3.75 - 4.0 *s

Ryder obviously loves his kids and has put them first the last few years. Needing a fresh start he packs them up to a new town. He's been struggling a bit but hopefully the change of scenery will help them move forward.

I like Gracie. She's sassy but with a vulnerability thanks to a troubling past relationship. Her family is also a hoot - loving and open, sometimes a little overwhelming in how they embrace others, but with enormous hearts.

The first part of the book is a lot dancing around each other for Ryder and Gracie, as they get to know each other and we get to know them. It's low drama with a very realistic feel as they have to decide if that pull they felt on the first meeting is worth pursuing and whether a relationship will work in their lives. This kinda book isn't going to be for everyone but I think it'll be enjoyed by those that do.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4.5 *s

I enjoyed the heck out of this one. Brodie is down right awesome – an honorable, sweet man wrapped up in a bad boy package. He’s so supportive of Vivian, validating her and her interests, and helping her when she needs it. But I will say the man has to have the patience of a saint to put up with her attitude, especially after the way he’s treated by everyone else. As she gets to know him, her attitude changes and she starts to appreciate him & support him as well, and It’s great to see, but I do wish we’d been given a little bit more resolution with his family. I’d have loved to see them supporting him and treating him well too. He’s a good man and we need to see more people recognize that as well.

Humorous, sizzling, and fun, The Wrong Darcy is a light-hearted, rom-com with that right touch of emotional turmoil to give it depth. Gynne is another new to me author and I’ll be looking forward to reading more from her.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4.25*s

I think that having read the other books in the series might have given me more of a feeling for why Dawson has a bad image because the guy we get to know isn’t that way at all. He’s a little burned by his family drama but he’s a stand-up guy with a good heart. With Hailey he’s sweet, takes her needs and wants into consideration, and supports her. All in all, he’s pretty awesome for a fake boyfriend.

Hailey sometimes comes across as clueless but I think she’s just a little sheltered and still kinda young. She’s the baby of the family and spent most of her adult years in a relationship with someone who managed her. Burned by her ex’s treatment, though, she’s now looking for something different, a bit wilder. And Dawson checks all her imaginary boxes and then some.

It’s obvious going in what the conflict is going to be between these too but I will say I was a little (just a smidge) surprised by the way things get resolved for Dawson. I’m pretty sure if I thought about it more I would have seen it coming, but I loved it anyway. And I adored his way of getting the HEA that he & Hailey deserved – once again showing that he has a big, loving heart.

Angsty, steamy, and all sorts of saucy & loving, I adored Hailey and Dawson together. I think I need to see what else Lynn’s been up to lately!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4.5*s

I’ve chosen a lot of low angst stories lately, which just means that they are meant for a certain reader (or at least a reader in a certain mood). But readers who read Guys Like Him won’t be surprised and, like the first book, there’s a lot more than just the mains involved. There are some complaints about that in reviews and I think that maybe we get used to connected but stand alone series, which this isn’t. Instead these are interconnected stories that focus on particular people in each book, but don’t end on a cliffhanger for the main two characters. Like the fact that there isn’t a lot of drama, I think that this means it won’t appeal to everyone. Personally, I loved getting attached to all the characters, not just the mains – I want all of them to be happy and content and finding the HEA they need. I’m look forward to seeing more of them, even if they have to share a book.

Here, though, we focus on Ivan (who I think pretty much everyone wanted to get to know better), a strong but silent type that just begs to be ruffled and whose secrets need to be exposed. His history just tugged at the heart strings and made him even more likable as a character. He’s obviously a nurturer who cares deeply but who’s also been hurt badly, and we see that even more so here.

Rory is the opposite of Ivan and the perfect match for him. He’s more in your face, sassy and vibrant. From the moment they meet, and Rory challenges him with his cheek, you just know they are going to be a hoot together. And he doesn’t disappoint.

Funny and steamy and emotional and fun, The Fortunate Son is an entertaining read. From the way Rory and Ivan make amends with their families to their obviously going to fail attempt at keeping things short-term, I adored their story. They have their struggles but when together they are so open, caring, and just absolutely loving that it made my heart melt. And I can’t forget the rest of the characters – I loved seeing more of the others on the ranch (especially Dylan and Harry), but as always Hope stole the show and a little more of my heart. I can’t wait to see what is coming in book 3 because there are more guys that need their story told.

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

The Game

Loved seeing Micah get his HEA. He's grown so much since we first met him as such a troubled guy lashing out. But with Scott's help and the support of his friends he's in such a better place. A place to finally go after Beck.

Beck is a good guy and I really appreciate that he was able to get to a healthy place with Micah on the team. There's some drama as they figure their things out but I do appreciate that Bolden doesn't give us angst just to give us angst. It's there for a reason and helps move the story along.

Can't wait to see what happens with Carter. There's so much going on under his happy go lucky facade.

4.35*s

I really enjoyed the conclusion to Lawson’s King of the Court series. Maybe it was because I knew we’d be getting the resolution and HEA that we’d been waiting for but I didn’t find it quite as angsty as the others.

Clay does still struggle with letting Nova in, with letting her help him when he needs it. It leads to some difficult moments as he tries to visualize the future he wants now that he’s gotten what he thought he wanted. Fortunately he figures things out and goes after the things that would truly make him happy … since he realizes that maybe it’s more than just a championship ring.

Play Maker gives readers two characters who really come into themselves – Nova as an artist, believing in herself and her craft, and Clay as a team player, working for more than just the glory. It’s a satisfying ending to quite the roller coaster of a series.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

4.25*s

Xander, still a little burned by a relationship gone bad, is comfortable in his life and pretty much only looking for a good time. Meeting a hottie at the bar for a night of great sex and a definite connection … not his usual but he’ll never see him again. Well, not until Xander finds him in his dad’s backyard and discovers that his one night stand is the newest member of his dad’s hockey team.

Niko is new to town and thrilled to see Xander again. But things are complicated – not only does he play for Xander’s dad but he’s also not exactly looking to broadcast his sexuality the first year of his NHL career. But that connection is still there and one night of great sex turns into more. Can they figure out how to balance their needs and wants?

I loved Niko’s teammates. They are a hoot and help support him as he figures out how to be a pro player, to settle into his new life. And Xander’s friend Tripp is definitely a highlight, with how he supports them in his own way and how he unabashedly enjoys life.

I enjoyed the start of Lenard’s Colorado Bulldogs series. There’s some drama, but not too much. Lots of steam, but there can never be too much. A grumpy/sunshine mix that can go bad but is a delight when done right (which it was). And entertaining secondary characters that are just begging for their own stories. A good mix of humor and heat, Bad Pucking Timing is a fun first book and I’m all for finding out what’s coming up next!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

3.75*s

I’m going to say straight up that I’m pretty sure the reason I didn’t like this one as much as the other books by Lane Hayes that I’ve read is … me. I just didn’t like Vinnie as a character. He’s one of those overgrown guy’s guys that just irritates me to no end. He’s in his late 30s, still giving people noogies, playing practical jokes, and acts the class clown. Not that I’m against people having fun but that’s not my idea of fun and that colored my reading of the book. I get that he’s got a lot of issues – from his mother’s death to his father’s absentee parenting to coming to grips with his future and sexuality. But I just couldn’t let the rest go to really invest in him. When he was more serious, though, I definitely could see the appeal.

On the other hand, I loved Nolan. He’s a pillar of the community and his family, a fabulously loving & supportive uncle, and once he gets over the way things ended between them he’s there for Vinnie too. Even knowing it most likely means another broken heart.

I always enjoy Hayes’s writing — she gives readers robust characters (even when they aren’t my type), compelling stories, and satisfying HEAs. And I’m definitely excited to see what happens next – the little teaser with JC has me impatient to see him and Riley together. This one character being not my favorite in no way reflects on Hayes and her skills, it’s just a me thing.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

3.5*s

This one is listed as “an Angsty, Single Parent Romance” on Goodreads and it’s not a lie. There’s SO much drama going on here. Lucie’s ex is quite the piece of work. He’s controlling and manipulative and pretty much a horrid human being. He doesn’t really care for her or their kids and shows it every way possible, but he also can’t stand to lose so he’s not going away. It leads to more than one moment of trouble.

Caleb has never really recovered from a few traumatic events in his past. They’ve made him hard and detached and sometimes pretty self-absorbed & crappy. He’s a terrible boss, which has caused some retention issues, which is where Lucie comes in as the newest hire at his company.

While I feel like Lucie gives Caleb more than he sometimes deserves, I found myself liking him just because she does. She’s had a terrible childhood, unloved and ignored, and just as bad young adulthood but she’s resilient and so very obviously loves her kids. It makes her appealing as a character and I felt compelled to keep reading to make sure she finally gets a HEA she deserves.

But I do feel like both of the characters could probably have done with some therapy. There is a lot of hurt on both sides and I don’t know that they properly address them. I do have hope for them though and feel a lot of that is due to O’Roark’s depiction of them. I’m curious to see what else she can do.

(Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. In fact, I didn’t even realize it was the second book until today.)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I’m not 100% sure how I feel about this one. I loved both Fletcher & Liv and Fletcher’s daughter, Maya, works well as a troubled kid that needs someone. Hoss handles all their issues well, I think the pacing may be just a little off for me. It sometimes seems like things go a little longer than they should, only to be resolved pretty quickly at the end. But it feels real so it definitely has that going for it.

The way Fletcher supports Liv and lifts her up is fantastic, as is his dedication & love for his daughter, family, and friends. He’s dealing with a lot tho – issues from his time as a resident, guilt over his marriage, and concern for Maya. He feels like he’s not a good bet and definitely not worthy of Liv, regardless of how much and how long he’s loved her.

Liv has had a crush on Fletcher forever and to have him back in her life, but once again untouchable, is hard. But she’s got a good head on her shoulders and a strong sense of self-worth – she’s not going to settle for less than everything she deserves.

Hello Doctor combines a bit of humor with a good amount of sizzle and a whole heap of sweetness & angst to get readers to a lovely and well deserved HEA. This is my first by the author but I’ll definitely be looking for what comes next.

(Part of a series, after Hello Billionaire, but can stand on its own.)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**