Love You Later by Julie Christianson review

I'm a sucker for a marriage of convenience troupe which isn't common in contemporary romances and rom coms so when I see it I snap it up to read it. With Love you later I couldn't put it down. I just had to know how Loren's and Bridger's story was going to end. After reading Hate you maybe and Loren and Bridger being secondary characters in that I knew I already knew I loved them as characters.  And it was nice to visit Harvest Hollow again. 

Watching Loren learning to ask for help and not doing everything herself.  And watching Bridger learn to stand up to his family.  Loren was an easy character to relate to.  As someone who also only has one living parent my dad and as the oldest I understood her stress, her fear and her grief. It's something I deal with.  So in that regard the book was hard to read but I still enjoyed the book.  And it may be my favorite of 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.

The Neighbor Playbook by Kristine W Joy reivew

 

I’ve been a college basketball fan since birth. However, I’ve never read a basketball rom com before because I’ve been worried that an author wouldn’t do it justice. But The Neighbor Playbook by Kristine W Joy was the perfect first basketball rom com for me. As a basketball fan the basketball parts were researched and kept me in the story but more importantly it was not overwhelming that it wouldn’t keep non basketball fan from enjoying the book. The banter between Nicole and Dominic kept me turning pages. And I loved watching their relationship develop. And I have to say the meet cute was interesting and I’m not going to lie it took me a bit to warm up to Nicole’s dog. But I still loved this one.

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

Hate you, Maybe by Julie Christianson review

 I enjoyed returning to Harvest Hollow in Hate you maybe. I loved the fall setting as well as the enemies to lovers aspect. The banter between Sayla and Dexter was on point. I’m normally not a fan of work place rom coms but this one worked and I think it because they were coworker and equal.  I liked Dexter from the beginning but it took me a bit to warm up to Sayla but when I did I loved her and could easily relate to her. And I loved watching their relationship bloom.

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.

One more made up Love Song by Jenny Proctor review

 

I loved Ivy from the moment I started One more made up love song. And after Once Upon a boy band Freddie to a little bit to warm up but once I did I loved his character. I was a sucker for the banter between them. I also enjoyed the fake relationship aspect of this one because Jenny Proctor is awesome at writing them. And I have to say I thought she handled what Ivy went through before book and the after in the book was tact and grace.  I feel like I’m the only person my age who never got the whole boy band fandom. But I still enjoyed this book. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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

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 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.

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. 

Romancing the Grumpy by Jenny Proctor review

Title: Romancing The Grump

Author: Jenny Proctor

Ch: 26 plus epilogue

Pg:358

Series: Appies 4

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: indie

I never thought that any of the Appies would replace Flexi as my favorite. But that was until I read Romancing the Grump and met grumpy Nathan Sanders. Grumpy sunshine has always been one of my favorite tropes. But Nathan was more than just a grumpy hockey player. And of course, Summer’s the exact opposite of him making the banter awesome.

I mean as a rom com you know how it ends but the fun is the journey the characters take to get there. And it doesn’t hurt that he loves his family. Nathan really is a grump with a heart of gold.

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.

Love at First book by Jenn McKinley review

Title: Love at First Book

Author: Jenn McKinley

Ch: 23 plus epilogue

Pg: 09:49:02

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Berkley

I loved this hate to love rom com. Emily and Kieran were perfect for each other even if they don’t see it. But it’s the banter between them the keeps the reader turning pages.

Though I listened to the audio book instead of reading. As the audio adds charm t Kieran’s Irish accent and not to mention proper pronunciation of the Irish names.

Now this isn’t just a cute rom com it does deal with some tough issues. There’s a trigger warning for cancer, and difficult parent adult child relationship but the author handles it all respectfully.

 

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.

Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner review

Title: Betrothal or Breakaway

Author: Leah Brunner

Ch: 50 plus prologue and epilogue

Pg: 318

Series: DC Eagles book 3

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars
Publisher: Indie

Ford Remington is the best book boyfriend not just for the reasons you’ll find out once you read Ford and Amber’s story Betrothal and Breakaway by Leah Brunner. The newest book in The DC Eagles series. But because as a teenager he didn’t fall into a certain body spray craze. And as a millennial woman who was in high school during that craze would have loved Ford because didn’t fall into that craze.

But importantly Ford’s a good friend and is willing to put his feelings aside to help Amber when she and her daughter Nella need a safe place to land. And of course, a hockey player holding a baby and glasses let the swooning begin. And he’s a neurodivergent hero who Leah wrote brilliantly because being neurodivergent is a spectrum. As someone who has a cousin on the spectrum and a sister with ADHD, I love seeing neurodivergent characters done right in books.

Amber is a woman who’s pretty much been hurt everyone in her life but her daughter and Ford. Her best friend since childhood and whose friendship she doesn’t want to lose.

My favorite genre in a romance or rom com is marriage of convenience which is something you don’t see much in contemporary rom coms, but I’ve never seen it paired with friends to more not something I tend to always pick up. But with Amber and Ford it works, and I love it. Because their friendship is something they both want to protect going.

Two best friends, a marriage of convenience, a baby, concerned parents an ex, and throw in a hockey team of course chaos is going to ensue. And you get a laugh out loud hockey rom com that’s so much more. There’s always layers to Leah’s books that make it so much more than a simple hockey romance. She’s made me love hockey romances when I normally don’t like sports romances and because of how beautifully she wrote Ford and Ambers story made me love a friends to more story.

Drive you Crazy by Jessica Kate review

Title: Drive You Crazy

Author: Jessica Kate

Ch: 52 plus epilogue

Pg: 364

Series: Amity Creek Romance book 1

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: McWhirter & Spencer Publishing

I have to say I was hooked with the first line of Drive you Crazy by Jessica Kate. Because it pretty summed up real life in small towns. Ashley was as easy heroine to love and relate too. I loved how she remembered her mom with showtimes. I’m the same way when I’m missing my mom expect its classic rock and cheesy 80s movies. And reading Ashley’s point of view makes me thankful for my dad.

I love the fact that this one was grumpy/sunshine which has always been my favorite troupe. Not to mention the banter between Justin and Ashley being on point. I always know these books are going to not only make me laugh out loud but are going to be faith filled. And I mean what’s not to love about an Aussie hero.

 

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

Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters review

Title: Better Watch Out

 

Author:  Natalie Walters

 

Ch: 29

 

Pg: 268 

 

Genre: Christian Suspense and Christmas Rom Com  

 

Rating: 5 stars

 

Publisher: TNK Publications

 

As someone in which Die Hard is a much watch Christmas movie, yes, I’m weird but it’s what happens when you are the daughter of a Marine. Natalie Walters gives me the Christmas suspense rom com I didn’t know I was missing with Better Watch Out. I loved Frannie and meeting Andrew as well as seeing old favorites. And it doesn’t that Andrews a former hockey player I’m finding I’m looking that hero type of my rom coms lately. And it’s got my favorite meet cute ever cause I could see it happening to me.

No one does suspense like Natalie and now she dipped into Christmas rom coms with suspense and I’m here for it. And New York is the perfect setting for a romantic suspense involving mistaken identity and a Christmas adventure because nothing is like Christmas in New York. Oh don’t forget the pepper spray.

If you are like me, you are going to love all the references to classic Christmas and slight poking fun at hallmark movies you’ve gonna love this one. Better Watch out is going to become a Christmas book I reread every year.

 

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