Fallen {a review}

Fallen by Rebecca Barber is officially available! This firefighter romance is set in K Bromberg's Everyday Heroes world, and I really enjoyed it. If you're wondering about the tropes that Fallen falls into, I would say single parent, found family, and slow burn.

Zach is a firefighter who is relatively new to the crew. As he is finishing up one of his shifts, he and Grady hear an alarm sound. Neither are familiar with this alarm, and so it catches them off guard. That is until they realize it is the safe haven alarm sounding. Hoping that it is just kids playing around, the guys run to the box to check. When they arrive they find that someone had left a baby behind. Zach immediately reaches for the baby, and as soon as the baby is in his arms, he's smitten. After getting the baby checked out at the hospital, in walks Lily. She had been called to act as the foster parent. Lily is nervous about stepping into the role, but she's always wanted to be a mother, and this may be her only chance. Lily sees Zach holding the baby, and she cannot take her eyes off of him. And in that hospital room is where their story officially begins. From that point on we find Lily struggling with parenthood, especially with a baby who does nothing but scream. Well except when Ava is in Zach's arms. Then the little one is as quiet as can be. Add in the fact that Lily is overwhelmed with parenthood, she also has a business to run, and that is overwhelming her as well. Then there is Zach, and the attraction that she is fighting with him.

Firefighter romances are not something that I've read a lot of. Don't get me wrong, I would love to, but other than Samantha Christy's series, I haven't really delved into the profession. So if you have recommendations for me, let me know! There was something about Fallen though that had me falling. Maybe it was Zach, his profession, and the instant love he felt for the baby. Maybe it was Lily, her love for baby Ava, how she was handling parenting, the family relationships she was grieving, and her profession. Maybe is was Zach's mom playing matchmaker. Maybe it was the razzing that the guys at the station were giving Zach. Maybe it was the story itself. I'm not entirely certain. What I do know is that I enjoyed the story and the characters. I felt the feelings when Zach found Ava. I felt the slow burn between Zach and Lily. I felt the passion. I felt the heartache. I felt the joy after the big dramatic moment when our couple came back together. I felt the love between this found family. I did struggle occasionally with some of the wording that the author used, as it wasn't words or phrasing that I am familiar with. Well some of the words were, but they were used in a different way. An example would be "nursing the baby". Now in my mind, this means that a baby is being breastfed, but in the story it meant the baby was being cuddled, held, and/or comforted. It was that phrasing that caught me off guard, and had me pausing to think a bit more. Another example was "buzz box". This was a phrase I had never heard before, but with clues from the story I was able to determine that it is vehicle. Google tells me it is a small car with a noisy engine. I learned something new! Those wording differences didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. Not at all. Like I said above, these unique ways of phrasing just had me pausing to think, and using context clues.

If you enjoy the Everyday Heroes World that K Bromberg created, firefighter romances, or the tropes I mentioned at the beginning, then I think you should give Fallen a read. If you are a Kindle Unlimited (KU) subscriber, Fallen is available to read at no extra cost.  So add it to your list!

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,
Laura

Fallen is a contemporary romance written in K. Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes World full of heart-wrenching and emotional moments, punctuated by sizzling chemistry.

When Zach Higgins rolled out of bed to go start his shift at the firehouse this morning, he never thought he’d end his day falling in love.

All it took was one flutter of her tiny eyelashes and Zach was wrapped around her chubby little finger.

The last thing Zach wanted to do was hand her over to a stranger. That was until the woman of his dreams turned up in her petticoat and pearls to take the baby home.

---

Lily Evans always wanted to be a mother. She’s dreamt of the day she got to hold her baby in her arms and sing lullabies as they drifted off to sleep.

But the world had other plans for Lily and her motherhood dreams.

When an opportunity to foster an abandoned baby arises, she jumps at the chance.

What Lily doesn't expect is to find her in the arms of a shirtless, sexy as sin, tattooed firefighter with an accent.

This Aussie firefighter sets her on fire in ways she’d rather not admit to. Lily was not prepared for Zach to turn her world upside down but was he everything she’d been waiting for?

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

EXCERPT

Stepping inside the waiting room, I headed for the lady seated behind the counter. When she looked up over the top of her black-rimmed glasses, I didn’t miss the way her eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed. Not that I could blame her; I could barely believe it myself. I’m sure I looked like shit. I needed a shave, my shirt was tossed over my shoulder, my arms were covered in tattoos, and I had a tiny baby snuggled against me.

“C-c-can I help you?” she stuttered as she pulled her glasses off and set them down on her desk.

“I need someone to take a look at this little guy.”

“What seems to be wrong with him?”

Looking around at the waiting room, I wasn’t surprised to see people staring back at me. I didn’t give two shits what they thought about me. They weren’t important. But this little guy, he was. And he deserved more than being gawked at like he was an exhibit at the zoo.

AUTHOR BIO

Rebecca is a clumsy, introverted, bubble bath loving, chocoholic who'd rather read a book than go shopping. And don't even mention shoe shopping!

Rebecca is a lucky girl - one of four kids to school teacher parents. Wife to a football obsessed husband. Aunt to the most crazy/adorable little girls. And sister to two very determined sisters and one easy going brother.

Rebecca lives in Canberra Australia and spends way too many hours a day working the day job.

She is a book whore who can easily (and happily) read a book from start to finish in one sitting and spends her spare time writing.

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Amazon | Website | Goodreads | BookBub

Thank you to Rebecca Barber and Give Me Books PR for providing me with an advanced copy of Fallen.

A New Carolina Reapers Book? Say WHAT?!?

 

Friends, when I opened up Facebook this morning I was surprised to see a post from Samantha Whiskey. In that post, Samantha announced that the next book in the Carolina Reapers series is coming. ON SUNDAY! CASPIAN’S STORY IS COMING!

And yes, I was having a Jessie Spano moment when I read the news. Yes, I am beyond excited because it feels like it’s been forever since Briggs was released. But I’m also “scared” because I know I’ll read the book so dang fast, and then I’ll be without a Samantha Whiskey book to read. Such a bookworm problem, I know.

I took a moment to squee like the fangirl I am, and then instantly went to Amazon to see if there was a pre-order link. Sadly there was not. Then I went to Goodreads to add it to my TBR, but it’s not there either. UGH.  I just want to do my normal fangirl procedure. But since I cannot, I am sharing the news with all of you.

If you are someone who enjoys sports romance, more specifically hockey romance, and you enjoy the fake dating trope, then keep Caspian on your radar. You’re going to want to read it. Trust me. Also, if you haven’t read the Seattle Sharks series or the Carolina Reapers series, what are you waiting for? Go get them. If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free!

So what’s the story about? Well, I’m glad you asked. Here is the teaser that Samantha Whiskey posted in the announcement.

𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐀𝐍

She’s the girl next door, and for the next two weeks I’ll be her NHL star boyfriend.

When Ryleigh Dunham needs a date for my sister’s wedding—one confident and sexy enough to make her ex jealous—I’m more than happy to sign up for the job.

After all, Ryleigh isn’t the feisty teenager I used to know—now she’s all fiery passion, delectable curves, and a smart mouth I can’t get enough of.

Only problem is, I can’t stop the electricity crackling between us every time we’re “faking it.”

And the longer we play the game, the harder I’m falling.

Ryleigh feels it too, but she’s stuck in a past that refuses to let her go. 

Now I’m playing for her future, and if we can’t see beyond our stubbornness, we may lose our shot at one hell of a happily ever.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go start a countdown on my phone. And set a reminder for Sunday. Not that I really need it, but allow me to fangirl.

If you've read any of Samantha Whiskey's books, then chances are you know how giddy I am over the news! Stay tuned for my review, because it will happen next week.

Thanks for reading my thoughts,

Laura

My Top 3 Favorite Tropes

There are so many amazing romance books on the market just waiting to be read. When looking for new books, you might be searching by the sub-genre, and/or the trope that they fall into, or you may just be searching for your favorite author. No matter how you search for books, chances are you may have heard people talk about tropes. Tropes are a way to describe the plot of the story, or better yet it’s a representation of the character, setting, or storyline. It’s familiar. It’s known. When you know the trope, you will have a good idea of what will happen between the main characters. You know how they’ll fall in love, and potentially have their happily ever after.

There are many tropes that I adore. Some are definitely more preferred than others. That being said, it seems with a lot of books I am discovering I enjoy tropes that I thought I otherwise wouldn’t. So it’s been an interesting journey. But that’s a post for a different day.

Today I want to share my top 3 favorite tropes in the romance genre. I will even give you a few examples of books to go with it. Hey, if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for book recommendations.

My Top 3, in no particular order, are:

1. Friends to Lovers

2. Best Friend’s Sibling

3. Second Chance Romance

Friends to Lovers

The name of the trope tells you exactly what you are getting. Our main characters have been friends for a good amount of time, and eventually they both want more in their friendship. They want romance. They want a partner. They want a happily ever after, and they see this person as their forever person.

So why is this one of my favorite tropes? Honestly, it comes down to the fact that it’s what a lot of people want, or a lot of people experience. Plus there is the history that you share with this person. You have these memories that you’ve created together as friends, and now you’re able to take it to the next chapter. You’re still friends, but there’s the added intimacy of the relationship now as well.

Here are a few books that I think you’d enjoy if you like the friends to lovers trope.

1. The Rule Maker by Gina Azzi

   Austin and Chloe were childhood friends, but were separated due to her family moving. Now that her family is back in town, and she’s gone through a recent breakup, these two friends reconnect.

2. Secrets of the World’s Worst Matchmaker by Piper Rayne
   Colton and Juno are best friends, and have been for a long time. Juno has a job as a matchmaker, and she had fixed Colton up with someone else. Now she’s regretting that choice, and is a bit heartbroken.

3. Restless Things by Samantha Lovelock

   Sunday and Payne have been friends since they were small children. They’ve been through a lot together, and know each other’s secrets. Now though, they are both starting to feel that pull towards wanting more. But yet they are fighting it. Or at least Sunday is. *note that this is book 3 in an on-going series. While it is the start of Sunday and Payne’s story, it is best that you start from the beginning with Fragile Things.

Best Friend’s Sibling

This trope is also known as Brother’s Best Friend, but sometimes there is a role reversal, so I like to change the wording ever so slightly. The Best Friend’s Sibling trope is just what it sounds like, one of our characters is falling for the brother or sister of their best friend. 

Now I can’t lie, when I was a teenager, I wanted this to happen. I wanted to fall for one of my brother’s friends, and I wanted it reciprocated. It is what it is. But that isn’t what happened in my life, and I am perfectly okay with that. I’m more than happy with my workplace romance. (which yes, is another trope.) I honestly think that teenage desire is what sparked my love of this trope. Plus it’s just such a Hallmark Movie waiting to happen. Ya know?

I have plenty of examples I could offer, but I’ll stick to three.

1. Gravity by KL Jessop

   Gray is best friends with Nora’s big brother. He has been fighting this attraction for years now. After all there is quite the age gap happening, and he’s worried about what others will think. Especially his best friend.

2. Southern Heart by Natasha Madison

   Mayson is suddenly in town, and arrives at his best friend’s house severely injured. When he arrives Chelsea is there taking care of the kids, and is scared out of her mind. But her medical training kicks in, and she ends up saving Mayson’s life. Ethan isn’t too sure about this relationship, and he really does not want his little sister with one of his friends.

3. Home Game by Lisa Suzanne

   Oh Luke and Ellie! Ellie has recently moved to Vegas after being fired from her previous job. The timing is perfect because her brother is about to get married. The night before the wedding, Ellie meets Luke, and they have a one night stand. Or what should be a one night stand. As Ellie quickly finds out, Luke is her brother’s best friend. Luke is also the guy who she’s about to move in with.

Second Chance Romance

This trope just pulls at my heartstrings. Our main characters have been in a relationship together previously, but something didn’t work out for various reasons. Now though, they’ve grown. They’ve changed. They haven’t forgotten the other person, and they want them back. And these stories tell us how they end up achieving their happily ever after.

I think the reason I enjoy the second chance romance trope so much is because most of us have been there. The relationship has ended, but you’re not ready for it to be done. You can still see yourself with the other person, and you’d love nothing more than to get back together with them. You feel that connection, and you can see them as your forever person. The other reason I enjoy it so much is because of Hallmark movies. I can’t lie, I freaking love those movies. The cheesier the better. What can I say, I just love a good happily ever after!

Here are three book recommendations for the Second Chance Romance trope.

1. Rules for Dating Your Ex by Piper Rayne

   Sedona and Jameson were high school sweethearts. They couldn’t imagine being without the other person. But when they moved to New York, something changed in their relationship. Feelings were hurt. Hearts were broken. Now Sedona has returned to Alaska, and she’s trying to mend her broken heart. It is going okay until the day that Jameson shows up.

2. Southern Chance by Natasha Madison

   Kallie and Jacob were deeply in love. They thought they would be together forever. That is until prom night when Jacob left with Savannah. That night, Kallie’s heart was shattered. Now it is many years later, and Kallie is returning home. Jacob is now the chief of police, and he will be impossible to avoid. Everyone in town knows their history. Now they will get to witness these two reconnect, but can they get their HEA?

3. Roped Tight by Kim Loraine

   Sam and Tucker met as teenagers. Sam was just starting to figure out who he is, and he was suddenly swept off his feet by Tucker. But Sam was having issues with it. He didn’t want his sexuality out there for others to know, and announcing he and Tucker were a thing would be doing just that. Tucker came to the Ryker Ranch to work as a ranch hand, and quickly became like family. He and Sam had an amazing night together, and then Sam left town. Now it’s years later, and Sam has returned to the ranch. These two are about to have the opportunity for a second chance, but will they take it?

There you have it friends, those are my top 3 favorite romance tropes! As you can see they all fall into that Hallmark movie scenario, and I’m not complaining one bit. I do love a Hallmark movie from time to time. Do you have a preferred trope? If so, tell me about it. Also, if you’re up to it, what book do you recommend to go with it?

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

Laura

The Assassin in 5F {a review}

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nana Malone comes the sexy, gripping conclusion to The Covert Affairs duet. If you have not read this duet, you need to. You won't regret it. The Covert Affairs duet is a Kobo Original, so if you don't have a Kobo reader, be sure to download the app for your phone or tablet!

The Assassin in 5F picks up right where we left off at the end of The Spy in 3B.  If you've read that story, then you know what happened. Lyra hasn't told her boss what happened on the mission. They just know the bare minimum, and right now that's all she's prepared to say. As for Marcus, well he's healing. He too has not told his bosses what has happened, or really anything that has to do with that evening. He's keeping it quiet because something doesn't feel right. There has to be a reason why both companies keep appearing at the same places. But what is that reason? Who is behind it? 

This book, oh this book! What a conclusion to the story! There was action, some suspense, a little mystery, and of course a whole lot of steam. The Assassin in 5F was so dang good. I could not put the book down until I had answers. And well by that point I was all in, so I didn't put the book down until it was finished. Such is life. It was completely worth it, and I didn't stay up too late, so it's a win. I will say that when it came to the mystery/who-dun-it section of the story, my mind was all over the place. I had a few suspects in mind, and was not the least bit surprised when it was revealed. I'd love to have a bonus chapter to find out what happened next in that situation. But that's just me.

The Covert Affairs duet was absolutely fantastic, and I highly recommend that you read it. Also, did you know that Nana Malone is the model on her book covers? She is! I did not know that until I read it earlier today. That is so dang awesome, and such a unique way to put a personal touch on the books. 

Go read this spy vs spy duet. I am positive that you'll love the characters, and the story. If you're anything like me, you'll also be hoping for another duet to be set in this world/setting/whathaveyou.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura

 

This time, romance isn't the only thing undercover(s).

It's not exactly a traditional date night to get involved in a shootout.

Then again, there's nothing traditional about Lyra and Marcus.

It was hard enough to hide their undercover work from each other--but discovering that their agencies are sworn enemies?

Awkward.

Lyra has never been known for her impulse control, but shooting her boyfriend is definitely an all-time low.

Marcus isn't the type of agent to disobey orders, but he can't seem to keep his eyes--or hands--off the infuriating woman he's supposed to forget.

Danger is closing in from all sides, forcing them to team up to solve their mutual problem...but the enemy is already closer than either of them know.

 

Download today on Kobo!

Add The Assassin in 5F to your Goodreads!

Start the duet with The Spy in 3B!

Meet Nana

USA Today Bestseller, Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she "borrowed" from her cousin.

It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion, and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

Connect with Nana

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter |  Apple Books | Instagram | Amazon | BookBub | Pinterest | Book+Main

Thank you to Nana Malone and Valentine PR for providing me with a e-copy of The Assassin in 5F.

Infamous Love {a review}

Infamous Love by Lea Coll is now live! This is the first book in Lea's new Mountain Haven series, and it is such a good read. If you're looking for a romance book set in Telluride, then look no further than Infamous Love. Also, if the grumpy/sunshine trope is a preferred read for you, then again, go read Infamous Love.

Elle is a former reality tv show personality and she is trying to start over. She doesn't want to do the show any longer, and she definitely isn't interested in any spin-offs. Elle just wants to open her barber shop, and live her life away from the cameras, the gossip, and the fans. So why not escape to Telluride? She's been there before, it makes her happy, and she's found the perfect spot for her shop. Upon arriving in Telluride, Elle adopts an adorable little puppy. When she takes the dog to the vet, she meets Gray. Or rather she meets him for the second time. They had a little run in a few months ago, but she's sure he doesn't remember her. Gray moved to town for college, and after graduating he decided to stay put. Or at least for now. That all depends on if people find out about his past. If that ever gets revealed, then he's leaving town. Or so he believes. That is until he meets Elle. There is a spark between the two that cannot be denied. Gray's boss is talking about selling the business to him, but he wants Gray to prove that he's willing to stick around. What does that mean? Better communication with the human clients, participating in the community, and setting down roots. Gray isn't too sure about that, but again, Elle might just convince him to do all of it.

I haven't read a lot of the grumpy/sunshine trope, but oh my word how I enjoyed it! From the setting, to the characters, to the story, it was all so good. Both of them were hiding things, and I was just waiting for the moment of the big reveal. I figured that Elle's reveal would happen about the way that it did. I honestly expected it to be a bit more grand in the reveal, so that surprised me a bit. Same for Gray's though. In my head I had his reveal built up in a way, and I was expecting it to go a certain route. But again it didn't. Which is fine. The big dramatic moment doesn't need to be over the top, it just needs to be, well, dramatic. That tension needs to be there, and it definitely was. Our couple had to work through it, and see if they could come out the other side. Now if you know me at all, you know I tend to stick to the stories with HEAs, and you'll get that with Infamous Love. So that's no spoiler. Our couple was able to find their way back to each other, with a little help.  I found myself not wanting to put Infamous Love down, and I cannot wait to find out who the next book in the series will be about. 

Loved the book. I recommend the book. And I want to check out more books by Lea Coll. Oh, and there is a prequel for Infamous Love! Escape to Love is the title of the prequel, and I know that on Amazon it is currently* a free download. I'm assuming it is on the other retailers (listed below) as well. 

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

Laura

*Escape to Love is a freebie as of July 13, 2021. I don't know if/when that will change.

Elle
Move away. Dye my hair. Change my name. Fly under the radar.

That's my plan to keep the public from recognizing me. I just want to be the new business owner of an old-fashioned barber shop, the ultimate man cave. But all anyone seems to remember is that I'm the bad girl on a popular reality show.

And when I meet the new sexy veterinarian, his gruff voice and grumpy manner get my blood pumping. His sweet way with animals makes me want to know everything about him.

For the first time in my life, cameras aren't broadcasting my every move. No producer is telling me what to say or do. No one's pushing me toward him.

This natural gravitation toward him is the realest thing I've ever felt.

But when my past collides with my present, everything comes crashing down around me.

I wish I could just hide, but I can't.

Gray
Escape my past. Keep my secrets buried. And secure the dream job.

That's my plan to change my life.
I'm living like I could pack up and leave at a moment's notice.
Now, my new boss won't sell me his practice unless I convince him I'm here to stay.

Fresh from LA, Elle Carmichael walks into my vet office with her puppy and plans for her business. With her sunny disposition and wide-eyed hope, she thinks she's a good fit for this town. As soon as her crazy business plan fails, she'll be gone.

Getting involved with her is the worst kind of trouble. It will only attract attention to my past, ruining my future.

I wish I could resist her, but I can't.

Download today from one of these retailers!

Amazon | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo

Also, add Infamous Love to your Goodreads!

Meet Lea Coll

Lea Coll worked as a trial attorney for over ten years. Now she stays home with her three children, plotting stories while fetching snacks and running them back and forth to activities. She enjoys the freedom of writing romance after years of legal writing.

She currently resides in Maryland with her family. 
 

Connect with Lea

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | BookBub | Newsletter

Thank you to Lea Coll and Grey's Promotions for providing me with an advanced copy of Infamous Love.