lisaluvsliterature's Reviews (4.19k)

So I missed out on the first book in this series, but boy am I glad I was able to read this one! I loved this story so much! As a teacher I loved all those aspects of the story. While it sucks that the teachers in this school didn’t share their lessons with each other, almost everything else Cass dealt was familiar and so true for the experiences I’ve had in education.

And then there was Wilder. Oh how I fell in love with him! He was of course an ex professional baseball player, now a firefighter, I mean what is hotter than either of those? I loved the small town and all the different characters, friends, and family that were a part of the story. The added storyline of Wilder suddenly finding out he had a daughter was so emotional, towards the end it had me in tears at several points.

There was a point when Cass was doubting if she should have gotten into the fake marriage/turned to real renewed relationship and I was so prepared to be mad about her doing anything that would mess them up. But the way the author handled it was perfect. People have doubts like that all the time, so it made sense, and then for her to just know she’d still choose what she did.

It was a really steamy book too, at times maybe a bit more than I normally prefer, but for the most part nothing too crazy. And it fit their relationship as well. Another winner from Staci Hart and now I need to go back and read the first one!

Okay, this book reminds me of the first book by the author because I LOVED it so much! So much that I wish we could have a whole series with this group of friends that I fell in love with all of them.

First was our main character Cam. He was so relatable with his oddball persona, and a friend that was kind of drifting away even as they had a chance to go to school together again, because of how their lives were different. And then something crazy happened to Cam, now he was paranormal instead of just human, but it still didn’t mean he and his best friend Al were closer. They still had a distance between them because Al’s family was a coven of witches and they wanted Cam to align with them. But Cam didn’t know that he wanted to align with just one group, he wanted to use his power to help people.

Worse though is that first glimpse or vision that he had. Especially when he figures out who the murdered teen girl is. At that point he wants to know if once he’s seen something it can be changed. Along the way Cam kind of collects his own Scooby gang of paranormal group reps. Starting with the werewolf he’s had a crush on for a long time, Mateo. Mateo’s best friend Kaci, who is also a psychic like Cam, but she has a different talent. And then the other kind of paranormal, besides Cam’s oldest BFF Al – the witch, is a sprite – Reese, someone they aren’t sure at first if he is a friend or just along to make sure how things go. Finally a girl named Gemma – a human – who is the one that kind of outs Cam’s psychic power by posting a video that goes viral on her social media account where she’s all about all things paranormal even if she’s only human.

And then there is the family drama. Cam’s older brother Aiden disappeared when he went away to college and hasn’t once reached out to him. Cam’s parents are not a fan of anything paranormal, and warn Cam that he should find human friends and not pick back up with Al just because they are at the same school. Secrets come out about Cam’s family, good, bad, and ones that lead up to our moment at the end of drama.

Gah, I just loved this book so much and could barely put it down! I love the way all of our Scooby gang characters had things to grow and do with their own powers, even if they’d had them their whole lives. I love the whole parallel to being “outed” for his glimpses and it was against his will, and how that can apply to the LGBTQ community and people treating them the same way. Even how Cam’s parents treated him when he got his power was what I’m sure is reminiscent for teens who have non-supportive parents when they come out as their preferred gender or sexuality.

I have only one teeny, tiny issue, and it was at the very end, when he asked one of the elders who they thought he should align with, and their answer was good. But there was nothing at all about who he should pick or that he shouldn’t pick anyone or anything like that. And he didn’t even think anything about that? Another great book from this author!

Once again, Meghan Quinn had me rolling with laughter throughout this hilarious and perfect fake marriage rom-com. I basically started this book on a lunch break at work. A day I had chosen to sit in my car and read. Well, there just so happened to be someone in the car next to where I was parked, and I’m guessing they were wondering what in the world was so funny. If they’d have asked, I’d have just told them, Meghan Quinn.

First, the wedding, I mean starting with the scene leading up to the wedding starting. Not to mention Sloane’s tendency to ramble whenever she was nervous or unsure of what to do or say. The hilariously inappropriate things that came out of her mouth in those instances had me in tears at some points in the story. This was a grumpy-sunshine story as well. Boy was Hudson a grump. But as Sloane mentioned, he wasn’t like that when she met him in Bora-Bora at the beginning of the series. However from what Hudson was dealing with his father’s retaliation to him, his brother, and his sister’s businesses, it was easy to see why he felt the way he did.

Normally his stubbornness is the type of things that irritates me in a story, but the way he dealt with it. The emotional anguish he was in at the end of the story, and the way Sloane knew what the real issue was and what she should try to do to help him, those things saved me from feeling that way. In the end, all the family had to think about things and figure out what was really needed for everyone to be happy and to have fair treatment. Even Sloane and her brother Jude had issues that needed working out.

Now, let’s talk about all the hilarious things in this story that I had to take note of. First, if you read the book, that etiquette lesson, oh my gosh, so unexpected and hilarious! Some of the terms or phrases that Sloane came up with, one I want to use all the time: the motherest of all fuckers. Still laughing every time I read or say it. Foods and nudes. Gum balls. Ostriching – a term I hadn’t really thought of before. And oh my gosh, the whole day of proposals in London. And it wasn’t just Sloane with the funny slip-ups, her sister had a good one too: “Did I say Hudson? I meant Hoo-done. It’s something all the kids are saying these days.”

Another winner from Meghan Quinn. Still giggling whenever I think of certain scenes in this book!

I loved the first two in this series, but missed out on book 3. Jumping back in for book 4 was a blast though! I love southern gentleman Fox. It was impossible to not be in love with him from the very beginning. It was easy to see why the fake dating turned to fake engagement situation happened. Fox had a wonderful family and so it was hard for him to understand a family like Lilah’s. I mean I wanted to smack around her mother and father myself!

We got back the text group chat of the Single guys, Serpent Singles? I forget the exact name. But I laughed so much at how they all gave Lawson all the flack, and he gave it right back. But hey, he already has his HEA, so the jokes is on the rest of the guys, lol. The hockey was a fun part of the story as well. I liked how Fox was finally able to get out of his head and finally be the player his team needed.

The steamy bits were fun, and showed both Lilah and Fox’s personalities and what they liked. They were really perfect for each other. The part about Fox saving turtles and how Lilah kept finding ones she wanted to buy for him, that reminded me so much about how when I find out there is something a friend or family likes that much, I tend to do the same thing with thinking of them whenever I see that thing and wanting to buy all of them!

A wonderful addition to the hockey world that Hunter has created!

Just wasn’t working for me 

This was such a fun read! The beginning was a funny set-up with how it was one character getting ready to propose, but not to the person he was with. And then it was obvious how Molly’s boyfriend was going to behave later that night. Then the whole trip and the debacle with the booking turned into so much fun! 

Of course there had to be a bunch of competitions to see who got to stay the second week, and I loved how all those winners ended up coming about. The surprises by both women and men when the other group thought they had them. The men were a lot of fun, as were the women. It was easy to see why Travis was going to be perfect for Molly. Molly had several thoughts that I totally vibed with in the book. Early on she mentioned how she wanted to get to the old lady stage of eating early and staying home, yeah, I’m in that stage, lol. And then later when she talked about how wearing make up wasn’t her thing, and how people – both men and women – judge a woman based on if she is wearing makeup or not. Unlike Molly though, I just live with the judging because I’m too lazy to mess with it.

There was one bit of the men kind of getting something over on the women with the terms of their agreement that ended up with the men using one of the woman’s expensive shampoo. That whole scene and what we found out happened with the others during the same scene had me giggling! There was a bit of drama at the end that had even me going with Molly’s misunderstanding and hoping it was actually that. And in the end, it all came together so perfectly! 

This was another winner by MacIntosh for me, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it!