Lexie Kowalsky got swept up in the reality dating show competition she only entered to help boost sales of her doggy costume couture. So swept up she won the whole thing and almost made it down the aisle to marry a man she only really went on a few dates with.

Instead of going through with the wedding, she bolts and ends up in a plane with a sexy man who eventually helps her escape the paparazzi and hide out for a short time in his small Canadian hometown.

What Lexie doesn't know is that Sean is one of her hockey coach father's new star players and that once they return to the states she is facing an even larger controversy than simply running from her wedding.

Unfortunately, I did not like this. I admired Lexie's kookiness, her drive, but I truly detested Sean. He lies to Lexie, his thoughts mostly revolve around how hot she is, how big her breasts are, and how even though he thinks she's crazy, he'll sleep with her anyway. He doesn't really redeem himself for the entire book, and when he does decide he loves her the decision comes far too quickly and conveniently.

I haven't read the other titles in this series, but don't think I'll be picking them up.

Thank you to Avon for the ARC!

I've been meaning to read Giovanni's Room for a very long time. I distinctly remember mentally adding it to my TBR pile while reading John Irving's [b:In One Person|12758317|In One Person|John Irving|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1379313446s/12758317.jpg|17893276] because Baldwin's classic meant so much to the main character in that story.

So, inspired by my 2017 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge "read a classic by an author of color," I've finally realized this goal! Huzzah!

I found it a heavy work, weighted with sorrow, self-loathing, and guilt. I had a sense of foreboding every time I went to pick up the tiny in size but hefty in mental weight book. It wasn't something I actively enjoyed reading but something that left a huge impression. I felt awful for all of the characters, none of whom are likeable but all of whom you can feel for.

The themes of being an ex-patriot in Europe are also a favorite trope of mine, and I ate up every angsty minute of it.

Donning a sexy Santa Baby costume to work at her friend's local theater as an usher isn't exactly one of the proudest moments of Paige MacGregor's life, but after a bad relationship left her identity compromised and her money gone, at least she has a job!

Making ends meet and trying to save up money to pay for the lawyer she needs to regain her identity is all Paige wants for Christmas. And Santa, baby please, she definitely doesn't need another smooth talking man to come into her life.

But when Cash Colton, recently single and returned from a soul-searching journey in South America, runs into the cute Santa he is immediately inspired. Thinking he's finally found his muse after all these years, Cash pursues Paige despite his own fears of love and commitment.

Featuring houseboats, a cute (and surprisingly snowy) Texas town, and a cast of lovable characters, this is just steamy enough for a cheery holiday read.

Thank you to Avon for providing a free copy for a fair review!

This was my first Lori Wilde and I wasn't the hugest fan of some of the sexy times descriptions. Apparently if the hero is a musician we can only have musical similes and metaphors to describe the loving, and they made me laugh which took me out of the moment. Other than that, I super enjoyed the book!

A childhood classic I revisited in order to check off my 2017 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge "read a book published between 1900-1950."

I recall being quite fond of this story as a child and it did not really hold up as well for me as an adult. Still a cute story and I really love the illustrations.

My first official "re-read" on Goodreads, huzzah! Love this new feature. Love the chemistry between Callie and Tanner and the addition of Tanner's teenage son Troy.

A fitting wrap up to the latest Lucky Harbor set. Callie, who doesn't believe in marriage or love anymore after being left at the altar, finds herself entangled with single dad and former wild child Tanner, who may change her opinion on things after all.

Steamy and wonderfully real as per usual. I can't help but fall in love with all Shalvis' couples. I also loved finally seeing old nosy bird Lucille a bit more as well.

**Reviewed from a free copy received from my link text

Kylie and Joe shared a scorching kiss after a night of celebrating their friends' engagement and both don't know what to do about it. When Kylie's most treasured possessions, a hand-carved wooden penguin, is stolen she turns to Joe for help knowing his skills as a private security firm enforcer/investigator will help solve the mystery. Both try to play it cool but as the investigation heats up, so does their chemistry.

AH. So good! I love a great frenemies to lovers tale and I adored how this story started with the big first kiss already in the characters' back pockets. Joe is the perfect mix of alpha with a heart of gold and Kylie is an awesome woodworker, has a fantastic little doggo, and is a swell leading lady!

Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!

I re-read this because one, it is awesome and sexy and super sweet, and two because it is about to be released! My favorite, so far, in the Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis.

Laugh out loud funny and punch you in the gut emotional, Irby pours her soul out onto every page. Best read slowly, a chapter a day, so as best to absorb every second of the ride. I especially enjoyed the essays about loathing being hot and her day to day life as a reluctant customer service pro.

Also, I'm so delighted the cat on the cover is actually apparently two different cats (a head and a body) as credited on the back book cover. Hilarious. This is also my favorite book cover of 2017. Perfectly captures the spirit of the book and is completely eye catching.

Ashley Winston has six brothers (all with great beards) and one beloved mother, a mother who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Returning home to help her brothers care for their mother, she finds out her mom has given power of attorney over to a friend of her brothers, a sexy forest ranger and a stranger to Ashley. Confused, hurt, and scared, Ashley tries to find herself while staying in the hometown she couldn't wait to get away from and the man she can't seem to help falling in love with.

A great introduction to the clan of Winstons, but I did miss the dual POV I've found in that series. I really wanted to get in Drew's head as some of his actions annoyed me. I did love that he wrote poetry though!

And again, these cross-stitch covers are heaven!

Ember has always been a bit unconventional, or in the unkind words of her ex-husband, outrageous. Her best friend Ranger never thought she needed to be tamed and now that he's back after a long astronomy project in Australia, he finds himself wondering why he and Ember never took their relationship to the next level.

Ember also finds herself starstruck by her bestie, but also highly jealous of all the women who are now throwing themselves at the sexy astrophysicist. Both circle the other like binary stars, but will Ember's past relationship regrets and Ranger's future work prospects keep them from exploring their own outer limits?

Enough puns for you? I really enjoyed the cute story, didn't really get the cover AT ALL. I mean, Ranger is part owner of a ranch in Texas, but that is about the extent of his cowboy. He's a dorky, sexy scientist. Maybe throw a lab coat on him? I'm fine with the hat.

Also, Wilde's sexy times scenes veer giggle inducing territory due to the sheer amount of similes, metaphors, and puns. There is almost two pages of star/space/planet related imagery whilst some downtown action. I appreciate a good laugh, but I don't think that was the intention?

That said, I did enjoy this tale, even if cowboy romances are not quite my thing.

Thank you to Avon for the ARC!

I picked this novel off of Sarah MacLean's "Read More Romance" list and never really read a synopsis of it, so I was pretty startled to see how well it fits the current climate of the #MeToo movement.

Lady Prudence was brutally raped by a peer of the realm on the night of her first ball, her first season. She never told anyone for many reasons. She didn't want to be forced to wed her awful attacker. She didn't want anyone to think differently of her. She didn't think anyone would even believe her.

Four years later, she is still traumatized from the event but needs to attend a reunion ball at her former finishing school. She will be the only unmarried attendee to ever attend, so decides to elope with man who she is sure will never make her consummate the marriage. But, when a highwayman disrupts their travels, she flees the scene and her intended never searches for her.

While stumbling through the countryside, a handsome man in a coach pulled by two white horses comes upon her, but Prudence knows heroes don't exist. She coldly refuses his invitation for a ride, but then is stuck in a country inn with the same man for days during an unrelenting rain.

John is entranced by the beautiful lady he tries to rescue. He fears she needs rescuing, but he also is highly respectful of Prudence's choices. Plus, John has a secret of his own.

After days spent in each others company, and John's very sweet and patient nature, Prudence finds herself falling for a man for the first time ever. Then The Beast shows up.

I loved the intention of this novel. I loved Rodale's deft handling of Prudence's character, her worries, her fears. John was almost too good to be true in many ways, but I didn't really care because Prudence deserved someone who worshiped her.

What kept me from giving this higher marks were a few things that just bothered me personally. Stop reading here if you don't want spoilers.

I thought the handling of Prudence's rape was well done (just seeing the aftereffects), until we got a flashback scene about a third of the way through that went through the rape extensively. Plus, having to go through many flashbacks in "The Beast's" POV was a bit too much for me. Gross, didn't want to be in his head. I also thought it was shitty of John to keep his secret, especially after Prudence finally revealed her's to him.

That said, a worthwhile read!