ARC Book Review: Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love (Oakley Island #3.5) by Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christmas Romance Novella
Length: 121 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor & Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Getting over your childhood crush is never easy. Especially when your family is full of meddling matchmakers.I’ve tried my whole life to curb my feelings for Liam, who is NOT my cousin, even if our family is like, well, family.

After he brought a girlfriend home for the holidays last year, I decided it was high time for my crush to finally die. And since we haven’t run into each other at all since then, it’s been easy. (If not altogether effective.) Even our family stopped trying to push us together.

But then Liam walks into my office just before Christmas and I find out he’ll be working here as a consultant. Oh—and he got special permission from my boss to have me directly under him.

Then, when my building suddenly (and somewhat suspiciously) has to undergo emergency fumigation and I need a place to stay, Liam offers me his guest bedroom.

Oh, joy and holiday cheer.

But finding out Liam is single and not practically engaged—it changes everything. Is it possible I just might get my longest-held Christmas wish?

Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love is a second-gen novella in the Oakley Island Romcom Series. Books in the series are full of sizzling chemistry and tension with just kisses.

Thank you to the authors for an eARC.

LOVED BEING BACK.

Gosh dang I loved being back in this world. I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters until the surprise announcement that we were getting a Christmas novella, and it’s second generation!!! I have always wanted more second generation moments and I’m so happy to get one on Oakley Island.

The holiday spirit is there, and so are the meddlesome parents and sneaky raccoons. This was light and made me smile and was exactly the joy I was after. I adored both of the main characters (dual POV!) and how sweet and heated the reconnection was. Izzy and Liam’s romance is perfect for the season!

Overall audience notes:

  • Christmas Romance Novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC Book Review: Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire (Oakley Island #3) by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 277 pages
Author: Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I will NOT fall for the smart-mouthed, pretty-boy billionaire who owns Oakley Island. But his yacht is another story …

Love and happily-ever-after? It’s not for me. I’m much happier keeping everyone at arm’s length, focusing on my government cybersecurity work.

But then I push things a little too far and hack my way into trouble. When I need to lay low and stay off the radar for a bit, what better place to do so than on Oakley Island with my sisters?

With limited housing options, I reluctantly agree to stay on the yacht of the very annoying Benedict King—the billionaire who has been messing—flirting?—with me since we met.

I did NOT agree, however, to a voyage out to sea.

But I wake up to find the yacht that should be docked and empty somewhere in the Atlantic with two government agents tasked with babysitting me and one Benedict King.

Who also lied about being my boyfriend.

Typical rich man—thinking he can take whatever he wants.

But he won’t take my heart. Not even when I see his softer side, see behind his walls, see the real man behind the reputation.

Honestly, this might be more dangerous than any of the other trouble I stirred up. Because if I fall for Benedict King, I’m not sure there’s any hope of rescue.

Thank you to the authors for an eARC.

MY HEART.

Once I started this book I was quickly reminded how much I love this author duo’s writing style. It just sucks me in, makes me feel good, and the story only heightens all of that for me.

I adored this story. It was different, and I love different. I love the complexity of characters and thoughts and trying to find that way to love. There’s reasons and depth and a raw truth that I feel in my bones when reading. Falling in love is hard y’all. And also Benedict King should be protected at all costs.

There were alllll of my favorite kind of moments. The soft, the take care of, the laughter, the swoon, and the amazing kissing scenes. WHY ARE KISSING SCENES ARE UNDERRATED Y’ALL, these were spectacular. I’m sitting here thinking of all the moments that I couldn’t get enough of. This was full of everything I love.

And getting those epilogues? I will not apologize for being an absolute sucker for that kind of stuff. Give me all the glimpses of life in the future.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very low
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: very brief gun violence

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