Category: Romance Books

Title: Taming Hollywood’s Baddest Boy
Author: Max Monroe
Rating:  4 stars
Genre: Romance
Where I got it: Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads Summary

Do people say they hate someone’s guts so that they can still fall stupidly, head-over-heels in love with the other parts?
Asking for a friend.

Okay, fine. I’m not asking for a friend.

I’m asking for me—and I’m begging you to tell me that the practice of falling in love with your should-be-enemy is common.

Please tell me that I’m not the only person to track down a guy—who used to be Hollywood’s baddest bad boy before he left LA for good—at his off-the-grid cabin in Alaska, show up unannounced, and find him gloriously naked.

This probably happens all the time…right?

Tell me I’m not alone in my stupidity—that I’m not the only woman who would fall for gorgeous blue eyes and a sexy devilish smirk, even if they belong to a broody, mysterious jerk.

Please. Please. Please. Tell me I’m not alone in this.

For the love of everything, I need all the supportive girl power I can get if I’m going to convince Luca Weaver to come back to Hollywood—otherwise known as the place he hates so much that he ghosted Oscar-level success and escaped to no-man’s-land for the last eight years just to avoid it.

Yeah, don’t worry—that smoke you’re smelling isn’t your house catching fire as you read this…it’s just my career and what was previously known as my heart going up in flames.

Gah. Is it just me, or am I totally, completely, and utterly screwed?

Review

I really enjoy Max Monroe’s books, so I had high expectations coming into this one. 

Did you ever watch the show Northern Exposure? It was set in the Alaskan wilderness and it was beautiful. This book read like that. Set for some part in the Alaskan wilderness, we follow Billie Harris, Hollywood Production Assistant, who told her a producer that she knows former Hollywood heartthrob Luca Weaver, who went off the grid 8 years ago. Billie thought that Luca would be perfect for her boss’s new movie.

After a bunch a finagling, Billie finds out the town in Alaska that Luca lives in. She shows up at his house unannounced and was not greeted kindly. At all. Billie grew up in West Virginia but is a city girl at heart, and she had a hard time with the Alaskan Wilderness.  This ended in hilarious scenes.

Luca wasn’t the greatest guy in the beginning, but boy, he became an amazing guy. I ended up loving him so much, and he had great chemistry with Billie.

If I had a complaint about the story, I didn’t love how the storyline with Luca’s sister went – wasn’t tied up enough for me. But overall, this book was so much fun.

I would recommend.

Happy reading.

Title: Sawyer
Author: Samantha Whiskey
Rating:  3 1/2 stars
Genre: Romance
Where I got it: Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads Summary

I never thought I’d achieve my dream of playing for the NHL—
Not while I’m my mom’s sole caretaker.
But the Carolina Reapers offer me a deal I can’t refuse:
A spot on their roster and top-rated support for my mom’s battle with Parkinson’s.

Balancing an NHL schedule and my mother’s care fills every minute of my day,
But one glance at Scythe’s bartender, and I’m looking for ways to make time.
Echo Hayes is my exact opposite: she’s wild—I’m reserved. She’s fearless—I’m careful.
She’s a 1 a.m. last call, and I’m a 7 a.m. practice.

On paper, we shouldn’t work.
But in reality, our chemistry burns hotter than these Charleston nights.
We’ve agreed to no-strings,
But every taste leaves me wanting more.
And more is where she draws the line.

The past haunts her, and my obligations own my present.
But it doesn’t stop me from wanting a future with her.
Our worlds are drastically different—
And when they collide?
The fallout jeopardizes my contract, and puts our hearts on the line.

Now I’m the one begging her to risk it all—
Or we’ll lose everything worth fighting for.

Welcome to the Carolina Reapers, Samantha Whiskey’s newest hockey series where the chill of the ice meets sultry southern nights.

Review

Sawyer is the self-titled story of Sawyer McCoy, rookie goalie of the Carolina Reapers.  Sawyer was a signed to a one day contract, and when the Reapers regular goalie goes down to injury, Sawyer tries out for the team, and makes it.

Echo Hayes is the owner of Scythe, the bar that the Reapers hang out at and she and Sawyer hit it off right away. They are both young (23) but they are written to be very mature – given their upbringings. 

I had a tough time connecting with Echo. She had been dealt a tough hand in terms of her family, and she had some massive insecurities. When she was the bar owner, I liked her character. When she was in relationship mode with Sawyer, not so much.

I really loved Sawyer though. He was a great character. His mom was ill, and he was a very attentive and caring son. He always put his mom first.

I liked this book but didn’t love it. I will, however, be reading Connell’s story. I have already downloaded it!

Happy reading.

Title: Doctor Dearest
Author: R.S. Grey
Rating:  2 stars
Genre: Romance
Where I got it: Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads Summary

Dr. Easton is part man, part myth.
He’s a formidable surgeon. Highly respected in his field.
He also happens to be an ex-collegiate quarterback with a classically handsome face.
Are you catching on yet?
He’s horrible.
Beautiful.
A walking Ralph Lauren ad.
He’s also so off limits he should come with a warning label: This way lies heartache.

Not only is he an attending at the hospital where I’m training, he’s also my brother’s best friend. If you’ve lost count, that’s two reasons why I plan on putting this ridiculous crush behind me. Besides, it’s definitely not mutual.

Dr. Easton has never once paid me special attention. No tempting smirks. Not even one subtle innuendo. To him, I’m just another resident—all but invisible.

Connor

For the last five years, I’ve mentored Natalie in the OR, stayed in line, and kept my hands to myself, but it’s been agonizing.

Natalie is trouble in scrubs. A walking temptation I’ve been forced to ignore.

For so long, I’ve wanted her in silence. By the time fate finally gets around to throwing me a bone, my patience has run out.

Natalie’s brother is leaving town, and he wants me to watch over her while he’s gone.

He has no idea how I feel about her.
Neither does she.
But she will.

Haven’t you heard good things come to those who wait, Natalie?
Well… I’ve done my waiting.

Review

This book sat on my Kindle for at least a month before I read it. Honestly, I should have just left it there, because this book was a major disappointment.

Natalie and Connor are both doctors in the burn unit of a Boston hospital. So they are both really smart people. Connor is Natatlie’s brother, Noah’s, best friend. Connor is having his house remodeled and needs a place to stay, and Noah is leaving for a doctors without borders kind of trip, so he tells Connor that he can stay at his place – where Natalie lives (in the guest house).

My big problem with this book was how incredibly immature both of these characters were – especially Natalie. She’s a surgeon, smart, with a lot of education under her belt, but when it came to her relationship with Connor, she was a 12 year old girl. Connor wasn’t much better. They both acted like children so often during this book.

This book also read like a medical journal. There was WAY too much medical jargon. I thought I was reading a love story, not a book about medical burns. I will say that both Connor and Natalie were good doctors, and were both very good with their patients. There was also a lot of “internal dialogue”, which is fine, but in this book, it was overkill.

What happened when Noah found out about Connor and Natalie was also dumb and immature. This story was just not great, and it’s a shame, since the last book I read by Ms. Grey was so great.

I would skip this one. Do not recommend.

Title: Tacker
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Rating:  5 stars
Genre: Romance
Where I got it: Public Library

Goodreads Summary

I am not okay.

Fifteen months ago, my life was turned upside down when the plane I was piloting went down. Injured and trapped in the wreckage, I had to watch my fiancée die a painfully slow death, which is something that can really mess with your head.

Since that day, I’ve had little desire to do much of anything. Except play hockey, that is. Because that is the one place where the bad memories are banished and I can escape my pain.

But off the ice, I’m spiraling out of control. Losing the grip on my life and putting myself and my career in danger. Now, thanks to a string of bad decisions, I’ve been ordered to complete therapy in order to stay on the team.

The problem? Nora Wayne, my beautiful and somewhat unconventional therapist. I can’t buy into the brand of happy clappy crap this woman is feeding me. What could she possibly understand about the type of loss that I’ve suffered? How does she know anything about finding happiness after losing the most important person in your life?

Turns out, I’ve got a lot to learn, and she’s just the person I need to break through those walls I’ve erected.

I am not okay.
But for the first time in a long time, I know that I will be. 

Review

I have been dying to read Tacker’s book, especially after reading Dax’s book, where he was a prominent character.

Tacker’s fiance died in a plane crash 15 months ago, a plane that Tacker was piloting.  He spiraled out of control, and the only place he felt alive was on the ice. After a drunk driving incident, Tacker is ordered to go to therapy in order to keep his place on the team.

Tacker’s first therapist does not work out well. He’s annoyed immediately and walks out. He calls the team owner, Dominik Carlson (whom the next book is about) and tells him he needs to find a new therapist. Dominik knows exactly where to send him.

Nora Wayne has been running Sherine Farms for a while now. She does equine therapy, which I love! She runs the farm with her farm hand, Raul, when Tacker blows into her world. Nora has some baggage of her, and it is deep. But Nora is a very upbeat and positive person, and Tacker is immediately drawn to her. 

I really enjoyed this story. Tacker was great, watching him come out of his shell, and learn to live again was a great read. I really, really enjoyed reading about Nora. She was great.  I really enjoyed Raul as well, and it was great to see all the other characters we have come to know and love in the past books.

I would highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series. I love it.

Title: That Forever Girl
Author: Meghan Quinn
Rating:  4 stars
Genre: Romance
Where I got it: Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads Summary

There are two little words every small-town man dreads:

She’s back.

Harper Sanders, the girl who was supposed to be my forever, has returned to Port Snow, Maine, for good—and she’s bringing back memories of our shared past.

We once had a bright future together, but when tragedy struck, I threw it all away and pushed her out of my life. People in our small town think I’m cursed, but I know better. I did it all to myself.

And now she’s creating a life of her own in the place where we first fell in love. I can’t fight my feelings for her—or the strong attraction that keeps pulling us together. But after all this time, can she forgive the past and fall in love with me all over again?

Everyone hopes to find that forever girl…I just hope I haven’t lost mine for good.

Review

The second book in the series features Rogan, the brother who is brooding and moody in the first book. Turns out Rogan lost the love of his life 7 years ago, and hasn’t really been able to move on.

Harper Sanders, Rogan’s former love, moves back to Port Snow, Maine looking to make a change.  We don’t know why she’s back in Port Snow, but one person is NOT happy that Harper is back, and that person is Rogan.

This book goes back and forth between past and present, and I have to say that for the first two thirds of this book, I liked past Rogan much better than I liked present Rogan. I was not caring much for present day Rogan. He went out of his way to be rude to Harper, and I found that very irritating.

I did very much like Harper. She was a very great character. She was trying to live her life in the same town as her ex, and get along with his family, whom she was very close to back in the day.

This book took a turn that I was not expecting, and I loved it. I love it when a book can surprise me, and this book really surprised me.

This is a real slow burn romance. You don’t get into it until late in the book, and that is the time that Rogan finally starting easing his way into my good graces.

In the end, I did end up enjoying this book, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I would recommend.

Title: Dax
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Rating:  4 stars
Genre: Romance
Where I got it: Public Library

Goodreads Summary

My name is Dax Monahan and hockey is my passion. And if you want to succeed in this sport you have to bust your ass 24/7. I’ve never had a hard time focusing on my career, but when my past comes knocking, no amount of training can prepare me for what lies on the other side of the door.
 
Regan Miles was always like a sister to me. When a shared tragedy brings us face to face after several years, I’m shocked to see just how much she’s changed. Gone is the shy, awkward little girl that always used to chase me and her brother around. Instead, I’m faced with a gorgeous woman who makes it damn hard to concentrate on anything but her.

Turns out, she’s in trouble, and the only way out is to get married.

I surprise myself when I tell her to marry me. Order her, actually. And most shocking of all, she doesn’t even hesitate before saying yes.
 
So it’s settled. We’re getting hitched and she’s moving to Arizona with me.  All platonic, of course.
 
The catch?
I never knew I’d fall so hard for my best friend’s little sister.

Review

Sawyer Bennett is one of my most-read authors, and to be honest, I kind of forgot about this series, until I saw it on Goodreads in someone’s feed and a light bulb went off. I checked out Dax, my next in the series to read, the same night.

Dax in on the Arizona Vengeance, an expansion team. His best friend, Lance, dies unexpectedly, leaving his younger sister, Regan, an orphan (not really, she’s an adult, but you know what I mean). Their parents had died when they were younger and Lance was the only family that Regan had – besides Dax.

It turns out that Regan is in trouble and needs to get married – I won’t spoil why, but I found the storyline surrounding this to be quite interesting. Dax goes all alpha on Regan, forces her to move to Phoenix (she lives in California) so he can help her and take care of her.

Dax was a bit immature in the beginning of the book, but really grew up over time. He became a very likable character. I liked Regan, but she was a bit insecure, and that got a little irritating after a while. Once Dax and Regan started to develop feelings for each other, they both doubted how the other felt.

This story takes place at the end of Legend’s book (book 3), so there is a little overlap. We also get a lot of Tacker, whom the next book is about. I’m real excited to finally read his story. 

We also meet Dax’s sister Willow, who has captivated the attention of the team owner, Dominik Carlson. He’s the subject of the 6th book in the series – and boy do I like him.

Overall, this was a solid addition to a good series, and I would recommend.

Title: Unexpected Bond
Author: Kaylee Ryan
Rating:  5 stars
Genre: Romance

Goodreads Summary

Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the universe decides to tilt your world on its axis.

I had a plan, and I was moving forward until the day my world was flipped upside down.

It’s a challenge I wasn’t prepared for, but one I had to face.

How do you combine the life you thought you had to the one you’re living?

One breath.
One second.
One minute.
One hour.
One day at a time, you learn to live with your unexpected bond.

Review

Get the tissues ready when you read this book, because it will put you through the ringer.

Seth Jennings works with the other guys in the series (Ridge, Tyler and Mark, along with Kent) and at a barbecue, meets a woman named Mara, who is best friends with the guys good friend Amelia.  Mara is a single mom to adorable 2 1/2 year old Finley, and the minute Finley meets Seth, she is smitten. As his is mother.

Seth and Mara text over the next several months (Mara lives three hours away) and eventually, Mara moves to the town the group lives in. Seth is the first person there to help Mara and Finley move. That’s the beginning of Seth’s alpha maleness coming out.

Seth was such amazing guy. Sometimes I questioned if he was real, he was so great. He accepted Finley with open arms.

Mara was a great as well. She was an amazing mom, and the stuff she had to deal with in this story – I won’t spoil but wow, it is deep and cuts you hard.

It was great to see all the guys and gals from the previous story still playing roles in this book, and watching how their families and lives change.

I love this series and I can’t wait to read the finale when it comes out next month.

I would highly recommend this book.

Title: Bad Situation
Author: Brynne Asher
Rating:  5 stars
Genre: Romance
Where I got it: Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads Summary

A group of women walk into a bar…

Sounds like the start of a crude joke, right? Yeah, well, the joke’s on me because I’m investigating the gorgeous one in the heels with the great ass. Jensen Montgomery.

Now I’m treading that area between right and wrong, good and bad, where sin and honor meld to become gray. Not that I haven’t been here before. Hell, I’ve made my career in the gray. I never hesitate going to battle when my gut tells me I’m right. And right now, my gut—among other things—is speaking loud and clear about Jen Montgomery.

She’s in a bad situation. Not just bad—deep and black and ugly.

And I’m about to make it worse. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Review

I had NO idea that Brynne Asher, who I am a big fan of, had a new series out, so I was very excited to learn about this book. I was not disappointed.

Imagine you find out that you’re being investigated for fraud by the FBI. Imagine you had a hot AF dance with a man at a bar – then come to realize that man is the FBI agent who is searching your office. That was the case of Jen Montgomery. 

Eli Pettit, said FBI agent, knows in his gut that the case against Jen is weak. After meeting her, and breaking his rules, he knows he will do whatever it takes to prove that Jen is innocent – even putting his job at risk.

Ms. Asher writes my favorite kind of male in romances – alpha. And she writes them well. Eli was such an amazing character. He had some mystery surrounding him, which I loved. I felt that his story was real and very interesting.

Jen is the sister of Cam Montgomery, from the Carpino series, and I was thrilled to see an old friend back (I’ve read all of the Carpino series – and the Vine series). There was family drama, and this book had a bit of suspense and mystery, which I loved.

I loved Jen. She was a real kick ass character. She stood up for herself and was incredibly loyal to her family.

The book also set up the next book in the series very well, and I”m quite intrigued to read the next one. 

I very much enjoyed this story, and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

I would highly recommend.