Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Bad Crush {a review}



Bad Crush by Rebecca Jenshak is the second book in the Campus Nights series. I had an opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book, and I was hooked immediately.

Now it's been YEARS (ahem, 2 decades) since I've been in college, but that doesn't stop me from reading these new adult romances that have a college setting. I'm all for it. Let's just say that my time at college was nothing like the characters. đŸ¤£ This lady was either in class, at work, babysitting, or driving home for the occasional weekend. In other words, BORING. (but if you know me, then you know that's who I am. I love being at home, and laying low.)

Enough about me, and my lack of social life at college though. Let's talk about Reagan and Adam. These two initially met a couple of years ago when Reagan was moving into the same apartment complex that Adam lives in. It was an instant attraction for Reagan. One look at Adam, and the crush began. 

Reagan also happens to be best friends with Ginny. Who is Ginny you ask? Well that would be Adam's sister. Yep, this is a best friend's sibling romance. Over the last couple of years, Adam and Reagan have developed a friendship (maybe due to proximity, maybe because of Ginny). So it is also friends to lovers romance. AND I AM HERE FOR IT! Add in the fact that Adam is the captain of the hockey team, and that just ramps up my interest in the book. Sorry, not sorry.

What can I even tell you about the storyline? Well you know they are neighbors. You know they are friends. You also know that Reagan has a crush on Adam. One night, Reagan gets a little drunk (after a horrible date), and creates a little glitter heart that has a note attached for Adam. It is declaring her crush, and laying her heart on the line. She gets this letter into his apartment (and bedroom) with the help of Ginny. The next morning rolls around, and Reagan remembers what happened and NEEDS to get that card/note/what-have-you back. So she does, and her secret is safe. Fast forward a little bit, and Adam needs a date to accompany him to a banquet. He is trying to obtain a scholarship for medical school, and so he has to attend. Adam asks Reagan to join him. And THAT is where things begin to change. 

Seriously, I want to tell you so much more about the storyline and how everything ends up, but that would be wrong. That would be ruining things for others. I refuse to do that.

Here's what I will say. Bad Crush was a terrific story. The setting was fabulous. The characters (main + side) were AMAZING. And I loved every moment of it. My heart soared, my heart crashed, and I may have wanted to knock some sense into Reagan's mom. I fell for these characters, and I am definitely going to continue with the series. (as well as go back and read Secret Puck which is Heath and Ginny's story.)

So if you like hockey romance, friends to lovers, best friend's sibling, and/or the college setting, then please pick up Bad Crush. I think you'll like it. I know I did.

Thank you for taking time to read,




Please scroll a little further to read the teaser for Bad Crush. There are also links to add this book to your Goodreads page, as well as links should you like to purchase a copy.


Bad Crush by Rebecca Janshek is now live!


Reasons not to crush on Adam:
He's my best friend's brother.
He's my neighbor.
He's the captain of the hockey team.
He's a serial monogamist who's sworn off dating.
Reasons not to fake date Adam:

See above.

He has no idea I actually like him—like really like him.
But do I listen to any of those really great reasons? Of course not.

Now, thanks to my amazing and convincing acting skills, one fake date ends with him being my

fake fiancé (oops!).

My bad crush has gotten me in way over my head.






Meet Rebecca


Rebecca is a new adult romance author, sports lover, and caffeine addict. When she isn't writing, you can find her hanging with family and friends or with her nose buried in a book.

 

Connect with Rebecca

Website | www.rebeccajenshak.com

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The Best Man {a review}



The Best Man is the second book in the Jasper Falls series by Lydia Michaels, and it just released on April 27, 2021! I had read Wake My Heart (book 1) back in February, and enjoyed that emotional story between Maggie and Ryan. Ooh the tears that book caused! When I finished Wake My Heart, I knew I would want to continue on with the series. So when I saw that The Best Man was coming soon, I knew that it would be an automatic read.

As per usual, the only thing I knew about The Best Man, was what the teaser told me. So I knew that Pat Cooney was returning home to Jasper Falls to open a private medical practice. I also knew that he was returning home to celebrate Ryan's marriage to Maggie. (you can read their story in Wake My Heart.) The teaser also mentions a woman named Julie, but other than knowing they were childhood friends, I didn't know anything further.

So fast forward to me reading the story. Pat was living in Philadelphia with Jo Cook. They had been childhood friends, and when they both left Jasper Falls it just made sense to live together. As friends. For you see, Pat has been in love with Jo's twin sister for YEARS, but he's never made a move or expressed his interest. Pat convinces Jo to come back to Jasper Falls for Ryan's wedding, and they agree to go as each other's date. Meanwhile in Maryland, Julie Cook is trying to remind Lance that he agreed to go back to Jasper Falls for the wedding. The relationship between Julie and Lance has been rough, and Julie doesn't know what to do. But she does know she's going home for this wedding with or without her fiancee.

There is so much that happened in this story. There is so much that was revealed about Julie's relationship with Lance. I could spoil the entire story and tell you all of it, but that wouldn't be the right thing to do. 

What I will tell you is that I am so proud of Julie. I'm proud of her for realizing what was happening to her. I'm proud of her for walking away. I'm also proud of Jo, and the fact that she finally told her parents what she needed to say. Now, I do want to smack the parents for their reaction, but from how the story is written, that reaction is on par for who the parents are. I also want to give kudos to Patrick on FINALLY putting his heart out there and telling Julie all the things. I know that couldn't have been easy for him. Patrick having Julie set the pace for the relationship was also pretty amazing. Patrick was just there for her in whatever capacity she needed him. Then there is Lance, and ooooh that man. I hope karma comes for him.

The Best Man was seriously such a fantastic read. I do wish the book had been just a smidgen longer, and that we could have witnessed a few more things happening. But it is what it is, and even without that extra that I crave, I loved this story.

If you are a fan of the friends to lovers trope, the best friend's sibling trope, and/or small town romance, please give The Best Man a read. I think you'll enjoy it. 

Thanks for reading,



Please scroll a bit further to read the teaser for The Best Man. There will also be links to connect with Lydia Michaels, a link to add the book to your Goodreads, and (if you want to) a link to purchase the book.

The Best Man by Lydia Michaels is now live!

Patrick fell for Julie in kindergarten, when she shared her snack with him. As her childhood best friend, he adored and protected her for years, until she gave her heart to someone else. Loving Julie meant letting her choose her own path, so he did the gentlemanly thing and bowed out of her life, but never stopped loving her from afar. 

When Patrick returns to Jasper Falls for his brother's wedding, Julie is there--alone--and he decides it's time to hang his heart on the line, but Julie has been keeping secrets, too. 

Is it ever too late for a first love? When it comes to Julie Cook, there could never be another. And, this time, Patrick Clooney is determined to prove himself as the best man.




  Download today!

Amazon: http://mybook.to/tbmlm

 Apple Books: http://apple.co/2OuGTBn

Nook: http://bit.ly/3bHkSrP

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3ezHRqW

Google Play: http://bit.ly/3qM6nHr

 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3lb60oG





Meet Lydia


Lydia Michaels is the author of over thirty-five novels and the consecutive winner of the 2018 & 2019 Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media, as well as the recipient of the 2014 Best Author Award from the Courier Times. She has been featured in USA Today, Romantic Times Magazine, Love & Lace, and more. As the host and founder of the East Coast Author Convention, the Behind the Keys Author Retreat, and Read Between the Wines, she continues to celebrate her growing love for readers and romance novels around the world.

Lydia is happily married to her childhood sweetheart. Some of her favorite things include the scent of paperback books, listening to her husband play piano, escaping to her coastal home at the Jersey Shore, cheap wine, 80's pop culture, coffee, and kilts. She hopes to meet you soon at one of her many upcoming events. 

 

Connect with Lydia 

Website | www.LydiaMichaelsBooks.com

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Smolder {a review}

 


Do you ever read a book, and wish you could befriend the characters? Or move to that town? Because that was me with the book Smolder.

Friends, I recently read an advanced copy of Smolder by Emma Renshaw and it was absolutely fabulous. It is set in a small town. It has romance. It has heartache. It has family drama. It has suspense. It also, as per most romances I read, has a HEA. Smolder had me feeling so many different emotions while reading. I mean heck, I cried during the PROLOGUE! The freaking prologue. I knew right then and there that this story was going to be good.

Everything that Makenna has gone through has me wanting to give her a gigantic hug. Oh this woman has been through so much in her life. Love, loss, heartache, grief, she's experienced it all. And while she's had family and friends nearby, she's struggled with all of this primarily by herself. Makenna's been holding this in, and keeping certain aspects a secret. Now though, now Makenna is ready to fully heal. Still though she'd like to keep those secrets hidden. But there's Cort, and he can see right through Makenna. He is there, by her side, helping her as one of her biggest secrets is revealed. 

Also, I love the prank wars between the police and fire departments. Loved it. Seriously.

And the suspense part of Smolder? Oooh, it was good. I can't lie, I figured out who was behind it all fairly quickly, but I didn't know the motive until later. And when that was dropped, I can't say I was overly surprised. Everything that came out during that scene of the book, caught me off guard, but I wasn't surprised that this person did what they did.  Okay I'm not saying anything further because I'm not going to spoil anything.

By the way, Smolder is the fourth (and final) book in the Burn series. They can be read as standalones, but oh how I wish I had discovered this series back at the first book. And yes, you already know I am going to go back and read those first three books. Oh, and I would absolutely love it if Emma Renshaw would stay in this little town and continue writing stories. (or maybe she has and I just need to go look at her website. hmmm)

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,



Please scroll a bit further to read the teaser for Smolder. There are also links to connect with Emma Renshaw, add Smolder to your Goodreads list, as well as links to purchase the book. Thanks!

Anchored Hearts {a review}

When I read the teaser for Anchored Hearts, I was immediately drawn in. I love a good second chance romance, and I was looking forward to witnessing how Alejandro and AnamarĂ­a were going to reconnect. I was also curious about the moms and how they might do a little pushing. Oh and knowing this book is set in the Florida Keys, I automatically knew the setting was going to be AH-MAZING.

If you haven't read the teaser (it's posted down below), I'll fill you in a little bit. Alejandro is an extremely talented photographer who has traveled the world. On one of his most recent trips, he was going for a shot, and fell. When he fell he broke his leg. That led him home to his parents house, where he could be taken care of, and loved upon. Well who happens to be an EMT/Firefighter, and also his ex? AnamarĂ­a. So when Alejandro needs a check up, his mom calls her in. Does AnamarĂ­a want to do this? NO! She wants nothing to do with Alejandro. But she also can't say no to family, and Alejandro's family is like her own.

Here's the thing. This book was good, but it left me feeling a little underwhelmed. Anchored Hearts is billed as a romance, but while the romance is there, it's really more of a side story. To me, the real story is between Alejandro, his father, and expectations. That is where it felt like the book focused. Well that and AnamarĂ­a's business kicking off. The romance storyline was lacking in my mind. Now don't get me wrong, when things finally amped up, they went fast, but still it didn't feel right. Does that make sense? Yes, I liked the characters. Yes I loved the setting. Yes I loved the fact that this was a second chance romance with meddling mothers! (and oh how these mothers meddled!) Yes, I wish I could see the photos that Alejandro took while in Cuba! All that to say, the book fell a little flat for me. At times it just felt like there was too much filler, and there was a slow burn happening that didn't need to happen.

Have you read Anchored Hearts? What were your thoughts about the book? Did I just completely miss the mark and perhaps read too fast? 

Thanks for reading,


Please scroll a little further to read the teaser for Anchored Hearts. There are also links to connect with Priscilla, add the book to your Goodreads, as well as links should you choose to purchase the book.

Monday, April 26, 2021

Weekly Wrap Up


It's that time again my friends! It's time to talk about the books that I read last week.

Last week was a quiet week here in our household. The only major happening was my oldest turned 14! I'm in denial about this, as well as the fact that he's starting high school in the fall. Time, you need to slow down. Please.

As for this week, well it's my birthday week! And I kicked it off by being selected as a random winner in Xavier Neal's Facebook group. So yay me. I'll be getting some sort of goodie bag from her. As for celebrating, well I did try to convince my husband to take my birthday off from work, but I don't think it's happening. My husband is going to pick up a cake, and it sounds like he's taking the kids out tonight to grab a present.

Okay back to talking about books. What a week it was! OH MY WORD. It was nothing short of phenomenal. I mean on Sunday alone I read 3 books. THREE! Okay yes, one was a novella, but still. Oofta.

Let's talk about my stats. Last week, I read
8 Books
6 were ARCs
1, 848 Pages

My favorite book of the week was Savage Queen by Alley Ciz. This book was so dang good. The fact that it ended on a cliffhanger made me want to throw my kindle. Now I'll just be eagerly anticipating Ruthless Noble which is rumored to be releasing sometime in June 2021.

Now that you know my favorite read, let's go through the books I read. (and yes, they are posted in order.)

1) Bad Crush

by Rebecca Jenshak
Rating: 4 Stars


Bad Crush is the second book in the Campus Nights series by Rebecca Jenshak. It is is a new adult romance, and features many tropes that I love. Such as friends to lovers, fake engagement, and best friend's sibling. Oh, Ethan is also a hockey player, so Bad Crush is a sports romance as well. I loved the setting, loved the characters, I felt a range of emotions while reading, and was not ready for it to be over.

Bad Crush is releasing on April 27, 2021.  Add it to your Goodreads, or preorder on Amazon.


2) Caged

by Elise Faber
Rating: 4 Stars


Caged by Elise Faber is the 11th book in the Gold Hockey series, and I seriously think this might be my favorite. I know. I know. Simply put, Caged gave me everything I want in a romance novel. Add in the fact that it is hockey romance, and that just adds to my love. I want more of Dani and Ethan.

Caged released on April 12, 2021. Add it to your Goodreads, or purchase it on Amazon.



3) The Best Man

by Lydia Michaels
Rating: 4 Stars
The Best Man by Lydia Michaels is the second book in the Jasper Falls series, and it was fabulous. I know above I said I gave it 4 stars, but in my comments on Goodreads I said 4.5 stars. There was just something about Patrick and Julie that captured my attention. Maybe it was everything Julie went through. Maybe it was the fact that Patrick had loved her for the majority of their lives, and he finally told her. The Best Man was very close to getting five stars from me. So why didn't I? Honestly I just wanted a bit more from the story. At times it felt rushed. So that held me back.

The Best Man releases on April 27, 2021. Add it to your Goodreads, or purchase on Amazon.


4) Anchored Hearts

by Priscilla Oliveras
Rating: 3 Stars


Anchored Hearts by Priscilla Oliveras is the second book in the Keys to Love series. Above I said 3 stars, and that is what I marked it as on Goodreads, but really I feel it is more of a 3.5 star book. The story was good. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes, so I was looking forward to that. Loved the setting, and was intrigued by the characters. That being said, in my mind the focus of the story wasn't so much on the romance between Alejandro and Anamaria, but more so on the strained relationships and the families. I guess I went into the book expecting one thing, and left a bit let down.

Anchored Hearts is releasing on April 27, 2021. Add it to your Goodreads, or purchase on Amazon.

5) Smolder

by Emma Renshaw
Rating: 4 Stars

Smolder by Emma Renshaw is the fourth, and final, book in the Burn series. This book had me crying in the prologue. Oh that opening gutted me. My heart hasn't quite recovered yet. If you like romance books with a little suspense, then GRAB THIS BOOK! Just prepare yourself to feel all the feelings, and to go on this ride with Makenna and Colt.

Smolder is releasing on April 27, 2021. Add it to your Goodreads, or purchase on Amazon.

6) Savage Queen

by Alley Ciz
Rating: 4 Stars

Hey look, it's my favorite book of the week! Savage Queen by Alley Ciz is the first book in the Royalty Crew duet, and OH MY WORD. I actually am giving this book 4.5 stars, but you know Goodreads and not being allowed to give half stars. Now, if you've been around, you know that I am a it obsessed with the Folkestone Sins series by Samantha Lovelock. Well, Savage Queen gave me major Folkestone vibes. Just on the east coast. Seriously, if you like the enemies to lovers trope , then go grab this one. Just trust me. Oh, but prepare yourself for the cliffhanger. 

Savage Queen releases on April 29, 2021. Add it to your Goodreads, or purchase on Amazon.


7) Mason

by Megan O'Brien
Rating: 4 Stars


Mason by Megan O'Brien is a spin off of her Ride MC series That being said, Mason is not a member of the club, instead Mason is a professional football player, and he immediately fell for Ellie. The moment she walked into his room, he had to know this woman. This story was so good. I can't even fully put it into words. If you like instalove, then give Mason a try. If you like alpha males in your stories, then read this one. The book also has a bit of suspense and that is when you get to see Mason go into protector mode. It was so good. 

Mason is releasing on May 3, 2021. Add it to your Goodreads, and purchase on Amazon.

8) Countdown to a Kiss

by Piper Rayne
Rating: 4 Stars


Countdown to a Kiss is the prequel to the Hockey Hotties series by Piper Rayne. This novella sets the stage so to speak. It is here that we meet Aiden, Maksim, and Ford. They all play for the Florida Fury and are at the New Years Eve party hosted by the owner of the team. It is at this party that the guys meet Saige, Paisley, and Lena. Well to be fair, Ford already knows Lena, but still. She had to show up at the party to drag his butt back to New York to meet with his dad. Is it June yet so I can read My Lucky #13? I am beyond ready for Aiden's story.

Countdown to a Kiss was released on April 15, 2021. Add it to your Goodreads, or purchase on Amazon. (psst, as of today this is a free download! so go grab it!)
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