Review: Kennedy shoots and scores with her second chance sequel!

Notorious player and hockey star John Logan needs some way to take his mind off the life he will be forced to live after his college graduation. A hookup with freshman Grace Ivers is the perfect distraction, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend what little time he has left at Briar U doing whatever it takes to win her back. 

I love Logan and Grace! After reading “The Deal,” I fell head over heels for Hannah, Garrett, and their relationship. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to experience those same feelings for any other character / couple in the Off-Campus series, but Logan and Grace truly won me over! 

Kennedy did a great job making Logan and Grace’s character voices not only distinct from one another, but also from Hannah and Garrett in book 1. I was equally invested in both of their points-of-view and respective character arcs. I liked learning how selfless Logan is deep down as a result of his traumatic past, but I LIVED for Grace knowing her own self worth and demanding no less than what she deserves the whole novel. 

I really enjoyed Kennedy’s version of the second chance romance trope. Many books in this subgenre tend to center only around the two protagonists and former lovers reconnecting, meaning that we only get glimpses of their previous relationship and what went wrong through flashback. In “The Mistake,” however, readers get to see that previous relationship and the mistake that ruined it in real time, the book’s plot encompassing Logan and Grace’s first and second chance at love. I appreciated being given the opportunity to fully realize the scope of their relationship and to track its development from start to finish. 

Review: I did not think anything could top “The Love Hypothesis” until I read “Love, Theoretically”! 

 

Theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway wants nothing more than to land her dream job at MIT so she can leave her adjunct teaching position and fake girlfriend gig behind her. The only problem? Jack Smith—the older brother of her favorite client and the experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career—sits on the hiring committee. 

 

I LOVED this book because I personally connected with Elsie like no other Ali Hazelwood heroine before her. One of Elsie’s main inner conflicts in the book is her struggle to show those closest to her who she really is. Instead, she embodies different versions of herself to please others so she doesn’t feel the sting of rejection if something goes wrong. As someone with people pleasing tendencies, I have never felt so understood! 

 

I also really loved Hazelwood’s incorporation of the fake relationship trope in this book. Having already written about a fake relationship between her FMC and MMC in “The Love Hypothesis,” I appreciated how Hazelwood shakes things up in this novel by having Elsie fake date her love interest’s brother! This was new and exciting for me to read about and also nicely contributed to the tension between Elsie and Jack in the book. 

 

Elsie and Jack’s romance is absolute perfection in this book! Their progression from rivals to lovers is very natural and I thought it was very clever of Hazelwood to set their rivalry “against the backdrop of academic politics” (as she puts in her author’s note). I was not aware of the feud between theoretical and experimental physicists, so I found “Love, Theoretically” informative as a result.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Rogers’ debut is a beautifully devastating novel that demands to be read. 

 

“I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom” follows Marisol Martin, a Filipina-American teen who tragically loses her mother to a car accident. Haunted by the an argument they had in their final moments together, Marisol clings to her anger to escape her sadness. She is determined to burn until the start of a new friendship convinces her otherwise. 

 

This book really made me feel a wide spectrum of emotions, though I must confess that for the most part I was in a perpetual state of bawling my eyes out, which just goes to show how powerful this book is. Part of what makes it so powerful is the way the novel’s timeline is organized. Rogers alternates between the “then” and the “now,” dedicating whole chapters to Marisol’s memories of her mother. It was devastating to read about their tumultuous relationship in raw detail, but at the same time, I felt further connected to Marisol in learning about her past. 

 

An aspect of the novel I appreciated is the ways in which Rogers familiarizes her readers with Filipino culture. She does this through religious customs, but also primarily through food. Rogers describes the preparation of specific dishes and the community that is established during this process at length when Marisol’s mother was alive. As a result, the absence of Filipino food and the reliance on microwave meals after the passing of Marisol’s mother is jarring, so much so that Marisol questions whether she has lost the Filipino part of her identity entirely in losing her mother. 

 

Marisol’s story in “I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom” contributes to the conversation surrounding racial imposter syndrome in today’s society. Rogers did a fantastic job in shaping my understanding of this phenomenon— specifically who it impacts and what can be done about it. I highly recommend this book and intend to implement it in my classroom curriculum. 

Review: When it comes to sports romance books, “The Deal” is absolute perfection! 

 

“The Deal” alternates between the perspectives of Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham. Hannah is a straight A student and talented singer, but when it comes to the art of seduction, she is out of her comfort zone. When an opportunity arises for her to tutor Garrett— the cocky, captain of the hockey team—in exchange for a pretend date, she takes it hoping to learn how to win over her crush. Garrett doesn’t mind, so long as she helps him raise his GPA and secure his position on the hockey team. But when one wild night ignites real feelings, Garrett is determined to convince Hannah that what they have is far from pretend. 

 

The dual points-of-view in this book are SO good! I don’t know how Kennedy did it, but she made Hannah and Garrett’s voices so distinct and unique to their characters that I felt like they were real people I had gotten to know.  

 

I really love how Kennedy incorporated the fake relationship trope into her storyline. Oftentimes, I feel like the two characters that agree to fake date in romance books are either strangers, mere acquaintances, or rivals. While Hannah and Garrett start out as strangers to each other, they actually become great friends before they pretend to date, which eliminated feelings of awkwardness and discomfort between them and made their transition from friends to lovers more natural and realistic. 

 

I also really love Garrett and Hannah’s chemistry. The banter in this novel is fantastic, especially when the two first begin to interact, and their drastically different dynamics compliment each other well. 

 

I will definitely be reading the other books in the off-campus series, but I have a feeling this book will forever remain my favorite!

Review: Rogerson’s debut novel is the ultimate magical love story! 

 

“An Enchantment of Ravens” follows Isobel, a painter that creates beautiful portraits for the fair folk in exchange for enchantments.  But when she is commissioned by Rook, the autumn prince, she makes a costly mistake in her depiction of him that results in her being stolen away to stand trial for her crimes.  As soon as they step foot in the lands of the fair folk however, they are attacked and have no but choice to strike up a reluctant alliance, an alliance that could render their lives forfeit if it turns into something more.   

 

Rogerson’s writing made it impossible for me to put this book down! The flow of her words on the page drew me in and kept me engaged. Additionally, her lyrical and immersive prose helped me visualize Whimsy and the fair folk courts. 

 

I also enjoyed Rogerson’s take on fairies! Like other books, the fair folk in “An Enchantment of Ravens” are incapable of lying, being purposefully rude, and are inhumanly beautiful. Rogerson adds her own twist by establishing that each of the fair ones have a flaw in their appearance that cannot be concealed by their glamour—whether that be fingers that are too long or eyes with mortal sorrow. They also have different gifts attributed to them. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what flaws and abilities made each of the fair ones that Isobel encountered unique. 

 

I LOVED Isobel and Rook’s relationship dynamic in this book! Both characters are very strong-willed, so they frequently butt heads, and their playful banter centered around the fact that neither one really understood the other’s customs, resulting in many hilarious moments! Though they start out as enemies, their love blossoms from forced proximity and I couldn’t get enough! 

 

This standalone has it all — fairies, magic, politics, forbidden romance, a masquerade ball, and so much more! 

Review: “Babymoon or Bust” is a romance reader’s paradise! 

 

After a wild night with a handsome mountain man leaves Tessie Truelove pregnant, she vows to raise the baby all by herself. But when Solomon Wilder, her brooding baby daddy, crashes her carefully planned babymoon determined to be a constant in his child’s life, Tessie has no choice but to strike up a deal: spend three days together to figure out how to co-parent their son. Three days turn into a week and suddenly Tessie begins to wonder if she has found what she has spent her entire life avoiding—true love. 

 

This. Book. Is. Everything. I’ve never devoured something so fast. It isn’t easy to execute the unexpected pregnancy trope well partly because it is very formulaic and typically follows the same plot. I LOVED Hunter’s take on it because she zeroes in on Tessie’s babymoon, which I haven’t seen done before. “Babymoon or Bust” is also dual pov and I loved being able to see how Tessie and Soloman’s feelings for each other grow across the span of the three days that they spend together. 

 

Additionally, I thought that both Tessie and Solomon’s respective internal conflicts added complexity to their characters. I appreciated that they independently worked through their struggles while still supporting and uplifting each other. 

 

If you love the “there’s only one bed” trope, steamy moments of intimacy, overprotective grumps, and strong, independent FMCs then I could not recommend this book enough!

Review: Though “Blood & Honey” is not as strong as its predecessor, this book still manages to pack a punch. 

 

Picking up where “Serpent & Dove” left off, “Blood & Honey” follows Lou, Reid, Coco, Ansel, and Beau as they embark on separate quests to find allies willing to fight alongside them against Morgane le Blanc. 

 

I loved being able to explore the Kingdom of Belterra beyond the city of Cesarine in this book. Mahurin does a great job making environments like the Loup Garou’s swampy territory and the Dames Rouges’ blood camp both distinctive from one another and memorable. I especially liked learning about the abilities, lifestyles, and power structures attributed to the supernatural beings living in these areas and found the book to be very informative as a result. 

 

“Blood & Honey” also helped me learn more about the role memories play in the Dames Blanches’ system of magic in that they can be altered or tampered to manipulate the world as it exists. Sacrificing memories to perform magic can affect the witch’s values, beliefs, and expectations. I loved this twist on how power can be dangerous. 

 

Another aspect of the book that I loved was the establishment of found family. Just as soon as Lou and Reid’s relationship forms, it begins to crumble under the weight of Lou’s descent into darkness and Reid’s resentment. While this left me feeling sad and frustrated on my end, it was consolation enough to know that Lou and Reid had a support system in Coco, Ansel, and Beau, who still managed to see the best in them at their worst. 

 

In my opinion, the purpose of “Blood & Honey” is to set up the following novel’s main conflict. Subsequently, I found the plot lacking at times. Still, I enjoyed reading it for the new characters, the opportunity to further explore Belterra, and Lou and Reid’s relationship. The stakes are high and I know that “Gods & Monsters” will be all the more epic for it. 

Thanks to Fable, Avon Books, and Tessa Bailey for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Bailey’s unique twist on the marriage-of-convenience trope makes it impossible to put “Unfortunately Yours” down! 

 

The second novel in the “A Vine Mess” duology alternates between the perspectives of Natalie Vos, an investment manager and Napa heiress, and August Coates, a retired Navy SEAL. Their headstrong personalities result in the two constantly bickering, goading each other on, and playfully bantering in an effort to avoid coming to terms with their attraction for each other. There was never a moment when I wasn’t entertained by their relationship dynamic. Additionally, being able to read from the viewpoints of both love interests allowed me to fully explore the depth of characters’ feelings for one another and how those feelings develop, making both points-of-view equally compelling in my eyes. 

 

Like Bailey’s other novels, her characters are complex with their own inner conflicts that they need to work through as the storyline progresses. Bailey is very thoughtful in introducing the reader to the details surrounding August’s grief and her portrayal of his coping mechanisms. I appreciate her taking her time showing August working through each stage as he comes to terms with the loss of his best friend. 

 

Natalie’s struggles are first touched upon in “Secretly Yours,” but fully realized in “Unfortunately Yours.” All her life, Natalie has wanted to be noticed for her accomplishments. Instead, she has had to live in her family’s shadow. Subsequently, her feelings of rejection are deeply rooted and she is fearful to drop the armor around her heart. 

 

I loved watching their fake marriage turn into something real and lasting the moment Natalie and August began supporting each other as they worked through their respective conflicts. The safety and love they ultimately find in each other is absolutely everything!

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

Review: Sheridan’s steamy standalone is a fun and fast-paced read! 

 

“Grayson’s Vow” alternates between Grayson Hawthorne and Kira Dallaire’s points-of-view each chapter. Through their respective viewpoints, Sheridan slowly reveals details about their tumultuous pasts, the abuse they experienced at the hands of their respective parents, and the difficult places they are in financially. Doing so perfectly lays the groundwork for the incorporation of the marriage of convenience trope and makes the scenario much more believable. 

 

Out of pure desperation, Kira suggests that Grayson marry her so that she can fulfill the terms of her inheritance. In return, he will receive half of her funds to resurrect his father’s vineyard. For all intents and purposes, their marriage is supposed to be real on paper only and merely temporary. Their initial agreement changes, however, when their opposite personalities bring them closer together and create undeniable chemistry between them. The romantic tension Sheridan creates kept me on the edge of my seat! 

 

At the same time, miscommunication and misunderstanding are frequently used to create some of that tension between Kira and Grayson. This method was a source of frustration for me as a reader because Grayson tended to resolve conflicts that arose between them physically. I found this slightly off-putting because he essentially relies on Kira’s attraction to him to diffuse tough situations. Still, I loved following Kira and Grayson’s relationship development and enjoyed their banter. Sheridan’s writing has an addictive quality to it, so I will definitely pick up other books by her in the future!