Single Dad Dilemma is out today! Thank you to the author for the ALC.
I really enjoyed this! Single dad, neighbors to lovers, and an emotional slow burn as only Karla can write.
Barrett and Lily were both super grumpy which I love, but in sort of different ways. Barrett’s job as head coach to a football team leaves him with very little free time so he lives a very regimented life and doesn’t appreciate disruption, while Lily is a free wheeling nomad who constantly disrupts him. They’re brought together by Barrett’s kids and slowly find themselves turning into more.
I really liked Lily – she’s introverted, doesn’t really like people, and just kept needling Barrett. I love that the author regularly gives us non-sunshine FMCs.
It wouldn’t be a Karla book if it didn’t break my heart, so of course it did at times, but overall I love how they found the partner/love/home they both had been missing.
I did the audio on this one and really enjoyed it, especially Aiden Snow. He had the perfect taciturn kind of voice for this. CJ Bloom also did a great job, if not a little cheerier than the character called for.
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.
Dream Girl Drama is out now! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
This started like a fairy tale, with a great meet cute – very instalove but in a way that felt dreamy and meant to be, that is until later that night when Sig and Chloe find out their parents are engaged to be married. Suddenly, their fledgling relationship turns out to be very forbidden in their circle.
I really liked Sig a lot – he’s a typical Tessa Bailey hero, totally, completely, out of his mind, gone for his lady. He’s willing to do anything for Chloe, sacrificing everything to afford her the spoiled lifestyle in which she’s accustomed and ensure her safety and security.
If you’re in it for the regular Tessa vibes – laugh out loud humor, steam, obsessed hero, then this one definitely has it in spades.
For me, the pining and longing were great, but ultimately, the entire plot hinged on this “forbidden” relationship that just wasn’t really that forbidden or taboo. A little weird? Maybe. It was a lot of drama about something that really wasn’t that dramatic. They could give a People magazine interview and clear the whole thing up in ten minutes.
The hints for the next book do have me excited and I’m quite looking forward to their story, even if this one wasn’t a true winner for me!
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!
Happy Tuesday! Slapshot Surprise is out today, thank you to the author for the ARC.
I loved this!
Mabel Buckley, who we’ve seen as a side character in her brother’s books, finally has her chance to shine. She’s flying home to Cherry Tree Harbor when her plane his a lot of turbulence and she thinks she’s going to die so she blurts out all her regrets in life to the super hot guy sitting next to her – including how she’s only ever had bad sex. When they end up at the same wedding a few days later her former seatmate, hockey star Joe Lupo, offers to help her out and cross good sex off her bucket list. She agrees, and oops. She ends up pregnant.
I really loved that a lot of the book focused on the progression of the pregnancy and also the progression of their relationship. They had geographical hurdles, sure, but also Joe had never planned on settling down and starting a family so his journey into accepting his new reality was a good one and I loved that it wasn’t immediately sunshine and roses.
Though becoming a father took some time to get used to, Joe was immediately taking care of his baby mama and I loved how protective and considerate he was. Mabel was also a great character, she knew what she wanted and was willing to go at it alone if necessary.Both characters were very family oriented and I loved spending time with the Buckleys and the Lupos.
The romance between them was sweet and spicy and I loved them together. Overall this was a pretty lighthearted romance that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Happy Tuesday! I’m Your Guy by Sarina Bowen released today, I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a heartwarming, kick your feet and giggle kind of romance between grumpy very closeted hockey player Tommaso and sunshiney very out interior designer Carter. Tommaso’s mother is visiting for Christmas and he wants his (entirely empty) townhouse to be perfect for her visit so he hires Carter to transform his place.
Carter is having a rough patch both personally and professionally so this opportunity is a lifeline for him, but I love how he still knows his worth in the relationship as they move slowly from client/professional to friends to lovers.
The two were such opposites, I love how they accepted each other so wholly despite their differences. Tommaso was so stoic & broody, afraid to be his true self due his unsupportive extended family while Carter was so outgoing, confident, and comfortable with himself.
It just felt so warm and cozy and just filled my heart with joy. I love the whole Cougars team and the flashes of Bruisers we got to see.
If you’ve read Roommate by the author and loved those vibes you will surely love this one too! But if you haven’t read Sarina Bowen before you could absolutely read this one as a standalone – I don’t ever say that lightly because I hate feeling like I’m missing something but you really could read this by itself.
The audiobook has me intrigued too, Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan? Okay!
The Best Laid Plans releases tomorrow, thank you Montlake for the ARC.
This was such an enjoyable romance! It was perhaps a little more grief heavy than I was anticipating, but I enjoyed how emotional it was.
Burke is recently retired from the NFL due to an injury when he gets the news his best friend has tragically passed in a car accident and left him his grandparent’s mansion which is in massive need of a renovation. All Burke wants to do in his unplanned forced retirement is relax with his family in Florida, so a stressful project halfway across the country doesn’t appeal to him.
The house comes with a project manager in charge of the renovation who convinces him to keep the house and oversee the reno in honor of his best friend who wanted the house returned to its former glory. Burke and Charlotte temporarily move in together in the carriage house on the property and immediately butt heads. I enjoyed the sparks and banter between them and their slow burn relationship. I also really enjoyed their families and the set up for the next book sounds great!
Overall it was a good read, I really enjoyed the setting and the home preservation and I look forward to the next book!
Here’s a little #MessyMonday stack of the Carolina Comets by Teagan Hunter
I love this series! It’s just exactly what I want in sports romance. The friendships and joking between teammates, hot romances, excellent banter, and just a little bit of the actual sport.
Neutral Zone is book seven in the series, between Fitz and Rosie. They know each other in real life, but unbeknownst to Rosie, she also talks to Fitz online where he follows her cam girl account.
I love that Fitz was kind of a shy, awkward character. Normally professional athletes tend to be shown as more confident but I loved that he didn’t think he was good enough for the girl who serves him his coffee. Rosie was the bolder character, recently discovering her sexy side after being put down for her curves previously.
Together they were adorable, but also yowza this one was sizzling hot. To be fair, every book in this series is spicy, but this one was a little kinkier than the rest so felt extra spicy.
If you are looking for a funny and sexy sports romance series, I can’t recommend the Carolina Comets enough, out now in KU. It’s probably complete (for now), but a spin off series is coming soon!
One and Only is out today! Thank you to the author for the gifted copy! I bought the couple cover as well, because it’s just so gorgeous and I am forever a sucker for a forehead kiss.
This is a slowwww burn marriage of convenience sports romance which are some of my favorite things! This is between Greer, whom we’ve met previously in her sibling’s books, and Beckett, a football playing single dad who will do anything for his daughter.
The romance between the two is a slow burn in the best way, the tension is immaculate. I loved how opposite they are – Greer is bold and outgoing and has no problem sharing her feelings, while Beckett is taciturn and more reserved – and I loved how they complimented each other. I loved the moments where you could feel fake become real. I loved each of their relationships with Beckett’s daughter Olive, and I loved Greer’s relationship with her family. I even loved Beckett’s respectful co-parenting with Olive’s mom.
I guess you could say I loved it all! It’s the kind of romance that reminds me why I love the genre. It’s heartfelt, a bit emotional at times (I cried, though to be fair I also cheered out loud at one point), full of humor and charm and I was so glad to be back in this world.
Definitely check this one out in KU if you are looking for a new sports romance to steal your heart!
My Take: (ARC REVIEW) You do not want to miss this funny, sweet, poignant sports romance from the always fabulous Meghan Quinn. If you’ve read The Locker Room then you know you are in for a treat … but I loved The Dugout even more. (Both are totally standalone). There were moments towards the end where I wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall but all was well in the end, of course. Sports and college kids are both not my favorite topics but the writing and plot are so well done I barely even noticed. I enjoyed both main character’s journeys and watching them grow and change. It’s a bit of a slow burn but it so so hot once it gets there. 5/5 stars
If someone is vying for your spot on a team and just so happens to injure you during practice, would you believe it was on purpose?
Word around campus is . . . it was no accident.
That injury has cost me everything; my starting position, my junior year—and the draft. Now, I’m a senior fresh off recovery, struggling to find my groove, until the day I run into a nervous, fidgety, girl with freckles, in the dining hall.
They call Milly Potter The Baseball Whisperer, The Diamond Wizard, and The Epitome of All Knowledge. She believes in baseball. She breathes it. She’s the queen of an infamous dynasty, but no one actually knows who she really is, and she plans to keep it that way.
One mishap in the panini line, one miscommunication in the weight room, and many failed attempts at an apology equal up to one solid truth — Milly Potter never wants to speak to me again — no matter how good my forearms look.
Little do we both know, she’s about to become more than just my fairy ballmother.
Excerpt:
**CARSON**
Everyone knows me as the easygoing, fun-loving guy without a care in the world. You know who I’m talking about, right?
The guy who cheers when a couple kisses, who says stupid shit like YIPPEE when he’s excited, the guy who has no shame in shimmying his bare, bright white ass to his friends just to make them laugh.
I’m also the guy who is magically smart, can lead an entire bar to harmoniously sing any Taylor Swift song, lucks out in everything he does, and has impeccable taste in clothing—despite wearing a baseball hoodie every Monday. A dude must make himself feel better when the Monday blues hit and a hoodie does just that.
But have you guessed it? Do you see where this is going?
I’m not that guy anymore.
Nope.
Easygoing and fun-loving? Not anymore.
I spit venom at whoever dares to be in my presence. You know the old man who throws endless piles of shoes at the street youths as they walk by? That’s me, minus the incontinence problem and mothball smell. My days of singing Taylor Swift with a crowd are over.
Instead—if I even make it to a bar—I bury myself in a corner and sneer. Oh boy, do I fucking sneer. I sneer at anything and anyone that even attempts to look at my face.
That impeccable fashion sense I was boasting about? Gone. I think I’ve been wearing the same pair of athletic shorts for a month—not really—but maybe it’s a little true. And the guy who lucks out in everything he does? Ha, my luck was cut short at the beginning of the season thanks to the square ass, dirty dick named Kirk Babcock, also known as Kirk BADcock by my team.
What did this Badcock do, you ask?
If you’re thinking he poked me with said bad cock, you need to get your mind out of the gutter.
What he did was even worse than winging his willy around on the baseball field.
So bad that you might need to brace yourself . . .
**FLAILS ARMS**
He committed a sin against all baseball etiquette.
The cardinal sin.
The biggest sin of all sins.
Are you sitting? I don’t want you to faint from the blasphemy I’m about to share. Deeps breaths, everyone . . .
He . . . damn it, he slid late . . . at practice.
Gasp, I know.
I told you it was bad . . . my balls are shriveling up into my taint just thinking about it. The dumbass freshman, who had too much juice in his junk, decided to book it to second during a practice game while Holt and I were fleshing out a double play. The dingleberry slid into second base two seconds too late.
Why is this a problem?
For those of you who might not be in the know—don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you—back in 2016, the gods of baseball developed a new rule; all players sliding into second must hit the ground first before touching the bag to avoid injuring the opposing players.
Layman’s terms: don’t be a dickhead and hurt people.
Apparently, Badcock didn’t get that memo, because the little turd nugget charged second base like an out-of-control steam train . . . just as I slid my foot across the base for the out. His dirty slide took my leg out, twisting me in the process, and tossed me to the ground.
As I fell, I heard a resounding snap that would make any grown-ass man throw up into his lap, followed by an immense amount of pain shooting up the back of my leg. The motherfucker—stenchy bad cock—ruptured my Achilles tendon.
Like Achilles himself, I buckled to the ground and wallowed in pain while holding my leg, as if I let go, it would detach from my body and float right on up to heaven where it belongs for the many good years it gave me.
Badcock proceeded to fling his helmet off his head, get in my face, and apologize profusely, making up some excuse about tripping over his own damn feet. Yeah, okay, fart breath.
I’d like to see the tape for a full review, because I’m questioning the shit out of that statement. Tripped, my left nut.
If I was a freshman and got hurt, I wouldn’t want to rip the skin off Badcock’s scrotum, maybe just give him a swift lodge of my foot up his ass. But ripping scrotum skin, nah. But guess what? I’m not a goddamn freshman.
I’m a fucking junior, and if you know anything about baseball, you know being a junior in college is one of the most important times in a guy’s life.
Because that’s the year you’re eligible to be drafted.
DRAFTED.
Brentwood University is known as a breeding ground for exceptional baseball players; it’s where the scouts come to find their next top prospects. If you want to play professional baseball, you either choose to go into the draft right after high school or be recruited by Brentwood. I chose an education so I had a possible career to fall back on in case something happened to me . . . like rupturing my Achilles tendon.
Can you guess where this is going?
Strike up the violins, because a sob story is coming your way.
I was ushered off the field and straight to the state-of-the-art training room where, after an excruciating physical exam, I had an ultrasound. It was then confirmed I’d be out of commission for the season. I underwent surgery, had the stupid thing stitched back together—let’s take a moment to be physically ill over the thought of that—and then put through an extensive rehab, missing my chance to be drafted.
You read that right, I was not drafted. My best friends were . . . I was not.
Because no one wants an injured player, even if he has tons of promise.
Even if he was the best second baseman in the country.
Even if he was supposed to be drafted in the first round.
Not one single team wanted to take the gamble to see if I could make a full recovery. Isn’t that just peachy?
So needless to say, Kirk BADcock stays as far away from me as possible. As for me, I’d like to say I’m not a bitter man with a chip on his shoulder, but that would be a massive lie.
I have the biggest damn chip on my shoulder, so big that I named him Aloysius and I high-five him every morning, agreeing that we’re going to try to make at least one person’s life miserable that day.
My suggestion, if you see me around campus? Steer clear, run away, duck and hide, because I’m a polluted motherfucker with an equally rotten Aloysius on my shoulder ready to raise hell in your life.
Carson Stone is out for vengeance thanks to one moronic badcock.
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.
Romance Reviewed 