dermkat's Reviews (2.11k)

I enjoyed the first book but I loved this one! This is the one that I first saw by this author and was excited by the premise, so I read book one first. At the end of book 1 we found out that Gabe and Wade likely hooked up at Indi and Landon's wedding, and now we learn that they'd kissed once before and then did indeed sleep together even though she hates him. It's over a year later and Gabe won't give him the time of day but then they're essentially forced to fake date and over time they go from fake dating but hooking up, to feelings and not faking. She takes longer to get there, while dealing with grief over the loss of her mother years ago and not connecting to her desi culture, and he's all in before they even start, while having his own parental abandonment issues with his dad, something they eventually bond over. He's such a goner for her, lets her dominate him (the spice was spicing in this one, too, and I loved it) and eventually shares all sides of himself with her, including coming out to her. Their banter and teasing matched with their care and emotional support was a winning combination and made my heart feel full. My only complaint is we didn't get enough of Bea as a side character, so I'm very much looking forward to her and Fletcher's story next!

There was something about this one when it started that made me unsure if I was going to like it but I kept reading and I'm glad I did (and I don't know what that something was other than maybe character behavior? But to be fair, the FMC is drunk the first time we meet her so I'm glad I gave her a chance). In the end I really enjoyed this book, with it's goofy humor, emotional moments, South Asian family traditions, hockey team antics, and more. Landon gets in trouble (being framed) and Indi ends up his lawyer, but they played youth hockey together and has crushes on each other until something happened that made her quit playing. They eventually bury the hatchet and become friends, and then hookup buddies because she's inexperienced and he wants her so he's happy to teach. This is quite possibly the spiciest MF romance I've read where they don't have full sex or kiss for that long but do a ton of other stuff. I'm definitely intrigued by book two's couple's story and look forward to book three's release this summer.

I enjoyed this next installment of this series. It has the potential to be the last in the series based on the last of the guys on the team this age being paired up, but the epilogue left it open to a second gen story so we shall see. This is closed door but either fade to black or mentioned without details, but also a slow burn as Farrah, divorced recently and sister to team captain Remy, avoids her feelings for goalie Bruce, after having met him and flirted and made out the night she signed the papers a year and a half ago. He's falling for her fast and hard and keeps trying. When they finally do get together secretly for a bit before her brother knows, she ends up breaking it off because of her PCOS and probably inability to have kids (which is why her ex left her). I thought these two each other well and had a nice sort of friendly comraderie along with the attraction and love. 

I really enjoyed this one! It's sapphic (lesbian MC and bi MC), and it's fake dating with the version of forced proximity that is my fave: when they don't really have to stay together but do anyways so they've sort of brough it on themselves. Bryce is the town 'ice queen' and is known for her prickly demeanor unless you're one of the few she's let in, something that stems from not being loved properly by her rich, snooty parents who look down on her for her tattoos, general vibe, and sexuality (even if they've never said that last one out loud, actions make it clear). When Johnny's twin Daisy moves back to town to start teaching at the elementary school, she needs a place to stay temporarily and the friend group volunteers Bryce's spare room. Which would be fine, except Bryce has been secretly enamoured with Daisy for a few years, and that only gets worse when Daisy suggests they fake date to get Bryce's parents to stop fixing her up with men. The women grow closer, there's a very sweet caretaking situation when one is ill, and tattoos are a love language. I'm glad this one finally let us know Darren more since Bryce is best friends with him too, and set up his book as it's the final in the series, coming out later this year. This one is a close second to book two, which is my other fave of the series so far, but rather than its firey, fast paced vibe, this one is a little slower and gentler as both women learn to let the other in and sink into being entirely themselves. 

I enjoyed this third book in the series, maybe not as much as the other two, but it was definitely still good. Rory moved to town at the end of the last book and was kind of mysterious, so now we learn that she found out at age 30 that her dad was famous musician Lee Rose, who grew up in Cherry Peak, and that she had a half sister, Wanda, who we met before briefly. She's come to town for answers but neither of them are there, so she stays for a bit, expecting to leave eventually. But then Johnny, eight years younger, a ball of extroverted sunshine, starts to pursue her and as hard as she tries to find excuses not to fall for him, she does. I liked their dynamic, thought the plus size rep was good again in this one, and am intrigued by the next book now that we've met Johnny's sister Daisy and know she's one MC. 

I am very much enjoying this series! Having seen grumpy arrogant Garrison in action in the other series, I wasn't sure how he'd be redeemed, but he came alive on the ranch (not there by choice after making a mistake at work), and Poppy was perfect for him. She's the plus sized character rep I love, where her body is mentioned in detail, she loves her body but acknowledges the issues she's had in the past with her confidence or with how people treat her, she's confidently sexy (runs a body positive pole studio), and he loves her softness and larger bits of anatomy. This one was spicier than the last but in a way that made sense for the characters since that's how they connect at first, giving into their immediate attraction despite not liking each other, and I loved it. The father and son drama was a long time coming and those kinds of storylines always get me, so between that and the 3rd act separation, I definitely teared up a couple times. This book also set up the next one and the last one in a way, which I was glad for. I do think overall that I liked this one even more than the first but it's hard to tell when they have slightly different vibes. 

I've been meaning to get to this series since I've enjoyed literally everything I've read by the author, and I'm glad I finally did because this was no exception. I had forgotten it was connected to the other series so that was a fun surprise to see and hear about other people. FMC Anna is Braxton's sister, and after her engagement falls apart because he's awful, she moves randomly to a small town in Alberta. Cherry Peak is fictional but I've definitely been where it's supposed to be so that's fun, and the prairie winter descriptions are chillingly relatable (see what I did there?). She texts a wrong number and it doesn't start well but ends up chatting with the dude. She also meets Brody Steele (country singer with the same label as Noah so we see Reggie and Garrison) in person and that doesn't go well either but eventually they are drawn to each other. He's home at his ranch on vocal rest and clashing with his grandpa. I appreciated that they're already basically together by just over halfway through and there was no third act breakup. I did have the same confusing issue that I've had with others of her books, where there seems like good plus size rep for the FMC and then I wouldn't say so based on how she's portrayed in the alt cover and other images/art. But I'm excited to see where the series goes based on the characters I've met now and will likely immediately inhale the next three that are available so far. 

I went into this a bit wary because I'd read one of the author's books before and ended up disappointed because the tension was so good but then it was literal closed door when I hadn't known going in so it felt like an abrupt stopping, and then the ending felt rushed. But I know people love her and this specific book was recommended multiple times recently, so I decided to buddy read it with my sister. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved it! It's got excellent banter between the two leads (Will, a bodyguard for their friend Amelia, who doesn't believe in love or want a relationship; and Annie, the town "sweetheart" who hates that view of her even though she really does want to marry someone and have the perfect life) as he agrees to help her practice dating since she believes she's too awkward and nervous and unexperienced. She has always been attracted to him, and then immediately feels safe and comfortable enough to be her fully weird, adventurous, hidden self around him. He tries to keep himself in denial about how much he enjoys spending time with her and thinks about her, but clearly is falling for her without even realizing. A bonus, as someone who prefers spicy romance but will happily read a closed door/non-spicy if it is done well and doesn't feel like anything is missing, I was happy when their scene together was more obvious than the last time, even while not being spicy and just referncing what happened. And then we get and actual spicy bonus scene at the end of the book, which surprised me and I was thrilled. It's not explicit like other books but it is stuff happening on page. I loved the ridiculous small town and cast of side characters, and absolutely want to go back to read book one of the series and continue after this one. Sarah Adams has potentially won me over after all. 

I really, really enjoyed this final installment of the Primas of Power series! I remember liking the first book enough to want to read the next one, but it was just fine. Then I liked the second one more, and now this one was so good!! Ava's been through it: divorced parents young, a family that takes advantage of her, and abruptly left by her husband (and partner of ten years), which she often gets blamed for by her meddling extended family. The day her divorce finally goes through, she goes to a bar in her hotel and ends up meeting the hotel's owner, Roman. They spend the night together and she makes it clear it's a one time thing. Over the next months, he waits to hear from her and eventually does, which starts a secret hookup situation, much to his chagrin. But he sees Ava for who she really is, not who she pretends to be to keep everyone happy, and understands that she has to go at her own pace. Then they discover that he's best friends with cousin Jasmine's fiance, and the best man in their wedding to Ava's maid of honor, so that complicates things since she still wants to keep it a secret. Her story was so layered, and the way he was patient with her and fell first was lovely. It's also through his time spent with her that he realizes that his tendency to overwork himself in the name of caring for his family wasn't really working. I thought this did well to wrap up the trilogy as a whole at the end, and this is my favorite cover of the three (they're all gorgeous). 
•disability rep: migraine
•Latinx rep (Puerto Rican and Bajans)

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and liked the second one even more, but I think this may be my favorite! It's hard to say for sure because it's been a while since I've read the others, but I've been inteigued by oldest Green sister Iris's story since we first met her. She's more type A than her sisters and has taken on the role of responsible mother her entire life. She's a single mother to her daughter, six year old Calla, and works at the same cosmetics company she has since before her husband died when Calla was a baby. Angel is a pop/R&B star a few years younger, and client of her sister Violet. She's felt a surprising connection with him both times they've met, and now he's written a song about her and is her company's brand ambassador, and she's got to accompany him on a product release tour. They grow closer and end up getting together secretly until things go public and everything hits the fan. I thought the treatment of grief was well done, with therapy on page and it affecting different areas of her life. I liked their dynamic together, both with how sweet and down to earth he was with her, but also their attraction (as I've said with each book in the series, the spicy scenes are there but much less explicit than other books). The one thing I thought was maybe a bit of a missed opportunity wae the way it was set up that he couldn't say no to things, fans, etc. and nothing ever really came of it aside from with his family. Otherwise, a good wrap up to the series, and I'll look for whatever the author writes next!