Tag: stacy williams

ARC Book Review: Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 440 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What if you’ve been through hell?
How difficult can it be to start over?

Sarah Atwater is seeking a fresh start. When an opportunity arises that she can’t refuse, the single mom is ready to leave her painful past behind—and perhaps her old self along with it. But sometimes, new beginnings are like learning to walk again, struggling to put one foot in front of the other.

Slade Bennett enjoys his quiet, simple life. The blunt grump is perfectly content running his mechanic shop and working with his best friends. Or is he really? When the sister he raised decides it’s time to move out, Slade may have to admit he’s a bit too closed off.

Will past trauma and grief continue to dictate his life when a sassy professional strolls into his garage and challenges him at every turn? Or will Slade finally be forced to confront the fears he’s avoided?

Stuck With You is a poignant love story that reminds us that only when we’re held to the flame do we discover what we’re truly made of.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

HAPPY TO BE BACK.

There’s something about reading a new book from one of your favorite authors that just hits the spot. And all of the autumn vibes with some glimpses of holidays set the perfect atmosphere for this time of year (so go read it now!!!).

I love the incredible slow burn each time. It’s reminiscent of Mariana Zapata where the pay-off is worked for and the journey is a few steps forward, back, and filled with growth and tender moments that make you crave the next chapter.

Slade and Sarah were absolute gems. Both holding on and moving through a lot who found each other. AND found a way to do life together. I loved all of the sentiments and quiet conversations they had. You KNOW they were in love in the deepest ways.

And all of the side characters?? Can’t get enough. The love and banter with tough conversations throughout really bonded me to these characters. There’s a lovely balance of heavy and humor that genuinely made for a read that I kept wanting to pick up. I loved how everything came together and there was such a sweet epilogue.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, I am STOKED for the future books in this series!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), infidelity/cheating (recounted in multiple situations)

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ARC Book Review: It’s Always Us (The Abandoned Brothers #3) by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 476 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 7th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What if you give your whole heart away? Do you ever really get it back?

Lex has just been going through the motions for years, trying to let go of the one man she can’t seem to forget. When she finds herself getting ready to take on a life she’s never wanted, she realizes she’s stuck in the same place she was at sixteen—heart stolen and fully belonging to another. Now, Lex is determined to move forward and finally face reality—life without him.

But when the past returns, making declarations she’d never thought she’d hear again, will Lex take a chance to finally go after what she’s always wanted?

Mark has been living the high life…at least, that’s what the media believes. Reality is, he’s spent the last eight years thinking of the one who promised to love him always. For Mark, time has passed and damage was done, but he just can’t convince himself that her devotion wasn’t real. When time is running out—or so he thinks—he takes a shot to find out once and for all if her words were honest and true.

When the fun-loving, professional quarterback makes his play, will he find that the hope he’s held onto is everything he needed it to be? What if it’s so much more than he ever could have imagined?

It’s Always Us is a touching love story that reminds us when all hope is lost…love lasts.

This story is part of a series but if you don’t mind a few spoilers, it can be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

THE JOURNEY.

This book made me have to stare down some things I don’t generally like when I’m reading a romance book. But the pure chaos of this journey and the up and down roller coaster had me flipping page after page never able to guess where this story would turn next. And that had it’s own wonderful quality too.

I loved how much Mark and Lex showed that soul mate level quality of connection. How when you feel like you’re hitting the end of what you can handle, love finds a way. Love creates a path. Love finds a way to fight with you.

Both characters had a lot of walls they had to hit a few times over before they found a way around. I loved the supporting cast and how they helped Mark and Lex get through their journey’s. The ending came together so sweetly and squeezed my heart strings.

This book has been a long time coming for this series and I loved all the truths it held and the satisfying conclusion it was for the all three brothers.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: Where You Belong (The Abandoned Brothers #2) by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 463 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 26th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What if you’re lost? What will it take to find your way back?

Andie has been hiding, wanting to stay in the past rather than face the uncertainty of the future. When the force of a lie pulls her out of the darkness and into the light – the spotlight she’s avoided – she has to decide if she’ll stand and fight or run for cover.

With each step, she has a choice to make. She can continue to watch life go on around her or see what might be waiting on the other side. Will fear keep her from moving on, or can she find the courage to take the leap?

Sean thought he had it all. That is…until he realized it was only surface-deep. He let himself get caught up in fame, fortune, and the life that comes with it. But when his superficial world blows up in his face, the face of the man he let himself become, he has a battle on his hands.

When the professional footballer’s career is left hanging in the balance along with a life of his own, Sean has to decide if the risk of losing all he’s worked for is worth it to get back to the man he wants to be – the man he used to be.

Where You Belong is a touching love story that reminds us that even when we don’t expect it…love shows up.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

I LOVE SLOW BURN.

Slow burn romances just hit different y’all. The tension and angst was pulled out beautifully and I was chomping at the bit waiting for them to finally kiss.

This was a beautiful love story with a lot of nuanced pieces that made of these two characters. I adored both Sean and Andie. The banter was fun and sassy, but then you can slowly see the breakdown of walls and allowing the other person to see a deeper side of you. There’s many complex situations happening in both of their lives and I love how they learned to do life together.

I do think this one felt a little more repetitive in inner dialogue, if that was scaled back the pacing would have been a little better. That’s my only iffy thing though. I love the way Stacy Williams creates a story. These are slightly heavier romances with the right amount of lightness and humor to show that hope and happiness is coming.

I absolutely loved all of the football and music content. There were some good things woven throughout and one of the cutest little characters around. Another great book in this series and I look forward to the next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment, poor mother/daughter relationship, loss of a spouse (recounted)

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Book Review: I Got You by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 474 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sacrifice…is there any too great? How far would you go to protect the innocent?

Maggie is living from one day to the next and making things up as she goes. Her life is four kids and a whole lot of chaos, but the best kind. Two years ago, she gave up her dreams, and after a devastating loss, she may have to give up one more. With four kids depending on her and not a chance she’ll let them down, she’s about to learn just exactly how far she’ll go to keep them safe.

Shane just lost the only thing he’s ever loved – the only thing he was good at – the only thing he’s ever wanted. After a career-ending injury upends his life, he’s forced into a coaching career he’s not even sure he wants. Just weeks into his new position, he finds himself tugged back to a time he’d prefer to never revisit. Now, Shane’s left with a decision that could change everything. It’s the one thing he told himself he would never do.

I Got You is a touching love story that reminds us that when everything else fades…love stays.

This is a closed-door contemporary romance that still offers plenty of spice.

AN INCREDIBLE DEBUT.

I am blown away by this book. I LOVED IT. I was absolutely SENT by this slow burn romance. Then tension between Maggie and Shane is next level and I love it all. And this really brought the steam without the spice and I will now be shouting to everyone to pick this book up ASAP.

I loved the journey Maggie and Shane went one, especially Shane. He is one I wanted to shake and hug all in the same breath. I loved the realistic nature of the romance and how he truly had to break down some walls and realize just how much love was around him. And I loved how Maggie was the embodiment of a sunshine character. Sunny and brave and doing everything she can to keep her siblings. And those siblings!! I loved them all. Realistic kids were her super sweet and I wanted the best for every one of these characters.

There were SO MANY good moments. This is a longer contemporary and you don’t even notice. The moments MATTER. The quiet, loud, angry and swoony filled. This does lean to the heavier side and will make you feel deep. The swoon and tenderness and all the dang things. I’m sitting her going over scene after scene in my mind because this is now living rent free.

I CAN’T WAIT for the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (recounted), child abuse (recounted), parental abandonment

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