Tag: Romance (Page 73 of 122)

BOOK REVIEW: Grace and Glory (The Harbinger #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

BOOK REVIEW: Grace and Glory (The Harbinger #3) by Jennifer L. ArmentroutGrace and Glory (The Harbinger #3)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Trinity Marrow has lost the battle and her beloved Protector. Even with both demons and Wardens on her side, Trin may not win the war against the Harbinger.

Bringing Lucifer back to the world to fight the Harbinger is probably a really, really bad idea, but they’re out of options—and the world’s ultimate fallen angel is the only being powerful enough to impact the outcome.

As Trin and Zayne form a new and more dangerous bond and Lucifer unleashes Hell on earth, the apocalypse looms and the world teeters on the end of forever. Win or lose, one thing is certain—nothing will ever be the same.

Review:

Grace and Glory was a stunning conclusion to The Harbinger Series! With tears, laughter, friendship and love splashed across the pages, this book was such a huge win! If you’re a fan of Jennifer L Armentrout or paranormal stories then you definitely need this series in your life!

“You can’t just be anger and hatred. That can’t be all that you are. You didn’t just start existing the moment you landed in the park. You had an entire life. You are kind and good and fair. You love. You grieve. You—”
“I am none of those things!” he roared, wings snapping out and spreading wide.

Zayne was back and alive, but not the same. He was fallen. So when he threatened Trinity, my heart was in my throat not knowing how this was going to be fixed. I desperately needed Zayne and Trinity back together. Not only did it feel as though the whole world was falling apart around them, but I desperately wanted them to get their HEA. With obstacles along the way, and even Lucifer coming topside, this book kept me glued to the pages!

This was him. It was his skin against my palms, and it was warm, no longer cool to the touch, his breath coasting over my cheek. It was him holding me.
It was Zayne.

Zayne will forever be one of my favorite book boyfriends. But he had so much anger and hatred when he came back. And while I should hate him for how he treated Trinity, there’s a huge but. Even while Zayne didn’t seem like himself, their physical need for each other was still there. Some of the scenes may have felt wrongish, since he was threatening to kill her lol, BUT they were sooooo scorching hot *fans face*. Zayne and Trinity had this love hate thing going on and I have to admit I loved every minute of it.

“You are all I ever wanted, even before I knew what I wanted. It was you. It was always you,” he whispered, voice raw.

The amount of sacrifice and risks they took blew my mind. We watched as Trinity had to have faith in herself and the love she had with Zayne, while she fought for them and the world. She was truly a heroine you could look up to and respect. And Zayne, he fell, it seemed like the greatest of sacrifices. I loved watching them fully embrace who they had both become. Ultimately I kept hoping that their love was powerful enough to conquer all. We all know how much Zayne suffered, even back in The Dark Elements Series. So I had tears at times because I just wanted them back together and happy.

Slowly, I lifted my head to Roth. I’d never been more disappointed in my life.
“They don’t get out much,” he said with a shrug.
“Kittens?” I whispered. “And a baby dragon? Seriously? You brought kittens and a baby dragon as backup? Are they a snack for Bambi?”
The black kitten hissed at me.

Zayne and Trinity thankfully had their friends by their side too. Layla, Roth, Bambi, Cayman and so many Wardens that wove their way into my heart. I loved them all so much. We even got to see a character from The Dark Elements Series, who I shouldn’t have been excited to see but I was lol. Plus Peanut, who I adored! And then there was Lucifer, who we weren’t supposed to like….right?! But he cracked me up and while I wanted more time with him, Lucifer also showed us his horrifically cruel side. It was a hard pill to swallow and left me feeling confused towards him. So make sure you hold on, because this cast of characters will take you on a wild and crazy ride!

“So, I’m told I’m needed to save the world.”
“Yeah,” I said hoarsely.
Lucifer smiled, and I’d never seen anything so beautiful and so equally frightening before. Goose bumps broke out over my f lesh. “Then let’s raise some Hell.”

With twists I didn’t see coming, deals to be bargained, risks that seemed too great and even betrayal, I loved every minute of this story! Grace and Glory owned every part of me! Plus I’m so happy that there was an element left open, so there can be a spinoff down the road. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that someday that will happen!

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

Other Favorite Quotes:

“You’re going to wear yourself out.” His lips ghosted across the curve of my jaw, sending a fairly inappropriate shiver dancing over my skin . “And then what, little nephilim? No grace. No daggers. It’ll just be me and you.”
“It’s always been just you and me, Zayne.”
“There’s no way Roth is planning to get Lucifer topside. That would make no sense, right?” Zayne looked at me, and I shrunk as far as I could into the cushion. “Because wouldn’t that jump-start the biblical apocalypse and cause us to have even more problems to deal with?”
“Weeelll,” I repeated. “We’re sort of hoping that God will overlook his presence since we’re trying to save mankind and Heaven, and you know.”
“No. I do not know.” Zayne stared at me.
“I am not worthy of you.”
“That’s the farthest thing from the truth.”
“It’s not. You’re brave and strong. Fearless. You’re intelligent, kind and loyal.” His large hands slid to my hips. “You’re breathtaking.” He kissed my neck , and I shuddered. “I want you, now and always.”
“So, Lucifer did come topside, and good news is he did agree to help. Was actually pretty enthusiastic about it.”
There was a pause and then Nicolai said, “Okay?”
“But we, uh…” My entire body and brain cringed. “We sort of lost Lucifer.”
Zayne’s gaze met mine when I looked up. He nodded as he said, “Agreed. We need to go at him fast and hard.”
“That sounds dirty, Stony,” Roth purred.
I shook my head at the phone.
Reading Order & Links:
Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)

Storm and Fury #1
Reviews:

Jen
 
Rage and Ruin   #2
Reviews:

Jen

Grace and Glory #3
Reviews:

Jen

BOOK REVIEW: Heartwood (Speakeasy Taproom #2) by J.H. Croix

BOOK REVIEW: Heartwood (Speakeasy Taproom #2) by J.H. CroixHeartwood (Speakeasy Taproom)
by J.H. Croix
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She needs a fresh start. He wants a second chance…

My new job as a chef in a small town was supposed to be my ticket to peace and quiet. I didn’t expect to run into the former hockey star who gave me the hottest nights of my life. And, oops, he’s sort-of my new boss. So much for keeping my past where it belongs.

Ty still thinks I’m the fun party girl. He has no idea how much things have changed. One thing that hasn’t changed: the spark between us. It’s hotter than the blowtorch I use on my crème brûlée.

I’m already keeping secrets, so what’s one more? Our tryst is forbidden, it’s fun, and it gets complicated as fast as you can say “check, please.” I didn’t expect to have a future with Ty. And I definitely didn’t expect to have a baby with him.

Some falls are harder than others. But it depends on who’s there to catch you...

Review

Once again, what a winnerrrrrrr.

And talk about learning new things. I swear this entire World of True North project has been exposing me to characters that I have never read about in romances before and I LOVE seeing them represented. Ty had a pretty standard childhood with a shitty dad who cheated on his mom and has trouble with deep romantic connections because of it. Belle on the other hand discovered she has Bipolar disorder when she was deep in a manic phase in college and stole one of her professor’s cars without realizing she had done anything wrong. Because she had been on such a high before that with success in Law School, her confidence took a HUGE hit and she is constantly second guessing herself.

It was actually quite the interesting coincidence because my husband and I have been re-watching Shameless and we’re actually on the season where Ian gets diagnosed and is trying to deal with that and figure out meds and Monica makes an appearance as well. Not knowing anyone personally who deals with Bipolar disorder, seeing it affect these people differently was pretty eye-opening.

I also liked that this was a sort-of second chance romance in the sense that Belle and Ty actually had known each other in college and had hooked up several times back then. While they didn’t ever really have a “falling out” when they went their separate ways, neither one of them had forgotten each other either. That of course did kind of affect their relationship in the present in the sense that Belle was nervous that Ty would have this different view of her since he knew her back when she was on her high versus knowing her now. Ty took that all in stride and never let that change how he thought of her at all.

There are of course a few points of tension, as there almost always is in romances. While I wouldn’t say I disliked how things ended, I did weirdly feel like the characters changed a little bit with how things were executed at the end. I spent the entire book feeling like they were solidly into adulthood and then suddenly a few major things happen and they suddenly were reading like super young people fresh out of high school?? I don’t even know how to describe it other than it feeling slightly disjointed for me. Either way I liked the book overall and need moreeeee!

Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion

BOOK REVIEW: Touchstone (Speakeasy Taproom #1) by Karen Stivali

BOOK REVIEW: Touchstone (Speakeasy Taproom #1) by Karen StivaliTouchstone (Speakeasy Taproom)
by Karen Stivali
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Sam doesn't think love is in the cards. The cards disagree.

When Phoebe Stevens' life implodes in a spectacularly public fashion, she's desperate to escape Manhattan. So the offer of a job setting up a new Vermont gastropub couldn’t come at a better time. Driving a U-Haul on winding mountain roads is Phoebe's personal version of hell. But when the caretaker of her guesthouse answers the door tousled, shirtless, and baking cinnamon rolls, her first impression of Vermont dramatically improves.

Sam Trembley believes everyone gets one true love, but he’s already blown his chance. He's spent five years avoiding relationships. Now he’s back in Colebury where sunrise tarot draws and moonlit hikes soothe his soul. But why do the tarot cards keep showing him this nonsense about soulmates? Could it have anything to do with the jaded city girl on his doorstep?

Playing tour guide is fun, but taste-testing her culinary creations as she shimmies her luscious hips around his kitchen is downright irresistible. Soon their chemistry burns hotter than the pub's wood-fired oven.

Has fate brought them together for a summer of love...or a lifetime of happiness?

Touchstone contains craving-inducing menu planning, a sassy white witch grandma, seismic sexy times, and tarot cards on a mission to prove soulmates are real.

"A romance with sweet, spicy, and sumptuous on the menu in the kitchen and the bedroom." Kirkus Reviews

Review

Okay I had been DYING for this series to start coming out ever since I first got the list of what we were going to be seeing within the World of True North. I am very pleased to say that I don’t think it could have started off any better. This book features Sam and Phoebe whose lives, in a general sense, are quite different. Phoebe winds up in Colebury after her DICK of an ex invites her to dinner only to tell her that #1 he’s been having an affair and #2 he’s booting her from the restaurant they had been looking to open together (and the cherry on top is that she was turned into a meme over the whole ordeal). Having previously been in culinary school with our lovely Audrey, she was invited down to help open Speakeasy Taproom and build their menu. Sam is a sweetie who helps run his grandmother’s crystal shop and was burned pretty badly by a past relationship. When Phoebe moves into his grandmother’s guest house, the two connect INSTANTLY and the chemistry between them is so delicious.

Knowing absolutely nothing about crystals and tarot and that kind of this, I loved seeing it be such a normal, every day part of Sam’s life. I definitely learned a lot and also loved the soulmates aspect (I’m a sucker for that). Honestly between reading about Phoebe making food, Sam’s smile and overall personality, and their smoking hot chemistry this story was near perfection. Highly recommend!

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

BOOK REVIEW: Playmaker (Moo U #8) by Sierra Hill

BOOK REVIEW: Playmaker (Moo U #8) by Sierra HillPlaymaker (Moo U #8)
by Sierra Hill
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

There’s no faking it in love or hockey...

Transferring to a new school under false pretenses is harder than I expected, especially when my cocky new housemate, Callan Thomas, annoys me at every pass. He’s treated like a god and revered by everyone on campus. Too bad he made me feel like a rejected fool the first night we met.

But that doesn’t stop me from accepting his offer to become his fake girlfriend, because he has skills that I need. Only Callan can help me improve my game and make the USA women’s hockey team.

I try to keep despising him, but he keeps proving my first impression was wrong. And the more time I spend with him, the more complex my feelings become. I need to tell him the truth about who I really am before anyone finds out and things go too far.

Problem is, I think they already have...

Review

Even though I “messed up” and read Goalkeeper first in this last chunk (honestly you don’t HAVE to read them in order but I still feel like I should have ACTUALLY READ that one before Playmaker and Snowballed since it was the last of the entire Moo U series) I am kind glad I did because these last two I read were top favorites!

I’ve mentioned this before with Halftime but I reallllly enjoyed the ones where we got to see the heroine playing hockey, too. This one in particular had one of my favorite tropes where Aria, one of the MCs was a great player BUT still could benefit from her housemate and love interest, Callan. They worked out a deal–Aria pretends to be his girlfriend in order to get certain pests to back off and Cal in return helps her with a few things on the ice.

The chemistry these two had from the very beginning was plain as day. Of course it wasn’t smooth sailing from the beginning (apparently these hockey players really struggle with not committing to any relationships during the season except for when these idiots do anyway lolol) it was obvious they couldn’t stay away from one another. They did antagonize each other for a good chunk of the beginning which again, I loved. Per usual there was family drama but nothing that put me off or took away from the story. Highly enjoyed this one!

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

 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: 10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: 10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston

I’m so excited to be on the tour for 10 Truths and a Dare! I absolutely loved and adored this story! So check out my 5 Star Review below and enter to win a copy of this book! Enjoy!♥

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: 10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

This companion to Ashley Elston's beloved 10 Blind Dates follows Sophie's high-achieving cousin Olivia as she juggles last-minute P.E. credit, end-of-year parties, and a secret new romance in the chaotic week before graduation.

It's Senior Party Week, that magical in-between time after classes have ended but before graduation, chock-full of gimmicky theme parties, last-minute bonding, and family traditions. Olivia couldn't be more ready. Class salutatorian and confident in her future at LSU, she's poised to sail through to the next phase of her life.
But when the tiny hiccup of an unsigned off-campus P.E. form puts Olivia in danger of not graduating at all, she has one week to set things straight without tipping off her very big and very nosy extended family.

Volunteering to help at a local golf tournament should do it, but since Olivia's mom equipped her phone with a tracking app, there'll be no hiding the fact that she's at the golf course instead of all the graduation parties happening at the same time. Unless, that is, she can convince the Fab Four--her ride-or-die cousins and best friends Sophie, Charlie, and Wes--to trade phones with her as they go through the motions of playing Olivia for the week.

Praise for 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston:
2020 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Top Ten Title
2020 Florida Teens Read Book List

"POSITIVELY DELIGHTFUL—all caps—from beginning to end."—NPR

"This piece-by-piece romance doesn't need its Christmas theme to sell, but it makes it glitter all the more."—Booklist

"A fun story of finding love, getting to know yourself, and getting to know your family."—Kirkus Reviews

"In a funny holiday romance that has Sophie dog-sitting in a hockey rink, watching porn at a drive-in theater, and playing the Virgin Mary in a middle school Nativity, Elston cleverly reflects the family members' personalities through their choices of dates for Sophie."—Publishers Weekly


Review:

10 Truths and a Dare was impossible not to devour in one sitting!  Charm, humor, family, friendship and romance were laced throughout the pages and I loved every minute of it.  If you’re looking for a beachy read or a feel good, heart-warming story then this is the book for you!  It became an instant favorite and I have a feeling fans of YA romance will fall in love with 10 Truths and a Dare too.

Truth #1: If something happens but your nonna doesn’t find out about it and tell the whole family, then it didn’t really happen

I had already fallen madly in love with these characters in 10 Blind Dates.  Oh how I have missed this huge family and their dynamics, I love them so much!  In this story, it’s senior week and Olivia is ready to celebrate with all of her classmates before she gives her speech as their salutatorian.  Yet there’s one tiny problem.  Olivia is short a half credit, from her off campus PE class, and can’t graduate without it.  With the help of her best friends, surely she can make it up.  Yet what unfolds is definitely more challenging than she ever thought it would be!

Remember that time Olivia almost didn’t graduate because she screwed up golf?  Four years whittled down to one sentence.
This will not be my legacy.

I loved Olivia with my whole heart.  She was kind, thoughtful, loved her family and was so relatable.  She sometimes stacked too much on her plate, but she always had her best friends at her side to cheer her on.  With her mom out of town, and constantly tracking Olivia’s every move on her phone, she needed help babysitting her phone while she made up her credit at the golf course.  Her cousins Charlie and Sophie, along with Sophie’s boyfriend/Charlie’s best friend Wes stepped in to help Olivia with her problem.

“This is a bad idea,” I say, when Sophie’s car pulls away from the curb.
“We’re full of bad ideas. So what’s one more?”

Olivia, Charlie, Sophie and Wes were the Fab Four and I loved their connection.  Their moments together reminded me of the comfort I get watching my favorite show Friends.  They just felt like home to me and were so real.  Their love and friendship for each other ran so deep; they always had each other’s backs.  Their moments together had me laughing out loud and I couldn’t stop smiling.  This group was SO much fun and each one of them easily captured my heart!

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t driving me nuts that I’m keeping your secret but I don’t know why.” His voice is a near whisper.
My eyes stay glued to my phone. “I’m okay with you lying.”
I have a smirk. I can feel it. I cannot make it go away.

And then there was Leo.  He was a family friend to Olivia’s evil twin cousins.  So even though I was intrigued by him, he willingly associated with them.  If you’ve read 10 Blind Dates you’ll understand my animosity towards her twin cousins, the drive-in….I just can’t even lol.  So Leo should feel tainted, right?!  But oh my goodness you guys, I loved Leo.  He captured my heart so easily.  He gave me butterflies and I couldn’t help smiling anytime he was near.  That’s all I’m saying, but I dare you not to fall for Leo!

Dare #1: Tell the truth

10 Truths and a Dare touched a piece of my heart.  This story was filled with warmth and love, but I also had tears too.  I loved how this story unfolded, I loved all of the emotions it pulled from me and I loved watching Olivia grow.  I finished this book in one sitting and it easily sailed onto my favorites list.  I can’t recommend it enough!

L: Maybe I’ll see you when he’s not around
She’s probably going to kill me for this.
ME:Come find me later – Charlie with Olivia’s phone haha

PS I would love for Charlie to have his own story!  I don’t want to say goodbye to these characters.  And the moments we got to spend with Charlie, like when he was watching over Olivia’s phone, he leaped from the pages!  Keeping my fingers crossed!

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

Goodreads I Amazon I Kindle I Audible I B&N I iBooks I Kobo I TBD I Bookshop.org

 

About Ashley Elston:

Ashley Elston is the author of several novels including: 10 Blind Dates (a Top Ten ALA Quick Pick and the companion to this book), The Rules for Disappearing (a finalist in the Best Young Adult Novel category of the International Thriller Writers Thriller Awards), This Is Our Story, and The Lying Woods. She has a liberal arts degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. Ashley lives in Shreveport with her husband and three sons. For more information about Ashley and her books, please visit www.ashleyelston.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of 10 TRUTHS AND A DARE, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2021

The Book View

Review

Week Two:

5/2/2021

What A Nerd Girl Says

Excerpt

5/3/2021

YA Books Central

Excerpt

5/4/2021

Fire and Ice

Review

5/5/2021

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

5/6/2021

YA Book Nerd

Review

5/7/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

5/8/2021

Moonlight Rendezvous

Review

Week Three:

5/9/2021

Jenguerdy

Review

5/10/2021

Ficticiouswonderland

Review

5/11/2021

Book-Keeping

Review

5/12/2021

Amani’s Reviews

Review

5/13/2021

booksaremagictoo

Review

5/14/2021

Eli to the nth

Review

5/15/2021

Emelie’s Books

Review

Week Four:

5/16/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

5/17/2021

Zainey Laney

Review

5/18/2021

onemused

Review

5/19/2021

Midnightbooklover

Review

5/20/2021

amandainpa

Review

5/21/2021

Geauxgetlit

Review

5/22/2021

two points of interest

Review

Week Five:

5/23/2021

Book Briefs

Review

5/24/2021

Momfluenster

Review

5/25/2021

Star-Crossed Book Blog

Review

5/26/2021

michellemengsbookblog

Review

5/27/2021

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review

5/28/2021

Do You Dog-ear?

Review

5/29/2021

Books and Zebras

Review

Week Six:

5/30/2021

My Fictional Oasis

Review

5/31/2021

Popthebutterfly

Review

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