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BOOK REVIEW: Holiday Hotel (Simona Island #1) by Poppy Minnix

BOOK REVIEW: Holiday Hotel (Simona Island #1) by Poppy MinnixHoliday Hotel (Simona Island #1)
by Poppy Minnix
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Sometimes, it takes a corset and an island getaway to bounce back from a disastrous breakup.

In the winter chill of New York City, Cozette Fay attempts to turn up the heat with a fun and sexy Ms. Claus roleplay. Unfortunately, her aloof boyfriend is more confused than aroused.

She says fa-la-la to her fizzled relationship and escapes to the tropics for Christmas where she meets Nico, a van-driving beach-hunk who secretly owns the hotel on private Simona Island. He upgrades her room, takes her on adventures, and can't seem to keep his eyes or his hands off of her despite claiming there's a non-fraternization policy.

It shouldn't matter that Nico won't share anything about himself outside of their tropical snow globe—she's there to reunite with herself, after all—but the closer they get, the more it seems he may be the Santa to her Mrs. Clause all year round.

Readers who enjoy Christmas with You from Tracy Alverez or The One Night Stand Before Christmas from Jana Aston would enjoy Holiday Hotel.

Review:

Holiday Hotel was a fun and flirty Christmas story!  With a beautiful island setting, fabulous characters and a story-line that was so easy to devour, this book was such a big hit!  If you’re a fan of adult romance, then you definitely need to check this one out!

I shimmy out of my cover-up to get more comfortable, then lean back and moan as I sip the juice. “So good.”
Ruth makes a dainty snort. “No wonder Nico is all aflutter.”
I jerk my head in her direction. Nico is a-what?
Laughing, Ilaria gives a playful slap to Ruth’s thigh.
Oh, so many things to say and not to say.

Cozette broke up with her boyfriend right before Christmas.  With her parents in Canada for the holidays and her childhood home currently being rented out, she desperately needed to escape and find some happiness.  When she told her travel agent to send her somewhere tropical, she went on an adventure that was so much more then she could have ever imagined.

I’m down to four days, three nights, two Christmas present ideas, and one hurricane in a palm tree. Enjoy the moment, Cozette.

 All it took was that first chapter to completely hook me!  I was addicted.  I loved that Cozette was determined, adventurous and took things as they came.  After her boyfriend turned her down in a Mrs Claus sexy outfit, I was so happy to see that she picked herself up and tried to make the best of it.  The story was told from her pov, and her attitude warmed my heart!  I also loved how she connected with others so easily.  The way she made others feel, like an instant friend, was a breath of fresh air!

The door clicks closed, and I blow out a long breath. O Christmas tree, am I in trouble with this one.

After arriving on the island, Cozette met Nico.  He was the man who drove her from the airport to her hotel.  And while there was instant attraction, Nico was so much more than meets the eye.  He secretly owned the hotel and had other secrets too, my lips are zipped.  I instantly liked him and loved learning that he was kind, generous, and thoughtful.  He truly had a heart of gold.  I also loved his laid back attitude and that he saw more then he should.

“Want me to stop?” he whispers, lips to my ear.
“No.” I grin. “All is merry and right.”

Nico and Cozette found themselves drawn to each other.  And while he stated there was a non-fraternizing policy and Cozette was leaving after the holidays, it didn’t matter. What was between them couldn’t be stopped.  Between snorkeling, having a hammock moment that melted my heart, Christmas cookie decorating, treasure hunting and so much more, you could see how right they were for one another.  And their steamy scenes together were so hot!

I map his shoulder blade with one hand and the curls at the nape of his neck with the other. “Merry Christmas, Nico.”
Nico lifts his head and brushes his smiling lips over mine. “Merry Christmas, Cozi.”

Holiday Hotel was a heartwarming Christmas story that was such a treat!  With side characters I adored so easily, my favorites were Ilaria and Ruth, this book played out like a movie.  And while many of the moments were fun and sexy, there was also an emotional moment or two.  One of them made me have tears in my eyes.  So if you’re looking for an adult holiday book to devour that has a happily ever after, then definitely give this one a try!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

BOOK REVIEW: Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay KristoffAurora's End (The Aurora Cycle #3)
by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

The squad you love is out of time. Prepare for the thrilling finale in the epic, best-selling Aurora Cycle series about a band of unlikely heroes who just might be the galaxy's last hope for survival.

Is this the end?
What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases, and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course.
Wait. . . . Not. So. Fast.
When we last saw Squad 312, they working together seamlessly (aka, freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally.
But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the te4am has one last chance to rewrite thirs. Maybe two. It's complicated.
Cue Zila, Fin, and Scarlett (and MAGELLAN!): making friends, making enemies, and making history? Sure, no problem
Cue Tyler, Kal, and Auri: uniting with two of the galaxy’s most hated villains? Um, okay. That, too.
Actually saving the galaxy, though?
Now that will take a miracle.

Review

Squad 312 forever.

This series and these characters will live in my mind and in my heart for the rest of my life. The only reason I didn’t read it IMMEDIATELY after it came out was because I had wanted to re-read Aurora Burning and have everything FRESH in my mind. I remembered how it ended, I remembered screaming at my Kindle and thinking it was going to put me into premature labor (lol jk) but remembering the last few pages are a lot different than being fully re-immersed into that world and I am SO glad I waited to start this one.

The first thing you need to know about this book, like the tagline says, is that it’s…ABOUT TIME. Sure, yeah, you could easily take that as “it’s about time we are getting our hands on this damn book because I have been DYING from that cliffhanger from book 2” BUT it is straight up ABOUT TIME. And right when I found that out, I was in. I was ALLLLLLLLLLL in. Time travel has always been my jam. Trying to figure out if time is a loop, if it’s fixed, if we have to worry about a multiverse of dimensions….it’s all a mindfuck that I welcome eagerly. The next bit will feature mild spoilers so proceed with caution.

Our heroes are split into three groups here. Fin, Scarlett, and Zila have been blasted into the past and are forced to live the same day with a woman from that time (Nari) over and over and OVER.

Tyler starts with Saedii post-battle and then after something triggers a very intense and alarming vision, continues on to warn the Aurora Academy that the Ra’haam are coming for them.

Auri, Kal, and Caersan are blasted into a VERY bleak future and need to rush to fix the Weapon or order to prevent the very Ra’haam infested future they were sent to. When I say it’s dark–I mean it. These chapters hurt the most BY FAR.

Even though the squad had been split up, it honestly didn’t feel that way. They were all trying their best to get back to one another to what they keep trying to do best–save the world. They are all constantly on each other’s minds and there is no doubt the lengths each would go in order to be reunited. Plot wise I think that’s just about all I can talk about with giving away HUGE spoilers that had me screaming, crying, laughing…basically experiencing the full range of human emotion.

I was reminded throughout this entire book, but especially at the end, that this series and these characters are so special because of their love for one another. They are each other’s CHOSEN and found family and not even centuries of time and zillions of lightyears is going to change that. Without going into any detail their love for one another saved each other and the entire galaxy and that is what is going to stick with me the most.

Squad 312, it has been a pleasure and an honor. You are all crazy and amazing and I thank you each for your service to the galaxy and to us readers. You’ll forever have a crazed fan in me.

Huge thanks to Knopf Books For Young Readers and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.

BOOK REVIEW: Wildflower Season (Carolina Girls #1) by Michelle Major

BOOK REVIEW: Wildflower Season (Carolina Girls #1) by Michelle MajorWildflower Season (Carolina Girls #1)
by Michelle Major
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She always followed the path of least resistance…until it leads her to a small town where she can follow her dreams.

When Emma Cantrell’s marriage imploded, she learned a fast and painful lesson about trusting her heart. Then, on a visit to Magnolia, North Carolina, to see her brother, an elegant, if dilapidated, mansion for sale presents the opportunity to start over. Risking everything on her dream of opening the Wildflower Inn, Emma buys the house…just as the storm of the century hits, severely damaging the structure. But a chance meeting with Holly, a bride-to-be in desperate need of a new venue, gives her hope…and the name of a contractor who’ll work fast and cheap, allowing Emma to repair the inn in time to host the wedding and save her investment.

A furniture builder who hasn’t picked up a tool in the five years since his wife died, Cameron Mitchell has no intention of agreeing to help this beautiful—and, he’d guess, entitled—woman insisting that he fix her inn. Until he learns that Emma was sent by Holly, the little sister of his late wife. Grudgingly, Cameron agrees to do the work, with one condition: that he be left completely alone. But the more time they spend together, the more Emma touches a part of his heart he was sure died long ago, forcing him to try making peace with his past.


Review:

Wildflower Season was a heartwarming tale of love and hope.  With an abundance of characters to fall for, and lots of small town charm, there was a lot going on in the pages.  If you adore adult romance, with a strong presence of community and townspeople coming alive throughout the pages, then this book is definitely for you!

This might be a temporary detour on the path to the rest of her life, but she wasn’t about to turn back now.

Emma Cantrell moved to Magnolia for a fresh start.  But after buying a house, to turn it into a bed and breakfast, the storm of the century hit.  And her new investment was plagued with a ton of repairs and work.  Thankfully fate had her meeting Holly, who was in need of a new venue for her wedding.  With lots of hope in the air, Holly had a plan to fix Emma’s house and Emma had a plan to help Holly have her dream wedding.  Yet there was just one hiccup.  Emma had to convince Cam Arlinghaus to help repair her house, and from that first moment they met, there were sparks.

Hope, Cam understood as Emma walked toward the house, was a blessed and blasted thing.

Cam had been married to Holly’s older sister, but she had died years ago. And Cam still carried the guilt of her death with him. He was beyond jaded and had kept to himself. He completely changed his life and was now doing fishing tours, instead of his passion of furniture making. But with the push of Holly needing help, he agreed to fix Emma’s house.  And Cam was definitely book boyfriend material!  He was thoughtful, kind, caring and looked out for others, even if he got wrapped up in his life at times.

“I don’t think you’re a mess.”
“Maybe that’s because you’re an even bigger one.”
“Could be,” he agreed with a smirk.

There was a lot of characters in the pages from beginning to end, which I did struggle with. I don’t ever do this, but I had to make a cheat sheet. I couldn’t keep everyone in their town straight. Maybe it would have been different if I would have started with the The Magnolia Sisters Series. But on top of that, it didn’t matter how much I liked Emma and Cam, I could never connect with them. And for me to truly enjoy and fall for a book, I desperately need that connection. My heart was so sad I wasn’t able to.

He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his gaze was so filled with desire it practically took her breath away. No man had ever looked at her the way he did.

Heart to hearts, guilt, redemption, hope, love and forgiveness filled the pages of Wildflower Season. There was sexual tension, the development of friendships and even a spicy scene or two in the pages. But at the end of the day, not being able to make that connection to Cam and Emma made me struggle. This story was easy to devour, so if you pick it up I hope you fall for this book!

2020 Favorites From A Series

Sooooo……we’re a little late to the game for sharing our favorites from 2020 *covers face*. Even though it took us till the end of the year, we are so excited to share our favorite books in a series! We read them in 2020, but they could have been released a previous year.

Click our reviews to learn more about each book, or click on the cover to go to Amazon. We organized our favorites by age and genre categories so it would be easier to find exactly what you want. We hope you enjoy!
♥ The Star-Crossed Ladies

YA Dystopian

Arielle’s Choice
Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

YA Fantasy


Arielle’s Choice
Cassie’s Choice
Cassie’s Review

Cassie’s Choice

Chelsea’s Review

Arielle’s Choice
   

YA Paranormal


Cassie’s Choice

Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

YA Science Fiction


Arielle’s Review
     

YA Thriller

Cassie’s Choice      

NA Fantasy


Arielle’s Choice
Jen’s Review

Arielle’s Choice
Jen’s Review

Cassie’s Choice
 

Adult Fantasy


Arielle’s Choice

Arielle’s Choice
Cassie’s Choice Jen’s Review

We hope you had fun looking through our 2020 Favorite Series! Are any of these your favorite books too? If not, what was your favorite standalone book last year?

You can see more of our yearly recommendations for Favorites From a Series HERE.

You can also see more of our yearly recommendations for Favorite Standalones Books HERE.

2020 Favorite Standalones

Sooooo……we’re a little late to the game for sharing our favorites from 2020 *covers face*. Even though it took us till the end of the year, we are so excited to share our favorite books that are standalones! They may be part of a series or have a spinoff, but they read so you are given closure upon completion. We read them in 2020, but they could have been released a previous year.

Click our reviews to learn more about each book, or click on the cover to go to Amazon. We organized our favorites by age and genre categories so it would be easier to find exactly what you want. We hope you enjoy!
♥ The Star-Crossed Ladies

YA Romance


Chelsea’s Choice

Arielle’s Choice

Jen’s Review

Cassie’s Review

Cassie’s Choice

Jen’s Review

Cassie’s Choice

YA Fantasy


Arielle’s Review

Cassie’s Choice

YA Thriller


Cassie’s Choice

NA Romance


Jen’s Review

Arielle’s Review

Arielle’s Review

Arielle’s Review

Arielle’s Choice

Adult Romance


Cassie’s Choice

Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

Arielle’s Review

Adult Fantasy


Cassie’s Choice

Adult Historical


Arielle’s Review

Adult Thriller


Cassie’s Choice

Holiday Books


Jen’s Review

Arielle’s Choice
Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

Jen’s Review

We hope you had fun looking through our 2020 Favorite Standalones! Are any of these your favorite books too? If not, what was your favorite standalone book last year?

You can see more of our yearly recommendations for Favorite Standalones Books HERE.

You can also see more of our yearly recommendations for Favorites From a Series HERE.

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