Book Review: Stone Hearts (Poplar Falls #2) by Amber Kelly

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 264 pages
Author: Amber Kelly
Publisher: Amber Kelly, LLC
Release Date: January 14th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A new friends-to-lovers small-town romance from Amber Kelly…When I returned to Poplar Falls six years ago, I’d given up on love.I’d made the mistake of marrying the sexy rebel right out of high school. He’d ended up in jail. I’d ended up pregnant. With a baby on the way, I decided to give up my wild, impulsive ways. All I wanted was a family and to watch my sweet son grow up, happy, and healthy.Then Myer Wilson keeps showing up in my life—and my son’s life.He’s the hometown football hero, who blew out his ankle his junior year and ended his career. I didn’t look twice at hot jocks in high school. But now that he’s taken over his family’s ranch, I can’t help but look even when I swore off men for good.But maybe he’ll finally be the one to help me let go of the past and find my second chance at love. Or maybe my past will come back to haunt me.

FAVORITE OF THE SERIES.

And I’m saying this because I’m writing this review after finishing all of the books, so this is verified information. FAVORITE.

I am apparently really here for the friends to lovers + single parent trope lately because I was smitten with everything this had to give in under 300 pages. I LOVE Dallas. I love her tenacity and strength in dealing with some crappy situations. I LOVE Myer. His steady presence and simply showing Dallas that’s he’s always there for her (and Beau) was the perfect love connection set-up.

There was no way I could put this down and I loved everything about it. I like how the conflict and resolution worked out. Beau is simply, dang adorable and made me smile more than once. There’s some spicy moments that fit well into their love story and we all know I love a slightly cheesy (yet omgee romantic) ending.

All of that is here.

Why do I find it so hard to review a book I LOVE?! It’s honestly easier for me to say READ THIS SMALL TOWN ROMANCE SERIES. Get caught up in Poplar Falls.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: kisses to brief open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic violence, sexual assault

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Book Review: Wicked Hearts (Stone Hearts #3) by Amber Kelly

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 242 pages
Author: Amber Kelly
Publisher: Amber Kelly, LLC
Release Date: May 14th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My big brother and I landed in the care of my aunt and her husband after my parents died in a tragic accident when I was three-years-old. I grew up smothered by love from a family that knows what the bitter sting of loss feels like.

Living under that umbrella afforded me the ability to grow up with the security needed to try my every whim… and I have, now it’s time to figure out who I want to be.

My family would love for me to settle down with someone grounded and successful like the sexy new vet in town.

I like him, but I am restless.

I don’t want to be grounded. I want to ride the wind.

Walker Reid has worked on my family’s ranch for years. He’s like a son to Uncle Jeff and my brother’s closet friend. He is a sexy devil, drinks too much and likes to live wild and free.

I’m drawn to him. Maybe he’ll finally be the one to help me let go and find where I belong. Or maybe my brother will kill us both.

DEFINITELY WICKED.

This installment broke me a bit, then sewed me right back together. Full of hope, understanding, and finding a reason to give it your all, Walker & Elle brought the house home in Wicked Hearts.

I thought this story was really sweet. Walker needed someone like Elle in his life to remind him of the love that can grow between two souls. Walker had such a big wall in place and watching the tiny moments that Elle pulled it down were tender. I loved that Elle gave it her all. And really resonated with her inability to find her niche. Both fantastic main characters who I didn’t know I would love as much as I did by the end.

Elle and Walker worked so well together. An opposite attract kind of romance, these two couldn’t stay away. It was intense and full of heart. I love a good Aunt Doreen moment and this one has the BEST one. I love all of these side characters as much as the two that are currently in the spotlight. Another great read for this small town romance series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: kisses to open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warning: side character gets an abortion (not on page), loss of both parents

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Book Review: Rustic Hearts (Poplar Falls #1) by Amber Kelly

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 268 pages
Author: Amber Kelly
Publisher: Amber Kelly, LLC
Release Date: September 16th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The last place Sophia Lancaster wanted to return to was Poplar Falls. It’s the place that holds all the painful memories and unanswered questions she’s ever had. One phone call causes her life to take a turn, forcing her back to the town she hasn’t stepped foot in over twenty years.

And right into the path of Braxton Young.

His blue eyes, sinful smile, and rough exterior are no match for Sophia. She’s there for one reason, and it isn’t to fall in love. The sooner she can get out of this small town and back in New York City—the better.

However, fate doesn’t care for either of their desires. Instead, they’re forced to deal with each other, finding their differences aren’t as great as they thought. Each day brings them closer to friendship and the possibility of something more. The answers she seeks might not only break her and Braxton apart but also her heart.

SMITTEN.

That’s how the first book in this series made me feel. It’s totally Hallmark + some steam and I am here for seeing how the rest of these characters love stories play out.

I easily read this in a day and I love when shorter books feel like the perfect length. I got the answers I wanted, the cuteness I needed and I only wish the ending was a bit longer to get more of Sophie and Braxton.

Braxton and Sophie were definitely an enemies to lovers saga (which is probably the number one reason I enjoyed this). They clashed immediately, but the obvious fire was there too. I liked how each one had some misconstrued ideas about the other, but after listening to the facts and learning more about each other they both had changes of heart. Sophie and Braxton seeked to figure out each other and how they could fit into each other’s lives.

Side story that I looooooved was that Sophie was a jewelry designer!! I just thought that was really unique from the romances I’ve read and adored how it fit into her personality and her life at large.

Dude wow, did I really loathe Sophie’s Mother. Finding out what really happened made honestly angry that a parent would put their child in that situation (and lie about it). I didn’t see redemption there, but I guess at least Sophie worked it out.

The steam was a bit much more my preference, but it can be easily skipped and the story at large is lovely and engaging. I’m so glad Dallas’s story is next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: kisses to open door scenes
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: infidelity, divorce, loosing both parents in an accident

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