Happy Monday my fellow bibliophiles!
Can you believe another week in February is over? We are inching towards March already. Time is just flying by. Last week was a pretty good week when it came to reading. I will say that I had my first DNF of the year. So that was surprising for me. Especially since the book had a bit of hype surrounding it. Heck it was on the Goodreads list for best romance of 2020!
Moving on, let's talk stats:
- 5 books started
- 4 completed
- 1 DNF (did not finish)
- 4 e-books
- 1 physical book (library)
- 2 were e-arcs
- 1493 pages
My average rating was 3.4 ⭐️
The book I DNF'd I gave a 1⭐️ to, so that really brought down my average.
The book I DNF'd I gave a 1⭐️ to, so that really brought down my average.
Enough about that, let's talk about the books I read!
Boyfriend Material
by Alexis HallThe Boyfriend Material made it's way onto the Goodreads Best Romance of 2020 list, so I figured this book has to be good. Based on the description I was thinking that the book would be similar in style to Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. I was wrong. OH SO WRONG. Folks, I DNF'd this book at 30% (129 pages). It was so slow moving it was almost painful. Luc was quite immature and really frustrated me. After 30% I said to myself that this book is not worth the reading slump it will put me in to. So I returned it to my library (via overdrive), gave it a 1 star, and have absolutely no desire to pick it up again.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious if the book improved. But I'm not curious enough to pick it back up. I don't know how this book made it on to the Goodreads Best Romance list. Did you read Boyfriend Material? Did you like it?
Take a Hint, Dani Brown
by Talia Hibbert
Now Dani Brown on the other hand, this book too made its appearance on the Goodreads Best Romance list. Dani Brown totally deserved a slot on the list. This book drew me in, it moved fast, the characters were personable, and I loved it. The relationship between Zaf and Dani was adorable. I loved the fake dating aspect of their story. Then of course there is the Brown sisters. These ladies are just fantastic, and bring a smile to my face. Zaf and his love of romance novels had me smiling as well. He'd fit in great with the guys from the Bromance Book Club.
I gave Dani Brown 4 stars. Could it have been a 5? Oh absolutely, but I'm stingy with those and the book has to give me everything I want. There were minor things that held me back. Do I still recommend this book? ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY! I also recommend Chloe Brown. I'm anticipating Eve Brown's story too.
Balls to the Wall
by April CanavanBalls to the Wall was my first ARC for the week. When I read the title, I forgot why I had requested the book. I was just confused. In my mind the title doesn't match up with the story, yet at the same time I don't know what I would recommend as an alternate title. Should you chose to read this story, let me tell you now, HAVE TISSUES HANDY! Also I should mention that there are a couple of parts that are emotional and/or difficult to read about. So be prepared. (if you need to know what the triggers are, please let me know and I'll fill you in the best I can without ruining the story.)
Here's what I can tell you, this is a small town romance featuring a single mother. It's more than that though, as it is also kind of a second chance romance. You see Parker and Remy have known each other for most of their lives. There has always been a connection between them, and when Parker went to make her move, he shut her down and wrecked her with the words he said. Parker sought solace in a friend, became pregnant after a night together, and married him. Her husband was in the military and was shipped overseas where he then lost his life. Fast forward a few years, Remy is now home from deployment, and is working for the local police department. He also made a promise to Parker's husband (they were deployed together) to watch over Parker. What happens next is the love story of Parker and Remy.
Here's what I can tell you, this is a small town romance featuring a single mother. It's more than that though, as it is also kind of a second chance romance. You see Parker and Remy have known each other for most of their lives. There has always been a connection between them, and when Parker went to make her move, he shut her down and wrecked her with the words he said. Parker sought solace in a friend, became pregnant after a night together, and married him. Her husband was in the military and was shipped overseas where he then lost his life. Fast forward a few years, Remy is now home from deployment, and is working for the local police department. He also made a promise to Parker's husband (they were deployed together) to watch over Parker. What happens next is the love story of Parker and Remy.
I freaking loved this book. Yes I cried. Yes I gasped a few times. Yes there was a time or two where I was holding my breath and eager to find out what happened next. When it was over, I found myself immediately looking to see when the second book in the series was coming out. I don't care that it will follow a different couple, I just need more of this community. More of these characters. Oh and rating wise, 4 stars.
Wake my Heart
by Lydia Michaels
Apparently my heart needed to be gutted by two books in a row. Wake my Heart was my other ARC for this week, and it's good. I will say that this book is the ultimate slow burn. Wow. This book is also filled with Maggie's grief, and eventual healing. You might need a tissue or two. (for me, this book didn't bring as many tears as Balls to the Wall.)
When we first meet Maggie, she is with her husband Nash. They were high school sweethearts, and were each others world. Everyone knew them. So naturally when Nash died (car accident) it wrecked Maggie. The grief, the anger, the sadness, it was all so much to handle. Maggie shut down, and shut out everyone.
When we first meet Maggie, she is with her husband Nash. They were high school sweethearts, and were each others world. Everyone knew them. So naturally when Nash died (car accident) it wrecked Maggie. The grief, the anger, the sadness, it was all so much to handle. Maggie shut down, and shut out everyone.
That is until one day when her neighbors house sells, and in moves Ryan Clooney. He takes notice of Maggie. Of the fact that she doesn't drive, that she is skittish, and that she keeps to herself. Of course he also notices her as a woman, and he is finding himself attracted to this stranger.
What starts as a friendship, slowly moves into a romantic relationship. Ryan is truly waking Maggie's heart through his friendship, his companionship, and his love. I ended up giving Wake My Heart 4 stars.
Undercover Bromance
by Lyssa Kay Adams
If you read my Baseball Romance post, then you'll know I flagged this book series as Baseball Romance. Um, that isn't the case. Yes, book one was about a baseball player. Undercover Bromance though, absolutely not. This book is more of a billionaire/millionaire romance. Doesn't really matter though because I loved this book.
Yes, there are parts of the story that are difficult to read about (workplace assault), but ultimately it was handled with grace. We get to see the pain. We get the fire that is building in Liv. We see how this group of people come together to try and take down the villain. What we also see is two people building a relationship, while trying to fight it. Liv and Mack are the perfect characters for the enemies to lovers trope. They truly are.
Yes, there are parts of the story that are difficult to read about (workplace assault), but ultimately it was handled with grace. We get to see the pain. We get the fire that is building in Liv. We see how this group of people come together to try and take down the villain. What we also see is two people building a relationship, while trying to fight it. Liv and Mack are the perfect characters for the enemies to lovers trope. They truly are.
Oh and for rating, I gave it 4 stars. Again, it was close to 5, but I just couldn't do it.
There you have it, the five four books I read this week. Have you read any of them? As you can see I had a couple books that fit the fake dating trope, a slow burn, a second chance romance, and an enemies to lovers book. All in all it was a good week. I was a bit worried that things might go down hill after kicking off my reading week with a DNF, but thankfully that didn't happen.
I hope your February has been filled with some great books!
Happy Reading my friends,
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and Wildfire Marketing for providing me with ARCs of Balls to the Walls and Wake My Heart for review. All thoughts and opinions about the books are mine alone.
