Books – May 2023

Book reviews coming in hot! I am going to split up this month’s reviews into two posts, as I want to make sure I get this one posted on the release date for R. S. Grey’s new book!

Billionaires Don’t Go to Camp by Amy Zeigler

I enjoyed this clean romance. It is sort of an enemy to lovers / forced proximity trope in that Clara demands justice for Elliot’s reckless driving. The judge has Elliot serve the community by helping at Clara’s camp.

I feel like we get to see the spark start to form between Clara and Elliot and get to learn about her passion for helping and Elliot’s drive for business. I was not a fan of Elliot at all in the beginning, but he really started to grow on me.

Bottom Line: This was a cute read with good development. I am not as big of a fan of clean romance as I am something with a little spice, but I really enjoyed the storyline and the camp in this one.

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

I usually love Tessa Bailey, but this one fell a little flat for me. While I enjoyed the parts about Hallie and her grandma, and her love for Lorna and her wine store, and her relationship with her best friend….she came off as really immature for 29/30. Writing secret admirer letters, the way she handled the Corked’s competition, the fact that she was a virgin at her age?! Like that might have bothered me most actually, because when you get to the steamy bits of the book I had major eye rolls when it came to her virginity. So unnecessary.

And while I enjoyed Julian’s family business, his past, and his mom and sister….he wasn’t fully developed for me as a character. I never truly felt the spark between him and Hallie. And the conflict on his part towards the end was a major WTF. I don’t know. And him calling Hallie “soft” as a compliment. No. This book moves slow throughout, and while there were parts I liked, it just was a miss for me I think.

Bottom Line: Meh, it was alright. If you are fan of Tessa Bailey and you just want to read them all…then do. But you might be a bit disappointed in this one. It Happened One Summer was a lot better.

Blushing in the Big Leagues by R. S. Grey

I couldn’t wait to read Tate’s story, and of course, I blew through this one so fast! It was so cute! This might be my new favorite R.S. Grey books, I don’t know, it is hard to chose just one to be a favorite….but dang I really loved Tate and Grant! This one revolves around professional baseball, obviously. It is a forbidden romance trope with a MLB’s little sister, so that is super fun. I love that we really get to meet and invest in this core group of friends. I almost feel like maybe there could be a good on Daphne too??? Come on R.S. Grey!! I am not ready to leave the Pinstripes just yet!

Bottom Line: Read it!

Happy Place by Emily Henry

I really love Emily Henry’s writing and was excited when I saw that she had a new book out. She has become a must read for me. I really loved the way Happy Place was laid out. We start with finding out that Harriet is going to be on vacation with her friends in her happy place, only to discover that her and her ex broke up over 5 months ago and now they have to act like they are together because no one knows. I love a good forced proximity trope.

I could really feel the love that Harriet and Wyn still had for each other throughout. I loved how we went back and forth between the beginning of their relationship and current day. I enjoyed all the side characters, the location… I could barely put it down and had it finished in about 24 hours.

Bottom Line: Read it!