riley
This one didn't quite hit it for me bht I was still entertained.
Billionaire romance, friends since middle school.
After running into her old bully from school, Felicity blurts that she is engaged to her long time friend (and billionaire) Hutton.
They keep up the lie because the mean girl leaked it to the press, so they had to keep up the lie with their families.
Childhood friends, Gianni loved to tease and pick on Ellie. Pull her hair on the playground, steal her crayons, you know the drill.
Now they're all grown up, and working together in a restaurant.
One blizzardy night happens, and all that tension breaks and then have two nights of passion.....
Spoiler !
Blizzard baby
Ellie resists Gianni because he's a trouble maker and doesn't like to stay in one place for long. Why should she be the one to stop him from following his dreams?
But Ellie and the family they start together is what he loves the most.
I really enjoy childhood to lovers stories, and this was no exception.
grumpy Single dad, falls for younger next door neighbour.
This was really close to 4 stars as I really enjoyed it. There was a couple really cringey moments I had to like get up and walk away before I tried to keep going.
Their chemistry was off the charts, and the little girls were so sweet !!! Hearing about Winnie all grown up was really cool, and we still got to see glimpses of our favourite Sawyer family.
Dex is an ex-military firefighter, single dad who loves his girls. He wants to be better than his father was, and he everything he can for them.
When he moves next door to Winnie, instant attraction.
Neither of them want a relationship. Winnie falls in love too quick and is on a personal challenge to stay single and have control over her feelings.
They start something casual, and promise not to fall in love.
Well whoops, they did anyway.
But then Winnie gets a job in a different state - her dream job. Dex won't admit he wants her to stay, so she goes. And both are miserable....
Odd we hadn't heard any of April's back story before? But whatever.
This is a story about friends, who had one passionate night 18 years ago and reconnected over a weekend.
April and Tyler were friends in high school, but lost touch after he was drafted into the major leagues. It's odd they never stayed in touch considering how close they were.
They had a baby together, that they decided to put up for adoption. They never talked about it until now. (Why?????)
Their reconnection was steamy, and like no time had passed almost. They know each other so well still.
Happy April got her happy ending, but overall not my favourite story of the Sawyer sisters. Tyler was a complex character and I enjoyed his growth as a person.
Long time friends to lovers. So thrilled to finally learn more about Meg!
Wish there was more grovelling to be honest, but Noah is a catch and I'm happy they'll get their happy ending. Even if it took him a while to figure his shit out.
Meg is the sweetest and things were always easy with Noah. Comfortable. Finally they were able to take that step into romance.
HENRY!!!!
We love a hot science nerd obsessed with crops and wine.
Both Henry and Sylvia are freshly divorced, but find comfort in each other. They become close, and then stop fighting their natural pull towards each other. They have steamy hot AF sneaky sex. The tie??? Wow.
But Sylvia's kids come first. So she has to end their sexy scenarios.
But Henry is a fighter. And he's fighting for what he loves - and he loves her.
This was a cute childhood friends, to lovers, to enemies, to lovers again.
Honestly, kind wanted to smack Oliver on the head a bit. All of those lies and half truths... omg. I don't know if I would have forgiven him if I were Chloe to be honest.
But she takes jumps and leaps, and doesn't always consider the consequence. Kind of love that for her, but damn that's crazy haha
They have so many tethers to each other, they have known each other since birth and will always be connected.
Loved this single dad/nanny romance!
Absolutely adored the kids. They were so cute and funny.
Naturally Mack is a grumpy single dad, trying to do the best for his girls but not giving himself what he wants. He wants the nanny, Frannie, but tells himself he can't be what she wants. Even though she tells him time and time again that he is what she wants.... MEN.
Anyway, extremely heartfelt and charming romance.
Most was good, but some was meh. Frannie was way too forgiving than I would be that's for sure
Looking forward to more of this series.
This was so sweet and heartfelt! All of the tropes included in this were perfection.
Cal's relationship with his sister makes my heart so happy. And him and Grace, I just swoon.
Tattoo tough guy with a heart of gold, and a sunshine ballerina win a tragic past. But they are perfect together. They bring the light out in each other, and are each others safe space.
It was good, but honestly just not for me.
There were a lot of timeline jumps, which could be interesting but it kind of just confused me. Maybe that isn't the right term, but I don't know.
It was fine - enjoyable, though I had to push myself past the first couple of chapters. But overall just okay.
A cute addicting read, done in a day!!
Quickly became addicted to Gray, and his mysterious ways.
Evie grew up next door to him, he is her brothers best friend, and she had a crush since the age of 5. Fast forward to 20 years later... he's in the Air Force and in town for a couple of weeks.
Evie gets the nerve to finally kiss her childhood crush, and they begin a sex only situationship.
But there are these moments... moments where it's confusing because how does Gray know her favourite cake? Or that she only drinks hot coffee around the holidays? Has he been paying attention to her all this time? Why hasn't he said anything.
The will they won't they turn into more, the tension... gray is a man and obviously means he doesn't communicate well. He doesn't lie, but sometimes he just doesn't say the words so it's confusing.
Super good read. Enjoyable!
I really enjoyed Nash's story!! I loved Lina from the first book so I'm so happy she showed up here as well.
This was a wonderful story that describes mental health, and handling life after tragedy.
Our Studly-Do-Right with the perfect ass, and badass Lina don't seem to work on paper, but together they fit just right. They are just what the other one needs whether or not they're willing to admit it at first.
“This is you pushing and this is me sticking” the two tried to push the other away, but the other always stuck around and didn't let the relationship end.
The drama from the first in the series still continued. The bad guy who kidnapped Naiomi and Waylay, and who shot Nash was still out there.
Nash has an FBI bodyguard, and a plan to take the suspect down. And not by the book this time.
Spicy, ex-boyfriends brother, fake dating/engagement
So I'll start with Beck is a HOT AF MAN. That being said, is he a little scheming schemer? Yes. Did he go about getting back into Margo's life in a bad way? Probably. But ya know... men are dumb. Anyway.
Margo works as a graphic designer at a small start up when Beck comes back into her life, offers her a “promotion” has his assistant. But with that he offers her the position of becoming his fake fiancé to impress the board members of his company.
Slowly what started as fake becomes very real, and very raw. The two have chemistry and tension off the charts so it's only a matter of time before the two jump each others bones.
Eventually, they share their real feelings with each other and live in bliss.
Cue the third act problem of miscommunication ....
Honestly enjoyable, a low key but still with banter romance.
Updated review - I definitely appreciate it more, and I have a soft spot for Rip even though he was a bit of a meanie in the beginning.
He is confusing, but he quietly loved her and I just went to hug them both.
***
Not my favourite MZ book, but still enjoyable.
This was like the slowest of slow burns. We didn't get to them getting together until like the 90% mark.
Luna's story is just so sad. And Rip... like I wanted to like him but he just was a dumb boy man. Even at 41, like just seemed dumb and immature. He never did anything wrong per-say, but he also didn't do much right. He had such an attitude to the co-owner of the business (later we find out it's his dad). I get the tension between the two but he was always so rude.
And the hospital? Again, I get that tension was high but there was no need to take it out on Luna.
And how he like... crashed her dates because he liked her but couldn't say it? Sure, break up her dates and be the alpha male here but speak up. It took him so long to grow a pair and say he liked Luna. He was confusing the poor girl with his emotional whiplash.
Luna tries so hard to stay positive and not hold grudges - good for her. She deserves better. Drama with her past and her family, girl can't catch a break.
This was so sweet, but with tension.
A slow burn marriage of convenience.
“I would share my door with you”
Sure, maybe Jack pursued Rose for odd reasons and maybe began their relationship with a lie. But they fell in love!!!!! They became family.
Especially during her sickness, my heart just aches for them.
I love the honeywood series!
This is Theo and Orson's story.
Marriage of convenience (hello tax break and health insurance!)
The two commitment phobes decide to get married to benefit each other money wise. The connection between them is so strong, twists turns and angst galore.
Orson is such a sweetie with a big heart. He helps too much but he does it for his people.
Predictable but I don't even mind!
Tara is a hopeless romantic book lover, and recently moved into Trevor's apartment (he is her sisters fiancée's colleague)
After splitting with her fiancée, Tara is on a mission to go through her ex's and find a second chance romance.
She elects Trevor's help in this, but he is known as a play-boy. What could he possibly know about love and romantic gestures?
Ryan shay, you sexy devil.
Roommates, fake dating, and a sports romance.
Flight attendant Indy (Stevie's BFF) went through a break up and needed a place to stay. Why not her BFF's brothers apartment?
What started as just roommates who co-existed, became fake dating. Ryan needed a girlfriend to show his team's GM he was a good team captain.
Then it started not to be just pretending anymore....
The sequel to Mike High is so good. We get a glimpse of our fav's (Stevie and Zanders) from the last book as they continue their journey, and see more of Rio too.
Loving this series - this author writes so beautifully.
2 childhood friends, finally get together after almost 20 years.
Jasper's past trauma and anxiety holds him back from taking what he wants. It takes Sloan almost marrying a total trash of a person to wake himself up. They runaway bride out of the church, and kind of hide from their lives.
During that time, they become closer and fall into a place with sexual tension and uncertainty.
Friends to lovers, hockey player, small town romance. Commanding, dominant spice.
She danced a lot for him as a teen which was weird??? IYKYK.
Overall my least favourite in the chestnut spring series.
DADDY CADE.
The biggest scowler in all of town. The grumpiness is a cover, because really Cade is the sweetest most caring man. He loves his son, and does anything to make him happy.
Then hurricane Willa comes in to be the nanny for the summer. They got a bit more than they bargained for because it went from being a live-in nanny, to falling in love.
Their quiet moments together, when he shows he cares without saying it, that's when they become more. He shows he cares by acts of service. Cleaning her car, making her dinner... slowly but surely these two come together.
Single dad, cowboy, age gap. With a bit of like... not public spice but “someone could catch us at any second” moments.
⭐️: 5/5
Obsessed doesn't begin to cover it. I devoured this book.
Like my heart is so full. Rhett can GET IT. What a sexy cowboy.
In need of an image boost, Summer is tasked with being his “babysitter” to ensure he is on his best behaviour.
While on the road together, they end up having to share a hotel room. Only one bed.
But things don't stop there. Stolen glances, sweet words, kind gestures. Slowly but surely, these two form a connection.
summer needs to maintain professionalism, but why try to stop true love? They are soulmates.
Of course there is family drama that causes a rift, but man oh man.
Love this book.
⭐️: 5/5
Ok honestly think this is my favourite in the series.
Drama action and spicy love.
Mafia. Cowboy, bodyguard romance. New fav trope combination.
First of all, WE LOVE COWBOY RAYLAN. Like so funny, so sweet, likes to get under her skin. Pushes her to the limits... love love love.
Riona is a tough cookie and has a wall of armour around her. But raylan finds a way around those walls.
He saves her life many times, and the bodyguard relationship grows into so much more.
Also the time by the creek and in the barn??? Hello spicy.
