thisteacherlovestoread's Reviews (544)

It’s official. If Hannah Gray writes it, I’m going to read it! This book was impossible to put down. The enemies to lovers is not my favorite trope but Hannah Gray did it beautifully in this book. I read it one sitting. I think Hunter and Sutton are my favorite so far. The plot of this book was amazing and had some twists I did not expect or see coming. Hunter and Sutton knew each other as kids. After their families have a falling out, they have learned to hate each other. Sutton transfers to the dance program at Brooks University and now Hunter and Sutton have been paired up to train and dance together for a charity event. Their banter and watching them grow and develop their relationship had me feeling all the emotions! I have literally binged this series in a matter of days.

The description of this book sounded interesting and I had high hopes. Unfortunately I had a hard time getting though this book. I couldn’t relate to the characters and just didn’t really feel the connection between the main characters. I liked Owen’s character and felt like I was in Italy. I think I would have liked to see a more confident FMC. I like when a main character shows vulnerability but I felt like Andi was insecure throughout most of book and she let it get in the best of her. This book wasn’t for me, but if you like lighthearted romance books, banter, and the Italian countryside, you may like this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be published on March 14, 2024.

I REALLY enjoyed this series! This book follows Ash and Bridget. Ash spots Bridget in the stands of one of her games. The only problem is she is there with her boyfriend. During one of his games a few months later Ash gets hurt and taken to the hospital. Bridget turns out to be his nurse. Bridget wants nothing to do with him but Ash persists while trying not to be too pushy.

Another swoony hockey hunk! I highly recommend this series in both book and audio format.

I’m sad it’s over and hope there will be more books of side characters in the future!

Read if you like:
* protective MMC
* FMC finds her voice
* found family/friends
* past relationship drama

I just finished the Pick Boys of Brooks University by Hannah Gray and many of the main characters I. These books are mentioned in those books so I thought I would give this series a try. This was a great listen. I enjoyed the narrators and the book had a great story line. I enjoyed seeing Cam Hardy from the Puck Boy series in this book. Layla had a traumatic childhood and it slowly unfolds throughout the book. Dane fell hard and it gave off it’s always been you vibes. I look forward to listening to the next 2 books in this series. A micro troupe for me is a tattoo for her.

Catching Kye was an emotional read. This book follows Winter and Kye. Winter is Kye’s best friend’s little sister. We meet Winter in Stealing Bama which is the second book in this series. Winter is recovering from a bad breakup and a broken heart. Kye wants to be there to cheer her up as a friend. As their friendship develops and deepens, they want to be more than best friends. Kye is conflicted because it’s his best friend’s sister but he can’t stay away from Winter. Kye is dealing with his own issues. Kye’s father is an addict and he has pushed him away for so long but Winter, having lost her own father helps him forgive and try to build a relationship with him. Please check trigger warnings because addiction is talked about in this book. Overall I enjoyed this series and would recommend it. I listened to this on audio and enjoyed both the narrators.

Wild For You by Kristen Proby is a small town romantic suspense novel. This audiobook was narrated by Sebastian York and Emma Wilder.

I loved the main characters Remington and Erin. Remington is a single father of 2 who owns his family ranch in Montana. Erin recently moved to Montana in order to get a fresh start after dealing with a stalker back in Seattle. Remington has his hands full trying to manage his family's ranch and 2 young kids on his own. Erin, who works with Remington's sister at the local cafe, suggests that she nanny for her brother to get some extra cash. I loved the relationship between Erin and Remington's children.

I am a sucker for a small town romance. If you like books by Devney Perry and Catherine Cowles, you would enjoy this book.

Read this book if you love:
- single dad
- nanny
- small town romance
- age gap
- grumpy sunshine
- cowboys
- romantic suspense

Sebastian York and Emma Wilder did an amazing job with the narration! It is told in dual narration and they voice other characters within the story as well. I will be adding them both to my favorite narrators list! This was my first book by Kristen Proby. I look forward to more books in this series!

Story 4/5 stars
Narration 5/5 stars

This audiobook will be released on Jan. 30, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for an advanced listeners copy of this audiobook. I voluntarily listened to this book and gave an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the eGalley Book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my third book by Stacy Willingham. My favorite Book of Whillingham's is A Flicker in the Dark. In Only If You’re Lucky we meet a group of friends with the main female characters being Margot and Lucy. It is a college setting with alternating timelines of past and present but narrated from Margot's perspective.

While I had high hopes for this book, it unfortunately did not deliver. I had a hard time getting into the story and didn't find the characters likable. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and didn't understand their friendship. I love a good toxic friendship storyline, but their friendship dynamic wasn't developed enough in my opinion. I had a difficult time getting into the story and found it vague and confusing at times. At around the 70-75% mark it picked up and I was intrigued at where the story was headed. I enjoyed the last 25% of the story and there were some twists I didn't see coming. If you are a Willingham fan, I would say go ahead and read this book when it comes out on January 16, 2024.

If you have not read her books before, read this book if you enjoy:
* college setting
* unreliable female characters/friendships
* fraternities
* a slow burn mystery
* secrets

Overall I give it a 3.5.

** This review is for the audiobook**

4.5 out of 5 rounded up.

My Anti-hero by Tijan is a sports romance (football), grumpy sunshine, protective MMC romantic suspense book.

This is my second time listening to a book by this author and now I am going to go read/listen to her backlist.

Brett is a football player with a sordid past (think bad-boy). Football helped pave a way out of the life he was subjected to in his childhood. Once he meets Billie (Willow), it is lust at first sight and he is determined to be her protector.

Billie has a traumatic past and has walls up and a keeps a very small circle of people around her. Brett also keeps a small circle but I like the found family aspect in this book.

Writing: 4.5/5 stars
I loved the romance and suspense mix in the book. The story flowed well and I was hooked from the first chapter.

Plot: 4.5/5 stars
I loved the story and listened every chance I got.

Characters: 5/5 stars
I liked that Billie was vulnerable but also a strong FMC. She went through a lot and had walls up but also didn't let it stop her from doing things she wanted to do. She felt relatable and I wanted to root for her! Brett was the perfect partner for Billie. He wanted to protect her and show her the love she deserved. Even though he was tough on the outside, he also needed to be loved and Billie's love and affection was exactly what he needed as well.

Audio: 5/5 stars
Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton are two of my favorite narrators. They brought the emotions and feelings to life. 5 star narration as usual from these two.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this audio!

This audiobook will be released on February 8, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of My Anti-Hero. I voluntarily listened to it and gave an honest review.

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall and narrated by Karissa Vacker is a twisty thriller that had me hooked from the first chapter. In this book we meet Emma, Daphne, and Juliette, who are 3 estranged sisters. 14 years ago their parents were murdered in their home. The murder was never solved and but many in the community suspected Emma. Now, Emma and her husband are forced to move back into the home due to financial difficulties. She has not been honest with her husband about her past. Being back in her childhood home forces her to go back to that night and try and unravel the mystery of what really happened.

This book is told in the POV of all three sisters and has two timelines, then and now. The relationship between the sisters was intriguing and dysfunctional.I was worried how easy it would be to follow with one narrator but she did a fabulous job. I will be adding Karissa Vacker to my list of favorite narrators. This audiobook will be released on January 23, 2024. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen!

Listen to this book if you like:
* family drama
* secrets
* an ending you won’t see coming
* multiple POVs and dual timelines
* sister relationships

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook. I voluntarily listened to this book and gave an honest review.

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner is book three in the Frankie Elkin Series. I didn't realize this book was part of a series and have not read books one and two but it is a stand alone. I wanted to know more about Frankie so maybe I would go back and read the other two books.

I had high expectations for this book and the synopsis sounded so good. I was hooked in the prologue when we learn about the Beautiful Butcher and when Frankie goes to meet her. But once Frankie goes to the Island I had a hard time engaging with the story. Then the middle picked up and I was hooked for a short time again. Then another section I had a hard time engaging with and then the ending picked up and I was engaged again.

I expected more twists and turns and more investigation by Frankie. I really like the idea of Frankie being a bold, strong female lead and investigating/searching for those that no one else is searching for. I didn't get that in this book. I would give other books in this series a try though. If you have read the two previous books maybe you are more invested in Frankie and understand things that would make this story more engaging. If you enjoy conservation, sustainability, island vibes then I would recommend this book.

This book will be published on March 12, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of this book. I voluntarily read this book and gave an honest review.