Tag: Adult (Page 1 of 62)

BOOK REVIEW: In the Great Quiet by Laura Vogt

June 2, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

In the Great Quiet by Laura Vogt
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A pioneer unwaveringly endures the Oklahoma frontier in an epic adventure about a woman haunted by secrets and searching for home.

A cannon booms at high noon, and the race begins in the Oklahoma land rush of 1893.

Amid the crowd is Minnie Hoopes. Tenacious and fiercely independent, she is determined to endure the brutal frontier and create a life of her own. Guarding her solitude, she distances herself from bordering homesteaders and finds peace under the starry nights of the vast frontier. But this is outlaw country, and Minnie soon has the blood of two gunfighters on her hands. After a renegade outlaw named Stot discovers her secrets, she forms an unlikely friendship with him. With each passing season, Minnie’s past grows more haunting and threatens the future she has risked everything to build. Minnie raced into the Wild West alone, but her grandest journey in the frontier wilderness is one she never saw coming.

Based on the true story of the author’s great-great-grandparents, this sweeping and transportive survival story explores a woman’s connection with the land, her reconciliation with the past, and her elemental search for home against all odds.

Settle in, I’ve stories to tell.

Review:

To hope, after encountering the bleakness of the world, I wasn’t sure there was a greater bravery.

In the Great Quiet was a historical fiction that had a richness and depth that will easily captivate you. Starting with the Oklahoma land rush, I was rooting for Minnie. For her dreams to have her own land. To be on her own and make her own way. She was brave, resilient, and so strong. But Stot knew her secret, that she killed two men to protect herself on her new land. And as their story unfolded, I was swept away into their world.

I crossed my arms, mirroring him. “I don’t trust you.”
“No one said anything about trust, darling.”

I wasn’t sure what to think of the cowboy Stot besides he was quiet, resourceful, and seemed to do what was right. And when it came to Minnie, the banter between them was so much fun. Which I loved because Minnie could come across as stoic to others around her. As we watched neighbors start to knock down her walls and become like family, the tension slowly built to a simmer between Minnie and Stot. Their path was riddled with obstacles, but I kept the hope alive!

“Arguing with me is the most fun you’ve had in weeks,” he said.
“You’re dreaming.”

As the seasons passed, there were life and death moments, hardships, and learning where to draw the line from those that were supposed to be there for you but weren’t. I was enraptured by Minnie’s life and all that she went through. I also loved the slow burn romance and how it ended with a wonderful happily ever after. In the Great Quiet was a beautiful historical story about the Wild West that will whisk you away!

He skimmed his fingertips above the gash at my temple. “I’ll kill him.”

BOOK REVIEWS: The Match (It Happened in Charleston #1) & The Enemy (It Happened in Charleston #2) by Sarah Adams

May 28, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

The Match (It Happened in Charleston #1)
by Sarah Adams
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Evie Jones has dedicated her life and very limited funds working for Southern Service Paws, the company that matched her with the love of her life: Charlie, a service dog trained to assist with her epilepsy. But it’s no secret that the company has been struggling to make ends meet. It’s up to her and her longtime mentor and boss to throw the fundraiser of the century to keep the doors open.

Then Evie meets Jacob Broaden at a client consultation meeting. There are instant sparks—but not the good kind, because Jacob’s daughter set up the meeting without his knowledge. Ten-year-old Sam has been recently diagnosed with epilepsy, and has wanted a service animal ever since. While he had hesitations at first, it doesn’t take long for Jacob to be convinced that a service dog, and possibly Evie, with her magical, woodland-green eyes, might just be the best thing for him and his daughter.

As Evie spends more time with Jacob and helps Sam find her perfect match with a lovable golden retriever named Daisy, she starts longing for something she’s never had before: a loving family. For Jacob, falling in love with Evie is the last thing he should be doing, but love has a way of finding those who need it most.

Review:

The Match was a feel good, swoon worthy, sweet romance that I absolutely loved! With a single dad that was impossible not to fall for, a little girl that you just wanted to hug, dogs that will warm your heart, and a woman whose journey you’ll easily be invested in, this book was a huge hit! I loved watching Jake try and keep his walls up, and for Evie to discover a found family. Plus Evie’s love for Jake’s daughter was everything! With two epilogues at the end, my heart soared! I listened to this closed door romance on audiobook, and it was fabulously done. Definitely recommend!

The Enemy (It Happened in Charleston #2)
by Sarah Adams
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Enemies should never get a second chance. But this one might.

It’s been twelve years since June Broaden has seen her high school enemy (and secret crush), Ryan Henderson. That’s a long time to hold a grudge over some petty feud, but the sharp memory of him dangling a kiss at graduation, then pulling away at the last second, has fueled many angry fantasies since. Now it’s her chance to get even.

Ryan, along with most of her high school class, is back in town for her best friend’s wedding, and June is eager to show the former bully exactly what he’s missed out on. A lot has changed since their teenage days; June is now the Southern queen of gourmet donuts, not to mention one of the most desired bachelorettes in her small town.

What’s she’s not expecting, though, is for Ryan to show up looking like Adonis and touting his own career success as the youngest chef to ever win three Michelin stars. How dare he try to one-up her revenge plot? Luckily, June never backs down from a challenge.

Review:

The Enemy started out with the most awful meet cute lol! He wanted her. She hated him. And they’re rivals. This book was so much fun! But it did take me a while to warm up to June, since she rubbed me the wrong way at times. Yet I loved the push and pull between them. And I was obsessed with Ryan! This was another fun and easy audiobook to listen to! Plus we’re given another epilogue at the end that will leave readers oh so happy! I’m having so much fun bingeing all of Sarah’s books. If you’re looking for something heartfelt but also with a lighter feeling, I definitely recommend this series!

BOOK REVIEW: Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner

May 27, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Ember Reed is finally living her dream: chief stew on a Mediterranean superyacht, sun-kissed days at sea, and the star of Close Quarters, the hottest new reality TV show. But just as she finds her stride, the producers throw her a curveball—by hiring the one man who nearly sank her.

Finn Pearson was the one that got away. The boy who kissed her like they had forever, then left without a word. But now he’s the chef in her new crew, and the cameras are watching their every move, innocent, or not.

Even on a superyacht, there's nowhere to hide from the past. Every stolen glance, every whispered argument, every lingering memory threatens to ignite what never fully burned out. And as the tension spills into their day jobs, even the dinner service is spiralling into disaster.

They’ve crashed before… but could eight weeks at sea be their second chance to get it right? Or will it be the storm that finally sinks them for good?

Review:

Where has Kandi Steiner been my whole life?! This was my first book by her and I am obsessed! Love Overboard was a second chance, forced proximity romance that was filled with all the angst. I listened to the audiobook, and the duet narration was incredible! It felt like a movie was playing in my head! The reality show vibes gave all the drama, and I always felt like I had to know what happened next. Or listen in on the confessionals! This story was fun, steamy, and the perfect book to take to the pool or beach!

I swallowed, looking up even when it took all my effort to do so, my heart kicking back to life from where it had halted in my chest.
And there he was.
Finn Fucking Pearson.
“Hello, Firefly.”

Ember and Finn landed on the same boat together, being filmed for a reality tv show. To say they were surprised to see the other was an understatement! Years ago they fell hard and fast. And there was so much left to be said. Being stuck on the yacht together made for all the drama. Especially with producers who liked to stir the pot. And other members who caused me to gasp and scream. So hold on, it’s a stormy voyage!

“Some loves are inevitable — meant to be. And when you stumble upon that kind of love, it becomes an impenetrable force. Nothing can break it — not trial or time or distance. It just… survives.”

Ember was someone I absolutely loved. Her voice. Her thoughts. I loved her drive and how hard she worked. And I’m so grateful we got to alternate between her and Finn, because Finn. Ugh. How I wanted to hate him. Or at least not like him. But as the story unfolded, he was impossible not to love. His actions, his words, even sacrificing himself. He held me in the palm of his hand. I was obsessed.

PRODUCER
Would you say you quite literally use food to declare your love, then?

FINN
One hundred percent.

Finn pauses, frowning.

FINN
What episode did you say this was for again?

With flashbacks from their past seamlessly laced throughout the story, and the post-season talks scattered too, I loved the format of this book! Especially when they would film a confessional, and then jump into that next scene and I was just waiting to see what happened. This book dangled moments in front of us, just begging us to keep reading, making it impossible to put this story down!

PRODUCER
We don’t spin a narrative. We just capture what happens.

Finn laughs, stands to leave.

FINN
Right. We’ll go with that.

Jealousy, hurt, kisses, dancing on the beach, banana pancakes, and steamy seductive moments filled this story with so much life! Love Overboard made me cry. Multiple times. And it made me so angry too. My heart got ripped in two and all of the emotions kept clogging my throat. But it was such a beautiful and messy story. The angst, the unknown, I loved having my emotions pulled in every direction. I was beyond addicted. And the epilogue was everything. While this is my first book by Steiner, I can’t wait to go binge her whole backlist!

“Just let me have you again and I swear I’ll do anything it takes to keep you.”

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

BOOK REVIEW: More than Friends by Denise Hunter

April 21, 2026 / Jen / 1 Comment

More than Friends by Denise Hunter
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Jenna Greene just ended things with her boyfriend . . . which also ended her career. (That's the risk a girl takes when her boyfriend doubles as her boss.) With no income and no job prospects in sight, Jenna is forced to return to her mother's house on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, to figure out what's next. And the timing couldn't be more perfect. Jenna's widowed mother has just returned from a cruise--with a brand-new boyfriend in tow. But there's something off about the guy. His story doesn't quite add up, and he keeps sneaking off to make suspicious phone calls and borrowing money from her too-trusting mother.

In search of some investigative help, Jenna turns to her childhood BFF, Tyson Parker, who lives and works in town. Still reeling from his wife's infidelity, Tyson is doing his best to heal from the pain of divorce. He's made a name for himself on the island as a volunteer firefighter and one of the much-admired saltwater cowboys who looks after Chincoteague's wild ponies. Oh, and he turned out to be more than a tiny bit attractive--besides being almost-too-good-to-be-true sweet and caring.

Growing up, the uber-competitive Jenna was always accepted as one of the guys. But things have changed between her and Tyson, and he's now looking at her through new eyes. Jenna suddenly feels like a leading lady on a movie set--only with way less composure.

But Jenna also has old wounds that make these new feelings seem fraught with peril. Is she willing to open her heart and see where love might lead? Or will she let her hesitant heart hold her back?

More Than Friends is a charming, can't-put-it-down romance, full of laugh-out-loud moments, tender emotion, and the kind of small-town warmth Denise Hunter does best. With its beloved friends-to-more arc, swoony yet grounded hero, and gentle thread of healing and hope, this story will have readers rooting for love on every page. If you're longing for a feel-good romance that blends heart, humor, and just enough mystery to keep you reading past your bedtime, More Than Friends is the perfect escape to Chincoteague Island.

Review:

More than Friends was a friends to lovers romance that will tug at your heart. With wild ponies, a coastal breeze, and stores I’d love to visit, I adored the small town this story took place in. The characters popped from the pages, and the audiobook was so effortless to listen to! This uplifting story was exactly what I needed in my life!

Jenna and Ty grew up across the street from each other, and I loved their friendship. They cared deeply for one another, but now tension and longing seemed to simmer between them. Along with the nervousness of ruining a great friendship. But they both had their own personal struggles too. Jenna had a lot of soul searching to do. To figure out where she belonged, and what career would bring her joy. And Ty was dealing with some heavy stuff that was haunting him from one of his calls as a firefighter and first responder. Their journey wasn’t always easy, but I was all for it!

This is my second book by Hunter and I am hooked! The characters she creates are easy to connect with, I love the setting, and each story is fun to listen to. I can’t wait to go binge all her 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: Forever Then by Rachae Stevens

April 15, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Forever Then by Rachae Stevens
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
We were almost forever…

Gretchen

It’s been three years since the kiss. The one I can’t seem to forget.
Judging by the girl on his arm, Connor Vining has no such problem.

I guess I misunderstood the look in his eyes that night.
I guess his best friend’s kid sister was never really in the running for Love of His Life.

But I’m not a kid anymore. I’ve graduated college and I’m about to fly interstate, in hopes of meeting my birth mother.

I was never going to face her alone, but when a twist of fate puts Connor by my side, I’m blindsided. And our tangled past is threatening to come undone...

Connor

I’m not sure whose heart is more broken: Gretchen’s or mine. All I know is it took everything in me to walk away from that kiss. I kept a promise, and I lost a friend.

And I think I made a mistake.

The problem is, now is not the right time to break down the walls Gretchen built to keep me out.

But now is the only time we’ve got.

Forever Then is a childhood friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, second chance adult romance.

Review:

Forever Then was an emotional powerhouse that took my breath away. It quickly pulled me in and held me in the palm of its hand. I loved the characters and the journey they took us on. It wasn’t always easy, but watching the growth and the struggles they went through hit me so hard. If you’re looking for an older brother’s best friend, second chance, forced proximity romance, then definitely add this one to your tbr!

He looks exactly the same as the day he left me alone on that balcony. It’s infuriating. Devastating.

Right from the beginning I adored Gretchen and her family. Her parents, brother, and sister-in-law were a breath of fresh air with the love they felt for each other. Gretchen had just graduated college, was back home, and it put her in the crossfire of Connor. Her older brother’s best friend. Seeing him made my heart ache for her. He was everything to her, until he had broken her heart. With an out of state trip to hopefully meet her birth mom, and Connor now taking the place of her brother, emotions were about to get messy and twisted together in the most beautiful of ways.

“I know I didn’t ask to be here.” Her eyes lift to mine. “But of all the people who could be here with you, I’m glad it’s me.”

Gretchen was someone I clicked with right away. I loved how her words and actions rang true. And that she didn’t hold back. Her nervousness, excitement, and heartbreak all bled from the pages. It felt like I was going on this journey right along with her. The adversity and struggles she faced, but also the joy too, felt consuming. But one of my favorite things about Gretchen was her forgiving heart, it was awe inspiring.

It’s not lost on me that the one person who probably shouldn’t trust me around his sister is the one who’s put all of his trust in me.

This story alternated with Connor’s POV, and I’m so thankful we got it. He had a lot of growing up to do. From how he was stringing along his girlfriend, to how he royally messed up with Gretchen years ago, I desperately needed him to make things right. And for him to learn from his mistakes. Personally, and this may sound bad haha, but I wanted to stay mad at Connor. For his past and current choices. But as the story unfolded, he wiggled his way into my heart. We got to understand why he did the things he did, and I fell in love with him right along with Gretchen.

He runs his gaze over every inch of my face like he’s committing me to memory— or getting lost in a memory— and I don’t miss when he pauses on my lips for a moment too long. “I missed you.”

So much of Connor and Gretchen’s story was from before, so I loved how we got to witness moments from their past. Forever Then wove the past and the present together so seamlessly. From their first meeting 13 years ago, to watching their friendship form throughout the years. It was heartwarming and so sweet. Especially with the book! But in the present, the tension was simmering between them. Along with little moments here and there that had me cracking up with laughter. I loved how even though there was so much going on, they were able to talk things out. It may take a while, but that was definitely one of my favorite things about this book!

He’s always had me.

Forever Then was filled with redemption, loyalty, struggles with family, and all the heart. This story made me cry multiple times from joy and sadness. And it had the most beautiful epilogue, and I cried during that too. This steamy, only one bed romance was incredible. And I love how things like a special book, Diet Coke, and peanut butter M&Ms now make me think of this story! I definitely recommend and can’t wait to read whatever Rachae Stevens writes next!