My Thoughts: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

Hook, Line, and Sinker
(Bellinger Sisters #2)
by Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: March 1st 2022
Publisher: Avon Books
Pages: 385
ISBN: 9780063045699
Genre: Adult / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Review Copy / Own

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King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he's a guaranteed good time--in bed and out--and that's exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She's immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his... personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox's spare bedroom. She knows he's a notorious ladies' man, but they're definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport's resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker's eye... yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she's walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and... and... man overboard! He's fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he's all in, she'll choose him instead?

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man... (Goodreads)

Hook, Line, and Sinker, the sequel to It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey, was high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2022. I read It Happened One Summer as soon as it was released in 2021, and it ended up being my most favorite read of the year. So of course I absolutely couldn’t wait to devour the sequel!

Tessa Bailey has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. I can’t seem to get enough of her books! And The Bellinger Sisters duology is definitely some of my favorites by her so far. As I mentioned above, I absolutely loved It Happened One Summer, and Hook, Line and Sinker is definitely a close second. The Bellinger sisters are so much fun!

While It Happened One Summer was all about Piper Bellinger, Hook, Line, and Sinker is all about her sister, Hannah. We first met Hannah in the first book, and I was really excited to read her story. The relationship between her and Fox was so cute! And steamy as well. I very much enjoyed watching their relationship grow over the course of the book. It really was such a great read.

The only thing I didn’t like about this series is that it was so short! I would have loved to keep reading about these characters and this world that Tessa created. I did enjoy the epilogue at the end of this book, so at least there was some closure. But I’d still love more! This is definitely a series that I will be reading over and over again. (I’ve already reread the first book, and plan to start it again soon!)

Overall; Hook, Line and Sinker was a really fun read! I was not ready for this series to come to an end, but it all came together nicely, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I definitely hope to see more books like this from Tessa in the future. If you’re looking for a fun and short series to devour this summer, do check out The Bellinger Sisters!

My Thoughts: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex
(The Ex Hex #1)
by Erin Sterling

Publication Date: September 28th 2021
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978006302747
Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance, Fantasy
Source: Netgalley / Own

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New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late. (Goodreads)

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, (aka Rachel Hawkins), was high on my list of most anticipated reads for Fall 2021. The book sounded SO cute and it sounded like the perfect fall read. This is why it was my very first read of fall this year! Bringing in the new season with an awesome book, and it was perfection.

Let me start this by saying that my most favorite thing about this book was the setting. It’s absolutely no secret AT ALL that my favorite season of the year is fall. I love everything about it! The weather starts to get cooler, (though here in the south that takes a while), the colors of the trees start to change, oh and did I mention that the weather gets cooler? (lol!)

That brings me to the setting of this book. I don’t think I’ve read many books set in fall, but this book is, AND it’s around Halloween time as well! (My favorite holiday!) Everything that Erin described in the setting was absolute perfection and I could picture it perfectly in my mind. I sooooo wanted to be in Graves Glen, GA with these characters during this lovely season. I don’t know if this place is fictional or not, but I for sure want to visit. lol

I also really enjoyed the characters and storyline for this book as well! Add them in with the gorgeous setting, it made for a fantastic read, and I was HOOKED! I definitely plan to make this a yearly fall re-read, and I really hope that there is going to be a sequel in the future as well.

Overall; The Ex Hex was an all-around fun read! Read it in the fall, or read it whenever, but I definitely hope that you enjoy it if you do read it!

My Thoughts: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry

Publication Date: May 11th 2021
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 364
ISBN: 9781984806758
Genre: Adult Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.

Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?

From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read, a sparkling new novel that will leave you with the warm, hazy afterglow usually reserved for the best vacations. (Goodreads)

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry was yet another of my most anticipated reads for this summer, and I was super curious to finally read the book. I read Beach Read last summer, and I was really interested to see how this new book would compare.

There are so many things that I really enjoyed about this book! One thing was the characters. The book has so many interesting characters... including the two main characters, Poppy and Alex. I undeniably related more to Alex in his love of books and not being very spontaneous, but I think we all want to be a little like Poppy and her freedom to wander. I am such a homebody, and I can’t even imagine what that’s like. But it was fun to see it through Poppy’s eyes! Also, some of the people that they met on vacation were awesome!

Another thing that I like about the book was the storyline. It totally made me want to travel more, and, as I mentioned above, I am certainly more of a homebody. All of the places that Poppy and Alex visited throughout the book sounded interesting, and they were so well described, I could almost imagine being there as well. (I love it when that happens!)

I’m really glad that I chose to read this book in the summer, as it definitely felt like a summer read to me. Oh and I listened to the audiobook as well, and the narrator, Julia Whelan, did such a great job with the voices! Julia also narrates the audiobook for Beach Read, and has read a few others that I have checked out this year! It’s so fun to listen to a familiar voice.

Overall; People We Meet on Vacation was a fun summer read! I’m very glad that I had it on my TBR this season, and I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on Emily’s next book, Book Lovers, which is currently set to release May 2022, also from Berkley! It sounds fantastic as well, so if it’s not already on your TBR, go ahead and add it now. *grin*

My Thoughts: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

The Heart Principle
(The Kiss Quotient #3)
by Helen Hoang

Publication Date: August 31st 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780451490841
Genre: Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That's where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex: he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. However, when tragedy strikes Anna's family, she takes on a role she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves. (Goodreads)

The Heart Principle is the third book in the The Kiss Quotient series by Helen Hoang, and was also one of my most anticipated reads for this summer! I loved the first two books in this series, and I couldn’t wait to read this book … especially since it’s Quan’s story!

Let me start this by saying that if you’re looking for a lighthearted, fluffy read, that is not exactly what you’re going to get with this book. Yes, there are lots of cute moments and romance in the book, but it also deals with some heavy topics as well. I was warned of this before starting the book, so I was able to prepare, but it didn’t dissuade me from reading the story at all. This is still an enjoyable read, but it’s not all light and fluffy like some may suspect. Regardless, I was hooked, and flew through this book in just a day, which rarely happens lately!

I have been really excited to read Quan’s story since we met him earlier on in the series. He really was great for Anna, as she was for him, and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow as the book went along. Both had their issues, but they figured them out together, after a few rough patches, and it was nice to see that. They are both just really great characters, and I love them both so much!

The storyline for this book, as I mentioned above, was both cute and fluffy, but also dealt with some heavier topics as well, including the sickness and death of a family member, and how that affected the people caring for him. As a person that has helped with multiple sick family members, I could definitely relate to Anna and her family. It’s definitely hard, and I’m glad that she had Quan to lean on.

Overall; The Heart Principle was a great addition to this fantastic series! I really enjoyed reading the story, and finally getting to read Quan’s story as well! I don’t know if this is the final book in the series or if we will be seeing more, but if Helen wants to write more books in this series, I would totally read them! (And I think a re-read of the series is definitely due soon!)

My Thoughts: Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

Portrait of a Scotsman
(A League of Extraordinary Women #3)
by Evie Dunmore

Publication Date: September 7th 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 448
ISBN: 9781984805720
Genre: Adult Fiction / Romance / Historical
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Going toe-to-toe with a brooding Scotsman is rather bold for a respectable suffragist, but when he happens to be one's unexpected husband, what else is an unwilling bride to do?

London banking heiress Hattie Greenfield wanted "just" three things in life:

1. Acclaim as an artist.
2. A noble cause.
3. Marriage to a young lord who puts the gentle in gentleman.

Why then does this Oxford scholar find herself at the altar with the darkly attractive financier Lucian Blackstone, whose murky past and ruthless business practices strike fear in the hearts of Britain's peerage? Trust Hattie to take an invigorating little adventure too far. Now she's stuck with a churlish Scot who just might be the end of her ambitions....

When the daughter of his business rival all but falls into his lap, Lucian sees opportunity. As a self-made man, he has vast wealth but holds little power, and Hattie might be the key to finally setting long-harbored political plans in motion. Driven by an old revenge, he has no room for his new wife's apprehensions or romantic notions, bewitching as he finds her.

But a sudden journey to Scotland paints everything in a different light. Hattie slowly sees the real Lucian and realizes she could win everything—as long as she is prepared to lose her heart. (Goodreads)

Portrait of a Scotsman is the third book in the A League of Extraordinary Women by Evie Dunmore, and was also another of my most anticipated reads for this summer! Not only because I really enjoy the series, (I DO!), but also because this is Hattie’s book, and I have been SO curious for her story since we met her in the first book. I’m so thrilled to have finally read this!

As I mentioned above, Portrait of a Scotsman is all about Hattie! She has been so intriguing since the beginning of the series, and I really wanted to know more about her. I love her so much more than I expected! Add Lucian into the mix, and they are perfection. I very much enjoyed their story and watching their relationship blossom as I turned the pages. I was invested in their story! (I also really enjoyed getting to see the characters from the previous books as well! It’s so great to get a fun little update on them.)

I really, really enjoy the storyline for this book (and series)! Not only because I love reading about the women’s suffrage, but also because I don’t read nearly enough historical fiction, (including romances), and this series definitely makes me want to read them more. I definitely need more books like this in my collection, and I’m beyond thrilled to see so many are coming out soon!

I also want to add that while I started reading the physical version of this book, immediately switched the audiobook once I found out that Lucian was a Scotman… with a lovely Scottish accent. SO worth it! I ended up reading along with the book while I listened to the audiobook, and it really is the best experience ever. If you can do both, then please do both! Lol! Oh and the narrator for the book is Elizabeth Jasicki, who also narrated the previous books in the series!

Overall; Portrait of a Scotsman was a great addition to this absolutely fantastic series! Now I will be anxiously waiting to get my hands on the fourth book in the series, which as of this moment is currently untitled and without a release date. I can only assume that it is Catriona’s story, and I can’t wait to read it as well!

My Thoughts: If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

If the Shoe Fits
(Meant to Be #1)
by Julie Murphy

Publication Date: August 3rd 2021
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781368050388
Genre: Adult Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America's favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn't expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe it's time to design your own. (Goodreads)

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is the very first book in a brand new series by Disney Publishing titled Meant to Be! From what I have read about this series, the books are modern retellings of our favorite fairytales, written for adults, and each book will be by a different author. Sound exciting? It definitely does to me!

I am a big fan of fairytale retellings! I love when someone takes one of my favorite stories and puts their own spin on it. It’s familiar, yet all new at the same time. Cinderella is not my most favorite fairytale, but I do always appreciate a good spin on the original.

There was SO much to love about If the Shoe Fits! The one thing that I loved the MOST was that there was no evil stepmom/stepsisters in this story. I want to get this out there because that’s probably my least favorite part of the original story. I LOVED that this story was different! The stepmom and stepsisters were great!

Also another thing I loved about this book were the characters. There were so many character in the book to love! From the main character, Cindy, to the secondary characters, they were really all great. (Ok, except for the one. Read the book and you’ll see.) I also really enjoyed the storyline for the book! The modern take on the original story, with the reality show twist, was fantastic. I devoured this book in no time, I was so hooked.

Overall; If you can’t already tell, I really, really enjoyed If the Shoe Fits! I am very excited to read more books in this series. There is very little information so far on the second book, but I did manage to find that the next book is titled By the Book, written by Jasmine Guillory, and is a BEAUTY AND THE BEAST retelling! (Beauty and the Beast is my Favorite fairytale!) I am definitely excited to get my hands on that book, and the rest of the series, as soon as possible!

My Thoughts: Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

Bombshell
(Hell's Belles #1)
by Sarah MacLean

Publication Date: August 24th 2021
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 394
ISBN: 9780063056152
Genre: Adult Fiction / Historical / Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

After years of living as London’s brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.

No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he’s been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she’d felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.

Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he’s fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting…she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk. (Goodreads)

Bombshell is the very first book in the brand new Hell’s Belles series by Sarah Maclean, and it’s also my very first ever read by her as well! I have quite a few of Sarah’s books on my TBR, so I’m thrilled to have finally read something by her!

Historical romance is a genre that I used to read ALL the time, but haven’t read much in the past few years. I was really excited to start reading it again, especially after starting the Bridgerton series and all the success with the tv adaptation. I definitely wanted to read more, but was honestly a little overwhelmed by ALL of the historical romance series that are available to read. When I found out Bombshell was the first book in the series, I jumped to request it, and I am so glad I did.

This book was so much fun … and not really at all what I was expecting from a historical romance. First, I love Lady Sesily and Caleb together SO much! (Even though I never though Caleb was going to get his head out of his ass and see what an awesome heroine Sesily was.) They were super cute together, and I am definitely going to have to find out which other books these two were in previously so I can see how they got started!

(If you’re wondering about that, Sesily’s sisters have been in some previous series… I’m pretty sure it’s the Scandal and Scoundrels series, but The Bareknuckle Bastards series was mentioned as well, and of course I will be checking out both series asap!)

Moving on … I also want to add that I love this awesome group of women! Known as The Hell’s Belles, each one was special in their own way. Of course Sesily kicked us off with her awesome story, but I am so excited to get to know the rest of them more as well! (Especially the Duchess!) Imogen’s story is coming next, and I absolutely can’t wait to see what next for this gang of wonderful women.

I also really loved the storyline for this book. I don’t want to go into it much and give anything away, but I promise you, you’re in for a treat! It was absolutely fascinating and a whole lot of fun! Especially if you’re a fan of kick ass women who love taking down the bad guys. *wink*

Overall; Bombshell is my first ever read by Sarah MacLean, but it definitely will not be my last! I will be over here pining away for the second book in the series, which at this time is currently untitled and set to release sometime in 2022. While I wait I plan to devour the rest of Sarah’s books as quickly as I can! Fans of historical romance, or those that are new-ish to the genre like myself, do check out Bombshell! It’s a fantastic read.

Waiting on Wednesday:

Slow Fire Burning
by Paula Hawkins
Expected publication: August 31st 2021 by Riverhead Books

The scorching new thriller from the number-one 'New York Times' best-selling author of 'The Girl on the Train'.

When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him. Laura is the troubled one-night-stand last seen in the victim’s home. Carla is his grief-stricken aunt, already mourning the recent death of yet another family member. And Miriam is the nosy neighbor clearly keeping secrets from the police. Three women with separate connections to the victim. Three women who are – for different reasons – simmering with resentment. Who are, whether they know it or not, burning to right the wrongs done to them. When it comes to revenge, even good people might be capable of terrible deeds. How far might any one of them go to find peace? How long can secrets smolder before they explode into flame?

Look what you started.


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Velvet Was the Night
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Expected publication: August 17th 2021 by Del Rey

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir” about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.

1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger.

Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman—and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents.

Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ’n’ roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he comes to observe Maite from a distance—and grows more and more obsessed with this woman who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.

Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora’s secrets—at gunpoint.

Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes.


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•     •     •

Do both of these books sound exciting, or what? I can't wait to read these!!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

My Thoughts: Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur

Hang the Moon
(Written in the Stars #2)
by Alexandria Bellefleur

Publication Date: May 25th 2021
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780063000841
Genre: Adult Ficiton / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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In a delightful follow-up to Written in the Stars, Alexandria Bellefleur delivers another #ownvoices queer rom-com about a hopeless romantic who vows to show his childhood crush that romance isn’t dead by recreating iconic dates from his favorite films...

Brendon Lowell loves love. It’s why he created a dating app to help people find their one true pairing and why he’s convinced “the one” is out there, even if he hasn’t met her yet. Or... has he? When his sister's best friend turns up in Seattle unexpectedly, Brendon jumps at the chance to hang out with her. He’s crushed on Annie since they were kids, and the stars have finally aligned, putting them in the same city at the same time.

Annie booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle to spend time with friends before moving across the globe. She’s not looking for love, especially with her best friend’s brother. Annie remembers Brendon as a sweet, dorky kid. Except, the 6-foot-4 man who shows up at her door is a certified Hot Nerd and Annie... wants him? Oh yes.

Getting involved would be a terrible idea—her stay is temporary and he wants forever—but when Brendon learns Annie has given up on dating, he’s determined to prove that romance is real. Taking cues from his favorite rom-coms, Brendon plans to woo her with elaborate dates straight out of Nora Ephron’s playbook. The clock is ticking on Annie’s time in Seattle, and Brendon’s starting to realize romance isn’t just flowers and chocolate. But maybe real love doesn’t need to be as perfect as the movies... as long as you think your partner hung the moon. (Goodreads)

Hang the Moon is the absolutely adorable sequel to Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, and also one of my most anticipated reads this spring! I loved Written in the Stars when I read it last year, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this sequel… Especially since it’s Annie and Brendon’s story!

So, if you’ve never read my review for Written in the Stars, let me tell you … It was one of my most favorite reads of 2020. It was a sapphic, fake dating, Pride and Prejudice retelling, and I loved every minute of it. Elle and Darcy were fantastic, and I loved their story.

Hang the Moon is all about Annie and Brendon. Annie is Darcy’s best friend, and Brendon is Darcy’s brother. We meet them in the first book, where we discover that Brendon had a huge crush on Anne when they were younger. They reconnect in Hang the Moon, and let me tell you, the sparks… they FLY!

Annie and Brendon were SO ADORABLE! They are definitely now on my list of favorite couples. The chemistry between the two is fantastic, and I loved their interactions with each other. (Did I mention that they were adorable? Because they are!) They have the absolute best storyline with Brenden trying to prove to Annie that love still exists by wooing her, using some of my most favorite rom-coms ever as inspiration. This book had it all and I was so here for it!

Oh and I also love that Darcy and Elle were in this book as well! It was so fun to catch up with them to see what they’d been up to since the last book ended!

Overall; If you can’t tell from above, I really loved Hang the Moon! This was a fantastic sequel that made me laugh and smile SO much, and it was just an all-around enjoyable read. And I’m SOOOO excited to discover that there is going to be a third book, Count Your Lucky Stars, which will be Margot’s story, and is set to release in February 2022!

My Thoughts: Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey

Tools of Engagement
(Hot & Hammered #2)
by Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: September 22nd 2020
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9780062872937
Genre: Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Own

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Hair, makeup, clothing, decor... everything in Bethany Castle's world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family's real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She's on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously.

When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother's construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany's skin on day one, but the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way.

As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It's a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany's perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.

In Tessa Bailey’s latest rom-com, two enemies team up to flip a house... and the sparks between them might burn the place down or ignite a passion that neither can ignore!  (Goodreads)

I have been such a huge fan of the Hot & Hammered series since I read the first book way back when it was released, and I was so excited to finally read this third and final book! Tessa Bailey definitely saved the best for last with Tools of Engagement… Out of all the books in this series, I think this one is definitely my favorite!

I have been SO curious about Bethany since we met her in Fix Her Up, and I was so excited to finally read her story. Especially after Wes was introduced to us in Love Her or Lose Her. I had no idea what to expect from these two together, but it was everything that I didn’t know I wanted and more. We get to see a side of Bethany in this book that we didn’t see in the previous books, and it made her so much more relatable. And I love that Wes helps her through so much. They are SO cute together and have SO much chemistry.

I loved it. I also loved Wes’s adorable niece as well, and how the whole community came together to help with her. And I also loved that characters from the previous books were included in this one as well. It always makes me so happy when we can catch with the previous characters just a little bit.

I also thought the storyline for the book was really fun! I do watch home-makeover shows sometimes, and this is only the second book that I have read so far that has had it in the story. I was definitely interested!

Overall; Tools of Engagement was such a great read! Definitely my favorite in the Hot & Hammered series. And while I enjoyed it so much, I am also super sad to see it come to an end. If you haven’t already gathered from this super gushy review, I love Tessa’s books! I’m definitely excited to read more of the ones I haven’t read for her yet, as well as her newest upcoming release, It Happened One Summer, which comes out in July! (I AM SO EXCITED!!)

My Thoughts: The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan

The Intimacy Experiment
(The Roommate #2)
by Rosie Danan

Publication Date: April 26th 2021
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780593101629
Genre: Adult / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Naomi and Ethan will test the boundaries of love in this provocative romance from the author of the ground-breaking debut, The Roommate.

Naomi Grant has built her life around going against the grain. After the sex-positive start-up she cofounded becomes an international sensation, she wants to extend her educational platform to live lecturing. Unfortunately, despite her long list of qualifications, higher ed won't hire her.

Ethan Cohen has recently received two honors: LA Mag named him one of the city's hottest bachelors and he became rabbi of his own synagogue. Taking a gamble in an effort to attract more millennials to the faith, the executive board hired Ethan because of his nontraditional background. Unfortunately, his shul is low on both funds and congregants. The board gives him three months to turn things around or else they'll close the doors of his synagogue for good.

Naomi and Ethan join forces to host a buzzy seminar series on Modern Intimacy, the perfect solution to their problems--until they discover a new one--their growing attraction to each other. They've built the syllabus for love's latest experiment, but neither of them expected they'd be the ones putting it to the test. (Goodreads)

I was super excited to get my hands on The Intimacy Experiment, the sequel to Rosie Danan’s debut novel, The Roommate! I had The Roommate on my TBR for a while before actually starting it, but once I finally read it, I was hooked, and I couldn’t wait to get started on this second book. It was such a fun read!

To be honest, I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. The summary definitely had me intrigued though, and I couldn’t wait to read Naomi and Ethan’s story. I really liked Naomi’s character since I met her in the first book, and definitely wanted to know more about her. And that’s exactly what we got in this book.

I want to get this started by telling you just how much I LOVED Naomi and Ethan… They were SO perfect together!  Naomi, the confidant, badass businesswoman, and Ethan, the soft-hearted rabbi. Omg, they were so good together! I loved watching their relationship grow throughout the book. Ethan brought out a completely different side of Naomi, one that’s softer and not at all what she usually lets someone see. It was so sweet. They were really great together. Also, LOTS of steamy moments between the two, in case you’re wondering. *wink*

The storyline for the book was really interesting as well. Not only do we get updates about the success of the start-up that Naomi created with Clara and Josh in the first book, but we also get the storyline with Naomi helping Ethan with his Modern Intimacy seminars for his synagogue. It was really interesting, and I’m kind of wondering if these are a thing in real life, because if they aren’t, they should be! I definitely enjoyed reading about it.

Overall; I really enjoyed The Intimacy Experiment! I think I even liked it more than the first book, and that rarely ever happens for me. I just really loved the characters, and the storyline was interesting, and it made for a really good read. I’m kind of bummed that there are not going to be any more books in this series, but I am definitely excited for Rosie’s next book, Not Ready to Make Nice, which is currently set to release sometime in 2022. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for it!

My Thoughts: Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

Second First Impressions
by Sally Thorne

Publication Date: April 13th 2021
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780063007130
Genre: Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley / Own

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Ruthie Midona has worked the front desk at the Providence Luxury Retirement Villa for six years, dedicating her entire adult life to caring for the Villa’s residents, maintaining the property (with an assist from DIY YouTube tutorials), and guarding the endangered tortoises that live in the Villa’s gardens. Somewhere along the way, she’s forgotten that she’s young and beautiful, and that there’s a world outside of work—until she meets the son of the property developer who just acquired the retirement center.

Teddy Prescott has spent the last few years partying, sleeping in late, tattooing himself when bored, and generally not taking life too seriously—something his father, who dreams of grooming Teddy into his successor, can’t understand. When Teddy needs a place to crash, his father seizes the chance to get him to grow up. He’ll let Teddy stay in one of the on-site cottages at the retirement home, but only if he works to earn his keep. Teddy agrees—he can change a few lightbulbs and clip some hedges, no sweat. But Ruthie has plans for Teddy too.

Her two wealthiest and most eccentric residents have just placed an ad (yet another!) seeking a new personal assistant to torment. The women are ninety-year-old, four-foot-tall menaces, and not one of their assistants has lasted a full week. Offering up Teddy seems like a surefire way to get rid of the tall, handsome, unnerving man who won’t stop getting under her skin.

Ruthie doesn’t count on the fact that in Teddy Prescott, the Biddies may have finally met their match. He’ll pick up Chanel gowns from the dry cleaner and cut Big Macs into bite-sized bits. He’ll do repairs around the property, make the residents laugh, and charm the entire villa. He might even remind Ruthie what it’s like to be young and fun again. But when she finds out Teddy’s father’s only fixing up the retirement home to sell it, putting everything she cares about in jeopardy, she’s left wondering if Teddy’s magic was all just a façade.

From the USA Today  bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine comes the clever, funny, and unforgettable story of a muscular, tattooed man hired as an assistant to two old women—under the watchful eye of a beautiful retirement home manager. (Goodreads)

Second First Impressions is the highly anticipated third book by bestselling author Sally Thorne, and it was also high on the list of my most anticipated reads for 2021. I read The Hating Game by Sally a few years back and absolutely loved the story, so I was super curious to see how this new book would compare.

Let’s get this started by saying what I liked about the book. I definitely liked the characters in the book, especially some of the secondary characters, (Aggie and Renata!). I found myself relating to Ruthie, the main character, quite a bit in the story, especially about the quiet life that she leads. Though I did enjoy watching her grow as the story went along, especially with the help of her coworker, Melanie, (I loved her!), and her boss’s son, Teddy.  

Teddy was an absolutely adorable bit of a mess. Seriously, he was all over the place, which made me a bit anxious, but he also made me laugh quite a few times as the story went along as well. It was interesting to watch his character growth as well, and I really enjoyed watching the slow burn relation grow between him and Ruthie as the story went along. It was sweet!

The storyline for the book was really cute. I can’t say that I have read many books like it before, set at a retirement village, but it was definitely fun. I really enjoyed the turtles in the storyline as well! I didn’t really care for all the religious parts of the story, but that’s just a *me* thing.

Overall; I found Second First Impressions to be a quick and sweet read. I didn’t like it quite as much as I did The Hating Game, but the book did make me laugh and smile, and swoon a bit as well. And I now definitely want to read The Hating Game again, which I will probably do so soon to see if I still feel the same about the book.

My Thoughts: The Roommate by Rosie Danan

The Roommate
(The Roommate #1)
by Rosie Danan

Publication Date: September 15th 2020
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 325
ISBN: 9780593101605
Genre: Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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House Rules:
Do your own dishes.
Knock before entering the bathroom.
Never look up your roommate online.

The Wheatons are infamous among the east coast elite for their lack of impulse control, except for their daughter Clara. She’s the consummate socialite: over-achieving, well-mannered, predictable. But every Wheaton has their weakness. When Clara’s childhood crush invites her to move cross-country, the offer is too much to resist. Unfortunately, it’s also too good to be true.

After a bait-and-switch, Clara finds herself sharing a lease with a charming stranger. Josh might be a bit too perceptive—not to mention handsome—for comfort, but there’s a good chance he and Clara could have survived sharing a summer sublet if she hadn’t looked him up on the Internet...

Once she learns how Josh has made a name for himself, Clara realizes living with him might make her the Wheaton’s most scandalous story yet. His professional prowess inspires her to take tackling the stigma against female desire into her own hands. They may not agree on much, but Josh and Clara both believe women deserve better sex. What they decide to do about it will change both of their lives, and if they’re lucky, they’ll help everyone else get lucky too. (Goodreads)

The Roommate by Rosie Danan is a book that has been on my TBR way too long, and I am really happy to have finally read it. For some reason I kept putting off reading this book, (actually I have just been in a reading slump for months), but if I knew how fast I would end up reading this book, I definitely would have started it sooner. And with the sequel coming out this month, it felt like to perfect time to read both books!

So… I can’t say that I have read many, if any, books romance books about the porn industry. I was definitely curious to see how the story was going to play out and it was not at all what I expected from the story. I really liked the idea of the website Clara and Josh created, and I think something like that would be super helpful for both men and women in real life. It was definitely interesting to read about.

The characters in the story were really fun as well. I liked watching Clara come out of her shell, and Josh grow more confident about both himself and his job. I really liked Naomi too, and I was super happy that though she was Josh’s ex, they were still friends, and she wasn’t a mean ex-girlfriend. AND I love that she’s the main character in The Intimacy Experiment! I am so excited to read her story.

Overall; The Roommate was not at all what I expected, but was a quick, fun read! The cute interactions between the two main characters and the fascinating storyline definitely kept me hooked. I can’t wait to get started on The Intimacy Experiment now, and I will definitely be checking out more books by Rosie in the future!

My Thoughts: A Lady's Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett

A Lady's Formula for Love
(The Secret Scientists of London #1)
by Elizabeth Everett

Publication Date: February 9th 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 322
ISBN: 9780593200629
Genre: Adult Fiction / Historical Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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What is a Victorian lady's formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humor and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry—it's elemental.

Lady Violet Hughes is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England's most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland.

Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally.

When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet's laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test—and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart. (Goodreads)

This year I am on a mission to find, (and devour), more historical fiction books, (including the swoony romantic kinds). When I discovered A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett, I knew I would have to check it out! This is the very first book in the brand new series The Secret Scientists of London series, and it was absolutely fantastic! I very much enjoyed reading this book.

One of the things that I loved most about this book was ALL of the wonderful characters. I loved the main character in the story, Lady Violet, the most. Why? Because she’s brilliant AND a scientist, and I wanted nothing more than to visit her secret society to geek out with her and her fellow scientists. There’s also Arthur Kneland, the brooding, sexy Scottish bodyguard, who had me swooning right along with Lady Violet. (Seriously, that accent, though.) I love a man that will let a woman shine, and Arthur was fantastic at letting Violet shine.

There were a lot of really fascinating secondary characters in the story as well and I want to know them all so much more! I am super curious to know if any of them will be getting the next book in the series, or if we will at least see them again in the next book. I know I would happy with either because they are all so fascinating.

The storyline for this book was really interesting as well, especially with Lady Violet working on a mission for the Crown. (How awesome is that for that period in time?!) I also love that all the women were scientists, and getting to read about their inventions was both fascinating, and, at times, hilarious. (The hair lacquer!) This book also talks about women’s rights and suffrage, and I definitely need more books like it in my collection.

Overall; I very much enjoyed A Lady’s Formula for Love, and I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the sequel, which is currently untitled, but due to release sometime in 2022. I will most definitely be keeping my eye out for it, and for more books by Elizabeth Everett in the future.