Stick to me by Marion De Re reivew

 

Title: Stick to me 

Author: Marion De Re

Ch: 36 plus epilogue 

Pg: 322

Series: New York Raptors book 1 

Genre:  Rom com hockey rom com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: indie 

Aaron Miles 

Marissa Martin 

Not going to lie friends to more hasn’t been a favorite troupe in the past. But Aaron and Marissa changed that. And the fact that it includes hockey made it even more enjoyable.  The reasons the two had for just staying friends made perfect sense and actually enhanced the story.  The only thing more dramatic in a hockey romance than teammates sister is coach’s daughter. And I’m a sucker for a bookish hockey player. And after Stick to me I think also like fictional hockey defenseman. Can’t wait for the next one in this series. 

Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys  @marionderewrites  or #gifted @bookedwiththeemilys  @marionderewrites

Synopsis: 

Have you ever heard of a guy who’s nice, funny, cooks like a chef, boasts a six-pack, and is the best player in the NHL?

Well, let me introduce you to Aaron Miles—aka the biggest test of my self-control.

Aaron and I have been friends since sixth grade, sharing everything from school and vacation to helping me start my business. But one thing I did on my own: falling in love with him.

It’s hopeless. He’s already rejected me once, and besides, as the coach’s daughter, I’m off-limits to everyone on the team, especially Aaron, who has a father-son relationship with my dad.

Yet, the more I try to suppress my feelings, the deeper my attraction grows. It’s hard to resist when he plans the best surprise birthdays and drops everything to be there for me. Oh, and did I mention we’re roommates? And that he loves parading around the apartment with his abs on display?

Yeah, I’m doomed.

I’m trying to get over him—trust me—but lately, there’s something in his eyes I’ve never seen before. An intense glint that mirrors the fire inside me. Surely, it means nothing, right?

It’s my heart playing tricks on me. As a romance reader, I’m prone to jumping to conclusions.

And if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that the Friends to Lovers trope is the less realistic of them all.

There’s way too much at stake. 

What You’ll Find:

Hockey Romance

Friends to Lovers

Roommates

Coach's daughter

Body Positivity

Secret Dating

Closed Door/Kisses Only

The Other Sister by Jessica Patch

 Title: The Other Sister 

Author: Jessica Parch 

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The other Sister is the darkest book I’ve read by the author. And while I didn’t enjoy aspects of the book. I liked the sister swap. As it’s a reminder that the other side isn’t always what it seems.  I did like the suspense and thriller aspect. This one is perfect for fans of Criminal Minds and those of who liked her strange crimes series. But if you didn’t and only like her romantic suspense then this one might not be for you. There is just like all of her books a faith thread throughout. And even though I didn’t love this one I am glad I read it. 

I received a copy of this book from the author  as part of a blog tour  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

March Wrap Up

 I read or listened to a total of  15 books across 3,749 pages  pages  and 26.85 hours . My average rating was 4.10 And my total of unread 99. DNF'd  2

1. Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner (Kindle) (Review book) (owned) 

2. An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon (review book) 

3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

4. A Ghostly Mortality by Tonaya Kappes (audio)

5. Over the Edge by Irene Hannon (audio) 

6. Cold Case Double Cross by Jessica Patch 

7. The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths 

8. The Bromance Bookclub by Lyssa Kay Adams (owned) 

9. Sin with me by Brooke Montgmoery (kindle) 

10. Promise me Sunshine by Cara Bastone (audio) 

11. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (owned) 

12. The Do over by Sarah M. Peterson 

13. Kate Landry has a Plan by Rebekah Millet (owned) 

14. Sunrise at the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (owned) 

15. Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel (owned) 

Unfinished Series Update January- March 

Finished 3 series 

Made progress on  9 series 

Started 3 series

Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner review

Title:  Secret or Shutout 

Author: Leah Brunner 

Ch: 42 plus epilogue 

Pg: 338 

Series: DC Eagles 

Genre:  Rom Com Hockey Rom com 

Rating:  5 stars 

Publisher: indie 

I thought Wes and Mel’s story was sweet, Mitch tugged out my heartstrings. Colby made me swoon. Ford melted my heart. But Bruce, well Bruce stole my heart. And at the beginning of the series, I didn’t see the goalie being my favorite or that he’d still my heart. Bruce was easy to see as the friend but not the love interest. However Secret or Shutout changed that.  I started falling for Bruce in the first chapter when I realized that my high school French hadn’t little me down and I knew what he was calling her. And that tidbit a lone made me realize there’s more to Bruce than meets the eye. The dual chapters make the story so much better. As you get to see them get to the same page. And watching Bruce fall was so sweet. Though Bruce did break a big hockey rule when it comes to teammate’s sister. 

 

Now I knew Farrah was going to be my favorite heroine when I meet her in Betrothal or Breakaway. But it was in Secret and Shutout that I saw how much I related to her. Farrah was the first time I’ve seen a heroine with PCOS on the page. And as someone with PCOs I loved seeing a heroine with the condition in a rom com. There was plenty of times in this one where my heart broke for Farrah. But there’s literally a moment in the book that Bruce not only starts healing Farrah’s heart and starts her trusting but I think a fictional hero started mending mine. And it’s this quote, “Farrah, I don’t want to build a life with you because of what you can give me someday. I don’t cherish you for your ability to have children or not. And I don’t love you based on any conditions.”  All I can say is where’s the real-life Bruce’s at?  

 

Bruce and his old truck remind me of something my grandma use to say if a man drives an old truck he knows how to stay when things get tough because he’s got patience and he’s stubborn. Which I think sums up Bruce perfectly. 

 

I loved that even though it’s Farrah and Bruce’s story we still get closure for the DC Eagles.

 

I will say Leah’s books on the steamy side of clean as there is some language, innuendo  and a fade to black scene with married couple. 

 

#secretorshutout #dceagles #hockeyromance #closeddoorromance #pcosrep #booktour

#bookedwiththeemilys

@bookedwiththeemilys @leah.brunner.writes

 

I received a copy of this book from the author  as part of a blog tour  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

Tropes:

Hockey romance

Teammate’s sister

Reverse age gap

NHL goalie

Curvy heroine

My Vigilante Valentine by Jess Mastorakos review

 

Title:  My Vigilante Valentine 

Author: Jess Mastorakos 

Ch: 26

Pg: 334

Series:  Shadows and Sparks book 1

Genre:  Rom Com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: Indie 

 Not going to lie Jax Thorne gave me Bucky Barnes vibes. Not the Avengers movies Bucky but the Bucky that we see in The Falcon and Winter Soldier, And I was there for it. And I loved Luna’s spunk. And of course the marvel and DC references as well as other pop culture references adding to the slight superhero vibes. 

 

And what can I say I enjoyed this superhero rom com. As well as the crime fighting duo even if one’s a little bit grumpy but then I love grumpy heroes.  I want more Luna and Jax. And I was happy to learn that My Vigilante Valentine is becoming a series. 

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the author  as part of a blog tour  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

Perfectly Faked by Grace Worthington review

Title: Perfectly Faked 

Author: Grace Worthington 

Ch: 39

Pg: 292

Series: Perfect Crush Hockey romance 2 

Genre:  Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars 

Publisher: 

 

Not going to lie I started the book out liking Leo more than Victoria and I think that’s because I “met” Leo in Perfectly Wedded but Victoria quickly grew on me.  I loved watching Leo and Victoria go from not quite enemies to more while being forced to skate together. I’ve never read a hockey rom com that also included a figure skater. But the fact that they are in opposing ice sports adds to the banter between these two. And keeps the reader turning pages. 

 

 

Hockey romance

Coach’s daughter

Enemies to lovers

Second chance romance

Ice skater/Hockey player 

Closed door

 

#perfectlyfaked #hockeyromance #coachsdaughter #secondchanceromance #closeddoorromance #booktour #bookedwiththeemilys

 

 

Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys@graceworthingtonauthor or #gifted @bookedwiththeemilys @graceworthingtonauthor

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Perfectly Wedded by Grace Worthington review

 

Title: Perfectly Wedded 

Author: Grace Worthington 

Ch: 32 plus epilogue 

Pg: 294

Series: Perfect Crush Hockey 1 

Genre:  Hockey Rom com 

Rating: 4 stars 

Publisher: indie 

I enjoyed this one. I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience which is hard to find in contemporary romance. And of course I love a good hockey rom com. However friends to more isn’t always my favorite but Vale and Sloan had me turning pages because they weren’t the typical friends to more rom com couple. Can’t wait to read more of the series. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

February Wrap Up

 

   I read or listened to a total of 17   books across  4771 pages and 20.12 hours . My average rating was 3.79 And my total of unread 103. DNF'd 10 books and 3 books that wasn't' for me. 

Schooled in Murder by Victoria Gilbert 

Cold Case Takedown b Jessica R Patch 

Fake Out Hearts by Nikki Lawson (kindle Unlimited) 

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams 

The Sinners All bow by Kate Winkler Dawosn (nonfiction) 

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason (audio) 

Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley 

Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver (audio)

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh 

The Trouble with the Daring Governess by Annie Burrows 

Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin 

Icebound Hearts by Nikki Lawson (Kindle Unlimited) 

Perfectly Wedded by Grace Worthington (Kindle Unlimited) (review book) 

My Vigilante Valentine by Jess Mastorakos (Kindle Unlimited) (review book) 

The Dreams We Knew by Rachel Scott McDaniel (Kindle) (review book) 

Perfectly Faked by Grace Worthington (Kindle Unlimited) (Review Book) 

Gargoyles: Here in Manhattan by Greg Weisman 

The Dreams we Knew by Rachel Scott McDaniel Review

Title: The Dreams We Knew 

Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel 

Ch: 31 plus epilogue 

Pg: 320

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: Kregel

No one writes 1920s like Rachel Scott McDaniel and it just gets better with each book. I loved DelvinaI mean what’s not to love about a socialite turned private investigator in New York City. Ans of course Kent who you first meet in Walking on Hidden wings. 

Not only I am I  a sucker for 1920s set novels I’m a sucker for a good mystery and romance full of banter which The Dreams we knew has in spades along with a second chance romance.  I finished this one in one day because I had to know what happened and I loved every minute McDaniel is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the author as part of a blog tour  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

January Wrap Up

   I read or listened to a total of 16   books across 3686 pages and 41:22:25 hours . My average rating was 4.03 And my total of unread 104. DNF'd 5 books and 1 book that wasn't' for me. 

1. A New Year’s Kiss by Amy Renaud  (ebook kindle owned) 

2. Breakaway Hearts by Nikki Lawson (kindle Unlimited) 

3. Not in my Book by Katie Holt (audio)  

4. Only with me by Brooke Montomgery (kindle Unlimited)  

5. Never a SideKick by Tim Hanley (nonfiction) 

6. Harley Quinn:Redemption  by Rachel Alllen (owned)

7. Only in your Dreams by Madison Wright (audio) (Kindle Unlimted) 

8. Thunderbolts: Worldstrike by Collin Kelly 

9. Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman 

10. A Twist of Faith by Pepper D Basham (Kindle) 

11. Work in Progress by Kat MacKenzie 

12. Brooke Shields is not allowed to get old by Brooke Shields (audio) (nonfiction) 

13. A Pen Pal for Christmas by Jess Mastorakos (ebook) (review book) 

14. The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz (owned) (review book) 

15. When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor (Kindle Unlimited) (review book) 

16. The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afsher (audio) 

When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor review

Title:  When Alec Met Evie 

Author: Jenny Proctor 

Ch: 30 plus epilogue 

Pg: 331

Series: Appies 6 

Genre:Rom Com, Hockey Rom Com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: Indie 

Never thought a hockey rom com would make me cry but When Alec Met Evie but did. I didn’t think any Appie could replace Felix as my favorite, but Alec did. I mean what’s not to love about a hockey defenseman captain who’s a cinnamon roll off the ice and loves his family. And apparently I’m a sucker for a hockey player holding a baby. 

Alec has always seen Evie as his little sisters best friend until new in town and needed a place for her and her infant daughter to stay. Alec offers up his house and ends up falling hard.  

This one made me laugh and cry because both Alec and Evie are at a crossroads with choice that will change their future. I mean I got teary eyed throughout but it was chapter 29 that had me bawling. 

Alec and Evie’s story was sweet and this was one a great end to the Appies series.  The Appies aren’t just teammates their brothers.