Book Review: On the Slopes of Tahoe (Love Along the Way #2) by J.A. Forde

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 383 pages
Author: J.A. Forde
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: February 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wanting each other is easy…
It’s everything else that’s hard.

Breck Kylie’s perfect life unravels in a squall of betrayal, leaving him and his seven-year-old daughter reeling. Choosing to retreat from the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia, they embark on an extended vacation to Lake Tahoe in hopes they’ll find a new ‘normal’ on the snowy slopes.

Rory Anderson had big dreams once, but years of living in a blizzard of impossible expectations has beaten her down. Stuck in a cycle of fear and self-doubt, she’s living a life she’s unsure she truly wants. So, when her brother asks her to help his best friend get settled in Tahoe, she agrees with a renewed sense of purpose.

When Breck’s personal hurricane meets Rory’s frozen fears, they find themselves in the eye of the storm—a quiet place where connection and clarity finally break through. For Rory, it’s a chance to focus on her own dreams. For Breck, it’s a glimpse of the future he thought was shattered.

Finding solace in each other is supposed to be a short-lived thing, but what happens when they find themselves feeling more than they bargained for?

Will they walk away, or will they fight to hold onto the peace they’ve only ever found in each other?

I LIKED IT WELL ENOUGH.

I expected to have some mixed thoughts on this one and I do but y’all know I appreciated a third act handled well (or that reasonably makes sense to the situation at hand) and I felt like this book did that. There were some genuinely big hurdles to think about and decide upon and the time and discussions actually moved the relationship forward.

What bugged me though is that this had a let’s just sleep together vibe. And I do not like those vibes. Especially since this was closed door I just don’t think it matched the energy of the story. It wasn’t necessary and the relationship could have been further without that point.

I did enjoy that it was dual POV and that both Breck and Rory stood up to those in their lives that they needed to. I love seeing relationships mended when it works best AND when relationships are severed when it’s best. This is a great winter book with all of the snow content (which cracks me up that I read it sitting at a pool).

I’ll definitely continue to read J.A. Forde’s books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door/fade to black
  • Content warnings: parental abandonment

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Book Review: Love Unwritten (Lakefront Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 624 pages
Author: Lauren Asher
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rafael
Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs.
I’m a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums.
On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son.
For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip.
Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn’t be attracted to.
Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company?
That isn’t part of our travel plans.
After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs.
Even if it means breaking hers in the process.
Ellie
What’s worse than working for a grumpy single dad?
Admitting that I once had a secret crush on him in high school.
Thankfully, Rafael Lopez and I have changed since we graduated from Wisteria High.
He is a billionaire with a company to run and a child to take care of.
I’m an unemployed songwriter he hired to watch his son and teach music.
We coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything.
Lines blur and old feelings for Rafael return with vengeance as I face a new dilemma.
Being his son’s nanny is one thing, but wishing for more?
Sounds like a heartbreak song waiting to be written.

WELL HEY.

This book sat on my kindle for over a year because I didn’t love book one so I was hesitant to read book two. AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW. I picked this up in just the right mood at just the right time and I don’t have big enough complaints to mark this any less than a five.

It was an incredibly soft book. Rafael and Ellie both had a lot of backstory and trauma to work through and I loved the nuanced ways that they took care of each other. It’s my favorite kind of subtle romance. I love seeing the little pieces that brought Rafael and Ellie closer. And they continually showed the effort of giving the benefit of the doubt and trying to communicate and apologize. BLESS ALL OF THIS.

As usual, I do think it’s a touch too long, but the journey is solid. This had the romantic mood I was craving and I appreciated that it was a slow burn. This renewed my love for Lauren Asher books and I am looking forward to book three.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence; mild
  • Content Warnings: PTSD, parental abuse and abandonment (recounted), self-harm (mentioned a handful of times and an on-page attempt), flight anxiety, grief

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Book Review: The Glittering Edge (The Idlewood Duology #1) by Alyssa Villaire

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Paranormal Romance
Length: 423 pages
Author: Alyssa Villaire
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: April 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An unputdownable gothic contemporary fantasy with the feuding families of Romeo and Juliet, the dark magic of Krystal Sutherland and a love triangle to rival The Inheritance Games.

The locals of Idlewood whisper of a tragic love story that began a decades long blood feud.

For as long as anyone can remember, the De Luca witches and the wealthy Barrion family have been sworn enemies. Ever since the curse that changed their fates forever. Now, if a Barrion falls in love with you, you’ll die.

But when Penny Emberly’s mother becomes the curse’s latest victim, she must bring together two bitter rivals, Alonso and Corey, in order to save her mum’s life and stop the feud for good.

But as the trio navigates unpredictable magic, the tangled web of their family histories, and complicated attractions, it becomes clear that there’s more than dark secrets at play.

Can Penny find a way to break the curse . . . without losing her heart in the process?

I WOULD READ BOOK TWO.

But I am not splurging for the Fairyloot edition (I got the first book in my sub box).

I do think the audiobook narrator was good but would have been better with multiple narrators. The book is told from three POV’s and wow was I confused at each chapter change because it wasn’t always automatically clear who was speaking.

There were many elements I did like. The family curses, drama and witches were a good combination. Some of the drama was eye-roll worthy for me but otherwise I felt mostly invested. The characters and romance grew on me.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal Romance
  • Language: mild – moderate
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: bullying, loss of loved ones, grief, gun violence, anxiety rep, murder

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Hard to Love (The Lost Girls #1) by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 457 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 2nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What if no one really sees you?
What if you don’t want them to?

Ryder Jones typically spends her days and nights busting down doors to rescue innocent victims from a dangerous world most can’t fathom. But when an injury puts her out of commission, her boss gives her a new and anxiety-provoking 24-hour protection detail for a charming athlete with a target on his back.

Cole Matthews’s sole focus is winning football games. That is, until a stalker threatens his life. But it’s his sullen, highly trained blonde bodyguard—and new roommate—who’s turning his regimented life upside down. As Cole and Ryder dig into who has a vendetta against him, their forced proximity leads to an undeniable attraction neither has experienced before.

A relationship would never work—Ryder operates in the dark, and Cole commands the spotlight. When their opposite worlds collide and the stalker closes in, Ryder must admit that Cole is more than an assignment. She’ll do anything to protect him, even if it’s from herself. But what if the one thing that needs rescuing. . . is her heart?

Thank you to the author for an eARC and Tantor Audio for the audiobook.

BEAUTIFUL STORY.

I love Stacy William’s stories y’all. They are beautiful and deep and full of love. The courage it takes to love someone else AND be loved in return. Cole and Ryder don’t make it easy on each other and genuinely have a lot going on. As the gentle pull of a deeper connection surfaced I was glued to this book needing to know what happens next.

I really love the found family of these women who have banded together through difficult situations. The layers and emotion played out in these subtle moves and big outbursts. It’s not a journey that continually moves forward. The backward progression helps Ryder see more light in her life and I loved the importance of communication and getting things off your chest.

Cole is such a sweet, genuine soul and never pushed Ryder beyond what she could handle. He met her where she was and I adored watching him fall first. The spark between them started small and became a steady and all encompassing burn.

🎧: The audiobook was amazing! I eyeball read about half and the other was on audio. Loved the narrators, highly recommend that route.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic suspense
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: moderate+
  • Content warnings: mentions of sex trafficking and abuse (adult & children) – off page

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