Rosie has been waiting for her prince, and kissing a few frogs along the way, knowing that fate would bring him to her. It sounds a little woo-woo but she actually sells it pretty well. The whole idea of being open to possibilities and recognizing the choices offered up to her somehow works here. Although it doesn’t help her in her initial meeting with Jake as she immediately recognizes him as her true love … and overshares this with him. I mean, any guy is going to head for the hills at that point. Especially one as guy shy about relationships as Jake (although of course Rosie doesn’t know, or really care, about that).

Jake’s parent’s relationship has soured him on romance. Seeing his mom step out on his dad repeatedly and the way it broke the man has him swearing off love. Until he meets Rosie. While she seems a little unstable he can’t deny that there is a certain … feeling when he’s with her. One of peace and comfort, of rightness. But he doesn’t believe in love, right?

There’s a bit of insta-love, and some it-can-only-happen-in-books, going on (so be ready for some suspension of disbelief) but I really enjoyed the first of the Grimm’s Valley stories. Because Rosie believes that Jake is her fated love we spend most of the book waiting for him to catch up :) It’s fun but it doesn’t really lead to a lot of development in their relationship. We do get a good bit of world building and a chance for readers to get to know characters that will play a part in future stories. Which I’m totally on board with and look forward to finding out who ends up with who & how! An entertaining and fast paced read, Grimm Prince is a fun introduction to a world of reimagined fairy tales.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Awk-weird

Cute and fast read, good mix of humor and angst. Both characters were likeable but their bad communication skills did get a little old. I could understand where they were coming from though and it did lead to a nice HEA. Make sure you know what you are getting into and you're good to go :)

There is so much about these two that I loved. The sibling’s friend trope will get me just about every time and I love a grumpy/sunshine storyline when it’s done well (and Piper Rayne definitely does here).

Twyla is working on getting over her failed engagement and I appreciate that she actually took some time to work through it, instead of just jumping into a new relationship. The time they spend getting to know each other a little better before giving in to their long-standing attraction gives more depth to their story.

He may seem grumpy but Chase has a big heart and is a good guy. He’s private and doesn’t really have a lot of energy to give to playing nice but he’s committed to the people and things he feels are important. And soon Twyla becomes very important to him.

A protective brother, feelings of self-doubt, and some serious communication issues causes trouble between the two but they find a way to a HEA. (Chase’s big gesture may not have been for me but Twyla seemed to like it and Piper Rayne made it work.) The authors really know how to bring on the sizzle, create characters that you can get behind, and deliver just enough angst to keep things interesting. Piper Rayne is turning into a must read for me and I won’t hesitate when I see a new book coming my way.

(Saying that, y’all! Somehow I missed getting my hands on the last book (You Can’t Kiss the Nanny, Brady Banks) but I didn’t feel like it affected my enjoyment of this one. I think they can mostly stand on their own but I definitely recommend reading as many as you can :) )

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

(Some potential minor spoilers ahead.)

The Quarterback Keeper isn’t going to be for everyone, but I adored it. It has all sorts of feels, a little bit of angst, a TON of spice, and a lovely HEA.

Alex and Christian meet on vacation and spend a wonderful week getting to know each other & falling in love. Unfortunately, Alex feels like he isn’t in a place where he can share his new relationship with the world and when things get complicated, he makes a decision that breaks both of their hearts. When they meet each other again, at Meet the Teacher Night of all places, can he convince Christian to forgive him and give them another chance?

This is a new to me series and I have to say I read everything I could get my hands on in a weekend. They are a little formulaic and kinda light reading but that didn’t make them any less enjoyable. There’s a bit of angst, but not a ton, and a good dose of insta-love with this one. Oh, and definitely a lot of heat. I have to say, as a straight female, there were a few times (more so in later books than this one) where I went “is this sexy?” because it just seemed a little over the top to be real. But that only happened here and there and the rest of the time … *whew, hawtness* I did have some issues with the portrayal of Alex’s ex as some of the things that happen around her didn’t seem to have the buildup it needed to make it make sense. I’m also not sure that Alex’s celebrity is handled realistically but it is somewhat addressed and is the cause of some of their issues. Overall, though, this series is a keeper and after binging all the others, I am so very anxiously waiting for the next book releasing at the end of April :)

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Mermaid Beach definitely falls more into the women’s fiction category than romance. Yes, the characters get their HEA, and it is a very satisfying one, but the story is really about them finding their way. The three generations that make up our story are all immensely talented musicians, but life seems to have other plans for them.

Loretta met the love of her life and settled down to raise a family. Widowed at an early age, she hasn’t given up on finding someone new to share her life with. Bonnie tried to make a go of it in Nashville, but betrayal sent her home, vowing to never trust another man again. Avril is ready to give Nashville a try, regardless of what her mother says, but can she leave everything from the life she’s made in Moonlight Harbor behind.

Loretta’s zest for life and willingness to find the positive in everything makes her my favorite, I think. She’s so spunky and so brave about putting herself out there. And the love and encouragement she shows her daughter & granddaughter at every turn is the best. Bonnie might be a bit harder for some to take as she’s not an easy woman and has definitely let her past bring her down but with a little faith and support, she will find her way. Avril has had that support from both her mother and grandmother, so she heads off on her adventures with a pretty solid head on her shoulders. It gives her the courage to reach for her dreams and the ability to recognize the right thing to do.

Following the lives of our Mermaids has us going at a bit slower pace. Things are pretty complicated for all of them, with lots of bumps and surprises along the way, but it’s a good journey. One of self-discovery, facing the past AND the future, and figuring out what would truly bring them happiness. It’s not easy to take chances and to trust in others, but with friends and family behind them these three just might figure out what they really want.

(This is my first in the Moonlight Harbor series and while it easily stands alone, I know there are a lot of people that I would know more about if I’d read the other stories. It didn’t impact anything, just gave me a feeling that there’s more going on here that I’m not aware of.)

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Two Point Conversion

I'm not sure how realistic this one is but it is so sweet, a little bit steamy, and a great extended epilogue story. We get an update on Jackson and Simon's relationship as they settle into their marriage and look to the future. I loved this opportunity to see more into their family dynamic and where they are going from here.

Talk of the Town is a slow burn and super sweet. Noelle didn’t have a conventional up-bringing and it’s caused her to be a little more awkward socially. She’s got a good heart, loves her son & MIL, and works hard. But she still has some left over trauma from her parents that makes it difficult to navigate friendships & potential romantic relationships.

Peter may be a little naive himself, especially reading women, but he does know that he’d like something more than friends with Noelle. He’s a little hesitant to do anything about it, though, for fear of losing the relationship that they do have so far. But, unbeknownst to him, his meddling sister may just give him the help he needs when her machinations to see Peter in a relationship also has Noelle looking at him in a new way.

The mom’s Facebook group provides the occasional bit of light-heartedness and some additional context to the goings-on of the town, but a lot of the time the women just came across as mean, both in the group and in person. It may be hard for some who have experienced similar bullying (which is one of the reasons it may hit hard is that it felt so real) but I do appreciate how Noelle’s growth is shown in her handling of some of these situations and that Peter is willing to stand up for Noelle with his beloved sister.

Bardsley captures both the complexity of family and the complications of small town life, giving us a slew of characters to root for … and sometimes against. She’s not going to get you to that HEA any time soon but the story will keep your attention so you don’t care how long it takes to get there.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

4.5 *s

Cowboy is just about perfect. I think it helps that his mother and so many others in his life are therapists. He’s the protector and would be there for anyone, but he’s drawn to Sully immediately and deeply. A whole lot caring, patient, and giving but still a little bit dirty and growly alpha, the way he treats her, helping her stand on her own feet and experience everything, is totally swoon worthy.

There is a disclaimer at the end of the book from the author about Sully’s plight. She recognizes that in reality this is not a fast process and that it would take a long time for someone to recover from her experiences. But this is a love story so there also needs to be a little bit of magic in falling in love :) She makes Sully strong and unbroken by the things that she’s been through. She just needs somewhere (and someone) that makes her feel safe and supported so she can figure out who she is and how she wants to go forward.

As much as I loved Cowboy & Sully and their connection, I spent a bit of time early on asking myself if it was really that healthy but at some point I decided that it didn’t matter. There are a lot of times in a romance that you just have to let it be because it’s just a story. I think though that this says something about Foster’s characters. They, and their stories, are so moving and genuine that you can’t help comparing them to what would happen if they didn’t just exist in a book. And that’s the reason that I get excited just seeing her name on a new book – I know that I’m going to get something emotional and real, with all the heart (and a touch of heat) that I could ask for.

(All of Foster’s books technically can stand on their own but why would you want them to ;) )

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I really enjoyed Carter and Lucas’s story. The first part of the story is Carter realizing that maybe he has feelings for Lucas after all, while Lucas tries to get over his crush. The second part is them dancing around telling each other how they feel, then the ending is them figuring out their way to a HEA.

Carter and Lucas are both hard-working, stand-up guys, who share a good group of supportive, and entertaining, friends. They’ve known each other for quite a while, with Lucas trying to hide his crush and Carter being oblivious to his friend’s feelings & the possibility that Lucas might be more than just a friend. But once that seed is planted, it quickly takes hold.

Readers need to be ready to hang in there for the slow burn romance between these two because they seriously take a while to get where they’re going. But it’s an easy read, with enjoyable characters, a touch of humor, and eventually a decent amount of steam. It’s pretty low angst and other than a few moments of “guys, seriously” it was a pretty enjoyable journey.

(While not necessary, it does help to have read the first book in the series. I enjoyed that one too. There were a few moments where the characters did foolish things, just like here, but they were enjoyable, and I was rooting for them to figure things out too. The novella that kicked off the series might be a good idea too but I haven’t read it yet, though it’s on my list.)

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I was super intrigued by the blurb, so I was willing to try a New Adult romance – which is SO not my thing. Usually, they are full of drama all mixed up with inexperience and poor decisions. I’ve been steering clear of them for years and now I’m wondering if I judged them too harshly. Granted, there is ALL sorts of angst here and I really wanted Nova to walk away from Clay’s hot & cold routine at the beginning (girl deserves better than being jerked around) but she stuck it out and I’m glad I did too.

Nova has hit a rough patch and is using the excuse of helping her sister to lay low a little, waiting for things to settle. They used to be close but over the years have grown apart. Time together is going to be good for them…if Nova can survive the plane ride there. Luckily her grumpy, and super sexy, seat mate is the perfect distraction from her fear of flying.

Clay has somethings in his past that still haunt him but he’s not going to let them distract him from his goal of a championship. That also goes for the hottie who stole his seat on the plane and proceeded to have quite the freak out. Too bad fate has other plans.

I’ll be honest, I almost gave up on this one more than once. Before I even started it, really, once I found out it ended in a cliffhanger, which I NEVER do, but I’m glad that I stuck with it. The beginning was a little rough, and there were a few times where I was like WHY? to something one of the main characters did, but I like them. Nova is the perfect mix of sunshine and vulnerability and I’m very much looking forward to finding out more about Clay’s past. I’m not sure I can take two more books of drama without a HEA but if Lawson keeps delivering such interesting characters, I’m willing to give it a shot :) (and I’m really hoping Nova hands Clay his @ss in the next book!)

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**