Emily

I'm so sad this series is over! It's been such a fun journey with these amazing characters that Elsie Silver has created for us. The conclusion of this series is so bittersweet, because as sad as I am that it's over, I'm so excited to see what else Elsie has in store for us! Hopeless follows the final Eaton sibling, Beau. He is hardened from his time in the military and suffering from PTSD. One night at a bar he sees Bailey, a bartender from a family with a bad reputation that she is trying to get away from. They make a bet that being with an Eaton won't make the town see her differently (enter fake fiancé trope)! Right off the bat there is so much tension. And the spice... the spice is definitely spicy! I loved Bailey's naivety and Beau's ability to be so sweet and tender with her but also extremely sexy! Both Beau and Bailey are trying to escape things and end up finding themselves in each other. It's really such a sweet romance! Age gap, fake fiancé, a little forced prox drizzled in there. Hopeless is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes

There's something about reading a book that a friend loves and loving it so much yourself. It's just so special to share love for the same stories and share what you experienced while reading. I have loved the movie, Practical Magic, for a very long time, but I never had read the book. I'm usually very much a read before watching girlie, but I didn't even realize the film was adapted from the book until a few years ago. This is a beautiful story of mothers and daughters, sisters, friendship, and love. It's a much deeper look into the lives of our favorite Owens women and their relationship with love and everything that love brings with it. This edition has an introduction written by the author, and she spoke about how she hears often from readers of how their mothers shared this story with them. This story is truly multi-generational— you have the aunts, Sally and Gillian, and Antonia and Kylie (Sally's daughters). Three generations of Owens women determined to not be like the generation before them, but through life discovering the importance of love and family. As someone who has sisters, friends I view as sisters, and three daughters, this story really spoke to me! Practical Magic is adult fiction, 16+ for language and content.

This was such a light and cute read! I was so excited to receive an ARC for this book as it's set it Louisiana and I'm from Louisiana! Homerun Proposal is a sports romance that follows Hallie, quirky college freshman, and Lane, Hallie's best friend's brother and star baseball pitcher at Orleans University. Hallie is determined to have the “real college” experience and say goodbye to her innocence. She intends to proposition her best friend, Eli, for his help, but ends up accidentally propositioning Lane instead. When Lane agrees to help Hallie with her predicament, they both realize their feelings so much deeper than friendship. So many things in this book reminded me of a 90s RomCom (in the best way) which feels intentional based on the authors dedication and playlist. There was definitely plenty of tension and spice, and I really enjoyed reading a baseball romance. This is the first book I've read by Maren Moore and it was fun and quick read which I needed. Homerun Proposal is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content

This was such a fun read! Also, how cute are the vintage vibes that the cover gives?! I love it so much! Done and Dusted follows Emmy Ryder, a champion barrel racer who returns to her hometown following an accident, and Luke Brooks, Emmy's brothers best friend and local bar owner. The two start spending time together around Emmy's family's ranch, and although they fight it, their chemistry is undeniable. This is brother's best friend romance goodness! There is great tension between the characters and amazing banter. The romance is hot and spicy— the mouth on Luke Brooks is

Adam Lockwood, y'all! Adam. Freaking. Lockwood. Unravel me is the third book in the Playing for Keeps series. The story follows Vancouver Vipers goalie Adam Lockwood and Rosie Wells, a single mom and vet student. While on a hike with his dog, Adam meets Rosie and their chemistry is instant. Both have secrets and insecurities that have hardened their hearts, but with each other they are able to let their walls down. Their romance is so incredibly sweet, but also very hot! Adam is so so incredibly tender it had me swooning! You also get to see so much of the characters' lives and the lives of their friends who I have come to know and love! The bunch of them feel so well developed because you get so much of them in every book! The found family element in this entire series is just so special. The friendship, the banter, the absolutely ‘laugh out loud' moments— it's all so so good! Unravel Me is an adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes.

After seeing this book around for months, and resisting reading it because of the hype, I finally gave in. It. Is. Worth. The. Hype! I'm not sure I even know where to begin with my review. It has truly been such a long time since a book has made me feel like this. The level of excitement when finishing and all the questions and realizations, the way my heart was racing and the way I absolutely blew up my friend's phone with thoughts and theories. The Fourth Wing follows Violet, daughter of a decorated military general for Navarre. After her mother forces her to enter the military college, she is faced with challenges she never thought she would experience, and her eyes are opened to a world of new possibilities. There she meets Xaden, son of a rebel leader who is forced to attend the college as penance for his father's crimes, and it all takes off from there! Xaden is dark and mysterious, and Violet finds herself drawn to him. Their medium-burn romance is one for the scribes to write about! It is hot and forbidden and did I say hot? Because

Possible Spoilers If You Haven't Read Book 1:

This book, y'all, this. Freaking. Book! Summoning of the Siren was everything a second book in a fantasy series should be. This book follows after the events of Legend of the Huntress, and we see Skylahr navigating her roll as the Huntress's Chosen with the help of Gaelon and her friends. I love being in Skylahr's head, even though her thoughts are sometimes dark or sad, the way K. Godin writes her inner monologue is truly beautiful. The depth of her character and the layers we get to see in this book were all done so well. I fell in love with the side characters; their banter, personalities, and relationship with Skylahr really added so much to the book. Now to the story... After Gaelon has a dangerous experience at sea, Skylahr and her friends must journey to where they believe the source of the problem to be. Along the way, Skylahr is unexpectedly reunited with some familiar faces, and despite his betrayal in Legend of the Huntress, Skylahr and Kalian find themselves unable to stay away from each other. The revelations at the end of the book have me absolutely starving for the next book in the series— Like, I NEED it! Skylahr is no stranger to tragedy, and that is no different in this book. I was brought to tears a few times and my heart truly ached for her. Summoning of the Siren is jam-packed with some of my favorite things— adventure and quest elements, battles that had my heart racing, romance and spice, strong world building, dual POV

This author loves a cliffhanger and this book was absolutely no exception— maybe the biggest one in the series so far! Forced Bonds picks up right where Blood Bonds left off thankfully because again with the cliffhangers, I couldn't deal! There are still so many unknowns for Oli and her Bonds as they navigates these troubling times for their community. They all adjust to changes within their Bond Group in terms of their relationship with each other as well as their evolving powers. I found this book to a little more action packed and the last 10% had me by the throat. Y'all the ending— THE ENDING! I so wish I could pick up the next one right now because I am absolutely feral for it. Fear not, I will definitely be getting back to it soon! Spice level is comparable to other books in the series, but I love the deeper romantic connections we are getting with Oli and the Bonds. This book and series is Adult Paranormal Romance, 18+ for sexual content, violence, and themes.

I had the amazing opportunity and pleasure of reading this book in the early stages, and y'all it is so good! This is the thrilling conclusion to Rhiannon's story after the events of Vengeance Becomes Her. Rhiannon's journey to defeat her evils while not losing herself or hurting those she loves is beautifully told with modern day themes woven throughout. There's adventure, romance, spice, plus size rep, and so much more! Alexis does an amazing job of including a list is trigger warnings on her platforms and website. Check those out prior to starting. Vengeance Frees Her is an Adult Dark Fantasy, 18+ for there's, sexual content, and violence.

I've been hoping for redemption for Winter since reading Flawless, and boy did Elsie deliver. I sort of knew that I would love her after I read the dedication for the book and that I would relate to her in so many ways. In this fourth installment of the Chestnut Springs series, we get to read all about Summer's sister Winter, a doctor who is perceived as cold but is really just misunderstood, and Theo, Rhett's bull riding protege. After a night of drinking at a hotel bar and a delicious one night stand, Winter finds herself pregnant. Reading Winter's journey into motherhood and those early months was so incredibly relatable and really resonated with me. Elsie did an amazing job at showcasing those tougher elements of motherhood and the toll it can take on a woman. Theo. Freaking. Silva. Perhaps my new favorite Chestnut Springs man? That feels like a big claim after the others, but I loved him so much! He is so tender and considerate and he loves so hard, but the mouth on that boy... swoon. He is just as sweet as he is spicy. The banter, tension, and pay off were all so well done. I love this book so much, and I think many women will see themselves in Winter. Reckless is an adult small town romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes. check the authors note at the start of the book Reckless releases June 9, 2023 and it is available for preorder now!

J Bree, what are you doing to me?! The vibes in this series are just so good! The tension, the spice, the betrayal, the adventure—all of it so incredibly good! In this third installment in The Bonds That Tie series, we continue to follow Oli as she navigates her life with her Bonds and her growing Gift as they continue to try to out maneuver the Resistance. I found this book to have a bit more dystopian vibes to it which I didn't mind, and it was a little more violent than previous books in my opinion. We continue to learn more about each of her Bonds, and I'm loving the character development so far! I'm still extremely curious about one Bond in particular and hope to learn more about his background in the next book. Overall I am loving this series and cannot wait to continue! Blood Bonds is an adult paranormal ‘why choose' romance, 18+ for sexual content, violence, and themes

Holy hell, our author loves a cliffhanger doesn't she? I am starving for book 3 and will probably start it after writing this review! The Bonds That Tie series continues in this second installment, and boy does it deliver! I found the pacing to be spot on and the split continue to be twisty and intriguing. Oli's gift continues to grow and develop and does her relationships with her bonds. There is one bond in particular that is quickly stealing my heart and attention. The spice is taken up a notch compared to Broken Bonds— and it is hot! We begin to learn more bits and pieces about the bonds, and I think there's definitely more depth and development still to come. Overall, this was a really good second book such a long series, and I cannot wait to start Blood Bonds soon (like in the next 5 minutes). Savage Bonds is an adult paranormal romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes.

This was such a good jump back into fantasy after hanging out with romance for the last few weeks! J. Bree does a great job at setting up the series, and I immediately bought book 2 when I finished. Broken Bonds follows Oleander (Oli) who is captured after being on the run and has a huge secret she will do anything to keep that way. We are also introduced to Oli's Bonds: North, Nox, Gryphon, Gabe, and Atlas. The world building felt just a tad slow in the beginning, but it definitely kept me engaged and intrigued. It's also been a while since I've started a fantasy series, so it might just be me. I know this series ends up being “why choose” but there is mostly just tension in this first book. The last 10% had me absolutely feral and hooked, and I am even more excited to start Savage Bonds soon! Broken Bonds is an adult fantasy, 18+ for language, themes, and sexual content

My heart! N.S. Perkins always has a way to hit me right in the feels, and this story was no different! Her books have become some of my summer reads and always deliver on such tender summer romances. This story follows Emma, child of piano prodigies who is struggling to imagine her future, and Jamie, talented musician who sometimes puts so much pressure on himself that he neglects other areas of his life. There a bit of a time travel piece to this story that I wasn't expecting (I went in completely blind) but I liked how it was written. They relive the previous summer and reconnect with each other and the roots of their relationship and themselves. I, of course, fell in love with so many side characters! I adored this second chance romance— it was tender and sweet, and I love the journey the characters took to rediscovering what was important to them. There was lots of tension and the burn was slow, but it really fit the story and the characters. This is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content

Merged review:

My heart! N.S. Perkins always has a way to hit me right in the feels, and this story was no different! Her books have become some of my summer reads and always deliver on such tender summer romances. This story follows Emma, child of piano prodigies who is struggling to imagine her future, and Jamie, talented musician who sometimes puts so much pressure on himself that he neglects other areas of his life. There a bit of a time travel piece to this story that I wasn't expecting (I went in completely blind) but I liked how it was written. They relive the previous summer and reconnect with each other and the roots of their relationship and themselves. I, of course, fell in love with so many side characters! I adored this second chance romance— it was tender and sweet, and I love the journey the characters took to rediscovering what was important to them. There was lots of tension and the burn was slow, but it really fit the story and the characters. This is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content

If you're looking for a book to get you in the mood for all things summer—including a summer fling— look no further! The Summer Girl is the third installment in the Avalon Bay series, and it follows Cassie and Tate. Cassie is a young woman on summer break from Briar University (I may have squealed a bit when I read this) visiting her grandmother in Avalon Bay. She is determined to have a memorable summer by finding the perfect summer fling. Tate is no stranger with the ladies, but he has such a good heart. And he happens to be staying next door to Cassie's grandmother. Mild forced proximity vibes for sure! I overall really enjoyed this book. It was so great being back in Avalon Bay with a new set of characters, and as always, we got a glimpse of our favorites from past books as well. The book missed the mark for me a little with the FMC. Maybe it was her age (she starts the book at 20) but I found her constantly fixating on her insecurities. Her overall character development was good and growth was definitely there, but I just found it harder to connect with her in the first bit on the book. Overall though a great summer read filled with tension and romantic pay off. The Summer Girl is a New Adult Romance, 18+ for content and themes. Possible triggers so DM me or look them up.

Now that my tears have finally stopped

The journey to California in the Cadillac continues with Aria's story in this fourth book in The Runaway series. This one was a really quick read for me and only took me a few hours to get through. However, the story and characters felt a bit underdeveloped compared to others in the series, but I still really enjoyed it. Forsaken Trail follows Aria and Brody. Brody is Aria's sister, Clara's boss, and it's no secret that Aria and he do not get along. After a drunken one night stand leads to something unexpected, the two must decide on how to make things work civilly. There are whisperings of tension, spice, and a little forced proximity, but I definitely feel like they could have been expanded on. I'm really excited to get to book 5 and see where the story goes for Clara. Overall this was a quick and sweet read, and Aria's story definitely needed to be told. Forsaken Trail is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes— I recommend checking trigger warnings

Another great installment in this series by Devney Perry! The journeys that these characters go on to finding themselves and love after everything they've been through is so emotional and heartwarming. This third installment follows Katherine (Kat), who we last saw in Montana managing the ranch, and Cash, Easton's (from book 2) brother who also works at the ranch. Kat and Cash have been friends since she came to the ranch years ago, and they even live together as roommates. This is friends to lovers goodness filled with unrequited love and tension. I took off a half star because, for me, the resolution felt a bit rushed for the size of the conflict, but otherwise I absolutely loved it and am excited to get to Aria's book next! Quarter Miles is an adult romance, 18+ for themes and sexual content. Like the other books in the series, there is heavier content so look up trigger warnings or DM me

I am loving this series! These books are a bit shorter than some of my other reads so it makes for a quick read. Despite being quick, they're still a fair bit of depth to the characters. I personally felt that this book was a little heavier than the first one as far as themes go, but due to the nature of the series, I expected there so be some heavy content. Wild Highway follows the next friend from our group of runaways, Gemma. After feeling lost and without purpose, Londyn gifts her the Cadillac to start making the journey back to California. Along the way there's a place and people she can't stop thinking about, so she makes a detour to Montana. There are people in Montana that Gemma feels she needs to see and apologize to. Enter Easton: part ranch owner and part grumpy goodness. He is still bitter toward Gemma after the way she left him years ago, but after spending time with her, his heart begins to soften. Their story to love is full of heartache, forgiveness, and growth, and I absolutely ate it up. I obviously love the romantic aspects in this series, but I absolutely adore the found families that have been featured so far. Wild Highway is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes

I'm in my romance era apparently, and books filled with friendship, small towns, sports teams, found family, and all the things are really doing it for me right now. A friend recommended this series to me, and book one definitely didn't disappoint. Runaway Road is a small town romance that follows Londyn, a woman on the run from her life in Boston, and Brooks, a man born and raised in Summers, West Virginia. Londyn is no stranger to running away, and when her divorce is finalized, she hits the road in her old car only to get a flat tire outside of Summers. Enter Brooks, sexy mechanic with a tow truck to save the day. This is a shorter book (only 258 pages) so it was a pretty quick read. The romance was still just as sweet and tender, and the story of course had a little mysterious element to it like the other Devney books I've read. I loved every bit of this story and can't wait to get to Gemma's (Londyn's best friend who also has a history as a runaway) story in book 2. The found family elements at the end of this book hit me in the feels, and I'm so ready for more. Runaway Road is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content.

I absolutely loved this book! I would have loved to devour it but work was a little bit crazy this weekend and it took me a little longer than normal. It was no less loved because y'all these characters are so damn lovable and their stories are addicting. Play With Me follows Jennie and Garrett, who we met in book 1. This is forced proximity, friends with benefits, brothers best friend amazingness filled with tension and spice. The inner monologues that the characters have and the banter between them is so funny and witty. Jennie's character arc and growth is so well-written, it definitely pulled on my heartstrings. Garrett is so incredibly tender with her, which I love, and their romance is so sweet, spicy, and fun. We still get so much Carter, Olivia, and the other amazing side characters, and I absolutely love that! Play With Me is an adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes.

This book came highly recommended, and it definitely hit all the marks for me! Consider Me is the first installment in the Playing for Keeps series and the first I've read by Becka Mack. The story follows professional hockey player, Carter, and high school teacher, Olivia. Carter has a loud personality and a cocky disposition, especially when it comes to the ladies. Olivia is best friends with one of his teammates girlfriends, and his attraction to her in immediate. Olivia isn't like other girls he's hooked up with in the past, and this makes her question whether or not Carter is serious about his intentions. Y'all, the banter between these two is so good. I found myself absolutely cackling at parts! There is a fair bit of tension, and the spicy bits were super fun. I loved how the communication between Carter and Olivia was written and how even though Carter had this huge boisterous personality, he was still super tender with Olivia. There's also some extremely special friendships in this book and I can't wait to read about those in future books as well. Consider me definitely scratched my hockey romance itch, and I can't wait to read book 2! This book is an adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content.

This book! Oh my goodness this book! The Jacksonville Rays series is the first I've read from Emily Rath, and it definitely did not disappoint! I read the prequel novella, That One Night, first and I can't recommend that enough. It lays the foundation and sets the stage for what is to come in Pucking Around. Pucking Around is a why choose hockey romance, and it is so much more than just that. These characters feel developed and deep, and their story is such an emotional journey. The spicy aspects of why choose romance are of course there, and they are very hot! Rachel, Ilmari, Jake and Caleb are some of the best developed characters I've read in a why choose book. Pucking Around does have some length to it which had me hesitant to read it, but I really think all those pages were necessary to get the character development and depth that a story like this needs. The shorter chapters and multi-POV kept the pace and story flowing, and it never felt like it was lagging. The author has a very in-depth list of trigger warnings and things to expect in the book, which I really appreciated. Pucking Around and the novella, That One Night, are adult sports romance, 18+ for sexual content

I have absolutely loved this Laura Pavlov binge I've been on the last few weeks! I capped it off with her newest release, Into the Tide. This book follows Hugh and Lila and is set in the small town of Cottonwood Cove. Hugh is a loyal man especially to his friends and family, and Lila is his best friend's little sister who's on a journey to find herself and prove her independence after she graduates college. After hiring Lila for a summer job before she starts her professional life in Chicago, Hugh is unable to deny his attraction to her. This is another amazing example of brother's best friend romance that is so sweet but also so sexy. We even get a glimpse of the girls from the Honey Mountain series and that made me so so happy! Laura Pavlov has become an auto buy author for me and I've already preordered the rest of this series! Into the Tide is an adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes.

My tears are still flowing as I write this review because I just loved this series so much! I truly truly feel like I've watched these women grow from teenagers into adults, and it's so bittersweet. The epilogues in this book squeezed my heart, and I really think this series will be in my heart for a long time. Claimed in the fifth installment in the Willow Springs series, and it follows Ivy, our final Magic Willow who is still searching for someone to fill a void left by her high school sweetheart, and Ty, Ivy's high school sweetheart who made it big in Nashville but finds himself burnt out. When Ty comes to Willow Springs for his sisters wedding (which Ivy is planning) he is determined to make things right with Ivy. Ivy is resistant at first and neither of them know what their future will hold, but their love is rekindled. This is second-chance romance at its finest. The longing, the emotions, the forgiveness, the tension— all of it, so good! I recommend this series to anyone who like small town romance, especially if you also like coming of age.