It's funny that whenever I read a Penny Reid book, I feel almost like I'm reading some highbrow society novel. Not that I don't absolutely love and admire the whole romance genre. But for some reason Penny writes in a way that almost feels educational. Like I almost feel like my eleventh grade English teacher is going to pop up and ask me about the underlying meaning of the story.
And for some reason I freaking love it. Honestly, I've loved every single book I've read by Penny, and I always put them down feeling more like I've gone on a journey than that I've read a book. The entire town of Green Valley just keeps gifting us with these beautiful characters and they are all so uniquely flawed and relatable. They literally make me cry for their pain and laugh at their jokes.
Raquel was amazing. And although I couldn't even imagine living the life of the rich and famous, I could still really relate to her. Her entire personality was rainbows and sunshine and I want to be her best friend. Her thoughts and description of Jackson made me laugh and love her even more.
Now Jackson James is someone we kind of knew from all the earlier Winston Brothers books. But damn did that boy have depth and so much empathy and humanity. I completely adored him.
The book was perfect, and I can't wait to see what the plan is for the series. I honestly have so many characters that I'm hoping Penny writes next, but I also know that it doesn't even matter. She will make me love them and I'll enjoy every word of their story.
When Dillion Stitch left her hometown, she had no intention of going back. But when her brother gets into trouble, Dillion reluctantly agrees to return home to take her place at the family business.
Being back in Pearl Lake after all these years feels familiar, but also brings a few surprises. She’s quick to notice that someone new has shown up at the cottage next door. Dillion gets more than an eyeful when she goes to check out the newcomer and meets Donovan “Van” Firestone—her beloved neighbor’s grandson—in all his unclothed glory.
Having gotten off to a rocky start, it’s not long before they begin bickering with each other all over town. All that back and forth inevitably sparks an undeniable attraction. But Dillion’s family has issues, Van’s family resents him, and neither Dillion nor Van feels truly at ease in the small town. For these Pearl Lake exiles, home isn’t just where the heart is—it’s where things get complicated.
I turn on the flashlight and trudge through the brush and past the campfire, which incidentally has been left unattended. It’s down to a smolder, but Van has left out hot dog sticks and a bag of buns.
I keep going, toward Bee’s front porch and the blinding spotlight. Standing in front of the cottage is Van. Shirtless. Sweaty and shirtless. The bright light shines directly on him, accenting the dips and ridges, the smooth planes of muscle.
Van is ripped. Probably because he spends a lot of time at the gym, staring at his own reflection in the mirror. He lifts his ball cap from his head and runs a hand through his deliciously sweaty dark hair before he flips his cap around and replaces it, backward this time.
I roll my eyes at myself. What the hell is wrong with me? Deliciously sweaty. “Hey!” I bark.
He startles and the hammer in his hand goes flying, but he was on the back swing, so it heads in my direction. I sidestep it, and it manages to miss me by about six inches. He spins around, eyes wide as they land on me. “What the fuck?”
“Do you realize what time it is?”
“Do you realize that you scared the living shit out of me and I could’ve hurt you, or myself?” He motions to the hammer lying on the ground next to me.
“Wouldn’t that have been a pity,” I snap.
“What the hell is your damn problem?”
“You.” I point a finger at him. “You are the problem. It’s after ten. There’s a bylaw in place around here that stipulates all construction takes place between the hours of seven a.m. and nine p.m. from June to August, and you’re violating that. And for what? It’s not like whatever you’re doing is going to matter when your damn plan is to parcel out the property!” I’m yelling now, and heaving. And my nipples are peaking under the white tank I wore to bed. I hug myself to hide them.
“This is the second time you’ve said that. What the hell are you talking about?”
“What do you mean, what am I talking about?” I flail for a second and then cross my arms again. “You called me about it. Bee wasn’t gone a couple of weeks, and you were already asking about acreage and subdividing. It doesn’t take a genius to know what your plans are!”
“I don’t even know what you mean by subdividing, and I never called you.”
“Yes, you did!” He’s just so infuriating.
“No. I didn’t. Believe me, I’d remember dealing with someone as hostile as you.”
“I am not hostile.”
“Really?” Van props a fist on his hip. His narrow hip.
I follow the movement, which leads my eyes to his waist, that enticing V of muscle dragging my gaze down farther. Of course, because my brain is a jerk, the image of him naked pops back into my brain.
As if he’s reading my mind, his brow arches. “You’re picturing me naked right now. Aren’t you?”
“What? No!” My eyes snap back up to his.
“Yeah. You are.” His lip curls, somewhere between a smirk and sneer, his tone needling. “You were staring at my crotch, probably thinking about the last time you visually molested my junk. Is that why you stopped by? To check me out again? This whole fake phone call thing is an excuse for you to come back over here and get a look at the goods again.” He runs a hand down his chest.
“You’re an egotistical asshole. I realize that this might be some kind of fun holiday for you, and that you’re probably sleeping until noon every day, but some of us have to be up at the crack of dawn. Bylaw hours are seven a.m. to nine p.m. Next time you break them, expect to get a visit from the sheriff.” I spin around and stomp over to the extension cord, find the place where it’s joined to the lamp, and break the connection, submerging us in darkness. “Next time I won’t be so nice about it.”
“Hate to break it to you, but you weren’t very nice about it this time,” he calls after me.
It drives me crazy how easy it is for him to push my buttons.
A few seconds later I hear an oof and a clatter, which means he’s tripped over something in the dark. I smile to myself. Hopefully this time he’ll get the message.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
I read the blurb for this and thought it sounded sweet. Then I read a few reviews, and someone wrote that it wasn't what we have come to expect from a Helena Hunting novel as it was emotional. And although I get what they mean I have to disagree with that opinion. Helena Hunting has plenty of emotions in her books it's just that you can normally expect to laugh out loud while reading them.
This didn't have those laugh out loud moments. It also didn't have her usual quirky characters. Both Van and Dillion were just normal people dealing with the curve balls life throws. And yeah, their curve balls were coming in fast and hard, but it was all real, family drama. And it was a lot for them to deal with.
I seriously loved that it felt so real. There was so much depth to both characters and the things they were going through were so relatable. The relationship developed so organically, and they both dealt with it perfectly.
So, while I didn't get a typical Helena Hunting novel, I feel like I got an awesome read. And although I missed the laugh out loud moments the story was so captivating and easy to read, I actually forgot that they were missing.
★NOW AVAILABLE★
𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧, the final book in the Fuel Series by Ginger Scott, is LIVE! This second-chance romance completes this angsty, steamy, new adult trilogy.
Purchase
𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 (1): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097TTSBN8
𝐖𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐤 (2): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097SBSX3J
Burn (3): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097SCCH12
The Fuel Series link: https://amzn.to/3j5mQ7S
“The whole Fuel Series is one I rate alongside the best I have ever read. It’s one I will read over and over.” – The Saucy Bookshelf
𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
Dustin Bridge’s world is about speed. About the edge. His life has been carved by cutting corners and making moves, following impulsive decisions while weighing the facts at hand.
On the track, that has never steered him wrong.
In life, though? That’s another story.
On the cusp of greatness, the world’s up-and-coming racing star seems to be living the perfect story. A hero to his hometown. A partner to his best friend. A man poised to take the throne, to become the greatest, and to reap the rewards and attention that come along with it.
He’s been branded the track’s most eligible bachelor. And rarely does he cross a finish line without a dozen screaming, adoring women brandishing his name on glitter-covered T-shirts across their chests, just hoping he’ll break his own rules and take one of them to bed.
But he won’t. As loose as Dustin may be on the road, he’s become disciplined in life. He let love in completely—once. For one person. Hannah Judge. And she wrecked him.
And now, she’s back.
Add them to your TBR!
𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗙𝗧: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58077726-shift
𝗪𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗞: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58077746-wreck
𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58077766-burn
Find more books by Ginger Scott here: www.littlemisswrite.com
I can tell you all the reasons Paige and I shouldn't be together.
But love overlooks a lot.
My heart doesn't care that I'm ten years older.
There's no age gap in how she makes me feel.
My heart doesn't care that she's a single mother.
It just makes more room.
My heart doesn't care that she's got secrets of her own.
It's used to keeping mine.
The moment I laid eyes on Paige, I lost control.
Control of my desires. Control of my secrets. Control of my heart.
Right or wrong, we're going to have to fight for our happily ever after.
And I don't plan on losing.
Connect with Prescott
First of all, I absolutely abhor writing anything biographical. In any form. I’m terrible at it, and I have the very firm belief that no one wants to know who I am. You’re here for books, right? But that doesn’t mean I’m off the hook.
I grew up sneaking over to my great grandmother’s to read her Harlequin novels. Those were delivered once a month in a ginormous box, and from the age of ten, she let me devour them in their entirety. I fell in love with romance, even the clean kind. And that, undoubtedly, led to many days and nights with my face buried in a book and the discovery that I wasn’t happy unless my hair was up, and I had a story in my hand.
I never wanted to write. I wanted to read. ALL the words. Until someone pointed out to me that I’d been writing my entire life. I just needed to put the book in my hand down and pick up a pen.
Once I started, I found out that I couldn’t stop. Now, I’m always writing. Or reading. Or chasing my son through the house to get the elusive hug he thinks I don’t need.
Oh, and I’m a Leo… which is completely on-point if you know me at all. I love being the center of attention. On my terms. When I can stay at home in my pajamas. With lots and lots of coffee on hand. And maybe a few snacks.
No Rep
Madd Crossfit Series 1
July 27, 2021
About the Book
Taos was tired.
Tired of everything that came with living. Not to the point where he was suicidal or anything, but tired enough that he just didn’t give a crap anymore.
He’d seen all the ugliness this world had to offer due to his job as a police officer for way too many damn years of his less than stellar life. After finding a way to sustain his spending habits that didn’t include having criminals point guns at his face, he quits without a backward glance.
Only, he just can’t step away from old habits.
Old habits that have to do with a beautiful young woman that makes his heart feel like it isn’t nearly as broken as it is.
Fran has experienced more than her fair share of crap. After an attack that nearly took her life, she stays hidden in her house, fearful that stepping out of her comfort zone will be the final nail in her coffin.
Then her sister forces her to face her fears, and she joins Madd CrossFit.
There, she meets the man that saved her life a year ago, and realizes rather quickly that he doesn’t even realize who he is to her.
He’s everything she ever thought a man should be and wants nothing to do with her.
Maybe she’ll have to give him a reason to look her way.
And damned if she doesn’t find a way to do it.
She didn’t plan on nearly getting killed for that to happen, though.
At least not again.
My Review
Purchase Links
✦ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gwVjw7
✦ Apple: https://apple.co/2Sx9hoN
✦ Nook: https://bit.ly/3eeZye7
✦ Kobo: https://bit.ly/3iN2m5f
About Lani Lynn Vale
Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.
What's better than a new book from Lani Lynn Vale? A new series, obviously. Although to be honest I still have so many of her original series that I need to read, but a new, new series is just icing.
So as mentioned above I still have a large library of books that need reading, so all of these characters are new to me. I don't know if they are new in general, or part of her other series and I don't really care cause I loved them. And all of these books can be read as standalones anyway.
Naturally the secondary characters were as awesome as the main characters. And the main characters were all that I've come to expect from a Lani Lynn Vale book. Taos was sweet and protective and a massive ball of sexy. And Fran was completely adorable.
The book was exactly what I expected and I love that it was the perfect weekend read. I just dove in and was washed away in a great story that kept my attention completely. And I'm really looking forward to getting Mavis's book next, cause that chicks a firecracker.
Release Date: July 27
Amelia
Never make the same mistake twice is my motto.
After being left in the dust of an old pickup truck, I promised that I would take care of myself
and never trust another man with a sexy smirk and cowboy boots.
Then he showed up, and he’s everywhere I turn. He's at the barn, he's at the bar, and now, he's my roommate.
He makes me want things I shouldn’t
Asher
I grew up in foster care, and on my eighteenth birthday, I was set free.
I spent years coasting from town to town.
Staying wasn’t a part of my plan and neither was love, especially with someone off limits.
This was all supposed to be temporary.
I’m just hoping my secret doesn’t destroy the only family I’ve ever known.
Buried secrets are never buried for long.
