Tag: contemporary romance

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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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: December 2023

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We have made it! It was a fantastic year with so many good books and reaching new highs I didn’t think I would get to. Excited to see 2024 and what books it’ll hold.

Favorites this month:

  • The Christmas Letters
  • The Last Love Note
  • The Duet
  • House of Earth and Blood
  • Even If It Breaks Your Heart
  • The Letter Tree
  • The Golden Goal
  • Powerless
  • An Heir of Frost
  • Bride
  • Emma M. Lion Vol. 4
  • The Catch
  • The Christmas Guest
  • Fate Calls the Elf Queen
  • Divine Rivals
  • Ruthless Vows

Least favorites:

  • Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White
  • Daughter of the Sun (The Mothmar Trilogy #1) by Amanda Auler
  • [ARC] The Christmas Letters by Jenny Proctor
  • The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
  • Love on Deck (Arcadia Creek #1) by Kasey Stockton
  • The Duet (Falling for Franklin #3) by Hailey Gardiner
  • Peaches & Honey: These Immortal Truths by R. Raeta
  • [ALC] Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White (Song of the Last Kingdom #2) by Amelie Wen Zhao
  • Technically Yours by Denise Williams
  • [ARC] The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • This Cursed Light (The Last Finestra #2) by Emily Thiede
  • [Reread] House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Falling for Your Brother’s Best Friend (Love Cliches #3.5) by Emma St. Clair
  • Censorshipped (Getting Shipped! #4) by Savannah Scott
  • [ARC] Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn
  • [ALC/ARC] The Lily of Ludgate Hill (The Belles of London #3) by Mimi Matthews
  • [ALC] Courting War (Vicious Gods #1) by Hazel St. Lewis
  • Long Live (The Elementals of Iona #1) by V.B. Lacey
  • The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham
  • [ARC] The Golden Goal (More Than a Game #1) by Annah Conwell
  • Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy #1) by Lauren Roberts
  • [ARC] An Heir of Frost (A Trial of Sorcerers #4) by Elise Kova
  • [ARC] Bride by Ali Hazelwood
  • A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
  • [ALC] Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 4 by Beth Brower
  • [ARC] The Catch (The Influencer #3) by Amy Lea
  • The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
  • The Book That Wouldn’t Burn (The Library Trilogy #1) by Mark Lawrence
  • This Cruel Dawn (The Curse of the Blessed #3) by Renee Dugan
  • Fate Calls the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen #3) by J.M. Kearl
  • A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat
  • In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Reputation (Halifax Hellions #1) by Alexandra Vasti
  • [Reread] Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1) by Rebecca Ross
  • Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2) by Rebecca Ross

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Book Review: Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) by Lucy Score

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 650 pages
Author: Lucy Score
Publisher: That’s What She Said Publishing
Release Date: September 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There was only one woman who could set me free. But I would rather set myself on fire than ask Sloane Walton for anything.

Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is from threats.

Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night…

Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.

When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.

Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her unprotected from other threats.

It’s the second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life. There’s no way she’s going to give him a third chance. He’s just going to have to make one for himself.

WORTH THE WAIT.

I know we have been all waiting for this story and for me, IT ABSOLUTELY WAS EVERYTHING I COULD HOPE FOR. Oh my gosh I was in love with Lucian and Sloane from the beginning and I loved how this wrapped up everything.

They have the perfect contemporary enemies to lovers banter. You actually felt the hatred, but also the passion and intensity in the emotions both of them are trying to hide. I loved watching them battle it out and also let go. And some of those second half scenes?? Where everything was finally being laid out?? I AM A PUDDLE NOW. I love endearing moments. I also love possessive moments. This had both. ALL THE MOMENTS.

I love this small town and all of the characters. I loved getting to see everyone from previous books again. I was laughing, swooning and on the edge of my seat throughout the story. 650 pages blew by before I could even blink because this is an addictive read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance + Suspense
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ open
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse, gun violence, murder, attempted murder

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Book Review: A World Without You by Caitlin Moss

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 317 pages
Author: Caitlin Moss
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Five years ago, Olivia Baker was snowed in and stranded in a small town, unable to make it back to the city for Christmas. Five days later, she broke up with her corporate boyfriend in Seattle and made the rash decision to stay in the small town, promising to save the local paper and fall in love with the rugged country boy who knew how to sling an ax and make her weak in the knees.

Now, five years later, she’s miserable signing divorce papers and wanting back the life she had before that Christmas. But when she goes to sleep at night, a new world wakes up, and she gets to learn what would happen if she lived in a world with the man whose heart she broke five years ago on Christmas Eve.

Armed with her beloved camera, her childhood friend, Bennett Holland, and glimpses of what could have been, Olivia has to wade through the Christmas season as she rediscovers herself and rectifies a love she’s been missing for years. But as it starts to fall apart in the parallel universe, Olivia has to realize if they were never meant to be or simply meant for a second chance in a different world.

A NEW HOLIDAY FAVORITE.

This book took me by surprise in all of the best ways (especially because I didn’t read the synopsis beforehand). I loved how complicated this was and the raw emotions in dealing with the “what ifs” in life and how that changes the trajectory we’re on.

Olivia had SO MUCH growth to find in herself and I love that this book showed all of the highs and lows. There were a lot of feelings that needed to be worked through and examined until Olivia could finally see the light on the other side. The alternate reality chapters worked beautifully in this story. I liked seeing another side and that Olivia got to as well.

When I found the romance angle I was SENT. I loved how this was brought into the plot and how subtle it’s woven in. All of the healing and the deep friendship that never broke had me smitten.

There’s plenty of holiday aspects too and while I wouldn’t call this a fluffy rom-com nor did I find it overly heavy either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 1-2 open; low innuendo
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, grief/depression depiction, loss of loved ones

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