Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts

Friday, September 4, 2026

One Wild Chance by Grace Worthington review

 


One Wild Chance by Grace Worthington is the first book in the Chance Brothers Ranch series. I love fictional hockey players I didn’t realize I loved fictional hockey players turned cowboy until Jaxon Chance it also doesn’t hurt that he’s a Kentucky boy. I loved Summer’s stubbornness it’s a Kentucky girl trait. Loved that she challenged Jaxon and doesn’t back down. 


There was plenty of times Jaxon irked me just like he did Summer the stealing flowers scene for one till I found out what he did with the flowers. The loss of a parent is never easy either real or fictional. 


The brother’s relationship pretty much sums up most sibling relationships and I was there for it. 


My favorite scenes for the book involved the old barn when Jaxon was describing it as an old relic. But old relic still standing and representing the farm. Old Kentucky barns were built to last. And the other (slight spoiler)when he gives it to Summer. 


And even though Golden Springs is a fictional Kentucky it felt like a character all its own as well as the people that make the town home. It reminded me of the small Kentucky town my family’s from.  One Wild Chance was an awesome romance and great start to a new 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.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

What So Proudly We Hail by Marion De Re reveiw

 


Not going to lie as an NHL fan and reader of hockey romances and rom coms it took me a bit to get used to the name Baptiste Marchand as the hero. An no it wasn't the first name that gave me pause, it was the last name. But after learning more about the hero on and off the ice I grew the love the hero.  And I'm a sucker for the whole black cat golden retriever. I also loved Harper, especially her relationship with her grandmother. I loved watching him chip away at her walls. And the sharp banter between the two was on fire.  I loved discovering a slight mystery aspect to this one, I'm a sucker for rom com that gives me a mystery.  That to mention this one had a lot of my favorite troupes Golden Retriever vs Black cat. Sharp banter.  A Mystery but most importantly found family. I love it when a hockey rom com gives me found family it makes the story so much sweeter. 

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.


Friday, June 19, 2026

Love Between Innings by Laura Langa

 


Baseball rom coms haven’t been something I’ve picked up before. I love the sport not a huge fan of real life baseball players. But after reading the authors first baseball romance after meeting Tenny as a secondary character and loving him I knew I needed to read Love Between Innings.  


I loved the banter between Tenny and Alex as well as watching them both fall in love though I think Tenny falls harder. Alex being a woman doing a job in a male dominated field was refreshing to see.  


I loved watching Tenny’s layers get peeled back, because I knew there was more than meets the eye. His outward performance is hiding a heart of gold and painful past. However, Mags was my favorite character I just loved her and the bond her and Alex share. And of course the found family of baseball players. 


I loved how the enemies to lovers and fake dating bended together to give the reader a beautiful romance. Complete with plenty of rom com moments.


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.

Friday, May 15, 2026

Rival Season by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner reivew

 


What can I say I’m a sucker for a reformed bad boy turned cinnamon roll hero for her. Throw in he falls first with hockey and I’m hooked. I think Penn may be my favorite hero in the Hockey boys of loft 3B. Yes he’s got a past, but who doesn’t. Him Noah and Fisher aren’t just friends and teammates they are also brothers in their own little found family.  Another troupe I’m a sucker for. 

 

Now Hazel’s a bit of a spitfire and I love it. And as an oldest daughter myself I related so much to Hazel. Being oldest daughter shapes our whole lives the good and the bad. It’s something we have to come to terms with. Even though I was only writing a bachelor’s degree thesis and not a doctoral thesis I do remember how stressful that time was. 

 

I loved the banter between Hazel and Penn and quite frankly I thought she was the perfect one for him because she pushed back. And called him on his bull.  I loved watching Penn fall first. And enjoying watching found family get bigger.

 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.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Perfectly Pretend by Grace Wortington review






I don’t know how she does it but every time I read one of the Perfect Crush hockey romance but I love every single one. Even the ones with a troupe that’s not a favorite especially if it’s not a favorite something about Grace’s writing and characters that makes love the troupe. And Perfectly Pretend is no different I think it may be my favorite second romance. I’m also a sucker for he falls first. 

 

I loved the banter between Brendan and Scarlett. I also loved watching them both be idiots and I think Brendan may be my favorite hero of Graces. I mean what’s not to love about a Marine turned hockey coach. 

 

 Seeing characters from previous books in the series is always nice. It continues to add to the whole found family aspect of the series. And I hope we get more in the 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.


Friday, December 5, 2025

PERFECTLY COMPLICATED CHRISTMAS ROMANCE By GRACE WORTHINGTON review

 




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

One of my favorite troupes is grumpy sunshine.  Throw in Christmas with a grumpy grinch of a hockey player I’m hooked. I’m not going to lie I’ve wanted Rourke’s story ever since book one in the series. And a Christmas rom com was the perfect one for him. And I also loved Janie she’s the perfect foil to Rourke. 

Synopsis:
He's allergic to Christmas. She practically bleeds tinsel. Their holiday collision is about to get complicated.

Single mom Janie Bennett has one goal: pull off the perfect Christmas pageant for her kindergarten class. What she doesn't need is the world's grumpiest hockey player ruining her holly-jolly plans.

Enter Rourke Riley, Mr. "I Hate Christmas" himself—who's been sentenced to play Santa in her pageant and is determined to get fired from this nightmare before Christmas.

Janie can't let his humbug ruin her fa la la, so she ups the stakes with a dangerous bet. If she can prove he doesn't actually hate Christmas, he'll give the pageant his best shot.

But if she loses? She's wearing his jersey and going on a date with the grinch himself.

To be clear: She's not losing.

Not when her secret weapon is taking Rourke on a road trip to the most over-the-top Christmas festival in existence.

Cue the holiday chaos.

Between a snowstorm, one-bed in a cabin, and a mistletoe kiss that's explosive—suddenly, winning doesn't matter anymore.

Turns out, the holidays are full of surprises. But her falling for the grump—and his jersey?

It’s the biggest complication of the season.

Perfectly Complicated Christmas Romance is a closed-door holiday hockey romcom, featuring a grumpy athlete with a soft heart, a sunshine single mom, and a bet that proves opposites don't just attract—they make a perfect match.

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.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Fa-La La-La Land by Brittany Larsen review



I enjoyed the banter between Stella and Rhys. I also I go a kick out of his cheesy Christmas song but then I love cheesy Christmas songs. But my favorite part was the small town at Christmas. Fa-La La—La Land might just be a new favorite Christmas rom com.


 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.

Monday, August 25, 2025

Rookie Season by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner review


 Title: Rookie Season 

Author: Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner 

Ch: 43 plus epilogue 

Pg: 330

Series: 3b 

Genre: Rom com, Hockey Rom Com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: indie 

 

Grumpy sunshine has always been one of my favorite tropes and I love it even more when paired with hockey. Noah’s in his rookie season and is determined to not let anything distract him. Allegra or Ally is looking to start over. After watching Noah grow up a bit in the DC Eagles series 

 and meeting Ally in the Donovan family series I new that I needed to read about them as adults. I have to say I loved grumpy Noah. But even more so protective Noah. And  of course my heart broke for Ally. And just like both authors’ previous books I love that found family is so important in the one. The friendship between Fisher, Noah and Penn was like the friendship between the eagle’s teammates in the DC Eagles series.

And who can forget Harry Styles, the third who is indeed a typical cat. 

 

And while this one is the first of a new series, I would recommend reading both the DC Eagles series by Leah and  Katie’s books to get both Noah’s and Ally’s backstory as well as not be spoiled. But the book can easily be read on its own. One of my favorite scenes happened towards the end of the book and to me sums up Noah in a nutshell across two series. 

 

For those that have read Leah before this one has more language than previous books and is indeed more fade to black than earlier books. But it’s still a good read. I also recommend having tissues handy for some parts. 

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. 

Monday, August 11, 2025

You and Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot review


 Title: You and Me, For Real

Author:  Hayley Elliott 

Ch: 42 plus epilogue 

Pg: 368

Series: Hollywood Hills series book 1 

Genre:  Rom Com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: Indie 

You and Me, For Real is the debut novel by Hayley Elliott and I loved it. I'm normally not a fan of the celebrity troupe in rom com but with this one the troupe worked. I loved Ashton from the start, I mean what's not to love about someone who wants to start an animal rescue. I wasn't a huge fan of Griffin at first but I quickly fell for him when he rescued a dog.  My heart broke for Ashton after learning the past she was running from. I loved the banter between Ashton and Griffin and of course the doggie side kicks. And secondary characters are great some of which I would love to see a book about them. This debut novel is indeed a sweet closed door rom com. I can't wait to see what Hayley gives readers next. 


Relasees August 14th 

 

 

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

Friday, August 8, 2025

A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz Review

 


Title:  A Fierce Devotion


Author: Laura Frantz

Ch: 33 plus epilogue

Pg: 221

Series:

Genre: Christian Historical, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: story Architect

Bleu Galant

Brielle Farrow



I'm not going to lie. I have wanted Bleu's story since I finished The Seamstress of Acadie, he was only a secondary character in that one but I could tell he needed a story. And with A Fierce Devotion we get his story. And it was indeed worth the wait. I loved seeing Bleu's growth from the end of The Seamstress of Acadie and this one.  Without giving anything away Bleu became a favorite  hero because of a heroic choice he makes early in the novel. I have to say that Bleu might just be Laura's most Boaz-like character yet.   Brielle despite what she's lost she holds tight to her faith. Now Brielle gets a chance at a future she never thought possible and Bleu is also considering a different future than he once thought. Their adventure will take them from the Shenandoah Valley, to Virginia's Rivanna River and to France. Both Bleu's and Brielle's faith will be tested as the journey has the ability to change both their futures.



 Bleu and Brielle's story may be my favorite love story that Laura wrote. I love a good slow burn romance not something found often in historical romance and even more so when he falls first one.    This one touched my heart in ways that only a Laura Frantz novel can. I always know Laura's novels will make me cry and this one was no different. At least I wasn't crying by the end of the first line this time. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Perfectly Grumpy by Grace Worthington review


Title: Perfectly Grumpy

Author: Grace Worthington

Genre: Hockey Romance

Publisher/Indie: Indie

Publication Date: June 17

 

I think Tate may be my favorite Carolina Crushers player. Apparently, I have a thing for fictional nerdy hockey players. But I have to say that Lauren was the character I related to the most. I could relate to her grief. I loved seeing the other crusher players. And Perfectly Grumpy was the perfect read for this time of year. A summer hockey rom com. 

 

 

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. 

Thursday, April 24, 2025

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

Monday, March 31, 2025

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

Friday, March 14, 2025

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.

 

Thursday, February 27, 2025

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.