Book Review: The Right Move (Windy City #2) by Liz Tomforde

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Liz Tomforde
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

RYAN

She’s a distraction, that’s what she is.

I’m the newest Captain of the Devils, Chicago’s NBA team, and the last thing I needed this year was for Indy Ivers, my sister’s best friend, to move into my apartment. She’s messy, emotional, and way too tempting.

But when the team’s General Manager vocalizes his blatant disapproval of my promotion to Captain, referring to me as an unapproachable lone wolf with no work-life balance, I can’t think of a better way to convince him otherwise than pretending to date my outgoing roommate.

The only problem? Faking it feels far too natural.

Having a fake girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be messy but having Indy under my roof and in my bed is complicated, especially when she wants all the romantic parts of life that I could never give her.

INDY

I never imagined I’d be living with my best friend’s brother, NBA superstar Ryan Shay. Even more unbelievable? He needs me to act as his loving girlfriend who’s suddenly changed him into a friendly and approachable guy.

Because, well…he’s not. He’s controlling of his space and untrusting of others.

Our arrangement isn’t one-sided, though. I’m in a wedding coming up, one where every one of my childhood friends, including my ex-boyfriend, will be in attendance, and there’s no better date than my ex’s celebrity hero.

Blurred lines make it almost impossible to separate real from fake. Falling for my roommate was never part of the deal, especially when Ryan is quick to remind me that he doesn’t believe in love.

I’m a romantic and can’t help fantasizing that he’ll change, but soon enough, I find myself questioning if sharing a roof with my best friend’s brother was the right move after all

STOP IT RIGHT NOW.

Y’all. I had zero plans to binge this book in basically a day and I COULD NOT STOP LISTENING. I absolutely get the hype around Ryan Shay now and he’s officially a new favorite.

I loved that the whole vibe of this book was quiet love is the loudest. Those kind of moments are my favorite when reading a romance book and Ryan and Indy both did so many things for each other that were quiet and without fanfare that showed just how much love was between them. I was SMITTEN. And could honestly sit here and list moment after moment that was beautifully tender and heartfelt and melted me into a puddle (but also the protective and jealous moments SENT ME). I have not recovered.

I loved seeing the characters from Mile High and I love the friendships and sibling relationships. They are strong and caring and only add to how much this book sings. It’s a new sports romance favorite of mine.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4+ open door; mild innuendo
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating (recounted), infertility discussions

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Book Review: The Holly Dates by Brittainy C. Cherry

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Denise Williams
Publisher: Berkley Books
Release Date: September 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All she wanted for Christmas was a boyfriend for the holidays…
All he wanted was for her to take her crappy first dates elsewhere…

Quirky Holly Jackson was unlucky in love, yet her romantic heart refused to give up her search for companionship—even after her fiancé left her at the altar on Christmas Eve.

Grumpy restaurant owner Kai Kane wanted nothing to do with love after his last relationship crashed and burned. Romance was the last thing on his mind. Unfortunately for him, when an eccentric Holly kept entering his restaurant nightly with a different first date, his annoyance grew.

When Kai volunteered to help Holly find a suitor it was for one reason only: to get her out of his restaurant and on to a second date with someone at a different location.

Once Kai became Holly’s dating coach, her confidence grew.

It was all going great until Kai became increasingly jealous of the connection Holly developed with another man. The more Holly fell for Kai’s pick for her, the more overprotective he became.

Kai quickly realized that all wasn’t fair when it came to love and the holidays.

He was going to have to step up his game if he wanted a shot at the ultimate prize—being Holly’s favorite date.

PRETTY SWEET.

I looooved the banter and sweet moments in this one. It was adorable and fiery in all the best ways. I was swooning left and right over Kai and his commitment to Holly. This gave me some He’s Just Not That Into You vibes and I love that movie.

What I struggled with was the balance of heavy and light. So much of this felt like it was supposed to be a light, rom-com-esque, holiday romance, but there were some sub plots that were without a doubt heavy and I didn’t know how I felt about the combination. I wish it leaned more one way or the other rather than trying to combine the two.

Aaaand the third act made me roll my eyes. I’ve seen it 100 times before, and I’ll still be upset over it 100 times more. One of those moments that you see coming and desperately hope that’s not how it’s going to play out.

I loved the holiday spirit. I LOVED Holly’s family and the fake dating scheme that went along with that. The feels were brought out anytime Kai started speaking and for the steam fans there’s a good dash here (and skippable for those like me who prefer to do that!).

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open; high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating, infidelity, side character with cancer, parental abandonment and emotional abuse

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Book Review: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Magical Realism
Length: 336 pages
Author: Adrienne Young
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: October 17th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A woman risks everything to end her family’s centuries-old curse, solve her mother’s disappearance, and find love in this mesmerizing novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Spells for Forgetting.

In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors.

It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own.

After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’sdecades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.

With The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young delivers a brilliant novel of romance, mystery, and a touch of the impossible—a story you will never forget.

WHOA.

I think Adrienne Young has really found her sweet spot in this magical realism/romantic/mystery combination. I love how lyrical they are and that I can’t put them down. I binged listened to this because I was INVESTED.

The mystery absolutely kept me guessing. Some times this time warp books can make my head spin a bit (and while that did happen), I was still able to follow along and get the gist of the subtle magic system at play.

And the romance stole my soul. It felt dangerous and passionate, that consuming I know you and I will protect you. I was here for every moment between them and how things played out on that front.

Another beautiful book. I loved the themes and characters. How fascination can quickly turn deadly and what we’ll do for those we love. 100% recommend it as an audio book too!

Overall audience notes:

  • Magical Realism + Romance/Mystery
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, loss of a loved one, grief depiction

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Book Review: The Sunlit Man (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 447 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Dragonsteel
Release Date: October 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson shows us a future in the Cosmere universe where a perpetual planetary wanderer must decide whether to keep running, or stay and make a difference on a struggling planet.

Years ago he had comrades in arms and a cause to believe in, but now the man who calls himself Nomad knows only a life on the run. Forced to hop from world to world in the Cosmere whenever the relentless Night Brigade gets too close, Nomad lands on a new planet and is instantly caught up in the struggle between a tyrant and the rebels who want only to escape being turned into mindless slaves—all under the constant threat of a sunrise whose heat will melt the very stones. Unable to understand the language, can he navigate the conflict and gain enough power to leap offworld before his mind or body pay the ultimate price?

HOLY COSMERE.

Note: I do think it is beneficial to be caught up on The Stormlight Archives (Books 1-4), Dawnshard (Novella), and Warbreaker. This really takes the Cosmere to a whole new level and in order not to spoil or to stop anyone from being confused, having this background is 100% needed.

ANYWAYS.

I loved this book. Which is no surprise. I was blown away by all of the connections and Easter eggs and all of these little dynamics and characters that kept popping up. I loved how fast paced everything was and you could really feel the desperation of Nomad and those he was working with to save the planet.

Beautiful characterization, an awesome cast and a story line that you can’t put down. I would love to go into more details, but I really think this book is best read blind AND there’s many moments that now have me nervous for what Stormlight 5 is going to bring. If you’ve loved everything Sanderson has written before, I don’t think you’ll have a single problem loving this one too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: high

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