Coming in with some more book reviews!
Beg, Borrow or Steal by Sarah Adams
Sarah Adams has become a must read for me, and this book reminds me why. I absolutely loved the characters, the town, the banter. Just all of it!!! I devoured this book so quickly. Emily and Jack are rivals turned neighbors, I do love a good forced proximity. They both have a secret that they are keeping under wraps, and they both have some family issues…though they are very different in that aspect. I think I can quote 10 Things I Hate About You for this one….and say that they hate how they dont hate each other. lol. I loved seeing how they trusted and supported each other even through their bantering. This is the third in a series, but you certainly don’t need to read the first two to read this one and enjoy it. Though, you should, because they are good too! It had been awhile since I had read either of those, so I liked catching back up with the characters in this one.
Bottom Line: Read it.
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
I do love a good family drama….and one that takes place over Christmas? Even better! I loved meeting the Parker family. They all have their own secrets, and of course they are all going to come out when the Parker family decides to spend Christmas in their cabin together. There were so many layers of complications that wove through this that kept me entertained. I found myself smiling and laughing. This was such an enjoyable read and it wasn’t overly Christmas-y so can be read anytime.
Bottom Line: Read it!
Icing the Enemy by Kristen Lee
Enemies to Lovers
Marriage of Convenience
Slow Burn
Truck Stop Meet Cute
Sassy FMC x Cinnamon Roll MMC
So, I do love a good sports romance. And hockey? Hot! We start with a meet cute at a truck stop, as Oakley is down on her luck and her car breaks down. Corbin meets her dog and her and invites her to a wedding with him. I find this whole scenario highly unlikely, but let’s roll with it. They have a great time at the wedding, but then Oakley disappears….with Corbin’s truck. Honestly, this part of the plot bothers me. Oakley is pretty immature and ridiculous if I am being honest. Had she just had a conversation with Corbin….it could have played out so differently. And while I did enjoy the rest of the story…..I feel like Corbin was too trusting and naïve with this girl. But I still stuck with the book and was entertained as we watch their fake relationship unfold so that Oakley has access to her trust fund….and Corbin looks better to the owners of the hockey team. I do love a fake marriage trope and this one delivers in that aspect.
Bottom Line: If you are a sports romance fan or enjoy unlikely meet cutes, there are enjoyable moments here. I do love a good fake marriage.
**I received a copy from Happily Booked and Book Funnel and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own. **
Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
Enemies to lovers is always fun. I really liked Juliana in this book. She felt so relatable. She lost her husband, and now has to raise her two girls on her own and go back to the corporate world. She over hears Ben say something bad about her being a single mom….and she now hates him. What he said wasn’t cool. But also? Holding a feud over that one thing for as long as she did was a bit much. Then something happens with Ben that has me so angry! He needed to stand up and make some decisions in his life. It comes together in the end, but man that conflict made me mad! Overall, I enjoyed this one and would read more from this author.
Bottom Line: Read it.
**I received a copy of Let’s Call a Truce from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.**
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
This was a quick read. Gail loses her job, and her ex-husband shows up with a foster cat and needs a place to stay….all the day before her daughter’s wedding. Debbie learns something about her soon to be husband that brings up the past for her parents. Gail and Max try to navigate how to help Debbie together while tip toeing around their own issues from the past. This book really shows family dynamics and relationships and has a lot of depth for a shorter novel. I really related to Gail’s character, all of them really. It was heartfelt and real.
This is a fun little family drama that kept me engaged the entire time. This would be perfect listen/read for a longer trip in the car….I think the audiobook is about 4 hours.
Bottom Line: Read it!
**I received a copy of Three Days in June from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own. **
Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens
Absolutely loved this one. Will make my top list for the year, I am sure. Obviously I loved Anna and Will, but the side characters….there are so many good ones! Her children are so real, Loretta is an absolute delight! Loved Anna’s sister, the drama with her ex and his new girl, the bros club at work, grumpy neighbor Noah, the string of dates Anna’s kids set her up on, just all of it. I smiled so many times throughout this book, clutched my heart, it was so beautifully written and heartfelt. Oh, and I loved all the google searches at the top of the chapter.
Bottom Line: Read it!
Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan
Julia Whelan is my favorite audiobook narrator. Love every book she narrates that much more because of her! So when I saw she had a book out (how did I not know this???? How is no body talking about this??? And there is another besides this one that I must read!!) I had to listen! She obviously narrates it herself. I was a little nervous because I didn’t want to not like it…but I was obviously worried for no reason. LOVED this one! I was immediately hooked and could not stop listening.
The banter and flirting in emails back and forth was really fun. It was so cool to see a bit behind the life of an audiobook narrator. The way this book unfolds is pure perfection and I simply insist you read it, I didn’t know anything going in, and I think that is the best way!
Bottom Line: Read it!
Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery
This one is called Beach Vibes, but other than being located near a beach, and watching someone surf a few times, it doesn’t really give off beach vibes. So don’t go into this one thinking you are getting a light summer beach read. I will say, this one kept me interested the whole time. Beth and Rick went through foster care together when they were younger, before their aunt and uncle rescued them. Beth took over the family sandwich shop, while helping Rick through his residency. Beth meets Jana while she volunteers and they become friends. It is so hard making friends as an adult, so I appreciated watching the growth of that relationship. But then Jana starts dating someone and never mentions who it is. (How do you never mention who it is????) It is not a spoiler, because the book cover tells you that it is none other than Beth’s brother. Some mixed feelings about that come out.
Meanwhile, Beth and Jana’s widowed brother Teddy hit it off. But then Beth catches her brother with another woman and struggles with her loyalties. Honestly, I saw red flags with Rick from the beginning. I seriously questioned Beth’s choices, but also understand because he is family. But there is some drama that unfolds with all of this.
I listened on audio, and the narrator did a fantastic job. There were a few kids thrown in here too, and it was just done really well.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed this one, it definitely kept my interest.
**I received a copy of Beach Vibes audiobook from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.**
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