My Brother's Forbidden Friend by Piper Rayne {A Review}

My first crush on a boy started when I was five years old, after I'd caused my mother's death.

my rating

If you've been around for a while, you know that I absolutely love The Greene Family series from Piper Rayne. These two have created this amazing small town called Sunrise Bay which is located in Alaska. In this town there are numerous businesses, all of which are owned and operated by residents. When you're reading, you can almost imagine this picturesque community. Then you add in the community members, and it just feels like a place to call home. If you haven't read any of the Greene Family books, Hank and Marla are the parents. They married many years ago, and brought together two families. Think modern day Brady Bunch, or a Yours Mine Ours situation. Times haven't always been easy for the family, but together they make their way through the good times, and the not so good moments. As this series progresses, you really see how the family grows, their connection deepens, and healing occurs. For you see that healing is very important. When you lose a parent through death (or divorce), there is grieving that has to occur. That being said, our characters have pretty much all buried that heartache, that pain, those emotions, and so these stories bring that out, and they find their healing moments.

Chevelle Greene owns and operates her own little fishing charter business that has a slip at the marina Cameron's family owns. Cameron's dad recently came up with an idea to open a charter of their own that is of course more impressive, and very much higher end. This ends up creating a bit of conflict at the docks, as Rowdy is already struggling to make ends meet, and Chevelle is doing okay, but now with a third boat, it's going to be rough. Cameron and his dad are also not getting along, and he's decided to essentially upend Cameron's life for a bit. The goal is to show Cameron how good he's got it, and to wrangle him in a bit. Cameron goes through the motions of the day to day life, all while living with Chevelle, and keeping his side hustle a secret. Slowly but surely the forced proximity to Chevelle, and their history together, begins to blur the lines of their relationship. 

My Brother's Forbidden Friend hit a bit harder than the other Greene Family stories. Chevelle has been carrying this guilt for so long, and just burying it down deep. Everything that happened with that storyline just had me a bit weepy. Cameron's situation also showed the issues he is dealing with when it comes to his parents, the family business, and their feelings of jealousy. It was the moments with the Hank, and the Greene children that really hit me emotionally. To see them come together, supporting Chevelle, and finding what they did just really brought it all full circle. Healing has begun.

After watching these two dance around each other for so many books, I am so giddy that Chevelle and Cam got their happily ever after. Cam may have already felt like family to the Greenes, but now he's really solidified his role within.

Cam really impressed me throughout the story. I thought that situation with his dad would have done a number on him. Instead it pushed him in all the right ways. Cam came out stronger, and with a partner by his side. I was also a bit nervous about his friendship with Fisher (Chevelle's brother), and how this relationship might cause issues. Thankfully Allie was there to buffer the emotions, and bring a bit of lighthearted comedy.

Oh, and that cameo toward the end of the book? I love it when Lake Starlight and Sunrise Bay come together for a scene or two. 

My only complaint for the book was that there wasn’t enough of the Grandma trio. 😂 I just love those ladies. But I also know that they are getting older, and it has me nervous for Rylan and Calista's story. I'm worried that one of the ladies might no longer be with us, but I'm also curious to see how Piper Rayne handles that situation.

Our Couple:

• Cameron Baker
• Chevelle Greene

The Tropes:

• Blended Families
• Brother's Best Friend
• Forbidden Love
• Secret Romance
• Small Town
• Will They or Won't They

Locations: 

• Sunrise Bay Alaska
• Winterberry Falls Alaska

This final full length book in the Greene Family series was one of my favorites. The storyline, the characters, the emotions that played out, just all of that came together to create this delightful story. Chevelle and Cam's story is one that I won't soon forget. 

Now I can begin to count down the days until A Greene Family Christmas releases! That novella will signal the official end of the series, and I'm not ready to say goodbye. Thankfully Rylan and Calista's story will allow us to reconnect with both the Bailey's and the Greene's. I am so ready for that one!

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on My Brother's Forbidden Friend. I hope you'll give this book a read, and fall for the characters like I have.

Happy Reading,
Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

I’ve gone from crushing on my brother’s best friend to wanting to crush him.

Cameron Baker and I have a few things in common. The first being that we were both born and raised in our small Alaskan town. Second, is that we hide our feelings and keep our hearts closed off from anyone who could break them.

But hiding my feelings is harder to do with Cam than most. When I was five years old, grieving the loss of my mother, he showed me how big his heart is, and I’ve never forgotten.

He comes from the richest family in town. Cam’s bad boy gorgeous, flirts like he has a Doctorate in charm, and he’s my brother’s best friend. That last part is where it gets tricky and the sole reason we’ve never crossed the line.

Now, his parents have cut him off to force him to prove himself. I never thought he’d open a competing business to mine. So, I do what I do best, shove all my feelings aside and ready myself to crush him. Game on.

Thank you to Piper Rayne, and Valentine PR, for providing me with an advanced review copy of My Brother's Forbidden Friend.

Also, I participate in the Amazon Affiliate program. Purchases from the links above may allow me to earn a small commission.

Rookie Mistake by Lisa Suzanne {A Review}

 

We are about to kick off a new season of the Vegas Aces series! In this fourth season we are focusing on Tristan Higgins who is the wide receiver for the Aces.

Are you ready for some football, romance, and drama?

Main Characters:
Tristan Higgins
Tessa Taylor
Savannah
Dr. Cam Foster

Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Sports Romance

Tropes:
Second Chance
Accidental Pregnancy
Small Town

The Secret Roommate by Sara Ney {A Review}

What was it Eli said about Posey? She was sweet and kind and wouldn't hurt a soul?

...unless that soul was me?

Main Characters:

Duke Colter

Posey Kettner

Genre:

Contemporary Romance

Sports Romance

Tropes:

Roommates to Lovers

Forced Proximity
Hate to Love
Minor Reverse Age Gap (5 years)

Location: Chicago Illinois USA for 2 weeks
Team: Dallas Steers

From the very beginning of The Secret Roommate I was hooked on Duke Colter. This man just throws off this vibe of not having a care in the world. He's this famous athlete who can do as he pleases. That is until he meets one Josephine "Posey" Kettner. This Kindergarten teacher is about to put him in his place, and it is a blast to see how this relationship forms. How these two opposites would survive living together for two weeks made for an interesting story. 

The meet-cute was so dang good. This country boy was not going to give up until his mission was accomplished. Posey's reaction was perfection. Then there was the situation with the cake that had me literally laughing out loud. Oh that was fabulous. I laughed numerous times throughout this story. Sara Ney put some fantastic one liners in this book, and I loved it. Plus there was just the general banter between the two that had me smiling. Posey's neighbor was a hoot. I fully enjoyed how she kept Duke on his toes.

Duke comes across as this hard headed man who only worries about himself. But when he starts to trust the person he's with, those walls come crumbling down. It is then that you get to see who he truly is. And it just so happens that this man is pretty spectacular.

Then there's Posey. I see a lot of myself in this character. She's a bit more reserved, she keeps to herself, there's a bit of self doubt happening, but underneath it all is a passionate woman who is intelligent, creative, and completely unique. She knows who she is. She knows what her passions are, but she holds back a bit. Again, it is until she is comfortable. Until she can trust the person she is with, and that bond has been established. It is then that she will those people in. 

Let's talk about their moment of conflict. That one, I can honestly say, I did not see coming. In my mind I thought for sure that the conflict would be something entirely different. I mean Duke's in hiding for a reason, so I had that in mind when foreshadowing what the drama/conflict would be. When this moment of conflict happened though, I could see Posey's perspective. I could understand why she reacted the way she did. That pain radiated off the page, and it had me wanting to knock Duke upside the head. 

Then there was the reunion. How this played out was interesting. It showed maturity on Duke's part, which was appreciated. The reunion was good. It was. I enjoyed it. BUT something felt off. From the moment of the conflict, to the reunion, to the epilogue, that entire section of the story didn't match the vibe of the first 3/4 of the story. Does that make sense? It was missing the energy and passion, as well as the general banter that I had come to love. Regardless, I still fully loved the story. These two characters are going to be living in my head for a while, as they are unforgettable.

One last thing...I am hoping that Duke's brothers will have stories that feature them each finding their happily ever after. Could Sara Ney be returning to the college scene and be writing stories about these 3 football players? OH I HOPE SO! Maybe we'll get to meet Mama Colter too. (as well as see a bit of Posey and Duke.)

I seriously hope that you consider reading The Secret Roommate. This may be book 4 in the Accidentally in Love series, but you do not need to read the others to enjoy this one. So if the tropes I mentioned above appeal to you, then go get a copy of the book. It releases on October 3rd, so you have a short wait. 

Rating:

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. Should you read The Secret Roommate, please let me know, and we can discuss!

Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

All I need is a place to hide for a few weeks.

The paparazzi were on my ass 24/7 and I needed a bit of breathing room—an escape from the madness—before the media frenzy begins.

Sure, I could have gone to a secluded cabin in the woods—but I didn’t want to be bored out of my mind. I’d seen enough wide open spaces as a kid from Texas to last me a lifetime.

So instead, I let my agent hook me up with a modest house in the burbs where we didn’t think anyone would find me hiding in plain sight.

I’d have a roommate; but supposedly, she was going to give me space. Stay out of my way and respect my boundaries. According to my agent, I wouldn’t hear a peep from her.

Wrong. He was wrong about everything and now my life was never going to be the same.

Thank you to Sara Ney, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced review copy of The Secret Roommate.

Olivia by Brooke Ramsey {A Review}

Revenge is a dish best served cold. But it might cost you everything you love.

Main Characters:

• Anna White (Anna King)
• Olivia King
• Jackson 
• Diaz Smith
• Dominic Smith

Genres:

• Romantic Suspense
• Mystery
• Christian Fiction

Tropes:

• Tragic Past
• Revenge
• Heroine in Danger
• Law Enforcement

Setting: Oradale Missouri USA

Approximately 3 years ago was the last time Olivia King was seen. No one knows where she went, and she has not been heard from since. All her sister Anna knows is that her sister left a photo behind, a random number, as well as the name Craven. These all have to have something in common, and hopefully Anna will be able to find her sister. Even if that means infiltrating a crime family so she can get information. Enter, the undercover FBI Agent, Jackson who has the ability to blow this all up, including her cover.

This book held my attention throughout. From cover to cover I was intrigued. I had to know what happened to Olivia King, and how Anna was going to persevere. How was she going to handle finding out the news about her sister, continuing in this relationship with Diaz, all while trying to take him down? Then there was Jackson and his role in all of this. 

Here's the thing, this book does start a bit slow. Not DNF slow, it's just slow enough to set the stage, introduce the characters, and build the reader's curiosity. As the story unfolds, and we find out who all these people are, things ramp up. We discover more about Olivia, Diaz, and who Dominic is. We discover what Anna knows, and a little bit of her plan to take Diaz down. Then Jackson goes and throws a wrench into it all. He begins nosing around, and working his case. We see all of this happening, including Diaz's paranoia, but then there are things happening off page that we don't see. Those things are slowly rolled out to us, and it just increases the suspense. Until we finally get to the big moment. 

When the big battle scene was about to go down, Brooke Ramsey threw a curve ball and had me literally gasping out loud. That little nugget of information, that reveal, was perfect timing. I LOVED IT! Yes it had me questioning a few things, and it had me thinking back to when John basically said "trust no one".

Let's talk romance. Virtually non-existent. It is the meet cute, it's the proximity, it's the beginning stages of a potential relationship. It's nothing more than that. Until the moment a declaration is made. Don't expect spice. Don't expect anything that you'd really find in a romance novel, because it's not there. It is two people thrust into each others lives under a unique situation. A bond is formed, a base is established, and that's it. Should you be looking for a strong romantic suspense story, this isn't it. If you're looking for an organized crime book with a good amount of suspense, then this would work. I'd rather be open about that, then have another reader go in expecting something that isn't there.

Before I end this I do want to address the religious aspect of the book. I fully admit that going in, I was a bit hesitant. Yes I've read christian fiction before, and there was a time in my life where it was my preference. My tastes have changed, and that chapter of my reading life is much quieter now. As I was saying, going in I was hesitant as I didn't know how "preachy" this book would be. This was my introduction to Brooke Ramsey, so I didn't know. What I can tell you is that it isn't over the top. It's actually pretty minor. The times we enter into those conversations are either self-realization moments with Jackson, or when Jackson is talking with friends. He does briefly bring up to Anna, but again it's minor. And for that I'm thankful. I didn't want a book that was religiously loud. I'll be honest, those moments in the book are easy to skip right over. It has zero impact on the storyline. So if the religious aspect is holding you back, I say don't let it. The storyline holds without all of that.

Reading this fourth book in the Cold Case Murder Mystery series has me wanting to go back and read the first three. I'm being 100% honest. Seeing how much I enjoyed this book, it now has me wondering if I'd be as enthralled with the others. I may be new to Brooke Ramsey's writing, but I think I'll stick around a bit and see what else she has to offer.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts. Olivia by Brooke Ramsey releases on October 3, 2022.

Laura

Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub

In this heart-racing romantic suspense, a sister desperate for answers and a newly recruited FBI agent desperate to prove himself team up on a high-risk mission.

Olivia King.

Days missing: 1,345 days.

Anna has spent the last three years infiltrating the gang of Diaz Smith—the man responsible for her sister’s disappearance. She’s close to getting the answers she has sacrificed so much for when a newly recruited FBI agent threatens to blow her cover.

Jackson joined the FBI’s narcotics team so that he could put people like Diaz Smith behind bars. When a raid ends with a pistol pointed at his chest, Jackson realizes that the fierce beauty holding the weapon will either be the key to his success or his demise.

Refusing to fail, he devises a plan to recruit Anna as his informant while ensuring she doesn’t end up dead at the hands of Diaz. Everything is going to plan but Jackson didn’t foresee one problem: falling in love with his informant.

The stakes are high and Diaz is watching Anna’s every move. One wrong step could end with another body stuffed in a barrel.

October Anticipated Reads

Can you believe October is only days away? I am in serious denial about this. I mean how are we getting ready to start the 10th month of 2022? Excuse me while I go cry about how fast time is going.

That being said, October is bringing some fabulous books by some of my favorite authors. So you know I'm excited about that! 

There are 13 books that I am anticipating this month. You know I will be reading them ASAP. And yes, Lisa Suzanne appears on this list THREE times because her new season of Vegas Aces releases in October!! Bring on Tristan's story! Also, I am still crossing my fingers that The Sky At Night by Samantha Lovelock releases this month. 

I'd love to know what book releases you're excited about for the month of October. Did I miss your most anticipated? Tell me!

Happy Reading,
Laura