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BOOK REVIEW: Stargazer (Speakeasy Taproom #8) by Wendy S. Marcus

BOOK REVIEW: Stargazer (Speakeasy Taproom #8) by Wendy S. MarcusStargazer (Speakeasy Taproom #8)
by Wendy S. Marcus
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Randall Dickson is coping. Sort of. An upcoming medical eval, one that could end his military career, has him stressed and making bad choices. So when a concerned friend issues a strongly-worded “invitation” to Vermont, R.D. is all in for a change of scenery, a temporary job as a bartender, and the opportunity to shake himself out of his self-destructive routine.

Then he sets eyes on his seriously sexy new co-worker…

Lily Reynolds, an artist by day, Speakeasy’s favorite bartender at night, works hard to stay positive, unlike her surly new coworker. He may be a treat to look at, but that grumpy attitude and terse manner are not her type. So when Lily finds herself in desperate need of someone to share expenses, she convinces R.D. to rent her vacant room. There’s no way she’ll find herself falling for him.

She’d like to find the secret admirer who’s leaving her secret love notes around the bar, though. But he won’t reveal himself...

This standalone contains: opposites who definitely attract, a workplace romance, and an opinionated French bulldog.

Review

OKAYYYY. SO. At this point I have read TWENTY FOUR freaking books between the four different series that make up The World of True North and I think this might be my top favorite. I know, that’s a pretty bold claim. BUT….once you all read R.D. and Lily’s story I think you’ll understand.

Everything about their book was sheer and utter perfection. The two of them shouldn’t make any sense together and yet they do. And it’s beautiful. And really fucking hot. And Lily’s little French bulldog is in love with R.D. and if that itself doesn’t make you ALSO fall in love with him, I don’t know what will.

Going into this book we have only seen Lily before, seeing as she is one of Speakeasy’s favorite bartenders for her upbeat personalities and inspiring quotes that she loves putting up on a white board every day before her shift starts. I knew there was going to be more to her story than someone who was just positive and happy every minute of the day so finding out more appealed to me. Enter R.D. Randy Dick. lollll He and our old pal Griff Shipley had been friends back in college and when R.D. makes the mistake of reaching out to an old dealer to get pain pills for an accident than occurred over a year ago, Griff catches wind and “forces” him to come to Colebury to work at Speakeasy for a bit.

The two work together for a bit and then R.D. winds up moving in after Lily’s terrible ex moves out. I loved how Lily immediately confided in him, big things that she never told other people who had been in her life for longer. Even just the fact that she gave him a key to her workshop. That was a big trust move right there. The almost-moments they had too were so appealing. Who doesn’t love a good ~oh we promised we wouldn’t have sex but now we’re drowning in all this sexual tension and how long are we going to last before we break and do something about it~ dynamic? *Chefs kiss*

I don’t even know what more to say about this book other than to again just reiterate how obsessed I was with it and how I am both excited and devastated to be starting the final book in the series next. This is one I will for be re-reading many a time!

Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this in exchange for my honest review!

BOOK REVIEW: Attraction (Hypothesis #1) by Penny Reid

BOOK REVIEW: Attraction (Hypothesis #1) by Penny ReidAttraction (Hypothesis #1)
by Penny Reid
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

One week.
Private beach.
Invisible girl.
Jerk-faced bully.
What’s the worst that could happen?

Kaitlyn Parker has no problem being the invisible girl, which is why she finds herself hiding in various cabinets and closets all over her college campus. Despite her best efforts, she can’t escape the notice of Martin Sandeke—bad boy, jerkface bully, and the universe’s hottest, wealthiest, and most unobtainable bachelor—who also happens to be Kaitlyn’s chemistry lab partner.

Kaitlyn might be the only girl who isn’t interested in exploiting his stunning rower’s build, chiseled features, and family's billionaire fortune. Kaitlyn wants Martin for his brain, specifically to tabulate findings of trace elements in surface water.

When Kaitlyn saves Martin from a nefarious plot, Martin uses the opportunity to push Kaitlyn out of her comfort zone: spring break, one week, house parties, bathing suits, and suntan lotion. Can she overcome her aversion to being noticed? Will he be able grow beyond his self-centered nature? Or, despite their obvious chemistry, will Martin be the one to drive Kaitlyn into the science cabinet of obscurity for good?

Review:

The Hypothesis Series sucked me in and before I knew it, I had binged all three books about Martin and Katy.   While I did have some hiccups here and there, I didn’t really care because this story was so much fun and kept me entertained.  The first book in this series, Attraction, was emotional, quirky and so easy to devour.  If you love unconventional girls, Alpha males and lots of angst, then this is the series to add to your tbr!

“Haven’t you ever wondered why I come on Fridays?” His fingers curled around my neck and his thumb traced circles along the line of my collarbone. He encouraged my head to tip backward.
“So that we can get a jump start on the weekly assignment?”
He shook his head. “You.”

Kaitlyn Parker, aka Katy, was lab partners with Martin Sandeke.  Martin was tall, gorgeous, smart, athletic, and his family were billionaires.  He truly had it all going for him.  And while Katy’s family was well known too, she definitely felt like they were in very different leagues.  You see, while Martin was popular, outgoing annnnnnnd a total douche, Katy was quiet, timid and liked to hide in closets.  So while Katie was hiding in a closet (see, told you LOL), she overheard a plot to take Martin down.  With her kind heart, she warned him and it set her on a path that would completely change her world.

“You think I’m only interested in you for one thing. You’re wrong,” he whispered against my ear, hot breath spilling against my neck making me shiver, his hand on my stomach inching lower.
“This, what you’re doing now, how you’re touching me, does not give credibility to your words.” My breath hitched, my brain disengaging.

Katy was beyond quirky and cracked me up!  Did she have some growing up and learning how to interact with others to do?  Uh yeah!  But she was so endearing, that I loved watching her journey.  Sometimes her mouth would open and oh my gosh I’d die laughing.  BUT at the same point I just wanted to hug her because you could tell that her upbringing was extremely different than those around her.  She could be so over the top, almost kind of like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory, but by the second book you get to see how much she grew.  And by the third book, besides her keyword burner, she had changed so much.  I’m glad I was patient with her because she slowly but surely matured and evolved as this trilogy unfolded.

How was it possible I was the most trustworthy person in his life? How heartbreaking was that?

Martin was such an unknown.  He could be extremely demanding and spoiler alert, that doesn’t change at all in the next two books.   But at the same time, he also had this soft side to him that made me melt.  And my heart hurt for how he was raised.  With his charming, seductive and captivating ways I found myself falling for Martin.  So when he invited Katy to take a trip with him to a tropical island, for spring break, I was so excited.  With a beautiful setting and lots of time together, I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough!

For some inexplicable reason, I felt like crying. Tears stung behind my eyelids and my throat felt tight.
I knew it.
I KNEW IT.
I knew he was going to make me cry.

 Attraction was filled with lots of angst, and as someone who can easily be consumed watching it all unfold, I loved every minute of it!  With side characters that leaped from the pages, two main characters I was fascinated with, tons of chemistry and a romantic tropical setting, this book was an absolute blast!  And spoiler alert….Book 2 is where all the heat is at….just sayin lol.

PS This ends on a cliffhanger and mid scene, so you definitely want to have Heat available, for when you read this book!

 

BOOK REVIEW: Starlight (Speakeasy Taproom #7) by Christine DePetrillo

BOOK REVIEW: Starlight (Speakeasy Taproom #7) by Christine DePetrilloStarlight (Speakeasy Taproom #7)
by Christine DePetrillo
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

He doesn’t trust women. She only trusts dogs. Why can’t they keep their paws off each other?

Darren Reade builds stone walls in Vermont--and around his heart. Women don’t stick around, so it’s better to put up No Trespassing signs and focus on raising his adopted son. Darren is willing to do whatever it takes to help the boy cope with his mother’s death. But doing it alone is a challenge.

Grace Hollings indulges her love of old-school jazz by singing nights at the Speakeasy Taproom, and spends her days training service dogs, connecting small humans with smart pooches. Of course she’d planned to be married already, but a failed engagement has taught her that dogs make better company than men.

One evening, Grace and Darren don’t exchange names, but they do engage in a single night neither of them will forget. Is once all there is? Or can they train their hearts to trust what they’ve built under the starlight?

Review

Thissssss!!!! This is the kind of romance I LIVE FOR. It had steam, it had passion, it had an entire spectrum of emotions, it had service puppies, it had the most adorable family dynamic. IT WAS EVERYTHINGGGGG. The best part about all of these series in The World of True North is catching glimpses of these characters in previous books, wondering if/when you’ll get their story. Darren and his son Kolton were mentioned a few times in Firefly and of course Grace was too as she worked with Melody at Speakeasy.

Getting to learn about Darren and Kolton’s story was so emotional. I won’t go into it as you will find out yourselves pretty early on but the fact that Darren takes care of Kolton like he does and loves THAT DEEP is a beautiful, beautiful thing. The boy suffers from intense bouts of trauma and anxiety and it was recommended to Darren by Kolton’s school that they try getting a service dog from a local place in town.

When he shows up to find Grace, the woman he recently spent a passionate birthday night with, as one of the two employees who trains the dogs, the two are both surprised and excited to have been thrown into one another’s paths again.

My favorite part about this book was how instantaneously Kolton took to Grace. Because of the genuine person she was AND because she has worked with many people with different and special needs at that point, she knew just how to immediately interact with Kolton. Melted my freaking heart, let me tell you.

The drama portion of this book really was through no fault of Darren or Grace’s which was nice, even if it still impacted them and their relationship for a small bit of time. The string of events that led them back together, though? THAT is what made me cry, and in the best way. I am so happy that this series is coming to a finish on such a strong note. I have been so happy to be introduced to so many new authors because of this World of True North project and am so excited for this to be out for everyone to read!

Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this in exchange for my honest review!

BOOK REVIEW: Forever Starts Now by Stefanie London

BOOK REVIEW: Forever Starts Now by Stefanie London Forever Starts Now by Stefanie London
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

What happens when two people who’ve given up on forever find it in each other…?

Single men are as scarce in Forever Falls as a vegetarian at a barbecue. That is, until Ethan Hammersmith moves in. After his fiancée gave him an ultimatum, he left Australia and never looked back. He isn’t in America to find a new girlfriend, though. He’s searching for the father he never knew. But now it’s like he has a flashing sign above his head that says “available.” Thankfully, the manager of the local diner is willing to give him cover―if only she weren’t so distractingly adorable.

Monroe Roberts, town misanthrope and divorcée, knocked “forever” permanently off her wish list ever since the love of her life skipped town with the cliché yoga instructor. And good riddance. She’s got this struggling diner to keep her busy, trying anything to boost sales…until a hot Australian strolls in and changes everything. Monroe’s restaurant is packed full of women who aren’t there to order food, unless Ethan is on the menu. This could sink her business faster than ever. So―light bulb―what if they pretend to be together?

It sounds like the perfect plan. Until they realize there is some very real chemistry in this fake relationship. But is it enough to heal two hearts that have been so deeply wounded?

Review:

“Sometimes it takes the right person to shine a light on us so we can see who we’ve become.”

Forever Starts Now was a heartwarming tale of love and finding your way in life.  I absolutely loved the romance and the small town this story took place.  With a story line and characters that quickly hooked me, I couldn’t stop smiling.  If you’re a fan of the fake dating trope, which is one of my favorites!, then you definitely need to add this one to your tbr.

“I know you said I wasn’t your type, but maybe you could fake being attracted to me.”
If only he wasn’t her type. Hell, Monroe would chance it and say that Ethan might be the “type” of every living being with a pulse and a preference for men. Universal hotness, at its finest.

While Monroe Roberts worked at the local Sunshine Diner, her true passion in life was baking.  She had even won a national tv show baking competition.   But with a jaded past involving an ex-husband, trying to help a struggling diner and caring for her dad, Monroe never got to put herself first.  When a stranger walked into town that looked like Chris Hemsworth, her life got even busier.  With women stealing spots at her diner to catch a glance of the movie star doppelganger, and not ordering meals, the diner seemed to struggle even more.

“You’re a little too good at this, you know. Am I your first fake girlfriend? Be honest now.”
His smile was pure sunshine and warmth. Damn.

I heart Ethan Hammersmith.  He was sexy, kind, honest and when he opened up, it was impossible not to fall completely head over heels in love with him.  He too came from a jaded past, and his was filled with lies.  Ethan had been searching the U.S. for the dead father he never knew existed until now.  But with everyone trying to get up in his business or capture a date with the new bachelor, he wasn’t able to discreetly dig for info on his father.  So when Ethan suggested to Monroe that they fake date, so the diner could thrive and he could stop being bothered, I was utterly giddy!

“You’re beautiful,” he said quietly. There was something about the way he said it, low enough that maybe it wasn’t for show. For their act. Or maybe it was the way he looked at her— like he really saw who she was underneath it all. “Inside and out.”

 The story alternated between Monroe and Ethan and they had so much in common.  And from the moment they were near one another, there was instant chemistry.  Flirting and banter was so seamless between them.  So when they started to pretend dating, of course that electricity was still there.  With touches, whispering secret words to each other and even kissing…..this book was SO much fun!  Some of their moments together were hot and I couldn’t get enough of it!  All the while they were fake dating, it sure didn’t look or feel like it!

“For something that’s supposed to be fake, I’m having a hard time drawing a line in my head.”
Her breath caught in her throat.

Forever Starts Now was a sexy and sweet story that was so easy to devour!  With a story line that flowed effortlessly and characters that were a piece of cake to adore, I loved this story!  There were also side characters that felt so real to me!  So if you’re a fan of romance or the fake dating trope, then I can’t recommend this one enough!  Now I need to go check out London’s other books ♥.

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

 

BOOK REVIEW: Showstopper (Vino & Veritas #17) by Regina Kyle

BOOK REVIEW: Showstopper (Vino & Veritas #17) by Regina KyleShowstopper (Vino & Veritas #17)
by Regina Kyle
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

I swore I wouldn’t do this again. Mix sports, school, and sex. But right now the only thing standing between me and the NHL is six feet of frenemy packed into a pair of form-fitting jeans that have me thinking all kinds of things I shouldn’t. Mostly how to get him out of them.

I don’t just want Kolby. I need him. Because I’ve got to pass this theater class--yeah, I said theater--if I’m going to keep my spot on the team. When tutoring sessions turn into dates-not-dates over Shipley Cider at Vino and Veritas, I realize it’s going to be harder than I thought to keep my hands on my stick and off of Kolby. Worse, I think I might be falling for him. But I’m not ready for that. I want to keep this thing between us on the down-low for now.

But Kolby hates secrets. Especially his own . . .

Review

I did not expect to be back at Moo U for this book and was so excited when that was the case! I can’t even tell you how many times at this point I have googled Burlington and surrounding areas so that I can some time take a trip over there and pretend like I could go to all of these places in real life (especially Vino & Veritas).

Kolby and Adam were a great couple that I knew I was going to like from their first run-in where they clashed a little bit (while also still both being super attracted to one another LOL). I love that they both were put in situations around the other where they weren’t at their top form (Kolby on the ice doing lessons and Adam in improv class) because I feel like that made them a little more vulnerable. I loved how once the team found out about the two, all but Slags immediately were super supportive to Adam. That’s what we need more of in this world. Those Moo U boys really are unparalleled.

Also, and I feel like this isn’t a HUGE spoiler since most romances have one side of the couple doing some kind of grand gesture at the end to make up for whatever they messed up, but I was super glad that Kolby just wasn’t having it and walked out. Sometimes I come to hate that formula. Why do they always need to do some big huge thing to be forgiven? Why can’t they just talk things out in a small and normal way? That’s what happened here and I felt like it fit perfectly and I wouldn’t have wanted to change one thing about it.

Finally, Regina Kyle, I love you. You added some really great pop culture references that I was obsessed with and even just a mention of a TV show and a book I love made me enjoy this book that much more. I’m a simple gal, what can I say? lol

Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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