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.
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:
Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, 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:
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
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
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.
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