friends to lovers

Promise Me Sunshine

Promise Me Sunshine released earlier this month, thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

This was a beautifully written, tender story about a woman learning to live again after a devastating loss. 

Lenny’s best friend in the world, her person, passed away and her world is just absolutely rocked by it. She’s living in a cycle of temporary nanny gigs, afraid to make a commitment to anyone, and also afraid to return to her apartment she shared with her friend so she wanders the streets and sleeps on public transportation. She meets Miles, uncle to one of her charges, and he offers to help her work through her “live again” list, while she helps him bond with his niece. 

The grief was handled so beautifully – both characters have suffered losses but are at different stages in the grief cycle and I just thought the representation felt so real and authentic. They bonded over their grief but also helped each other work through it. Despite all the grief, there was still humor and a bit of romance throughout. 

The blurb says it’s a romance, and I’m not quite sure I agree with that – it definitely read more woman’s fiction to me, with a romance that kicks in ⅔ of the way in (at least for Lenny. Miles was obviously in love with her from the beginning)

It didn’t quite top Ready or Not for me, but I did like it a whole lot! 

The Last Guy on Earth

Happy Tuesday! The Last Guy On Earth is out today, thank you to the author for the ARC.

I loved this! No one does hockey romance like Sarina, and it is always a joy to return to this world. 

This is a second chance romance with some forbidden vibes, between a hockey coach and the player transferred to his team. They played in the minors together years ago and had a burgeoning romance at the time, but their career took them in different directions until they’re suddenly dropped back into each other’s lives.

They had a lot of hurt feelings over the past, and I loved watching them work through those emotions while also trying to maintain a professional front. Both characters were really great, both separately and together. I really enjoyed all the secondary characters, and seeing our old friends from series past.

I just really loved it! 

In A Rush

Happy Tuesday! In A Rush is out today, thank you to the author for the ARC. 

If you know me, you know my unrelenting love for In A Jam, the first book in this series (though either can 100% be read as a standalone) so I was so excited to get more in this world! This was a laugh out loud romance, filled with long term pining (from him), a fulfilled marriage pact, and revenge against a two-timing ex. 

I love a marriage of convenience romance but a revenge marriage is even better. Emme recently found out her ex was cheating on her, and the two have to be in a wedding party together very soon. Her old BFF Ryan reminds her of the marriage pact they made in high school – they’re both 30 and unmarried, so they elope in order to make her ex feel bad and also to clean up Ryan’s reputation. 

Ryan and Emme are both flawed characters, which I loved even if they were at times frustrating (just like real people are!) There were a lot of genuinely hilarious moments, and it was so wonderful to see characters we’ve met in previous books but also meet new ones. I especially loved Ryan’s teammates! 

Though I really did find this enjoyable, there were perhaps too many similarities plot wise to In A Jam for me  (marriage of convenience, high school friends, he’s secretly pined for her for years, she’s a teacher who recently got dumped and is feeling adrift, same female friend groups, etc) which made it hard not to compare the two. It didn’t quite stack up as well for me or have the same heart as In A Jam. I also found Shay and Noah to be way more likable than Emme and Ryan. 

Overall though I did like it and enjoyed my time back in this world!

Wyatt

Wyatt is out today! Thank you to the author for the ARC

This one is for the mutual pining lovers! This is a childhood friends to fake dating to lovers romance between Sally and Wyatt, who we met in Cash. 

I loved this! I’m not always a fan of friends to lovers but I thought this was really really well done. It felt realistic why neither would have made a move before now, and I loved watching their relationship grow and change as they finally did admit feelings. 

I loved both characters separately and together. Sally is driven and ambitious but still has space for her family, friends, and community. She’s a good girl, following the dream her father set out for her, but I loved that she finally stood up for what she wanted and found her own path. 

Wyatt is, on the surface, a bit of a class clown, always flirting and trying to make people laugh. He’s faced some loss in his life that makes him scared to commit, that is until he finally gets a chance with his dream girl Sally. Oh, did I love the way Wyatt loved Sally. He loved her in big ways and small ways and it just filled my heart with so much joy. He’s a man who is not afraid to show emotion, not afraid to make a grand gesture, not afraid to ask for help to win over his girl.

Together their relationship just felt meant to be – these two opposites sure had common ground in each other and I just thought it was a beautiful romance. It’s a romance that actually feels romantic but also has some very dirty (complementary) scenes that had me sweating – it was sweet and spicy in the best way. 

Overall, I just really really loved this addition to the Lucky River Ranch series and can’t wait for Sawyer!

Forever The Highlands

Happy Thursday! Forever The Highlands is out today! Thank you to the author for the ARC. 

It’s always great to be back in Scotland with Samantha Young. This is the final book in The Highlands series, which is a spin off of the Adairs, so this is book number 11 set in this world.

This is Eilidh and Fyfe’s story, which is a brother’s best friend, single dad romance. We’ve known Eilidh since the beginning of the Adairs and watched her grow up over the course of the series so it was nice that she finally got a turn to shine.

I thought both characters were really interesting. Eilidh is struggling, she sacrificed everything for a career she hates. She doesn’t know who she is anymore or what she really wants, other than her brother’s best friend. Fyfe has had a troubled life and doesn’t think he has the capacity for love until the daughter he didn’t know existed is dropped on his porch unexpectedly.

I loved how these two broken people finally found each other after years of tension and pining. I’m sad to see this series end, but look forward to what the author will bring us in the future!

Broken Harbor

Broken Harbor is out now, thank you to the author for the ARC. 

I’m so happy to be back in Sparrow Falls! This is Sutton and Cope’s story, both of whom we’ve met previously.

Sutton is a single mother bakery owner with a young son and a past she’s hiding from. Cope is a NHL star, in town to coach a kid’s camp and rehab his image a bit. When Sutton loses her place to live, Cope invites her and her son to stay with him.

There’s forced proximity goodness, suspense that keeps you guessing, and a swoony romance. The relationship between Cope and Sutton’s son is also very cute. 

I really enjoyed this! I also listened to the audio and thought it was well done, especially Connor Crais as Cope. 

Holidating

Holidating is out today, thank you to the author for the ARC.

This is a collection of three standalone holiday stories, two previously released and one brand new novella, bound into one edition. I’ve already previously read Boyfriend and Blonde date so I’ll just share quick reviews and focus on Crossroads here.

This is a new novella following Damien, the final Rossi sibling from the True North series. Though this can be read as a standalone, it sure was nice to see the Rossi family again. Damien is a taxi driver with a crush on one of his fares, Nicolette. This follows them over the course of 15 years as he gives her rides at Christmas.

They’re quite young when they meet and the plot takes them far apart from each other at times, but I loved following their journeys and how they were eventually brought together. There is a certain sadness to their stories which I love – not everyone is happy at Christmas and I think it’s good to recognize that. 

There could be some triggers for people in here so be careful but I really really enjoyed this story! It was so great to be back in Vermont and I just can’t get enough of this world.

2024 Holiday Romances

This is a big year for holiday romance, mostly Christmas but some Hannukah and New Years as well. I’ve been working on gathering these for a while, so here it is:

Aug 27 – Last Christmas – Clare Swatman

Sept 2 – Christmas Ever After – Jaimie Admans 

Sept 4 – This is Not A Holiday Romance – Camilla Isley 

Sept 13 – Snow is Falling – Sarah Bennett 

Sept 17 – I’ll Get Back to You – Becca Grischow

Sep 23 – Snowed In With A Scotsman – Amber Cooper

Sept 24 – The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year – Ally Carter

Sept 24 – The Christmas You Found Me – Sarah Morganthaler 

Sept 24 – Jingle Bell Mingle – Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Sept 24 – Kiss Me at Christmas – Jenny Bayliss

Sept 24 – Second Chance Christmas – Jahquel J

Sept 24 – A Novel Christmas – Charity Shane

Sept 24 – Christmas In Spite of You – K.C. Mills

Sept 24 – All I Want Is You – Falon Ballard

Sept 24 – The Holiday Cottage – Sarah Morgan  

Sept 24 – Evergreen Christmas – Janet Dailey 

Sept 24 – The Christmas Catch – Toni Shiloh 

Sept 26 – Look Up, Handsome – Jack Strange 

Oct 1 – Make the Season Bright – Ashley Herring Blake 

Oct 1 – The Merriest Misters – Timothy Janovsky

Oct 1 – Only for the Holidays – Abiola Bello

Oct 1 – Mistletoe Misses – Alexandra Grace 

Oct 1 – Make My Wish Come True – Rachael Lippincott

Oct 1 – The Merry Matchmaker – Sheila Roberts

Oct 1 – One Big Happy Family – Susan Mallery 

Oct 1 – Some Like It Cold – Elle McNicoll 

Oct 1 – That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe – Julie Christianson

Oct 3 – Zero – Mandy Muse 

Oct 3 – Faking The Book Boyfriend – AK Landow

Oct 8 – When In December – Kendra Mase 

Oct 8 – The Christmas Crush – Noelle Douglas

Oct 8 – Love You a Latke – Amanda Elliot 

Oct 8 – The Nightmare Before Kissmas – Sara Raasch 

Oct 8 – The Most Wonderful Time – Jayne Allen

Oct 8 – Christmas Sweater Weather – Jaqueline Snow

Oct 8 – I’ll Be Gone For Christmas – Georgia K Boone

Oct 8 – Christmas in Aspen – Anita Hughes 

Oct 8 – Christmas Eve Love Story – Ginny Baird 

Oct 3 – Faking The Book Boyfriend – AK Landow

Oct 8 – When In December – Kendra Mase 

Oct 9 – A Holiday Worth Fighting For – Donna JA Olson

Oct 8 – The Holiday Honeymoon Switch – Julia McKay

Oct 8-  The December Market – RaeAnne Thayne

Oct 8 – Snowy Mountain Christmas – Sharon Sala 

Oct 8 – Up to Snow Good – Dani Ryan

Oct 8 – Holiday In Handcuffs – Nicole Sanchez 

Oct 9 – A Holiday Worth Fighting For – Donna JA Olson

Oct 10 – Sprinkle All The Way – Kayla Martin

Oct 10 – The Christmas Tree Farm – Laurie Gilmore 

Oct 10 – Sprinkle All The Way – Kayla Martin

Oct 10 – Making the Book Boyfriend – Carolina Jax

Oct 14 – Decked In Red & Green – Alexandra Hale 

Oct 14 – We Three Kings – Kristen Bailey 

Oct 14 – Deck The Shelves – Joelle Cullen

Oct 15 – Just One More Mistletoe – Carly Phillips 

Oct 15 – Only Ever You – Emma Sewell

Oct 15 – Hung By The Fire – Shea Brighton 

Oct 15 – Maid At Christmas – Bell Renshaw

Oct 15 – How My Neighbor Stole Christmas – Meghan Quinn

Oct 15 – A Winter Wish – Emily Stone

Oct 15 – Most Wonderful – Georgia Clark

Oct 15 – Eight Nights to Win Her Heart – Miri White

Oct 15 – The Wedding Witch – Erin Sterling 

Oct 15 – All I want For Christmas – Karen Swan

Oct 15 – Holiday Tides – Laura Langa

Oct 16 – Miami Ice – Aven Ellis

Oct 16 – A Scottish Christmas – Emma Bennet 

Oct 17 – Last Christmas Crush – Mia Heintzelman  

Oct 17 – Axes and O’s – Kayla Grosse 

Oct 17- Rating the Book Boyfriend – Jade Dollston 

Oct 17 – Tangled With the Tight End – Alexia Chase

Oct 18 – When the Snow Settles – Rachel Leberge

Oct 18 – Trouble – Brittanee Nicole

Oct 19 – Meet Me Under The Mistletoe – Danielle Baker

Oct 22 – The Christmas Countdown – Holly Cassidy 

Oct 22 – The Anti-Social Season – Adele Buck

Oct 22 – Hero for the Holidays – Maisey Yates

Oct 22 – The Christmas Cookie Wars – Eliza Evans

Oct 22 – Christmas Is All Around – Martha Waters

Oct 22- Merry Little Hate Notes – Jennifer Peel

Oct 22 – A Very Merry Hitman – Katie Reus

Oct 22 – Let’s Get Naughty – anthology

Oct 22 – Sleigh Me If You Can – Cheryl Terra 

Oct 22 – Winter Falls -Shana Gray

Oct 24 – Santa’s Coming – Serena Pier

Oct 24 – Merry With A Brewmaster – Alexandra Hale

Oct 24 – Mistlefoe – Mari Loyal 

Oct 24 – The Christmas Ornament – DL Gallie 

Oct 24 – Hating the Book Boyfriend – L.A. Farrow

Oct 24 – Tis The Season for Secrets – Kate Callaghan

Oct 24 – The Christmas Ornament – DL Gallie

Oct 25 – Single All the Way – Amy Knupp

Oct 25 – If This Was A Movie – Morgan Elizabeth 

Oct 25 – Filthy Rich Santa’s – Eve Ashwood 

Oct 25 – Mistle Ho – Josie Watts 

Oct 26 – Mistletoe Ever After – Nana Malone 

Oct 29 – Ghosts of Ex-Mas Past – Liz Alden

Oct 29 – Stuck Together – Lily Joseph

Oct 29 – The Christmas Fake – Rachel Kaye 

Oct 29 – Snow Struck – Elle Rivers 

Oct 29 – Sugar Nookie – Marika Ray 

Oct 29 – Heat and Run – Adriana Herrera 

Oct 29 – Catering to Christmas – Roxie Clarke

Nov 1 – Holiday Hire – Maggie Grace 

Nov 1 – Cookies, Candles, & Cute Butts – Dylan James 

Nov 1 – Merry Mishap – Vivian Mae 

Nov 1 – One Hundred Lights – Chrissy Hopewell 

Nov 1 – Yachts and Yuletide – Maude Winters

Nov 1 – From Santa With Love – Samantha Gail

Nov 1 – O Goalie Night – KM Gillis 

Nov 1 – Christmas Criminal – Ally Williams 

Nov 1 – One Little Chance – Rebecca Jo Jackson

Nov 1 – Falling In Love – Maddie Ellis 

Nov 1 – Christmas Delivery – Natalie Wish

Nov 1 – Saved By Noel – Tracy Baack 

Nov 1 – One Christmas With You – Mari Suggs

Nov 1 – The Spite Before Christmas – Jessica Booth

Nov 2 – Wrapped Up In Holly – Sophie Andrews 

Nov 4 – Christmas Off Script – Evie Alexander

Nov 4 – One Foggy Christmas – Kortney Keisel 

Nov 5 – The Remains of Christmas – Megan Montgomery

Nov 5 – Keep Me Warm – E.A. Brady 

Nov 5 – Mistletoe Mischief – Codi Hall

Nov 7 – Snowflake Kisses – Alane Middleton

Nov 7 – The Write Before Christmas – Lynessa Layne

Nov 7 – My Secret Santa Axton – Blaire Wild 

Nov 7 – See You Next Winter – Holly June Smith 

Nov 7 – Snowflakes In Seattle – Eve Kasey 

Nov 7 – Home For The Hockey Days – L McMaster

Nov 8 – The Naughty or Nice Clause – Kate Callaghan

Nov 8 – Tied Together – Baleigh Jayne 

Nov 8 – In the Money With You – Edie Cay

Nov 8 – Christmas Lights and Fights – Jatia Eley 

Nov 8 – Save A Horse – Irene Bahrd 

Nov 8 – All Wrapped Up – CF White

Nov 9 – Snowed In With Mr Heartbreaker – Pippa Grant 

Nov 11 – Holidating – Sarina Bowen

Nov 11 – Snow Storm – EM Lindsey 

Nov 11 – Inherited Holiday – M Robinson 

Nov 11 – Five Stolen Rings – Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Nov 11 – Havoc for the Holidays – Jay Leigh

Nov 12 – Flopping In A Winter Wonderland – Jason June

Nov 12 – The Twelve Days of Christian – Caroline Corvin 

Nov 12 – Somewhere For Your Loneliness – Jeri Marie

Nov 12 – Merrily Yours – Rachel Lewis 

Nov 12 – Christmas Alibi – Dani Elias

Nov 12 – If Only In Our Dreams – Fae Quinn 

Nov 12 – Holiday Hoax – Nichole Green 

Nov 12 – Christmas with a Crank – Courtney Walsh

Nov 12 – Cruel Winter With You – Ali Hazelwood 

Nov 12 – Merry Ever After – Tessa Bailey

Nov 12 – All By My Elf – Olivia Dade

Nov 12 – Merriment and Mayhem – Alexandra Bellefleur

Nov 12 – Only Santa’s In The Building – Alexis Daria 

Nov 12 – Frosted By The Girl Next Door – Aurora Rey

Nov 12 – This Christmas – Georgia Beers 

Nov 12 – Unwrapped – D Jackson Leigh

Nov 12 – Festive Faking – Siena Trap 

Nov 12 – Elf Against The Wall – Alina Jacobs

Nov 12  Mistletoe Magic – Rebecca Barber

Nov 12- Second Chances with St Nick – Vicki Hilton

Nov 12 – The Santa’s Who Stole Me – Heather Nicks 

Nov 13 – I’ll Be Boned For Christmas – Katherine McIntyre 

Nov 13 – All You Want for the Holidays – Quinton Li

Nov 14 – Gnome One Like You – Tobie Carter 

Nov 14 – My Favorite Holidate – Lauren Blakely 

Nov 14 – Dancing In Lake Mistletoe – Amber Kelly 

Nov 14 – Gold Frankincense & Her – Louise Hudson

Nov 14 – 12 Days of Mistletoe – Jen Atkinson 

Nov 14 – Christmas At Fox Ridge – Bailey Hannah

Nov 14 – Dancing In Lake Mistletoe – Amber Kelly

Nov 14 – Everything I Wish For – J Hutchison

Nov 14 – Christmas Promises – Mia Elliot 

Nov 14 – The Thief Who Saved Christmas – Angela Casella 

Nov 14 – Jingle Balls – Rhian Cahill 

Nov 14 – A Baby For Christmas – Keira Andrews 

Nov 14 – Sin & Sleigh Rides – Eliza Black

Nov 14 – Seduction & Snowflakes – Meg Becker

Nov 14 – Sinning for Santa – Sarah J.D.

Nov 14 – Real Tree/Fake Boyfriend – Ree Thomas

Nov 14 – The Duke Who Despised Christmas – Scarlett Scott

Nov 14 – This Christmas – Kimolisa Mings

Nov 15 – Once Upon A Christmas Tree – Lulu Moore

Nov 15 – Mistletoe & Mine – JR Jenner

Nov 15 – Elfemies to Lovers – Jennifer Chipman

Nov 15 – Wrapped Up – Marlyn Love

Nov 15 – At Home With You This Christmas – Marie Landry 

Nov 15 – Meeting Mr Christmas – Ali Ryecart 

Nov 15 – When The Fake Snow Falls – Heather Garvin

Nov 15 – Holly’s Jolly Christmas – Stephanie Alves

Nov 15 – Slay All the Way – Nova Kane

Nov 15 – Christmas Kisses – Fiona Clarke

Nov 15-  The Christmas Pic – Rena Sapon White 

Nov 17 – Shining Star – Rasida Martin 

Nov 17 – Death’s Christmas Present – Hazel Rockwood

Nov 18 – Snowed In – Anthology (Cora Rose, EM Lindsey)

Nov 18 – Snowflakes, Cakes, and Royal Mistakes – Elizabeth Heathly 

Nov 18 – Santa of the Creek – Sue Brown

Nov 18 – A Quarterback for Christmas – Ana Shay

Nov 18 – The Christmas Cookie Crush – Jerica Macmillan 

Nov 19 – Merry Kissmas – Piper Rayne

Nov 19 – Naughty or Nice – Sophie Snow

Nov 19 – Wreck My Halls – Kate McWilliams & more

Nov 19 – Grouch-ish – LB Dunbar

Nov 19 – The Best You’ve Ever Had – Amelia Chasen

Nov 19 – Meet Me In Wonderland – Angel Anders 

Nov 19 – Santa Monica Baby – Kelly Reynolds

Nov 19 – Santa Maybe – Carla Luna

Nov 19 – Baking It Merry – Samantha Chase 

Nov 19 – Go Puck Yourself – Ariana St Claire

Nov 19 – His For Christmas – Lea Rose

Nov 19 – 12 Days to Christmas – Rebecca Alexandru

Nov 19 – Catching Up To Christmas – Roxie Clarke 

Nov 19 – The Best You’ve Ever Had – Amelia Chasen

Nov 19 – Chilled and Thrilled – Cleo White 

Nov 19 – Better Not Pout- Kat Savage

Nov 19 – Santa Daddy, I’m Not the One – Gianni Holmes

Nov 19 – Tangled Up In You – Shannon O’Connor 

Nov 20 – Silver Linings – Nic Starr

Nov 20 – Mistletoe Misconduct – Giuliana Victoria 

Nov 20 – My Greatest Joy – Brook Fox

Nov 20 – Christmas Cancelation – Evie James 

Nov 20 – A Handyman for the Holidays – Valerie Gomez

Nov 21 – My December Darling – Lauren Asher 

Nov 21 – The Christmas You Crash – Piper Hale

Nov 21 – Her Knotty List – Ari Wright 

Nov 21 – Silent Night – CR Riley 

Nov 21 – Merry In Moose Falls – Emily Silver 

Nov 21 – A Wish On Willow Way – Caroline Laine

Nov 21 – The Christmas You Crash – Piper Hale

Nov 21 – Kiss Me – Tiffany Patterson

Nov 21 – Gifted to His Dad – J Wilder 

Nov 21 – A Very Merry Nanny – Lyra Parrish

Nov 21 – A Minotaur Tale – Kass O’Shire

Nov 22 – Deck the Fire Halls – N.R. Walker 

Nov 22 – Holiday Hostilities – Katie Bailey

Nov 22 – Tastes Like Sugar – Becca Seymour 

Nov 22 – Knot Me For The Holidays anthology 

Nov 22 – A Naughty List for Christmas – Kat Summers

Nov 22 – Holly’s Grizzly – Leigh Miller 

Nov 22 – The Professor’s Holiday Surprise – Chloe Maine

Nov 22 – A Surprise for the Holidays – Anna Sparrows

Nov 23 – Snowed Under – Juliana Smith 

Nov 23 – Dear Santa, Send Me A Cowboy – Remi Rose

Nov 23 – Christmas Sins – H.N. Defore 

Nov 25 – Dance, Sugarplum – Amy Oliveira 

Nov 25 – The Cowboy Christmas Glow Up – Suzy Langevin

Nov 25 – Wrecked for the Holidays – Kerry Kilpatric

Nov 26 – Merry With Me – Kaylee Ryan 

Nov 26 – The Map Home – Elle Keaton

Nov 26 – He Sees You When You’re Sleeping – Alta Hensley 

Nov 26 – His Taste of Christmas – PS Black 

Nov 26 – The Goalie and Santa’s Little Helper – Ginger Scott

Nov 27 – All I Want For Christmas is The Hot Fireman Next Door – Rebecca Caudill

Nov 27 – Hostile Holidays – Erin Hawkins 

Nov 27 – Just for the Holidays – Micah Carver

Nov 28 – Dancing Through the Snow – Laura Rush 

Nov 29 – The Christmas List – Maren Moore

Nov 29 – Christmas by Design – Allie Samberts

Nov 29 – The Perfect Gift – Clio Evans 

Nov 29 – My Ex For Christmas – Bobbi Maclaren 

Nov 29 – The Christmas Rebound – Cali Mellep

Nov 29 – Hating You For Christmas – Liz Zerkle 

Nov 30 – A Storm is Coming – Orion Azure

Dec 1 – Screw’egd – Trilina Pucci 

Dec 1 – Finding Out – Jenni Bara 

Dec 1 – It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas – Julianna Keyes

Dec 1 – Merry Switch-mas – Elise Eliot  

Dec 2 – Slaying the Holidays – Beatrix Hollow 

Dec 2 – All That Glitters – Courtney Clark Michaels 

Dec 2 – Santa’s Baby – Jade West

Dec 2 – A Kiss for the Holidays – C.S. Autumn

Dec 3 – Second Down Scrooge – Lisa Suzanne 

Dec 3  – Ice & Sweet – Charlie Novak 

Dec 3 – Looks Real Good Now – Sophie Thomas

Dec 3 – Crushes & Christmas – KE Monteith 

Dec 3 – Worth the Rush – Bea Borges 

Dec 4 – The Holiday Party Pretense – Skye Kilaen 

Dec 4 – Matchmaking Under The Mistletoe – Hollie Luckie 

Dec 4 – Brewing Up Christmas – Emily Campbell

Dec 4 – Deck the Palms – Annabeth Albert 

Dec 5 – The Night Before Grumpmas – Kendall Hale

Dec 5 – The Dreidl Disaster – Stacey Agdern 

Dec 5 – Sin & Snowflakes – anthology

Dec 5 – The Knotty Claus – Honey Phillips

Dec 5 – Our First Noel – Heather Camacho 

Dec 5 – Sweet Boys Love Christmas – Micalea Smeltzer

Dec 5 – Snow Harm No Foul – Hannah Cowen

Dec 5 – Married With Malice – Cora Brent

Dec 6 – The Holiday Claus – Anne Einerson 

Dec 6 – The Holiday Fix – Nicole Banks 

Dec 6 – Whisked Til Peaked – Zea Kayleigh Galan 

Dec 6 – The Holiday Claus – Ann Einerson

Dec 6 – A Nightclub for the Holidays – Ardem Coutts

Dec 6 – Surviving the Holly Days – Echo Grayce

Dec 9 – A Crush for the Holidays  – E.L. Ough

Dec 10 – The Mistletoe Mix Up – Codi Hall

Dec 10 – Merry Little Mix Up – Lacey Black 

Dec 10 – Since We’ve No Place to Go – Kate Watson

Dec 10 – Baby Cakes – SJ Tilly

Dec 10 – Sparkle On the Ice – Hayley James

Dec 11 – An Alpha For the Holidays – Emily Axon

Dec 12 – Tinsel in Telluride – Hayden Locke

Dec 13 – A Christmas Mystery – Noelle Adams 

Dec 13 – A Pack For Winter – Eliana Lee 

Dec 13 – A Pack for the Holidays – Dallas Smith

Dec 15 – The Kiss Class – Ellie Hall

Dec 28 – Tis The Season of Wicked Deeds – Simran 

Delicate Escape – Catherine Cowles

Happy Delicate Escape day! Thank you to the author for the ARC and ALC

It’s great to be back in Sparrow Falls!

This brings us Thea and Shep’s story, both of whom we met in book one. Thea is a woman on the run, in hiding for reasons we discover as the book progresses, who has trouble letting anyone in for obvious reasons. Shep is a good guy who wants to get to know her and help her out when her house needs work. They end up as roommates so he can help with her plumbing (literally … but also figuratively wink wink) 

I loved them both individually and together. I just love when opposites attract and their black cat/golden retriever energies were so great. Shep fell hard and fast for Thea and I love how carefully he worked to gain her trust and get her walls down. 

The suspense had me guessing and my theory was so wrong which I love! The author fooled me again and I’m so glad she did. 

I love the family/found family aspect of Shep’s family and how they welcomed Thea so readily into their fold. Lolli continues to be the best and I can’t wait to get more of her antics! I love this series and this world and am so glad when I get to spend more time there. 

I read it first with my eyeballs then did a second read on audio and thought both narrators did a great job! It’s Erin Mallon and Teddy Hamilton so of course they did. 

Saving Rain – Kelsey Kingsley

Oooh did I love this book.

This is a beautiful story of redemption, told in dual timelines but only one POV, which was his. I really liked the uniqueness of the single POV being the MMCs. And what a great MMC he was!

Soldier was born to a young mother with a drug problem, leading a very unstable upbringing and a series of bad decisions as a teen led him to be in prison in his early twenties. He did not always make the best choices but we can see the desperation that brought him to that point. We get his whole story from childhood to adult as we move through the first past timeline. 

We also get his present day story, being released from prison years later and trying to fit in back in the outside world. He ends up living next to a single mother and her son, whom he befriends and eventually starts a romance with the mom.

Truth be told, the romance is somewhat of the lesser plot here, and I didn’t mind at all. I loved Soldier, his strength and inherent goodness despite his difficult upbringing was beautiful. His journey was hard at times but I genuinely loved it. There is not much I love more than a true story of redemption and this one just really hit the spot for me. 

We do however definitely get a romance, and a beautiful, tender one at that. Soldier and Rain saved each other in multiple ways and their love felt meant to be. I also loved Soldier’s other relationships, with his former prison guard who helped him reestablish himself, with the townspeople as he won them over, and especially with Rain’s son who was the first person to befriend Soldier and not treat him any differently. 

I do have to say, it’s pretty long. It’s around 500 pages, and it’s very character driven so you spend a lot of time with Soldier. I personally enjoyed every second and flew through the pages. I loved the author’s writing style so much I immediately picked up the next (loosely interconnected) book and binged that one as well (review to come!)