Book Review: Love Songs Suck by Becky Monson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 317 pages
Author: Becky Monson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A reluctant woman, a determined popstar, and the song that started it all.

After growing up in Nashville with two musician parents, I promised myself one thing—I would never, ever fall in love with anyone who had anything to do with the music scene. I will take my stable, albeit boring, accountant boyfriend, thank you very much, and live securely ever after. At least that was the plan. Who knew one ridiculous party where boy band sensation Finn Thatcher showed up would turn my life completely upside down.

How dare he write a song about me. A song that went straight to number one. A song that messes everything up with his band. And who gets the blame for that? That’s right, me. I’m the new Yoko Ono. The only way to fix it is to, well . . . give the world what it wants—a love story. We are talking the whole freaking fairy tale. Nothing says true love like a fake relationship. But what if it’s not so fake? What if I want the happily ever after? Or am I just another love song to Finn?

Thank you to the author for a gifted audiobook!

GREAT AUDIO.

I love a good audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job. I felt fully immersed in the story and I think that also really helped my thoughts overall.

I tend to struggle with rock star romances. I don’t know why, but I keep trying because I know I’ll find some good ones out there. And I consider this a good one (and a sweet one for my sweet romance fans!). I liked the soulful connection between Louella and Finn. The instant chemistry was played off really well and I liked the slow burn strangers to friends to lovers that occurred over months together. I didn’t LOVE that Louella was dating someone for 75% of the book (but I know that’s a preference thing and I just prefer the break-up to happen much sooner).

Finn fell first and HARD and he was just so dang sweet. I liked his personality and how hard he worked to be a good friend, musician and someone you actually wanted to be friends with. I loved all of the late night texts and phone calls and the smooth lyrics that were clearly showing all of Finn’s feelings.

This was my first Becky Monson book and it convinced me that I would love to read another. I liked her writing style and story telling. This was a good read and I think fantastic for summertime!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Pier Pressure (Deadlights Cove #4) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 418 pages
Author: B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
Publisher: Revel Books
Release Date: May 20th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lysander Theroux has always been ordered around by his mother and head of the Deadlights Cove witch Coven, Ostara. In the best interest of the Coven, he puts his ego aside, glad he at least has an escape from the crushing pressure in his band, The Lost Talisman.

Maisie Douglass has been living a double life for years. Abovewater, she uses a fake name in town to hide her true identity. Underwater, she plays the dutiful heir to the throne, the eldest daughter of the overbearing Ronan, King of the Sea Nymphs.

When their controlling parents announce they’ve both arranged marriages for their children to increase their magical powers — Lysander to a bear shifter, and Maisie to a demon — they’ve finally gone too far.

Together, Lys and Maisie will pretend to be in a serious relationship so their parents will back off the whole arranged marriage thing — simple enough, right?

True to the town’s history, nothing ever goes to plan.

THIS SERIES MAKES ME HAPPY.

Another win for Deadlights Cove. I loved Lysander and Maisie!!! The dash of forbidden romance worked so well between these too. I felt the connection from the get-go and those fiery kisses set me ablaze. There were great character arc building moments and I loved seeing Lysander and Maisie both stand up for themselves and for the right to choose what they wanted to do with their lives. It was swoony, the perfect level of heated, and the rush of action at the end was the perfect capstone.

I love this entire town and every single character. There’s humor and heart and I laughed many times as I devoured each page of this romance. As someone who usually says I’m not a paranormal fan, this is the exception and I need everyone who feels the same to try this series too!! You won’t regret it!!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Rom-Com
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 2 open door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: near death experiences, new drowning

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ARC Book Review: The Pocket Pair (Graham Brothers #3) by Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 322 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Do I have feelings for my sister’s best friend? Of course not.

That would be stupid, considering my sister once threatened to castrate me if I ever hurt Val.

Hurting her is the last thing I want to do, which is all the MORE reason I can’t have feelings for her. Val deserves the world, and I’m NOT the man who can give it to her.

But when Val announces she’s leaving town (and the country), I’m suddenly confronted with some very capital-F Feelings–ones that refuse to stay stuffed down deep where I’ve hidden them for more years than I care to admit.

Having her crash in my guest bedroom until she leaves only makes things worse.

Little by little, Val chips away at my defenses, and despite all the solid reasons I have, my resolve starts to crumble.

The thing is–none of the circumstances have changed.

Val is still planning to leave the country. And I … well, I might have gotten more in touch with my feelings, but I’m still the same man.

NOT a man who can promise things like life-long commitment. NOT a man Val can count on. NOT the good guy everyone seems to think I am.

If only I could get Val and the rest of this nosy, meddling matchmaking town to believe me–and if my own stubborn heart wasn’t trying to convince me otherwise.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

VAL & CHEVY.

This might be my new favorite in the series. I’m sure I probably say that about each book, but I just sincerely love each book that much. I love Emma St. Clair’s writing. I love the way she tells a story and the romances she creates. They are simultaneously funny and full of heart and make my day brighter when a new one drops on my kindle.

I adored Chevy. That sweet man trying to handle his daddy issues (and not doing such a great job). I loved his growth and acknowledgement of wrong doings. How he did work to be better and to be open. And OH MY GOSH he left me in a puddle with some of his moments.

“Good.” He pauses. “Because if I kiss you, it won’t go down like this. It won’t be quick. It won’t be sweet. And it won’t be with an audience. You got that?”

Val is one of the genuinely good souls type of characters. I loved her heart and mind and how good of a friend she was and everything in between. Val and Chevy have many moments that will have the angst turning up and you shouting KISS KISS KISS.

I love this small town, I love all of the glimpses of past book characters and new characters to come. I laughed, I cheered, I was giddy like a fool with the grand gesture. Another Sheet Cake winner!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent, parental abandonment, physical injuries

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Book Review: Naked in Death (In Death #1) by J.D. Robb

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 381 pages
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 1st, 1995
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the year 2058, technology completely rules the world. But for New York City Detective Eve Dallas, one irresistible impulse still rules the heart: passion…

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she’s seen it all—and knows her survival depends on her instincts. And she’s going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire—and a suspect in Eve’s murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it’s up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about—except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

MIXED.

Well I gave this series a chance. And I think I liked it enough to try one more book? To be determined.

One of my turnoffs in this one is that everything felt too sexual for me. Just the entire vibe of the book and the main couple getting to things in this book as well that I spent a bit of time fast forwarding my audiobook. I don’t know if it’ll continually be this way, but that was my biggest bleh about it all.

I did love the general set up. With the futuristic things and Eve solving murders. That is cool and reminds me of plenty of shows like NCIS, CSI, etc. I think that could be interesting to see how things develop over multiple story lines.

The romance hasn’t hooked me yet. I needed more from them. By the end I was charmed by Roarke (and his accent on the audio). A protective type who also let’s Eve just be. That’s my kind of hero.

Anywho, I’ll probably give it one more go and see where this takes me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door scenes
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: child sexual abuse recounted, incest, rape, murder of sex workers, gun violence, blackmail

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