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Review: Within Arm's Reach by Ann Napolitano

☆☆➹⁀☆ 3 stars ☆➹⁀☆☆ Within Arm's Reach by Ann Napolitano #Fiction #LiteraryFiction #IrishLiterature #ChickLit #ContemporaryFiction #WomensLiterature #AnnNapolitano #RandomHousePublishingGroup #PenguinBooks

☆☆➹⁀☆ 3 stars ☆➹⁀☆☆ About the Book: No one in my mother’s family ever talks about anything that can be categorized as unpleasant or as having to do with emotions. . . . This spellbinding debut by bestselling author Ann Napolitano is a poignant reminder of how connected we are to those we love, even when we cannot find the words to say it. The unforgettable story of three generations of a large…

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I received an advanced reader copy of The Catch from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. The Catch by Alison Fairbrother is a story about family, grief, and finding your place in the world. Ellie Adler is a young, struggling journalist, trying to balance life when she’s blindsided by the sudden death of her father. Ellie has two younger half-sisters and a younger half-brother, but always felt she was the one closest to their father. When Ellie’s step-mother reveals that James had a will that specified what he wanted each of his children to receive, Ellie is surprised to learn that his prized possession, a baseball, has been left to a stranger. As Ellie hunts for this stranger, she’ll realize that her father was a man who was haunted by his mistakes. This was an easy to read, quirky, funny at times, heartfelt story filled with unique characters. The Catch is available now. Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars #alisonfairbrother #thecatch #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #fiction #fictionbooks #contemporary #contemporarybooks #readin2022 #randomhousepublishinggroup #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/CfVDfFRrbbg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[books-n-wine]

~**~ ARC Review: Jilted (Love Hurts #2) by Sawyer Bennett ~**~

***3 ‘Heavy sigh’ Stars***

I suppose it has to happen every once in a blue moon, though I wish it didn’t, but Jilted just didn’t do it for me, and believe me when I say that it hurts me to admit. It’s still getting a 3 star rating from me because it still has the smexy you expect from a Sawyer Bennett romance and I really liked Eden, but I unfortunately didn’t love nor fully warm up to Coop. Yes, he could be all kinds of Southern charm, good ‘old boy smexy, not gonna take that away from him, but his actions towards the start of the book just rubbed me the wrong way. Now I know some will think it’s because of how he views women and relationships, but nope, I was okay with that and his manwhore-ish ways, it was how he treated Eden at their first run in when she returns to Newberry. I didn’t expect him to welcome her with open arms, it’s obvious from how he’s “lived” his life that he’s never gotten over her, but what he did just rubbed me the wrong way because he knew better. Instead of a man, I saw a child and that image stuck with me throughout the book.

It pains me to be in the minority because I am a huge Sawyer Bennett fangirl, but it is what it is. This is still a fun, quick and smexy read and as I said, I really liked Eden so the read was worth it in the end. So I’m just going to stick this one on the “It’s not you, it’s me” & “this is an anomaly” shelf and move on.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed ~

Hollywood hath no fury like a woman scorned. In this fun, flirty second-chance romance from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett, an aspiring starlet reconnects with her first love.

Eden Goodnight went to Los Angeles to make it big, not to be publicly humiliated by her cheating fiancé at a red-carpet premiere. But when Eden returns to her hometown to put the scandal behind her, she can barely find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Turns out the locals are worse than the paparazzi, and they all think she’s turned into a spoiled brat. But in a strange twist of fate, the one person who seems to understand what Eden’s going through is Cooper Mayfield . . . the boy she left behind.

Small-town charm is no match for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. At least that’s what Coop’s been telling himself all these years. As Eden’s old flame—and the landscaper for her family’s historic home—Coop feels some responsibility for getting her out of her funk. But as soon as he sees that million-dollar smile, he’s a goner. Soon they’re making out like teenagers again. But when a life-changing role falls into Eden’s lap, Coop just hopes she doesn’t give up on a love that’s meant to be.

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published By: Random House/Loveswept

Release Date: July 11th, 2017

Series: Love Hurts #3

ASIN B01M3WOV6M

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

[whatthebook-reviews]

I received an advanced reader copy of The Violence from Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson is a story about self-discovery, survival and family. From the outside Chelsea Martin looks like the perfect housewife, but they don’t know that her husband, David, is abusive. Chelsea and David’s teenage daughter, Ella, is trying to extricate herself from a relationship she doesn’t want to be in. Chelsea’s cold and manipulative mother, Patricia, has reinvented herself many times to prove her worth to society. Chelsea doesn’t know that Ella and Patricia are suffering, she’s just trying to stay alive. The Violence is a new pandemic, which has arrived shortly after the Covid pandemic. Infected individuals enter a trancelike state where they become enraged and hone in on bringing physical harm to a specific person. While the world descends into chaos, Chelsea hatches a plan to free herself. This was one a fantastic story that pulls you in right away, has you rooting for the main characters and is filled with girl power. Please note this book is not for everyone as there are some gruesome scenes. The Violence is available now. Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars #delilahsdawson #theviolence #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #thriller #thrillerbooks #sciencefiction #scifi #sciencefictionbooks #readin2022 #randomhousepublishinggroup #ballantinebooks #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @netgalley @randomhouse @delreybooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ0Vr8YLoz_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[whatthebook-reviews]

I received an advanced reader copy of Black Cake from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a story about the family we’re given and the family we choose. Eleanor Bennett has recently passed away, bringing together her estranged children, Byron and Benny. Growing up Byron and Benny were very close, but have grown apart as adults because it seems that Byron has become exactly who his parents wanted him to become, while Benny seems to constantly be disappointing them. A family argument has kept Benny from returning home for the past eight years. The day before Eleanor’s services, her lawyer reveals that Eleanor has left a lengthy recording that Byron and Benny must listen to together and has left her special black cake for them share when they’re ready. It seems that Eleanor has not been truthful about her past. As she tells the story of her life and reveals the lengths she’s gone to to protect herself and their family, Byron and Benny will find a new adoration for their parents and start to heal their relationship. This was a captivating family story filled with wonderful, interesting characters. Black Cake is available now. Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars #charmainewilkerson #blackcake #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #contemporary #contemporarybooks #readin2022 #randomhousepublishinggroup #ballantinebooks #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @netgalley @randomhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/CZfrHkYrg3I/?utm_medium=tumblr

[whatthebook-reviews]

received an advanced reader copy of The Accomplice from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz is a story about friendship, secrets and staying true to oneself. Luna Grey is socially awkward, has few friends and always has her guard up. Owen Mann is someone that people are drawn to but is always looking for something more than what he has. Owen and Luna strike up a friendship in college and are soon inseparable. Years later they are both married and live within walking distance of each other. Both Luna and Owen are in struggling marriages due to the secrets they keep. When Luna discovers Owen’s wife has been murdered, tragedies from both Luna and Owen’s pasts will be revealed and their friendship will be put to the test. This was an excellent story, with a great pace that reads like a mutual friend is catching you up on what’s been happening in Luna and Owen’s lives. The Accomplice is available today, January 25, 2022. Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars #lisalutz #theaccomplice #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #readin2022 #randomhousepublishinggroup #ballantinebooks #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @netgalley @randomhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/CZLOx0-rpfz/?utm_medium=tumblr

[whatthebook-reviews]

I received an advanced reader copy of Lie Beside Me from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. Lie Beside Me by Gytha Lodge is a story about our personal secrets that we hide from those that we’re closest to. After a night out with her best friend, Louise Reakes wakes up next to a dead man in her bed that isn’t her husband. For the past few years, Louise has had two personas- Drunk Louise and Sober Louise. While Drunk Louise is fun and outgoing, she’s causing problems in Louise’s marriage and Sober Louise is tiring of keeping up the pretense of Drunk Louise. DCI Jonah Sheens and his team are investigating the cause of death of this man and the events leading up to his death. The more information that these detectives uncover, the longer their list of suspects becomes with Louise and her husband, Niall, their prime suspects. This was a fast, easy, police procedural story filled with twists up until the end. Lie Beside Me is available now. Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars #gythalodge #liebesideme #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #mysterythriller #thriller #thrillerbooks #readin2021 #randomhouse #randomhousepublishinggroup #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @randomhouse @netgalley https://www.instagram.com/p/CQhXfpDLvc1/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I received an advanced reader copy of Forget Me Not from Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva is a story about overcoming past tragedies and realizing who we really are. Linda Russell basically raised herself, outside in the large, heavily wooded, walled in property that her mother owned. From a very young age Linda knew she was never going to be enough for her mother and could only rely on herself. Linda is set free one day when her mother leaves and doesn’t close the gate. Years later living on her own in an apartment in Seattle, Linda still hasn’t acclimated to the norms of society. Linda never truly learned how to have healthy, loving friendships and relationships. Anvi, a new neighbor of Linda’s, surprises her by being genuinely friendly. When Linda’s childhood home catches fire, Anvi and Linda drive there to see what’s left. Linda discovers that her past isn’t everything she remembers thus sending Linda on a path of self discovery. This was a great book, but moved quite slowly- I did really enjoy watching Linda come out of her shell. Forget Me Not is available now. Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars #alexandraoliva #forgetmenot #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #fiction #fictionbooks #readin2021 #ballantinebooks #randomhousepublishinggroup #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @netgalley @randomhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/CL-wrcXAwck/?igshid=5zw0a8jnq2bh

[whatthebook-reviews]

I received an advanced reader copy of Last Couple Standing from Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman is a story about the accepting contentment. Mitch and Jessica are college sweethearts. They’ve been friends with three other married couples since college- they refer to their group as the Core Four. Once the three other couples divorce, Mitch and Jessica start examining their own relationship. Trying to prevent the problems that caused their friends divorces, they come up with a plan to save their marriage. Will this plan bring Mitch and Jessica closer or will this marriage end too? I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. There were some hilarious moments, the author was spot on with some of his parenting and marriage observations. Last Couple Standing is available now. Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars #matthewnorman #lastcouplestanding #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #fiction #fictionbooks #readin2020 #ballantinebooks #randomhousepublishinggroup #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ApxMSAUaq/?igshid=1alyqnpoox7am

[whatthebook-reviews]

I received an advanced reader copy of Malibu Rising from Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a story about family, growing up and responsibilities. Mick and June Riva wed young and became young parents. June is living her dream of being a stay-at-home in a house that she loves while Mick is making his dream of becoming a famous singer a reality. As Mick embraces and then battles life in the spotlight he neglects his wife and children eventually leaving them altogether. June is a heartbroken, single mother to four children – Nina, Jay, Hudson and Kit- that is just going thru the motions. In August 1983, the four Riva siblings are adults and known for their own successes- outside of having an absent, famous father. Every year Nina throws a huge party that is filled with music, alcohol, chaos and always draws famous people. The four siblings each have their own goals to accomplish by the end of the party- as secrets are revealed the close bonds of Nina, Jay, Hudson, and Kit will be tested, changing their lives forever. This was an excellent story, filled with lots of ups and downs. As with all Taylor Jenkins Reid books, the first half moves slower than the second half, as she slowly reveals the characters to us- stick with it and you’ll find all the loose ends nicely tied up. Malibu Rising is available today, June 1, 2021. Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars #taylorjenkinsreid #maliburising #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #fiction #fictionbooks #contemporary #contemporarybooks #readin2021 #ballantinebooks #randomhousepublishinggroup #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @netgalley @randomhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/CPmWivvLIll/?utm_medium=tumblr

[books-n-wine]

~**~ARC Review: Intended for Bristol (Second Chances #9) by L.P. Dover~**~

***4 ‘It's all about Jaxson’ Stars***

Jaxon has been that character that I’ve been dying to know more about since reading Catching Summer  (my first LP Dover book). Never mind that he’s been the biggest asshat ever, which is a huge understatement, but he was the one that captured my interest and then seeing where he  was at in Defending Hayden I was more than ready for his story and I wasn’t disappointed! I loved finding out what made him tick and watch as he changed his outlook on the way he was living his life.

Now, I have to make a little confession here, when I wrote “It’s all about Jaxson” I really meant it. Much of, if not all of my enjoyment of this book was because of Jaxson, everything else felt more like vehicles to help him grow as a person than anything else for me, so didn’t really factor to much into my rating. It really was All. About. Jaxson. But this isn’t to say I didn’t like any of it. Take Bristol. I actually liked her. I loved her honesty and how upfront she was with Jax about where she was at in regards to getting into a relationship and why she was hesitant. She was sweet, witty and had an inner strength that I loved.

If you’ve read any of the Second Chance books you’ll know that things tend to happen quickly when it comes to the MC’s relationship, and while it’s no different here in general, I did like how it wasn’t an insta-love situation. There was insta-attraction and insta-interest between Jax and Bristol, but they did get to know about it each other, at least in one sense, before jumping into the ‘I Love You’s’. The whole revenge thing wasn’t as intense as I thought it would be, but did add a good dose of drama and anticipation to the story about how Bristol would find out about it. There is also a little plot twist thrown into their relationship and I’m on the fence about how I really feel about it, I have to say I liked how the resolution to it wasn’t sugar coated in any way.

But while all of the above was enjoyable, it was all about Jaxson. I love it when an author can take the asshat of a character, show me what makes them tick and have them evolve into a character that I adore without giving them a complete makeover and that’s what happened here. Jaxson hasn’t gone soft, his confidence that borderlines on arrogance is still intake, but he’s slowly coming to realize that he can have so much more if he’d just be himself and not constantly try to poke, prod and bait people all the time. And if Intended for Bristol is the first book of this series that you are reading, or if you’ve skipped a couple, I must insist that you read Catching Summer and Defending Hayden first. Ms. Dover does a good job at getting the reader caught up with all the crazy that happened, but that the impact of Jaxson’s evolution won’t be as intense, or satisfying.

Intended for Bristol was an enjoyable read overall. There were some spots that dragged for me, but that had to do more with the fact that Jaxson wasn’t apart of them than anything else. I enjoyed spending time with Derek, Hayden, Evan, Aaron and the rest of the characters as well as getting introduced to a few new faces and am interested to see who will be next up on the chopping block.

~ Copy received from the publisher via NetGalley & reviewed voluntarily ~

Trying to live down his very public indiscretions, Carolina Cougars kicker Jaxon Reed feels like the most hated man in the NFL. Fans and teammates alike treat him with the disrespect he figures he deserves. Unfortunately for them, Jaxon’s no easy target. As payback, he sets his sights on the quarterback’s sister: a sultry brunette who’s curvy, confident, and sexy as hell. But what begins as a revenge fling turns into so much more—a lesson in humanity, and in love.

Bristol Thomas doesn’t have time for games, especially those played by her brother’s Neanderthal teammates. A talented interior designer with lofty goals, she doesn’t know the first thing about football, or Jaxon—except that he’s exactly the type of man she usually avoids. But when his deep laugh and deeper kisses break through her walls, she becomes the target of a fan who’s obsessed with Jaxon. Now she needs to know that Jaxon has her back . . . because he already has her heart.

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Sports

Published By: Random House Publishers ~ Loveswept

Release Date: December 6th, 2016

Pages: 233

Series: Second Chances #9

ISBN 1101967919

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NYT and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries. Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, whitewater rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols. Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

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[books-n-wine]

ARC Review: Searching for Harmony by Kelly Elliott

My Review

I was really really looking forward to reading Searching for Harmony. The description hinted at a sweet, yet heartbreaking type of romance and I’m always looking to meet a new to me author, but unfortunately this one just didn’t hit the mark for me.

While the book started off on a decent enough foot and my heart broke over the tragedy that brought Preston and Harmony into each other’s lives, I never really got past simply liking either of them. They were both good people that fate threw a cruel curveball at. Their relationship had it’s sweet moments and I actually didn’t mind the fact that they spent much of the book trying extremely hard, and failing, to keep each other friend zoned. It made sense to me why they kept dancing around their feelings for each other. What had me shaking my head was all the excess drama.

I know that sounds odd considering what the book is about because of course there is going to be angsty drama and probably more than what most books would have and I was prepared for it all, but there were just some things that just didn’t work for me. Without getting too specific the two that had me shaking my head were the Chuck situation, talk about coming all the way out of left field, and Trey’s parents “confession” and the ensuing clusterf*ck it caused. While the confession situation had relevance to the storyline it just didn’t play out well for me and the Chuck situation just seemed like an afterthought and wasn’t relevant to the storyline.

I really wish that Searching for Harmony had been more of a hit for me because there were some really sweet moments in the book, but it didn’t and so we’ll just have to let it stand as a miss.

~ ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

My Rating 2 Stars

Description

Firefighter and first responder Preston Ward thought he had grown immune to the job’s emotional burns. But when he goes out on a particularly tragic call, he realizes that some scenes are too devastating to forget. And yet, if it weren’t for that terrible night, he never would have met the woman who makes him want to risk his heart.

More than once, Harmony Banks has watched her perfectly ordered world torn apart by fate. Now she’s finding out that what she lost wasn’t as perfect as she thought—and it’s tearing her apart. The only thing that keeps her going is the kindness of a stranger: the firefighter who saved her life the night everything changed.

Preston isn’t like the men who have come before. For one thing, he’s far more genuine. And the love Harmony feels growing between them is almost too intense for her wounded soul. But if she and Preston can push past heartbreak, they’ll find that something incredible awaits in each other’s arms.

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published By: Random House Publishing ~ Loveswept

Release Date: July 12th, 2016

Pages: 251

Series: A Boston Love Novel

ISBN:   0425284212

Book Links: 

Goodreads  *   Amazon  *  B&N  *  Kobo  *   ​Google Play  *  iBooks

Author Links

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[books-n-wine]

ARC Review: Saving a Legend (Kavanagh Legends #2) by Sara Robinson

My Review

Oh Sweet Redemption!! Okay that may be an odd start to a review but let me explain. Breaking a Legend and I didn't see eye to eye. There were a couple of things that I couldn't get past and therefore my rating of the book was on the lower end of the spectrum. So you're probably asking yourself why I even bothered with picking up the next in the series and the answer is quite simple: The Kavanagh Family I adored them!. I loved the family dynamic and I seriously wanted to find a way to find a way to be apart of it. So I told myself I'd give the series another go and it was definitely worth it!

Kieran has been in jail for two years and is finally being released. He’s matured during his stint behind bars and is well aware that it will take some time for him to find his footing in the outside world. He also knows that his welcome back into the family fold won’t be a smooth ride and filled with mix emotions, but he’s determined to show them all that he’s learned from his mistakes and will once again be a man they can be proud of. It was so easy to fall in love with Kieran. He knows he messed up, badly, and just wants to get everything in his life back on track. He has his moments of bitterness, but he mans up and accepts full responsibility for his actions. He’s sweet, determined and has charisma in spades. All of that combined with an honorable and compassionate heart makes him utterly irresistible.

Fiona has no time for a life. She owns her own flower shop and is the legal guardian of her eight year old sister, Shea. She is determined to give her sister a good life and ensure that the sins of the past are not repeated. But she uses that determination as a shield to keep others at bay as well as her own happiness. I totally admired Fiona and all that she did to give her sister the best life she could. There was never any doubt in my mind that everything she was doing was will with anything less than unconditional love. And though the weight she carried could have weighed her down, it seemed to lift her up instead. But as much as I admired her, she tended to pull the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ thing and that had me wanting to shake her at times.

Kieran and Fiona’s romance was fun, flirty and sexy. I loved how Kieran snuck under Fiona’s defenses and wiggled his way into her heart. Of course none of that would have happened had it not been for Shea and the connection that Kieran made with her. His interactions with Shea showed Fiona what a huge heart Kieran had and on the flip side, she helped to show Kieran what a strong woman Fiona was. The angsty moments were balance out by the sweet and sexy moments and it made their road to their HEA swoon worthy.

The writing was engaging and I enjoyed the pacing of the story. The dual 3rd person POV was done well and though I knew from the start what the bump in the road to Kieran and Fiona’s HEA was going to be, and was anticipating it, I was surprised, pleasantly so,  at just how that bomb was eventually dropped and how the aftermath of it all was played out. And the way that Ms. Robinson brought autism spectrum disorder to life on the page was done with great respect and caring as she showed what it was like to live with someone who has the disorder with the struggles but also the beauty that can be had with just a little understanding and kindness. Then there is the Kavanagh family. I swear I fell even further in love with them all and can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

~ ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

My Rating 4 Stars

Description

His family’s gym has produced a roster of mixed martial arts legends, but so far Kieran Kavanagh hasn’t followed in their footsteps. After a brawl lands him in jail, Kieran is assigned to work at a center for at-risk youth. Though given a second chance, Kieran’s simply going through the motions—until he meets one very special kid, Shea Doherty, and falls hard for her very beautiful, very grown-up big sister, Fiona. The trouble is, Kieran’s best opening moves are getting him nowhere fast.

Fiona Doherty has too many responsibilities to fool around, especially now that she has custody of Shea. Sure, she’d love to find a devoted partner. But she won’t jeopardize her sister’s happiness—or risk revealing her tortured past—on a love-’em-and-leave-’em type of guy like Kieran . . . so it’s up to him to prove her wrong. As Fiona spends more time with Kieran, she starts to see a softer side of the reckless warrior. Now she must admit that when it comes to the possibility of real love, well . . . there’s a fighting chance.

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult

Published By: Random House Publishing ~ Loveswept

Release Date: June 14th, 2016

Pages: 277

Series: Kavanagh Legends #2

ASIN: B010K2B87G

Book Links

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Author Links

Website  *  Facebook  *  Goodreads  *  Twitter

[books-n-wine]

ARC Review: Jackson’s Trust (Fourth Down  #1) by Violet Duke

 Description

It’s no secret that sports analyst Jackson Gray doesn’t do relationships. What is a secret, however, is the reason why. Jackson’s life is . . . complicated. And it doesn’t help that his current hands-off “friendship” is with the cute-as-hell new sideline reporter he’s assigned to train. Turns out, not only is the woman damn sweet, she also knows as much about football as he does. Like it or not though, Jackson has to remind himself that sex is the only thing he has to offer . . . until now.

Leila Hart’s fast-growing friendship with Jackson is something she’d never risk, no matter how unbelievably seductive the reward. Becoming an NFL sportscaster has always been the goal, and thanks to Jackson’s fierce support and mentoring, it all finally seems within reach. Problem is, a girl can only take so much of that sexy-as-sin voice whispering dirty, filthy football stats in her ear before she loses all self-control. A workplace romance with Jackson is a disaster waiting to happen, especially for someone with big dreams . . . and secrets of her own.

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published By: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Release Date: March 8th, 2016

Pages: 315

Series: Fourth Down #1

ISBN 1101887249

ISBN13: 9781101887240

My Rating 4 Stars

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Purchase Links

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My Review

Violet Duke has been on my watch list for awhile and mostly because of the title of the first book in her Cactus Creek Series, I mean how could my interest not be peaked by the title Love, Chocolate and Beer?? But I just never got around to reading it, the sad reality when one has a never ending and always growing TBR pile, so when I saw that she was starting up a new series I didn’t hesitate to request it, especially since football was going to be involved in some way, and I’m happy I did. While there were a few “Huh?” moments, I found Jackson’s Trust to be a fun, sweet, flirty and sexy read with great characters I want to know more about.

Jackson pretty much owned me as soon as he used ‘asshat’ to describe himself. There were extenuating circumstances as to why he used that term, but that’s when I knew I’d come to adore him. He’s that guy that you want to hate, but can’t because he is that smart, waaaayyy too good looking guy who is just inherently nice. When he does something nice for someone he doesn’t expect anything in return. The one issue/quirk he has is that he doesn’t do relationships. Sex is fine, but nothing further. The reason behind it, when it finally comes out, is a bit over the top but it also makes sense and again it comes back around to the whole ‘wanting to hate him, but can’t’ because he is that good of a guy.

Leila I also liked from the start. She’s smart, savvy and observant. She is the black sheep of her family (and thank God for that) but is happy with that because she is being true to herself. She also understands that while she knows way more about football, the game and everything else surrounding it, she also knows that being a woman wanting to break into sports casting she has to walk a fine line where she doesn’t come off as a ditz, but also not push so hard to convince everyone she is just as knowledgeable as they are, if not more. She doesn’t necessarily like playing the game, but does it and when the time is right shows everyone just what she is made of.

I enjoyed how their relationship evolved. It starts out with them both being physically attracted to each other, but grows as they learn that they speak the language of football (Note: There is a lot of football talk and not just about the game so be prepared). That connection draws them together and respect and admiration grows out of. I loved how they picked up on the little things about each other that not many others would notice and how honest they were about the attraction they felt towards each other and yet knew they couldn’t act upon it and had to set boundaries at least in the beginning. I loved their bantering and how at ease they were with each other. Unfortunately, bumps in the road happened and towards the end of the book I did find myself wanting to shake some sense into both of them, but thankfully things worked out and my frustration with them went away.

Now for the ‘Huh?” issue. I love plot twists, I really do, but the big one that happens in this book (there are a few twists, but this is the big, BIG one) just came out of nowhere for me. There is a small hint that maybe something more is going with this particular situation, but it’s something said in passing and not brought up again. Did it hurt the story? For me, not really because I was already invested in Jackson and Leila as a couple and in them getting their HEA.  And the situation does get explained, it’s a bit OTT but still plausible so that in the end it makes sense as to why it happened, but I would have liked more build up to it to make things flow a little better.

Outside of that issue, I found the writing engaging and well paced and I loved the secondary characters. Bennett and Donovan cracked me up at some of the shenanigans they pulled, but also had me wanting to hug them for being such good friends not only to Jackson, but Leila, so I’m really looking forward to their books. And, I’m hoping that Mike gets his own book too because he was really cool.

The Bottom Line: This was a fun, sweet and quick read and great start to a new series!

~ ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

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[books-n-wine]

ARC Review: Hawke (Cold Fury #5) by Sawyer Bennett

Description

The Carolina Cold Fury hockey team proves that love is a power play. As Sawyer Bennett’s New York Times bestselling series continues, the league’s most notorious party animal gets blindsided by the one that got away.

Off the ice, elite defenseman Hawke Therrien enjoys his fair share of booze and good times. And why shouldn’t he? He’s worked his way up from the minor leagues and made himself a star. The only thing Hawke misses from that life is the pierced, tattooed free spirit who broke his heart without so much as an explanation. She’s almost unrecognizable when she walks back into his life seven years later—except for the look in her eyes that feels like a punch to the gut.

Vale Campbell isn’t the same girl she was at twenty. As crazy as she was about Hawke, her reckless behavior and out-of-control drinking were starting to scare her. She had to clean up her act, and that would never happen with Hawke around. Cutting him loose was the hardest thing Vale ever had to do—until now. Because she’s still crazy about Hawke. And if he could ever learn to forgive her, they just might have a future together.

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Sports

Published By: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Release Date: March 15th, 2016

Pages: 275

Series: Cold Fury #5

ISBN 1101968109

ISBN13: 9781101968109

My Rating 4 Stars

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My Review

Being held captive by a Sawyer Bennett story is not an uncommon occurrence in my book world. It happens quite a bit, and happens a lot with this series specifically. She knows how to get you hooked on the story and characters and gets you so invested in them that putting the book down even for a few moments is difficult to do and Hawke’s book was no different. That little glimpse of what happened between Hawke and Vale whetted my appetite and I had to know what the secret was and if two people who were so obviously in love could come clean about ripped them apart, forgive the transgressions and trust in each other again. And while I loved watching as their second chance HEA unfold, I found that I loved their journey more than I actually liked Hawke and Vale personally.

I know it sounds absolutely crazy because how can you love the journey but only like the people who are on the journey? Well, I can and that’s what gave me the hardest time with this review because I found that while I liked Hawke and Vale and really wanted them to get back together I didn’t love them as much previous couples. They both had me smiling and laughing along with them and by their actions showed that they have huge hearts and are simply good people regardless of what happened between them. But they both had me wanting to reach out and smack them upside the head in frustration at some of the things they did, or didn’t do. And while Hawke was the one who was the hurt first, I found that it was Vale that I sided with more often than not because while she may not have been right in breaking up with Hawke the way she did, which I put under the whole ‘missteps of youth’ thing, I felt that she had actually grown up more, matured more if you will, because of it whereas Hawke hadn’t gotten there just yet.

But though I had my issues with Hawke and Vale, I really did enjoy how their romance unfolded, I did think it took a damn long time for Vale to reveal the ‘secret’ that had her breaking up with him, but each step they took towards each other was done well. There was a good mix of sweet, sexy and angsty moments that made their story work for me and rooting for them to work their issues out so they could be together.

The Bottom Line: While not my favorite of the series, Hawke is still a great read and I can’t wait for Max’s book!

~ ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

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[books-n-wine]

ARC Review: Irresistibly Yours (Oxford #1) by Lauren Layne

Description

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.

Book Summary

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published By: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Release Date: October 6th, 2015

Pages: 236

Series: Oxford #1

ISBN:  1101884843

ISBN13: 9781101884843

My Rating 5 stars

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My Review

This was my first book by Lauren Layne and I have to admit that the two reasons I decided to take a chance on Irresistibly Yours was first the description, I have a healthy love of sports (if only I had cable and could watch it more) and loved the concept of a woman possibly being the sports editor at a men’s magazine. And second the fact that my book whore friend from the land of Oz had enjoyed the Sex, Love and Stiletto series and since she has yet to steer me wrong on any of her recommendations I knew that I just had to give it a go and I’m so happy I did. Irresistibly Yours is a quick read that is sweet, sexy, flirty and funny with just the right amount of angst and drama and filled with lovable and likeable characters that make you simply want more time with them.

I was hooked on Cole from the first chapter, but it was the second chapter that sealed the deal and had me absolutely adoring him and that feeling never went away as I continued to read and learn more about him. Is he perfect? No. Does he do things that made me want to smack him? Yes. But he’s just that guy. He’s sweet, charming, flirty, sexy but not sleazy and  just all around good guy who you’d do anything for. Penelope really was adorable. I already liked her based on the fact that the girl is a total sports fan, not just one sport but ALL sports and after reading a section of chapter ten where she describes herself I immediately thought of one of friends (and actually told her she needed to read this book because I found her literary twin). But it was easy to relate to Penelope. There were times where I thought she was too good to be true because of her easy going nature, but it was just her and she was no pushover. She had her insecurities, but she knew her worth and just took everything in stride. 

There were many ways that Ms. Layne could have taken Cole and Penelope’s journey to their HEA, as well as the other aspects of their relationship, but I loved the route she took with them. As I said, there wasn’t an overabundance of angsty drama going on, just enough to keep things interesting and ratchet up the chemistry between Cole and Penelope. They were both shown to be adults who had their own demons/insecurites to battle and were struggling with what they really wanted versus what they thought they should want. I’m not always a fan of the whole ‘pull you in with one hand, while pushing you away with the other’ thing, but it works here because each of those moments showed just why they needed to be together.

If you couldn’t tell from the opening, I found the writing to be engaging and the pacing of the book to be well done. I loved the author’s voice and thought she did the 3rd person dual POV beautifully. And as I am sucker for well written secondary characters and the bantering between them, I must say this one has it spades. I will now be devouring the Sex, Love and Stiletto’s series because I loved them all and loved Lincoln! (When does his book come out??)

The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a fun, sweet, sexy and sassy book filled with well written characters this is definitely the one for you!

~ ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

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