Tuesday, 17 November 2020

[Blog Tour] Little Lies by H. Hunting

“H. Hunting pens a heartbreaking tale that leave readers absolutely breathless from beginning to end. One of her best books yet!”
- Stacey Lynn, author

Little Lies, an all-new, angsty and emotional new adult romance from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting writing as H. Hunting is out now!

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

[Release Blitz] Playing with Fire by L.J. Shen

“Clear off a top spot on your Best of 2020 list. 

Playing with Fire is coming in HOT!”

--Harloe Rae, USA Today bestselling author

Playing With Fire, an all-new intense and all consuming small town standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is available now!

A broken boy on the path to destruction.

A scarred girl without direction.

A love story carved in secrets, inked with pain and sealed with a lie.

Grace Shaw and West St. Claire are arctic opposites.

She is the strange girl from the food truck.

He is the mysterious underground fighter who stormed into her sleepy Texan college town on his motorcycle one day, and has been wreaking havoc since.

She is invisible to the world.

He is the town’s beloved bad boy.

She is a reject.

He is trouble.

When West thrusts himself into Grace’s quiet life, she scrambles to figure out if he is her happily-ever-after or tragic ending.

But the harder she pushes him away, the more he pulls her out of her shell.

Grace doesn’t know much about anything beyond her town’s limits, but she does know this:

She is falling in love with the hottest guy in Sheridan U.

And when you play with fire—you ought to get burned.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/35scdah

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/PWFLJShen

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3bDlzRh

Add to PLAYING WITH FIRE to Goodreads - https://bit.ly/MDVljgr

About L.J. Shen

L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to twenty different countries. 

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OhSvp1

Twitter: http://bit.ly/36ELHZc

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2oMbFsu

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2AIOiTo

Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list: http://bit.ly/36MnmAQ

Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

Friday, 28 August 2020

[Cover Reveal] Playing With Fire by L.J Shen

Playing With Fire, an all-new emotional and raw small town standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is coming September 15th and we have the stunning cover!

pwf cover

A broken boy on the path to destruction. A scarred girl without direction. A love story carved in secrets, inked with pain and sealed with a lie.

Grace Shaw and West St. Claire are arctic opposites. She is the strange girl from the food truck. He is the mysterious underground fighter who stormed into her sleepy Texan college town on his motorcycle one day, and has been wreaking havoc since. She is invisible to the world. He is the town’s beloved bad boy. She is a reject. He is trouble. When West thrusts himself into Grace’s quiet life, she scrambles to figure out if he is her happily-ever-after or tragic ending. But the harder she pushes him away, the more he pulls her out of her shell. Grace doesn’t know much about anything beyond her town’s limits, but she does know this: She is falling in love with the hottest guy in Sheridan U. And when you play with fire—you ought to get burned.

pwf cr

Add to Goodreads - https://bit.ly/MDVljgr
For more information, join L.J. Shen’s reader group: http://bit.ly/2lTnonw 
Stay up to date on all release news. 
Follow L.J. Shen on Instagram: https://bit.ly/LJShenIG
Cover designer: Letitia Hasser at RBA Designs

LJ Shen prof pic

Connect with L.J. Shen 
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2oMbFsu 
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2AIOiTo 
Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list: http://bit.ly/36MnmAQ 

Thursday, 27 August 2020

[Cover Reveal] Little Lies by Helena Hunting

Little Lies - CR banner.jpg

I used to be the one who saved her. But I don’t want to save her anymore.

From New York Times bestselling author, Helena Hunting writing as H. Hunting, comes an unforgettable, beautiful and angsty new adult romance. Little Lies is releasing November 16th, and we have the irresistible cover!

Tuesday, 25 August 2020

Batch Reviews #21

You Should See Me in A Crown by Leah Johnson (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 336

My overall thoughts and review:  I haven't read a ton of YA this year, and this book was such a treat. I found myself flipping through it so quickly, but also stopping to just savor it because I did not want it to end. It is the perfect blend of light-heartedness that will make your heart want to explode, but also grapples with a lot of important topics such as racism and homophobia. The story follows Liz Lighty who has always kept her head down and blended in at high school. She has her little group of friends, her part-time job at a music store, her grandparents, and her brother Robbie, and that seems to be enough. Her dreams are crushed though when she learns that the college of her dreams is not offering her the scholarship for a full ride that she hoped they would. In fear of bringing it up to her grandparents, and how they might sell the house to fund her college tuition, she decides to run for Prom Queen/Prom Court because the prize is not just the crown, but also a monetary gift that could fund her college tuition.

As she starts to get more into campaigning, she finds herself reconnecting with an old friend, dealing with a vindictive nemesis, and possibly also falling for the new girl at school, who also happens to be running for Prom Queen/Court as well. You see Liz grapple with her sense of self, and how she begins to alter aspects of herself to suit the situation. The relationships in this book though were what made the book for me. I loved seeing Liz reconnect with Jordan again because reading about flashbacks, you really got to see how special Jordan was to Liz. The other friendships were great too, and I loved how it touched on anxieties in situations you feel are beyond your control. It also showed the messy side of friendships too. I loved the romance between Mack and Liz SO MUCH! I knew I liked Mack from the first scene we met her, and seeing how she just made Liz come alive and be her authentic self was a really lovely thing to see. I think my favorite relationship though was the relationship Liz had with her younger brother, Robbie. The book also deals with sickle cell disease, and you see Liz grappling a lot with her role as a sister, but also taking over to make sure her brother was doing what he needed to do. She had to work through finding balance there.

All in all, I loved this book. One of my coworkers had told me how much she loved it, and based on past experiences, I always trust her judgement, but seriously y'all, this book exceeded my expectations and was a real treat. I loved it so much. It made my heart explode in the best way. Please read it! You will love Liz's story so much!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, and Book Depository

Shine by Jessica Jung (✮✮✮½ - 3/5 stars) 
Publishing Date: September 29, 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352

My overall thoughts and review: When I read the premise of how this novel was CRA meets Gossip Girl in a Jenny Han way, I was definitely intrigued since I loved all of those things. I also love the world of K-Pop a lot too! The author is actually a former kpop star in the group Girls' Generation (which I've listened to briefly and really enjoyed their music), so I was def curious about this inside look into the kpop world.

The story follows Rachel Kim, who has been a trainee for 6 years now at DB - one of the biggest labels. Her whole family moved from New York so that she could follow her dreams of one day debuting. However, life of a kpop star is intensive and a lot of work. Her mom often bugs her about maybe considering the college route instead. We learn from the beginning of the book how competitive the world is and the double standard there is between girl performers and guy performers. We also see the toxic nature of this world too and how not everything is as it seems.

This book definitely read like something from Gossip Girl, because it had that drama dynamic between the main character and other characters. However, there's more to it than just the drama components. Jung delivers first love, family dynamics, fan culture, and what it means for someone to uproot their life from North America to come to Korea to pursue their dreams. I loved Rachel as a character because she ultimately just wants to do right by her family, her loved ones, but most importantly, herself.

All in all, it was a really fun read and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm excited to see how it will all unravel in book two!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book for consideration/review from Simon & Schuster Canada - all opinions are my own. 

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: October 6, 2020
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 336

My overall thoughts and review: Reading this holiday read in August was the best idea ever. I've been a fan of Christina Lauren's books for a while now, and while I do miss that their books as steamy as the Beautiful series and the Wild Seasons series, one thing that I will ALWAYS love from their books is how they write characters, the banter between the love interests, and just their ability to write such great social circles surrounding their main characters. Also.. this book got quite steamy at some moments, so YAY ;)

I love me a good christmas feel good movie, and this seriously felt like it. Mae has been spending Christmas at a cabin with her family and her mother's best friend's family for as long as she can remember. Her parents are divorced and her mother has remarried, but they both still attend this christmas extravaganza every year at the cabin. Mae has also been super close with her mother's friend's son, Theo, for a long time, and she has also harboured a massive crush on Theo's brother, Andrew. On this one particular christmas when she finds the vacation ending, there is a car accident, and Mae finds herself jumping back in time and reliving the vacation from the beginning again. She takes this as a sign that whatever happened the "first" time around was a sign from the universe that it wasn't the way it was supposed to be. It is absolutely hilarious seeing this groundhog day scenario with Mae and certain days being relived certain ways.

It's some serious christmas magic because it has all the stuff you would want from a christmas romcom - a bit of tension, some family dynamics, incredibly swoooooony male lead, and just a really romantic story. This is definitely going down as one of my favorite CLo reads ever and I know what I'm definitely giving as a gift to many of my family and friends this holiday season ;)

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book for consideration/review from Simon & Schuster Canada - all opinions are my own. 

Wednesday, 19 August 2020

Review: The Rivals by Vi Keeland

The Rivals by Vi Keeland

Publishing Date: July 6, 2020
Pages: 361
Contemporary Romance

The Premise from the Author: "The feud between Weston Lockwood and me started at the altar. Only neither of us attended the wedding, and the nuptials happened decades before either of us was born. Our grandfathers had been best friends and business partners, at least up until my grandfather’s wedding day—when his bride-to-be blurted out she couldn’t marry him because she was also in love with Weston‘s grandfather. The two men spent years fighting over Grace Copeland, who also happened to be their third business partner.  But in the end, neither man could steal half of her heart away from the other. Eventually, they all went their separate ways. Our grandfathers married other women, and the two men became one of the biggest business rivals in history. Our fathers continued the family tradition of feuding. And then Weston and I did, too. For the most part, we kept as much distance as possible. Until the day the woman who started the feud died—and unexpectedly left one of the most valuable hotels in the world to our grandfathers to share. Now I’m stuck in a hotel with the man I was born to hate, trying to unravel the mess our families inherited. As usual, it didn’t take long for us to be at each other’s throats. Weston Lockwood was everything I hated: tall, smart, cocky, and too gorgeous for his own good. We were fire and ice. But that shouldn’t be an issue. Our families were used to being at war. There was just one minor problem, though. Every time Weston and I fought, we somehow wound up in bed" (Keeland).


My overall thoughts and review: Vi Keeland has been one of my favorite romance authors for a while now, and so, when she has a new release coming out, you can bet I'm pre-ordering and waiting to gobble the book up! I knew about 50% into this book that I loved this book, and by the time I finished it, I sat there saying out loud: "this is my favorite book of hers yet!" Seriously, I don't know how she will top this one but I'm sure she will! ;)

I LOVED The Rivals. I love a good enemies to lovers trope, but this definitely exceeded my expectations. Weston and Sophia weren't just from warring families in the hotel business, they grew up with one another and have a bit of a history. Their grandfathers both fell in love with the same woman many years ago, and in the end, neither of them ended up with her. But she died and left both of them shares of her hotel. Both grandfathers decided to send Weston and Sophia in to manage their shares, but also work to outbid the other in the 2% share that belonged to an organization. So while we had the element of what they said was just pent up anger that brought them together because they were working together and in a way, competing against one another, there was a lot of history there too. We got to see what really happened many years ago on prom night and learn what they thought of each other over the years. I loved their chemistry so much and how it leapt off the page from the very first chapter.

I think what really made this book for me was that I loved both of them as characters so much. Weston is still grieving from the death of his sister, he is a recovering alcoholic, and has always felt like the black sheep in the family. He just doesn't think very highly of himself and carries a lot of emotional baggage. He didn't feel worthy of Sophia many times throughout the book and it was good to see him gain confidence in himself over the course of the story. On the other hand, Sophia is coming to this after the end of a disastrous relationship where she found her ex-boyfriend with her cousin. On top of that, her father has always sided with her half-brother and makes her feel undervalued and incompetent. (Both families are essentially hot garbage to both of them). I loved that they were both able to see the other for who they really were and also at the same time bring out the best in each other. I loved how they were both incredibly strong, but also vulnerable. They seriously had amazing chemistry.

All in all, this book was amazing and I'm already thinking of rereading it because I loved it so much 😍💕😍💕😍💕

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ (5/5 stars)

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53421505-the-rivals

PURCHASE LINKS
US: https://amzn.to/304fjwv
UK: https://amzn.to/2Wau2oG
CA: https://amzn.to/2ZlubaO
AU: https://amzn.to/302qTbv
Apple Books: http://smarturl.it/g6kldo
Audible: https://smarturl.it/fpn24w
Kobo: https://smarturl.it/9k7027
Google Play: https://smarturl.it/513dwo
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3fkHptO

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own. 

Review: Needing You Close by Kennedy Fox


Needing You Close
Tyler & Gemma #2
Release Date: August 13

Thursday, 11 June 2020

Dear Padfoot's Library Readers....

To my dear readers, as I write this it is early June, and a lot has been happening recently in the world. I know that the landscape of blogging has changed drastically in the past few years. I can firmly say it has for me. What started as a simple shout-in-the-void that allowed me to meet people online to discuss books that I loved has changed into a big community setting. When I first started blogging, it was merely reader-to-reader, and now we are engaging with authors, publishers, and other content creators even more. And due to the nature of the pandemic, we are seeing online content more than ever. Given everything that has happened, I know that many have turned to their own platforms to voice where they stand. I do use Instagram and Twitter occasionally to cross-post some stuff, but I felt that it was necessary to write something here, where basically my position in the bookish community began. I definitely debated with myself this past week if I should say anything at all.. thinking to myself perhaps only a few people will read this, or does it really need to be said, and I'm sure many are thinking that as well, but I refuse to be part of the problem, and I wish to be part of the change that we see in the world.

My blog and all my other platforms will always be an inclusive and safe space for everyone, but I am anti-racist, and not tolerant of any racist views/comments/remarks. This is non-negotiable, and if you choose to no longer support Padfoot's Library, to be quite frank, there is the door. 

As a POC myself, I have been witness and victim to too many instances where racist comments have been made, and I have sat there wishing someone else spoke up for me when I could not find my voice. I am learning that I need to speak up for myself more in these scenarios, but also speak up when I see this happening to others as well. We cannot define comments as "lighthearted jokes" when the only person laughing in the room is the person saying them. We cannot accept comments when people say "they don't really mean that" because if you didn't, you wouldn't say it to begin with. Even when these remarks come from family and friends, we must hold them accountable and teach them that their words and actions may be harming another. 

I also understand that words of solidarity and advocacy is not enough, and I'm going to be working to make sure that I do the work to read from more BIPOC writers and have my bookish content reflect that. Moving forward, I will also be adjusting how I approach reviews. I am learning that sometimes reviews based on gut feelings or intuitions can hold some hidden biases that we may not be aware of. I am not going to be the intended audience for some books, and to have a review reflect that is not necessarily fair to the writer or the text itself. I am a bit of a mood reader at times, so if a book does not connect with me in the moment, I will not have any reviews reflect that. Rather, I will take a pause and return to the work when I am able to give it my full attention, and my clear and unbiased view. 

There have been some talk recently also about removing the work from the author due to JKR's transphobic comments. I do not condone any of JKR's comments, and in light of this, I feel it needs saying especially during Pride Month, that I am also not tolerant of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, and again, same comments apply, if you feel you no longer want to support the blog, there is the door. For my fellow readers who are struggling in light of JKR's comments, if you feel it is necessary to remove the author from the work due to the relationship you have with the text, that is your choice. But that does not mean we do not hold JKR accountable for her ignorant and selfish comments. The world of Harry Potter was a big part of my younger years, often the leading door to many of my relationships today. I understand how HP has shaped me as an individual and helped with my growth, but I also understand that I have grown up past that now. I can acknowledge the role that the text has played in my life and shaping me, and I can also acknowledge that JKR is a massive disappointment to me as a reader. JKR may have written the books that gave us that world and those characters, but what she didn't give me was the midnight book releases where I got to speak to fellow readers, or those moments when I went to see the films with my best friends. Those experiences to name a few are my own, and JKR's ignorant comments will never be able to take those experiences or memories away. She has tainted them, sure, but those experiences and relationships go beyond the world of HP, and as Daniel Radcliffe said recently "if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. And in my opinion nobody can touch that." 

As a student, an educator, a reader, a blogger, an ally, and a friend, I am working to educate myself better with learning and also unlearning. I am learning that even good intentions can sometimes lead to fuck ups, but that is part of the learning process. You may think that you need to show up perfectly, but we are still learning each and every single day. I am seeing a lot of toxic cancel culture come out of this, and while in some instances it may be easier to simply cut a person out, I am choosing to put in the time to have these difficult discussions (especially with family), because I feel if it is left unchecked, it will amount to something worse. I also believe that for every opportunity we have to learn something, that is also an opportunity for people to unlearn their unconscious biases. During this time I have been reading a lot, so before I end off, I wanted to share some resources that I have found particularly helpful to me during this time, and I hope that they will help you in some way as well. 

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ - petitions, links to donate, FAQs 
Desmond Cole's The Skin We're In - about systemic racism in Canada
Ibram X. Kendi's How To Be An Antiracist
Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give 

As always, my door is open to discussion, so please, if you'd like, my email is always open. Thank you for taking the time to read this today, and I hope that you will stand with me to make this a safer corner of the world for everyone, but especially for those that need it during this time. To my friends and readers, I see you and I support you, and I will work harder to demonstrate this. 

With love always,
Christine 

[Guest Post] If You Must Know by Jamie Beck - Author Q&A and Giveaway!

Title: If You Must Know
Author: Jamie Beck
Release Date: June 1, 2020
Publisher: Montlake

Summary
Sisters Amanda Foster and Erin Turner have little in common except the childhood bedroom they once shared and the certainty each feels that her way of life is best. Amanda follows the rules—at the school where she works; in her community; and as a picture-perfect daughter, wife, and mother-to-be. Erin follows her heart—in love and otherwise—living a bohemian lifestyle on a shoestring budget and honoring her late father’s memory with a passion for music and her fledgling bath-products business.

The sisters are content leading separate but happy lives in their hometown of Potomac Point until everything is upended by lies that force them to confront unsettling truths about their family, themselves, and each other. For sisters as different as these two, building trust doesn’t come easily—especially with one secret still between them—but it may be the only way to save their family.


Author Biography
Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than two million copies. She is a two-time Booksellers’ Best Award finalist and a National Readers’ Choice Award winner, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing novels, she enjoys hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah and dancing around the kitchen while cooking. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family. Fans can get exclusive excerpts, inside scoops, and be eligible for birthday gift drawings by subscribing to her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/b7k7G5.

Social Media
Website - https://jamiebeck.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/writerjamiebeck
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8020971.Jamie_Beck

Author Q&A 
How do you describe your newest novel If You Must Know?
This book is a “beach book” in the best sense. It’s not angsty, yet it has a page-turning plot and a bunch of interesting, relatable characters. I think it’s entertaining and heartfelt at the same time, which is exactly what many enjoy reading while on vacation.

What inspired the novel?
The external plot came to me as a result of the influence of two people in my life. My dear friend’s husband is a forensic accountant, so some of his stories about how people hide money and flee their families provided one point of inspiration. The second is my mother’s best friend who, in her seventies, sold her house and bought a boat, which she and her husband live on full-time. The impetus for the oil-and-water sisters was to provide myself an opportunity to explore the sibling-rivalry dynamic.

Tell us about the two main characters in the story—sisters Amanda and Erin.
Amanda is the middle child. She’s diligent, earnest, hard-working, and generous. She wants the people she loves to be happy and feel her love. Her weakness is a deep-seated insecurity—a sense that she is not interesting enough to be lovable. This leads her to overlook when she is being taken for granted because her need to be pleasing is omnipresent.
Erin is the baby of the family and her late-father’s pet. She is outgoing, fun-loving, and views her average intelligence as a blessing (rather than lamenting that her siblings are smarter). She is willful and has her own way of moving through the world. The big weakness she has is her impulsiveness, whether with jobs or relationships. As she approaches her 30th birthday, she’s looking to mature and create a more stable life for herself.

What kind of relationship do the sisters have?
I think they share a typical relationship insofar as their differences cause many misunderstandings and instill in each a sense of being judged by the other, and yet they do care about and love each other, too. They simply do not know how to be true friends and trust the other—at least not at the outset of this tale.
This book focused on the main female characters growing and learning about themselves. What prompted this ‘women’s fiction’ approach to the story?
Partly market forces and partly my own need to stretch. At 53, it was becoming more difficult to write a 20-something woman facing the challenges of dating. The shift to women’s fiction allows me to write late-30 and early 40-something characters, which comes more naturally to me. I also enjoy exploring family and friendship dynamics, and absolutely love having endless options for story arcs (as opposed to having to follow a traditional romance arc).

What does your new Potomac Point series have in common with your previous books?
All my books to date have focused on critical relationships and some type of redemption theme. I find damaged people to be very interesting and believe that there is good in most everyone, so I prefer to populate my stories with flawed people who must confront their inner demons in order to be happy. My new books will also focus on relationships and redemption, but the non-romantic relationships (or even the relationship with one’s self) will be more central.

Giveaway!

Disclaimer: I have collaborated with Montlake for a guest post in exchange for a digital copy of this book. A full review will follow in another post (either full review format or batch review format). 

Tuesday, 12 May 2020

[Release Blitz] A Secret for A Secret by Helena Hunting

ASFAS - RB banner.jpg
“Helena Hunting delivers a smart, funny, emotional story that grabs you from page one.” — Ilsa Madden-Mills, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

A Secret for a Secret, an all-new must read forbidden standalone romance that is sure to have you swooning from the start by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting, is available now!

Monday, 11 May 2020

[Release Blitz] The Hunter by L.J. Shen

Hunter - RB banner
"This is LJ Shen at her wittiest, steamiest, heart-aching best!"
--Kennedy Ryan, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

The Hunter, an all-new scorching hot contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is available now!

Friday, 1 May 2020

Blog Tour: My Favorite Souvenir by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward


MY FAVOURITE SOUVENIR IS LIVE!
A Contemporary Romance Novel
New York Times Bestselling Authors Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland


Friday, 24 April 2020

[Cover Reveal] The Hunter by L.J. Shen

Hunter - CR banner

Boston’s debauched elite is going up in flames, and it’s the Fitzpatrick family that set it on fire.

The Hunter, an all-new dazzling and delicious contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is coming May 11th and we have the stunning cover!

Monday, 13 April 2020

Anticipated Romance Releases of 2020

Hi All, it's been a while since I've made an anticipated releases post so I decided to put one together during this time while we are all stuck inside to maybe help you build your shopping list and TBR list. These are the titles of 2020 that I'm most excited about, and I'm so relieved that for some of these, the wait will be short! ;)

The Two of Us by Kennedy Fox
PUB DATE: May 15, 2020
PRE-ORDER: Kindle - Kobo

What do you do when the entire nation is on lockdown? If you’re an heiress to a billion-dollar fashion company, then you quarantine in a glamorous cabin and finish your final semester of NYU online. The best way to focus on her upcoming valedictorian honor is away from her family, classmates, and the paparazzi. Cameron St. James is ready to get out of the big city and head Upstate for seclusion, despite her parent’s pleas to stay home. What do you do when a pandemic is sweeping the world? If you’re barely making ends meet, then you isolate yourself in your best friend’s mountain cabin with breathtaking views and no neighbors for miles. It’s the perfect safe place away from three roommates who don’t take the life-threatening epidemic seriously. Elijah Ross is ready to work remotely and focus on his next big promotion, assuming he’ll still have a job after this. What happens when things don’t go as planned, and you’re stuck with the one person you dislike the most? You improvise and do whatever it takes to avoid each other, though it proves to be impossible. The cold evenings alone turn into movie and popcorn nights together by the fireplace. Days turn into weeks, and eventually, more than just a friendship blossoms. As the unknown haunts them, they lean on one another for comfort—until someone pops their safety bubble and threatens everything. The Two of Us is an enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend standalone romance set in the current affairs of history in the making. Though the character’s storyline is fiction, the virus is very real, and we’ve made sure to be sensitive on this topic.

Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James
PUB DATE: May 19, 2020
PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

Miss Viola Astley is so painfully shy that she’s horrified by the mere idea of dancing with a stranger; her upcoming London debut feels like a nightmare. So she’s overjoyed to meet handsome, quiet vicar with no interest in polite society — but just when she catches his attention, her reputation is compromised by a duke. Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, will stop at nothing to marry Viola, including marrying a woman whom he believes to be in love with another man. A vicar, no less. Devin knows he’s no saint, but he’s used to conquest, and he’s determined to win Viola’s heart. Viola has already said Yes to his proposal, but now he wants her unruly heart…and he won’t accept No for an answer.

Keeping You Away by Kennedy Fox
PUB DATE: June 16, 2020
PRE-ORDER: Kindle - Kobo

I never planned on returning to Alabama, but circumstances brought me here after years of being gone. Though Lawton Ridge is my hometown, I was hesitant to go back because of her —my sister’s best friend. The last time we were together, she was eighteen, and I was a broken soldier transitioning to civilian life. Gemma wrote to me while I was overseas and we developed a bond I hadn’t anticipated. I crushed her heart the day I left, and it's something I’ve never forgotten. But now that her dad is my new boss, life just got way more complicated. Too sweet, too innocent, too good for a guy like me—I should walk away again. After serving five years in prison for something I didn’t do, I’m constantly on guard. Though I’ve taught people how to protect themselves in a boxing ring, no one can help prepare me for my next move. I’m about to enter the fight of my life and face the mafia princess who put me behind bars. She thinks I fear her and will stay away, but she has another thing coming. I plan to make her pay, but that means risking everything. I trust no one, but Gemma gradually breaks down my walls and exposes the pain I’ve hidden underneath. For her own sake, I should keep my distance, but it’s nearly impossible when I hear her sweet humming while I work and she slowly draws me back in. It’s a battle I didn’t train for, and one I’ll lose if I don’t keep my restraint—especially since she’s engaged to another man.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
PUB DATE: June 23, 2020
PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom. When big, brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and former rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact to him, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Suddenly, half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse? Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf is secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs. The easy lay Dani dreamed of is now more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

Daring The Duke by Sarah MacLean 
PUB DATE: June 30, 2020
PRE-ORDER: Chapters/Indigo - Amazon - Kindle - Kobo - Book Depository

Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best...until the man she once loved returns. Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess. Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again.

Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting
PUB DATE: August 11, 2020 

Blaire Calloway has planned every Instagram-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the tiniest detail. What she didn't plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. He may be super swoony, but Blaire hasn't spent years obsessing over buttercream and bourbon to have him ruin her chance at success.From axe throwing (his place) to frosting contests (hers), Blaire and Ronan are constantly trying to one-up each other in a battle to win new customers. But with every clash, there's also an undeniable chemistry. When an even bigger threat to their business comes to town, they're forced to call a temporary time-out on their own war and work together. And the more time Blaire spends getting to know the real Ronan, the more she wonders if it's possible to have her cupcake and eat it too.

The Bride Bet by Tessa Dare
PUB DATE: August 25, 2020 

How to lose a duke in ten years…without losing your heart. Once upon a time, two sworn enemies—the bookish daughter of a scholar and the devilish heir to a duke—made a pact: If they were both still single in ten years, they would marry each other. It was a joke, Nicola thought. A duchess? Her? But when the Duke of Westleigh returns a decade later, he’s serious. He needs an heir, so he’s holding her to their marriage bargain—diamond ring, lavish gown, engagement ball, and more. Nothing Nicola says can dissuade him. When she calls him arrogant, he praises her honesty. When she makes social stumbles, he catches her fall. And when she gets exasperated, the duke can’t seem to get enough. For reasons she can’t fathom, he claims that no other woman will do. He’s betting he can change her mind, with logic and passion. She’s betting she can change his mind, just by being herself. And as the clock ticks down to a wedding day, neither is counting on losing their heart.

Yours to Keep by Lauren Layne
PUB DATE: September 1, 2020 

Pro baseball shortstop Carter Ramsey is about to be Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, but the only title that matters to him is out of reach: World Series MVP. Benched by a recent injury, Carter retreats to his hometown to recover. His ten-year class reunion and a potential reconciliation with the sweetheart he left behind could be perfect distractions. Until another old acquaintance throws Carter a curveball. Olive Dunn admits that her former high school science partner is still a handsome charmer. But she wasn’t swayed then, and she won’t be swayed now. Because Olive remembers Carter’s little shortcoming: he tends to bail the moment it suits him, without a backward glance. Best to keep her feelings strictly platonic while he’s in town. Except the entitled boy she knew is a changed man: solid, reflective, and generous. As they ease back in to their familiar friendship, things take a surprising turn, and Carter and Olive must decide if what they have is a passing flirtation or a real shot at love.

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey
PUB DATE: September 22, 2020 

Hair, makeup, clothing, decor... everything in Bethany Castle's world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family's real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She's on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously. When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother's construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany's skin on day one, but the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way. As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It's a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany's perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.

Happily Letter After by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
PUB DATE: October 20, 2020
PRE-ORDER: Amazon - Kindle - Book Depository

My love story all started with a letter. Only it wasn’t from the man I’d eventually fall in love with. It was from his daughter.  A sweet little girl named Birdie Maxwell who’d written to the magazine that I worked for. You see, once a year, my employer fulfilled a few wishes for readers. Only that column didn’t start up again for months. So I fulfilled some of her wishes myself. It was harmless…so I thought. Until one day I took things too far. While anonymously granting yet another of Birdie’s wishes, I got a look at her father. Her devastatingly handsome, single dad father. I should have stopped playing fairy godmother then. I should have left well enough alone. But I just couldn’t help myself.  I had a connection to this girl. One that had me acting irrationally. Like showing up on their doorstep.

Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
PUB DATE: October 27, 2020

Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan. Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush. Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

What titles are you most excited for this year? Let me know in the comments below! 

Wednesday, 8 April 2020

Batch Reviews #20

Get A Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) by Talia Hibbert (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Harpercollins
Pages: 384

My overall thoughts and review: one of my co-workers raved about this book and I was so excited to finally pick it up. It did not disappoint and it definitely makes me want to check out Hibbert's older books as I wait for the second book in this series. This story follows Chloe Brown, who is chronically ill. She has near-death experience and finds that she needs to get her life in order. She compiles a list of things that will help her "get a life" and the items include things like enjoy a drunken night out, motorcycle rides, have meaningless sex, go camping, and more. She starts this journey by moving into a new apartment, and there she finds herself in a bit of a hate but attracted tension with the handyman, Red. They find themselves slowly connecting on the basis of Red helping her with her list, and Chloe helping him with his website. We learn more about Red's past and why an artist/painter is hiding away as a handyman instead of pursuing his art life. I really loved their relationship because both came with some serious baggage, and I loved that they were able to work out what they were comfortable with and what they needed from the other person. I loved the versions of themselves that the other brought out. Red is seriously the sweetest, but I also loved his teasing playful side. Chloe too is so endearing, but also so vulnerable. I absolutely loved this read and I don't want to say too much more because it's really something you need to experience for yourself! So get out there, and get this book, reader!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository

Love Her or Lose Her (Hot & Hammered #2) by Tessa Bailey (✮✮✮✮ - 4/5 stars)
Publishing Date: January 14, 2020
Publisher: Harpercollins
Pages: 352

My overall thoughts and review: I read the first book in this series last year, and I absolutely loved it! I was really looking forward to this one because we got to see snippets of Rosie in Fix Her Up, but also I just wanted more of Travis and Georgie. I'm pleased to say that Bailey delivered on all fronts! The extra Travis and Georgie moments were soooo sweet as they were planning their upcoming wedding. If you thought you swooned last book with Travis Ford, well brace yourself. He pops up a handful of times and will swooon you away. Anyways, back to the main couple of this book. Rosie and Dom. They have been together forever since highschool, but lately, Rosie feels that their relationship has just dwindled. They don't talk, and besides a lustful Tuesday evening, there isn't much holding their relationship together. Rosie decides once and for all to leave, but Dom doesn't take that too well. She even throws hippie couples therapy at him, and he is game. He will do anything to prove to his wife that he loves her and he wants the marriage to work. I can't imagine marriage therapy is an easy thing, and you really see both coming to terms with their own roles in the breakdown of their marriage and how they need to acknowledge the needs and desires of the other person. Dom is incredibly defensive, and even in therapy when Rosie recognizes her own faults, he always defends her. He is quite sweet, but he also doesn't believe recognition is needed, because he's doing what he should. I liked seeing him grow in this book and just also show what he wanted out of the marriage. You get to see them fall in love again, but also fall for the current and new versions of themselves. Also, their sexual chemistry was off the charts, seriously!! All in all, another decent read from Bailey. Georgie and Travis are my favorite forever though. I just love this little community that Bailey has put together, and I'm so excited for the next book in the series (Bethany and Wes' story)!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository


Stealing Her (Covet #1) by Rachel Van Dyken (✮✮✮✮ - 4/5 stars)
Publishing Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
Pages: 318

My overall thoughts and review: I've been reading RVD books for a while now, and I'm a big fan of the duologies that she's been writing. When I first read the premise for this one, I was a bit hesitant because it reminded me of soap operas, but I went into it with an open mind, and who doesn't love a bit of dramatics? There are two twin brothers, Julian and Bridge, one gets in a bad car accident and is asleep in a coma, but the world has to go on, and the estranged twin brother is forced to impersonate his brother while he heals. That means taking over his position at work, becoming the company's CEO, but that also means pretending he is who he says he is with his brother's fiance. Julian and Izzy were already rocky to begin with, and when Bridge comes in as Julian, he has to try and maintain that he is 'Julian' but he is also drawn to Izzy, and wants to make up for his brother's mistakes. I felt horribly torn while reading this. On one hand, I really wanted Bridge to be happy and get the girl, but on the other hand, I also wanted Julian to be able to redeem himself. Ultimately, it came down to Izzy's happiness, and what she needed. I did enjoy seeing them all come to terms with the situation, and how this situation brought to light family relationships that needed mending, and getting rid of ones that were toxic. While it didn't fully resolve the brothers relationship, I look forward to the next book since it does follow Julian. All in all, it was a decent read that spoke a lot to relationships that can feel like burdens and how you can feel trapped, but it also spoke about finding yourself again. I really liked that RVD touched on how relationships change all the time, and to want to capture something from the past or the very beginning is quite hard, because you aren't willing to accept the present. Although it had a comatose brother and an evil father, RVD was able to write a heartwarming blossoming relationship, and highlight a lot of great take aways. Def recommend, and I am totally starting Julian's book next!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy from Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.

Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Batch Reviews #19

A Favor for A Favor (All In #2) by Helena Hunting (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: January 28, 2020
Publisher: Montlake Romance - Amazon Publishing
Pages: 302

My overall thoughts and review: I loved the first book in this series and Helena Hunting is always going to be one of my auto-buy and forever-love authors. I was so excited to learn that RJ's sister, Stevie was going to get a story, and of course the male lead is RJ's teammate, Bishop, who he doesn't have the best relationship with. It starts off hilariously in true Helena Hunting fashion, where Stevie finds herself staying at RJ's apartment after a bad breakup, and Bishop, who is his neighbor, mistaken her for a mistress. It's funny for him to learn that she is actually his sister, and definitely off-limits because RJ is his team captain. They have this undeniable attraction, and I love how they start off by seeing each other in the morning by getting the paper. One of my favorite things about this book was Bishop's variety of boxers and the stuff they say. It always cracked me up reading those passages. Things get a bit complicated when Bishop injures himself, and Stevie offers to help him with his rehab. He is able to get back on the ice faster, and she gets to add a professional athlete to her resume. It seems like a win-win, but they both begin developing feelings for one another. I loved this book a lot. I loved both Bishop and Stevie so much and I loved seeing them fall for one another. The build up was absolutely perfect. The only thing I didn't love was seeing RJ as an intense over-protective brother. It was part of the story, but it made him a teensy bit less attractive in those moments. This was a deliciously (I say this because I now have a craving for pizza since it's mentioned a lot in the book) fun book. It was funny, heartwarming, incredibly sexy at times, and super sweet. I def think this is my favorite of the series (until the next one...). It was also so good to see RJ and Lainey again, and some familiar faces from the PUCKED series. Def recommend checking this series out!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital reader's copy from Montlake romance, and a physical hard copy from Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.



Always Yours (Liam & Madelyn #2) by Kennedy Fox (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: February 18, 2020 
Pages: 346

My overall thoughts and review: So the last book in this duet, Always Mine, ended in a way that left me on pins and needles eager awaiting the conclusion to Maddie and Liam's story, and I'm happy to say that KF once again delivered a really great conclusion, but just a great duet overall. It may be my favorite one yet because the characters really grew on me sooo much. I mentioned in my last review that I found Maddie over the top at times, but man, she really grew on me! She is so vulnerable at points, but she is so strong and resilient. She doesn't let things get her down, and she can definitely hold her own. This second book looks at how she comes to terms with the news that Liam has a wife now, and while Liam wants to keep her safe and out of the mess he's gotten into, she finds herself caught in the middle of it. KF always write such crazy vindictive baddies that you love to hate and characters that add that top notch element to the drama. I loved seeing how Maddie and Liam were able to work through a lot of things they were faced with in this book. I don't want to spoil anything, but the drama is elevated, but there is just soooo much swoon. You also see the other characters from the previous duets again, and I loved seeing how their HEA are sprinkled throughout this text as well. We are also introduced to a new character named Tyler, and I just loooved him! I'm so pleased that he'll be getting his own story coming soon in their new ex-con series. Overall, this was a fantastic finale to the Maddie and Liam duet. It had drama, a great friendship/family circle, incredibly swoonworthy male lead, and all the sexy you can come to know and love from a KF novel. If you haven't picked it up yet, I recommend starting at the beginning with Hunter and Lennon's story since it's so nice to read them in chronological order so that when the characters pop up again later, it's like their story continues on! Maddie and Liam's story might be my favorite duet from them yet because there is so much angst and build up for them, and it was so worth it! Also.. I read this on my honeymoon so it'll always have a special place in my heart <3

Available for purchase at:
AmazonKoboiBooks, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital reader's copy from Kennedy Fox in exchange for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.

Marriage on Madison Avenue (Central Park Pact #3) by Lauren Layne (✮✮✮✮ - 4/5 stars)
Publishing Date: January 28, 2020  
Publisher: Gallery Books 
Pages: 288

My overall thoughts and review: I have been waiting for this book for what feels like such a long time. I love this series a lot and I'm so glad we finally get Audrey and Clarke's story. We learn in the previous two books that they have been best friends for just about forever, and there isn't anything more there. Even though their friends would beg to differ. They are just friends, and they can always depend on one another. Even when it comes to fake engagements to get out of certain things. It starts off as a fake-engagement, which gets Clarke's family off his back, and boosts Audrey's social influencer status, but feelings start to stir up between the two, and both of them even have a hard time differentiating between what is for pretend and what they are beginning to feel. I love their friendship a lot, and I love how at ease they can be with one another, so it was great to see them move beyond that. There were times when I wanted to be like get to it together! Y'all love each other!! especially when they couldn't see it for themselves. Some swoon worthy moments included the coffee creamer <3 I loved seeing them get their happy ending, and just seeing the three women who bonded in central park that fateful day ended up finding their way to their own HEA, and still being a strong friend group at the end of it. I really enjoyed seeing this story, but I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed, and when they both came to the realization that they actually loved each other, there wasn't much of the book left. I simply wanted more of Clarke and Audrey. That's my only criticism and why it doesn't get a full five stars from me. All in all, this was a great series. I wish it was sexier at times, but I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and I'm definitely sad this is the end. My hope is that they'll somehow pop up again in Lauren Layne's new series Man of the Year ;) If you haven't read this series yet, be sure to start with Passion on Park Avenue first! ;) 

Available for purchase at:


Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6) by Lisa Kleypas (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: February 18, 2020
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 384

My overall thoughts and review: Another special read in my heart because I read it on my honeymoon. I distinctly remember being on the subway in Tokyo and this popped up on my kobo app and I started reading it immediately. I love the Ravenels series a lot, so I was so excited for Cassandra finally getting her story, and I was so excited with it being Tom Severin, because he isn't exactly likable in the other books. I really wanted to see how Lisa would win us over with him. She also said that she envisioned Matthew Goode, so I mean that is a bonus! I loved how their story starts as Cassandra is feeling the end of the seasons and wanting a good marriage, and what seems at first at simply a proposal that would be transactional and not exactly romantic, is the start of a really sweet relationship blossoming. Tom feels that he is unable to actually love, but it's quite sweet seeing him come to terms with his feelings and even showing affection to other people besides Cassandra. In particular, he bonds with a local boy and takes him under his wing. I loved this story and seeing all of the Ravenels pop up again. It had all the aspects I love in a Lisa Kleypas novel. I didn't want it to end at all. It's definitely a satisfying end to this series, and I already can't wait to reread my favorite stories in the series! Tom is now definitely up there next to West as one of my favorite male leads ever!

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository

Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club #2) by Lyssa Kay Adams (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Pages: 352

My overall thoughts and review: While I really enjoyed the first book in this series, I was really looking forward to this one because I'm all for the hate-to-love, enemies-to-lovers story, and after not loving Liv so much in the last book, I really wanted to learn more about her, and see her story develop. Also when Mack was introduced as the sort of ring-leader of the book club, I really liked him instantly, so I wanted to see his story unfold... for someone who is so helpful with others and their relationships, why was it hard for him? Adams did not disappoint. I LOVED this book so much. There was so much build up, but also so much vulnerability in both characters which I appreciated. I loved their banter so much! I also loved that while we had a love story, it was a book that tackles topics of toxic masculinity, abusive power dynamics in the work place, and how victim shaming works, and how we or some people can be complicit in certain thing and not even know it. Adams is able to tackle these big aspects but does it in a way there is funny, endearing, and really down-to-earth. I loved seeing more of the book club boys again, and I loved seeing Gavin and Thea pop up again. It's funny though, how for both books, the other sister always drives me a bit insane with how overbearing they can be, but by the end of this one, it reminded me just how strong their bond is. All in all, this was such a delight and I can't wait to reread it again because it was simply terrific! I'm so excited for the next book in the series and I'm so happy we get it later this year :D

Available for purchase at:
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository

Yours in Scandal (Man of The Year #1) by Lauren Layne (✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars)
Publishing Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Amazon Publishing - Montlake
Pages: 236

My overall thoughts and review: Lauren Layne is one of my favorite romance authors ever, and I was so excited to learn she had a new series with Montlake. I didn't know much about this book besides it being in the political world in New York City, and I didn't know how much I needed a political romance until I read Robert and Addie's story. I finished this in one sitting and I loved it so, so much. It is about a mayor, Robert Davenport, and how he finds himself falling for his opponent's daughter. There's so much wrapped in the book, because Addie/Adison Blake is trying to distance herself from her father's world (so much family drama), but working for Robert feels like being lured back into that world again. I loved how they start off in a working relationship, and Robert proposes a friendship, but it is clear there is so much more there. I loved seeing them just grow together, and how much they fell for one another. I will say this is an incredibly romantic book. Seriously, it had me swooning like crazy. In addition to that, you get to see the dark side of politics  which added to the plot in many ways. Lastly, I don't know if it's just me, but every time I read a Lauren Layne novel, I immediately want to go visit New York City again. All in all, a solid novel. I adored it, and I already am eagerly awaiting the next books in this Man of the Year series. If you love LL, you need this book in your life. Even if you are new to LL, you still need this book in your life.

Available for purchase at: 
Chapters/Indigo, Amazon, Kindle, and Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital reader's copy from Montlake romance from Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.