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romancingthereader's reviews
1309 reviews
Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ahhhh a fresh Catherine Cowles seriesโฆ all of the possibilities!
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Sparrow Falls character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Romantic Suspense
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, brotherโs best friend, age gap, small town, touch her and die, found family.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Rho is finally returning to her familyโs property, determined to rehab the old Victorian after the fire that killed her parents and sister. While she fights the shadows of her past, sheโs also at odds with the broody fire restoration specialist - former FBI profiler Anson, who has a damaging past of his own.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I first picked up Catherine Cowles in her Lost & Found series, which I absolutely flew through. She hit my sweet spot - about 350 pages, suspense plot that keeps me moving, solid spice and heroes that are always a tad big possessive. So when I saw she was starting a fresh series, you better believe I was in it.
Fragile Sanctuary was the first in the Sparrow Falls series - and beyond just being a solid book, it set up a series that I am absolutely chomping at the bit for. Found family centered around a group of foster family, each with tragic stories? Yea Iโm definitely in.
Anson and Rhodes kicked it off perfectly. It was an emotional read as each dealt with their grief and trauma, but one that made you root for them to be happy with each other. I donโt know about you, but if someone said โbroody ex-profiler who is broken and hiding in a small town,โ Iโm running to pick it up.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine Cowles
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Sparrow Falls character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Romantic Suspense
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, brotherโs best friend, age gap, small town, touch her and die, found family.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Rho is finally returning to her familyโs property, determined to rehab the old Victorian after the fire that killed her parents and sister. While she fights the shadows of her past, sheโs also at odds with the broody fire restoration specialist - former FBI profiler Anson, who has a damaging past of his own.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I first picked up Catherine Cowles in her Lost & Found series, which I absolutely flew through. She hit my sweet spot - about 350 pages, suspense plot that keeps me moving, solid spice and heroes that are always a tad big possessive. So when I saw she was starting a fresh series, you better believe I was in it.
Fragile Sanctuary was the first in the Sparrow Falls series - and beyond just being a solid book, it set up a series that I am absolutely chomping at the bit for. Found family centered around a group of foster family, each with tragic stories? Yea Iโm definitely in.
Anson and Rhodes kicked it off perfectly. It was an emotional read as each dealt with their grief and trauma, but one that made you root for them to be happy with each other. I donโt know about you, but if someone said โbroody ex-profiler who is broken and hiding in a small town,โ Iโm running to pick it up.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Meghan Quinn books are always solid reads, and Iโm never disappointed.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Getting Lucky character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Audiobook on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU to read & listen.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Brotherโs best friend, small town, grumpy/sunshine, friends-to-lovers.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Reid lives a solitary life after losing his restaurant and business partner, who also happened to be his best friend. His only companion is Eve, his best friendโs sister. One crazy night makes them more than friends, but when an opportunity to run a restaurant again arises, Reid has to make tough choices.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: This has all of the greatest hits. A chef who canโt chef anymore. Grumpy/sunshine where she was literally the only person who could make him smile. And tons and tons of feels.
I think what I liked most, though, is that it wasnโt formulaic. There were a lot of ups and downs for this couple, and they went THROUGH IT to get their happy ending.
This series and this family have been solid reads and a lot of laughs all the way through - classic Meghan Quinn.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Getting Lucky character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Audiobook on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU to read & listen.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Brotherโs best friend, small town, grumpy/sunshine, friends-to-lovers.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Reid lives a solitary life after losing his restaurant and business partner, who also happened to be his best friend. His only companion is Eve, his best friendโs sister. One crazy night makes them more than friends, but when an opportunity to run a restaurant again arises, Reid has to make tough choices.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: This has all of the greatest hits. A chef who canโt chef anymore. Grumpy/sunshine where she was literally the only person who could make him smile. And tons and tons of feels.
I think what I liked most, though, is that it wasnโt formulaic. There were a lot of ups and downs for this couple, and they went THROUGH IT to get their happy ending.
This series and this family have been solid reads and a lot of laughs all the way through - classic Meghan Quinn.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Ashes of You by Catherine Cowles
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Catherine Cowles certainly ended the Lost & Found series with a bang.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Ashes of You by Catherine Cowles
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Lost & Found character series. Book 5. Series is now complete.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Single dad, man in uniform, suspense, age gap, small town.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Hallie is trying to start over after being abducted. She takes a nanny job for three boys in a small town without knowing the father is the man who rescued her all of those years ago. Their connection is instant, but both have shadows in their heart that keep them from starting anything new.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I loved this book.
There's something about a character you spend five books feeling horrible for. The series finale finally gives Lawson his happy ending - one he's worked hard for and deserves, and as a reader, you can't help but be really happy for him.
Hallie was a great character too. I loved how all three of Lawson's children required a different approach, and watching her not only fall in love with Law, but work her butt off to give the boys some warmth and comfort was so great.
The suspense aspect to this series has been a little hit or miss to me, but in this book specifically I liked the subplot and how it played out. A perfect end to a solid series - but I continue to think if all of this happened in one town, I definitely would have moved by now.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Wristlocked: A Dark College Sports Romance by AK Blythe
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't know I needed dark, smutty circus love triangle romance in my life... but now that I have it, I need more.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Wristlocked by AK Blythe
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Tortured Boys of the Cirque series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: College, sports romance (acrobatics), love triangle, why choose, bi-awakening, MMF, all the feels.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Gia and Lyot head to one of Vegas's premiere circus school, prepared to take on the world. But they're both drawn to the mysterious Gale, who is a powerhouse performer and a key to their success.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I want to preface this with the fact that I had absolutely no clue what I was getting into with this book. I understand gymnastics, but not acrobatics very well, so I went in completely blind and pretty subject-dumb. And I read the blurb, but it was as mysterious as the book.
What I ended up with was a wonderfully dark love story with so much solid spice. I usually steer clear of college romance, but this felt more mature since it was set in the cirque world. I also learned an absolute ton about the circus and performing straps. What I am going to do with that knowledge, I don't know... but it was intriguing nonetheless.
If you loved Losers or any of Tate James' work, this one is for you. I'm shocked this is AK Blythe's first book. Of course there were little things that could have made it better, but overall I was locked in from the start and can't wait to read more from her in the future.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 4/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Knot A Trace by Liliana Carlisle
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I read this series off of an unhinged reel that described one very specific sceneโฆ and to be honest I went into it not expecting it to be THAT good. But I flew through this duet and really enjoyed it.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Knot a Trace Duet by Liliana Carlisle
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Two-part duet.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Omegaverse romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Why choose, grumpy/sunshine, men in uniform, romantic suspense, ultra spicy.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: When Skylarโs best friend goes missing and the authorities wonโt help, she seeks out the elusive Alpha detectives to help her. The brooding men try to refuse, but soon find they canโt turn Skylar down.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: You guys know I love the omegaverse. But reading this set based off a joke had me assuming it wouldnโt be great - and the Goodreads ratings didnโt help.
But I actually loved it! Both books are bingeable - I finished the duet in two days and couldnโt put it down. The three alphas were so perfectly different, and I loved Skylarโs vulnerability. It had everything I want in an omegaverse book - heats, knots, possessiveness, mating bondsโฆ
Add on the subplot of the missing omegas and a lot of really solid spice, and Iโm definitely recommending this one.
Iโm glad it defied my expectations, and Iโll be picking up more Liliana Carlisle in the future.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: This set really reminded me of Lola and the Millionaires by Kathryn Moon - if you havenโt read that duet, get on it!
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Knot a Trace Duet by Liliana Carlisle
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Two-part duet.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Omegaverse romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Why choose, grumpy/sunshine, men in uniform, romantic suspense, ultra spicy.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: When Skylarโs best friend goes missing and the authorities wonโt help, she seeks out the elusive Alpha detectives to help her. The brooding men try to refuse, but soon find they canโt turn Skylar down.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: You guys know I love the omegaverse. But reading this set based off a joke had me assuming it wouldnโt be great - and the Goodreads ratings didnโt help.
But I actually loved it! Both books are bingeable - I finished the duet in two days and couldnโt put it down. The three alphas were so perfectly different, and I loved Skylarโs vulnerability. It had everything I want in an omegaverse book - heats, knots, possessiveness, mating bondsโฆ
Add on the subplot of the missing omegas and a lot of really solid spice, and Iโm definitely recommending this one.
Iโm glad it defied my expectations, and Iโll be picking up more Liliana Carlisle in the future.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: This set really reminded me of Lola and the Millionaires by Kathryn Moon - if you havenโt read that duet, get on it!
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Emily Henry writes some of the most beautiful books Iโve ever read.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Funny Story by Emily Henry
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, forced proximity, slow burn, fake dating, found family.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Miles and Daphne meet when theyโre both unceremoniously dumped and their exes run off together. Daphne needs a place to stayโฆ Miles has an extra bedroom. But as Daphne makes a plan to leave town, and Miles comes up with ideas to make her stay, they both realize their growing feelings could change everything.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Well THAT was an emotional roller coaster.
Emily Henryโs writing is what I expect from all trad published writers and rarely get. Sheโs the kind of author you read and thing โI get itโฆ I get what the hype is all about.โ
She writes so beautifully. Words and sentence structure and the way she describes things and makes inside jokes with her readersโฆ itโs all perfect.
Daphne and Miles had a great love story. And like the rest of Emily Henryโs booksโฆ this was much more than romance for me. It was heading for a four-star rating and then in the last 25%, this book broke me apart and put me back together. It really needed a trigger warning for girls with daddy issues, but alasโฆ I cried and then smiled through my tears.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: My favorite Emily Henry book is Book Lovers. Everyone should pick it up.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Funny Story by Emily Henry
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, forced proximity, slow burn, fake dating, found family.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Miles and Daphne meet when theyโre both unceremoniously dumped and their exes run off together. Daphne needs a place to stayโฆ Miles has an extra bedroom. But as Daphne makes a plan to leave town, and Miles comes up with ideas to make her stay, they both realize their growing feelings could change everything.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Well THAT was an emotional roller coaster.
Emily Henryโs writing is what I expect from all trad published writers and rarely get. Sheโs the kind of author you read and thing โI get itโฆ I get what the hype is all about.โ
She writes so beautifully. Words and sentence structure and the way she describes things and makes inside jokes with her readersโฆ itโs all perfect.
Daphne and Miles had a great love story. And like the rest of Emily Henryโs booksโฆ this was much more than romance for me. It was heading for a four-star rating and then in the last 25%, this book broke me apart and put me back together. It really needed a trigger warning for girls with daddy issues, but alasโฆ I cried and then smiled through my tears.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 2.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: My favorite Emily Henry book is Book Lovers. Everyone should pick it up.
All My Love by Morgan Elizabeth
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If a book was ever written for me, this is the one.
It's second chance. It's Noah Kahan-coded. It's angsty. It's music and rockstar vibes. So I am 0% surprised I loved it.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: All My Love by Morgan Elizabeth
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Second chance, rockstar romance, small town, all the feels, addiction/alcoholism, dual timeline.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Stella is living in her small town, keeping her inner circle small and her life predictable. Until one day Riggins shows up on her doorstep - seems that even after five years of no contact, they're still married. And he isn't looking for a divorce... he's looking for a second chance.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: It's an interesting review to write for this one, because if you're not familiar with Noah Kahan - or if you don't love his music - you might not love this as much as I did.
But man, this was right up my ally. Riggins was the kind of rock star I love to read romance about. He was the bad boy, turned even badder, then reformed and coming back for his woman. Stella was all-to-relatable. I thought the alcoholism and depression representation in this book was also very well done.
What I love about Noah Kahan is how his music, somehow, evokes these deep feelings in me that feel so personal. He's got songs about lost love, about going home, about feeling out of place. And Morgan Elizabeth wove that through this book - with chapters based on songs, events based on songs... It felt like I was reading fanfic of my favorite thing.
All that being said, this one is definitely going on my shelf.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
It's second chance. It's Noah Kahan-coded. It's angsty. It's music and rockstar vibes. So I am 0% surprised I loved it.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: All My Love by Morgan Elizabeth
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐๏ธ on KU
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Second chance, rockstar romance, small town, all the feels, addiction/alcoholism, dual timeline.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Stella is living in her small town, keeping her inner circle small and her life predictable. Until one day Riggins shows up on her doorstep - seems that even after five years of no contact, they're still married. And he isn't looking for a divorce... he's looking for a second chance.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: It's an interesting review to write for this one, because if you're not familiar with Noah Kahan - or if you don't love his music - you might not love this as much as I did.
But man, this was right up my ally. Riggins was the kind of rock star I love to read romance about. He was the bad boy, turned even badder, then reformed and coming back for his woman. Stella was all-to-relatable. I thought the alcoholism and depression representation in this book was also very well done.
What I love about Noah Kahan is how his music, somehow, evokes these deep feelings in me that feel so personal. He's got songs about lost love, about going home, about feeling out of place. And Morgan Elizabeth wove that through this book - with chapters based on songs, events based on songs... It felt like I was reading fanfic of my favorite thing.
All that being said, this one is definitely going on my shelf.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Conner by Mary Warren
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
The author's knowledge of hockey was really rough - and the overall writing in general was hard to process. Third person, past tense... It just was all very simple and hard to even get excited about.
Out with the Tide by Julie Olivia
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Never Harbor is my feel-good place right now, and Julie Olivia created a quaint little down and a family I am in love with. I love escaping into it.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Out with the Tide by Julie Olivia
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Never Harbor character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Free on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Sunshine/sunshine, himbo MMC, found family, she's a runner.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Marina hasn't found her place in life yet, but she knows its not in her old hometown. When she's forced back to Never Harbor, she meets Cassidy - who loves nothing more than the place he grew up in and the people who have taken him in as their own. As Marina works toward finding her peace, she can't help but fall for the guy who helps her at every turn.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: You want uncomplicated? You want swoony, hand over your mouth to hide your smile moments? Man, let me introduce you to Cassidy and Marina.
Never Harbor is Peter Pan inspired, and I love every minute of it. There's nods to the tale, and the little details honestly make it so fun to read. Cassidy is part of this huge mixed family, some blood related and others adopted. He's a huge people pleaser, always late because he can't resist small talk and helping others. And there's nothing like a sweet, uncomplicated man who turns into a little devil when the spice hits.
Marina was a great addition to him. I haven't read a sunshine/sunshine book in forever, and it was really refreshing. In the end, both characters were just trying to find their way and ended up doing so with eachother.
If you haven't read the Never Harbor series yet, GET IN. The other characters and couples Julie Olivia has teed up have got me ready for more.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Out with the Tide by Julie Olivia
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Never Harbor character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Free on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Sunshine/sunshine, himbo MMC, found family, she's a runner.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Marina hasn't found her place in life yet, but she knows its not in her old hometown. When she's forced back to Never Harbor, she meets Cassidy - who loves nothing more than the place he grew up in and the people who have taken him in as their own. As Marina works toward finding her peace, she can't help but fall for the guy who helps her at every turn.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: You want uncomplicated? You want swoony, hand over your mouth to hide your smile moments? Man, let me introduce you to Cassidy and Marina.
Never Harbor is Peter Pan inspired, and I love every minute of it. There's nods to the tale, and the little details honestly make it so fun to read. Cassidy is part of this huge mixed family, some blood related and others adopted. He's a huge people pleaser, always late because he can't resist small talk and helping others. And there's nothing like a sweet, uncomplicated man who turns into a little devil when the spice hits.
Marina was a great addition to him. I haven't read a sunshine/sunshine book in forever, and it was really refreshing. In the end, both characters were just trying to find their way and ended up doing so with eachother.
If you haven't read the Never Harbor series yet, GET IN. The other characters and couples Julie Olivia has teed up have got me ready for more.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Based on my reading habits, I shouldn't be as in love with Sarah Adam's books as I am. But alas, every time... she just sucks me in and leaves me smiling.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone-ish.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Sports romance (football), grumpy/sunshine, second chance, fake marriage, all the feels, dyslexia representation.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Derek and Nora dated in college, before abruptly breaking it off. Years later, Derek needs a new agent and Nora is assigned to him. He's at a crossroads - coming back from an major ankle injury - and she's trying to prove herself in a male-dominated industry. But sparks from the past are immediate and distracting for both of them.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The last few Sarah Adams books I've read have been such great reads. And I leave them with a warm fuzzy feeling, which is the goal, right?
The Rule Book was one I wasn't sure I would love - since I had such a meltdown over the ending to The Cheat Sheet. But this book was so well-rounded and featured two characters I couldn't help but love. Nora is eccentric - and while I typically can't deal with FMCs like that, she was not only extremely likeable, but funny and unique and relatable in a way that made me smile. Derek? Impossible not to fall in love with that guy.
The one thing I absolutely love was the mutual pining. Nothing like two people who see one another again and immediately their hearts start pounding and they're completely gone for each other. There were parts of this book that should have felt stereotypical - a Vegas wedding, a staged honeymoon, etc. - but read so romantically I couldn't find it in me to care.
I think it's safe to say I just love the warm hug of Sarah Adams' writing... and I can't wait to continue along for the ride.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: I absolutely adore her other series, When in Rome if you're looking to read more Sarah Adams.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone-ish.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Sports romance (football), grumpy/sunshine, second chance, fake marriage, all the feels, dyslexia representation.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Derek and Nora dated in college, before abruptly breaking it off. Years later, Derek needs a new agent and Nora is assigned to him. He's at a crossroads - coming back from an major ankle injury - and she's trying to prove herself in a male-dominated industry. But sparks from the past are immediate and distracting for both of them.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The last few Sarah Adams books I've read have been such great reads. And I leave them with a warm fuzzy feeling, which is the goal, right?
The Rule Book was one I wasn't sure I would love - since I had such a meltdown over the ending to The Cheat Sheet. But this book was so well-rounded and featured two characters I couldn't help but love. Nora is eccentric - and while I typically can't deal with FMCs like that, she was not only extremely likeable, but funny and unique and relatable in a way that made me smile. Derek? Impossible not to fall in love with that guy.
The one thing I absolutely love was the mutual pining. Nothing like two people who see one another again and immediately their hearts start pounding and they're completely gone for each other. There were parts of this book that should have felt stereotypical - a Vegas wedding, a staged honeymoon, etc. - but read so romantically I couldn't find it in me to care.
I think it's safe to say I just love the warm hug of Sarah Adams' writing... and I can't wait to continue along for the ride.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: I absolutely adore her other series, When in Rome if you're looking to read more Sarah Adams.