My first book by Meryl Wilsner (who I've been meaning to read ever since I saw them at LA Festival of Books in 2023). This book follows two soccer plaMy first book by Meryl Wilsner (who I've been meaning to read ever since I saw them at LA Festival of Books in 2023). This book follows two soccer players, one a stoic team captain, the other an outspoken newbie. Attraction sparks right when they meet, but playing on the same team means some conflict and tension.
I enjoyed this book but it was solidly in the "it's just okay" category for me. I had it on my list for a while and it counts for a reading bingo square for "Olympics" so I pushed this to the front of the tbr. There was just a lot of internal monologuing for me, it was endless to the point that it was either that or sex scenes. Which is fine! But I wanted more the character development earlier in the book (with some more plot) rather than the dump we got later. Otherwise it's a fun sports romance and it was nice to see women's soccer in the mix.
An ALC was provided by libro.fm via the librarian ALC program ...more
A fun and spicy queer hockey romance, MUCH better than the first book. Not a complete 5 star read because of some issues with it (view spoiler)[ casuaA fun and spicy queer hockey romance, MUCH better than the first book. Not a complete 5 star read because of some issues with it (view spoiler)[ casual racism in descriptions of a character (hide spoiler)] and this is definitely like, a fantasy hockey league that does not follow real life rules (for obvious plot reasons).
Not sure if I would read the rest of the series though....more
I found both main characters to be infuriating, the plot/story was all over the place. And I never thought I would hate a word, but I now haDNF at 52%
I found both main characters to be infuriating, the plot/story was all over the place. And I never thought I would hate a word, but I now hate the word "lumberjack". It was torture forcing myself to read, so I am quitting. ...more
How do you review a book you enjoyed but didn’t love? This is always the most difficult review to write, because while there wasn’t any 2.5 - 3 stars
How do you review a book you enjoyed but didn’t love? This is always the most difficult review to write, because while there wasn’t anything bad about the book, there was nothing spectacular about it either.
Mariana Zapata is an auto-buy author for me, I’ll purchase anything the woman writes. But this latest book and the one before it… they do nothing for me. It’s like she’s lost the ability for plotting and instead has 500 pages of repetitive dialogue instead. And while I like the characters, I still need a stronger plot than what was handed to us in this book. Enjoyed this story, but would not purchase in paperback or reread. ...more
“You guys read romance novels?” “We call them manuals.”
Gosh, what an absolutely perfect escape from reality! Bromance Book Club is a b 4.5 stars!
“You guys read romance novels?” “We call them manuals.”
Gosh, what an absolutely perfect escape from reality! Bromance Book Club is a book I’ve been meaning to get to for a little bit now. Berkley even sent me a finished copy (thank you Berkley!) but I hadn’t made the time to sit down and read it. Well, all we got now in April 2020 is time, and I am so glad I prioritized this one on the tbr.
A second chance love story surrounding a broken marriage, Gavin is a professional baseball player who shuts down on his wife when he finds out she’s been faking orgasms for their entire relationship. But when he goes to apologize, she asks for a divorce. That’s when the boys of the bromance book club take him under their wing and use romance novels to help him try and save his marriage.
“Don’t be ashamed for liking them. The backlash against the PSL [Pumpkin Spice Latte] is a perfect example of how toxic masculinity permeates even the most mundane things in life. If masses of women like something, our society automatically begins to mock them. Just like romance novels. If women like them, they must be a joke, right?”
Second chance romance novels are my crack, add in a married couple trying to make it work and I basically have all I want and need right there in a book. I was able to completely escape into this story while reading, which is really all I want from a book the majority of the time. It was well written, and funny, and heartwarming too. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, this author has won her way into my heart.
“That’s why fiction resonates with people. It speaks to universal truths.” ...more
Well, this was pretty much a three star read (steady but a tad bit boring) up until this one part that totally took me out of the book and hDNF at 68%
Well, this was pretty much a three star read (steady but a tad bit boring) up until this one part that totally took me out of the book and had me rolling my eyes.
(view spoiler)[ She gets stuck in a basement, falls off of a cart, hits her head, injures her leg. The hero then proceeds to bone her TWICE in a cold, library basement. I just don’t know what to do with that. (hide spoiler)]
This book reminds me of why I am reading romance less frequently than I used to. ...more
I don’t know if my reading tastes have changed or if Elle Kennedy has lost her touch. Maybe a little bit of both? I used to DEVOUR her books 3 stars
I don’t know if my reading tastes have changed or if Elle Kennedy has lost her touch. Maybe a little bit of both? I used to DEVOUR her books and cry that there weren’t more. But this Briar U series has been a face plant for me. The pacing was off for me. The first 50% of this book was so beyond boring and slow for me. The second 50% was much better but felt incredibly rushed. I liked Demi as a heroine, but Hunter as a hero felt sanitized. He had no personality, it was so weird to me. Overall, I liked this book, but sadly I think this might be it for me and Kennedy.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
I think I need to break up with Sarina Bowen. We've had an amazing run, I've read (and loved) like 85% of her books, but the newer ones I jus 3 stars
I think I need to break up with Sarina Bowen. We've had an amazing run, I've read (and loved) like 85% of her books, but the newer ones I just don't click with. This book specifically, it was a really great story. It really was hence 3 stars. What fell flat for me was the romance. I didn't feel the connection, it was very insta-lovey for me, and then everything was just kind of perfect. I need a little bit of angst in my romance.
I think it's just me not loving Bowen's new work, so please ignore my picky tastes and read this book for yourself.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I ENJOYED THIS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS SERIES!
^^Sorry, I had to get that out.
This is the story of Jake and Brenna, the star 4 stars!
I ENJOYED THIS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS SERIES!
^^Sorry, I had to get that out.
This is the story of Jake and Brenna, the star hockey player for Harvard and the daughter of the enemies coach. Their romance is forbidden because of a huge rivalry, but there's something between them that cannot be denied.
The Risk is the Elle Kennedy we know and love back again. Even though The Chase was not a win for me, Jake and Brenna were introduced in that story and I was always intrigued by the chemistry between them. I am so glad they got their own book because it was so much fun to read. Filled with banter, sass, chemistry and some serious flames, this was the book to help break me out of my reading slump.
I have to admit, I put off reading this book forever because every single time I read the title I saw this:
[image]
But after some urging fro 4 stars!
I have to admit, I put off reading this book forever because every single time I read the title I saw this:
[image]
But after some urging from a friend of mine I decided to give it a chance and found I couldn't put it down!!
Wrecking Ball is the story of Cam, a widow with a mountain of problems left to her from her husband who passed, and who is desperate for a job. Here comes in a temporary solution, teach and care for quarterback Calvin's nephew for the next three months and A LOT of money. Problem? Said quarterback is a jerk!
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would so I'm glad I gave it a chance. Don't be fooled by the title, this is a book with a lot of heart and great character development. I enjoyed the banter between Calvin and Cam and I loved Cam's relationship with her student Sam. I would very much like to see him again and see how he grows.
There are some flaws, issues that from the beginning of the novel seemed to just disappear and changes in personal views that didn't feel hashed out. But overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
“You are who you are in life, and you either live that time trying to bend yourself to make other people happy, or… you don’t.”
This is 4.5 stars!
“You are who you are in life, and you either live that time trying to bend yourself to make other people happy, or… you don’t.”
This is one of the first indie romances I've loved in a looonnnggg time. Zapata is the queen of slow burn!!!
From Lukov with Love is about Jasmine Santos, a semi-retired figure skater who never won all the medals she had always hoped to. When her best friend's brother (also her nemesis) approaches her asking to skate pairs, she doesn't know how the two of them will survive. But Jasmine wants to win, and she knows with Ivan she can.
“Challenges were only hard if you went into them expecting not to succeed.”
Loved this romance so much. It was enemies to friends to lovers trope and I soaked up all the bickering between the characters. Ivan was everything I love in a Zapata hero and Jasmine was everything I loved in a Zapata heroine. Angsty but more about family issues than the romance, the author did a good job of portraying how a career like this can affect your life.
This was a little bit sweeter than I usually prefer, so 4.5 stars instead of a full 5, but that's just picky me. Pick this book up!!!
“Love to me was honesty. Being real. Knowing someone's best and worst. Love was a push that said someone believed in you when you didn't.”
I did not enjoy this one. Not at all. I love LJ Shen, but this is a story that I think would have been a million times better as a full lengt 2 stars
I did not enjoy this one. Not at all. I love LJ Shen, but this is a story that I think would have been a million times better as a full length novel and not a novella. The plot was choppy with unresolved issues and no character development. I was actually going to give this 3 stars but then read the bonus epilogue and it got worse from there.
If you are looking for something hot with minimal to zero plot, this is the book for you.
“Everything seems fine and ordinary. Or at least it did until I hit my head.”
Brooklyn Bruiser fans, we finally have Nate and Becca’s sto 4 stars!
“Everything seems fine and ordinary. Or at least it did until I hit my head.”
Brooklyn Bruiser fans, we finally have Nate and Becca’s story! And it was SO worth the wait!
Becca has worked for billionaire Nate since the beginning, before he earned all the money and fame. Over seven years the two have had a great friendship and worked really well together. And while both are attracted to the other, neither one of them knows it or will admit it.
When Becca injures her head on the ice, Nate steps in to help take care of her. Doctors cannot figure out exactly what is wrong, and it’s extremely frustrating for Becca who just wants to get back to work. Staying at Nate’s place, she does her best to work out the past few years and how they ended up where they are now.
“We work together all the time. I can’t be the girl who just casually sleeps with her boss.”
The thing I love about Sarina Bowen is, I enjoy her books 99.999999% of the time. Her writing style just works for me. Brooklynaire was such a fun read and a great escape from reality. I spent the majority of my weekend reading this avoiding real life tasks like cleaning and leaving my house.
While technically this is the fourth novel in the Brooklyn Bruisers series, it can totally be read as a standalone. Believe me, I skipped book two (hides in shame). I loved this story and glad we finally got to see Nate and Becca’s side of things and why it took them so long to give up the ghost and get together.
Sexy, fun and entertaining, this is the book you want to one-click right when it releases right away!
“Everything worthwhile is complicated.”
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All/any quotes in this review came from an advance unedited copy and may be subject to change in the final product.
“It was perfect. He was perfect. We were perfect together.”
Adrian and Simeon are enemies on rival footb Full review now posted! 1/8/18
4 stars!
“It was perfect. He was perfect. We were perfect together.”
Adrian and Simeon are enemies on rival football teams. They snark at each other during games, call each other out on social media and can’t stand the sight of each other. Simeon is a openly gay football player and Adrian seems to be anti-gay. When the two of them get into trouble on the field they are forced to spend time together working for a charity, where they both learn there is more to the other than they originally thought.
“All this time, I’d not only been starving for his body—I’d been deprived of his kisses. Now I couldn’t get enough.
Santino Hassell became one of my all time favorite authors very quickly this past year. A very talented writer, he never delivers the same story twice and never the same character twice. That’s what I love about his books, they always bring something new to the table. Football isn’t my sports romance genre of choice usually but I that didn’t even cross my mind when reading this book, the game was important but it also didn’t overwhelm the story which I appreciate.
Simeon and Adrian were both such amazing characters, I loved both in different ways and for different reasons. While they may have started out hating each other, I loved being on the journey of understanding and acceptance with them and thought they had a very beautiful love story.
“I need you to tell me I won’t ruin your career by being in your life. Because no matter how hard I try to be discreet, I know somehow . . . I’ll screw it up. ’Cause that’s me, boo. I’m a mess. A loveable mess, but still a goddamn mess.”
ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley. All/any quotes in this review came from an advance unedited copy and may be subject to change in the final product.
So, we are not allowed to reveal the “douchebag” this book is about, so I am gonna do my best without spoiling everyone (even though it’s p 4.5 stars
So, we are not allowed to reveal the “douchebag” this book is about, so I am gonna do my best without spoiling everyone (even though it’s pretty difficult). This all starts when a member of the wrestling team is getting hazed by his teammates. As a part of the hazing, they decide to put up posters advertising his need to get laid. Suddenly, this hero is getting hundreds of text messages, but one of them stands out among all the trash.
While I can’t say who the hero was, this is who I pictured the heroine as: [image]
Sarah Ney had delivered one of my favorite new adult romance series! For some reason, the college romances seem to have disappeared from the romance genre recently, and I feel like Ney is the only one keeping it alive. I am so grateful she is, because I love college romances! And the douchebags are some of the best heroes there are!
What I can say, is I really loved the hero and the heroine. Both are flawed and don’t always know what they’re doing, or to articulate how they feel. But together they were perfect. This book was also super hot! Steamy romance fans you will be pleased. There were also some small doses of angst that I appreciated, but being me I wished there was a tad but more.
If you haven’t picked up the douchebag series yet, now is the time! It’s perfect for fall weather and curling up with a coffee/tea and these books.
ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley. All/any quotes in this review came from an advance unedited copy and may be subject to change in the final product.
“I’m your boss. You’re my assistant. We’re not anything else.”
[image]
Gavin Brawley is one of the NFL’s biggest players, and after an a 4.5 stars!
“I’m your boss. You’re my assistant. We’re not anything else.”
[image]
Gavin Brawley is one of the NFL’s biggest players, and after an assault charge he’s been confined to his home for six months, monitored by an ankle bracelet. Being benched means Gavin needs to hire an assistant to manage his entire life, something he’s not exactly happy about.
Noah Monroe is in desperate need of a job, after him and his father lost theirs they need to make ends meet. The last thing Noah wants is to be a PA to a cranky NFL player, but despite his reservations, he takes the job.
Tension is high between the two of them, and things don’t start off smooth. But the more time they spend with each other, the better it gets until a tentative friendship and mutual respect is formed.
“Better to have an insolent nerd with no interest in football than a kiss-ass fan who will tell all to all their friends.”
Illegal Contact is the sports romance you’ve been waiting for! Football is never my first choice (like ever), so I was surprised when I ended up loving this football romance. Well, I shouldn’t have been because Santino Hassell is everything that’s good in the MM romance genre. The voice he gives to his characters is so strong, Noah and Gavin felt like real people to me, one’s I could turn my head and talk to.
This is an I hate you/I love you kind of romance. The beginning starts out with much badgering and barb trading, but I loved the journey from dislike to mutual admiration. They always say there’s a thin line between love and hate and this book encapsulates that phrase excellently. I loved Noah and Gavin equally, neither one of them got on my nerves at any point and I was rooting for them both to get what they want.
This is the next big series in MM romance, so you’d be an idiot not to pick up this book!
“You are trustworthy. And I’m tired of always hiding.”
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
“My confidence took a hit after the divorce. But it’s slowly coming back. I feel stronger. More self-assured.”
[image]
Hailey runs her o 4.5 stars!
“My confidence took a hit after the divorce. But it’s slowly coming back. I feel stronger. More self-assured.”
[image]
Hailey runs her own anonymous virtual personal assistant business with her ex-husband, and her favorite client ends up being her favorite hockey star, Matt Erikson. Matt just recently went through a tough divorce and tries to spend as much time with his twin girls as he can. Matt also is intrigued by his virtual assistant, and wants to meet her in person.
Hailey is definitely interested, but her history with her ex has really taken a hit on her confidence. Matt also has his issues with his ex that get in the way of his personal life. But, it may be time for the two of them to take a chance and put themselves out there.
“I’m ridiculously attracted to you. Hottie. I figured I should be up front about that.” “Shut up and kiss me again, Snipes.”
Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy have never let me down! Every single book I’ve read by this pair has been pure magic! I cannot get enough! Stay is another great novel that you have to make next on your to be read. I picked up this book and never wanted to put it back down. It’s actually because of Bowen and Kennedy that I love hockey romances, I’ll pass on the football and you better pass me the puck!
I gotta say the best part about this book is we got mature characters, by that I mean a driven and smart heroine who works hard, and a man who isn’t sleeping around. I cannot tell you how many books I’ve read where the guy is constantly slutting it up until he meets the heroine. Both Hailey and Matt had standards and goals, and it was so refreshing.
This was an unconventional slow burn romance, one I can see myself rereading in the future. This book was low angst and low drama, so it’s perfect for all of you out there allergic to those things. I happen to prefer angst and drama, and I still loved this book. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t like it!
“I’m a goner for this man. Our relationship might not be ‘official’, but holy hell, I officially feel all the feelings for Matt Erikson.”
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review
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