Tag: contemporary romance

ARC Book Review: The Golden Goal (More Than a Game #1) by Annah Conwell

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 258 pages
Author: Annah Conwell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Shaw Daniels is the bane of my existence.

Always has been. Always will be.

When we were kids, he annoyed me to no end by being good at everything. He didn’t have to study or really even try. Meanwhile, I tried too much and still lost to him.

Then when we were teenagers, our rivalry became twisted. He started sabotaging all my relationships. I retaliated by doing the same to him.

Now, we’re adults and we should be able to move on. But when I become a physical therapist for his professional hockey team, it seems as though we can’t let go of our rival tendencies.

Suddenly, our teasing starts to border on flirting. Bets are made and lines are crossed. The kind of lines that once crossed … you can never go back to the way things were before.

The Golden Goal is an enemies to lovers, brother’s best-friend hockey romcom for fans of sports romance. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the first book in the More Than a Game series, an interconnected standalone series based around four men in four different sports.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SHAW Y’ALL.

If you know anything about my romance reading preferences, y’all would know, HE FALLS FIRST is one of my favorites. And dang did Shaw fall HARD Y’ALL. I can’t even with him. The entire book turned me into a puddle. I am goo. Shaw was thoughtful, intense, silly and endearing in all the ways.

And I really loved Sutton too! Both of these main characters were written beautifully. While I wouldn’t call this enemies to lovers, I did love the snarky banter between Sutton and Shaw. I found myself smiling like a fool because of the well placed quips. It had a fantastic level of heat without the spice and those kissing scenes were FIRE.

I thought the plot was fast paced and easy to fly through. There were so many good stand out moments I could list (but you should go read and love on them so we can flail together). And there was actual hockey content in here so I can without a doubt say THIS is a sports romance.

And one you should read ASAP.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of parents with alcohol and substance abuse

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ARC Book Review: The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Kristin Dwyer
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Atlas James has lost her way.

In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.

Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.

Thank you HarperTeen for the eARC.

A GOOD READ.

I really enjoyed this book. I do want to note this fits into the new adult category and not young adult. The characters are 18-20 and there are some vague open scenes.

Anyways

This was a messy journey in the best ways. Grief is nonlinear and gut punches you at the worst times and this showed a lot of that. I liked that Atlas had ups and downs and that in the end of the book she had found something new to hold on to and look forward to.

The romance grew on me but I do feel like it was missing something, like maybe a little more background King?? I don’t know, but I did like many of their quiet moments and the connection they were trying to forge. The found family was tangled and pushed and pulled all of the emotions. I loved the hiking and nature plot that allowed for the chance to just let go.

It was a really good book and one I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for something heavier.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2 vague open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a Dad from cancer, grief/depression depiction, underage drinking

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ARC Book Review: Last Call at the Local (Love, Lists & Fancy Ships #3) by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Sarah Grunder Ruiz
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family’s pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.

Raine Hart is used to the challenges of living with ADHD. It’s why she ditched her life in Boston to busk around Europe as a traveling musician. No boss. No schedule. No one to disappoint but herself. But when a careless mistake in Ireland leaves her unable to perform, she sees no other option but to give up her nomadic life.

Since inheriting the Local, Jack Dunne has wanted to make the pub his own. But the baggage of running a family business and the intrusive thoughts that stem from his OCD make changing things a challenge.

Over a pint with handsome, tattooed Jack, Raine accidentally insults him and the pub. Instead of taking offense, Jack, impressed by her vision of what the pub could be, offers her a job bringing it to life.

But when Raine and Jack develop feelings for one another their opposite lifestyles won’t accommodate, it becomes clear the pub isn’t the only thing that needs reinventing. As the end of their business collaboration draws near, they’ll have to find a way past the limits they’ve placed on themselves or let go of a love that could last a lifetime.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC.

OH HOW I LOVED THIS.

This book was beautiful. I thought it had incredible ADHD and OCD rep. I felt so many things and am just a puddle over here about them. Not to mention, I really want to travel to Ireland ASAP…and maybe get a tattoo? IDK THIS BOOK MADE ME FEEL OKAY.

I loved how the instant connection was written. THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT. I absolutely believed that undeniable bond that Jack and Raine had from the moment they met. I felt those sparks. They were so dang sweet to each other. I loved how they took care of each other and also allowed the other person to be. There wasn’t pressure to be something your not. And I loved how they approached hard conversations.

The music themes were amazing, I don’t even have a tattoo and I loved all of that content too. I loved the mental health discussions. Seeing Ollie and Nina again!! And the whole crew at the pub. And even though I’m not a cat gal, Sebastian was pretty great too.

This whole book worked for me on all the levels. It might just be my new favorite of this series. I was captivated from the get-go and I will protect Jack and Raine at all costs. This won’t be a high angst saga, it’s a slow and gentle romance that will squeeze your heart and bring some sunshine to your day.

READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2 open door; moderate explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: OCD and ADHD rep, mentions of past domestic abuse (brief)

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