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Cadence was the best. She’s strong but also vulnerable, struggling with what the career that she loves means for the rest of her life, her privacy, her relationships. It’s not easy but she definitely handles it like a boss, without letting it make her lose her big, caring heart. I do wish we’d gotten a little more of her side of things outside of her time with Ford because I’d love to see her more in her element. As it is, she’s pretty darn awesome – loving Ford’s kids, supporting him when he needs it, and fitting in seamlessly into their lives.
Ford has had a difficult few months but as a single dad he’s got to keep it together. Even if it means having to deal with unresolved issues from his childhood. I assume that there is more to those family dynamics in some of the other stories, but since this is my first (and it is resolved well) I would have liked a bit more because it is so important to why Ford is the man he is. Probably a good reason to read some more books!
***slight spoilers ahead***
I will say that I expected more from Ford towards the end. I understand that he’s been hurt, fresh out of a relationship (maybe too fresh) that ended badly, but he has some bad reactions and I felt like Cadence let him get away with it a little too much. I understand that he felt bad for it but c’mon man. I mean she does a good job of standing up for herself and removing herself from it, but I think he could have begged a little more :)
My first from Dunbar was enjoyable, sweet, and satisfying. Looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with!
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Ford has had a difficult few months but as a single dad he’s got to keep it together. Even if it means having to deal with unresolved issues from his childhood. I assume that there is more to those family dynamics in some of the other stories, but since this is my first (and it is resolved well) I would have liked a bit more because it is so important to why Ford is the man he is. Probably a good reason to read some more books!
***slight spoilers ahead***
I will say that I expected more from Ford towards the end. I understand that he’s been hurt, fresh out of a relationship (maybe too fresh) that ended badly, but he has some bad reactions and I felt like Cadence let him get away with it a little too much. I understand that he felt bad for it but c’mon man. I mean she does a good job of standing up for herself and removing herself from it, but I think he could have begged a little more :)
My first from Dunbar was enjoyable, sweet, and satisfying. Looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with!
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
I, like pretty much everyone else apparently, loved Smitty. He’s like a big, likable puppy who just throws his whole self into things. He’s struggling a bit with his past and where he’s going next so he’s taking a bit of time in Elmwood to figure things out. It definitely doesn’t hurt that Bryson is nearby.
We’ve met Bryson before and most of us were curious about his story. He’s such a great dad and an upstanding member of the community but there has to be more there, right? Of course because he’s just a bit too … perfect. There are issues in his past, things that have left him a little scared to stray too far from the straight and narrow. It leads to some complications with Smitty in town. Putting him on some people’s **** list because of how he treats Smitty at first. But it definitely doesn’t take him long to get past that :)
Thin Ice, like the rest of The Elmwood Stories, is a low angst, slow burn, feel good love story. There’s moments of humor (between Bryson’s dad jokes and Smitty’s ingenuity in getting Bryson’s attention), steam (oh, the steam), and all the emotions (as both come to terms with their pasts and what a relationship together might look like). I loved seeing everyone again and wallowing in all the warm & fuzzies & snark & fun. Looking forward to whatever Hayes has for us next.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
We’ve met Bryson before and most of us were curious about his story. He’s such a great dad and an upstanding member of the community but there has to be more there, right? Of course because he’s just a bit too … perfect. There are issues in his past, things that have left him a little scared to stray too far from the straight and narrow. It leads to some complications with Smitty in town. Putting him on some people’s **** list because of how he treats Smitty at first. But it definitely doesn’t take him long to get past that :)
Thin Ice, like the rest of The Elmwood Stories, is a low angst, slow burn, feel good love story. There’s moments of humor (between Bryson’s dad jokes and Smitty’s ingenuity in getting Bryson’s attention), steam (oh, the steam), and all the emotions (as both come to terms with their pasts and what a relationship together might look like). I loved seeing everyone again and wallowing in all the warm & fuzzies & snark & fun. Looking forward to whatever Hayes has for us next.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Piper Rayne’s newest brings us to a close-knit Nebraska ranching community. And like all good small town romances, it has big personalities, fast moving gossip, & couples just waiting on their HEA.
What better way to start off than a second-chance romance between an ex-NFL football player and his high school sweetheart. I loved Ben & Gillian together – both still having feelings for each other after all the years apart. A connection that time didn’t break, but maybe bruised a bit.
I gotta say, though, life seems to come pretty easy to Ben. He was able to choose when & how he came home while Gillian had to stay behind, to weather the gossip and be reminded of their relationship at every turn. So I was with her as she first tried to avoid him and then to keep him at arms length. I can even understand why she gave in when she did but she really could have made him work for it :) Granted we are only given some of the details on exactly what happened between them, and they were young, but it would have been nice to see a bit more effort on his part.
As the start of a new series, The One I Left Behind is a delight, bringing us the big Noughton family that I can’t wait to see more of. They can be a little rough, and not the best at communicating, but they are full of heart and there are plenty of them to bring us a lot of new stories.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
What better way to start off than a second-chance romance between an ex-NFL football player and his high school sweetheart. I loved Ben & Gillian together – both still having feelings for each other after all the years apart. A connection that time didn’t break, but maybe bruised a bit.
I gotta say, though, life seems to come pretty easy to Ben. He was able to choose when & how he came home while Gillian had to stay behind, to weather the gossip and be reminded of their relationship at every turn. So I was with her as she first tried to avoid him and then to keep him at arms length. I can even understand why she gave in when she did but she really could have made him work for it :) Granted we are only given some of the details on exactly what happened between them, and they were young, but it would have been nice to see a bit more effort on his part.
As the start of a new series, The One I Left Behind is a delight, bringing us the big Noughton family that I can’t wait to see more of. They can be a little rough, and not the best at communicating, but they are full of heart and there are plenty of them to bring us a lot of new stories.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
3.75*s
There were so many characters to love in this story. Jax for his wooing of Abbey, Caroline for her support, Magda for her no nonsense attitude, and Abbey for her journey to seeing her true worth.
It’s hard to be a bigger girl, especially during those formative teenage years. Kids can be cruel and those wounds from our youth can leave long term scars. There are so many moments of “I’ve been there” in how Abbey views herself, how she interacts with others, and how her insecurities are laid out so baldly. There are some sweet moments and a lighthearted touch here and there, but it’s not easy for Abbey and takes pretty much the entire book.
**minor spoilers ahead** But I felt like it would have been better for Abbey to grow a little more earlier in the story. She could have really embraced who she was, learned to look at herself in a more positive light. I also feel like there needed to be more resolution to Abbey’s relationship with her sister. There is A LOT to unpack there and we just don’t get that. It’s a throw-away in the epilogue and really needed more to feel like it had been addressed. And as much as I love Jax and his patience in pursuing a relationship with Abbey, I’m surprised that he was willing to keep coming back. I get why she felt the way she did but she sure did not give that man a fair shake. He was almost too perfect but it’s a woman’s fiction novel not a true romance so as such the focus, rightly, was on Abbey.
While there were a few things that I think could have been handled either differently or with more detail, I enjoyed Paris’s newest. She gives readers supportive friends and a kind hearted beau, to allow Abbey to slowly work her way to seeing herself the way they do. And it all leads up to a deliciously feel-good HEA.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
There were so many characters to love in this story. Jax for his wooing of Abbey, Caroline for her support, Magda for her no nonsense attitude, and Abbey for her journey to seeing her true worth.
It’s hard to be a bigger girl, especially during those formative teenage years. Kids can be cruel and those wounds from our youth can leave long term scars. There are so many moments of “I’ve been there” in how Abbey views herself, how she interacts with others, and how her insecurities are laid out so baldly. There are some sweet moments and a lighthearted touch here and there, but it’s not easy for Abbey and takes pretty much the entire book.
**minor spoilers ahead** But I felt like it would have been better for Abbey to grow a little more earlier in the story. She could have really embraced who she was, learned to look at herself in a more positive light. I also feel like there needed to be more resolution to Abbey’s relationship with her sister. There is A LOT to unpack there and we just don’t get that. It’s a throw-away in the epilogue and really needed more to feel like it had been addressed. And as much as I love Jax and his patience in pursuing a relationship with Abbey, I’m surprised that he was willing to keep coming back. I get why she felt the way she did but she sure did not give that man a fair shake. He was almost too perfect but it’s a woman’s fiction novel not a true romance so as such the focus, rightly, was on Abbey.
While there were a few things that I think could have been handled either differently or with more detail, I enjoyed Paris’s newest. She gives readers supportive friends and a kind hearted beau, to allow Abbey to slowly work her way to seeing herself the way they do. And it all leads up to a deliciously feel-good HEA.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
3.5/3.75*s
I really like Evan and Liv. They work well together – caring, giving, and kind. Evan helps Liv step a little out of her comfort zone and try new things. He is also good at helping her feel good in her body, finding herself as sexy as he does. While Liv helps Evan remember that he’s a worthy man as he is now. One who is an integral part of his family, their business, and the community.
Of course, his issues cause trouble between the two but after a big push from his family & Liv and a bit of self-discovery (I wish it had included professional counseling), he starts to recognize how his attitude is impacting his world. While it isn’t completely resolved by the end of the book, there is still an opportunity in a future book so maybe Brockus is holding on to that. Oh, and the epilogue is perfect for these two.
**some minor spoilers ahead**
I did struggle a bit, though, with Evan’s issues. It’s been 13 years! And they were kids! I get that he lost a lot of what he expected to be. And that it was painful and took a while. But I don’t understand why his family let him continue like that for so long. I could understand if it had only been a few years but over a decade? and the man is in his 30s … it should have been addressed well before this point. This is my first by this author so maybe this came up before, I don’t know. But it bothered me. I kept reading because I loved these two together AND because I hoped that there would be an explanation. There wasn’t. And there wasn’t a good resolution? I seem the only one that seems to mind it though so take from that what you will.
(Part of a series, can be read on its own, but I felt like I missed a couple of references by not having read previous stories. Minor but they exist and may bother some.)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
I really like Evan and Liv. They work well together – caring, giving, and kind. Evan helps Liv step a little out of her comfort zone and try new things. He is also good at helping her feel good in her body, finding herself as sexy as he does. While Liv helps Evan remember that he’s a worthy man as he is now. One who is an integral part of his family, their business, and the community.
Of course, his issues cause trouble between the two but after a big push from his family & Liv and a bit of self-discovery (I wish it had included professional counseling), he starts to recognize how his attitude is impacting his world. While it isn’t completely resolved by the end of the book, there is still an opportunity in a future book so maybe Brockus is holding on to that. Oh, and the epilogue is perfect for these two.
**some minor spoilers ahead**
I did struggle a bit, though, with Evan’s issues. It’s been 13 years! And they were kids! I get that he lost a lot of what he expected to be. And that it was painful and took a while. But I don’t understand why his family let him continue like that for so long. I could understand if it had only been a few years but over a decade? and the man is in his 30s … it should have been addressed well before this point. This is my first by this author so maybe this came up before, I don’t know. But it bothered me. I kept reading because I loved these two together AND because I hoped that there would be an explanation. There wasn’t. And there wasn’t a good resolution? I seem the only one that seems to mind it though so take from that what you will.
(Part of a series, can be read on its own, but I felt like I missed a couple of references by not having read previous stories. Minor but they exist and may bother some.)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Overall I liked The Duke Wins a Bride. The characters are interesting, with Philip’s issue with his dead wife and Annabel’s family dynamic. (I’m assuming that there will be more of Annabel’s brother – or at least I hope so. He’s got the potential for a story of his own and I’d love to see more of what he’s been through.) They struggle with their baggage complicating their relationship as they work to get to know each other better. Just when it feels like they are taking steps forward, miscommunication or a past hurt rears its head and they lose a little ground.
Which means, of course, there is a lot of angst in this book. I, and Philip, love how spunky Annabel is. She’s willing to take chances and fight for what she wants. But she’s also very young and struggles with moments of self doubt thanks to her father and brother. It leads to a lot of ups and downs – literally one chapter will end with her feelings of optimism and the next will start with doubts. (There are also a few times when she seems a bit … forward for a new, young bride in a historical romance. It leads to some quite steamy scenes but seems a little off for the time period.)
Philip also struggles, especially with how he views his relationship with women. His last wife’s actions have him second guessing a lot of his interactions with Annabel, creating more ups and downs for them individually and as a couple.
The Duke Wins a Bride won’t be for everyone but I enjoyed it. It’s got a good blend of spiciness and drama, with a satisfying HEA (and hopefully at least two follow up stories).
Heads up – the writing is a little flowery, which I think is a little more acceptable in historical romances than contemporary ones, but it is a bit heavy handed here and there. I don’t mind it but I know that it does bother some. Also, apparently but I don’t know enough to confirm, there are anachronisms but … again, don’t know enough so it didn’t bother me.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Which means, of course, there is a lot of angst in this book. I, and Philip, love how spunky Annabel is. She’s willing to take chances and fight for what she wants. But she’s also very young and struggles with moments of self doubt thanks to her father and brother. It leads to a lot of ups and downs – literally one chapter will end with her feelings of optimism and the next will start with doubts. (There are also a few times when she seems a bit … forward for a new, young bride in a historical romance. It leads to some quite steamy scenes but seems a little off for the time period.)
Philip also struggles, especially with how he views his relationship with women. His last wife’s actions have him second guessing a lot of his interactions with Annabel, creating more ups and downs for them individually and as a couple.
The Duke Wins a Bride won’t be for everyone but I enjoyed it. It’s got a good blend of spiciness and drama, with a satisfying HEA (and hopefully at least two follow up stories).
Heads up – the writing is a little flowery, which I think is a little more acceptable in historical romances than contemporary ones, but it is a bit heavy handed here and there. I don’t mind it but I know that it does bother some. Also, apparently but I don’t know enough to confirm, there are anachronisms but … again, don’t know enough so it didn’t bother me.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
**minor spoilers ahead**
I’ll be honest, love triangles are just not my thing. I think that’s a really important CW for this one because Sawyer does have a relationship – romantic and sexual – with someone else. He does it with good intentions, believing that Preston will never return his feelings, but it’s still a thing. Do they handle it the best way? No. But it seems pretty realistic all things considered.
Sawyer is a genuinely nice guy – kind, considerate, and giving. I’m not sure I quite understand his attraction to Preston but the heart is a force unto itself :) Not to say he doesn’t do some stupid things, but I think he means well.
Preston is a bit self-absorbed and quite clueless on just about everything because he’s been cared for by others pretty much all his life. He’s neurodivergent at least and likely somewhere on the aromantic/asexual scale. But getting his side of things, I kinda like him. I’m not sure why, maybe because Sawyer does, but while he’s problematic I also found myself rooting for them.
I feel like Bell does a good job of handling the changing dynamic of Preston & Sawyer’s relationship. Preston struggles with even normal human interactions but throwing in new sexual & romantic feelings for his best friend is huge. With Sawyer’s help, he eventually figures things out. And while I was happy they got their HEA, I hope that Bell has something in mind for Fitz because he definitely deserves better than he got.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
I’ll be honest, love triangles are just not my thing. I think that’s a really important CW for this one because Sawyer does have a relationship – romantic and sexual – with someone else. He does it with good intentions, believing that Preston will never return his feelings, but it’s still a thing. Do they handle it the best way? No. But it seems pretty realistic all things considered.
Sawyer is a genuinely nice guy – kind, considerate, and giving. I’m not sure I quite understand his attraction to Preston but the heart is a force unto itself :) Not to say he doesn’t do some stupid things, but I think he means well.
Preston is a bit self-absorbed and quite clueless on just about everything because he’s been cared for by others pretty much all his life. He’s neurodivergent at least and likely somewhere on the aromantic/asexual scale. But getting his side of things, I kinda like him. I’m not sure why, maybe because Sawyer does, but while he’s problematic I also found myself rooting for them.
I feel like Bell does a good job of handling the changing dynamic of Preston & Sawyer’s relationship. Preston struggles with even normal human interactions but throwing in new sexual & romantic feelings for his best friend is huge. With Sawyer’s help, he eventually figures things out. And while I was happy they got their HEA, I hope that Bell has something in mind for Fitz because he definitely deserves better than he got.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Owen and Tyler have been inseparable since they met in prison. They’ve pretty much been two halves of a whole and we’ve just been waiting for them to finally realize that they were meant to be something more. They’ve always been supportive of each other so it’s a pretty easy transition to a loving, romantic relationship. While there wasn’t a lot of drama in the change, I loved this opportunity to understand their histories and how they got to this point.
I don’t know how Walker keeps giving us such great couples. I saw a few reviews that complained that not much happened or that there wasn’t a lot of angst. Maybe it’s because there was a lot of expectation about what would happen because it’s been hinted at in the previous stories. What we get is a smooth shift from friends to lovers and I’m all for it – I absolutely loved these two together.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
I don’t know how Walker keeps giving us such great couples. I saw a few reviews that complained that not much happened or that there wasn’t a lot of angst. Maybe it’s because there was a lot of expectation about what would happen because it’s been hinted at in the previous stories. What we get is a smooth shift from friends to lovers and I’m all for it – I absolutely loved these two together.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
4.25 *s
Readnour could easily have leaned too heavily on the rich boy/poor girl dynamic here but she does a good job of balancing it. Blake may be privileged but he isn’t snobby and has several moments of recognizing his good fortune, as well as understanding Amanda’s perspective and her pride. Finding himself drawn to her strength and spirit, he soon wants more than a few fake dates.
Amanda has worked hard to get where she is and doesn’t really have a lot of time for Blake or his troubles. But her big heart doesn’t let her just leave him struggling. One good deed quickly leads to another and before she knows it she’s more involved than she expected.
It’s not all smooth sailing. There are mean girl moments and family drama, as well as doubts about what the other is feeling – it did start with a fake date, after all. But they actually, and somewhat surprisingly, talk to each other pretty darn well. It’s refreshing that Readnour didn’t go that route (of course, they have enough troubles without miscommunication being one of them).
This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Her writing is easy, her characters are enjoyable, and the story has the right amount of angst & heat. The pacing was perfect too – the beginning is a quick introduction to the characters with a lead up to their agreement, it doesn’t take all that long for them to start to realize that things may not be as fake as they thought, and then we move into their issues on their way to a HEA. I did feel like I’d have liked a little more about where they go next but I’m hoping since it is the beginning of a series we get a bit more of their relationship as we move through the rest of the stories. Which I’m definitely looking forward to reading :)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Readnour could easily have leaned too heavily on the rich boy/poor girl dynamic here but she does a good job of balancing it. Blake may be privileged but he isn’t snobby and has several moments of recognizing his good fortune, as well as understanding Amanda’s perspective and her pride. Finding himself drawn to her strength and spirit, he soon wants more than a few fake dates.
Amanda has worked hard to get where she is and doesn’t really have a lot of time for Blake or his troubles. But her big heart doesn’t let her just leave him struggling. One good deed quickly leads to another and before she knows it she’s more involved than she expected.
It’s not all smooth sailing. There are mean girl moments and family drama, as well as doubts about what the other is feeling – it did start with a fake date, after all. But they actually, and somewhat surprisingly, talk to each other pretty darn well. It’s refreshing that Readnour didn’t go that route (of course, they have enough troubles without miscommunication being one of them).
This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Her writing is easy, her characters are enjoyable, and the story has the right amount of angst & heat. The pacing was perfect too – the beginning is a quick introduction to the characters with a lead up to their agreement, it doesn’t take all that long for them to start to realize that things may not be as fake as they thought, and then we move into their issues on their way to a HEA. I did feel like I’d have liked a little more about where they go next but I’m hoping since it is the beginning of a series we get a bit more of their relationship as we move through the rest of the stories. Which I’m definitely looking forward to reading :)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you’ve read any of the Dark Knight’s stories you know exactly what you are going to get – fiesty, strong women and the big-hearted men who love them. I like that Ezra isn’t quite as much of a borderline alphahole as some of them can be. He cares deeply for Gus, Sasha, and everyone else in his found family. Thanks to some scars left over from his own childhood, he does everything to show them love, care, and attention. But he’s got a little bit of the devil in him too when it matters ;)
Sasha, like all Whiskeys, is all huge heart and spirit. She’s in deep with Ezra and his adorable son but, believing it can never be more, she’s tried hard to move on … which is going about as well as can be expected. Full on respect to her for being willing to give it one more shot to get what she really wants. There’s a lot at stake for both of them but it could be worth everything!
I loved this chance to see Sasha & Ezra figure things out. We’ve known since day one that they belong together, they just had to finally take that plunge. Foster could easily have gone heavy-handed on a few different aspects of their story but she balances it perfectly. There’s a delightful mix of the will-they-won’t-they push & pull as they decide how much longer they can resist the feelings between them, followed delightfully by their exploration of this new aspect to their relationship. With a very Whiskey HEA ending, of course. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
(Part of a series, but I felt like this is one of the ones that more easily can stand alone. Of course, there’s so many characters that it’s nicer when you start from the beginning – and there are only a couple to catch up here – but some are more self-contained than others.)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Sasha, like all Whiskeys, is all huge heart and spirit. She’s in deep with Ezra and his adorable son but, believing it can never be more, she’s tried hard to move on … which is going about as well as can be expected. Full on respect to her for being willing to give it one more shot to get what she really wants. There’s a lot at stake for both of them but it could be worth everything!
I loved this chance to see Sasha & Ezra figure things out. We’ve known since day one that they belong together, they just had to finally take that plunge. Foster could easily have gone heavy-handed on a few different aspects of their story but she balances it perfectly. There’s a delightful mix of the will-they-won’t-they push & pull as they decide how much longer they can resist the feelings between them, followed delightfully by their exploration of this new aspect to their relationship. With a very Whiskey HEA ending, of course. Can’t wait to see what comes next!
(Part of a series, but I felt like this is one of the ones that more easily can stand alone. Of course, there’s so many characters that it’s nicer when you start from the beginning – and there are only a couple to catch up here – but some are more self-contained than others.)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**