Review: Silver strikes gold with her debut!  

 

“Off to the Races” follows Vaughn Harding, owner and operator of Gold Rush Ranch, and Billie Black, the horse trainer he hires to help save the farm, as their efforts to keep their distance and keep things professional become futile the more time they spend together. 

 

Although their physical attraction is instant, Billie and Vaughn clash from the moment they meet and I could not get enough of their verbal sparring matches! Billie has spunk and doesn’t let anyone, including Vaughn walk all over her, which is so admirable in a male-dominated profession. The two have such fantastic chemistry, making it hard to put this one down. I love how their rivalry and the fact that they can’t have each other due to being work colleagues heightened the romantic tension. 

 

Even more so, I enjoyed watching them become emotionally intertwined as the story progressed. Vaughn and Billie find solace in each other with both of them having been hurt by the ones meant to love them most. Reading from both of their perspectives as they worked through their struggles and slowly began to confide in one another was everything! 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Review: I am absolutely wild about this book!

“Unwanted” follows Harper Ward after she is summoned to the small town sheriff’s office in Helena Springs, Montana to provide assistance on a double homicide case. Their only suspect—a man described as a savage. But as secrets begin to emerge, nothing is as it seems and the more time she spends with the man known as Lucas, the more she risks losing herself. 

I really like how Sheridan organized this story! Alternating each chapter between the past and present until both timelines merged towards the end drew out the mystery to the very last moment, which was absolutely thrilling. The various points-of-view only thickened the plot as I frantically tried to piece together how Sheridan’s cast of characters were tied to the case. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, more layers to the mystery unfolded so that when the murderer was finally unmasked I was completely caught by surprise!

Harper and Lucas’ strangers-to-soulmates love story is everything I have ever wanted from a contemporary Tarzan reimagining! Having gone through what he has gone through, I love how Harper let Lucas set the pace of their relationship. She fully embraces both sides of him—the animal and the man—and is there to help him overcome his internal and external scars. At the same time, Lucas makes sure that Harper is not alone when she contends with her own demons and my heart melted! 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Review: Your honor, I fell in love with Matthew and Josie and I fell hard!

“The Fiancé Dilemma” follows Josie Moore after a big messy misunderstanding results in Matthew Flanagan, her sister’s best friend, playing the role as doting fiancé to resolve a complicated PR issue. Despite the ring on her finger and Matthew not seeming to mind, Josie knows this is only temporary, even if the rest of the small town believes that the fifth times the charm.

This book found me when I needed it most! Having been introduced to Josie in “The Long Game”, I was excited to read from her point-of-view. Armas adds so much depth to her character and unsurprisingly I found myself connecting with Josie on a deep level as a result. I saw so much of myself in the way she prioritized the needs of other people over herself and overextended herself as the mayor of Green Oaks just because it is in her nature to lend a helping hand. Seeing her raw emotions laid out on the page as she grapples with her failed engagements becoming the topic of conversation in the media, her absentee father wanting to be a part of her life, and her mother’s passing is gut-wrenching, but also extremely validating. I think what makes her character so powerful is that she has the ability to make anyone who is struggling feel less alone and I love that about her.  

Matthew truly showed up on Josie’s doorstep when she needed him most. Let me tell you…my heart belongs to this glasses-wearing man!!! He is not shy at all about how attracted he is to Josie (he practically worships the ground that she walks on) and I adore that about him. More than that though, I love how he makes sure Josie comes first. He has her back throughout their stunt, shows up for her in more ways than one, bakes for her, keeps her company, and, most importantly, loves her for who she is. He is perfect for her and watching Josie come to that realization on her own made my heart so full! 

I am not kidding when I say that Matthew and Josie are my new favorite couple and that Green Oaks will always be my happy place.  The array of characters and animals feel like home to me. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Review: I didn’t finish “The Ex Vows”…”The Ex Vows” finished me. 

 

“The Ex Vows” follows Georgia Woodward and Eli Mora, estranged exes,  as they are thrust together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters. 

 

I think the reason why I hold this story so close to my heart is because I have never resonated with a book as much as I have with this one! It is so perfectly in sync with where I am at in life and I am convinced that Georgia and I are practically the same person. I found myself relating to her need for control, her desire for belonging, and her hesitance in communicating her needs. Watching her character grow as the story progressed not only gave me hope for myself in terms of where I want to be but genuinely made my heart so happy! 

 

Though this story is told from a singular perspective, Joyce masterfully uses Georgia’s observant nature to shed light on Eli’s character. She does a great job weaving in snippets of what their relationship was like before it soured in the present day narrative and executes their reunion perfectly in having them face each other in order to step into their roles for their mutual friend’s wedding. I love how Eli slowly but surely shows pieces of himself that are unpolished to Georgia, giving up the control and stability he once clung to, to encourage her to do the same. Watching them finally let go and be messy, embracing all of themselves and each other, to make their relationship work the second time around brought me to tears. It destroyed me and put me back together (a commonality in all her books). I cannot thank Joyce enough for this story of love, loss, and healing. It has irrevocably changed my life and has left an imprint on my soul. 

Thanks to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: A heartwarming hate to love romance! 

“Rule Breakers Fall Hardest” follows Rosie Thomas as she enters a fake marriage to help Daire Hendricks, her former childhood crush, get custody of his child. Despite their hatred for each other, the benefits of their arrangement are worth it. But what neither of them expects, is when playing house starts to feel a little too real.

The circumstances leading up to Rosie and Daire’s nuptials make their love story unique. I admire Daire’s commitment to being a father and Rosie for helping him be a part of his child’s life. Their fake marriage gave them the opportunity needed to work through past misunderstandings and repair their relationship. Smeltzer does a great job establishing that they still feel deeply for one another and their forced proximity allowed those feelings to flourish. I love how they supported each other as their new lives took shape. I lived for the moments when they became a team, like when they formed a united front to break the news about their hasty trip to the alter to their parents, worked their way through an infant CPR class together, and went shopping for the baby together. They showed up for each other, whether that be at hockey games or wedding dress appointments. Admittedly, I thought that the way Daire’s custody battle was resolved was a little too convenient, but I adore the little family Rosie, Daire, and Sammy became!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: I am so down bad for this book it’s not even funny!!!

“Not Another Love Song” follows Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne,  two string players, as they fight their attraction for each other while competing for center stage.

From the moment Alex insulted Gwen’s form when she played the cello, I fell in love with them as characters and their dynamic. Gwen’s people pleasing tendencies struck a chord with me as someone who shares that same quality and enriched my understanding of her motivations for sticking with the Pops Orchestra when people were taking advantage of her. I enjoyed reading from her point-of-view and getting bits of Alex’s perspective throughout the novel. Soto is very intentional about her placement of chapters written from his perspective to add intrigue surrounding his past. 

Gwen and Alex’s romance is a perfectly paced, sizzling symphony and I was entranced by each movement: colleagues, rivals, duet partners, lovers. Their every interaction vibrated in my bones because their chemistry is that palpable! I adored Alex’s subtle gestures—like the way he made Gwen’s favorite drink for her, offered to buy her shampoo when she stayed with him, and attempted to make her pancakes—just as I adored Gwen for loving all of Alex and helping him become more in tune with himself. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the cello scene that is depicted on the cover. Julie Soto was not messing around when she wrote that scene! Her lyrical writing brought the music they made together to life and I could cut the sexual tension with a knife. It took my breath away. I didn’t want it to end because it hit so hard! This whole book does quite frankly. 

In conclusion, whatever Soto writes, I’m buying!!

Thank you to Valentine PR and the author providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story contains topics that may be sensitive to some readers. CW include: self harm, parental abandonment, mentions of spousal and parental abuse, parental neglect, mentions of death of a parent (off-page), vision loss.

Review: This book is like a song I’d play on repeat! 

 

“Love Unwritten” follows Rafael Lopez, a struggling workaholic, and Ellie Sinclair, a songwriter hired to watch and teach music to his son. For eight months, the two coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything. Fourteen days. Two islands. And an undeniable attraction that blurs lines whether they like it or not. 

 

Rafael and Ellie’s love story tugged my heartstrings! The two are opposites in every way, but they could not be more perfect for each other. Asher is the queen of writing compelling characters and I could not get enough of reading from their respective points-of-view. I felt so seen by Rafael’s inclination to prioritize the happiness of others and Ellie’s fear of confrontation. 

 

“Love Unwritten” is tonally a little different from Asher’s previous books in that she broaches darker subjects like self harm and parental abandonment. I appreciate her taking great care in capturing Rafael’s trust issues and Ellie’s urge to take her emotions out on herself, detailing where those behaviors stem from and how each character copes. Through their point-of-views, the reader is privy to their internal battles and their respective journeys to healing. 

 

Rafael and Ellie’s relationship development made me so emotional! They find each other when they need each other most. Watching them become more comfortable with themselves, their pasts, and each other made my heart so happy. Throughout the trip, the two confide in each other, letting down their walls so they can love each other fully. Their love also manifests in Nico. I love how Asher dedicates time to establishing a relationship between Rafael, Ellie, and Nico. Ellie’s unconditional devotion to Nico despite having no relation to him is so wholesome and the family unit they create made the ending all the more perfect.