Month: July 2023

Book Reviews/

Mother’s Day Inn by Lee Jacquot Book Review

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Blurb

I had everything under control until I met Theo.

My life was simple, straightforward, and clean. I thrived in my career, improved daily at being a single parent, and disguised any not-so-ideal parts of my life pretty well.

Like the fact I carried more than a few insecurities my ex-husband left me with. The biggest being the simple notion that I was one of many options, and my idea of love was ridiculous.

I knew it only existed on the big screen or in the pages of books, but I still wanted it.

Still yearned for it. Still hoped that maybe, somehow, I’d find it.

Never once did I think I’d find it in the lifeguard nearly ten years my junior.

Theo plans to dismantle everything I thought I knew. He wants to rip down every wall I have and rebuild it with just four words.

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content I observed while reading:

  • Emotional abuse
  • Injury
  • Profanity
  • Sexually Explicit Scenes

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

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Book Reviews/

The Reunion by Meghan Quinn Book Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read the Disclosure here.

The Reunion by Meghan Quinn

Blurb

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Game comes a new romantic comedy about the antics that ensue when three siblings come together for their parents’ fiftieth-anniversary party.

Martin and Peggy Chance believe love should last a lifetime. With their fiftieth wedding anniversary on the horizon, they’ve modeled a beautiful relationship for their three grown children. But to their dismay, that lesson hasn’t quite caught on—the three siblings just can’t seem to take a chance and find love in their own lives.

There’s Ford, the eldest, devoted to his work and resistant to romance…or so he claims. Cooper, the middle child, can’t get past his divorce—until he reconnects with a feisty baker from his past. And Palmer, the baby of the family, is the free-spirited world traveler who always pictured herself with someone other than a handsome small-town family doctor.

When the Chance siblings come together to plan the ultimate anniversary party for their parents, they’ll have to navigate romantic entanglements, sibling rivalries, and the definitive end of their childhood. Whatever happens, The Reunion promises to be a fun, flirty, wild ride.

Sensitive Content

There are no content warnings for this book. Here is the sensitive content I observed while reading:

  • Alcohol
  • Childhood Trauma
  • Death of a parent
  • Fire/Fire injury
  • Injury
  • Pregnancy
  • Profanity
  • Sexually Explicit Scenes
  • Terminal Illness

Ratings

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Book Reviews/

In The Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae Book Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read the Disclosure here.

In The Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae

Blurb

With a gorgeous beachfront mansion, salty ocean breeze, steamy nights, and ALL the summertime feels, this funny, sexy queer rom-com is a celebration of summer love, as a cinnamon roll of a pastry chef finds his indie rocker crush suddenly within reach. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Roan Parrish, Alexandria Bellefleur, Ruby Barrett, and Alexis Hall!

Ben has been baking his mother’s cinnamon rolls at the family café for years. He’s been quietly in love with Adam Reed, his musician-slash-mechanic neighbor, for just as long. But Ben’s done waiting behind the pastry case. Despite his fear of failure, he’s entered a make-or-break competition to build his recipes into a national brand. He’s going to take charge of his business instead of nearly tanking the café—again. And he’s going to finally confess his feelings for Adam. ON LIVE TV.

Except his big plans get punched down before they even half-rise. Soon Ben is dashing down the coast to his grandma’s 80th birthday party on the beach, hiding his broken heart in Maywell Bay, California. Sun, sea, and fresh breezes should blow in something new—except they don’t. They blow in Adam Reed, grinning like a pirate and stealing the show as the musical entertainment hired by Grandma for her big bash. Grandma’s signature Heartbreak Tea is the only remedy, and Grandma’s tea could take the paint off a fence.

But there’s a burn of truth along with the booze in his bottle, and Ben has a decision to make. Can he take the sweetness in front of him, and brave the bitterness that comes after? Or is a little sea salt just what this cinnamon roll needs?

Salty cinnamon rolls? Ew. Ben would never.

Sensitive Content

This book does have a content warning printed in the book. Here is the sensitive content I observed while reading:

  • Alcohol
  • Anxiety
  • Childhood trauma (neglect)
  • Depression
  • Divorce (parents)
  • Gaslighting
  • Emotional abuse
  • Profanity
  • Sexual content

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

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Book Reviews/

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley Book Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read the Disclosure here.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Blurb

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.

The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.

The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge

Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content I observed while reading this book:

  • Alcohol
  • Alcoholism
  • Blood
  • Death of a Loved One
  • Domestic violence
  • Drug use
  • Homophobia
  • Murder
  • Profanity
  • Stalking

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

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Book Reviews/

The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay Book Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read the Disclosure here.

Blurb

Tracey Livesay returns in this seriously sexy sequel to American Royalty, following Duchess and Prince Jameson as they strive to turn their romance into a relationship, beneath the relentless glare of the spotlight.

Against all odds, sexy American rapper, Danielle “Duchess” Nelson and brilliant reclusive royal Prince Jameson have fallen in love! They’ve decided to take their relationship public and find a way to make their two worlds coexist. On their terms.

Unfortunately, falling in love was the easy part.

Jameson and Dani’s love story has made them the most popular royals since Prince John, but that popularity comes with a price. Dani looks forward to signing the deal with a major cosmetics company that will make her skin care line, Mela-Skin, a force in the industry, and finally grant her the control over her life she’s craved since childhood. But the company wants to take advantage of their fame and involve Jameson in Mela-Skin’s marketing campaign. Dani is outraged! Her company has nothing to do with Jameson.

After stepping up for the royal family, Jameson yearns to retreat back into academia. But he’s fired when his university raises concerns about his newfound notoriety. And suddenly the queen, initially against the relationship, backtracks, seeking their cooperation when the family is embroiled in yet another scandal. This isn’t the quiet life Jameson was hoping for.

Dani and Jameson truly love each other. But under the scrutiny of the international spotlight, when the doubts, compromises, and secrets begin to take their toll, will their love be enough?

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content I observed while reading:

  • Alcohol
  • Classism
  • Colonisation
  • Death of a Parent
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Gaslighting/Manipulation
  • Racism
  • Sexually Explicit Scenes

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

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Book Reviews/

Meet Your Match by Kandi Steiner Book Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read the Disclosure here.

Meet Your Match by Kandi Steiner

Blurb

One Month with Vince Tanev: Tampa’s Hotshot Rookie
Twenty-four-seven access on and off the ice.

The headline says it all, and my bosses are over the moon when the opportunity of a lifetime lands in my lap. Of course, they aren’t aware that I’ve already met Vince Coolat an all-star gala — and that we were at each other’s throats the entire time.

It doesn’t matter that he’s the kind of hot that shows God has favorites — messy brown hair, heated hazel eyes, the smirk of a rockstar, and a scar over his eyebrow that makes every woman particularly feral.

He’s a rich, cocky playboy — a brand I’m all too familiar with, and one I’m determined to never be around again.

But after my coverage of the gala stirs up buzz, the team’s General Manager and my CEO strike a deal. To help fill the arena at home games, I’ll get up close and personal with Tampa’s new shiny toy. Whether he’s at practice, playing in a game, partying, or drinking coffee half-naked in his condo — I’ll be there for all of it.

Vince gets under my skin like no one else. It isn’t long before that paper-thin line between hate and lust blurs, and being around him every waking minute of the day leaves no chance to escape his devilish stare.

The air crackles between us. The tension is hot enough to melt my inhibitions.

But I know the way this story ends. I’ve lived it once before.

As much as I work to guard my heart, my body is a traitor — and if this man puts his hands on me, I know I’ll submit to desire.

I thought one month with Vince Tanev was a game I could win easily.
But I might have just met my match

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content I observed while reading:

  • Alcohol
  • Blood
  • Profanity
  • Sexually Explicit Scenes
  • Violence

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

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Book Reviews/

Knot So Lucky by Trilina Pucci Book Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read the Disclosure here.

Knot So Lucky by Trilina Pucci

Blurb

Me: Ask me what happens in Vegas…

Samantha: What happens in Vegas?

Me: Let me tell you.

What happens is that you get “make out with strangers and pee in a parking lot” drunk. TIE THE KNOT WITH A GUY YOU JUST MET. Then allegedly participate in depraved group activities with him and his friends in the honeymoon suite of a five-star hotel. But that’s not even the worst part. Because after an epic walk of shame, you find out he’s some insanely famous bad-boy quarterback who’s in the midst of cleaning up his act. So now, you have to pretend to like him…sober…until you can skip town with an annulment and a shirt that reads, “I’d hit that.” Except for bam—tiny hiccup. His personality cancels out his hot AF face. And let’s not mention how you definitely took a trip to pound town with his friends. So, yeah. That’s what happens in Vegas. You get Knot so Lucky even when you think you hit the jackpot.

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content that I observed while reading:

  • Alcohol
  • Group Sex
  • Profanity
  • Sexually Explicit Scenes

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

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Book Reviews/

Heated Rivals by Katee Robert Book Review

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read the Disclosure here.

Heated Rivals by Katee Robert

Blurb

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about two feuding families—and their wealthy, powerful, and scandalous secrets.

Carrigan O’Malley has always known her arranged marriage would be more about power and prestige than passion. But after one taste of the hard-bodied, whiskey-voiced James Halloran, she’s ruined for anyone else. Too bad James and his family are enemy number 1.

Hallorans vs. O’Malleys-that’s how it’s always been. James should be thinking more about how to expand his family’s empire instead of how silky Carrigan’s skin is against his and how he can next get her into his bed. Those are dangerous thoughts. But not nearly as dangerous as he’ll be if he can’t get what he wants: Carrigan by his side for the rest of their lives.

Sensitive Content

Here is the potentially sensitive content I observed while reading this book:

  • Alcohol
  • Child abuse
  • Confinement
  • Death of a parent
  • Gun violence
  • Injury
  • Kidnapping
  • Misogyny
  • Murder
  • Sexual Assault
  • Sexually Explicit Scenes
  • Torture
  • Trafficking
  • Violence

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

Keep Reading!