst of a nasty, behind-the-scenes divorce. Her ex-husband was the absolute worst, trying to exploit her with unfair terms that could strip away her future earnings. I loathed this man! It was so satisfying to see Ella recognize her worth and fight for her career.
In the middle of all this personal turmoil, she meets Miles Westbrook, a major league baseball player, and their chemistry was instant, let me tell you! Their meet-cute involving a wardrobe mishap at an awards show was so innocent and sweet, the kind that makes you giddy with anticipation! I adored their conversations about life and fame, and Miles was the absolute best, always treating Ella with respect and admiration.
I’m a bit torn on my rating! While I enjoyed the romance a lot, I did think the story dragged and lost some momentum in the middle. The ending was also a bit of a whirlwind, and I was hoping for more closure in some areas. I'm happy with the outcome, of course, but it wrapped up a little too quickly for me!
(heat level: 2 open-door scenes, moderate details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was rooting so hard for Ella, a Grammy-winning pop and R&B superstar in the midst of a nasty, behind-the-scenes divorce. Her ex-husband was the absolute worst, trying to exploit her with unfair terms that could strip away her future earnings. I loathed this man! It was so satisfying to see Ella recognize her worth and fight for her career.
In the middle of all this personal turmoil, she meets Miles Westbrook, a major league baseball player, and their chemistry was instant, let me tell you! Their meet-cute involving a wardrobe mishap at an awards show was so innocent and sweet, the kind that makes you giddy with anticipation! I adored their conversations about life and fame, and Miles was the absolute best, always treating Ella with respect and admiration.
I’m a bit torn on my rating! While I enjoyed the romance a lot, I did think the story dragged and lost some momentum in the middle. The ending was also a bit of a whirlwind, and I was hoping for more closure in some areas. I'm happy with the outcome, of course, but it wrapped up a little too quickly for me!
(heat level: 2 open-door scenes, moderate details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair
3.0
I really hope I can find time to read every single book in this series! I love magical realism! In this one, a closet in a historic building (The Serendipity) teleports Willa to the apartment of the grumpy new building owner. I wish the magic was incorporated more into the rest of the story, but it definitely made for a funny and whimsical meet-cute!
I really enjoyed the social anxiety and agoraphobia representation. I could connect in different ways to both Willa and Archer, and I loved how they were just genuinely there for each other. The way they accepted and validated each other's feelings and fears was exactly what you'd hope for.
The romance just lacked a believable buildup and spark for me, which made the I love yous feel a bit rushed. But I will say, the kisses were fantastic! Overall, it was a quick and fun read. Emma's writing is so easy to binge! I'm looking forward to seeing how magic is incorporated into the other stories!
(heat level: kissing only)
I really enjoyed the social anxiety and agoraphobia representation. I could connect in different ways to both Willa and Archer, and I loved how they were just genuinely there for each other. The way they accepted and validated each other's feelings and fears was exactly what you'd hope for.
The romance just lacked a believable buildup and spark for me, which made the I love yous feel a bit rushed. But I will say, the kisses were fantastic! Overall, it was a quick and fun read. Emma's writing is so easy to binge! I'm looking forward to seeing how magic is incorporated into the other stories!
(heat level: kissing only)
Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
4.0
In any other book, the number of tropes included would make me roll my eyes. But this was so clever and witty! It’s very self-aware, playfully poking fun at the tropes as they appear, which made them feel genuinely integral to the story. It didn’t take itself too seriously, and I absolutely loved that.
When readers discover their favourite author, Margot Bradley, doesn't truly believe in happily-ever-afters, offending the romance community in the process, she is immediately dropped by her publisher. Fleeing to North Star Lodge in Alaska, Margot plans to spend six weeks rebranding herself as a murder mystery writer. But then she meets Forrest, the irresistibly grumpy lodge owner who also happens to be a doctor specializing in cancer research. I mean, he’s just too good to be true! Unfortunately, he has one rule: never get involved with the guests.
The romance is fast and passionate, but totally believable! Margot and Forrest are both incredibly loyal, protective, and deeply family-oriented. I loved their shared connection and understanding in caring for a loved one with a chronic illness, often putting their own lives aside in the process. The cherry on top was the cozy Alaskan setting, complete with a domesticated moose and wintry wilderness adventures. Such a fun time!
(heat level: 3 open-door scenes, explicit details / heavy language throughout)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When readers discover their favourite author, Margot Bradley, doesn't truly believe in happily-ever-afters, offending the romance community in the process, she is immediately dropped by her publisher. Fleeing to North Star Lodge in Alaska, Margot plans to spend six weeks rebranding herself as a murder mystery writer. But then she meets Forrest, the irresistibly grumpy lodge owner who also happens to be a doctor specializing in cancer research. I mean, he’s just too good to be true! Unfortunately, he has one rule: never get involved with the guests.
The romance is fast and passionate, but totally believable! Margot and Forrest are both incredibly loyal, protective, and deeply family-oriented. I loved their shared connection and understanding in caring for a loved one with a chronic illness, often putting their own lives aside in the process. The cherry on top was the cozy Alaskan setting, complete with a domesticated moose and wintry wilderness adventures. Such a fun time!
(heat level: 3 open-door scenes, explicit details / heavy language throughout)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.