Book Review: By My Side by Essie Sylvan

By My Side by Essie Sylvan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved, loved, loved this story. Bethany is a college athlete from a bad home. Bryce is a rich kid who plays hockey but doesn’t intend to pursue professional hockey. Neither are looking for a relationship when they bump into each other at a party. But, hey, here we are. We get a glimpse into their love story, their pasts, their thoughts. This story is like we are right there watching a friend navigate life. Bethany doesn’t want Bryce to know how bad her home life is. Bryce believes his high society parents will accept Bethany as she is. Let’s just say that both “meet the parents” situations didn’t go well. Add in a creepy ex-girlfriend and it’s a recipe for an angsty romance. Both Bethany and Bryce need to do some growing while apart to be successful and that was the agonizing part of the story. I loved Bryce’s sister, Petra and hope there is more for her in the future.

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Book Review: Until Ruin by Adriane Leigh

Until Ruin by Adriane Leigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Until Ruin is one of the standalones in the Until series and part of Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Happily Ever After World. I have never read any of the other books. However, I had no problem understanding the story; some history between other characters is mentioned but not explained in depth.

Ruin had a hard life prior to the present. His childhood wasn’t all that great. Then a tragedy happened and his life got a little more complicated. Avalee was Ruin’s childhood friend; the one who saw past the hand he was dealt and saw him. But, of course daddy dearest wasn’t thrilled with his little girl being a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Tragedy kept them apart for years. Then fate brought them back together and their story begins again.

I did enjoy the other characters and it made me interested in reading their books to learn their stories better. I loved Ruin and Avalee together and I was legit mad when I read about how they were kept apart. Of course there are some secrets that come to light and makes for some suspense/shock.


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Book Review: Devil's Pawn by Natasha Knight

Devil's Pawn by Natasha Knight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Devil’s Pawn is the first book in a duet. This duet is a spin off of another series; a series I haven’t read. I won’t lie. There were times I was a tad confused about “The Society” because this was my first time reading about them. As for the enemies to lovers story, that is apart from the other series and the characters can stand alone. Jericho St James hates the Bishop family. There was a history between the two families and Jericho’s breaking point was when a Bishop caused him to lose a loved one. So, what’s a shady society member to do? Of course use loopholes to exact his revenge. Unfortunately Isabelle Bishop is collateral damage in Jericho’s revenge plot.

Despite the fact that the St James family is a bit sketchy, I like them. They show promise and I truly believe they can be redeemed. In the St James household there is Jericho, his brother Zeke, his mom, and his daughter Angelique. I loved all of these characters for various reasons. There were some other key characters from Isabelle’s family and let me tell you, they are even more sketchy than the St James clan.

This book does end on a cliffhanger. However, you are left needing the outcome of the cliffhanger event.


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Book Review: Hot Maui Nights by Kameron Claire

 

Hot Maui Nights by Kameron Claire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fabulous short read from Kameron Claire! A steamy office romance story set in Maui? What could be a better combo? Sariah has business aspirations but one moment of weakness after an out of town business trip has her worried: she had slept with her boss’ boss aka the co-founder and president of her firm. Scared people would think she slept her way to the top, she quickly put an end to any continuance of their tryst. However, a company trip to Maui puts that in jeopardy.

Whenever I want a quick read that I know will be good, I instantly go to Kameron’s novellas. They are always on point and give just enough to satisfy your reading craving.

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Book Review: High Meadow by Freya Barker

High Meadow by Freya Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book 1 of a new series called the High Mountain Trackers. I was a little hesitant at first to start this series because I’m not usually a fan of this age bracket for characters. But, I figured it’s a new series and if I didn’t like book 1 then I didn’t have to continue with the series.

However, this book is amazing and it seems the series will be just as amazing as this book. We are introduced to the main characters of this story first. Alexandra “Alex” is an animal lover who moved to Montana and now runs a horse rescue from her farm. Jonas is a former special ops guy who runs a horse ranch in Montana. Their first meeting didn’t go well at all; their second meeting was almost as bad. They both have preconceived notions about the other. We also are introduced to the other members of the High Mountain Trackers, a group of Jonas’ special ops brothers who use their military training to help in searches as well as work on Jonas’ ranch.

Between the tension of these two characters as well as the typical drama of running a ranch and a rescue, we have some escapees on the loose. Jonas and his team are called out to help look for them. Then there’s some strange events on Alex’s farm. Jonas and Alex must navigate through their growing feelings for each other as well as the dangers the escapees pose.

Book was amazing. I gave it 4.5 stars technically (I don’t round up when I select stars). While the story itself was great, I had a hard time connecting with Alex and Jonas as a couple for a while. Eventually they wore me down though.While reading this I got some Yellowstone vibes, just a little tamer in attitudes.


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Book Review: Save Me by Vi Carter

Save Me by Vi Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this book because I needed to know the result of the cliffhanger from the first book. I didn’t necessarily need to know because I was invested in Jared or Layla. I just am nosy and wanted to know what happened after that scene. Again, the story isn’t that bad; it just didn’t interest me. I got the conclusion to many of my questions from book 1 and even got more answers I didn’t know I needed. There were twists. There were secrets. There were some devastating secrets revealed that made you feel something for the character they were about. There was a whole lot of “What?” muttered as I read.

If you like childhood friends-to-lovers stories, then give the duet a try. It may be your cup of tea.


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Book Review: Captured by the Criminal by Logan Chance

Captured by the Criminal by Logan Chance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the sixth installment in the Taken series. I have to admit that I’ve never read the Taken series but didn’t feel too incredibly lost when reading this. The story begins when Bianca and Costi are children so the back story of the characters is there. Within the pages, the premise of the Taken drama is relayed so there’s no guessing there. I say this could definitely be read as a standalone. However, this book left me eager to read the others in the series because the world is just that fascinating.

Bianca and Costi are the perfect characters in this book. Are they friends? Are they lovers? Are they enemies? You go through all 3 with them and one minute you’re rooting for them and then the next you are saying “Girl, no”. In the end, you get a conclusion to their story but the getting there is such a love/hate relationship with reading.


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Book Review: You Didn't Know Me Then by Lily Baines

You Didn't Know Me Then by Lily Baines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book more than the first one; only slightly. Luke’s younger brother, Jordan, is back in town indefinitely. He’s been working as a political advisor in DC and something happened that caused him to go running back to his hometown to hide. At their sister’s wedding, Jordan encounters Hope, one of Libby’s best friends. She didn’t grow up in Riviera View but moved there with her now ex-husband. She’s a teacher at the local school.She has reasons to believe a relationship with Jordan is impossible and Jordan has a secret he’s keeping from everyone.

I was 100% invested in Hope and Jordan from the get-go. In fact, I was invested after the epilogue of the first book. I have to say, despite his flaws, Jordan is my favorite of the two brothers. I easily rooted for these two characters to make it.

I hope there is more to this series because I am loving this beach town and its residents!

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Book Review: You Didn't Love Me Then by Lily Baines

You Didn't Love Me Then by Lily Baines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Luke and Libby were best friends. Libby stayed behind in their hometown and became a social worker. Luke became an Air Marshal and moved away. He moves back home and runs into Libby. Over the course of the book, we learn what made the two friends drift apart. In a slow burn way, they work past the events of their past and current events that threaten to keep them apart. When a part of Libby’s distant past comes back to haunt her, Luke steps up to help.

Luke and Libby’s story was sweet and slow. The ending set up the next book perfectly and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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Book Review: Hoping for Her by S.A. Clayton

Hoping for Her by S.A. Clayton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book one in a new series, The Harbour Cove Series. Drew is successful and has moved on past his horrible high school years. He spends time with his younger sister and his friends/business partners. One day he comes face to face with his new neighbor - Katie - also known as his bully in high school. After he learns why she is back in Harbour Cove, they must work past their earlier and current hurts.

This was an amazing start to a sweet novella-type series. I enjoyed learning about the others in Drew’s friend group and can’t wait for their stories as well. While the main focus of this book is Drew and Katie, there was enough of the other characters to make you invested in them all.


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Book Review: A Deeper Blue by Bethany Maines

A Deeper Blue by Bethany Maines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Three Colors Trilogy. However, it can also be read as a standalone. There are some references to events in the first book but shouldn’t hinder you from understanding this book.

I enjoyed this book more than I did the first book. From the moment Azure and Rafe met, I was invested. I needed to know what happened next in their quest. Azure was a more developed character than Scarlet from Book 1. I hope we get to see Azure and Rafe in the next book as well. There was a little more insight into the magical world that the author has created.

**Note: I do advise reading the first book before this one to get a clearer vision of the story as a whole.


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