jamieb_19's Reviews (252)

I was pumped when A.J. Truman announced he was writing a hockey book. And not your usual hockey book, but a hockey book about dudes in their 40s looking to relive their glory days. Then he added an age gap, a single dad, and rivals to lovers to sweeten the pot. The result? A sweet, funny, and sexy story that I had so much fun reading!

From the first chapter, with Griffin’s friends’ creative attempt to get him to join their team, I loved this group of guys. They all had ups and downs over the years, but it was great seeing their friendship persist, and it was easy to root for them as they made their big comeback. And what’s a sports romance without a good rivalry? The pranks between the Blades and the Comebacks were hilarious and exactly what you might expect from a bunch of competitive guys. I also enjoyed the personal rivalry between Griffin and Jack. It created a delicious tension between them that was bound to combust!

I loved Griffin and Jack together. They got off to a rocky start which created a lot of the tension but underneath the animosity there was always something a little softer that kept drawing them back together. Their tension finally boiled over and they couldn’t keep their hands off each other - they had great chemistry! As time went on, they also started to understand each other on a deeper level and there were some sweet moments along the way that made me swoon.

There was a bit of angst thanks to a little twist thrown into their dynamic, and from the rivalry on the ice. I had a lot of fun seeing how it all played out, and I loved seeing Griffin and Jack ultimately having each other’s backs through it all. I thought this was a great start to this new series, and I look forward to seeing what’s next!

This was very short, only 4 chapters, but it was adorable! I’d love to read more about Rainey and Nick someday, should the author ever choose to expand their story!!

Oliver Shaw and Jackson Moreno first meet as the only two survivors of a terrifying tunnel collapse. The two men form an unlikely bond as they are trapped together in the pitch black for days while they await a rescue that may or may not come. They are men whose paths would probably never have crossed otherwise but when they have to rely upon each other if they have any hope of survival, they form a connection that only they would understand. When rescue finally comes, they are ripped from each other’s lives as quickly as they entered and Oliver is left with nothing but questions about the man he’s come to love. Their paths don’t cross again until one fateful day six years later when Jackson shows up looking for a job at the bank where Oliver works. Time and circumstance have changed a lot for both men over the years but the one thing that’s stayed the same is the connection they formed back in that tunnel. But Jackson still has secrets that threaten to rip him away from Oliver again. Sometimes, though, people are simply destined to be together and will find each other again and again until they can finally have forever.

This book immediately sucked me in as our quiet, nerdy Oliver finds himself trapped in the dark on a train after the tunnel they were traveling through collapses. It’s not long before the only other survivor, gruff and grumpy Jackson finds him and the two have to rely on each other to try and survive until they are rescued. I thought this part was really well written. The fear and hopelessness of the situation were so well executed. These men were very different but they certainly bonded over their shared trauma, all without ever laying eyes on each other due to their pitch-black surroundings. It’s hinted early on that Jackson has had a rough life but having to look out for Oliver brings out his protective nature and you get to see that despite whatever he’s mixed up in outside the tunnel, he’s a good person at his core. Poor Oliver was, understandably, a wreck down there but managed to draw on his parenting experiences to remain calm in certain situations when Jackson needed him most. It’s heartbreaking when they are torn apart immediately upon being rescued and the chapter that covers the time jump was so sad.

Seeing the aftermath of the accident on Oliver’s mental health was also heartbreaking. He was doing his best but really struggling when we pick up six years later. Then Jackson reenters his life and they quickly find the solace in each other’s presence that they felt all those years ago. I don’t want to give any spoilers but there was one thing about their reunion that seemed a little unlikely. But aside from that, I loved seeing them come together again. They balanced each other well, Oliver softened Jackson’s edges and Jackson helped Oliver rediscover the strength that he had within him. The romance between them was really sweet. This part of the story was also stressful, though, because Jackson gets himself mixed up in stuff that leaves you waiting for the other shoe to drop.

There were a few other minor things that I thought were unnecessary or not exactly realistic but overall I thought this was a lovely, heartwarming romance. It was my first time reading a book from this author and I’ll definitely be seeking out more. In particular, I’ll be going back to read Gray and Jonah’s book because I really liked them as secondary characters here and was excited to see they had their own book!

Aleric King is looking to resurrect his acting career after a disastrous fall from grace years earlier. He’s pinning his hopes on the new series he’s been cast in playing the second-born Prince of Caverna. He’s not expecting to have to deal with the Prince himself, who has been hired as a wheelchair consultant. Prince Camillo is surly and not at all thrilled that Aleric was cast in the role instead of a disabled actor. But as they spend more time together, they realize they understand one another more than anyone ever has. Aleric is just starting to regain his footing in an industry that’s historically been unforgiving. Will his career survive if it comes out that he’s fallen in love with the Prince?

I loved Aleric and Camillo! They were so good for each other. I loved how at first they didn’t like each other, and made that fact well known, and even as they started to understand each other better, they still kept up that combative banter. But then they became so sweet. They each had reasons why they never let people get close, but they developed a level of trust that was beautiful to see. They were so soft and caring with one another. I loved how healing their relationship was for both of them.

As you’d expect from an E.M. Lindsey novel, the disability rep was top tier. It was interesting and eye opening to see how Camillo navigated day-to-day life after his injuries. Aleric may have started off unintentionally ableist but I loved how he made the effort to learn what Camillo needed and what he didn’t.

There was a bit of angst and drama circling these guys, and my only gripe about the book was that I wish the big external conflict that was hinted at near the end had been fleshed out a little more. It is resolved, at least, but it was quick, and I would have liked to see more of how Aleric and Camillo formed a united front to face it. But overall, I really enjoyed this story and was happy to see these guys get their HEA!

I read this book when it first came out and fell head over heels in love with Brad and his Joey-Roo, so I wasn't going to miss out on experiencing it again when the audiobook was released. This book was just as good the second time around, and Nick J. Russo did a phenomenal job bringing these beloved characters to life! 

This was a cute story. I liked the setting. Storybook Endings Resort sounded like a fun place, and I thought the story of why Ethan and his then-wife, Amy, created it was very sweet. Taylor, Amy’s assistant, is sent to the Catskills location where Ethan works to help prep for Ethan and Amy's daughter’s sweet sixteen party. It’s his first time meeting Ethan, and the two hit it off pretty quickly. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and the little ways they helped each other out. There was a bit of an age gap between them, which I didn’t notice most of the time because Taylor was fairly mature for his age. Probably as a result of having to care for his siblings as they were growing up. Every so often, the age gap would be mentioned, and I would be like "oh yeah”. 

After his divorce, Ethan had been skeptical of finding love again, so it was nice to see him open his heart to Taylor. There was the predictable angst in the third act. If you read the blurb, I’m sure you can guess exactly what happens. The ending was sweet, though. I was happy with how everything turned out. 

I really liked Ethan’s daughter, Samara, and I especially liked her relationship with Taylor. I was less a fan of Ethan’s ex-wife, Amy. I didn’t like the way she treated Ethan or the way she spoke about him to others. Taylor was continually surprised by the reality of Ethan vs what he thought he’d be like based on what Amy said about him. She also wasn’t that great to Taylor, and she certainly didn’t appreciate him enough for all he did for her. She sort of redeems herself by the end, but I still wasn’t her biggest fan. Aside from that, though, overall this was a sweet and easy read, and I was glad Ethan and Taylor got their HEA.

Matthew and Liam were childhood enemies, tormenting each other throughout school. They've since gone their separate ways but are shocked when Liam turns up as the date Matthew hired for his company's weeklong Hawaiian retreat. Now they've got to figure out how to fool Matthew's colleagues for a week and not slip back into their antagonistic ways. But in doing so, they begin to see each other in a new light and wonder if it's possible to actually fall in love with your former arch enemy.

After finishing The Revenge Game, about Matthew's friend, Andrew, I had to go back and read Matthew and Liam's story. I thought this was a very enjoyable novella. It was fun hearing about all the ways these two tormented each other back in school, there were some truly creative pranks. And I loved how all that old animosity ultimately boiled over into fiery chemistry. As they leaned into their sexual chemistry, they began to grow closer in other ways. Making it hard to part ways at the end of the week. They were really sweet together, and I loved how it all came full circle in the last chapter - such a perfect ending! 

What do you do when you come face to face with your high school bully after 10 years, and he walks right past without even recognizing you? Well, if you’re Andrew Yates, you orchestrate an elaborate plan to infiltrate his life to exact a little revenge, hopefully making him feel even a fraction of the embarrassment you did back then. But what do you do when you start spending time with the guy and realize there was a lot more going on under the surface that you never knew about? You start to become friends with him. And what happens when you start to actually fall in love with the guy? Andrew certainly got more than he bargained for when he set out to get revenge against Justin Morris, and now he’s got to figure out how to tell Justin the truth without losing him forever.

I loved this book! It was a great rom-com, a story I could easily see playing out in a movie. The early parts of the story were funny as Andrew devised and executed his revenge plans against Justin. But soon turned sweet as Andrew realized he wasn’t exactly cut out for revenge and ended up helping Justin more than anything. This book was a slow burn, but it worked so well. The friendship Andrew and Justin built was adorable, and I loved seeing them slowly fall for each other. It was a little stressful at times because they were so good together, but there was this whole secret hanging over their relationship, and I was so nervous waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The thing I loved most about the book was the message that you may think you have someone figured out, but oftentimes there are parts to their story that you don’t know, and those parts can completely change your opinion of them. My heart broke for both of them for what they went through in high school. Andrew’s life was hell as a result of the bullying, but Justin’s life outside of school was far from perfect. It doesn’t excuse what Justin did to Andrew back then, but it explains it and makes it possible for Andrew to eventually forgive him. Both men made mistakes - Justin in the past, and Andrew now - but together they were able to work toward forgiveness and growth. It was lovely to see. The ending was so good, including an amazing grand gesture, and the sweetest epilogue. Be sure to download the bonus scene too, the perfect way to cap off this story!

Kylan and his two daddies have been a bit of a mystery throughout the first two books, and now we finally get to see what they're all about. It kind of felt like we were dropped into the middle of their story, and in a way, I think we were because these three have already been in their arrangement for some time, so all the feelings and everything were already there when the book starts. Not getting to see how they got to the point they were at kind of made it hard for me to fully connect emotionally to their relationship. Even though it would have taken the timeline back a little from the first two books, it would have been nice to see how they started (vs. just the little recap we were given in the first few chapters).

The dynamic between Leon, Marek, and Kylan was good, however. They all got something they needed from the arrangement, and the spicy scenes were very spicy. This book was angstier than the first two, I thought. And a lot of the angst came when actual feelings entered the equation. It felt a little dramatic and over the top, but I guess these guys just felt everything very deeply. 

I enjoyed the scenes between Kylan, Fitch, and Benji, too. And we finally got some closure on the stuff with Benji's dad from the first book. I think that if you're going to read these books, they're best read in order because there are overarching storylines that run throughout. 

This was a beautiful end to the Swift Brothers series. We finally get to know Rhett Swift and see him try to remake himself and be the man and brother he always wanted to be. He was a hard character to get a read on in the first two books, mainly because he was always so standoffish, and every time he interacted with one of his brothers, it resulted in a fight. But we finally get to see all he endured at the hands of his father and the immense pressure placed on his shoulders, and my heart went out to him. His father had damaged him so badly; it was heartbreaking. But him finally being able to live for himself and his desire to repair his relationships with his brothers was wonderful to see.

Helping Rhett along his journey are Tripp Cassidy and his daughter, Meadow. They both recognized how lost Rhett was and thought he might need a friend. The slow build of the friendship between Tripp and Rhett was the sweetest. Tripp was a great guy, and I loved how he kept showing up for Rhett, being the kind of friend he needed and being patient while Rhett slowly let down his walls around him. Their progression from friends to lovers felt entirely natural, and the way they were both so open and honest with one another was great to see. A perk of having mature MCs. They made such great partners, and I loved watching them fall in love.

I also adored Rhett’s relationship with Tripp’s daughter. She was wise beyond her years, and the way she and Rhett bonded was beautiful. I loved the advice she gave him and how he opened up to her. The little family that Meadow, Rhett, and Tripp built was so sweet. Rhett finally got to experience what a family should be, and you could see that he would never take that privilege for granted.

Probably the most important aspect of this book, though, was seeing all three Swift brothers come together and finally work through a lifetime of hurt and damage their father caused them. I loved all the healing and growth from all three brothers, and it warmed my heart to see how they all ended up. The epilogue was so perfect; it was everything I could have wanted for these guys, and the final few lines brought me to tears. It was the perfect way to end this series.