Tag: New Adult (Page 9 of 47)

BOOK REVIEW: Snowballed (Moo U #9) by Melanie Ting

BOOK REVIEW: Snowballed (Moo U #9) by Melanie TingSnowballed (Moo U #9)
by Melanie Ting
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She needs Prince Farming . . . but she got me instead.

Sure, life’s been easy for me. Growing up in an oceanside house in SoCal, playing top-level college hockey, driving a luxury car with a generous allowance—sounds like the dream, right? Turns out what I didn’t have was freedom. And when I decided to transfer to Moo U for my last year of hockey, my controlling father cut me off.

No money, no car, no friends. I’m just another student struggling to make ends meet. The only place I can afford to live is the Meyers’ farm, where I’ll work in exchange for room and board. Farm work is so exhausting that I don’t even have time to wallow in the crappy turn my life has taken. Zoe Meyers is a hot blonde Amazon with all the energy of a chipmunk on crack. And her positivity is making me realize how lucky I really am, even though I’m broke. Too bad she’s not impressed by a guy who can’t figure out which end of a goat to milk.

Because suddenly I want to impress her. I want to do a lot more with her too . . . if I can get her out of the barn and into my arms.

Review

I FREAKING LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCH.

Snowballed had two of my favorite things in the World of True North. Farming and hockey.

Noah, a California kid who has a famous hockey play dad, figure skater mom, and a life dictated down to the very meal decides he needs to make a change after he’s presented with a spot on the Moo U hockey team. He moves across the country, entirely cut off and jumps on the first opportunity that presents itself–move on to Zoe Meyers’ farm, help out with chores, and have a warm bed and meals provided.

Zoe, who also plays on Moo U’s women’s team does not start off the the right foot with Noah. She’s the type that babbles when she’s nervous (especially around very attractive guys) and Noah could not take her personal brand of overly bright sunshine when she picked him up from the airport. These idiots, I tell you lollll. She kicked him to the curb, quite literally, after he made one too many rude remarks and things progressed from there.

The more time that Noah spends on the farm doing chores, eating fantastic meals, and being around a more normal Zoe, he does start to loosen up. I loved him so much you guys. He was super serious but also very genuine and caring. He was the ultimate team player on the ice and I loved watching him make the people he was paired directly with, better. Zoe, her brother—literally anyone he was on the ice with. Oh, and did I mention he was BOSSY? But in a good way. Both on the ice and in the bedroom and boy was that a turn on lol.

The ~drama~ in this on revolved around Zoe dealing (or I guess NOT dealing) with the death of her father from two years ago. The farm in which they lived was his baby and her ability to not let it go, as we eventually learn, is a result of that. I’m really glad that more and more books are championing the use of a therapist lately. The stigma on going to one needs to be broken because there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with asking for help from a professional. Watching Zoe go through that process and having her work through all of her pent up feelings about the past and find out what it really even was that was bothering her was a powerful thing. Very realistic and satisfying.

Highly recommend!

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

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!

 

BOOK REVIEW: Twisted Love (Twisted #1) by Ana Huang

BOOK REVIEW: Twisted Love (Twisted #1) by Ana HuangTwisted Love (Twisted #1)
by Ana Huang
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

He has a heart of ice...but for her, he'd burn the world.

Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape.

Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.

But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:

A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.

***

Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.

But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want.

Her brother’s best friend.
Her neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.

Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen—but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear.

Twisted Love is a contemporary brother’s best friend/grumpy sunshine romance. It's book one in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

WARNING: This book contains a possessive antihero, explicit sexual content, and profanity. No cheating or menage, but if you're looking for a traditionally sweet, loveable hero, this is not the book for you. Recommended for 18+.

Review:

Her chest rose and fell with every breath, and she stared at me with nothing but trust in those big, brown eyes.
Oh, Sunshine. If you only knew.

Twisted Love was an emotional tale that will have readers addicted from that first page.  The writing was so easy to devour, the characters leapt from the pages and the story pulled at my heart.  If you’re a fan of NA romance then there’s a good chance you’ll want this one on your tbr!

“Josh has the worst taste in friends,” I bit out. “I don’t know what he sees in you. I hope that stick in your ass punctures a vital organ.” Then, because I’d been raised with manners, I added, “Thank you for the ride.”

I adored Ava, she had the hugest heart ever, lots of sass and I loved that she had no problem putting others in their place.  She found so much happiness in life while at college, even though she struggled with her past.  And her relationship with her brother, Josh, was so heartwarming.  But with Josh going away, he asked his best friend Alex to step in and watch his baby sister.  So when Alex moved in next door, I knew that was a recipe for disaster or would be the most fabulous thing ever.  Because while Alex attended their family holiday functions, and had been around Ava for years, they didn’t always mesh in the most fabulous of ways lol.

I could imagine myself lifting that shirt, tugging her bra aside with my teeth, and closing my mouth around those sweet, hardened peaks—
I yanked myself out of that startling fantasy fast. What the fuck was wrong with me? That was Josh’s sister. Innocent, doe-eyed, and so sweet I could throw up.

I was already obsessed with Alex Volkov the first moment we met him.  He was a genius, who graduated early and had one of the most successful real estate development companies in the US.  Alex was the poster boy for alpha males.  And while I do love those types, he was a little too intense at times, even for me.  But regardless, I loved that he seemed cold and shut off to the world.  That he was able to control his emotions and could say the minimal while getting so much across.  He was a closed book that I definitely wanted to crack open.  But once Ava and Alex started spending more time together, he slowly started to open and oh my heart it was fabulous!

Every encounter with Alex, no matter how small, left me on edge.
I was nervous, yes, and a bit terrified.
But I’d also never felt more alive.

While Ava tested and pushed Alex at times, which could be so funny, he also messed back with her in the best way possible.  Yet every single interaction between them, even if it was a moment with disgusting cookies lol or a movie, was HOT.  The tension was so thick between them, and with Alex being sex personified, you’re in for a lot of steam in the pages!  And while I loved a lot of their sexier moments together, a few of them were not exactly my cup of tea.

I didn’t want to heal. I wanted to burn. I wanted to bleed. I wanted to feel every scorching lick of pain.
And soon, the person responsible for that pain would feel it too. One thousandfold. – Alex

Both of their pasts could be such a mystery, since one was locked away and the other hadn’t been divulged to us yet.  Alex was set on a path for revenge and Ava wanted to shed light on the years of her life that were filled with a fog.  So I loved getting clues and peaks into what made them the way they were now.  But I loved even more watching how they grew together.  Especially since Alex was dark, seductive, caring, dangerous and extremely protective and took care of Ava.  I also loved how he had no remorse for destroying those that did Ava wrong.

I wanted her, but it wasn’t a sweet, tender kind of want.
It was a dirty , ugly want, tainted by the blood on my hands and a desire to drag her out of the sunshine and into my night.

Twisted Love was gritty and rugged, seductive and erotic and twisted while being heartwarming.  The story was filled with a richness and depth that flowed through the pages and made it so easy to devour.  If you’re a fan of alpha males, stories that will twist your mind and a heroine you will be rooting for every step of the way then definitely check out this book!

Other Favorite Quotes:

I couldn’t resist— I scooted closer to him on the couch and pushed his shoulders forward so I could run my palm down his back.
His muscles bunched beneath my touch. “What,” he said in a tight, controlled voice. “Are you doing?”
“I’m searching for your control panel.” I patted his back, trying —and failing —not to notice the sculpted contours of his muscles. I’d never seen Alex shirtless, but I imagined it was glorious. “You must be a robot.”
 
Darkness craves light as much as it wants to destroy it, and here, in this ballroom, with her in my arms and my cock straining against my zipper, that had never been more clear.
I hated how much I wanted her, and I hated that she wasn’t smart enough to run away from me while she still had a chance.
Though let’s be honest, it was already too late.
She was mine. She just didn’t know it yet.
 
It was only a kiss, but it seemed so much more illicit. Dangerous.
 
A better person would tell her the truth, but I’d rather be the villain with her by my side than the hero who risked losing her because of a misguided sense of morality.

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

BOOK REVIEW: Darkroom (Moo U #7) by Kate Willoughby

BOOK REVIEW: Darkroom (Moo U #7) by Kate WilloughbyDarkroom (Moo U #7)
by Kate Willoughby
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

As a top draft pick from a family of hockey royalty, I'm under so much pressure that I’m losing my edge on the ice. I need something to snap my brain out of this self-destructive stress-loop. That’s where Indi Briscoe from my photography class comes in. She’s flirtatious and funny one moment, sweetly shy the next.

But she’s cagey. She has secrets. Also? She’s a virgin. Did I mention the pressure thing? Maybe I’m crazy for starting something with her. But we can’t seem to help ourselves...

Warning: this standalone novel contains heat, heart, familial expectations, extreme milkshakes, and a hamster with deep thoughts.

Review

I have been so deep in Moo U hockey over the past week and a half that I am going to be so confused reading another series with different characters when I pick up my next book, lol! I will say that I am very impressed with the range of topics that themes that this series has presented so far. There have been a lot of very different characters experiencing very different things and I really appreciate that.

This book features Indi and Hudson. Indi was born in China and adopted by an American couple when she was a baby. She has a port-wine stain on her face that she now covers up very thoroughly with makeup after being bullied for years as a kid. For a good chunk of this book she also denies any and all attempts to connect with her Chinese heritage until her roommate helps her realize that part of the reason why she has so vehemently rejected that part of herself is because she associated it with her birth parents having abandoned her at a Chinese orphanage. Delving into that part of herself really got to me because I’m sure plenty of other people struggle with that very same part of their identity as well after being adopted, especially if it was from a country other than the one they now live in.

Hudson comes from a hockey dynasty. There has been a member of his family in the pros since the league was formed about a hundred years ago. He struggles with some really intense pressure and anxiety over preforming well in front of others and also find out over the course of the story about a medical issue involving his hearing that also really takes a toll on him as well.

While I overall really enjoyed reading about how all of those aspects of life affected and shaped Indi and Hudson both separately and together, there were times that I became frustrated with Indi especially. It’s brought up one time by her mom after she blows up at Hudson but it could really be overwhelming for me when she went from 0-100 with her anger and verbally lashed out at people. Sure it was realistic but I just didn’t vibe with her as much as other characters. Still, it had a great ending and I was so happy for how both of their journeys were wrapped up by the end!

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

BOOK REVIEW: Halftime (Moo U #6) by Kim Findlay

BOOK REVIEW: Halftime (Moo U #6) by Kim FindlayHalftime (Moo U #6)
by Kim Findlay
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

There’s no halftime in hockey, but maybe there’s one in love…

Drunk dialing your girlfriend to tell her that you didn’t really cheat is a bad idea--a lesson Seb Hunter learned the hard way. It was no surprise when she cut him completely out of her life. Now he’s finally moved on, and he’s looking forward to sophomore year at Moo U. Until his ex arrives on campus.

For goalie Faith Devereaux, cheating is a hard pass. She grew up knowing all too well how destructive infidelity can be. She’s gotten over Seb and picked the college of her dreams. The fact that he’s a student there will not be a problem. Hockey is her priority. Not guys, not dating, definitely not exes.

But when an exhibition game forces them into close proximity, it isn’t long before their old attraction flares. Regaining trust is hard, though, when the heart plays a good defensive game.

But when the goal is love, one more shot might be all they need.

Review

I feel like I’ve mentioned this in previous hockey romance reviews but it is freaking hilarious to me that I have become to entangled in these books and I know NOTHING about hockey. Seriously. Like the fact that Faith also played hockey in this one made it 10x better to me for whatever reason and again, it’s not because I am a rea life hockey fan lolol. Really though, this book, along with Sarina Bowen’s, Bombshells has me so excited for future books featuring players from the women’s league. I really love that dynamic and learning more about how much of an unfair advantage those ladies are at compared to their male counterparts.

To get more into this story though, we start out the book about a year before the main events actually happen. Faith (who has grown up with seeing her dad cheat on her mom for YEARS) gets a drunken call from her boyfriend, Seb. He’s so drunk and distraught that he’s not making any kind of sense but from what she can decipher, he’s cheated on her. Not wanting to deal with that shit in her own relationship and life, she completely cuts ties and blocks him on every platform imaginable.

Fast-forward to a year later and the beginning of the semester at Moo U. Seb is at the rink with a few of his teammates when he catches sight of a goalie. A female goalie. One whose very movements on the ice were as familiar to him as his own. He did NOT know she’d be attending and high tails it out of there. The two ~of course~ end up bumping into each other and eventually wind up back in each other’s lives.

Let me first start out by saying, THANK YOU Cooper. He’s Seb’s best friend, teammate, and roommate and helps play matchmaker throughout the entire damn book LOLLL. At one point he says, “The two of you are worse than Romeo and Juliet. If there was any poison around here, you’d both be dead.” Wiser words were never spoken. Even though these two have always had explosive chemistry, obviously the cheating thing is problematic. Just as I had expected/hoped. Seb didn’t cheat on Faith. He was drunk and missing her, a girl crawled into his bed, and when he realized it wasn’t her, he FLIPPED out. Of course, the fact that Faith THOUGHT he had for an entire freaking year isn’t just going to go away.

I am glad that they did talk about that and that she came to terms with how that could affect their relationship down the road. Seb really was an all around great guy, possibly even one of my top favorites of this series so far. He was kind, loving, honest, and I just wanted to wrap him up in a tight squeeze considering how he felt forgotten within his own family. I really thought these two were great together and the quote that I added below that is from the epilogue 10000% solidified how much I loved this book. It seriously gives me goosebumps every time I read it.

The puck dropped. My wife deflected the first shot on goal. My daughter and I cheered.
It was perfect.


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

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