What I Read Last Week

Another week in 2023 is complete. Hopefully you are making progress on your reading goals. I know I am. Since it is Monday, that means it's time for another What I Read Last Week post! I love writing these and reflecting back on what I read.

As per usual, it was a pretty good week of reading. Sports romance was involved, I also continued reading a series, and I'm just generally happy with my progress. When it comes to how many books I read, I finished 4 books! That's awesome. The breakdown was 3 ARCs and 1 from my ebook tbr.

Now you might be thinking that 4 books is pretty low as I typically read 6-7 per week. However if you look at the books I read, they were some heavy books. I'm not talking page counts either, but rather the topics discussed. So it makes sense that I didn't read as many. Plus I was able to sit with the books a bit, and digest what I read before putting my reviews together. I have dedicated posts here for three of the books, but my full review for Mikayla Christy's book is on Goodreads.

What did you read last week? Any specific tropes? Authors? Keep scrolling to see what I read, and read these little mini reviews. My kids are on spring break this week, so we'll see how much reading I accomplish. Hope you have a good week.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Devious Obsession by S Massery

S Massery has created these amazing characters and stories that I cannot turn away from. I'm hooked. My review has been posted, so go read it! (friendly warning: it's long winded. as per usual.)

Jagged Thorns by January James

Jagged Thorns is the start of a new series. Therefore the start of this book was building the world, introducing the characters (as well as their histories), and just the standard setting of the stage. That being said for the first 25% of this book I struggled. I did. After that though things picked up. I became more intrigued by the island, by the Thorn family, by the secrets that were clearly being held, and this relationship between Vivian and Rupert. I am not even kidding that once I made it past the 25% mark, things really picked up. We were in to the good stuff so to speak. The intensity ramped up, the connection between our characters deepened, and I had more questions than answers at this point. Before I knew it the book was over, and I got slapped with a cliffhanger. This wouldn't be a big deal, but I have NO CLUE when the second book is coming. I need a release date. My full review will be out on Wednesday!

The Sky At Night by Samantha Lovelock

I have my full review coming tomorrow, but OH MY WORD THIS BOOK! I loved the story. I loved the characters. Yes even our female main character. You see I've had a love to hate relationship with her in the Folkestone Sins series, so I had to warm up to her. As the story unfolded though, the reality of it all was laid out. This book tackles difficult topics, and it also shows these two working towards improving themselves. Falling in love was just a bonus. Samantha Lovelock continues to pull me in with her characters and stories.

Cross Check My Heart by Mikayla Christy

This was such a good debut book! I found myself captivated by the characters, as well as being invested in their stories. Both Lilly and Dom had been through some hard times, and I loved how they opened up to each other. There were some difficult moments discussed in the book, from the death of a family member, to the end of a relationship, to what truly happened during a divorce. What I appreciated about this book though was the found family that Dom discovered. His new team in Tampa was just that for him, and it proved that these unicorn teams do exist. Plus they were all there for Lilly when the situations with her ex occurred. While the relationship being kept secret wasn't my favorite thing, as per usual I can understand why it had to happen. The way it was revealed though had me chuckling. Definitely worth checking this book out if you've been on the fence. I found it through TikTok, and am happy I took the chance on it. 

Thank you January James, S Massery, and Samantha Lovelock for providing me with advanced copies of your books. I greatly appreciate it.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

Thoughts I had while reading The Owner

Going into The Owner, I figured I would do another thoughts while reading post, as well as add in a tiny review at the end. Before we dive in though, LOOK AT THIS COVER! I absolutely love it. The simplicity, the colors, the team logo, all of it. More of this please.

For those who do not know The Owner is the first book in the Dalvegan Dragons hockey series from Xavier Neal. This fictional town is in Texas, and the owner of the team recently died. So the team has now been handed down to his daughter Harlow Hennington. Harlow has been raised around hockey. She lives and breathes the sport. To say she knows the ins and outs would be an understatement. This is her passion, and nothing will stop her from curating a fabulous team. Not even the life changes that are thrown at her. A spontaneous Vegas wedding? No big deal, she can get it annulled. A surprise pregnancy from that Vegas wedding? Uh, that's going to be a bit more of an adjustment. Falling for her husband? Well that is not in the plans, but it might be happening. First though she needs to take care of her team. Everything else can wait. Or can it.

When I first heard the premise of this book I thought it was going to be an owner/athlete relationship. That was where my mind went, and so when I was reading and that WASN'T the case, I was confused. Guess that's what happens when you make an assumption. What this book is though (trope wise) is age gap, opposites attract, Vegas wedding, surprise baby, and workplace. The Owner is also FULL of hockey lingo and chirping. After all Harlow is the owner of the team now, and hockey is life.

What I Read Last Week

It's a new week! My kids are off from school two days this week, and honestly if the weather forecast is right, they could be off all week. It's looking like we could get hit with over a foot of snow. Let me tell ya, I am not excited about the snow. It seems like we had so much this winter, and it was just starting to melt. I told my husband that I'm fine with winter hanging on, but I'd like to unsubscribe to the snow and ice. If only it worked that way.

This week I read 6 books! Quite honestly they were all pretty fabulous. Broken Love Story by Natasha Madison was my favorite of the week. There was just something about those two characters, and all that they had been through, that hit me so hard. Between baseball romance and hockey romance, I read 3 sports romance books. It really is my favorite thing ever. Ever so slowly I am working my way through Gina Azzi's backlist, as well as Natasha Madison's. Their storytelling, and characters, are some of my favorites.

Fill me in on what you read last week. Did you have a favorite? Any duds? What's the reading plan for this week?

Happy Reading,
Laura

What I Read Last Week

Another week is done, and Valentine's Day is just around the corner. It's so strange to think that February is half over. That's just wild.

This week I read 7 books, and I loved the majority of them. There was a couple arcs, sports romance, a geeky romance, a few novellas, and of course books by Natasha Madison and Gina Azzi. By reading those two arcs, I also managed to cross off two more books from my anticipated reads list! With many of the books that I read I found myself laughing, I teared up a few times, and I definitely fell for many of the characters. All in all it was a good reading week.

Tell me about what you read last week. Any favorites? Any misses? What's the reading plan for this week?

Happy Reading,
Laura

What I Read Last Week

I read 9 fabulous books this week! From paranormal to small town to bully to sports romance, it was a phenomenal reading week. Plus I squeezed in a couple short stories that I found on Prime Reading. I love browsing through Prime Reading to see if anything catches my eye.

How did I manage to read 9 books? Well it definitely helped that 3 of them were under 60 pages! Plus there was one novella that was only 94 pages. So having those added in helped me out a lot.

Did you see my anticipated reads post that went up last week? If so, then you'll notice that four of these books were listed there. If you're curious about the tropes for these books, they are mentioned in that post.

What did you read last week? Any favorites? Any misses? What's on tap for this week?

Happy Reading,
Laura

Promised to the Night by Meg Anne and K Loraine

Sneaking Around with the Player by Rebecca Jenshak {a review}

If it's the right person, you shouldn't want to choke them for their annoying, quirky habits, right?

Sneaking Around with the Player is the all new holiday romance from Rebecca Jenshak! This college romance features the following tropes: forbidden, mistaken identity, close proximity, and it's also a sports romance (football & diving).

We first meet Stella and Beau when they run into each other at the airport. Both are heading back to their respective schools, and Stella is trying to avoid her ex. So what does she do? Strike up a conversation with the cute guy sitting near her. It helps that he's watching a video she's familiar with, so they instantly have something to talk about. The attraction is instant, they share numbers, and then Stella's off. It isn't until a while later that it's discovered that Stella is crushing on her brother's frival.

My rating for Sneaking Around with the Player:

I adored this book. When it ended, I found myself wanting more! It felt too short and I'm not ready to be done with this couple.

A few random thoughts:

• Absolutely loved the meet cute.
• Loved that their relationship began through text.
• The fact that Beau is Felix's rival on the football field had me loving that part of the story.
• Also that grand gesture? YES!
• Stella wasn't willing to let that stop her though. Her feelings were solid, and she knew that Beau was who she wanted. Stella was going to battle to make it happen.

Rebecca Jenshak continues to pull me in with her stories, and I keep falling for her characters. She is quickly becoming an auto-buy (and auto-read) author for me. I cannot wait for her next release (which I know is from the Wildcat hockey series), and I am eagerly anticipating Felix's story. Do I know when Felix's story is coming out? No. Do I know the title? Also no. Am I still excited? YEP.

Have you read any of Rebecca Jenshak's books? She's written many, and I feel like there is something for everyone. Her Campus Nights series was one that I really enjoyed, plus it spawned the Wildcat Hockey series, so there's that.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on this book. I do hope you'll check it out.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

It was supposed to be a quick conversation with a cute boy at the airport while I dodged my ex and his new girlfriend.

We weren’t supposed to trade numbers.

He wasn’t supposed to be a football player.

And I definitely wasn’t supposed to fall for him since he’s attending a college a thousand miles away.

I saw past his jersey. And he saw past my last name.

Now it’s semester break, and by some Christmas miracle, he’s going to be close. So close.

I want to meet him again, but there’s just one problem.

My older brother can’t, under any circumstances, find out I’m dating his rival.

Thank you Rebecca Jenshak, and Valentine PR, for providing me with an advanced copy of Sneaking Around with the Player.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

The Mysterious Mr Marcellus by Tomi Tabb {a review}

"This was to be my last chance at making a match. I was foolish to hope that I might finally come away from London a married woman."

Tomi Tabb just released her FIRST Regency Romance novella! When Tomi emailed me, to see if I'd be interested in reviewing The Mysterious Mr Marcellus, I told her that I'd never read a regency romance before. Yet I didn't let that stop me. After all you never truly know what you like and dislike until you've read a lot of different genres, tropes, etc. Since I'm familiar with Tomi's writing, her character development, and all of that, I figured I'd give it a try. It's a novella, so why not? Well let me tell you, I was intrigued.

My rating for The Mysterious Mr Marcellus:

After reading The Mysterious Mr. Marcellus, I now think I need to check out other Regency romances. Or at least others similar to what Tomi has written.

As this was my first (maybe 2nd as I seem to recall a paranormal type regency) Regency, I went into it with an open mind. Like I said above, I know Tomi's writing, so I just trusted that. Honestly I loved this novella. I was immediately curious about Helen, and wanted to know more about her. Then when Mr Marcellus was introduced, my curiosity piqued even more. I truly loved their meet-cute, and the gossip that happened after.

I loved the balls, and all that glitz and glamour. I was fascinated by the visits that took place, and how there was certain protocol and time limitations. All of that was just so interesting.

Now I was confused as to what a "Season" was. I'd never heard that term before, so I had to go to good ole Google. Here's what I found from one website:

The Season refers to the annual period when it was customary for the country’s elite families to unite for balls, dinner parties et al decked in their finest attire.

That makes total sense, and I now understand. I cannot imagine the cost that went into these elaborate events, and what the cost of a full Season truly entailed. Could you imagine that happening today? That would easily be $100k and up. Or at least that's what I'm picturing.

Tomi, you need to write another! Full length or novella, I'll read it!

Now I need Regency recommendations. Novellas are preferred, or anything that you'd recommend to a beginner. Steam level doesn't matter.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

After four unsuccessful Seasons in London, Helen Davenport is aware that she is out of time. Her father cannot afford another Season. With a meager dowry and few connections, what gentlemen would have her? At the age of three and twenty, she might as well consider herself a spinster.

Yet, Helen’s father, Mr. Davenport refuses to give in so easily. After finding a way to raise the funds, Helen soon finds herself in London for one final Season.

When an accident during a morning walk through Hyde Park literally throws her into the path of a gentleman named Mr. Marcellus, Helen learns that there are some circumstances that lie beyond her control. Namely, the vile gossip of the Ton.

With her reputation called into question, Mr. Marcellus promises Helen he will do his duty as a gentleman and marry her. Except there is one problem…no one in town has ever heard of her rescuer. Just who is the mysterious Mr. Marcellus?

Thank you Tomi for providing me with an advanced copy of The Mysterious Mr Marcellus.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

The Cabin at Candy Cane Lane by Laramie Briscoe {a review}

I want this familiarity, this peace. I've needed it for far too long, and if she's the person to give it to me, I'm not going to let it slip through my fingers again.

If you are looking for a Hallmark movie in book form, then The Cabin at Candy Cane Lane by Laramie Briscoe should be the book you pick up. This book is second chance romance, insta-love, forced proximity, small town, and it's set at Christmastime. 

My rating for The Cabin at Candy Cane Lane:

I am a sucker for a second chance romance. Add in one set at Christmas time with forced proximity as one of the tropes, and I'm a goner. This book was short, sweet, and steamy!

Holly has just returned to Blizzard Bluff after her life was flipped upside down. Not only did her wedding not happen, her apartment was all packed up as she was supposed to move with her husband, and now her job is on the line. Perfect timing to head back home to figure it all out. Meanwhile back in Blizzard Bluff, Lucas is there continuing to work at the family business, and feeling stressed. Not only is he stressed, he's also grieving the loss of his dad. It is when he takes a last minute job at a friends cabin, that his life is about to change when he runs into his high school sweetheart.

The Cabin at Candy Cane Lane was a hallmark movie in book format and I loved every second of it.  My only "complaint" is that it wasn't a full length novel. I would have loved to witness Lucas and Holly's relationship build, see some drama/conflict step in to mess things up, and then the reunion. But that is a minor complaint, and I know that this story was meant to be a novella. I mean in Laramie's newsletter today it was even stated:

Since I started writing, I've always wanted to do a Christmas novella that has Hallmark vibes with plenty of steam.

Well Laramie accomplished that! If you are wanting a holiday read in the month of December, go purchase this book!

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

Holly, jolly and all that's naughty...

Holly Wreath

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But not this year; at least not for me.

Laid off from my job, left at the altar, and wanting to bury my head until the new year I head to a family friend's cabin.

Blizzard Bluff was in my rearview as soon as I graduated high school, but now I'm heading back to lick my wounds.

The last person I expect to see is the boy who made my heart pound as a teenager. Only he's a man now, and he's going to be the one to turn my holiday around.

Thank you Laramie Briscoe, and Greys Promotions, for providing me with an advanced copy of The Cabin at Candy Cane Lane.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

One Little Favor by Julia Connors {a review}

She is everything I didn't know I needed, and I'll stop at nothing to make her mine.

One Little Favor by Julia Connors releases on December 2, 2022! This holiday novella is part of the Frozen Hearts series, and I adored this story. We first met Tom and Avery in One Last Shot, and I was hoping that we would get a peek at their relationship. Now here we are, and we're getting all the info. It's Christmastime, and after a phone call with his brother, Tom is in need of a favor. Naturally he turns to Avery, and thus begins their romance.

My rating for One Little Favor:

If you know me at all, you know that I love a good Hallmark Christmas movie. There is something about those romances that just warm my heart, and have me falling. One Little Favor was a steamier version of a Hallmark movie, and I loved every moment of it. From the forbidden workplace aspect, to the fake dating, to realizing that the feelings are not unrequited, it was all just so good. Then there was that situation with a coworker, and ooh the drama! Gotta love those moments of tension, drama, conflict in a romance story. It just has me rooting for the characters even harder.

Aside from the budding relationship with Tom, there's the relationship that Avery has with her parents, and that just made me so happy. I love that bond they have, and how they are a constant in each others lives. Then what Tom did for Christmas, that just won me over even more. That man was willing to do anything for Avery.

One Little Favor may be a novella, but by the end you'll feel as though you really know the characters. 

I must admit that I am falling for Julia's writing, and her characters. I cannot wait to see what Julia writes next. Once it's announced I'll be adding it to my TBR, I know that for certain.

If you are looking for a Christmas romance novella to read in December, then check out One Little Favor. You don't need to read any of the other books in the Frozen Hearts series to enjoy this one. (but if you do want to go back and read the series, the books are worth it.)

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

This is teeing up to be the worst Christmas ever.

First, my parents win a last-minute cruise and ditch me for the white sand beaches of the Caribbean.

Then, my annoyingly sexy boss, Tom, needs one *little* favor—in the form of sacrificing my entire weekend to help him revamp his office space. Now I’m forced to spend the last days before Christmas with the very person I’m trying to avoid.

Some sort of holiday spirit must be in the air, though, because the more time we spend holed up in his corner office together, the harder it becomes to keep our emotions off and our clothes on.

I may have also agreed to be his fake girlfriend, but that part’s unclear. Mostly because nothing that’s developing between us in that office feels fake.

Then he springs a surprise getaway on me—effectively making all my Christmas dreams come true—and suddenly it’s impossible to remember all the reasons getting involved with my boss is a terrible idea.

But no matter how hard he tries to convince me this can work between us, when reality hits, only one of us stands to lose everything. And it isn’t him.

Julia, thank you for providing me with an advanced copy of One Little Favor.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

Wanting You Always by Lizzie Morton {a review}

Her voice is a siren, but instead of warning me to stay away, it draws me in, just like it always has, since the first time we met.

Wanting You Always is the brand new release from author Lizzie Morton. This is the first book in the Always series, and it is a spin off from the Always trilogy. Wanting You Always focuses on Sam and Sophie. These two have been best friends since the moment they met. They have been by each other's side through the good and the bad. They are the support system they each need. It's always been friendship, never more, but things are changing.

My rating for Wanting You Always:

First things first, I have not read the Always Trilogy, so I am going into the Always series not knowing anything about the characters, the band, or the history. Having now read Wanting You Always, I do feel that it may have helped me understand bits and pieces of this book had I read the trilogy. I say that because at times I was a bit lost with certain references to past events. Not only that I feel that I would have better understood the friendships, and the these bonds that they clearly have. That being said not knowing all of this, and the slight confusion didn't affect my enjoyment of this story. If anything it would have enhanced it.

Speaking of the story...I truly did enjoy Sam and Sophie's story. That best friends to lovers storyline hooked me in, and had me wondering how the fall would happen. It also had me waiting for the moment when those feelings were discussed, and how it would affect the friendship. Slow burn and I don't always get along, but this one I didn't really have a problem with. At times I was hoping things would pick up a bit more, but once those lines were crossed all was good. The rockstar vibe was just okay. It felt secondary, but at the same time it gave Sam this friendship that he so needed. I quickly found myself immersed in this world, and wanting to know more about each of the side characters.

Lizzie threw me a curve ball in the form of Russ, and everything that was discovered with his story. My mom heart was immediately gone for that kid. Then as his storyline developed my heart sank. While I don't like what happened in that situation, it did inspire what happened next. 

I think it was Russ that really gave Sophie the courage to rediscover herself. It was because of him that so much happened. Yes Sam was by her side throughout, but this was different. This was Sophie taking a stand, and I loved that. She found her voice and her passion, and she was going to battle.

Also, I love Grams. She's the best. Grams was the comedic relief that was needed from time to time.

While the start of the book confused me a smidgen, by the end I was loving the characters, enjoying their storylines, and rooting for that happily ever after. Not only did Sam and Sophie get their happily ever after, but their new found family did also. 

Now that Sam and Sophie's story is over, I need Shaun's story to be next. I won't accept anyone else. (okay maybe Sooz's story. maybe) Shaun is Sam's big brother, and if I'm reading things correctly, there is a spark between him and Sophie's best friend. So please Lizzie, say they are next!!

Go check out this best friends to lovers romance. I could not put it down, and cannot wait to return to this setting in the future. (rumor has it book 2 is coming in 2023!)

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

Sam Riley has been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember, it’s the wanting him part that is new.

With my personal life falling apart and Sam’s self-doubts putting his music career on the line, we do what we’ve always done best … we lean on each other.

Desperately trying to hold everything together, Sam manages to brighten the darkest of days.

In the middle of the storm, he’s my rainbow.

My person.

My one.

My constant.

Until we find ourselves tiptoeing the line of something more.

Deciding between what’s right and fighting for what we want feels impossible when it comes down to one thing …

Is loving your best friend worth the risk of losing them?

**Wanting You Always is Book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones which act as spin-offs to The Always Trilogy. Each book is a complete story and contains a HEA.**

Thank you Lizzie for providing me with an advanced copy of Wanting You Always. Being a part of #imwithlizziesband has been a wonderful adventure.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

Brutal Obsession by S Massery {a review}

There's a certain thrill that comes with a hunt. And that's exactly what this feels like: she's the prey and I'm the predator, forever trying to get her ensnared.

Brutal Obsession is the brand new dark bully romance from S Massery. Tropes for this book include: sports, anti-hero, enemies to lovers, blackmail, stalker, and so many more. As this is a dark bully romance there is a content warning for certain aspects that may be triggering. Sara mentions many of them at the beginning of the book, but if you want to know specifics send me a message.

Now I can't lie, I went into this book purely for the sports romance storyline. Bully romances are not my normal read, but every once in a while I find myself drawn to them. And certain authors have a way with this genre that keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. Brutal Obsession was no different. I mean heck in the prologue I was gasping, and my hand flew to my mouth. I was so freaking shocked at what had just happened. That portion of the story alone had me unable to put the book down. I may also have stayed up until 1:30am one night as I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. Yes, I paid for it that morning. No I didn't finish the book at that point.

My rating for Brutal Obsession:

Honestly, I loved every single part of this book. EVERY SINGLE PART! Were there times where certain scenes pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit? Well yeah, but not so much so that I had issues. So those scenes weren't over the top.

Is this book dark? Yep! Yep it is. But again, not in an over the top or unenjoyable sense. It is the perfect balance. Sara did a fabulous job with the storytelling, and keeping me pulled in.

Is Grey possessive? ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY! This man knows what he wants, and he's going to get it. Plain and simple. Violet though is no delicate flower. She's feeling that pull, and is discovering so much about herself.

I loved the chase. I loved the protectiveness. I loved, and was a bit obsessed with, the suspense element of the story. That suspense storyline, oh my word. I wasn't expecting it to go that route, but looking back it all makes sense. (When you read the book you'll know what I'm talking about.)

Grey and Violet's story just might be my favorite of the month. There's competition with 2 other books, but they might just push their way to the top. And it would be a very Grey thing to do.

Now, Sara, can Willow be the female lead in the next book? PLEASE! I need that to happen. I just do. My curiosity is piqued with her.

Romance reader friends, you need to check this book out. From the suspense to the steam to just everything within the story, I was captivated. I think you'll enjoy this one.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

He shattered my leg, and now he wants to ruin the rest of me.

Greyson Devereux is a menace–but only to me.

To everyone else, he’s charismatic.

He’s the son of a senator and the star of the university’s hockey team.

When all I want is to be invisible, he drags me into the spotlight.

He wants my blood, my fear, my attention.

Resisting him only worsens his obsession.

Fighting solidifies it.

He’s brutal, and he draws out a sick darkness in me that enjoys it.

But I’ll be damned if I let him become my downfall.

Thank you S Massery, and Candi Kane PR, for providing me with an advanced copy of Brutal Obsession.

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

All We Are by JH Croix {a review}

Thea was a drug, the very best kind for my body, the forbidden fruit.

The time has come for the final book in the Haven's Bay Holiday series from JH Croix. That means it's time for All We Are which is Thea's story! As we learned in All We Have, Thea and Joe were high school sweethearts who were heartbroken when their relationship ended. After all it wasn't their choice, but rather that of a parent. Now here we are years later, and their meet cute involves a snowstorm. I love a good second chance romance!

My rating for All We Are:

If you've read my reviews for All I Want, All We Have, and All I Need you'll know that I have mixed feelings about this series. When I first heard of the Haven's Bay Holiday series, my mind immediately went to Hallmark and Lifetime movies. I fully expected that quintessential holiday romance. You know what I'm talking about, the instalove, small town, major holiday vibes romance. That's what I wanted. That was what I built up in my head. How could I not when this is marketed as a holiday romance series set in a small town. Maybe I've just watched too many of those movies over the years. (and I'll continue to watch them.)

That being said, I enjoyed Thea and Joe’s story. Their meet cute was adorable, and I love their history together. First loves reuniting will always tug at my heartstrings. 

Then there's the fact that Joe is a dad! He has a little boy who he doesn't get to spend a lot of time with, but when they are together, you can feel the love. This storyline hit those mama feelings. No it wasn't perfect, but there is nothing perfect about being a parent. Plus Joey has been through a lot in his little life, so I fully expected things to not be smooth sailing. I will say I wasn't expecting the twist that came into play. I'm still not in favor of that twist. I feel it was unnecessary. But that's just me.

Thea's reason for returning to Maine makes sense as she was looking for an escape. The news she received back in Boston wasn't something she had expected. Plus the person she had been dating didn't handle that news all the best. So she was nursing heartache on top of that news. I have mixed feelings about how her and Joe reestablished their relationship. Plus that storyline regarding Thea's news was never really closed with other individuals. I don't like to say "closed", but that storyline made it seem as though it would be a discussion with others, but those discussions never happened. It was essentially swept under the rug. I will say that I was happy that JH Croix didn't take that storyline another route with a "Christmas miracle" type situation.

While this reunion started in December, it didn't all happen that month. So would I consider it a holiday romance? No I would not. See my above expectations for this series. Was Thea and Joe's reunion still a good story? Yes it was. Was it my favorite of the series? No it wasn't. I would say that it was my second favorite. Noah and Sasha's story was my favorite. Did I enjoy the second chance romance for Thea and Joe? OH absolutely! Second chance romance is a weakness of mine.

Final thoughts...The stories in the Haven's Bay Holiday series were enjoyable. I just had higher expectations for the storytelling after reading a couple of JH's series that are set in Alaska. At times it felt like the Haven Bay stories jumped forward too much, and it just didn't flow how I'm accustomed to. I also can't help but come back to the "holiday" moniker. These are not holiday romances, not by any means. They are the standard contemporary romance, and they just begin in the month of December.

Do I recommend the series? Yes, but no. As with any book, it's all about the reader. If the descriptions of the books sound interesting, go for it. I just suggest going in with an open mind. Only you can determine if the book is right for you. Don't let my thoughts deter you from reading. If you do decide to read the series, please let me know your thoughts.  Also, which couple is your favorite?

Happy Reading,
Laura

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A swoony small town holiday romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!

✔️ Two broken hearts
✔️ One holiday week
✔️ Swoony second chance
✔️ Holiday hotness
✔️ Small town shenanigans


The forbidden bad boy. The rich good girl. High school sweethearts.

The last person I expect to see when my car breaks down is Joe Martinelli. I broke my own heart when I moved away after high school. Joe is my first and only love, and my father refused to let us see each other.

That was all before my father blew our family up and landed in jail for fraud. I meant to escape to Maine for the week before Christmas, except it turns out my brother is holed up at the house with my friend. I have a broken down car and nowhere to go.

Of course, it’s also snowing so heavily I can only see a few feet in front of me. When Joe offers to let me stay at his place, it seems like the smart plan. It has nothing to do with how hot he is, absolutely nothing to do with how much I missed him, and definitely nothing to do with my latest bad luck in romance.

One night turns into two, one kiss turns into three and even more.

Joe & Thea’s story is perfect for readers who love: swoony second chances, broken hearts mended, small town gossip, emotional romance with a dash of angst, plenty of swoon and all the feels, and a protective hero who’ll do anything to win back the only girl he ever loved.

Thank you JH Croix, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of All We Are.

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