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: 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: Sunkissed by Kasie West

Sunkissed
by Kasie West

Publication Date: May 4th 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 309
ISBN: 9780593176269
Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary / Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Will the stars align?

Avery has always used music as an escape. But after her best friend betrays her, even her perfectly curated playlists can't help her forget what happened. To make matters worse, her parents have dragged her and her social-media-obsessed sister to a remote family camp for two months of "fun." Just when Avery is ready to give up on the summer altogether, she meets Brooks—mysterious, frustratingly charming Brooks—who just happens to be on staff—which means he's off-limits.

What starts as a disaster turns into . . . something else. As the outside world falls away, Avery embarks on a journey of self-discovery. And when Brooks offers her the chance of a lifetime, she must figure out how far is she willing to go to find out what she wants and who she wants to be.

Fan favorite Kasie West is back with another unforgettable summer romance that reminds us falling in love is full of wonder, heartache, and—most of all—surprises. (Goodreads)

I absolutely love Kasie West’s books, so of course I couldn’t wait to check out Sunkissed as soon as I possibly could! If you’re looking for books to add to your summer TBR list, then you definitely need to check out this summer-themed romance.

I’m not sure what it is about Kasie West’s books that always make me want to read them in the summer time, but I’ve read two so far this season, and they were both great books! (Even when they aren’t summer-themed, they are just really fun reads.) Sunkissed was one of the books I read, but I also read Moment of Truth and enjoyed it as well!

Sunkissed is Kasie’s most recent release, and yes, it is summer-themed! Avery and her family spending 2 months of their summer at a remote family camp, leaving the outside world and all its distractions behind, sounds like the perfect summer setting and storyline for a book, right? Add in some adorable romance, and yes… this book has all the requirements for a great summer read! I loved so much about this book, but the setting really won me over. I love books about camp!

I also really enjoyed the characters in the book as well. Avery was an interesting main character. Brooks, the love interest, was adorable as well. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow as the book went along! I even liked Avery’s family as well, including the relationship between Avery and her sister. So many great characters!

Overall; If you’re looking for a cute romance to add to your summer reading list, Sunkissed by Kasie West is definitely one you should check out! This book was is such a cute read, and I’m so glad I was able to check it out.

My Thoughts: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

It Happened One Summer
(It Happened One Summer #1)
by Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: July 13th 2021
Publisher: Avon Books
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780063045651
Genre: Adult Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar... in Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.

Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart. (Goodreads)

It Happened One Summer was hands down one of my most anticipated reads for Summer 2021, and this book was everything I didn’t know I needed and SO MUCH MORE. Not only is it my first 5 star read for 2021, but it’s definitely one of my new favorite romances as well!

Tessa Bailey is one of the first authors I checked out when I got back into reading romances again a while back, and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors! I have read quite a few of her books so far, and they just get better and better as they go along! I’m so glad to have read this newest book by her, and I am planning to read more soon!

So I really want to spend this whole review telling you “OMG THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE” over and over again, but I am going to try to contain myself and write actual words instead. But seriously, y’all … OMG THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE!

First, let’s start with the characters … Piper is awesome. She’s not the kind of character I would normally love when we first meet her in the book, but once you get to know the *real* Piper, you’ll definitely love her. Yes, she was inspired by Alexis Rose from Schitt’s Creek, and she’s that, yet so much more. She’s so great! And Brendan was just a big, adorable, grumpy teddy bear. A bit of an ass at first, but boy did that change. I loooooved watching the relationship between him and Piper grow as the story went along. It was so cute. And steamy… SO STEAMY.

There are some great secondary characters in the story as well, including Piper’s sister, Hannah… I mention her because she and Piper have the BEST friendship. I loved it!

The storyline for the book is very, very cute as well. Again, it was inspired by Schitt’s Creek, so if you like the show, you’ll love this book! (And if you haven’t watched the show, you totally should. It’s awesome as well!)

Once I finished this fantastic book, I was thrilled to discover that there is going to be a sequel! The next book in the series, Hook, Line, and Sinker, is all about Hannah, Piper’s sister, and Fox, Brendon’s shipmate! I am so very excited about this book … I already have my copy pre-ordered, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it when it releases in March!

Overall; Yeah… if you can’t tell by this super gushy review, I REALLY LOVED It Happened One Summer! I’ve been waiting and hoping for my first 5 star read of the year, and I couldn’t be any happier that it was this book. I am already planning my re-read soon … and will be reading again before the next book is released! Fans of Tessa Bailey, or of romance, or of Schitt’s Creek, or of love in general, DO check out this book asap! And I hope you love it as much as I do.

My Thoughts: Isn't It Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams

Isn't It Bromantic
(Bromance Book Club #4)
by Lyssa Kay Adams

Publication Date: July 20th 2021
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780593332771
Genre: Adult / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.

Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance—both on and off the page.

The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love—and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt. (Goodreads)

The Bromance Book Club series by Lyssa Kay Adams is hands down one of my most favorite romance series at the moment. I have really enjoyed reading all the books as they have been released, but Isn’t it Bromantic is both my most anticipated AND my favorite book in the series!

To be honest, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this story. If you’ve read the previous books, then you know all about Vlad and his sounds and smells. (ROFL!) Just going by those books, it was kind of hard to think of him as a romantic lead. But, Lyssa definitely pulled it off! Vlad is adorable and sensitive, and such a great guy, and I definitely enjoyed seeing this softer, (yet still very manly), side of him.

I also really liked Elena as well. I found her to be relatable in some ways, and it was interesting to see her character grow throughout the story. The relationship between her and Vlad was soooo adorable … and steamy … and I really enjoyed watching it blossom. The storyline was great as well … both with Vlad recovering from his injury and his secret project, as well as Elena and hers also! (There’s also a twist that I didn’t see coming!)

And, of course, it makes me so happy that all the characters from the previous books are once again in this new book. I love their bromance book club, and there are so many guys that still need their own books! And since there were quite a few new characters introduced in this new book, I have my fingers crossed that we will see some new stories for them soon. *please please please*!!!

Overall; I definitely enjoyed Isn’t It Bromantic SOOOO much more than I expected to! I was definitely intrigued before I started it, and I loved the story, and the characters, of course, and I really hope we get more books in the series. I would really, really love that. If you’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, do check out this newest addition as well!

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: Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Act Your Age, Eve Brown
(The Brown Sisters #3)
by Talia Hibbert

Publication Date: March 9th 2021
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780062941275
Genre: Adult Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Source: Own / Netgalley Review Copy

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In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she's not entirely sure how…

Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.

Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior. (Add to Goodreads)

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the third, and final, book in The Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert. It’s also one of my most anticipated reads for early 2021, and I’m so thrilled to have finally read it! Though reading this book was a little bittersweet, as I was excited to read Eve’s story, but I also didn’t want the series to come to an end. This series has quickly become one of my favorites, and I’m so thrilled to have added a favorite new author to my growing list!

As I mentioned above, Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the third book in this wonderful series and is about the youngest Brown sister, Eve. We got to know Eve a little bit in Chloe and Dani’s books, and I definitely wanted to know more about this youngest sister. Eve is a bit all over the place when we first meet her in the story… giving up on yet another career that she had just started, and pushing her parents to give her an ultimatum; find a job and stick with it for a year, or be cut off from her trust fund. When she goes out on a drive to figure out what to do, she stumbles upon a charming bed and breakfast, run by a somewhat grumpy owner, Jacob, and hilarity ensues.

Eve and Jacob were SO CUTE together! Despite their rocky first meeting, I just knew that they were going to be a great couple. And they were! I enjoyed watching their relationship grow throughout the book so much, especially as Jacob learned to trust Eve, which was not an easy thing for him to do. I also enjoyed watching Eve become more responsible and find the job that she loved. The storyline for this book was super cute as well. And I love that the story is told from alternate viewpoints, so we got to see things from both Eve and Jacob’s perspectives. (I am a huge fan of this, and definitely need more books to be written this way.)

I also really, really enjoyed getting to see the characters from the previous books as well. It’s always so nice to get to catch up with them, even if just for a little bit. There were also some interesting new characters as well, and I have my fingers crossed that maybe a few of them will get their own series in the future!

Overall; Act Your Age, Eve Brown was the perfect ending to this wonderful series! I am so sad to see the series ending, but am already planning to re-read it soon, and will definitely be checking out more of Talia’s books ASAP! (And if she just happened to want to write a series about two awesome twins and their brother, I would totally be on board to read it!)