Review: Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean

Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards Book 2) by Sarah MacLean 

Publishing Date: July 30, 2019
Publisher: Avon Books / HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Historical Romance

The Premise from the Publisher: "The Lady’s Plan: When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year her own, she has plans to inherit her father’s business, to make her own fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste of the pleasure she’ll forgo as a confirmed spinster. Everything is going perfectly…until she discovers the most beautiful man she’s ever seen tied up in her carriage and threatening to ruin the Year of Hattie before it’s even begun. The Bastard’s Proposal: When he wakes in a carriage at Hattie’s feet, Whit, a king of Covent Garden known to all the world as Beast, can’t help but wonder about the strange woman who frees him—especially when he discovers she’s headed for a night of pleasure . . . on his turf. He is more than happy to offer Hattie all she desires…for a price. An Unexpected Passion: Soon, Hattie and Whit find themselves rivals in business and pleasure. She won’t give up her plans; he won’t give up his power . . . and neither of them sees that if they’re not careful, they’ll have no choice but to give up everything . . . including their hearts" (Avon).

My overall thoughts and review: It has been a year since the first Bareknuckle Bastards book came out and you can read my full review for Wicked and the Wallflower here! Sarah MacLean's book was my introduction into historical romance, and I will always read anything she's written. I'm still working through her backlog, but she is an insta-buy author for good reason. This story brings us back to the world of Covent Garden, and this time the story follows Dev's brother, Whit AKA Beast. The story begins with him being tied up in a carriage and meeting Lady Henrietta Sedley who is on her way to a brothel to be "ruined" - she has plans for what she deems "The Year of Hattie" - to move past the courtship and get straight to taking over her family's business. If she is "ruined," marriage isn't on the table any longer, and she's hoping her father can take her seriously to take the reins. There's an instant attraction between the two and they come up with an agreement that would help both. Hattie knows of the person who stole from Whit, and Whit promises to "ruin" her. However, it becomes more than the agreement and you see a relationship forming between the two. Things get further complicated when they become business rivals. I loved that despite the back and forth we got at times with the two, they both were incredibly respectful of one another and you can instantly see all the love there. I loved their love story a lot and seeing them become a team together. Everything was just incredibly romantic and I loved seeing how Whit treated Hattie like a goddess AND warrior.

The book also gives us an inside look into Dev and Whit's family history a bit more and we learn more about their 'evil' half-brother, Ewan, who is the antagonist to the story. He is angry and determined to ruin the Bareknuckle brothers because it is his belief that they took Grace away (their sister) and she died (when in reality, not everything is as it seems). I'm so pleased to learn that the next book is Ewan and Grace's story. I just adore this world that MacLean has put together with such charming characters, vibrant backgrounds, and strong relationships. I mentioned for the previous book that upon finishing I just wanted to hug the book, and I can definitely say the same for this one. *cue me hugging all of Sarah MacLean's books* Whit and Hattie's story is a lovely romance read. Sarah MacLean honestly sets the standard for historical romances for me, and you definitely don't want to miss out on this one!

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

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

[Blog Tour] Handle with Care by Helena Hunting - Review and Q&A

Handle with Care by Helena Hunting

Publishing Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 320
Contemporary Romance

The Premise from the Publisher: "HE WANTS TO LOSE CONTROL. Between his parents' messed up marriage and his narcissistic younger brother, Lincoln Moorehead has spent the majority of his life avoiding his family. After the death of his father, Lincoln finds himself in the middle of the drama. To top it all off, he's been named CEO of Moorehead Media, much to his brother's chagrin. But Lincoln's bad attitude softens when he meets the no-nonsense, gorgeous woman who has been given the task of transforming him from the gruff, wilderness guy to a suave businessman. SHE'S TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER. Wren Sterling has been working double time to keep the indiscretions at Moorehead Media at bay, so when she's presented with a new contract, with new responsibilities and additional incentives, she agrees. Working with the reclusive oldest son of a ridiculously entitled family is worth the hassle if it means she's that much closer to pursuing her own dreams. What Wren doesn't expect is to find herself attracted to him, or for it to be mutual. And she certainly doesn't expect to fall for Lincoln. But when a shocking new Moorehead scandal comes to light, she's forced to choose between her own family and the broody, cynical CEO" (SMP).

My overall thoughts and review: We have been so lucky with summer with two releases from Helena Hunting from the Shacking Up series! I was so excited when this book was announced earlier in the year because it follows Lincoln Moorehead; I was curious to learn abut the older brother of the annoying Armstrong from Hooking Up. We also learned in Making Up, that Lincoln and Griffin are quite close and are basically more brothers than cousins. Add in the fact that I love a good office romance, I was sold. I really, really, really loved this book. I found myself with a permanent smile on while reading this book. Because Lincoln is returning to NY after being away for so long, he has more to adjust to than simply his new role as the CEO of Moorehead Media. There he meets Wren, who has been named as his handler of sorts. She has helped smooth over Armstrong's indiscretions in the media before, and she has new responsibilities now to help do the same for Lincoln. Except Lincoln is nothing like his younger brother at all. We both learn that they both adjust to these new roles thinking it's only temporary because Lincoln thinks that as soon as he finds a replacement, he's out of NY, and Wren thinks that she'll only have to handle the Moorehead brothers until she gets her reference. I loved their banter and their arguing in the beginning of the book, and just seeing themselves soften around each other. With how much time they spent together, it's a no brainer that they have this undeniable chemistry. Interwoven in the love story is of course some family drama from the Moorehead side. I'm glad we got to see a bit of their upbringing, and see maybe why Armstrong is the way he is (doesn't mean I like him any more, but good to understand the circumstances). As always, I love when other characters in previous books are mentioned as well (Lex and Amalie!!). It's an fun and incredibly sweet read about falling in love and family. In the typical Helena charm, it is also quite sexy as well. I loved this book A LOT. Lex is still my #1 but Lincoln is a very close 2nd now. If you haven't read any of the Shacking Up series books, what are you waiting for? Please go out and pick up Handle with Care TODAY! Once you read the book, you'll be able to appreciate how adorable the cover really is! ;) I'm not fully sure if this is the last book in the series, but I'm happy to say that this series will forever be one of my favorite romance series ever. Every book has been consistently top-notch!

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮✮✮ - 5/5 stars

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

Author Q&A 

Q: What project(s) are you currently working on?
A: I just finished the third book in the All In Series, which the first book will be releasing this fall. Next I’m starting a standalone, but I also have a new series I’ll be starting soon, and I have a book idea or two for secondary characters in the last two books of The Shacking Up series, as well. It’s safe to say that my writing schedule is planned for the next two years!

Q: What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
A: I like hanging out with my daughter and craft. Recently we went camping, which was a fun experience, although I grew up with a family cottage so we would spend a lot of the summer there.

Q: Name three things on your desk right now.
A: Broken Knight by LJ Shen, Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey, Resist by K. Bromberg, Undeniable by Melanie Harlow, The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros (still gives me the chills when I think about it), Verity by Colleen Hoover.

Q: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
A: The banter between Wren and Linc and writing a grumpy, jerk hero who really isn’t a jerk but sure acts like one!

Q: What would you like us (the readers) to take away from your story?
A: That families aren’t perfect and people can make mistakes, yet still grow from them.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

Disclaimer: An advanced reader's copy of the book was provided by St. Martin's Press for participation in the book tour. All opinions of the book are my own. 

HCCFrenzy's Summer 2019 #FrenzyPresents | August 25, 2019

It feels like a hot minute since I last posted an event recap of sorts. I was lucky to be invited to HCCFrenzy's yearly #FrenzyPresents where they gush about all the upcoming releases. It's always a fun time because they highlight books they are most excited for, we are treated to delicious snacks, and I get to see all my blogger friends in one place. It was so big this year that there had to be two sittings! :O

We also got to hear from and meet Jasmin Kaur, author of When You Ask Me Where I'm Going. She read us some passages from her upcoming book (can I just say, I love the way she reads? I found that she really highlighted the silent moments in poetry and the way her voice carries so much emotion. I had chills while she was reading some stuff). Her book is a collection of poetry, free verse, short stories, and some illustrations. The arc copy we received looks beautiful and I can't wait to see the finished copy this October! I can just tell that so many of my friends who read poetry will absolutely adore this book.

All the decor as per usual was stunning. The folks of HCCfrenzy exude the idea of #shelfgoals. They even had a cute bingo activity that some bloggers won some books for. I'm going to highlight the books I'm most excited for and the release info: 

Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lai (Sept 3/19) - story of displacement and follows a young refugee from Vietnam who moves to Texas. It is a story of family and finding one self. As a Vietnamese-Canadian, I am extremely intrigued by this book and I'm so glad that I received an ARC in the swag bag. Be sure to stay tuned for a review of this! I plan to read it very soon. 

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite (Sept 3/19) - the HCC staff showed a cute intro video featuring Maika and Maritza and they just seem so down-to-earth and I can't wait to pick up this book. They hope that the message will be universal because it is a story of mothers and daughters and it is an inside look into Haitian culture! 

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan (Sept 10/19) - this book already has movie news which is so awesome to hear! I've been hearing a lot of buzz about this online, and to learn that it is being comped to Juno and has a road trip element of sorts? I'm sold!! 

Break in Case of Emergency by Brian Francis (Sept 10/19) - this book follows a 15 year old who has to live with her grandparents because of the death of her mother by suicide. The HCC staff mentioned that this book was a balancing act of dark and light because years later, the protagonist's estranged father shows up and mentions that he is gay. I can't wait to see how this story all comes together. Every staff member mentioned that they absolutely loved this. 

Dangerous Alliance: An Austentacious Romance by Jennieke Cohen (Dec 3/19) - as an avid romance reader, this is definitely my most anticipated read of the list. Historical romance with some mystery, Jane Austen elements, and what the HCC staff said was basically Victorian tinder. Please sign me up! 

When You Ask Me Where I'm Going by Jasmin Kaur (Oct 1/19) - as mentioned earlier, this beautiful collection is a mix of prose, short stories, and illustrations. Kaur has divided the book into six sections and she touches on various topics such as feminism, sexuality, mental health, cultural dynamics, and more. Having had the chance to hear her read 3 passages, I can just tell this one will be spectacular! 

What books are you most excited to read this Fall? Let me know in the comments! As always, many thanks to the lovely hardworking team at HCC for a lovely Sunday morning! 

Presenting Vi and Penelope's Cocky Hero World

[Cover Reveal] Park Avenue Player by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Park Avenue Player

Release date: September 23, 2019

A Standalone Contemporary Romance

New York Times Bestselling Authors Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

[Blog Tour] Broken Knight by L.J. Shen - Excerpt

"Everyone needs to read this book. "

- Harloe Rae, USA Today bestselling author.

Broken Knight, an all new standalone about first loves, betrayal, and loss from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is available now!

Review: Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker

Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker 

Publishing Date: August 6, 2019
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 384
Contemporary Romance

The Premise from the Publisher: "Life is a mixed bag for Piper Calloway. On the one hand, she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm, and living the high single life with her two best friends in a swanky downtown penthouse. On the other hand, she’s considered a pair of sexy legs in a male-dominated world and constantly has to prove her worth. Plus she’s stuck seeing her narcissistic ex-fiancé—a fellow VP—on the other side of her glass office wall every day. Things get exponentially more complicated for Piper when she runs into Kyle Miller—the handsome new security guard at Calloway Group, and coincidentally the first love of her life. The guy she hasn’t seen or heard from since they were summer camp counselors together. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The guy who apparently doesn’t even remember her name. Piper may be a high-powered businesswoman now, but she soon realizes that her schoolgirl crush is still alive and strong, and crippling her concentration. What’s more, despite Kyle’s distant attitude, she’s convinced their reunion isn’t at all coincidental, and that his feelings for her still run deep. And she’s determined to make him admit to them, no matter the consequences" (Atria Books).

My Review: This was my first time reading something by K.A. Tucker and she is one of those authors that I know a lot of people in my life love reading. I decided to start with her newest release. This story follows Piper who is about to take over her father's company while dealing with a misogynistic co-worker who undermines her, her ex-fiance, who happens to still work at the company with her, and now the boy from camp who was her first love, Kyle. Piper is determined to reconnect with Kyle because when things broke off between them, he simply vanished and she never got the closure she needed. It's also clear that they are from different worlds as she's about to head a multi-billion dollar firm and he is the security guard of the building. Kyle is definitely reluctant to reconnect at first, and I totally understood his anxieties around it all. They worked back then but they had to see if they could work now. I'm a big fan of second chance romances, and while I'm glad that Tucker offered the reader a Now/Then perspective in terms of Piper and Kyle's relationship... at times it felt too much? There was a lot to juggle in this book in terms of Piper dealing with that aggressive undermining co-worker, Piper being tied up in her parents' drama as they are divorced, but also some leftover secrets from that summer at camp thirteen years ago... all the while the main love story at the core. Despite that, this book demonstrated not only the main core love story, but strong friendships and family connections. You got to see how Piper became friends with some camp people, but also how her family dynamics all work. It was great to see how Piper and Kyle fell in love, and seeing them rekindle that relationship again thirteen years later. The passion was still there, and although they physically changed and grew up, at the core, they were still Piper and Kyle. I really loved Piper as a character and it's easy to see why Kyle fell for her. She is so strong and resilient, but also despite her upbringing and her money, she is incredibly down-to-earth and caring about her loved ones. All in all, I enjoyed this read. It did feel long for me in some aspects, but I understand why Tucker gave all the background information. She knows how to world-build in a novel, and that's great to see in a romance book. Like I mentioned earlier, this was my first Tucker novel, and I look forward to going back and checking out her backlist. I definitely think fans of Christina Lauren would enjoy her writing!

My rating of the book: ✮✮✮½ - 3.5/5 stars

Available for purchase:
Indigo/Chapters - Kobo - Amazon - Kindle - Book Depository
Disclaimer: I received an advanced e-reader's copy from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for consideration/review. All opinions are my own.