Tag: Book blog

ARC/ALC Book Review: First and Forever by Lynn Painter

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the audiobook and Berkley for the eARC (gifted).

WORKED FOR ME!

I devoured this book in a few hours the other evening because I needed a pick me up and Lynn Painter always delivers on that front. I love her romances and the brighter feeling they always leave me.

This was one of her softer, low angst/tension romances. Connor and Duffy just work. They have an awkward meet cute that leads to them falling in love. These little moments throughout added up to such a sweet story. I loved the way Connor showed up for Duffy in the most meaningful ways. And how Duffy returned those sentiments too.

There was enough football content for me to say that it counts as a sports romance (my fav) and I think it would be so fun to see more books with Duffy’s brothers?? One can hope. I even found myself a little teary eyed during a few scenes too. This hit all the notes I was hoping for when I picked it up. Is it perfect? No, but I love the joy of the right book finding you at the right time.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent(s), grief depiction, a grandfather with dementia

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ARC Book Review: Student Union (The Undergrads #1) by Julie Murphy

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: New Adult Romance
Length: 294 pages
Author: Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times–bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a sexy rom com about a college marriage of convenience that goes way beyond chemistry 101…The first in a trilogy of romance novels that follows a group of girls as they navigate love, friendship, and new adulthood, this is perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy and Hannah Grace.

CLOVER ROWAN WALSH knows The Plan™.
1. Get a full ride to her dream school, Wexley University.
2. Conquer the school of business.
3. Say goodbye to the paycheck-to-paycheck life she and her mom have known for years.

There’s just one hiccup. With the first semester rapidly approaching, Clover learns her housing grant has fallen through. But a loophole presents Married couples can live in the dorms for the price of one student. Clover is willing to sacrifice the sanctity of marriage . . . even if it means proposing to the one person she swore she’d never speak to again.

Bennett Andrew Graves is the only heir to the Graves Coffee empire. After spending his first year at Wexley, squeaking by in classes and becoming personally acquainted with the female student body, he is looking forward to living off campus. Until the girl he grew up with (and whom he completely devastated years ago) walks back into his life with the most absurd Will you marry me?

Bennett can’t refuse Clover. He owes her this, but that doesn’t change the fact that these two can barely carry on a conversation without getting at each other’s throats. Forget about sharing a dorm—much less one bed.

But as Clover and Bennett hide the true nature of their marriage, they find that playing house isn’t all that bad—especially with certain marital benefits in the mix. In fact, Clover and Bennett are soon forgetting the most important part of their fake marriage of convenience . . . that it’s supposed to be fake.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted ARC and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook.

NOT QUITE FOR ME.

Y’all know I basically jump at any book that has marriage of convenience as one of the leading tropes because I love that stuff. And I’m aware that MOC is usually a suspension of belief but this one felt even more of a stretch than usual. With everything happening so fast in the first chapter I had no moment to catch up and get on board.

I didn’t mind the romance between Clover and Bennett. There were many good moments (not the make-out when only she was drunk). I liked that Bennett took care of her and was genuinely trying to make amends for a mistake in high school. I do love a protective scene and this one had a few.

The college atmosphere was a bit over the top in the lust and d*ck joke department. While I get it, it also didn’t serve the book well and I don’t think needed to be added as heavily as it was. I mean, the second half felt like mostly spice and the book is less than 300 pages?? The slow burn had been so good too!!

I’m not sure I’ll read the next couple in the series. I’ll think about it, but if it follows a lot of these same lines I might not be charmed.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4ish open door; high innuendo
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: attempted assault, catfishing (recounted), bullying

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Book Review: The Last Wayfinder by Ellen McGinty

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 334 pages
Author: Ellen McGinty
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There are no chains for criminals on Abashi Island, only endless ice.

Born into prison, Kira has only known the arctic wasteland where the worst criminals are sent to be forgotten—including her mother. When a brutal Imperial Inspector sentences her family to death, she unleashes a forbidden magic that comes with a devastating cost: her sister is cursed, transformed into a monster.

Desperate for a cure, she strikes a deal with Captain Ren, a notorious monster hunter whose icy exterior matches the unforgiving landscape. He’s everything Kira despises—rigid, lawful, dangerous—and unfortunately, necessary for survival.

As the two forge an uneasy alliance, Kira discovers the chilling truth about her imprisonment and that more is at stake than her sister’s soul. Now, Kira must risk treason and master her ancestors’ wayfinding magic before she loses her sister—and the beautiful world she’s only begun to discover.

LOVED.

Ellen McGinty did it again. I have sincerely loved both of her books and can’t recommend them enough. If you love young adult fantasy that’s kisses only (with the romance as more of a subplot), great character arcs and learning moments and strong sibling relationships, look no further. This is the type of story I would love to share with my littles when they’re older.

I loved the depth of Kira’s character. She’s resilient and a bit stubborn and that only adds to her growth as she moves through the world. Kira’s love for her sister knew no bounds and I appreciated having that kind of bond between siblings.

The romance was also sweet. It’s got a good push and pull and doesn’t over take the general themes of the novel. I liked Ren a lot and felt like we got a good story from him without having his POV. I just loved the journey for everyone.

Beautiful story.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: living in a prison camp, loss of a parent

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Book Review: Into a Golden Era (Timeless #7) by Gabrielle Meyer

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As a time crosser, Ally lives in two worlds. In 1849, in an attempt to secure her family’s future during the California Gold Rush, she finds herself penniless and stranded in San Francisco. Forced to take shelter in a dangerous boardinghouse owned by an infamous gang member, Ally is desperate to escape. But when she discovers that history has changed around her, and it now claims she will do something unthinkable, she must use her time-crossing knowledge to find answers.

In 1929 California, Ally is an up-and-coming starlet in the Golden Age of Hollywood, but her family’s film studio is on the brink of ruin, and their remaining resources are invested into a production of Little Women. If the endeavor fails, Ally’s family will lose everything. To ensure their success, she agrees to stage a fake romance with a notorious Hollywood heartthrob in hopes of using his fame for their movie, but she risks her heart in the process. When history doesn’t play by the rules, Ally must decide if she will throw all caution aside and risk everything for the people she loves. But which path will be worth sacrificing to save the other?

Bestselling author Gabrielle Meyer weaves a spellbinding tale where one woman’s impossible choice will determine not just her fate, but the course of history itself.

Thank you Bethany House and Gabrielle Meyer for the gifted copy.

SO GOOD.

Make a notch for this one in the five star column for this series. I figured out what generally determines a five star in this series for me is when I have a hard time predicting where the it’s going to go. And for Ally? Yeah I had no idea.

I loved that the trail of clues was different and the reveals had me wondering if things were going to be okay (which they were!!). I felt satisfied about the plot and romance and how it all came together. The romance was soft and endearing and I love a redemptive arc. Both timelines had me enthralled and I liked the stories going in both. Not knowing a whole lot about either was fun for me because now I want to go research more. There were also a few nuanced plot things that I enjoyed

Gabrielle Meyer continues to amaze with the research and attention to detail. The light faith elements are woven in seamlessly and even seven books in, I can’t wait for another one.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: attempted assault, loss of life, attempted murder, physical altercations

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