Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 3 of 87)

BOOK REVIEW: Wild at Heart & Forever Wild (The Simple Wild #2 & #2.5) by K.A. Tucker

December 5, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Wild at Heart (The Simple Wild #2)
by K. A. Tucker
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
From the internationally best-selling author of The Simple Wild comes the continuation of a woman’s journey to Alaska and a life she never imagined for herself.

Calla Fletcher returns to Toronto a different person, struggling to find direction and still very much in love with the rugged bush pilot she left behind. When Jonah arrives on her doorstep with a proposition she can’t dismiss, she takes the leap and rushes back to Alaska to begin their exciting future together.

But Calla soon learns that even the best intentions can lead to broken promises, and that compromise comes with a hefty price—a log cabin in rural Alaska that feels as isolating as the western tundra. With Jonah gone more than he’s home, one neighbor who insists on transforming her into a true Alaskan, and another who seems more likely to shoot her than come to her aid, Calla grapples with forging her own path.

In a world with roaming wildlife that has her constantly watching over her shoulder and harsh conditions that stretch far beyond the cold, dark, winter months, just stepping outside her front door can be daunting. This is not the future Calla had in mind, leaving her to fear that perhaps she is doomed to follow in her mother’s fleeing footsteps after all.

Review:

Wild at Heart was a beautiful continuation of Jonah and Calla’s story. Set in Alaska, this book enraptured me. I loved the small town feel and watching those we love struggle and grow. This series is easily one of my top favorites. If you love adult romance and stories that make you feel everything, add this one to your tbr!

“I can’t remember what it feels like not being in love with you, Calla.”

This story is for all of those who fell madly in love with Calla and Jonah in The Simple Wild. As they started their path to where they would live, I loved watching them be playful together. Yet they had a lot of hurdles along their way. Jonah was afraid of failure. Calla was struggling with finding her way in their new home and town. Each step it felt like they were trying to find their footing, while also growing as a couple. I loved being able to witness their day ins and outs.

I ramble about nothing and everything, closing my eyes to recall the sound of Wren Fletcher’s quiet chuckle. Terrified of the day it fades from memory.

Within this story, there was compromise, hope, love, and growth. We even saw how grief can hit you like a ton of bricks. So, while Calla still had a lot of growing to do, I loved that by that final page she had grown in leaps and bounds. But I will say as someone who lives around bears and mountain lions, I understood her healthy dose of fear for wildlife. All the while, I loved how affectionate Jonah was with her. With his hands, mouth, body and words too.

He’ll always be wild at heart, and there is no way to tame or change him.
Not that I would ever want to.
I smile.
And I hold on tight.

This book had so many beautiful and memorable moments. From the Christmas gift that tied in with her father. To the moose. The trap. To the beer that was bought for her. To her taking sneaky pictures of Jonah. The gift on her porch and another moment on the porch. To even Zeke fainting. This book was everything. For anyone who ever wanted more of their favorite characters, this is that book. And I’m so grateful we got it!

He’s like a sentry, on guard for threats unseen.
I can’t help but smile.

While we got to see many of our favorites like Bandit and others whose names won’t be mentioned for fear of spoilers. We also had some new additions. From Zeke to Roy who was their grumpy neighbor and reminded me of Red from That 70s Show ha! To Muriel, Toby and Teddy. And there was also Oscar, who was one of my favorites! I loved watching Calla’s interactions with each of them. It warmed my heart!

“One thing is for sure, Barbie. This was never gonna end. Not if I had anything to do with it,” he whispers, his hands coming to rest on either side of my jaw, cupping my face.

Wild at Heart was one of those stories that had this calmness to it, while also packing an emotional punch. I cried, jumped while screaming, and felt oh so happy. If you loved The Simple Wild, this one is a must read!

Forever Wild (The Simple Wild #2.5)
by K. A. Tucker
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
From the international bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes Forever Wild, a novella that continues the story of Calla’s journey to the Alaskan wild and a life she never imagined for herself.

The holiday season is upon Calla and Jonah, and with the mistletoe and gingerbread comes plenty of family drama. Jonah is bracing himself for two weeks with a stepfather he loathes, and while Calla is looking forward to her mother and Simon’s arrival, she dreads the continued pressure to set a date for their wedding … in Toronto. Add in one bullheaded neighbor’s unintentional meddling and another cantankerous neighbor’s own family strife, and Christmas in Trapper’s Crossing will be anything but simple.

Review:

Forever Wild was a holiday novella that had all the small town charm and Christmas cheer! Getting to watch Jonah and Calla spend the holidays together and surrounded by those they loved was everything. While there were some butting heads, the Christmas magic was strong, and I loved watching them all come together. It was impossible not to cry sad and happy tears, their journey now feels complete! I loved that Jonah and Callie got the happily ever after they most definitely deserved!

Some of my favorite quotes…

“That’s workplace harassment!” I holler after him.
He pauses to offer a sly smile over his shoulder. “And what do you call what you did to me in the office yesterday?”
“Your Christmas bonus.”
His deep, grating chuckle warms my heart.

“Then, we’re doin’ this? For real?”
I smile, even as nervous flutters stir in my stomach. “For real. If you’re sure.”
“We wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” He lets out a slow, shaky breath.

“I’m getting a repeat performance tonight, right?”
I plaster mock sympathy across my face. “Oh, I’m so sorry, but Mrs. Claus only comes out on Christmas Eve.”
His responding smile is wicked. “We’ll see about that.”

“Muriel’s calling in a lot of favors on your behalf,” Simon notes quietly.
“She’s like the godfather of Trapper’s Crossing.” All her pushiness and meddling is paying off.

BOOK REVIEW: Claus and Effect by Piper Rayne

December 4, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Claus and Effect by Piper Rayne
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Two strangers who couldn’t be more opposite find themselves on an unexpected cross-country road trip days before Christmas where whatever can go wrong, does.

He’s an Army Ranger.
She’s a baker.

He’s organized and ridged.
She’s messy and carefree.

He doesn’t do relationships.
She’s following her heart.

His family chat blows up his phone.
She just buried her last living relative.

The holiday season doesn’t seem so jolly as they venture from one mode of transportation to the next. But, they have to become friends and rely on each other if they’re going to survive all the obstacles thrown their way.

As the miles grow shorter, vulnerabilities are shared, and by the time they reach their destination, neither one of them is sure what they really want for Christmas anymore.

Review:

Claus and Effect was a grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, Christmas story that easily became one of my top favorites! With a road trip, characters that had a strong dislike going on, and found family, I absolutely loved this story! I listened to the audio, which was duet narration and my favorite!, so it’s one I’ll definitely be re-reading down the road!

Within those first few chapters you’ll find yourself smiling and laughing. Tessa was so easy to love and from that first moment we met Tre I couldn’t help but be intrigued! Their meet cute and the foreseeable running into each other had me so giddy! Yes there was instant chemistry, but there was also some rudeness and messing with one another too. I was screaming with laughter over multiple moments on the plane, and from there a road trip unraveled that made this book impossible to put down!

I wasn’t so sure what to think of Tess first off. I mean, she was listening to a psychic after her world had fallen apart. But listening to that psychic landed her in Tre’s crosshairs and I was all for it! Her thoughts were so fun to listen to, her detours were epic, and time and again she had me rolling with laughter. She could be such a bowl full of joy and I loved her playful nature!

Oh Tre. He easily became a favorite book boyfriend! He was in the military and headed home for the holidays. He was so serious and put together, but at the same time he could play dirty and was absolutely hilarious! I loved that he was kind, caring, and thoughtful. And I especially loved how he was able to read Tessa!

Their road trip was over the top and so much fun! With gingerbread, eggnog, snow, dressing up, and so much more, I love the path this story took. But then there was a plot twist I never saw coming and I was literally screaming NOOOOOO!!! I’m sure all my neighbors could hear me, eeps. When you throw that in with Tre’s past, oh my heart, this story took an emotional turn that hurt. And I couldn’t help but get tears in my eyes multiple times.

Claus and Effect wrapped up with the most wonderful look into the future. And the happily ever after made me cry all the tears of joy! I can’t recommend this book enough! I’ve read three holiday books by Piper Rayne, and I’ve loved each of them so much. If you want to read them in order of how you meet the characters, then start with Single and Ready to Jingle, then this one, then finish up with Merry Kissmas. If you’re looking for a Christmas romance that will have you laughing and smiling, this is it!

BOOK REVIEW: Bully (Fall Away #1) by Penelope Douglas

November 27, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Bully (Fall Away #1)
by Penelope Douglas
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas delivers an unforgettable romance that toes the fine line between love and hate in Bully—the first novel in the Fall Away series.

My name is Tate. He doesn’t call me that, though. He would never refer to me by a friendly nickname. No, he’ll barely even speak to me. But he still won’t leave me alone.

We were best friends once. Then Jared turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I was humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got worse as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to stay out of his way. I even went away for a year just to avoid him.

But I’m done hiding from him now, and there’s no way I’ll allow him to ruin another year. Jared might not have changed, but I have. It’s time to fight back....

Review:

Bully was a steamy, young adult romance. With an enemies to lovers vibe, and lots of bullying going on in the pages, I couldn’t put this book down. As someone who has already read Punk 57, that’s still my favorite Penelope Douglas book! Yet this story was just as addictive, and I had so much fun listening to the audiobook!

“You were my tempest, my thunder cloud, my tree in the downpour. I loved all those things, and I loved you. But now? You’re a fucking drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.”

Tate was so easy to connect to and adore. She had a strong head on her shoulders, was mature, and worked hard. Jared used to be her best friend, but she didn’t know where it all went wrong. Somehow, she became his enemy, and the games he would play with her were cruel and hurtful. So, I loved it when she stood up against him. When she would put him or his friends in their place! They deserved that and so much more!

“I want to touch you.” His words were against my lips now. “I want to feel what’s mine. What’s always been mine.”

Yet underneath it all, there used to be a friendship. You could see tiny, fleeting, hints of it here and there. How well they still knew certain things about each other. But years later, there a strong sexual tension between them, even with hate surrounding them. So when things turned steamy, it was fabulously done! If you’re looking for a bully romance that has all of the tension, angst, and steam, then definitely add this one to your tbr. I did have a hiccup with an issue about a friend, which is why this is a 4 instead of 5 star rating. But regardless, I can’t wait to binge the rest of this series!

BOOK REVIEW: Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch #1) by Elsie Silver

November 26, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Off to the Races (Gold Rush Ranch #1)
by Elsie Silver
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
He's never had a problem keeping things professional with his employees…until she waltzed onto his property.

Vaughn Harding heads from the city to small-town Ruby Creek, intent on revitalizing his family's ranch and the scandal attached to its name in the wake of his grandfather's unexpected passing. He needs a win, and when he hires Billie Black to train his best but most stubborn racehorse, he hopes she can deliver.

Billie is talented. Whip-smart. Sassy. And so damn tempting. She and Vaughn clash from the moment they meet, but he can't stop thinking about her. And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it's hard to keep their distance. Even harder to keep their friction from turning into fire.

With every smart-mouthed comment, every game they play, Vaughn ends up wanting more. Her lips. Her trust. Her heart. Billie Black is the whole package, and possibly the only one who can save Vaughn's business―and him.

Vaughn wants it all. But at what cost?

Because for the first time, he doesn't just want to win races…he wants to win the girl.

Review:

Off to the Races was a grumpy sunshine, workplace romance that I quickly devoured! This steamy and heartwarming adult romance was impossible to put down! With a storyline that was fun and easy to read, characters that were seamless to click with, this book became an instant favorite. I can’t wait to read the rest of Elsie Silver’s books!

“No, Billie,” his voice is dangerously low as he angles his head so close to my ear that I can feel his breath fan across my throat, “women usually go out of their way to endear themselves to me. Not piss me off.”
Time to teach this prick a lesson.

I absolutely loved Billie and Vaughn’s meet cute! It was jaw dropping horrible and one you’ll remember years down the road. There was definitely a dislike vibe going on between them, and I was here for it! It created this fabulous electricity between them that was laced with all the sexual tension. Since we also got this story in Vaughn’s POV, I quickly liked both characters. Especially since Vaughn’s overactive imagination cracked me up! His dirty thoughts were everything.

We were a head on collision that neither one of us saw coming.

Billie will always be one of my favorites! I loved how confident and sassy she could be. And her love for horses. She was so passionate and filled with all the compassion and patience. Her path with DD, a horse, had me crying all the tears. I loved when she stood up for him! And I loved it when she protected him! DD is one of my favorite horses and you’ll find yourself cheering and falling for him too!

Good girl.

Yet, Vaughn was always around since he was Billie’s boss. And anytime the two of them were together, their chemistry was so steamy. With the tension thick and impossible to ignore, you just wanted to push them together. Against a wall, a bed, or the floor ha! So, when they finally did cross that line, the moments between them were explicit and so steamy! With Vaughn’s phenomenal dirty talked mixed into it too!

When he finally pulls back a bit, he holds me close and rests his forehead against mine. We’re both a little breathless as he looks me in the eye and promises, “I’ll always choose you, Billie.”
And I smile.
Because I believe him.

While Vaughn and Billie definitely had their struggles, I loved how it played out so naturally. Especially the way the grand gesture unfolded. It was one of the best, I cried all the happy tears! This book also ended with an epilogue that had a incredible happily ever after! Off to the Races was all the stars and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

BOOK REVIEW: The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt

November 25, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
They say love and construction don't mix. By that logic, hate and construction may as well be condemned.

LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds had one short and contentious summer fling when they were teens―certainly nothing to build a foundation on. But a decade later, when their grandmothers have left them with shared ownership of their dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they're thrust back together and have to figure out how to brace up the pieces.

LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. A deal is struck: Marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties.

Thrust into a home without walls, LaRynn and Deacon quickly learn that it's easy to hide behind emotional ones, even in a marriage. But with all the exposure and pitfalls that come with living with the opposite sex (and none of the perks, much to their growing mutual frustration) they'll also have to learn what it means to truly cooperate as a team.

Filled with crackling tension, The Co-op is a steamy second chance romance about restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves. It's about the never-ending construction project that partnership is, and finding enjoyment at every stage.

Review:

The Co-Op was a second chance adult romance, mixed with marriage of convenience and forced proximity. The characters stood out and were easy to love, the story took us through an emotional path in a slow and steady way, and the ending was fabulous! If you’re looking for an adult romance to spend your time with, add this one to your tbr.

Maybe if I show her she can count on me to have her back, she’ll open up and have mine, too. Maybe I’m an absolute sucker and I’ll get left at the end of this a lot more broken.

I adored LaRynn from the prologue. She shared the most mortifying moments of her life with us, including ones I’m terrified of, and it made me click with her right away. Headed back to her grandma’s house, LaRynn was going to help restore it with a man that made her heart pound for many reasons. There was so much hurt and resentment between the two of them. And they had so much work through, emotionally and physically.

I wish he smelled like stale beer or something that’d make my lip curl. Instead, he smells like some sort of whiskey. Smoke from a campfire with something sweet and dark and him. Intoxicating on his own.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice a low, grating rumble that tugs at something deep inside me. Fuck him for that, too. For having so much pull over me, for making me feel so out of control.

Deacon was my favorite. From the reason why he called her Larry, to his ability to work through his thoughts, I loved him. Especially since he seemed to have all the patience in the world for her. While I adored LaRynn, she kept her walls up higher. Was so protective of her thoughts. So, I was thankful for moments when Deacon could vocalize things she couldn’t. And stated that they needed to talk. LaRynn just had to get there, and so while the miscommunication trope went on for longer in this book then I thought it would, I was so happy when they finally let it all out.

I told him I wouldn’t need anything. I promised, in fact.
But I like him. I like him so much it hurts.

Mixed in this story were moments from their past. I loved how seamlessly it was woven into the present. And those times allowed us to see a bigger picture of the two of them. But past and present, there was always a lot of sexual tension between them. Those times caused moments that will leave you smiling, laughing or sighing out loud. It was impossible not to feel everything they felt.

“It meant something,” grinds deeply out of him, sending shivers up my arms and heat to my ears.

With jealousy, messing with each other, embarrassment, hurt, friendship and love laced through the pages, this story was written so beautifully. It was so quotable too and I highlighted a couple hundred passages and lines lol. I especially loved the my wife moments, sigh. This was my second book by Tara DeWitt and I can’t wait to read the rest of them!

The more it looks like a completed house, the more I realize how much we’ve been making it our home this entire time. With our messes and our music. All the memories from our past with our grandmothers, and the ones we’ve made together.

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