Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: The Off-Limits Rule (It Happened in Nashville #1) by Sarah Adams

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: New Adult Contemporary
Length: 291 pages
Author: Sarah Adams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 4th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I have found rock bottom. It’s here, moving in with my older brother because I’m too broke to afford to live on my own. But that’s okay because we’ve always been close and I think I’m going to have fun living with him again.

That is until I meet Cooper…

Turns out, my brother has very strong opinions on the idea of me dating his best friend and is dead set against it. According to him, Cooper is everything I should stay away from: flirtatious, adventurous, non-committal, and freaking hot. (I added that last part because I feel like you need the whole picture.) My brother is right, though. I should stay away from Cooper James and his pretty blue eyes. He’s the opposite of what I need right now.

Nah—Who am I kidding? I’m going for him.

A MUST READ.

But really. A one sitting, absolutely loved every moment, kinda read. Sarah Adams best book [yet]. I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

Honestly, I feel like that should be the review. Just trust me. But, I’ll give you more.

I haven’t read many brother’s best friend trope books and this one nailed it. From the moment Cooper and Lucy meet, their chemistry flew off the charts. The sexy and fun banter was *chef’s kiss*. The antics they got into literally had me laughing out loud multiple times. I never laugh at books. This one brought out all the chuckles. I really fell for both of these characters and what they brought to the relationship. Everything was so tender and precious and I just want to read this book again for the first time. That’s my level of appreciation for this story.

The supportive family and friends was a wonderful change of pace. I like how those surrounding Lucy loved and cared for her throughout some difficult situations. Even when Cooper entered the picture, he never made her feel less and y’all, *swwwwooooooonnn*.

If you’re looking for a beautifully wonderful low steam (no outright love scenes, open or closed), give you all the fuzzy feelings kinda read. THIS IS IT. It brought me out of a slump I didn’t even know I was in and let me enjoy a fantastic romance for a few hundred pages. Oh this was the best.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; implied scene at the very end

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2021

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AUUUUGUST.

I made it through 42 different books this month and unfortunately, so many were misses. *sigh*

Hopefully September will be better! The last book on the list is an anthology of 20 romance novellas so I’ve been working through those in between my big books.

Favorites reads: Where the Stars Meet the Sea, Heart in the Highlands, The Cheat Sheet, Wings of Shadow, XOXO, The Dating Playbook, First Rider’s Call

Least Favorites: When Night Breaks, The Secrets We Kept, The Stable Master’s Son, They’ll Never Catch Us and a couple of the novellas from the anthology

  • [ARC] Lakesedge (World at the Lake’s Edge #1) by Lyndall Clipstone – (☆☆☆)
  • Fudge and Jury (A Bakeshop Mystery #5) by Ellie Alexander – (☆☆☆)
  • Witchshadow (The Witchlands #4) by Susan Dennard – (☆☆☆)
  • Hopeless (Hopeless #1) by Colleen Hoover – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • [Graphic Novel] Fence Vol. 3 by C.S. Pacat – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • [Graphic Novel] Fence Vol. 4 by C.S. Pacat – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War #2) by R.F. Kuang – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] When Night Breaks (Kingdom of Cards #2) by Janella Angeles – (☆☆ 1/2)
  • The Devil and the Heiress (The Gilded Age Heiresses #2) by Harper St.George – (☆☆☆)
  • The Devil’s Thief (The Last Magician #2) by Lisa Maxwell – (☆☆☆)
  • A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen – (☆☆☆)
  • Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • [Graphic Novel] Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken – (☆☆☆)
  • The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein – (☆☆☆)
  • Wings of Shadow (Crown of Feathers #3) by Nicki Pau Preto – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott – (☆☆)
  • All I Want for Christmas by Wendy Loggia – (☆☆☆)
  • XOXO by Axie Oh – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • I Found You by Lisa Jewell – (☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Allen Campbell – (☆☆☆)
  • Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Dating Playbook (The Boyfriend Project #2) by Farrah Rochon – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Incendiary (Hollow Crown #1) by Zoraida Córdovav – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan – (☆☆☆☆)
  • A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic #2) by Elise Kova – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Stable Master’s Son (Sons of Somerset #2) by Mindy Burbidge Strunk – (☆☆)
  • They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman – (☆)
  • First Rider’s Call (Green Rider #2) by Kristen Britain – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Triumphant (The Valiant #3) by Lesley Livingston – (☆☆☆☆)
  • From Little Tokyo, with Love by Sarah Kuhn – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Anthology of Contemporary Romance Novellas] Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever After
    • An Unwanted Love Story by Ellie Hall – (☆☆☆)
    • Her Plus-One by Summer Dowell – (☆☆☆☆)
    • Head Over Stilettos by Liwen Y. Ho – (☆☆)
    • Looking for Love (Sort of) by Meg Easton – (☆☆)
    • Lassoed into Love by Rachael Eliker – (☆☆☆)
    • Take a Hike by Sophie-Leigh Robbins – (☆☆☆)
    • Worst Neighbor Ever by Rachel John – (☆☆☆)

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Book Review: The Dating Playbook (The Boyfriend Project #2) by Farrah Rochon

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Farrah Rochon
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: August 17th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When a personal trainer agrees to fake date her client, all rules are out the window in this delightful romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Boyfriend Project!

When it comes to personal training, Taylor Powell kicks serious butt. Unfortunately, her bills are piling up, rent is due, and the money situation is dire. Taylor needs more than the support of her new best friends, Samiah and London. She needs a miracle.

And Jamar Dixon might just be it. The oh-so-fine former footballer wants back into the NFL, and he wants Taylor to train him. There’s just one catch — no one can know what they’re doing. But when they’re accidentally outed as a couple, Taylor’s game plan is turned completely upside down. Is Jamar just playing to win . . . or is he playing for keeps?

SPORTS ROMANCE WINNER.

This is now my current favorite of this series. I read it in a day because it was so easy to fly though. The characters were lovable and relatable. Taylor was full of bravery and passion to make her path work. And while she struggled though some personal things, her character got a gorgeous arc that lead to growth and new horizons because those that loved her helped her (and she accepted the help). Jamar was utterly charming. His support was perfect. I was swooning left and right every time he spoke to Taylor. He was just so cute!!! Ahh, I really love this couple. And I love how Jamar worked through his own history and allowed those around him to help him through it too. These characters were just the best y’all.

For me, the innuendo was a bit heavy. Once again for this one, there are open scenes, but easily skippable if that’s your style and the story is a gem. I am still smitten with it all. Besides the fact that there’s a few Texas longhorns mentions (ew), I didn’t have any glaring issues. I love the writing, the setting, all of these characters. And it’s a football sports romance! What more could I hope for? I’m so excited to get London’s story next!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses to open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: life changing injury (off page), learning disability discussions, anxiety and panic attacks, grief and loss depictions, death of a friend (off page), car + motorcycle accident

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Book Review: Falling for Your Enemy (Love Cliches #6) by Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: Unknown pages
Author: Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: July 21st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

People who say keep your enemies closer never took a road trip with a guy who hated their guts.

A month ago, my identity as Dr. Love was a secret. A month ago, I thought I was getting engaged.

A month ago, I wasn’t stuck with the guy who hates me most in the world.;

Now… if I don’t make nice with my #1 hater, I might lose my book deal.

Without that, I’m not sure what I have left.

But when I’m forced on a publicity tour with everyone’s favorite guy, the guy who says I ruined his relationship, I didn’t know how low I could go.;

At every stop, I get roasted and he gets more revered.

You would think after a while, I would hate him too.

And you would be very, very wrong…

GREAT ENDING.

I’m so sad this series is over!! [Though low-key stoked to see what the author writes next].

I found this book beautifully chaotic (and this is a high compliment). Many antics that had me laughing and eyes widening because I couldn’t believe what hijinks were happening next. The road trip that went South fast, yet brought Sam and Rhys together was everything I could hope for.

The subtlety of the enemies to lovers dynamic worked great for these two. It wasn’t heavy on the enemies side. It definitely moved QUICK to lovers. But the way St. Clair portrayed their love story had me never second guessing the pace. It was a fantastic fast-paced romance where I was swooning right along with Sam’s friends at every turn (the pinky hold?! adorable).

It was so fun with all of the hotel changes, book tour nonsense, weddings, video chats, airplane rides, candy stops and much much more. Typing that all out I can’t believe how much happened. I love that the gang was all together and how magical to see all of the happy endings. Even better, there was an epic-logue where 40 years in the future we got to see everyone again. I love additions like this!!! I’m smitten for any epilogue I can get my hands on and this was no exception.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses/make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: assault, misogyny

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