Wednesday 29 November 2023

[Review] THIS CAN'T BE GOODBYE (Bower Boys, #0.5) by Kelly Siskind

Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: November 29, 2023
Number of Pages: 147 (Kindle)

DESCRIPTION

She's the bane of my existence and the last woman I should want.
Then why does learning we can't be together damn near shred my heart?


Naomi James holds a grudge like it’s an Olympic competition.

She’s always in front of me in line for our coffees, going out of her way to annoy me—not advancing when she should, paying in pennies and nickels—all because I did something stupid seven years ago.

Even worse, the slope of her long neck and smell of her tropical perfume drives me to distraction.

Apparently, my body didn’t get the we-hate-Naomi memo.

She’s so aggravating, I have half a mind to quit frequenting my favorite coffee shop. Until I discover why she's harbored a grudge this long.

Now all bets are off, because hell . She thinks I said awful things about her, which I most certainly did not, and I can’t live with this misunderstanding. Or how often she invades my dreams. Or the fact that I’ve wanted her for seven years.

But just when Naomi looks ready to forgive me and admit she’s angry because she cares, any future together gets ripped away from us…

THIS CAN'T BE GOODBYE is a prequel to the Bower Boys series, complete with its own swoony HEA! Previously titled 5 Tricks to Seducing Your Enemy , it has been re-written to include both points of view and extra scenes. If you love small town romance, enemies to lovers banter, feel good sighs, and face fanning spice, you'll devour this book.

B U Y   L I N K S:
Amazon US
| Amazon Canada
(Available for purchase or in Kindle Unlimited.)


REVIEW

I remember reading THIS CAN'T BE GOODBYE back when it was first called 5 TRICKS TO SEDUCING YOUR ENEMY! If I remember correctly, it was originally released through Kelly Siskind's newsletter and I loved it so, so much! It made me so excited to start the Bower Boys series, and now here we are, full circle, with it being revised and re-released just in time to wrap up the series! 

I was so happy to get the chance to read this story again and to have even more of Avett and Naomi's story! Their banter was amazing and I looooooved their enemies to lovers dynamic! It was so lovely to see how their relationship transitioned through the story, and I loved seeing where they ended up...I also love the little teases to the first book in the series, 50 WAYS TO WIN BACK YOUR LOVER. This is such a wonderful introduction to Kelly's Bower Boys series and it'll definitely have you excited for more books set in the world of Windfall!

 Overall, I thought that THIS CAN'T BE GOODBYE was fabulous and the revisions that Kelly made to it made it even better! It's a great way to introduce yourself to the world of Windfall, a great spicy and sweet read if you just want something quick, and a fabulous way to go back and revisit the world of Windfall one last time like I did! While it's much shorter than the rest of the series since it's a novella, it's still a lovely story and I highly recommend it...and then if you haven't read any of the Bower Boys books yet....I highly suggest you just keep going. ;)

Star Rating: ★★★★★


 
What do you think?
 
Are you ready to travel to Windfall and get started with Kelly Siskind's Bower Boys series?


Wednesday 15 November 2023

[Review] 7 STEPS TO SEDUCING YOUR FAKE FIANCE (Bower Boys, #5) by Kelly Siskind

Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: November 15, 2023
Number of Pages: 341 (Kindle)

DESCRIPTION

What’s worse than being fake engaged to a woman who despises you?
Falling head over heels for her.


Larkin Gray hates me with the fire of ten thousand suns.

We haven’t seen each other in twelve years, but she’s still furious with me for breaking a promise to her…and she’s even prettier than I remember.

But there’s no undoing the damage I caused.

Since I can’t make amends, I avoid her lethal glare at all costs. Until I stumble upon her lying about having a fiancé to her ex, and I lose my ever-loving mind. Suddenly, I’m introducing myself as her betrothed and getting us invited to his wedding.

Predictably, Larkin is intent on making my life miserable, except this barbed banter is kind of fun. And the more time we spend together, the more we discover we have in common.

Then she kisses me to prove our relationship status and I damn near lose my heart.

I’m ready to go all in with Larkin, but she’s not the only one I hurt twelve years ago. Her intimidating brother has every reason to hate me too and doesn’t want me touching his sister. But my lips and tongue don’t count as hands. Right?

Trigger warning: Physical and emotional abuse. It’s also recommended that you read book four in the Bower Boys series, 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND, before reading this heart-gripping story.

B U Y   L I N K S:
Amazon US
| Amazon Canada | Barnes & Noble


REVIEW

It’s hard to believe that with 7 STEPS TO SEDUCING YOUR FAKE FIANCE we’ve hit the final book in the Bower Boys series!

I have absolutely loved this series from the very first moment we entered Windfall, and it has been so fun getting to see these characters over and over again…and I’ve really loved that we’ve gotten to see the brothers all find love.

I’m a huge fan of companion series, and the sort of small-town setup that Kelly Siskind has created in the Bower Boys series is my kryptonite! I loved that we got to see our favourite characters come back, and I loved seeing the background characters and the town as a whole as it evolved throughout the series! I loved so many of the side characters and Windfall truly feels like a home away from home…and the Bowers feel like family! I’m going to miss them all so much, and you can bet I’ll be revisiting them again!

Jake was quite the mystery for the first chunk of this series since we didn’t see much of him and Cal at first (Cal’s book was the one before this one, 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND) , but the more we saw of Jake, the more I wanted to know! I loved how he took care of his family and how we could see that underneath the pillar of strength he presented, there was a bit of darkness and angst that needed to come out! I really loved Larkin’s sass and her banter with Jake was phenomenal--I was constantly laughing, swooning, and smiling at their antics, and it was seriously so fun to see their story unfold…especially after being teased about the drama between them in the last book! I loved that we got a peek into how their story began and how it unfolded so wonderfully…also Jake was such a cinnamon roll and I was 100% here for it! I’ve loved every single one of the Bower brothers…but Jake definitely has a soft spot in my heart and I wanted to give him the biggest of hugs!

This book was packed full of soooo many wonderful tropes--we’ve got our cinnamon roll hero who falls first, a fake engagement, enemies to lovers, all the small-town vibes, and some absolutely hilarious brotherly antics!

Overall, I loved 7 STEPS TO SEDUCING YOUR FAKE FIANCE! Jake and Larkin were wonderful, and along with loving their romance, I really enjoyed the story! It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of the Bowers and their lovely hometown, Windfall! If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend that you do…especially since Kelly is about to re-release an expanded and re-written version of a prequel novella, THIS CAN’T BE GOODBYE (previously 5 TRICKS TO SEDUCING YOUR ENEMY), in just a couple of weeks! If you’re a fan of sweet, swoony, enticing romances with a nice level of spice, I highly recommend the Bower Boys series…and Kelly’s other books too because she’s absolutely fabulous!

Star Rating: ★★★★★


 
What do you think?
 
Does 7 STEPS TO SEDUCING YOUR FAKE FIANCE sound like a book you'd like?
Have you started the Bower Boys series yet?  

Thursday 19 October 2023

[Review] MY BOYFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE by Helena Hunting (writing as Eva Knight)

Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: October 19, 2023 (UK Market)
Number of Pages: 345 (ebook)

DESCRIPTION

The perfect rom-com to sink your teeth into!

-------

Hazy Florence is on track to graduate top of her class but she's determined to have a little fun along the way.

As soon as she lays eyes on her mysterious and swoony new neighbour - Godric Hawthorn - Hazy knows he is just what she needs and they instantly fall for each other.

But this is no quintessential college romance. Godric has a secret . . . he's a vampire.

Dating a vampire comes with its own messy complications. And then there's Hazy's jealous ex-boyfriend who's dangerously close to the truth.

Can Hazy protect her boyfriend's blood-sucking secret?

Or could there be more at stake then Hazy and Godric's hearts?
🧛‍♂️ Order your copy today! 🧛‍♂️

Amazon UK | Blackwells | Bookshop.org | Foyles
Hive | Waterstones | WHSmith | Apple UK | Kobo UK

HelenaHuntingAbout Eva Knight (a.k.a. Helena Hunting)

Eva Knight, the paranormal alter ego of Helena Hunting, loves all things romance and spice. When she isn't busy writing spicy college vampire romance, she's devouring her favorite romance novels, or binge watching dark comedies on Netflix with her void kitty, Pumpkin. Her favorite non-reading past-times include running (on purpose), Scrabble (when she can find someone to play with her), cribbage (with her dad) and cross-stitching gnomes (the actual act of cross-stitching, not collecting gnomes who cross-stitch).
Connect with Helena:

REVIEW

I absolutely loved MY BOYFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE!

I’m always a sucker for rom-coms, but throw in a vampire boyfriend and it’s a whole extra level of fun!

I thought the premise of this book was so fun, and I'm happy to say that it completely delivered! Hazy and Godric were amazing and I loved them together so-so much! Their romance was fabulous, the comedic parts of the story had me cracking up, and even under a different pen name, Helena Hunting, is just as hilarious and spicy as always! ;)
 
I loved getting to try something new from Helena, and I'm already hoping that this book turns into a series as I’d loved to see more stories about the other characters, and I’d love more of Hazy and Godric, too! 

Overall, I thought that MY BOYFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE was a wonderful story! The plot was fun, the world-building was absolutely fascinating, and the characters were phenomenal! It doesn't have regular distribution in Canada and the US yet, but here's hoping it gets picked up soon because this enjoyable read deserves to be experienced by all! If you're a fan of rom-coms with heart, humour, and a quirky premise...even if you aren't always a fan of vampires...I think you'll absolutely adore this book! I loved and highly recommend it!

Star Rating: ★★★★★




What do you think?
 
Does MY BOYFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE sound like something you'd like? 

And are you a fan of seasonal/themed romances?

Monday 2 October 2023

[Review] FAKING CHRISTMAS by Kerry Winfrey


Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Number of Pages: 288 (Paperback)

DESCRIPTION

Laurel Grant is playing house for the holidays—complete with a fake husband and kids—in this delightful, charming rom-com by Kerry Winfrey.

Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for
Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She most definitely does not run a farm . . . but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she’s happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired—she cannot be jobless again.

And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm’s big Christmas Eve Eve dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm’s Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she’s basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.

Laurel and Holly come up with the
perfect plan—all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But Laurel shows up at the farm to find an unwelcome guest is waiting: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly’s wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel’s husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages. . .
G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y   N O W !
Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Indigo | B&N


REVIEW

Well, this was absolutely delightful! I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and this fake-dating, holiday romance was wonderful! Plus...it even has the only one bed trope! ;)

I've read one Kerry Winfrey book before this one and I remember loving her banter and how sweet the romance was, and FAKING CHRISTMAS was just as lovely! The characters were fully fleshed out and it reminded me of my fave holiday rom-coms! The premise was hilarious with Laurel having to set up a pretend scenario for the holidays, and the way everything unfolded was fabulous. I loved getting to know Laurel, and I realllllllly loved seeing her relationship with her "nemesis" Max transition throughout the story! I won't give away too many details because I think they're best experienced as you read, but I loved how everything came together, all of the characters...and how realistic the pacing of the story felt.

Overall, I thought that FAKING CHRISTMAS was a wonderful holiday rom-com and an absolute pleasure to read! I picked it up and couldn't put it down! It's sweet, fast-paced, and definitely gives you all of the delightful Christmas feels of your favourite holiday tunes, movies, and everything else that makes Christmas time so fun. If you love lighthearted rom-coms that make you laugh and swoon, then this holiday romp is the perfect fit for you!

Star Rating: ★★★★★


 
What do you think? 
 
Are you a fan of holiday romances, and does FAKING CHRISTMAS sound like one that you'd enjoy?
 

Monday 28 August 2023

[Review] SHATTERED TRUTHS (Lies, Hearts, and Truths, #3) by Helena Hunting (writing as H. Hunting)


Source: Received an egalley/ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Also purchased a Kindle copy.
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Number of Pages: 400 (ebook)

DESCRIPTION

The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.
To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.
But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.
She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.
Or for the truth to shatter us.

❄️⛸️Download your copy today, exclusively on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited!⛸️❄️

Amazon US → https://amzn.to/3ReSQX3
Amazon CA → https://amzn.to/3CUfDDh
Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/3ALpQz4
Amazon AU → https://amzn.to/3AGc8NQ
Amazon Universal → https://geni.us/ShatteredTruths

Audio US → https://amzn.to/3qpYMnY
Amazon US Paperback → https://amzn.to/470y4mh
Amazon Universal Paperback → https://geni.us/ShatteredTruthsPB
Amazon US Alternate Paperback → https://amzn.to/3OG1izD
Amazon Universal Alternate Paperback → https://geni.us/ShatteredTruthsAltPB

HelenaHuntingAbout Helena Hunting

NYT
and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting, writing as H. Hunting, lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She started her writing career with new adult angsty romance and branched out in sports romance and romantic comedies that will make you laugh and swoon. But sometimes she likes to serve up a little heartache on the way to the happily ever after.
Connect with Helena:

REVIEW

Ever since it was first announced I've been eagerly waiting for SHATTERED TRUTHS, and it was just as lovely and wonderful as I hoped it would be! I can already tell that it's going to be one of my top reads this year!

I've been a huge fan of Helena Hunting's for quite a while now, so it should come as no surprise that I love her Pucked series, All In series, and now her Lies, Hearts, and Truths series, too! I have absolutely loved how we've continued to see so many beloved characters, and I've adored just how much we've seen this whole little book universe grow! BJ, the hero of SHATTERED TRUTHS, happens to be the son of Randy and Lily from Pucked Over...and since they're my fave of the Pucked couples, you can bet I was super excited for his book...and boy did it deliver!

BJ and Winter were absolutely amazing main characters! I loved them apart, truly adored them together, and was rooting for them the entire time...their chemistry was off-the-charts, their banter was so good, and it was really lovely to see how they grew throughout the story...I actually forced myself to put this book down because I wanted to try to savour it...and sure enough, I wasn't ready for it to end and could've read 100s more pages about these two! They were an absolute delight! It was also lovely to see all of the fantastic side characters--Helena always writes such lovely friend and family groups and they honestly just keep getting better because it feels like we're part of their family at this point.

I highly recommend this book, the full series, and basically every single other book that Helena has ever written because I truly find her writing never disappoints me! SHATTERED TRUTHS had me laughing, smiling, tearing up, swooning and feeling all the feels, and I loved every single minute of it!

Star Rating:

★★★★★



What do you think?
Does SHATTERED TRUTHS sound like something you'd like?