Tag: k. sinko

Book Review: Ruin the Friendship by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: November 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It was just one kiss. It wouldn’t ruin their friendship at all. Or so they thought.

Samantha Carter knew it was all her fault; she was the reason they even kissed in the first place. So when her older brother Jeff made her promise to stay away from his best friend, she agreed. She loves her brother, and would never want to do anything to hurt him. But if that truly were the case, why can’t she stop Nico from pulling her into a dark corner at the pub the night before Thanksgiving after years of staying away?

It’s been four years since Nicolas Giuliano kissed Sam, and he’s done everything he can to try and forget about it. What started out as a joke that night quickly shifted into something far more, and it obliterated his sixteen year friendship with his best friend. Now he’s home for the holidays and Jeff wants to make things right. Yet all of that hard work to fix his friendship and forget about Sam instantly crumbles at the sight of her standing in front of him after so long.

Sam knows she should listen to her brother. Nico knows his wounded friendship with Jeff is still fragile. And yet…under the magical spell of New York City during the holidays, the two of them can’t resist the magnetic force that ruined their friendship in the first place.

THIS WAS A HOLIDAY ROMANCE?

I wish that had been more clear from the things I’ve seen about this book because I think it would find its audience on that avenue. There were holiday parties, a celebration of Christmas, being snowed in and more. I could easily call this a holiday romance, so if you’re looking, here you go!!

This book was pretty good. I found it easy to read and with a pace that kept me interested. I love having dual POV and seeing just how down bad Nico truly was for Samantha. There were many genuinely good romantic moments between them that brought the swoon factor I adore.

I did nooooot like the term of endearment, baby girl (and I’m a fan of good use of the word baby in most scenarios).

Another book from K. Sinko that I enjoyed and I can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2 open door
  • Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: Call of the Loon by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 286 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s 2020. Tea Richards sold off all of her apartment furniture and watched her master’s graduation on Zoom, with no future job prospects and nowhere to go. Her mother is on the front lines working at hospitals to fight the disease, so going home to New Jersey wouldn’t be safe. Instead, her mother suggests joining her grandparents at their cabin up at Silver Falls in Minnesota for the summer, a place she has avoided since her last visit when she was eighteen. It’s the only choice she has, even if it forces her to finally face her grief. But at least there’s open air, blue skies, golden sunsets, and less people she’ll have to deal with.

Until the boy next door knocks on the screen door.

Archer Vincent has spent every summer at the lake helping his family run Wild Pines Resort, and this year is his first as the resort’s manager. But throw a global pandemic into the mix, and nothing seems to be going to plan. Especially now that Tea Richards is back for the summer, and even though he hasn’t seen her in years, his boyhood crush on her remains. Despite his best made plans to keep everyone at the resort safe, Archer can’t help breaking his own rules over and over again, all so he can get one step closer to the girl that got away.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SUMMERTIME LOVE.

I loved how much this felt like SUMMER. It really made me want to run off and find a lake and sailboat to enjoy a hot day on the water. I love when a book can bring out such beautiful and engaging setting.

Having dual POV is always a bonus for me and I loved getting both Archer and Tea’s thoughts and mannerisms. I liked the instant rekindling of chemistry they had upon seeing each other and that they finally communicated a bit to be able to most forward from the past. I don’t love flashback chapters so it was great not to have those in this second chance romance. I felt like I still got the information I needed and it made the pacing much more smooth.

I just don’t think I was quite ready for a pandemic romance though. I don’t feel far enough removed from those years to be able to read about them. I do think the author wrote those aspects with care and mindfulness so that’s not an issue at all.

I love having heated closed door authors to read and K. Sinko continues to be a favorite. I always look forward to her characters, romance, and storylines.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild – moderate
  • Romance: vague/low explicit fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings; COVID pandemic, loss of a parent (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: Sunday Supper by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 321 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s fall in New York, arguably the most beautiful time to be in the city, but Bella Russo doesn’t care. After experiencing the unthinkable three times in a row, she gave up on everything, and her husband packed his bags and left.

Thick in the fog of her disappointment, Bella takes a series of DNA tests to find out what’s wrong with her. Little did she know one of her tests would reveal a dark family truth: her grandfather had a secret family, and she has an uncle she never met.

Even though Bella spends every Sunday supper with her family at her Nonna’s deli in Little Italy—famously known for her iconic meatballs—they never told her the truth. Could she trust them to tell her now?

When she researches her uncle, she finds out he owns several restaurants, so she visits one. Her uncle isn’t there, but instead, she ends up butting heads with the executive chef Wyatt Henderson. He’s a little too pretentious for Bella’s taste, and yet, Wyatt is obviously close with the uncle she never knew. Before she fully comprehends what she’s doing, she befriends Wyatt to get her answers.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SMITTEN.

Oh this book took over my evening. And then suddenly it was 1 AM and I was puddle finishing this beautiful story. I loved the way two difficult topics (mentioned in the content warnings below) were handled. The honest and hard conversations were had with raw human emotion and a clear strength of soul.

And let me tell you, this book screams FALL IN NEW YORK. I’ve honestly never had big designs on going to NY but this book might have just convinced me. The setting is beautifully landscaped and had me wishing I was wearing a sweater right now.

THE ROMANCE. Gosh. This is how you write that instant kind of connection. There’s a fantastic slow burn with immediate chemistry. I was all for Bella and Wyatt from the get-go. These two souls who feel so broken about some deep things in their lives and how they finally found that person who seems them as a whole.

There was just the right level of family drama too. I was intrigued and drawn into this family. I loved the journey. I loved this book. Read it!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: 2 open door scenes; low explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: erectile dysfunction, miscarriage (recurrent theme), cheating (FMC’s ex-husband), brief physical altercation, grief and depression

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ARC Book Review: The Offer (Scoops #3) by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 303 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For the past nine years, everything in Jessica Valerie’s life has been about being with her high school sweetheart.

Jess has worked at Scoops By The Sea longer than any of her other coworkers, designing ice cream cakes and barely scraping together enough tip money to pay rent and her never-ending pile of bills. Picking up a second job managing Post Road Market’s bakery seemed like a decent solution—until her boss decided he’s closing the bakery and wants her stocking shelves instead.

After burning bridges with her family long ago, Jess feels stuck in a life that never seems to get any better. So when local bike shop owner Kevin Perkins comes to her with a promising offer, it seems a little too good to be true. The catch? Leave Charlie for good.

THE OFFER is a new adult romance featuring a girl’s journey of finding herself after years of sacrificing everything for the sake of “true love,” and a golden boy who secretly can’t get enough of her.

It is the third and final book of the Scoops Series, a trilogy of stand-alone romances featuring characters of Scoops By The Sea, an ice cream shop in the fictional town of Haverport, Connecticut.

Thank you to the author for an eARC!

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.

Oh my gosh, this is easily my favorite book of the series (and I loved them all so this is really saying something). I have been chomping at the bit to get Jess’s story and it delivered IN ALL THE WAYS. And I really loved the new adult direction of this one too.

I am obsessed with Kevin. He is *THE* golden retriever. I could not get enough of his energy and goodness. It beautifully contrasted with Jess. The grump and sunshine was executed to perfection. There dynamic and chemistry, off the charts. I loved the slow burn tension. Waiting for the moment they finally came together.

And I adore this whole town. I love the intensely loyal friendships and getting to see Scoops one last time. I loved the themes, of knowing that love is out there, not settling, and reconnecting with family members. This is easily one of the best romances I have read this year.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low – moderate
  • Romance: fade to black

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