Tag: New Adult (Page 2 of 47)

BOOK REVIEW: Wildfire (Maple Hills #2) by Hannah Grace

February 21, 2024 / Jen / 1 Comment

Wildfire (Maple Hills #2)
by Hannah Grace
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name.

Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home.

Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?

Review:

While I adored Icebreaker, this book and I didn’t mesh as well. One of my favorite things that was missing in this story was the group dynamic. I adored that we got it in the beginning, with the Jenga scene. And that it pushed Russ and Aurora together. But once they left for camp, that component was gone. Yes there were characters at camp I adored, but they didn’t give off that same feeling, or the banter. I missed it.

Russ Callaghan can call me a good girl anytime.

While the camp scene wasn’t really my thing, what I did enjoy about this story was the characters. I adored them and felt their struggles in my heart. These characters were so fleshed out and their issues felt real to me. Russ was the sweet, cinnamon roll guy that was so easy to fall for. And Aurora felt like the girl next door you could easily be besties with. And both of them were hurting because of their family. People had always made both of them feel less than and they tried their best to hide their hurt deep. His dad had a gambling addiction, and her dad just ignored her. I knew that they could find happiness with each other, if they would just take that next big step!

“We could have just had a conversation. This is not the kind of main character moment I’m looking for in my life!” She groans loudly, peeking at me between her fingers.

Watching their friendship form was heartwarming. I loved how they had to work for it. How the camp forced them together, like in the team building activities. And how they realized they were having miscommunication issues. Yet the whole time, it felt like their story was low on the angst and tension. So they were adorable and also had some steam too! Their date in the back of the truck was beyond cute! And the epilogue down the road left me closing this book with a smile. But for me, this book was wayyyyy too long. I would have been happier with a couple hundred less pages. So if you’re looking for a forced proximity, miscommunication, NA romance with a cinnamon roll guy, then this book may just be what you were looking for!

“You are the brightest thing in my life, Aurora,” he says. “And you’re a living reminder of the good things that can happen when I allow myself to be happy.”

PS I adored Fish, Trout, and Salmon!

BOOK REVIEW: Icebreaker (Maple Hills #1) by Hannah Grace

February 7, 2024 / Jen / 1 Comment

Icebreaker (Maple Hills #1)
by Hannah Grace
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team.

Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.

Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him.

But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot.

Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried…because she could never like a hockey player, right?

Review:

Icebreaker was a steamy NA sports romance that had a reverse grumpy sunshine that was done so well. I laughed so much with this story, like tears pouring down my face gasping for air kind of laughter. Mix that in with some found family and I was hooked. While I felt like the book was longer than what I would have preferred, I still had a lot of fun reading this story!

“Ask me nicely. Let me show you how much I like it when you’re nice.”
“Why would I do that when I don’t like you?” Her words are strong, but her delivery is strained and wispy, giving her away.
“You don’t have to like me to scream my name, Anastasia.”

Anastasia was a tough one for me to connect to, until I was almost halfway through the book. I love me a grumpy character, but my gosh she was so challenging to find that connection with, especially when she was being cold to Nathan. But I still enjoyed my time with her till we finally clicked. She made me laugh so much. Like when she told Ryan and Lola what she did, I couldn’t breathe. She was hilarious without meaning to! And she tried her best to be a good friend, and was dedicated to her goal of making it to the Olympics.

Removing his fingers and mouth, he leans back so he can look up at me properly, wearing the smuggest expression I’ve ever seen as he sucks his fingers into his mouth, not once breaking eye contact.
Oh fuck.

Nathan was such a steamy book boyfriend. He played Hockey in college, and had a professional team waiting for him to graduate. When he did the whole putting his hands on either side of her head while leaning in move, yup, I was done for! I loved how he had no problem proving Anastasia wrong, like when he was on his knees. And I loved that he was a good guy who would step up for his team again and again. I was just sitting here tapping my fingers waiting for Anastasai to catch up with the rest of us!

From now on, she’s going to come to me.

The two of them together were like fire and ice. They were forced to co-exist. And while Anastasia seemed to rally with the enemies to lovers vibe, I never got the enemies vibe from Nathan. He liked her. And as they spent more time together, their moments could be scorching hot. The uber scenes?! *fans face* His dirty talk?! Loved! There were so many steamy, descriptive scenes in this book! I love how they both respected each other physically and mentally, and how they talked a lot of things out, it made my heart happy.

I’m addicted to her when she’s like this. When she forgets about this game we’re playing, when her eyes drink me in, and her hands grip the front of my shirt like she’s scared I’m going to slip away.
Our faces are dangerously close; I feel her breath against my lips.

Their friend groups were phenomenal! I loved Nathan’s group chat with his teammates. I knew each time those popped up, I would be laughing. Lola was a true ride or die bestie. She had Anastasia’s back again and again! And I loved that she got her own little side romance story too! And Henry was my favorite of Nathan’s friends. I’m so excited he got his own story too! The one person who I didn’t like was Aaron. The rage I felt towards him was just another level. And just when he made us think we couldn’t hate him more, nope, he ratcheted it up even higher. He was a toxic douchebag who I kept waiting for something horrific to happen to. Like in my fantasy novels where his heart would get ripped out of his chest haha.

“I can’t believe you think I could ever reject you, Anastasia,” he said in shock. “You have no idea, do you? The lengths I’d go to if you’d let me. What I’d do to make you happy.”

This story ended with a fabulous epilogue that jumped years into the future and made my heart so happy! I love when contemporary books end like that! So while I struggled finding that connection in the beginning, and the book went on a little longer than I would have wanted, I still absolutely adored this story. The steam, friendships, personal growth, family, and storyline were so well done! I can’t wait to read her next book!

BOOK REVIEW: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

November 30, 2023 / Jen / 4 Comments

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.

Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....

As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…)

Review:

It pains me to say that I struggled to find anything to love within these pages….besides Nolan. If the characters would have been older, I would have labeled this Women’s Fiction on Goodreads. Sigh. So here are the top three reasons I struggled with this book……

“You’re not being fair to either of us,” he says calmly. Maybe he’s right, but I’m past caring.

Nolan, the romantic interest, was barely a side character….
I adored Nolan. The tiny bit of time we got to spend with him in this book made me realize he was kind, thoughtful, caring and understanding. Unfortunately time would fly by and we wouldn’t see or hear from him. Three weeks here. Two months there. Etc. We barely got to see, let alone spend time with Nolan. And it felt like we spent less time with him than side characters in so many other countless stories. That’s why this book gave me strong Women’s Fiction vibes, other than the ages were all wrong.

“Ah. I’ve seen your press conference, by the way. Nice job making it look like you totally despise him even when he said nothing but super- nice things about you.”
“I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did,” Darcy and Sabrina say in chorus, without tearing their eyes from the TV.

I didn’t like Mallory….
From page 10 and her slamming gluten sensitivity, I was hoping that that was just a weird fluke with me not liking what she was saying or how she acted. Yet I never found that connection to her, or the ability to like her. Even though she helped her family and was financially responsible for her mom and two younger sisters. Yes she gave up her dreams, but her words, actions and lack thereof made me just not like her. She ran away from situations. She lied to others. She could be so harsh. And when others helped her, she lacked the simple common decency to say thank you. And there was a situation at the end of Chapter 17 that just left an ick factor and a bad taste in my mouth towards her. Granted she is 18, but there are so many YA books where the character is immature or has qualities about them I don’t like in the beginning of the story. Yet they show growth as the story progresses, and by the end of the book I am so proud of how far they have come! Yet by page 263 she took a step. And then by page 334 she seemed to to grow a little. But at those points it felt like it was too little too late, and also not enough.

“He’s cute,” Mom whispers while I’m loading the dishwasher.
“Cole Sprouse?”
“Nolan.”
I huff. It doesn’t come out as indignant as I’d like. “No, he’s not.”
“And he seems to have great taste.” “Because he ate a stomach- pumping amount of your meat loaf?”
“Mostly that. Only secondarily because he doesn’t seem to be able to look away from my most oblivious daughter.”

The naming was just too much….
I read to escape reality. And while reality can bleed a little into the pages for me, I prefer not to have political people or pop references throughout a book. A few I have no problems ignoring. But when they’re in almost every single chapter and multiple times within that chapter, I just can’t anymore. By page 25 we already heard Obama, Harry Styles, and I’m forgetting what else. And it continued that way till the end. But here’s the thing, I need a break from the real world at times *cries*. And this book definitively didn’t allow me to have that.

So what did I love besides Nolan? I loved Nolan’s friends. And Oz. Especially on page 281! That scene right there had me clapping my hands for Oz! Also, for me this book was NA. It’s set in the summer after she graduated High School, and her friend was leaving for college. And then it followed her life through what would have been her first year of college, if she would have accepted. For me, that’s NA. So yup. This one definitely didn’t work out for me.

BOOK REVIEW: The Total Knockout (Southern U O’Brien Brothers) by Cookie O’Gorman

October 9, 2023 / Jen / 6 Comments

The Total Knockout by Cookie O'Gorman
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Maisie Hawthorne doesn't do boyfriends.

Or girlfriends. Or relationships. Burned in the past, the scrappy bartender knows better than to trust a pretty face. Dex O'Brien is gorgeous (with or without the scar). Pierced, tatted, annoyingly attractive. She knew he was trouble even before she saw him fight. Her mind told her to stay away—but her heart wouldn't listen.

Dex O'Brien doesn't do love.

Not the romantic kind anyway. Sure, he loves his family, would defend them with his dying breath. And yeah, he loves baseball and fighting too. But falling in love? No thanks. Too messy. Dex couldn't care less, especially about the bookish bartender with the smart mouth and beautiful eyes.

She needs money to pay the bills. He needs a tutor to keep playing ball—even if he'll never admit it.

When the Southern U Wolves recruit Maisie to tutor Dex, tempers flare and sparks fly.

This new adult sports romance features two scarred souls, one hot-and-hilarious case of enemies-to-lovers, and a sexy set of brothers guaranteed to make you swoon.

The #1 lesson they'll both learn?

Love is the total knockout you never see coming.

Review:

The Total Knockout was a sports romance that was impossible to put down! This story was laugh out loud hilarious, will pull on your emotions and make you fall in love. With a fun and flirty vibe, this book was so entertaining! If you love romance that is sweet with a little bit of spice, a dash of enemies to lovers, and a story line that will have you smiling from that first page to the last, then you need this book in your life! You definitely don’t have to read the previous ones in this series to enjoy The Total Knockout, but I can’t recommend the rest of this series about the O’Brien brothers enough!

“If you’re trying to book-shame me,” she said, “it won’t work. I read what I like. Doesn’t matter what you or anyone else has to say about it.”
“No shame,” I said. “If I was gonna waste my time reading, I’d probably reach for the R-rated book porn too.”
Her jaw dropped.

Dex O’Brien was struggling in college and was at risk of being pulled from the baseball team because of his grades. When his coach told him that he had no choice about seeing a tutor, that tutor ended up being Maisie Hawthorne. From the beginning they had a rocky start. Dex thought he could scare her off and Maisie needed the money so she wasn’t going anywhere. It was impossible not to laugh and smile when they were together! So when you add Dex’s siblings Finn and Emmy into the mix, who adored Maisie, whelp it was a ton of fun!

“So, are you going to keep staring or teach me something?”
Maisie blinked then looked down, a flush of embarrassment rising to her cheeks.
“Right,” she said, “sorry, I just didn’t know you could do that.”
“Do what?” I asked.
“Smile.”

I absolutely loved Maisie and wanted to be friends with her! She was kind, patient, thoughtful and such a hard worker. She was putting herself through college while working at a bar, tutoring, and she did other jobs on the side. From the beginning we got to see how much she loved and cared for her younger sister, Lola. And I loved when Lola was around, because it felt like she would help pull Dex and Maisie closer together. Yet there seemed to be something going on with her past, since Maisie was jaded and swore off relationships. But even with her no relationship policy she couldn’t help be attracted to Dex. He was a pierced, tatted, bad boy who lived and breathed baseball and secretly had a heart of gold.

I raised a brow. “How do I look at her?”
“Like you just saw something you desperately want but can’t have.”
I swallowed.

Dex’s way with words had me falling head over heels in love with him. He was definitely cocky and didn’t shy away from saying what he thought. From the beginning he told Maisie that he thought she was pretty. Yet Dex didn’t want anything more than just fun. He didn’t do relationship either and didn’t believe that love was for him. I wondered if maybe his overconfidence was to cover his struggles in school and the comments people made about him physically? I don’t know. But regardless, there were times I had tears in my eyes for Dex. And as we spent more time with him, your heart will melt. The confessions he said. The way he made for sure that Maisie was safe and protected her without a second thought. To even how there was a little bit of jealousy in there at times too, sigh. Dex was the most fabulous of book boyfriends!

Dex scoffed. “Better lower those expectations, Hawthorne.”
“Never.”
“Why not?”
“Because I believe in you, O’Brien,” I said.
“You do?” he said.
“Yeah— but I also believe in ghosts, faeries, and shape shifters, so you shouldn’t feel too special.”
He chuckled at that then gestured to the bar.

This story alternated between Maisie and Dex, and I loved both of their thoughts! This is one of those books where it’s impossible to pick your favorite moment, because there were so many of them. Emmy throwing Maisie under the bus? I was dying laughing. The mirror scene? That was so hot! And so many more I don’t want to mention for fear of spoilers. On top of countless memorable scenes, Dex’s siblings, Emmy and Finn, were the best! If you are adore family in a story, you’re going to love this one! The way they messed with Dex was perfect! But back to Maisie and Dex….as they worked together and time passed, it was smile inducing watching their hate for one another fade. And it almost seemed like a friendship was forming between them. They showed up for one another. They cheered each other on in their own ways. And they realized that not only were they both scarred physically, but emotionally too. Through every moment though, there was always sparks and banter flying. And those sparks seemed to arc higher and higher the more time they spent together. It was one of those stories where I couldn’t wait to see where their explosion took them!

“There’s a lot of things I want,” he said then reached up to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “What about you, Hawthorne? Anything you want right this second?”
I hesitated then shook my head.
“Liar,” he said quietly.

Romance lovers will fall passionately in love with The Total Knockout! If you love sports, new adult or a story that keeps you smiling and laughing then you need to put this one on your tbr! Now I’ll be patiently waiting for Cookie’s next release, her books always make me oh so happy every single time. And each one becomes an instant favorite!

Once the door closed, I looked back and found Rose smiling.
“I think that went well,” she said. “Definitely our most eventful book club meeting so far.”
“I second that,” June said. “So much drama.”
“And tension,” Rose added. “This air was practically vibrating.”
My brow furrowed. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Nothing,” they said in unison.
Finn shook his head, staring after his brother.

PS Is Emmy next or will it be Finn? I’m thinking Emmy after what happened in this book, eeps! I am so excited for more in this world!

As I kissed her all I could think was, this. This was it. This was what makes life worth living.

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

BOOK REVIEW: Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening #1) by Jennifer L Armentrout

September 13, 2023 / Jen / 6 Comments

Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening #1)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must choose: follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.

Breathtaking suspense and scorching romance meet in this immersive new fantasy from a mega-bestselling force, Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Review:

Fall of Ruin and Wrath was a dark and sensual romtansy that was so easy to get lost in. Within those first few pages I had no clue what was going on, but I was terrified. So take those first few chapters to immerse yourself in this new world. It’s lethal, archaic and shrouded in mystery. With a dystopian background, that was laced with high fantasy, Fall of Ruin and Wrath easily became an instant favorite!

“We keep meeting under the strangest circumstances,” he noted. “I’m beginning to think fate is afoot.”
“Fate?” I laughed. “You believe in fate?”
“You don’t?”

Calista aka Lis was a paramour to Claude who was a Caelestia; half Hyhborn and half lowborn. And while I’ve read almost every single book by JLA, over the last decade, Lis was unlike any other heroine that we have met from Armentrout. Her intuition guided where she went in life and the decisions she made. She also had the ability to see things happen before they did. Like how someone would die, or horrific events on the horizon. And I was fascinated to watch her listen into others thoughts, without needing to touch them. Yet my heart twisted for Lis. I questioned whether she truly knew how to have a strong mental bond with others. She seemed to struggle with that outside of her “brother”, Grady. Maybe it was because of her gifts? Or maybe it was because of her childhood? Or maybe it even had to do with how she ended up as a paramour and nothing truly felt like hers? But regardless, she seemed to have connections with those around her physically, instead of emotionally.

“Hold still.”
“I am holding still, but . . . you’re on your knees, your fingers are near my dick, and you’re currently gloriously nude, so . . .”
Undoing the final button, I rolled my eyes. “You can’t even stand on your own two feet and you’re currently regrowing eyeballs. The last thing you need to be thinking about is me on my knees, your dick, or my nudity.”
“I’ve regrown my eyes, na’laa.”
My chin jerked up.

Lis’ intuition one night led her to rescue a Hyhborn. Hyhborn’s weren’t mortal, they were scions of the Gods. And the scene she was led to was terrifying, yet I couldn’t help but noticing that I loved her thoughts. They were real and honest, making it so easy to connect with her. And the Hyhborn we met?! I. Was. Obsessed! Thorne was a book boyfriend many will fall hard for. I loved that he could be sarcastic and also oh so polite. His manners as he murdered those to keep Lis safe had me cracking up. Thorne was truly lethal, yet at the same time he was so much fun. He loved to push Lis’ buttons and get a rise out of her while being addictively possessive. Add to all of that that he was capable of admitting when he was wrong. Well. It was impossible not to love everything there was about him.

“Na’laa?”
I stopped as something . . . something like hope swelled inside me. Hope for what? I really couldn’t say as I looked over my shoulder at him.
The Lord stood with his back to me, shoulders a tense straight line. “Be careful.”

Around Thorne, Lis could touch him and just be in the moment. She never got pulled into her brain or saw future events she would prefer not to see. Like she did when she touched other lowborns and Caelestias. So the sexual tension between Lis and Thorne was done fabulously. It was a slow burn that was filled with the most fabulous banter. It was impossible not to smile at so many of the moments between them. And while Thorne and Lis were worlds apart, it always felt like there was something pulling them together. As though there was a higher power connecting them. So because of that, I loved watching the tentative trust build. That they could be comfortable with each other. That it felt like Lis was finally making an emotional connection with someone. And of course how steamy they could be together too *fans face*.

I connected with him, and my intuition came alive, showing me the future— the excruciating crack of bone in my right arm, then my left. The phantom pain traveled to my throat. I felt it all.
His death.
And I . . . I smiled.

Yes there were other characters outside of Lis and Thorne, but I am rather obsessed with those two. I’m still unsure of how to feel towards Naomi, who was her first friend outside of Grady. And I would love if Lis threw an apple at Claude’s head, like Alex. Yes he took care of Lis as he used her as his own personal lie detector, but I loathed that he called her Pet. There was also a man named Hymel that I kept hoping would die on every page he appeared lol. Ohhh then there were two friends of Thorne that we didn’t spend a lot of time with, yet I adored both of them. I can’t wait to get to know them better! They had found family written all over them! But on top of those we met, there was a whole world and political intrigue that I’m not even touching on. It was fascinating and better left for you to discover on your own!

“Don’t.”
My gaze flew back to him.
“I would warn against attempting to run,” he advised, walking past me.
“Because you will stop me?”
“Because I will give chase.” He unhooked the straps holding the short sword to his back as he crossed into the bedchamber. “And I will capture you.”

Fall of Ruin and Wrath was laced with a fascinating world, characters that will steal you heart, mysteries that are intertwined with secrets, and moments that will leave you on the edge of your seat! There were so many moments that were impossible to stop smiling or screaming from excitement. Especially when it came to Thorne. That last page was the most perfect stopping point. Yet I am definitely counting down until the next book is released and we can be back in this world!

PS The shower scene was one of my favorite moments. Nope, it’s not what you think it is *side smirk*.

Other Favorite Quotes:

My senses opened to him. I saw nothing in his eyes or in my mind.
But I felt something.
A warning.
A reckoning.
A promise of what was to come.
And I knew.

“Apologies, my pet. I do get a bit animated when I speak. Got it from my mother.”
“‘ Pet’?” Prince Thorne queried softly.
The back of my neck tingled, and it had nothing to do with intuition.

I froze. Tiny hairs lifted along the nape of my neck as the air thickened and the flames stilled. That mouth of mine had surely gotten me in trouble this time.
But Prince Thorne . . . he smiled.
My stomach dipped.
The smile he bestowed was not tight or cold. It was wide and real, showing a hint of teeth and softening the icy, unreal beauty of his features.

“Do you finally think of me as a monster?”
I closed my eyes.
“You should,” he said softly. “The blood that is on my hands will never wash off. I wouldn’t even attempt to do so.”

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