Review ~ Next Life Duet by Brit Benson

The Love of My Next Life by Brit Benson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This wasn’t an easy ride for Lennon and Macon. Lennon had lost someone in her past and it was something that she struggled with. She put on a happy façade, but Macon could see she wasn’t her true self. Macon also had his own demons to deal with, and would turn to drugs to cope. I could see that he loved fiercely and would take the blame for all his bad deeds even though he did it to protect those he cared about.

The longer this story went, their feelings continued to grow. Some awkward twists thrown in that made things harder for them. I shed a tear towards the end and my heart broke on how quickly they were torn apart. It wasn’t easy for them all, I liked the way Lennon finally stood up for herself. They had some serious problems to get past and the lows that they got to was heartbreaking. The epilogue has me hooked and I am diving right into the next read!

Title: The Love of My Next Life

Author: Brit Benson

Series: Next Life Duet #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: September 8, 2022

I calmed his demons.
He created mine.

Macon Davis.
My best friend’s brother.
My tormentor.
My least favorite person.
Pothead. Delinquent.
A careless, directionless loser.

That’s what I used to believe,
but I didn’t really know him.
And when I finally saw him,
it was the best and worst thing to ever happen to me.

We burned hot and fast.
Passion. Anger. Love. Pain.
We were reckless. Naive.
We were doomed from the start.

When I finally saw Macon Davis for who he was,
we both went down in the flames.

*** The Love of My Next Life is part one of a duet.
It is just as much a love story as it is a tale of ruin.
While the duet will end in an HEA, book one does not.

This Life and All the Rest by Brit Benson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an emotional but beautiful end to the duet. It was interesting to see them both four years into the future. They had both struggled, but had found ways to cope. I liked that everything was revealed slowly, as we got to know what had happened to both Lennon and Macon during their time apart. My heart broke for Lennon when she first returned, and to see her struggle with her family.

I liked the change in Macon. He had grown a lot over the years, but he was still trying to find his way. I could tell he was still hung up on Lennon, and as both their stories unravelled my heart broke for the time that they lost and what they had to endure. Their feelings and the passion was still strong between them. Claire was still a manipulative girl, but I liked that Lennon was more outspoken and stood up for herself. This was my favourite book in the duet.

Title: This Life and All the Rest

Author: Brit Benson

Series: Next Life Duet #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: November 15, 2022

She thinks our story is over.
It’s just beginning.

Lennon Washington has been the star of every dream, every nightmare, since the day I lost her.

Since the moment I let my demons win, and she slipped through my fingers.

Her memory has haunted me.
Changed me.
Broken me and remade me.
And I’d all but given up on us.

Now tragedy has brought her back into my life.
My secrets are at her disposal,
Hers are unraveling quickly,
And every emotion we’ve tried to deny is returning with a vengeance.

But we’re not kids anymore.
We have changed drastically.
And with each new ache, I start to wonder,

Is there a place for us in this life,
Or will we have to try again in the next one?

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Review ~ Mine to Honor by Natasha Madison

Mine to Honor by Natasha Madison
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this read considering that I haven't read any books in this series. It was such a sweet and captivating read. I liked both main characters - Eva and Levi -and how close they were as friends. They both knew each other so well, and would do anything for one another. For Levi, marrying Eva was a no brainer to help her get custody of her neice. What he didn't expect was to fall in love with both girls.

Eva was such a kind person. She was a successful business owner, but stepped up when she was needed. She was liked by everyone, and her new extended family were very protective of her. I loved how Levi did everything to make the wedding memorable, even though it was supposed to be fake.

It was nice to see the big change in Levi and how they were falling deeply for one another. Their home life fell into place easily and it was only a matter of time before they realised it themselves.

For my first read by this author, she certainly did well on pulling me into this world and loving all the characters that I met. I am certain that I will read more of her work in the future.

Title: Mine to Honor

Author: Natasha Madison

Series: Southern Wedding #7

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: November 3, 2023

From Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author Natasha Madison comes a small town, best friends to lovers, fake marriage, and forced proximity romance.

When your best friend asks you for the biggest favor of her life.

EVA
Things were finally looking up for me.
I was my own boss; I owned my own house—
and I recently was contacted by an older sister I didn’t know I had.
Everything was perfect…until tragedy struck.
All the things that had come into my life were suddenly gone—except for one thing: my niece.

LEVI
I was a confirmed bachelor.
I was married to my work and committed to nothing more.
No woman was going to change that.
Eva is my best friend and needed a life-changing favor:
Marry her so she could gain custody of her niece.
A marriage of convenience that would only last a year, tops.
But there were stipulations we hadn’t planned on.
Things got blurry—lines got crossed.
I would honor my commitment…I just hope I can walk away.

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Review ~ The Girl in the Love Song by Emma Scott

The Girl in the Love Song by Emma Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This really was a slow build read, where we got to know both Violet and Miller from when they initially met at a young age. They were close right from the start, both having to deal with hard situations. They formed a strong bond after one terrible situation in particular. However, Violet was desperate to keep Miller in the friend zone.

I loved Miller, and how sweet he was. He was a good guy and put those he loved first. His back story was sad and then have to deal with his health was hard too. Violet had her goals set in life, and soon realised if she wanted to achieve them she had to work for it on her own. These two struggled with their feelings and getting the timing right. They were perfect for one another even when education, distance and fame kept them apart. I felt a few important parts were glossed over, but overall it was a good read.

Title: The Girl in the Love Song

Author: Emma Scott

Series: Lost Boys #1

Genre: June 1, 2020

Published: NA Contemporary Romance

At Santa Cruz Central High School, they called them the misfits, the outcasts, the weirdos. But most of us knew them as the Lost Boys...

Miller Stratton is a survivor. After a harrowing childhood of poverty, he will do anything it takes to find security for himself and his mom. He’s putting all his hopes and dreams in the fragile frame of his guitar and the beauty he creates with its strings and his soulful voice.

Until Violet.

No one expects to meet the love of their life at age thirteen. But the spunky rich girl steals Miller’s heart and refuses to give it back.

Violet McNamara’s life hasn’t been as simple as it looks. Her picture-perfect family is not so perfect after all. Her best friend Miller is her one constant and she is determined not to ruin their friendship with romantic complications.

But the heart wants what it wants. As Miller’s star begins to rise to stratospheric heights, what will it take for Violet to realize that she’s the girl in all of his love songs?

Lost Boys is a new series of interconnected, coming-of-age standalones from USA Today bestselling author Emma Scott.

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Review ~ Fisherman series by Jewel E. Ann

The Naked Fisherman by Jewel E. Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! It had everything that I need in a read: a forbidden element, strong connections and great banter!

Reese was such a young and naive character - she had strong opinions due to going to a Christian college and living with her strict grandparents. She had lost so much but was trying to find her feet in the world. When her mother left her early in the read, she spent a lot of time with Fisher and their connection grew. You could see the little shifts in Fisher everytime he spent time around Reece, his feelings were changing. He kind of made Reese feel comfortable as her feelings for him were conflicted and she didn't know how to handle it. Soon lines were being crossed and they were exploring Reese’s boundaries.

They were really perfect for one another, but the age gap came between them. They kept things a secret, however I could see Fisher opening up to Reese like he hadn’t done before. Reese still had so much growing to do and the push and pull between them made it hard. I didn’t want this story to end. I was so glad there was a second book for this couple because I could not get enough!

Title: The Naked Fisherman

Author: Jewel E. Ann

Series: Fisherman #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: September 27, 2021

It's official.

I'm eighteen and a young woman with endless possibilities on my way to reunite with my mom in Colorado after five years apart—she had a little weed incident in Nebraska.

At the airport, she springs the news on me ... she's leaving for a month of job training. And me? I'm left on my own in the basement she's renting from the fisherman, aka her landlord who lives upstairs.

He's ten years older than me. Never wears a shirt. And makes it hard to remember all the things I learned at Christian Academy.

Did I mention he’s also my new boss?

The Lost Fisherman by Jewel E. Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I continued this read immediately after the first book, The Naked Fisherman! I was so excited to get the conclusion to Reese and Fishers story. It was mostly set five years into the future, with a few twists that had Reese and Fisher getting to know one another all over again. It was hard as there was a bit of a love triangle, but I could see that these two still had a strong connection.

I liked seeing the more mature Reese and how focused she was. She had found something that she was passionate about with one piece missing - Fisher. The story line took a turn and Fisher struggled with the people in his lives. He was determined to make his own decisions despite pressure from those who have been close to him in recent years. He just knew that he was drawn to Reese.

It was sweet seeing them fall in love again and how Reese only gave enough information to spark Fishers memories. She didn’t put pressure on him but it wasn’t smooth sailing either. I was glad that Reese's mother - Rory - finally found out and that she was team Reese. The chemistry was off the charts and as memories surfaced I really hoped it was going to be their time. This was a fantastic duo! I couldn’t get enough and when not reading the books, I was constantly thinking about it.

Title: The Lost Fisherman

Author: Jewel E. Ann

Series: Fisherman #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: October 14, 2021

It’s been five years since I’ve seen him. An unexpected event takes me back to the place where it all began.

But I’m no longer the naive young woman he once knew. And he’s no longer the man who took nearly everything from me.

Can this be our time? Or is it too late? Did I find myself only to lose him?

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Review ~ The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant

The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Worst Wedding Date was a cute, light hearted read with a touch of craziness. It was easy to get immersed into this world. Theo was a sweet guy who only had the best intentions. But it seemed like luck was never on his side. He was doing everything in his power to ensure his sister got the perfect wedding, but something always went wrong. Laney was a great friend to Emma and tried everything to keep the wedding week to go smoothly

There were a lot of moments that were a bit unbelievable, but it was amusing anyway. Theo and Laney were funny together as they both got to know one another better. They were both strong willed and didn’t like to back down from a challenge. They were perfect together, had good hearts and this trip allowed them to grow. Laney became more sure about herself and what she wanted, and Theo was honest about his career.

Title: The Worst Wedding Date

Author: Pippa Grant

Series: Three BFFs and a Wedding #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: April 13, 2023

He’s a tattooed shirtless bad boy. My best friend’s brother. And the jerk on the other side of my bed.

I didn’t know bridesmaid was code for babysitter for the bride’s brother , but if that’s what my best friend needs of me for her dream wedding to go off without a hitch, that’s what I’ll do.

Even if Theo Monroe has been a pain in my rear since third grade.

Even if he should be responsible enough to not wreak havoc at his sister’s destination wedding.

Even if it means we have to share a hotel room in Hawaii, which might be the final duty that breaks me.

Not only does Theo know exactly how to push my buttons, but he never wears clothes, he’s hiding a litter of kittens in his room, and he keeps showing up with fresh-baked cookies that seemingly come from nowhere.

Also?

I have no idea what’s up with the tension between him and the groom.

Or why he’s so proud of the world’s strangest wedding gift.

Or why I suddenly want to know what makes him tick. The story behind his tattoos. How he can afford to rent a convertible in Hawaii. And if maybe all of that utter frustration and irritation I’ve felt for him for years is suppressed attraction that a good girl like me isn’t supposed to feel for the biggest bad boy of Snaggletooth Creek.

But I do know one thing.

When I find out his biggest secret and the answer to all of my questions, it will change everything .

The Worst Wedding Date is a frolicking good time of a destination wedding enemies-to-lovers romcom, complete with a good girl bridesmaid, her best friend’s troublemaking but secretly big-hearted brother, and more than one hitch on the way to happily ever after. It stands alone, has no cheating, and comes complete with ooey gooey goodness.

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Review ~ My Dark Romeo by Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen

My Dark Romeo by Parker S. Huntington
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

After 45 chapters, I’ve decided this book is not for me. I can’t connect to the characters at all. I have nothing against those who want to start a family, but Dallas is such a spoiled rich girl and her only dream is to have a baby? In today’s society, I can’t see it. The way she was spending her husband’s money (who she was forced to marry due to scandal) like she had no disregard for it at all.

And Romeo, he was very self centred, used Dallas for his own revenge, and treated Dallas poorly. And this is the first time I have ever heard of someone’s virginity been taken with a tongue… that doesn’t seem realistic to me. The way he shut Dallas down, not wanting her, but obsessed by her. I just didn’t get them. I honestly don’t know how this book has such high ratings and so many people have read it.

Title: My Dark Romeo

Author: Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen

Series: Dark Prince Road #1

Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

Published: March 1, 2023

My fairy tale turned into a cautionary one.
Inked in tar and sealed in tears.

From Wall Street Journal bestsellers L.J. Shen and Parker S. Huntington comes an explosive marriage of inconvenience... between a tarnished Romeo and a reluctant Juliet.

It was supposed to be a harmless kiss at a lavish debutante ball.
A clandestine moment with a handsome stranger.

But unlike his namesake, my Romeo isn’t driven by love.
He’s fueled by revenge.

To him, I’m a chess piece. Leverage.
His rival’s betrothed.

To me, he is a man deserving of poison.
A dark prince I refuse to marry.

He thinks I’ll accept my fate.
Well, I plan to rewrite it.

And in my story, Juliet doesn’t die.
But Romeo? He perishes.

Authors’ Notes: My Dark Romeo is a standalone reluctant arranged marriage romance between a cruel billionaire heir and a feisty heiress unafraid to fight back. It is set in the decadent Dark Prince Road world.

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Review ~ Smokeshow & Fireball by Abbi Glines

Smokeshow by Abbi Glines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was really excited to get into this read. I was captivated right from the start and enjoyed getting to know Maddy and how she came about being shipped to Florida. She was out of her element as she had lost the only family that she knew and was thrust into a whole new world, outside of her comfort zone.

I liked Maddy during most of the read, as she was strong and trying to find her own way. She didn’t get pushed. After a while she began to lose her way, and at times became a yes girl, giving in too easily. Instead of demanding answers she tried to be independent and that landed her in trouble. She ran instead of talking, and seemed to be a different person to the girl I first met.

I enjoyed meeting a lot of the secondary characters. Maddy built friendships with Saxon and Trev, but it was Balise who was a mystery to her. He was mean to her for a lot of the read but as the story unfolded I was able to see there was more to his story and that he protected people fiercely.

I was hooked by this read right up to the end and had to buy the second book immediately to see how it all unfolded.

Title: Smokeshow

Author: Abbi Glines

Series: Smoke #1

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Published: April 16, 2023

Set in a world where southern wealth and power comes from one source. The Family is ruled by one boss and it's time for the newer generation to step into place.

It’s a fragile thing- the whispers of truth that you hope are lies.

Hughes Farm was the largest racing horse establishment in the south. The family that owned it were known to be wealthy, powerful, arrogant, and terrifying. My first encounter with them didn’t prepare me for all that was to come. I don’t think anything truly could have.

Growing up with only my father and brother hadn’t been easy but we’d had each other. Losing them was the hardest thing I’d ever faced. It had made the times we went without food, electricity, or even shelter seem insignificant in comparison.

It is when a woman, claiming to have been my mother’s best friend, arrives to take me home with her that questions begin to surface. My father had rarely spoken of my mother. She’d died when I was a toddler. Having no other option, I trust this stranger and am thrown into a world of mansions, racing horses, extravagance, and him .

It’s true that there is a thin line between love and hate. But there is an even thinner line between truth and lies.

Fireball by Abbi Glines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a great sequel to the first book. I still felt Maddy was a different girl from the one we first met. She was struggling in this new world and had withdrawn into herself. She as finding it hard to come to terms with everything that she new, but wasn’t willing to get the answers she needed. She was quick to allow her body to cave before she got the answers she needed and I wished she was a bit stronger and held her ground.

When she had the full picture I liked how much stronger she became. She was back to the girl we met and wasn’t as timid as what she had been. I would’ve liked her to be stronger through it all. I really did like how Blaise was so protective of her and was willing to take out any one for her. He was obsessed by her and she became his focus. but I could really see he loved her fiercly.

I did feel that this storyline was similar to the first book, but I really did enjoy the ending. I have enjoyed meeting a lot of the characters and amd really intrigued by this world. I am really looking forward to more reads from this world.

Title: Fireball

Author: Abbi Glines

Series: Smoke #2

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Published: May 14, 2023

The truth behind the lie isn’t always a relief.

Loving a man known for his wealth, arrogance, and power had been a mistake. My head had known he was dangerous but my heart hadn’t cared. When the lies began to unravel and the truth slapped me in the face, running was the only thing I knew to do. I didn’t belong in this world.

His world.

But you don’t run from The Family. Not when they claim you as their own. Trusting anyone is a mistake. Friendship is only as deep as the Boss allows it to be. You are never hidden. They will always find you.

Every move I made, he controlled. The people helping me were all under his command. The only weapon I had was his obsession with me. Learning to use it against him could destroy me but I had no other choice.

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Review ~ Heart of Hope by Lucy Score

Heart of Hope by Lucy Score
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy reading books by Lucy Score, and this was another book that I easily got swept away in. The world she created felt so real, the characters were relatable and she touched on a topic that many people, unfortunately, can relate to.

Bristol was a beautiful character, she was well liked by the community and her family. She did everything in her power to keep those she loved happy. She was that kind hearted person that you can't help but adore. There was definitely more to Beau and the more I got to know of him I knew he was a good person.

I felt that I knew the way the story was going and even as it turned out like I predicted, I still enjoyed how it al unfolded. I liked how Beau was able to help Bristol feel things again, and how easily he fit in with her family. He could’ve handled things better but I got why he did it that way.

This book really does pull you in emotionally, and there were times that I shed a tear. It really impacted everyone, but it was beautiful to see Bristol and Beau brought together due to things outside of their control and find happiness together.

Title: Heart of Hope

Author: Lucy Score

Series: Hope Falls Universe

Genre: Contemporary RomanceJuly 23, 2018

Published: July 23, 2018

Single mom Bristol is busy learning hockey, feeding an entire town breakfast every morning, and trying to forget just how much she misses her sister. Everyone else seems to be moving forward. Her older sister Savannah is planning a Christmas wedding. Bristol's ex-husband is remarried and a dad again. But she's stuck in a funk and even the holidays aren't helping.

At least not until a sexy stranger arrives in town and turns into a worthy distraction.

Beau offers to teach Bristol everything he knows about hockey--which is a lot considering he went pro--but that's on the down low. Everything is. He's got reasons for coming to Hope Falls, for spending time with Bristol and her family. Big, secret reasons. But between giving her skating lessons and falling ass over face for the woman, he's got to stay focused on the goal.

And it's starting to look like protecting someone he loves means hurting Bristol.

WARNING: This book will punch you in the feels. It's a small-town Christmas happily ever after with hands-on skating lessons (wink wink), a hockey hottie trying to do the right thing no matter what his "stick" tells him, a precocious 8-year-old scheming for her mom's happiness, a big beautiful family fumbling their way through grief, and the best dang Christmas Eve grand gesture ever.

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Review ~ The Langstrom Brothers series by Elizabeth O'Roark

Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O'Roark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was fantastic! I devoured it on a long drive home and I just loved getting to know both Will and Olivia! My heart ached for each detail that was revealed about Olivia and her past. What she suppressed and was slowly coming back to her. She came across as a trouble maker, but each detail that was revealed, the more I loved her. She was misunderstood and no one believed her when she tried to be honest.

Will was quick to dismiss Olivia to begin with, but lucky for his mother who made him look a bit harder at Olivia. He began to take her seriously, and tried to help her as best as he could, despite the situation that it put them in. He started crossing lines, but his mother would help him see what he needed to do. I loved his brother Brendon, and how he pushed Will past his comfort zone to realise what he needed.

This story was so good. I loved how Will and Olivia gelled together. They both grew as people, and became more accepting of people and their troubles. Olivia was such a loner and found it hard to let people in. Will was used to looking after his family after his father left. Seeing them change was sweet. I think I would’ve liked the last part of the book told in a bit more detail, as it felt rushed.

Title: Waking Olivia

Author: Elizabeth O'Roark

Series: The Langstrom Brothers / Waking Olivia #1

Genre: Sports Romance

Published: March 1, 2016

"That girl isn't just trouble of the not-a-team-player, not-a-reliable-runner variety. She's trouble of the devious, manipulative, too-f***ing-hot-for-her-own good variety. She's the kind of girl who causes trouble merely by existing, and then makes sure to cause more.
And the last thing I need right now is more trouble."

A failing farm.
His father’s debt.
And a struggling college track team.
Will Langstrom has too many responsibilities, and the last thing he needs is Olivia Finnegan, a beautiful but troubled new transfer student.

A smart mouth.
A strong right hook.
And a secret that could destroy her.
Olivia is her own worst enemy, with a past she can’t seem to escape, and the last person she wants help from is a cocky track coach she can never seem to please.
Refusing to be pushed away, Will is determined to save her.
And determined to resist an attraction that could destroy them both.

Drowning Erin by Elizabeth O'Roark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Erin’s story was fantastic, just as Olivia’s was. I was quickly drawn into it to see more of Olivia’s sweet friend from the first book. Understanding more about Erin’s family, helped shape the person she was. She was quiet and wanted to live a comfortable life, but I could see it was suffocating her. I wanted her to come out of her shell and fight for what she wanted for herself. Thank goodness for Brendan!

Brendan and Erin had a bit of history over the years and their love/hate relationship was quite the ride. Most of Brendan’s perspective was from the past as we got to know what he had been through to shape him into the person today. I liked seeing them together, how he bought the old Erin back who had feelings and did things that she enjoyed. The pressure of her family, Rob and work continued to drown her.

This book was well written and I loved both books in this series. They were such touching stories and I didn’t want their journeys to end. I am looking forward to more compelling reads from this author!

Title: Drowning Erin

Author: Elizabeth O'Roark

Series: The Langstrom Brothers / Waking Olivia #2

Genre: Sports Romance

Published: November 7, 2017

You never forget your first love.
But you should, if you're marrying his best friend.
Manwhore Brendan and good-girl Erin have waged a war of mutual disdain for years, both of them trying to forget that, once upon a time, they got along a little too well. But when Brendan returns home just as Erin prepares to marry his best friend, she will have to decide if the life she's created for herself is as perfect as it seems, and if her feelings for Brendan are just cold feet—or a sign that maybe, long ago, she chose the wrong guy.
If you love angst, second-chance romance and plot twists you never saw coming, buy Drowning Erin today.

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