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154 reviews
Him by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
5.0
This was going to be a mini review but then I started writing it and realized that wasn’t happening! First and foremost, If you are unsure that M/M romances are for you, this is not the one to start with! This is a VERY open door romance and it is hot! Bowen and Kennedy are a force of nature when paired to write a sports romance. Throughout this incredible series you witness the two bring what they are best at - Bowen’s obvious zany humor and Kennedy’s heart. This book was just - I don’t even know how to describe it but I wasn’t expecting it to be as extraordinary as it was. I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t put the series down! I read Him, Us, and Epic in less than two days. I just found out there is a bonus “love letter” that I fully intend to read after I finish this review.
Him kicks off a love story that anyone would envy. Wes has been in love with Jamie since he was 13 years old, even if he didn’t understand how deep his love was until he was 16. Each summer only confirmed more and more that his heart belonged to his best friend, except his best friend was straight! The ultimate of unrequited love, Wes kept his attraction under wraps for as long as he could but when they reached their final summer of hockey camp, he decides to go big or go home - making a bet with Jamie that would change the trajectory of their friendship forever. Fast forward to four years later, Jamie’s college team is gearing up to head to Boston for the Frozen Four. Unknown to him, Wes’s team is also competing to be in the championship. Having dropped out his life after summer camp, Wes needs to apologize and clear the air with his former best friend. Restarting an old tradition, the two meet up again and make amends only to go their separate ways after Jamie’s team loses and is out of the championship. Apparently absence does make the heart grow fonder as the brief reunion wasn’t enough for Wes. He realizes quickly that he needs time with Jamie more than he needs his next breath. Learning through their quick connection that Jamie still teaches over the summer at the camp where they met, Wes signs up to volunteer. He knows he can never have what he wants most in the world but little does he realize that hope has a funny way of making the impossible possible.
Wes and Jamie’s story is just too wonderful for words. It isn’t simple, straightforward, or easy. It is messy, complex, heartbreaking, and eye opening. I once heard someone say that being gay doesn’t mean you come out once, you literally come out every single time you meet someone new. We witness acceptance and we witness hatred/ignorance through the eyes of these characters.
The spice is off...the...charts in this book! Bowen and Kennedy's spicy scenes are like a fire in a chemical lab (out of control and explosive). There are moments that are so insane I had to fan myself!
As I couldn’t let Jamie and Wes go, I jumped right into Us. As I read them back to back, I am trying to make sure I don’t add any crossover but will say if you thought this was funny, dramatic, and generally an emotion whirlwind, you haven’t seen anything yet.
Him kicks off a love story that anyone would envy. Wes has been in love with Jamie since he was 13 years old, even if he didn’t understand how deep his love was until he was 16. Each summer only confirmed more and more that his heart belonged to his best friend, except his best friend was straight! The ultimate of unrequited love, Wes kept his attraction under wraps for as long as he could but when they reached their final summer of hockey camp, he decides to go big or go home - making a bet with Jamie that would change the trajectory of their friendship forever. Fast forward to four years later, Jamie’s college team is gearing up to head to Boston for the Frozen Four. Unknown to him, Wes’s team is also competing to be in the championship. Having dropped out his life after summer camp, Wes needs to apologize and clear the air with his former best friend. Restarting an old tradition, the two meet up again and make amends only to go their separate ways after Jamie’s team loses and is out of the championship. Apparently absence does make the heart grow fonder as the brief reunion wasn’t enough for Wes. He realizes quickly that he needs time with Jamie more than he needs his next breath. Learning through their quick connection that Jamie still teaches over the summer at the camp where they met, Wes signs up to volunteer. He knows he can never have what he wants most in the world but little does he realize that hope has a funny way of making the impossible possible.
Wes and Jamie’s story is just too wonderful for words. It isn’t simple, straightforward, or easy. It is messy, complex, heartbreaking, and eye opening. I once heard someone say that being gay doesn’t mean you come out once, you literally come out every single time you meet someone new. We witness acceptance and we witness hatred/ignorance through the eyes of these characters.
The spice is off...the...charts in this book! Bowen and Kennedy's spicy scenes are like a fire in a chemical lab (out of control and explosive). There are moments that are so insane I had to fan myself!
As I couldn’t let Jamie and Wes go, I jumped right into Us. As I read them back to back, I am trying to make sure I don’t add any crossover but will say if you thought this was funny, dramatic, and generally an emotion whirlwind, you haven’t seen anything yet.
Us by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
5.0
If you thought Him was going to floor you, just wait until you read “Us”. The story of Jamie and Wes continues as Wes settle into his NHL career and Jamie finds his place in Toronto as a Junior League coach. Moving forward from Him, we are aware that Jamie and Wes have to hid their relationship. There are no openly gay hockey players in the NHL and for the sake of his career, Wes isn’t ready to be the first until he has proven himself to his team. Jamie completely understands this until the reality of the situation starts to have an emotional impact. Becoming more and more isolated in his new environment, unhappy with the progress of his team, and dealing with Wes’s schedule – the ever calm and free spirited Jamie finds himself becoming more and more down about his predicament. He tries his hardest to be understanding and not hold it against Wes, he knows the score but that doesn’t make it any easier. Things go from bad to worse when Jamie falls ill – creating a domino effect that explodes with their secret being revealed. The problem – be careful what you wish for. Now that the world knows, can Jamie and Wes handle the wave coming their way or will this end before it truly had a chance to begin?
Like Him, this books is thought provoking, deep, sad, and consuming. In Him, we focused on Wes’s struggle with his unrequited love for Jamie and Jamie trying to understand his new feelings for Wes. In Us, we finally to get to see these two together but we also get a reality check of what life will be like for an up and coming Rookie hiding his sexuality.
While this book is insanely deep, it is also absolutely hilarious! As I said, Bowen was front and center and while I have no idea if she was behind Blake Riley, having read her other books – he felt all her!
Like Him, Bowen and Kennedy brings the sugar, spice, and everything nice back again. Even though they do write the novella Epic that takes place after Us and Good Boy (Blake and Jess’s story), they make sure to wrap up Jamie and Wes’s story with the perfect bow. You can’t help but fall in love with these two even more! Bowen and Kennedy do use Good Boy to give Wes and Jamie their final send off so don’t worry, you don’t have to say goodbye to them just yet.
Like Him, this books is thought provoking, deep, sad, and consuming. In Him, we focused on Wes’s struggle with his unrequited love for Jamie and Jamie trying to understand his new feelings for Wes. In Us, we finally to get to see these two together but we also get a reality check of what life will be like for an up and coming Rookie hiding his sexuality.
While this book is insanely deep, it is also absolutely hilarious! As I said, Bowen was front and center and while I have no idea if she was behind Blake Riley, having read her other books – he felt all her!
Like Him, Bowen and Kennedy brings the sugar, spice, and everything nice back again. Even though they do write the novella Epic that takes place after Us and Good Boy (Blake and Jess’s story), they make sure to wrap up Jamie and Wes’s story with the perfect bow. You can’t help but fall in love with these two even more! Bowen and Kennedy do use Good Boy to give Wes and Jamie their final send off so don’t worry, you don’t have to say goodbye to them just yet.
A Capacity for Falling in Love by Carrie Clarke
5.0
If you have read Carrie Clarke's books, you have come to expect a little sweet, a lot of swoon, and more spice than you can handle! Her books always find a way to make you laugh and make you feel. Her characters aren't the best version of themselves, the people we wish we were, the people we would envy. They are real, they are relatable, they have flaws, insecurities, struggles, and hardships. What I love about how Carrie writes is that they don't magically overcome them or dismiss them - we learn how their biggest fears drive them and how their disadvantages motivate them. Always inspired by the stories Carrie crafts, A Capacity For Falling in Love teach us how prospective and expectations can be a blessing and a curse - propelling us forward or hindering us from ever being able to reach out full potential. While each book is a standalone, they do overlap in some ways either in terms of timeline, characters, or a social gathering reference (love the story point connection in all three books). I highly recommend starting with The Art of Falling in Love - especially since Lulu (from Book #1) plays such an active role in this book as Rosanna's best friend.
Eight years. For eight years Rosanna has been a loyal, faithful, caring girlfriend to Marco - the man her father wanted her to marry so they could take over the family business. More out of duty than love, Rosanna has suppressed her own happiness for the sake of her family. That is, until a well timed trip to the restroom at a nightclub grand opening revealed her betrothed has been sleeping around! He wouldn't touch her because he “respected her and wanted to wait until marriage" but apparently the rest of the city wasn't off limits. Infuriated by the lies and hurt, Rosanna accidentally bumps into Benedict (Ben), Will’s brother as she exits the bathroom. Attracted to him since the first time she laid eyes on him at Nick and Lulu's wedding, he is the last person she wants to see as her world is falling apart. Ben has other ideas as he takes charge, giving her a place to quietly recover from her shock and taking her home to ensure she is safe. Quickly donning the title of "White Knight", Rosanna can’t believe the next couple of days of her life as Ben steps in more and more to protect her, especially with things taking a turn with Marco after creating a plan to catch him in the act of cheating. The problem is Marco doesn’t know when to walk away, intertwining himself more and more into Rosanna’s life. Torn between revealing the snake Marco is and risking her father's health or being the "good Italian daughter", staying with Marco, and not stressing out her family - the last thing she needs is the complications of a crush!
I swear the sense of foreboding and doom never let up in this book! Carrie decided to add a little suspense to this time around and as one who was on pins and needles, I can say she succeeded.
Speaking of male characters, I have read a ton of books where the male protagonist is witty, endearing, and totally crush-worthy. You swoon as you dive deeper into the story but once it is over, the crush subsides and you move on. Carrie's male protagonist - I am still crushing on Nick from Book #1, Josh from Book #2, and don't even get me started on Ben! Carrie is gifted in writing characters you love but her book boyfriends are a work of art.
I also love that Carrie does a wink to her dedicated readers in two ways. One is the recurring lunch of all four characters and seeing what is really going on from each of their view points. The second is when she indicates that someone/something is a story for another time - causing you to sit up and pay attention to the supporting characters as they may be back again.
Moving back to the story itself - Carrie is the master of build ups! A lot of spicy romances introduce the two people, let them get it on, and then that’s it. Carrie take a different approach, building up the soft and sensual before bringing on the heat.
There was one point the story hit such despair that I had tears in my eyes and my heart ached. I didn’t realize how sucked in I was until I felt a tear down my cheek. I had to stop reading for a moment and remind myself it was an HEA and would work out but man, that one hurt. I actually took a break and read something funny just to cheer up BUT that is what I love about a talented writer, they get below the surface and attach themselves to the essence of you and work you like a puppet.
Through laughter and tears, smiles and gasps, A Capacity For Falling in Love will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The moments I walked away from this book were only to reset and re-center to keep going - that is how much is captures your attention. You feel like you know these characters, care about these characters, and want nothing but the best for them (or to watch those who hurt them get what's coming to them). I know this book is just coming out but I am already anticipating Carrie's next one (looking at you Will!)
Eight years. For eight years Rosanna has been a loyal, faithful, caring girlfriend to Marco - the man her father wanted her to marry so they could take over the family business. More out of duty than love, Rosanna has suppressed her own happiness for the sake of her family. That is, until a well timed trip to the restroom at a nightclub grand opening revealed her betrothed has been sleeping around! He wouldn't touch her because he “respected her and wanted to wait until marriage" but apparently the rest of the city wasn't off limits. Infuriated by the lies and hurt, Rosanna accidentally bumps into Benedict (Ben), Will’s brother as she exits the bathroom. Attracted to him since the first time she laid eyes on him at Nick and Lulu's wedding, he is the last person she wants to see as her world is falling apart. Ben has other ideas as he takes charge, giving her a place to quietly recover from her shock and taking her home to ensure she is safe. Quickly donning the title of "White Knight", Rosanna can’t believe the next couple of days of her life as Ben steps in more and more to protect her, especially with things taking a turn with Marco after creating a plan to catch him in the act of cheating. The problem is Marco doesn’t know when to walk away, intertwining himself more and more into Rosanna’s life. Torn between revealing the snake Marco is and risking her father's health or being the "good Italian daughter", staying with Marco, and not stressing out her family - the last thing she needs is the complications of a crush!
I swear the sense of foreboding and doom never let up in this book! Carrie decided to add a little suspense to this time around and as one who was on pins and needles, I can say she succeeded.
Speaking of male characters, I have read a ton of books where the male protagonist is witty, endearing, and totally crush-worthy. You swoon as you dive deeper into the story but once it is over, the crush subsides and you move on. Carrie's male protagonist - I am still crushing on Nick from Book #1, Josh from Book #2, and don't even get me started on Ben! Carrie is gifted in writing characters you love but her book boyfriends are a work of art.
I also love that Carrie does a wink to her dedicated readers in two ways. One is the recurring lunch of all four characters and seeing what is really going on from each of their view points. The second is when she indicates that someone/something is a story for another time - causing you to sit up and pay attention to the supporting characters as they may be back again.
Moving back to the story itself - Carrie is the master of build ups! A lot of spicy romances introduce the two people, let them get it on, and then that’s it. Carrie take a different approach, building up the soft and sensual before bringing on the heat.
There was one point the story hit such despair that I had tears in my eyes and my heart ached. I didn’t realize how sucked in I was until I felt a tear down my cheek. I had to stop reading for a moment and remind myself it was an HEA and would work out but man, that one hurt. I actually took a break and read something funny just to cheer up BUT that is what I love about a talented writer, they get below the surface and attach themselves to the essence of you and work you like a puppet.
Through laughter and tears, smiles and gasps, A Capacity For Falling in Love will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The moments I walked away from this book were only to reset and re-center to keep going - that is how much is captures your attention. You feel like you know these characters, care about these characters, and want nothing but the best for them (or to watch those who hurt them get what's coming to them). I know this book is just coming out but I am already anticipating Carrie's next one (looking at you Will!)
Love Always, Scott by A.K. Landow
5.0
I am going to be completely transparent - I had to emotionally prepare myself BEFORE I even started reading this book. As the warning at the beginning states, if you have read all five books - you know what happens. By this point, loyal readers have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Scott through his letters, flashbacks, and shared moments from his friends and family. For me, I could feel it in my heart that I wasn’t prepared to read his story with Darian, knowing the love they shared and how it all ends. Obviously I got past that but I can honestly say this was the first time I was nervous and anxious PRIOR to starting a book.
This story was beyond beautiful. Having read the previous books, we received more insight on briefly mentioned moments. We knew Scott and Darian met at the library but to see how that whole scene played out and how Cassandra played a role in it (and was a pivotal character in a lot of their sweet tale) was fulfilling. We got more background on what happened with Nelson, the origin of Reagan and Harley names, why Scott was the ONLY person allowed to call Cassandra "Cassie", and just the overall magic that created the foundation of an epic love story/tragedy that birthed a phenomenal series.
What I enjoyed most of all is the two sides of Scott. We kind of knew he was overprotective of women from what he taught his daughters and the situation that happened with Dalton. To witness that edgier side along with the gentle loving side we became accustomed to in the flashbacks gave us a much more well rounded idea of who Scott truly was and why Darian loved him so much. It was also interesting to see Declan and Darian as it makes their reunion bittersweet.
Like the Titanic movie, you know how it is going to end but that doesn't make it any easier to witness. I could feel my heart beating faster when I reached the last chapter. I knew what was coming but I still wasn’t ready for it. Like Darian, we have grown to know and love Scott so to witness his final moments, I had to keep taking deep breaths but the tears still came. To know what happens next, how Darian finds him, the next three years - ugh there are no words.
I knew this book was going to wreck me and it did. AK even threw in one of Scott’s classic letters to make sure we didn’t stand a chance to walk away unscathed. It makes Darian’s pain and loss so much more palatable than it was before and Cassandra’s role so much more essential than we realized. I am so happy AK will continue with this lovable group of characters. I’m not ready to walk away just yet.
This story was beyond beautiful. Having read the previous books, we received more insight on briefly mentioned moments. We knew Scott and Darian met at the library but to see how that whole scene played out and how Cassandra played a role in it (and was a pivotal character in a lot of their sweet tale) was fulfilling. We got more background on what happened with Nelson, the origin of Reagan and Harley names, why Scott was the ONLY person allowed to call Cassandra "Cassie", and just the overall magic that created the foundation of an epic love story/tragedy that birthed a phenomenal series.
What I enjoyed most of all is the two sides of Scott. We kind of knew he was overprotective of women from what he taught his daughters and the situation that happened with Dalton. To witness that edgier side along with the gentle loving side we became accustomed to in the flashbacks gave us a much more well rounded idea of who Scott truly was and why Darian loved him so much. It was also interesting to see Declan and Darian as it makes their reunion bittersweet.
Like the Titanic movie, you know how it is going to end but that doesn't make it any easier to witness. I could feel my heart beating faster when I reached the last chapter. I knew what was coming but I still wasn’t ready for it. Like Darian, we have grown to know and love Scott so to witness his final moments, I had to keep taking deep breaths but the tears still came. To know what happens next, how Darian finds him, the next three years - ugh there are no words.
I knew this book was going to wreck me and it did. AK even threw in one of Scott’s classic letters to make sure we didn’t stand a chance to walk away unscathed. It makes Darian’s pain and loss so much more palatable than it was before and Cassandra’s role so much more essential than we realized. I am so happy AK will continue with this lovable group of characters. I’m not ready to walk away just yet.
The Chase by Elle Kennedy
4.0
When reading a spin-off series (especially one spinning from a well received series), you have higher expectations. You know the ability of the writer, have a solid feel of the strengths and weaknesses, and believe in your heart of hearts that it can only get better. What I am finding, more often than not – is that the spin-off series just can’t live up to the bar set by the original. The Briar U series is an example of that. I suggest the Off Campus Series to anyone who will listen. Kennedy is in exquisite form through every single book. When I started The Chase, I went in thinking I was going to experience the same captivating writing that I had in The Deal (or in The Score which is where we meet Summer for the first time as she is Dean’s little sister). Sadly, it just didn’t come close to it.
Summer and Colin’s story had a little bit of a jump start in The Score when Summer first lays eyes on Fitz and knows she wants him. While Fitz feels the same way, for him - Summer is out of the question. They are just too different and he can’t see past the “fluff” that she presents to the world.
There were a few things that bugged me about this book, which may be why I don’t intend to continue the series. First, for being presented as a carefree, accepting, lovable guy, Fitz is extremely judgmental. The second thing that irked me was how much Summer played with another character's feelings (sentence changed to remove spoiler). The back and forth between Fitz and Summer also felt a little drawn out.
Other than those to things, the rest of the book was ok at best. Once they worked things out, Fitz and Summer were pretty cute together and I loved how protective they were of each other.
Would I recommend the Off Campus series? Without a doubt! Would I recommend the Briar U series, as of right now no but I would tell anyone to read at least the first two books before making a final judgement call. I may take my own advice at some point. Only time will tell.
Summer and Colin’s story had a little bit of a jump start in The Score when Summer first lays eyes on Fitz and knows she wants him. While Fitz feels the same way, for him - Summer is out of the question. They are just too different and he can’t see past the “fluff” that she presents to the world.
There were a few things that bugged me about this book, which may be why I don’t intend to continue the series. First, for being presented as a carefree, accepting, lovable guy, Fitz is extremely judgmental. The second thing that irked me was how much Summer played with another character's feelings (sentence changed to remove spoiler). The back and forth between Fitz and Summer also felt a little drawn out.
Other than those to things, the rest of the book was ok at best. Once they worked things out, Fitz and Summer were pretty cute together and I loved how protective they were of each other.
Would I recommend the Off Campus series? Without a doubt! Would I recommend the Briar U series, as of right now no but I would tell anyone to read at least the first two books before making a final judgement call. I may take my own advice at some point. Only time will tell.
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? Yes
5.0
ARC Review for The Good Part. Spoilers removed.
Sophie Cousens has quickly become one of my favorite authors. With relatable characters and thought provoking stories, you find yourself walking away with more than you thought one could from a fun loving romantic comedy. Each of her books gives more than it takes and The Good Part is no exception.
If you could skip to the good parts in your life, would you do it? Past the heartbreaks, beyond the failures, leaving behind dashed hopes, only to arrive to a place that holds everything you could have ever imagined. Gorgeous spouse, successful job, money, recognition, the list goes on. Would you make that wish for that type of reward? Lucy Young’s answer was a resounding “Yes!” Failed date after failed date, horrible living conditions, and a dead end job, all Lucy wanted was to get to the point of her life where all of the sacrifice was worth it. At her lowest, drenched from the rain, traumatized by an impromptu date, Lucy enters a store to escape the weather and finds a wishing machine in the back. With nothing else to lose, she wishes to fast forward to the best parts of her life. Ignoring the warning that one should alway be careful what they wish for, Lucy wakes up in a breathtaking bedroom with a gorgeous man beside her. Strange but promising start to the morning until one look in the mirror nearly scares her half to death. Having zero memory of anything that happened between the Wednesday night when she was 26 and this Friday morning where she is now 42, Lucy quickly realizes that while her wish may have come true, it may not be worth giving up the bad in order to skip ahead to the good.
This book was phenomenal! When I initially started it, I wasn’t sure where it was going. Having read all of Sophie Cousens books, I was expecting the same type of romantic comedy genius that I enjoyed in this past. This book was not a contemporary romance but so much more. Venturing towards the genre of women’s fiction, coming of age, or the frowned upon term “chic lit”, we are posed a very important question - if we could skip to the good parts in life, would we? The quick answer for many of us is: YES - same as Lucy. What we discover through her story is that to get to the good, we have to go through the bad because it makes us who we are. We have to experience the ups and downs because those are what shapes us. The in-between is were we make the memories that make those good parts great!
While this book didn’t have laugh out loud funny moments, it was completely relatable to women in different stages of their lives.
The Good Part is a beautiful reminded that life may be unfair, challenging, and frustrating at moments but finding the good amongst the bad is what makes it worth living each and every day. Even the “good part” of Lucy’s life still had aspects of bad - it just didn’t outweigh it. And that is the challenge, not getting to the good part per say but experiencing enough of life that we learn to balance the good along with the bad, continuously tipping the scale in our favor.
Sophie Cousens has quickly become one of my favorite authors. With relatable characters and thought provoking stories, you find yourself walking away with more than you thought one could from a fun loving romantic comedy. Each of her books gives more than it takes and The Good Part is no exception.
If you could skip to the good parts in your life, would you do it? Past the heartbreaks, beyond the failures, leaving behind dashed hopes, only to arrive to a place that holds everything you could have ever imagined. Gorgeous spouse, successful job, money, recognition, the list goes on. Would you make that wish for that type of reward? Lucy Young’s answer was a resounding “Yes!” Failed date after failed date, horrible living conditions, and a dead end job, all Lucy wanted was to get to the point of her life where all of the sacrifice was worth it. At her lowest, drenched from the rain, traumatized by an impromptu date, Lucy enters a store to escape the weather and finds a wishing machine in the back. With nothing else to lose, she wishes to fast forward to the best parts of her life. Ignoring the warning that one should alway be careful what they wish for, Lucy wakes up in a breathtaking bedroom with a gorgeous man beside her. Strange but promising start to the morning until one look in the mirror nearly scares her half to death. Having zero memory of anything that happened between the Wednesday night when she was 26 and this Friday morning where she is now 42, Lucy quickly realizes that while her wish may have come true, it may not be worth giving up the bad in order to skip ahead to the good.
This book was phenomenal! When I initially started it, I wasn’t sure where it was going. Having read all of Sophie Cousens books, I was expecting the same type of romantic comedy genius that I enjoyed in this past. This book was not a contemporary romance but so much more. Venturing towards the genre of women’s fiction, coming of age, or the frowned upon term “chic lit”, we are posed a very important question - if we could skip to the good parts in life, would we? The quick answer for many of us is: YES - same as Lucy. What we discover through her story is that to get to the good, we have to go through the bad because it makes us who we are. We have to experience the ups and downs because those are what shapes us. The in-between is were we make the memories that make those good parts great!
While this book didn’t have laugh out loud funny moments, it was completely relatable to women in different stages of their lives.
The Good Part is a beautiful reminded that life may be unfair, challenging, and frustrating at moments but finding the good amongst the bad is what makes it worth living each and every day. Even the “good part” of Lucy’s life still had aspects of bad - it just didn’t outweigh it. And that is the challenge, not getting to the good part per say but experiencing enough of life that we learn to balance the good along with the bad, continuously tipping the scale in our favor.
Snowed In by Catherine Walsh
funny
lighthearted
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
*ARC Review for Snowed In - Spoilers removed*
While it is a standalone story, Snowed In takes place a little over two years after Holiday Romance. This is determined by Zoe, Molly’s twin sister, who gave birth in Holiday Romance. In Snowed In, the story begins with Christian (Andrew’s brother) and Zoe hanging out with her now two year old toddler, Tiernan. Keeping the same snappy dialogue and Walsh wit, Snowed In takes us back to the small town we fell in love with before, reintroduces us to the Fitzpatrick clan, and shows us that with a little Christmas magic, anything is possible. I will warn you, read Holiday Romance first; otherwise, you will have spoilers and may not understand the story of Andrew and Molly that continues in Snowed In.
Megan just needs a win! It’s bad enough that she is still deemed a social pariah for running out on her wedding day five years ago. Yes, she left the village golden boy Isaac at the alter but she just couldn’t face the rest of her life being with the only man that was her first… well everything! She figured life would be waiting for her when she finally broke free. What was waiting for her, horrible first dates and failed relationships. It wouldn’t be so bad if she was doing well in her career but, while she loves her job, saying she lives a modest lifestyle is an understatement. All of this she could cope with but the idea of returning to her village, aka the scene of the crime, after all these years away is not helping her look forward to the upcoming holiday. That has to be why she was willing to entertain Christian Fitzpatrick’s outlandish plan: Being each other’s fake date (i.e. backup) while they are home for the holidays. Christian’s family would avoid meddling in his life for once and Megan may actually survive running into Isaac, the scrutiny of her town, and her mother’s fundraiser. It’s a plan that is just crazy enough to work… or one hilarious failure to watch!
I never want Walsh’s books to end! When you hit that last page and she beautifully wraps up the story, you feel like she just gave you a one of a kind gift. Her stories and characters are so relatable! Life isn’t automatically easy for them. Things don’t just magically work out and suddenly there is a choreographed dance number. Her characters feel pain, shame, disappointment, heartbreak, and stew in self doubt. I can only assume (being from the US) that all Irish families are as close as she portrays and the support system illustrated is more fact than fiction. If so, the level of envy goes above and beyond!
While I loved everything about this book, what I loved most was that Walsh kept the evolution of the relationship realistic. The vulnerability of the characters, the sibling relationships, the parent/child dynamic and evolution of understanding - she delivered and then some! Add to it the sarcasm that only Walsh can deliver and the conversations that you swear you have heard from people around you (i.e. real talk) and you can’t help but read this book from beginning to end as soon as possible.
Humor and heat are two things Walsh does exceptionally well! While nowhere near the primary focus of the book and placed deep within the story, when Christian and Megan light the initial match that starts a smoldering fire between them, you get a glimpse at the potential intensity. When that finally turns into a full blown flame, it is hot, emotional, intense, and absolute perfection, especially for these two characters.
I am crossing my fingers and toes that Walsh writes Aiden’s story so we aren’t done with this little village just yet. Snowed In is a wonderful winter treat that will put a smile on your face, warmth in your heart, and a growl in your belly (they talk about food a lot!)
While it is a standalone story, Snowed In takes place a little over two years after Holiday Romance. This is determined by Zoe, Molly’s twin sister, who gave birth in Holiday Romance. In Snowed In, the story begins with Christian (Andrew’s brother) and Zoe hanging out with her now two year old toddler, Tiernan. Keeping the same snappy dialogue and Walsh wit, Snowed In takes us back to the small town we fell in love with before, reintroduces us to the Fitzpatrick clan, and shows us that with a little Christmas magic, anything is possible. I will warn you, read Holiday Romance first; otherwise, you will have spoilers and may not understand the story of Andrew and Molly that continues in Snowed In.
Megan just needs a win! It’s bad enough that she is still deemed a social pariah for running out on her wedding day five years ago. Yes, she left the village golden boy Isaac at the alter but she just couldn’t face the rest of her life being with the only man that was her first… well everything! She figured life would be waiting for her when she finally broke free. What was waiting for her, horrible first dates and failed relationships. It wouldn’t be so bad if she was doing well in her career but, while she loves her job, saying she lives a modest lifestyle is an understatement. All of this she could cope with but the idea of returning to her village, aka the scene of the crime, after all these years away is not helping her look forward to the upcoming holiday. That has to be why she was willing to entertain Christian Fitzpatrick’s outlandish plan: Being each other’s fake date (i.e. backup) while they are home for the holidays. Christian’s family would avoid meddling in his life for once and Megan may actually survive running into Isaac, the scrutiny of her town, and her mother’s fundraiser. It’s a plan that is just crazy enough to work… or one hilarious failure to watch!
I never want Walsh’s books to end! When you hit that last page and she beautifully wraps up the story, you feel like she just gave you a one of a kind gift. Her stories and characters are so relatable! Life isn’t automatically easy for them. Things don’t just magically work out and suddenly there is a choreographed dance number. Her characters feel pain, shame, disappointment, heartbreak, and stew in self doubt. I can only assume (being from the US) that all Irish families are as close as she portrays and the support system illustrated is more fact than fiction. If so, the level of envy goes above and beyond!
While I loved everything about this book, what I loved most was that Walsh kept the evolution of the relationship realistic. The vulnerability of the characters, the sibling relationships, the parent/child dynamic and evolution of understanding - she delivered and then some! Add to it the sarcasm that only Walsh can deliver and the conversations that you swear you have heard from people around you (i.e. real talk) and you can’t help but read this book from beginning to end as soon as possible.
Humor and heat are two things Walsh does exceptionally well! While nowhere near the primary focus of the book and placed deep within the story, when Christian and Megan light the initial match that starts a smoldering fire between them, you get a glimpse at the potential intensity. When that finally turns into a full blown flame, it is hot, emotional, intense, and absolute perfection, especially for these two characters.
I am crossing my fingers and toes that Walsh writes Aiden’s story so we aren’t done with this little village just yet. Snowed In is a wonderful winter treat that will put a smile on your face, warmth in your heart, and a growl in your belly (they talk about food a lot!)
About Last Knight by A.K. LANDOW
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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
Spoilers removed so review skips around due to large removals of text.
The record still stands with AK Landow’s books. 5 books, all finished within 24 hours – no matter what is going on in my life. I don’t know what it is about her writing but when I step into her stories, everything around me stops. I have to know what happens next! Her books take on a life of their own, so much energy, so much excitement, and I never miss an opportunity to hang with “the Brady Bunch”. This time around, we focused on the matriarch of the family – the one we have watched on the sidelines. Finally, we get to know who Melissa Knight is and what she is made of.
Three beautiful sons, two daughters in laws, grandchildren, and a loving ex-husband that kept his promise, giving her a life where she would never need or want. What else could a person possibly want? LOVE, that’s what! Melissa has watched Jackson fall in love with Darian and be someone she never saw in her own marriage. Make no mistake, she doesn’t blame Jackson for what their marriage had become. She was never in love with him but pregnant at the age of 19, they did what they thought was best for their unborn child. She has also watched that child and her twins grow up into gorgeous men – inside and out, and find the loves of their lives. She just wanted her turn. When would she find that breathtaking, heart-stopping, life changing love that she sees all around her! Date after fixed up date, internet date after failed meet-up, Melissa has all but given up hope until one brief escape leads her to an encounter that would change everything she has ever known about herself. One hundred and eighteen first dates, that’s how long it took before Melissa could finally begin writing her epic love story.
For four books, we have learned bits and pieces about Melissa, it was so interesting to be inside her head. As the reader, you imagine she is everything Darian is not which is why things didn’t work out with Jackson...
Now, her type – that was a shocker! Declan was…wow! I am with Melissa, I normally can’t tolerate the alpha male type but somehow Declan weirdly balanced the alpha male and super nice guy roles. He really was an unpredictable enigma which kept you laser focus on his antics and what else he had up his sleeve.
As for the spice in this book, come on – it’s an AK Landow book – of course it was hot! Declan’s take charge attitude and constantly pushing Melissa’s boundaries is what made it even hotter. I honestly can’t pick a favorite scene this time because they were all simply perfection.
Back to the characters, Declan was constantly haunted by the demons of his past. The inward look at the pain he carried and how he defined himself was eye-opening. This is the first time I have read anything that dealt with drug addiction and the fact that he was insistent on saying he “is an addict” not “was” and why it was phrased that way was something to notate.
It is rare for an author to be five books deep and each one is better than the last. AK not only accomplished that feat but has an entire spin-off series that continues to highlight just how talented she is! I cannot gush over this author enough! Her books are absolutely incredible in every way and I plan on reading each and every one of them.
The record still stands with AK Landow’s books. 5 books, all finished within 24 hours – no matter what is going on in my life. I don’t know what it is about her writing but when I step into her stories, everything around me stops. I have to know what happens next! Her books take on a life of their own, so much energy, so much excitement, and I never miss an opportunity to hang with “the Brady Bunch”. This time around, we focused on the matriarch of the family – the one we have watched on the sidelines. Finally, we get to know who Melissa Knight is and what she is made of.
Three beautiful sons, two daughters in laws, grandchildren, and a loving ex-husband that kept his promise, giving her a life where she would never need or want. What else could a person possibly want? LOVE, that’s what! Melissa has watched Jackson fall in love with Darian and be someone she never saw in her own marriage. Make no mistake, she doesn’t blame Jackson for what their marriage had become. She was never in love with him but pregnant at the age of 19, they did what they thought was best for their unborn child. She has also watched that child and her twins grow up into gorgeous men – inside and out, and find the loves of their lives. She just wanted her turn. When would she find that breathtaking, heart-stopping, life changing love that she sees all around her! Date after fixed up date, internet date after failed meet-up, Melissa has all but given up hope until one brief escape leads her to an encounter that would change everything she has ever known about herself. One hundred and eighteen first dates, that’s how long it took before Melissa could finally begin writing her epic love story.
For four books, we have learned bits and pieces about Melissa, it was so interesting to be inside her head. As the reader, you imagine she is everything Darian is not which is why things didn’t work out with Jackson...
Now, her type – that was a shocker! Declan was…wow! I am with Melissa, I normally can’t tolerate the alpha male type but somehow Declan weirdly balanced the alpha male and super nice guy roles. He really was an unpredictable enigma which kept you laser focus on his antics and what else he had up his sleeve.
As for the spice in this book, come on – it’s an AK Landow book – of course it was hot! Declan’s take charge attitude and constantly pushing Melissa’s boundaries is what made it even hotter. I honestly can’t pick a favorite scene this time because they were all simply perfection.
Back to the characters, Declan was constantly haunted by the demons of his past. The inward look at the pain he carried and how he defined himself was eye-opening. This is the first time I have read anything that dealt with drug addiction and the fact that he was insistent on saying he “is an addict” not “was” and why it was phrased that way was something to notate.
It is rare for an author to be five books deep and each one is better than the last. AK not only accomplished that feat but has an entire spin-off series that continues to highlight just how talented she is! I cannot gush over this author enough! Her books are absolutely incredible in every way and I plan on reading each and every one of them.
With or Without Panties by Karen Lieversz, Karen Lieversz
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
ARC Review for With or Without Panties. Spoilers removed.
Although Karen Lieversz has a plethora of anthologies under her belt, With or Without Panties is her debut novel romantic comedy. The quirkiness and chemistry of her characters with the splash of suspense and a pinch of bromance makes this book an instant favorite.
What is a fate worse than death? According to Claire, being caught with ugly panties. Refusing to ever be caught in the tragic situation of her dear departed grandmother, Claire has made it her life mission to always have on nice, matching undergarments (what sort of monster would wear anything mismatched!) To prove that her attitude towards panties is healthy and in no way neurotic, compulsive, or borderline dysfunctional - Claire agrees to wear the underwear her mother gave her as a gift to her job interview. At this point, Claire needed all the luck she can get to finally move closer to her dream career. Determined to make a good first impression, hideous underwear and all, Claire heads to her interview but accidentally misses her stop. Knowing a short cut and confident that fate has better things to do, Claire quick change of course causes her to step right in front of a car! Squealing brakes and one gorgeous, yet irate driver later - Claire finds herself face to face with the most intoxicating man she has ever seen. Shocked, shaken, and a little turned on - Claire accepts Detective Jake’s offer to hang out at the precinct while she composes herself. Problem? She is still wearing her hideous underwear! As irrational as it is, she refuses to tempt fate again and removes the offensive garment before anyone could ever know. Big mistake as one drug sniffing dog is about to turn Claire's world upside down. Who would have thought a pair of underwear could cause so much trouble!
While With or Without Panties was a very compelling story, the predictability prevented me from being pulled into it as deep as I would have liked. Still quite enjoyable and humorous at times, the message of drugs, abuse of drugs, and the damage it can do not only to the users but to loved ones was the foundation of this book. I loved that Karen was able to get her message across without being preachy. She presented drug use in different stages, from the casual user who justifies taking unprescribed medication, to the addict, to essentially the aftermath of an addiction gone wrong. She mixes in the message of finding healthy ways to cope with the stressors of every day life, i.e. seeking the help of therapist and/or having a strong support system, with sharp wit and great care.
Speaking of support system, I loved Jake and Greg’s relationship. Their overly macho yet vulnerable and compassions relationship resembled a brotherly love to be envied.
As mentioned initially, a lot of the book was far too predictable which took away from build ups and big reveals. The author had a tendency to harp/reiterate certain details to the point of redundancy that you could predict why she kept mentioning them in the first place. I would be interested in reading her next book to see if she works this out a little more, allowing the reader to "figure out" connections versus handing it to them to ensure they aren't missed.
Insanely hot at times, kudos to Karen for moving away from the "stereotypical" cop persona and allowing a reserved yet wicked side of Jake. The moments Claire and Jake were together were some of the sweetest mixed with steamiest moments I have read.
From cheeky moments, to great supporting characters, to a message that will stick with you beyond the last page, With or With Panties was a surprisingly enriching story. Congrats to Karen on her debut novel. I am interested to see what else she will produce in the future.
Although Karen Lieversz has a plethora of anthologies under her belt, With or Without Panties is her debut novel romantic comedy. The quirkiness and chemistry of her characters with the splash of suspense and a pinch of bromance makes this book an instant favorite.
What is a fate worse than death? According to Claire, being caught with ugly panties. Refusing to ever be caught in the tragic situation of her dear departed grandmother, Claire has made it her life mission to always have on nice, matching undergarments (what sort of monster would wear anything mismatched!) To prove that her attitude towards panties is healthy and in no way neurotic, compulsive, or borderline dysfunctional - Claire agrees to wear the underwear her mother gave her as a gift to her job interview. At this point, Claire needed all the luck she can get to finally move closer to her dream career. Determined to make a good first impression, hideous underwear and all, Claire heads to her interview but accidentally misses her stop. Knowing a short cut and confident that fate has better things to do, Claire quick change of course causes her to step right in front of a car! Squealing brakes and one gorgeous, yet irate driver later - Claire finds herself face to face with the most intoxicating man she has ever seen. Shocked, shaken, and a little turned on - Claire accepts Detective Jake’s offer to hang out at the precinct while she composes herself. Problem? She is still wearing her hideous underwear! As irrational as it is, she refuses to tempt fate again and removes the offensive garment before anyone could ever know. Big mistake as one drug sniffing dog is about to turn Claire's world upside down. Who would have thought a pair of underwear could cause so much trouble!
While With or Without Panties was a very compelling story, the predictability prevented me from being pulled into it as deep as I would have liked. Still quite enjoyable and humorous at times, the message of drugs, abuse of drugs, and the damage it can do not only to the users but to loved ones was the foundation of this book. I loved that Karen was able to get her message across without being preachy. She presented drug use in different stages, from the casual user who justifies taking unprescribed medication, to the addict, to essentially the aftermath of an addiction gone wrong. She mixes in the message of finding healthy ways to cope with the stressors of every day life, i.e. seeking the help of therapist and/or having a strong support system, with sharp wit and great care.
Speaking of support system, I loved Jake and Greg’s relationship. Their overly macho yet vulnerable and compassions relationship resembled a brotherly love to be envied.
As mentioned initially, a lot of the book was far too predictable which took away from build ups and big reveals. The author had a tendency to harp/reiterate certain details to the point of redundancy that you could predict why she kept mentioning them in the first place. I would be interested in reading her next book to see if she works this out a little more, allowing the reader to "figure out" connections versus handing it to them to ensure they aren't missed.
Insanely hot at times, kudos to Karen for moving away from the "stereotypical" cop persona and allowing a reserved yet wicked side of Jake. The moments Claire and Jake were together were some of the sweetest mixed with steamiest moments I have read.
From cheeky moments, to great supporting characters, to a message that will stick with you beyond the last page, With or With Panties was a surprisingly enriching story. Congrats to Karen on her debut novel. I am interested to see what else she will produce in the future.
A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoilers have been removed.
There were moments in A Brush with Love where I laughed so hard, I thought I was going to pull a muscle. That is the talent of Mazey Eddings, one moment she can make you want to cry a river and the next you are laughing until you snort (not like I did that…more than once…twice.)
Harper has two immediate goals in life – to finish dental school and get her top residency pick. After that, she will commit her life to helping people and making a difference. As far as she was concerned, there wasn’t room for anything else, no matter what her friends said. She spent most of her life building up walls, protecting herself, and doing what it took to manage her anxiety. What she didn’t plan for is a certain green eyed, jaw-dropping gorgeous man with a mind erasing dimple colliding with those walls and destroying all of her hard earned work. With graduation so close and her future set, Harper can’t get “gooey” over some boy. Declaring that despite the incredible chemistry her and Dan seem to have, she can only offer a friendship - setting off an epic battle between heart and mind that will leave no survivors.
I don’t think I exhaled until I finished this book. Talk about intensive! Mazey is the master of putting you into the shoes of her neurodiverse characters. Every feeling, the loss sense of control, the shifting of the world surrounding them, how they believe the world sees them – she hands it all to the reader as if we requested a fully immersive experience.
Don’t even get me started on Harper and Dan. Dan is an absolute daydream! A huge part of me wondered (especially since Mazey is a dentist), how much of his character is modeled after her boyfriend. If that man is even a fraction of the “swooniness” that is Dan, I am insanely jealous! As far as book boyfriend’s go, he just got bumped to the top of the list!
Asides for drooling over Dan, there were so many things to love about this book, the close friendships, the vulnerability, the support, and Mazey’s constant effort to remove the stigma around mental health, therapy, and seeking help. We never know what someone is going through and how our words can cut them and push their fears deeper.
Mazey also has the ability to create the most beautiful moments when her characters are intimate. It was no different when Harper and Dan slept together for the first time.
What got me the most is when we learned Harper’s “why”, why she had to be the best, had to succeed, what it all stood for, what it represented if she failed. When I finished reading that part, I took a moment and just said “Wow”.
I love Thu, Lizzie, and Indira! I hate that I read The Plus One first because I can’t remember what happens with Thu and Alex or Harper and Dan! Lizzie’s story is waiting for me in my TBR stack so hopefully that helps bridge the gap in my memory. For anyone who loves Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry, Mazey Eddings is right there, ready to win your heart.
There were moments in A Brush with Love where I laughed so hard, I thought I was going to pull a muscle. That is the talent of Mazey Eddings, one moment she can make you want to cry a river and the next you are laughing until you snort (not like I did that…more than once…twice.)
Harper has two immediate goals in life – to finish dental school and get her top residency pick. After that, she will commit her life to helping people and making a difference. As far as she was concerned, there wasn’t room for anything else, no matter what her friends said. She spent most of her life building up walls, protecting herself, and doing what it took to manage her anxiety. What she didn’t plan for is a certain green eyed, jaw-dropping gorgeous man with a mind erasing dimple colliding with those walls and destroying all of her hard earned work. With graduation so close and her future set, Harper can’t get “gooey” over some boy. Declaring that despite the incredible chemistry her and Dan seem to have, she can only offer a friendship - setting off an epic battle between heart and mind that will leave no survivors.
I don’t think I exhaled until I finished this book. Talk about intensive! Mazey is the master of putting you into the shoes of her neurodiverse characters. Every feeling, the loss sense of control, the shifting of the world surrounding them, how they believe the world sees them – she hands it all to the reader as if we requested a fully immersive experience.
Don’t even get me started on Harper and Dan. Dan is an absolute daydream! A huge part of me wondered (especially since Mazey is a dentist), how much of his character is modeled after her boyfriend. If that man is even a fraction of the “swooniness” that is Dan, I am insanely jealous! As far as book boyfriend’s go, he just got bumped to the top of the list!
Asides for drooling over Dan, there were so many things to love about this book, the close friendships, the vulnerability, the support, and Mazey’s constant effort to remove the stigma around mental health, therapy, and seeking help. We never know what someone is going through and how our words can cut them and push their fears deeper.
Mazey also has the ability to create the most beautiful moments when her characters are intimate. It was no different when Harper and Dan slept together for the first time.
What got me the most is when we learned Harper’s “why”, why she had to be the best, had to succeed, what it all stood for, what it represented if she failed. When I finished reading that part, I took a moment and just said “Wow”.
I love Thu, Lizzie, and Indira! I hate that I read The Plus One first because I can’t remember what happens with Thu and Alex or Harper and Dan! Lizzie’s story is waiting for me in my TBR stack so hopefully that helps bridge the gap in my memory. For anyone who loves Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry, Mazey Eddings is right there, ready to win your heart.