Weekly Wrap Up

Well hello there my fellow readers. 

The last two weeks flew by, and it was a bit strange to not update things here.  I completed my jury duty, which really just means that I called the jury line every day to find out if I needed to report in. Last week was also spring break week for my kiddos. We did nothing, and I'm okay with that. My kids loved playing outside, and also got to know the new neighbor kids. Oh, and I did major laundry. Fun times. They are off again today, but return to school tomorrow. 

That being said, I did manage to read quite a few books. Which should surprise no one.  Here are my stats for the week:

• 6 Books Read
• 5 were e-books
• 1 was a library book
• 2 of the e-books were ARCs
• 1,682 Pages Read

My average rating was 4 stars. Well it's my average since every book read this week was given four stars. What can I say, it's my go to rating. 


Let's dive into the books.

1) Roped Tight

by Kim Loraine

Roped Tight is the fourth book (and final) in the Ryker Ranch series, and I am obsessed.I have been since Saddle Up was released back in Decemeber 2019. Roped Tight tells us Sam Ryker's story and it starts by telling his history with Tucker Weston. This book just solidified my love for this family. Mama Ryker is an amazing woman and loves her children beyond belief. 

 Roped Tight was also one of my anticipated reads for March, and oh this book did not disappoint. 

Here's the description for the book:

Second chances don't come around every day, but Tucker Weston is mine.

Ten years ago Tucker reeled me in with his sext smolder. But he cut me loose after I fell hard for him that summer on my family's ranch. I left without looking back. Went to chase my dreams and became Sam Ryker, world champion bull rider.

But I never forgot the first man I loved.

Now, I'm back at my family's ranch and he's here in front of me, just as rugged and hot as he's always been. And though I've sworn to hate him for breaking my heart, I want him more than I should. All those promises I made to myself fly right out the window. Because when I'm near him, I can't think. I can't make the right choices.

Trouble is, my family needs me here, and I can't afford a distraction like Tucker Weston. It'll cost more than my heart this time around.

But all it takes is one kiss before he's got me roped tight yet again.

I will say that the end of Roped Tight has me anticipating Wild Ride. (Wild Ride will follow Sera Ryker, and it is the kick off to a new series called Wilde Horse Ranch. It will be released in May 2021.) 

2) Dear Love, I Hate You

by Eliah Greenwood

This was my first ARC of the week, and it grabbed my attention within the first few pages. Dear Love, I Hate You is a young adult contemporary romance that follows the lives of Aveena Harper (Vee) and Xavier Emery. If enemies to lovers is your go-to trope, grab this book. 

I cannot wait to read more from Eliah Greenwood. Dear Love was my introduction to her writing, and I am intrigued. I am seriously hoping that she writes more in the Easton Boys series. Especially since I am hoping for a story featuring Dia.

Please note that there are a couple of difficult topics mentioned in the book, so if talk of suicide or attempted date rape are hard for you to read about, know that they are discussed. 

Here is the blurb from Amazon:

It all started with an anonymous letter.

He wasn't supposed to find it--no one was. And he definitely wasn't supposed to answer it.

We end up talking through letters and sticky notes in a book. One sticky note. Two sticky notes. Ten sticky notes. All baring our darkest, deepest secrets.

It's all fun and games until I find out who my pen pal is...

Xavier Emery. King of my basketball-obsessed town, my childhood bully, and the guy I am in grave danger of falling in love with.

But the rules were clear: we can never know who we're talking to, and the confessions can never, ever get out. Seriously, it would destroy lives.

Fine by me. Even if Mr. Popular does find out his confidant is little old me, it's not like he'd ever love me back...

Right?

3) My Twist of Fortune

by Piper Rayne

Why hello there prequel to the Greene Family! Had I known you were published, I would have read you prior to reading My Beautiful Neighbor! But sadly I did not do my research so I feel like I'm reading out of order. Even though it does say, on the Amazon listing, that you do not need to read this first. Still. You all know me and my preference of reading books in order! 

ANYWAYS.....

My Twist of Fortune is fills us in on the story of Hank and Marla, and how their blended family came to be. I knew a bit of their story from reading My Beautiful Neighbor, but to have their full story out there makes me happy. 

I know you're curious so here's the description:

Two aching hearts. A meddling small town. A second chance.

It's not a new story. Wife finds out husband's been cheating on her and she packs up her four kids and heads back to her hometown, Sunrise Bay, Alaska.

Yeah, not a fresh start, but thousands of miles away from my ex will do just fine.

I'm prepared for the cold weather, the early snowfalls, and dark days and nights. What I'm not prepared for is coming face to face with my ex's cousin and for the same feelings from twenty years ago to ignite like the flame never went out.

It doesn't take long before people are whispering about the widowed Hank Greene and me. But we both have children to think of this time around. Then again, Hank knows what it's like to be a single parent and sometimes those damn dimples of his make it hard to remember why we can't be together.

Oh and the shenanigans are already starting with Ethel and Dory. I would love to have a bonus scene (or novella) about how these two became friends and their history. Absolutely loved My Twist of Fate, and am completely hooked on the Greene family.

 

4) Act Your Age, Eve Brown

by Talia Hibbert

Eve Brown was another one of my anticipated reads for March. Heck, if I'm being honest, it was really one of my anticipated reads for the first half of 2021! As the release day started getting closer, I logged into my library and added my name to the holds list. I think I was number 5 on the list, and since the library was getting 3 copies, I knew my wait wouldn't be long.

I had such high expectations going into this book. I mean I loved Dani Brown's story, and Chloe's was good too. And while Eve's story was good, it wasn't my favorite of the trilogy. I know, I know, that goes against what so many people have said on social media! It took me a while to get invested, and to fall for Jacob and Eve. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the story, because I did. It just took me a bit, and by the end I was all in. There was something in the first half though that tripped me up. Maybe it was the situation with Eve's parents, maybe it was Jacob explaining what happened with his, I'm not entirely certain. What I do know is that I'm glad it all worked out in the end. Jacob seems like an amazing man who has overcome so much in his life to get to where he is now.

Not familiar with the premise of Act Your Age, Eve Brown? Here's the blurb to give you some insight.

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong. So she's given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself--even though she's not entirely sure how...

Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner's on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car--supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.

Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she's infiltrated his work, his kitchen--and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore... and it's melting Jacob's frosty exterior.

 

5) Restless Things

by Samantha Lovelock

Are you sick of me talking about the Folkestone Sins series yet? I hope not, because I just read an ARC of Restless Things. Yep, this too was one of my anticipated reads for March. I have been not so patiently waiting for this book since I finished Fractured Things.

All the anticipation was worth it. Except now I have a problem. I have to wait until JUNE for Ruined Things to be released. Excuse me while I go pout. (and maybe start a countdown)

You see while Restless Things gave me so much information that I need to process, I now have questions that I need answered! I mean if you've read Fractured Things then you know the bombshell that was dropped on us at the end. WHAT? So all that gets revealed. But with that revelation comes questions.  And I can't tell you my questions because it would cause spoilers. AHHHHHHHHH. 

Then there is the relationship between Sunday and Payne. Oh my can you say tension. 

Oh and that cliffhanger? Geez Louise. My heart. I can't.

If you're not familiar with the Folkestone Sins series, YES you need to read them in order. You can't just jump in. So go start with Fragile Things. 

Restless Things follows Sunday and Payne. Here we learn their past, and also see their current day. Here is the teaser from Amazon:

Sometimes in ruin, we find our truth.

Sunday

Payne Emerson is the boy I grew up with. The one who kept all of my secrets.

My life was perfect, until that one fateful night it all fell apart.

And I became invisible.

When my brother died, my parents looked right through me. My lonely feet stumbled and I finally fell.

Nobody knows how deep the darkness within me dwells, nobody except him.

I'm afraid of the fire he ignites within me. Afraid ti will burn through the walls I've built to shelter my bruised and wounded heart.

What if I can't find my way back?

I can't lose myself again.

Payne

Sunday Easton is the first girl I ever kissed. The one who holds my heart in the palm of her hand.

When her world collapsed, I tried to be there for her. We were young, I was powerless.

And I became invisible.

She confessed her sins and I kept her secrets, holding tight to her small hand in the dark. Now we don't talk about the heat that burns between us.

I'm the only one who truly sees her and I'm done pretending.

Will she ever trust me enough to let go?

I'll never let her disappear.

Dear Samantha Lovelock, please tell me that there will be more books set in Folkestone. I feel there are more stories to be told, and I'm not ready to leave. Sincerely, Me.

6) Briggs

by Samantha Whiskey

The other day I was thinking about the fabulous sports romance books that Samantha Whiskey creates, and found myself wondering when the next book would be released. Then I log into Facebook and see a post from her. That post features a book cover and the words SURPRISE!  WHAT! So naturally I ran off to Amazon, and immediately downloaded the book. 

Since I had finished Restless Things the night before, I dove right in. Sorry family, I'm busy. You're all on your own. 

Curious about Briggs and Bristol? I thought so. Here's the teaser:

Four years ago, one mistake--one woman--cost me my NHL team.

I've worked every day since to ensure I'm irreplaceable to the Carolina Reapers.

I'm faster, stronger, and sure as hell smarter.

With a new million-dollar endorsement deal, I'm at the top of my game--

Until I realize the very woman who got me traded is now the DEO who just signed my deal--under the guise of making amends.

Brilliant, gorgeous, infuriating Bristol McClaren now owns my ass for the next six months.

I might despise her for what happened between us, but I'm legally locked in.

Worse? I haven't been able to stop thinking about that smart mouth since that night.

She screams sex and power and everything I know better than to touch.

But logic doesn't matter when our chemistry incinerates every good intention.

We're either at each other's throats or desperate to rip each other's clothes off.

This can't work.
She's high class New York, and I'm married to the ice in Charleston.

That doesn't stop me from wanting.

When it comes to this woman, I might just forget the past and give her free rein to burn my future. Because one without her in it just isn't an option.

I was smiling like a fool while reading. There were a couple times I found myself laughing. Oh how I loved it. I want more. I need more. I also loved the mention of Lukas Vestergaard. When I read his name I was hoping for him to make an appearance (perhaps with Faith) with Briggs and/or Bristol, but alas it wasn't to be. Sigh. Maybe one day Samantha Whiskey will have the some of the OG Sharks make an appearance.

Of course as I was reading I had a couple questions that I would like answers to. These are not spoilers, so don't worry. My questions are about a couple of the side characters. First of all, with Crossland making an appearance, should I be preparing for another hockey series? Are we headed to Canada next?  I mean, I'd read it. Just prepare me for which Reapers player is getting traded, that's all I ask. Then there is Grace. She mentions Asher Silas a few times. Could she be his love interest in a future book?  I think he could prove her wrong about all rich men being the same. I could also see him encouraging Grace to create her fashion line. Oh, and I need a release date for Caspian's story. You can't just tease that stuff and end the book. NO. Just no.

Tell me about the books you've been reading! Any book that you highly recommend? 

Happy Reading,