On the Rocks (Becker Brothers, #1) | Kandi Steiner
I was grateful enough to receive this book as a gift for signing up for Kandi Steiner’s newsletter.
We always love reading about a playboy country boy who falls head over heels over the perfect woman for him. Even though that said woman is engaged!!!
But of course, it is the great tale of country gentleman who reminds her that she deserves a better man who sees her as a partner and not a trophy.
Happy for a happy ending for a Becker brother and Bennet woman!
Curvy Girl Summer (Curve, #1) | Danielle Allen
(watch my video review on IG here)
“I know you have feelings for me because I could taste it. I could taste it in your kiss…”
First off, Uncle Albert, WTF!? I swear it always be your own family who just has all the audacity to just be the most rude and fucked up to you.
I love the interaction with Aaliyah and Ahmad from the get. It wasn’t all too sweet or too flirty. They harmlessly made fun of each other which was great friendly banter but still tethered the line of friendly and flirty.
And a story only gets more of praise from me when there is a strong friendship between women and this sotry sure did have that. They keep it real with each other. Spit hard truths with pure intentions of love. And always a cherry on top is when one of them is funny and sassy as hell!
This was such a great read and I can’t wait for the book #2 to come out later this year!!
*Go watch my IG video review. It’s a good one!
Nineteen Minutes | Jodi Picoult
I have a good amount of Jodi Picoult books but haven’t read her books in quite a while. I saw this on a banned book list and just bought it having no knowledge of the story line.
And let me tell you, this was heartbreaking. This broke me It’s hard to say I loved this book (because the storyline was rough) but it made you think and question everything. (I suppose that’s WHY it’s a banned book. *so keep buying banned books!!! keep thinking and questioning!!!!*)
Being a parent and having to read the struggles these kids went through and the amount of times they were ignored hurt me to the core.
I, by no means, support the outcome that came from the absolute torture the kids went through but this is why we need to pay attention and listen. The “popular kids” are the only ones protected but the “outcasts” need to be heard too. They just needed…kindness.
A really tough but great read.
Lovelight Farms (Lovelight, #1) | B.K. Borison
I picked up this book because I needed a cute love story to read right after a pretty heavily emotional book and this book very much gave light hearted and cutesy. The story line wasn’t my favorite but the overall story was enjoyable. It wasn’t horrible. The way the two characters got together had me making faces and questioning a few things. It was, like the kids say nowadays, mid. I still am interested in getting into the next 3 books in the series so hopefully the writing gets better.
Well, Actually | Mazey Eddings
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog post being published
I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read this ARC through NetGalley.
“Every part of me is yours if you want it.”
I love the tone of the book instantly. If feels more relatable. the way she speaks and communicates with her friend/producer, Aida, is so funny. When you answer the phone and say “Hey, bitch. What’s up?”, you know that’s a HOMIE for sure!
I am freaking all in for Rylie Cooper once he was introduced on the pages. He took accountability for his red flag actions off top. He is sweet but clever and I love that he can respectfully go toe to toe with a woman that is dead set on just fucking destroying hi on social media and just in general.
I loved reading about Riley making amends for his college day red flags. And also showing everyone that people can change for the better and listen to the hard truths about how your actions can truly hurt someone. Accountability king!
For the entire half of the book, Eva was acting out of hurt. I understood each petty ation and move she did. But there was a point I felt she became frustrating as hell. Sometimes when the reader (me) can’t relate to the character anymore, it can get tough to read. I’m in my stand up for myself and take no shit era so having to sit back and read about her shriveling down to nothing just for a job and a small dick energy type of boss and being completely unbearable about the conflict of her hear and head were just dragging on a bit too long for me.
Buuuuuut, alas a shift did happen. When things were all aired out and left out on the table, the beauty of the love story pulled me in! I love that Eva has a bite to her. But loved it more that Riley accepted every part of her.
My first Mazy Edding book and it was a good read!
*Release date 08/5/2025 – This will be released after this blog review is up.
Save Your Breath (Kings of the Ice #4) | Kandi Steiner (ARC Review)
(watch my video review on IG here)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog post being published
I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read this ARC by Kandi Steiner through BookFunnel.
“And I realize that no amount of time or distance can ever untangle me from him.”
“I wanted her so badly, I’d risk being her mistake.”
There is no surprise I loved this book! Kandi Steiner is the queen of angst and I am always down for it! The love story between Aleks and Mia starts when they are teens and has never ended. This book follows them as Aleks becomes a professional hockey player, Mia becomes a famous pop star and how they navigate a situation where they are forced to be in close proximity. And BAYBEEE. I mean CLOSE. *smirk*
I loved reading about the immense love they have always had and have for each other and their journey of how they get together and WHAT they do together…oowwwee. What a time was had! lol. The love story was A+. The spice was A++.
The thing about Kandi Steiner books, my favorite parts come from the almosts and my love of them come from the finallies!
This book was a yes yes yes for me!
*Release date 03/20/2025 – This will be released before this blog review is up.
Every Moment Since | Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
I gave this book at 3.5 stars. It wasn’t bad but I wasn’t in love with it. It’s about a missing child in a small town and when I read something like that, for me, I am looking for a lot more thrill and suspense. There weren’t a lot of twists and turns and I am a twists and turns kind of gal. But this book did focus more on the emotions of the characters and how they handled and lived with this shake up in this small town. It also highlighted how the relationships between these characters were altered by it as well. So if you are looking for a book that is more character focused, this one’s for you.
Strike the Match (Smokey Heights Book 2) | Madison Myers (ARC Review)
(watch my video review on IG here)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog post being published
I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read this ARC from Madison Myers through BookFunnel.
“Your last night here, it belongs to me darlin’.”
This book is the second book in the Smokey Heights series and this one follows Weston Grady and Amelia Marsh. I gave this book a 3.75. The first book of the series has my heart but this book was enjoyable to. This book was definitely spice with some story as compared to the first book, Rekindling the Flame, where there was story with some spice. Weston is a dirty dirty boy be we love this golden retriever hero! I must say, the Grady brothers have the biggest hearts and even bigger d*cks. A good time all around! LOL.
This book has found family, love, hot hot hot heat and a true crime obsessed FMC (which I definitely relate to!)
In The Weeds (Lovelight, #2) | B.K. Borison
Beckett! What. A. Guy. How can you not love this guy? A grumpy farmer who falls head over heels? I’m all about it. Their story was pretty cute. I always get sucked into a story where the two people who fall for each other and are complete opposites. Tale as old as time. One lives a chaotic public life and the other is from a small town and lives on a farm and yet there is nothing that can tear these two apart. This was a little cutesy love story. Hallmark with some heat. LOL.
Your Secret to Keep (The Play Caller Series Book 3) | Rachel LaBerge (ARC Review)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog post being published
I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read this ARC by Rachel LaBerge through BookFunnel.
This is the second book I’ve read from Rachel LaBerge and I do appreciate that throughout this love story, she sprinkles in mental health representation and a character suffering from an autoimmune illness. We are so used to reading about characters that are perfect in every way, no flaws whatsoever. And in her stories, these characters are flawed yet still loved and desired so deeply.
The support that Brooks and Lia gave to each other personally and professionally was sweet to read. I mean, in life we are accustomed to the woman supporting her man but Brooks, he was hypin’ his woman up! We love to see it.
Zach, from Your Rule to Break, made a cameo in this book and I have to say he is still my favorite character. Even in this book he absolutely stood out and I loved the comic relief he provided.
Go out and grab this one. An MMC created by a woman AND she created him to also love reading our beloved romantasy series (take a guess on which one!). You’ll love it!
Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy #3) | Lauren Roberts
*Read my reviews on Powerless, Book #1 & Reckless, Book #2 here
“So bow at my feet with a sneer, if you must. I won’t see it with your face to the ground.”
“And you the muse, darling.”
This book was breaking my heart over and over with each word I read. I felt the pain in my heart that was left in Reckless and continued on in Fearless. The love that Kai and Paedyn so deeply felt for each other that could not be explored outside of their “pretend” was so heartbreaking for me. We learned a lot more about the kingdom and those who resided in it in this book. The lies, deceit, and secrets that all castles in every world bury deeply in the bones of their kingdom finally unfold. A lot of eye opening moments. But with everything that was laid out in the final book, my favorite moments will always lie with how deeply and sweetly the Enforcer loved his Silver Savior. He the poet and her his muse.
This series has so easily become one of my favorites.
Good To See You (Frederick Hill Series, Book #2) | Bella Pursell (ARC Review)
Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog post being published
I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read this ARC by Bella Pursell through BookFunnel.
“To infinity and always.”
This was the first book I’ve read from Bella Pursell and it was cute. I’ve been so used to reading books that have open door spice, it was nice to switch it up a bit to just be a cute wholesome story. This story follows Hayden and Sadie as they reconnect and figure out how to maneuver through their feelings that never really went away. The book heavily covers the topic of never feeling enough and constantly having people around you that dim your light. It was a nice story to follow as the characters journey through self reflection, finding their worth, and brightening their light.
Happy Reading!
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