[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?

 

[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

---

About 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:

Amazon | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
 Facebook Fan group | Website

Never miss an update!
Subscribe to Helena's Mailing List | H. Hunting Newsletter

---

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?

[Review] 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND (Bower Boys, #4) by Kelly Siskind

Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: July 26, 2023

Number of Pages: 366 (Kindle)

DESCRIPTION

A rule follower gets stuck living with the off-limits woman he's always wanted in this small-town romance that sizzles with slow-burn heat.

Jolene Daniels is my best friend. Sorry...was. She was my best friend a lifetime and ten years of witness protection ago. Now that I've returned to my hometown, Jolene and I are once again hanging out.

As friends.

I do not fantasize about the time we fell asleep in the tree house we built, and I woke up with her tucked against my aching chest. I don't replay the days we raced through the woods, nothing but carefree adventure and laughter filling the air.

Nope. We're just old pals, and I'm thrilled to have her back in my life. Of course, I notice how stunning she is, but it's fine.

Until her apartment floods and she temporarily moves into my place. In the room beside mine. Nothing but a thin wall between us. She also walks around in flimsy tank tops. Zero bra.

Did I mention she's my brother's ex and he's looking to rekindle their romance?

Good thing Jolene Daniels and I are nothing but the best of friends.

Warning: This book might make your heart palpitate. It's high on will-they-won't-they angst, along with slow-burn chemistry that eventually explodes. It also contains a weird broccoli festival, obnoxious brother banter, and a raspberry picking scene that might melt your heart. Read at your own discretion.

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

---

REVIEW

I have to start this review with a few confessions: first off, I'm not typically a fan of friends to lovers romances and second, I have a hard time picking favourites when I love a book series...you're probably wondering how 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND ties into these two confessions, so I'll tell you! This is hands-down one of the BEST friends to lovers romances that I've ever read...the build up, the banter...the chemistry between Cal and Jo, everything was PERFECTION! And I also think that this might have just topped the list as my fave in the Bower Boys series. ;)

I've been a huge fan of Kelly Siskind's for a while now, and I'm loving the entire Bower Boys series so much! I love the Bower family, all of the love interests, and absolutely adore the entire fictional town of Windfall! 

 

We're getting to the end of the series and these last two brothers, Cal and Jake, are the ones we know the least about, so I was extremely excited to get to know them better in 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND and I definitely wasn't disappointed! Cal was so wonderful, and I realllllly loved seeing how he quietly took care of his loved ones...and all of the descriptions about his glorious muscles were quite lovely, too. ;) Seeing his relationship with Jo develop throughout the story was fabulous and I loved Jo, too! Their jokes had me constantly laughing and I was rooting for them so much! 

Overall, I loved 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND and it was an absolute pleasure reading Cal and Jo's story. The banter and chemistry between them was wonderful, and I really loved how their story unfolded! Friends to lovers isn't typically a go-to romance trope for me, but Kelly Siskind absolutely nailed it in 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND in a way that I think will appeal to readers who don't typically gravitate towards it either. Trust me, this one will blow you away, and I'd definitely recommend this book along with the rest of the Bower Boys series! It's perfect for contemporary romance fans who love sweet and spicy reads!

Star Rating: ★★★★★

---

 

What do you think?

 

Does 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND sound like a book you'd like?

Have you started the Bower Boys series yet?  

[Review] 6 CLUES YOUR NEMESIS LOVES YOU (Bower Boys, #3) by Kelly Siskind

Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: May 3, 2023

Number of Pages: 330 (Kindle)

DESCRIPTION

Enemies spark in this Bower Boys romance full of banter, sizzling heat, second chances, and small-town charm.

In high school, Maggie Edelstein set the rules of our secret relationship, but I’m calling the shots now. In my dreams.

Maggie’s still infuriating and confusing, and absolutely stunning. She’s also still pretending we barely spent time together as teens, when we met up nightly at her family’s pond.

Over a decade later, I’m back in my hometown and some things haven’t changed. My chemistry with Maggie is once again hotter than a four-alarm fire, and she’s intent on denying it. I don’t blame her. The last night we saw each other I made a horrible mistake and hurt her, then I vanished into witness protection for ten years.

But there’s something else going on with her.

I recognize a secret when I see one, and her friends say she doesn’t do commitment. If I can get her to forgive me and open up, maybe she’ll break her rules and give us a second chance. Or she’ll light my heart on fire and dance around the flames…

WARNING: Only read this book if you love small-town romances full of laughs and swoons, a determined man who falls first, obnoxious brothers, and wacky town festivals. There also might be a steamy scene or three.

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

---

REVIEW

I'm a HUGE fan of Kelly Siskind's Bower Boys series, so I was extremely excited for 6 CLUES YOUR NEMESIS LOVES YOU, especially since Maggie and Lennon have been teased about since the very beginning...and it was just as wonderful as I imagined! 

 

First off, I adore the Bower family! The brothers are all so wonderful, and their mother is fantastic...and it's always such a joy to see their antics and just how much they truly love each other and enjoy each other's presence! I also love their small town Windfall--it adds such a fun element to the story, and it's just as lovely seeing all of the townspeople as it is seeing the Bowers in each book! 

 

Now onto 6 CLUES YOUR NEMESIS LOVES YOU specifically, I loved Lennon and Maggie! Out of the brothers, Lennon is the brother who tends to make jokes....especially when he's uncomfortable or lighten the mood, so seeing him open up and be honest with his feelings was wonderful! And Maggie! I loved her sass and I loved seeing her open up to Lennon, too. The way that their relationship grew throughout the story was truly wonderful, and I also loved that we saw snippets of their past, too!!!

 

From secret friends as teenagers who were flirting with the potential of something more to "enemies" who were constantly antagonizing one another to friends...and finally to lovers. It was quite the journey and I loved seeing it all! 

 

Overall, I loved 6 CLUES YOUR NEMESIS LOVES YOU! It was a wonderful story with fantastic characters and I'm seriously loving this series as a whole—because of the basic premise of this series (a family getting their lives back together post-Witness Protection)—these first three books have all been second chance romances, and while that's not typically a go-to trope for me, I have to admit that I've been loving every moment of them and these books have quickly become faves of mine with that trope! I'm also so excited to learn that Kelly is continuing on the series with the two oldest Bower boys, and Cal's book, 4 HINTS YOU LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND, is next and it's coming out in September 2023! Highly recommend this book and the series in general to all contemporary romance fans, especially if you like some spice in your sweeter romances!

Star Rating: ★★★★★

---

 

What do you think?

 

Does 6 CLUES YOUR NEMESIS LOVES YOU sound like a book you'd like?

Anyone else super excited to see this series continue?

 

[Review + Release Day] OVER MY BROTHER'S DEAD BODY, CHASE ANDREWS (Kingsmen Football Stars, #3) by Piper Rayne

 Source: Received an egalley to participate in the blog tour.
Release Date: April 4, 2023

DESCRIPTION

Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews by Piper Rayne is now live!

Chase Andrews.

The Kingsmen’s top tight end.
My brother’s friend and teammate.
My new neighbor.
The grumpy to my sunshine.

But underneath that grumpy exterior, there’s so much more.

Chase likes to pretend nothing affects him, but I’ve seen glimpses of his other side in the time we’ve spent together.

And the more we get to know each other, the more I’m falling for him.

Under normal circumstances, this would be great. Except my hyper-protective big brother thinks no man is good enough for me, and my ex-fiancé is trying to win me back.

One charming, seemingly good man already broke my heart. Am I stupid to give a self-confessed relationship-adverse football player a chance to break it a second time?

 Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo! 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Kxel1h
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ODf5VI
Nook: https://bit.ly/3kuhV1E
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3vrrmoJ
Google Play: https://bit.ly/39o3fP7
Audiobook: https://books2read.com/ombdbca
Narrated by Jason Clarke & Savannah Peachwood

---

REVIEW

I’ve been eagerly waiting for this book ever since we first saw Chase and Twyla interact in Lee’s book! I was so excited to see how it would unfold and OVER MY BROTHER'S DEAD BODY, CHASE ANDREWS completely delivered!

I’m a sucker for the Grumpy x Sunshine trope and it was done so well here! There’s something so mesmerizing about seeing a gruff and tough guy warm up and express his feelings and just be an all-around supporter for the woman he loves and Chase did that very well. I loved seeing him let Twyla in and it was fantastic getting to know him right alongside her, and Twyla was wonderful, too! She was such a lovely person, and I was rooting for her the whole time! Their chemistry felt so natural, and I loved seeing it evolve as they grew closer...their relationship was sweet, heartwarming, and steamy all rolled into one and I was absolutely hooked!

The story itself was fantastic, too! I expected quite a bit of the main parts having read the standalone companion books that preceded this one, but it definitely stands alone well on its own, too. Out of the three books, this one was definitely my favourite, and I'm very much hoping we do get some great cameo/crossover moments in Piper Rayne's spin-off football series, which will start off with Twyla's brother, Miles's book!

Overall, I absolutely loved OVER MY BROTHER'S DEAD BODY, CHASE ANDREWS! I especially loved Chase and Twyla, and I’m so excited to read the spin-off series starting off with Twyla’s brother, Miles…his story has been one I’ve also been eagerly waiting for! ;) I'd recommend this one to fans of contemporary romance (both of the sports and non-sports variety since the sports aspect of this one is pretty minimal) who love grumpy x sunshine, and brother's best friend tropes!

Star Rating: ★★★★★

---

TEASERS

 

---

Meet Piper Rayne

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write "heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle" about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne:

Goodreads | 
Facebook | Instagram | 
Pinterest | 
Bookbub | 
Website

Amazon | Twitter | TikTok | Etsy Shop | Verve


Join our newsletter and get 2 FREE BOOKS!
 - http://bit.ly/2tsNcpP 


Be one of our unicorns (Facebook Group): http://bit.ly/2snaBtK

---

 

What do you think? 

Does Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews sound like something you'd like to read?