crownandcoffee reads. vol. 15

The Breath Between Us | Bianca Miller (ARC Review)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog being published
I am so grateful to have been gifted with the opportunity to read this ARC by Bianca Miller through BookFunnel.

This is the first book I read from Bianca Miller and I loved it! You know I am a sucker for some angst in my romance novel and there definitely was some of that in here. She made my heart hurt in the best way.

The friendship that Miller (aka MJ) and Live have is just so freaking beautiful. They are soulmates and I really connected with that because I have the same relationship with my best friend. The love may not be romantic but it was the first and that’s exactly how Miller and Liv are.
Grey Prescott!! A freaking sweet, rich, handsome, and smooth talking bastard! Grey got me giddy as hell! The playful sexy banter MJ and Grey had was chef’s kiss.

This book had me crying, smiling, and blushing. I’m so happy I came across this ARC because this was such a beautiful story. So beautiful I ran and ordered my own book trophy for it. A signed one no less!

*Release date 04/29/2025 – This will be released before this blog review is up.

Until Forever Falls | Micah Riley (ARC Review)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog being published
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to receive this ARC by Micah Riley through Ember Literary PR.

This story was full of trauma, tragedy, and a sprinkle of good girl. 😏
Yes. All of that.

The way Brooks is so enamored with Dylan. He pays attention the details of her. Besides her twin, Beckett, Brooks was her biggest support. He believed in her 1000% and wanted nothing but for her to be happy and to make sure she felt fully loved.

I love how there was a pure friendship there first that organically flowed into more. The way Brook feels for Dylan. “However long I get to be yours, I’ll take it, no matter what it costs me in the end.”
Are. You. Kidding. Me. SWOON.

And of course as tragedy strikes the characters in the book, I felt all the pangs in my heart as they all weaved through life figuring out life after.

It’s a sweet and heartbreaking story about the bonds of friendship and family and the journey through healing.

*Release date 05/2/2025 – This will be released before this blog review is up.

Ball For Me | Emmalee Eyre (ARC Review)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog being published
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to receive this ARC by Emmalee Eyre via BookFunnel.

The banter between girlfriends? Bitch, I love it! Let me tell you I am a SUCKER for a book that gives a good insight in girlfriend-ship. Not only that, but as the story evolved, reading through text messages that included the guys? I loved the comedy and bond between the whole friend group. Those were some of my favorite interactions.

Now to the love story. First off, I can tell the author has surrounded her book around her love for Toronto. I’ve had the pleasure to have had some interactions with Emmalee and I know this is like her little love letter to that city and it shows her love for it runs deep. Just as deep as the love between the two characters, Lee and Books, have for each other. They were childhood friends who have crossed paths into their adulthood. Their connection as children was a strong bond of friendship and the connection as adults is a love that is undeniably meant for only each other.

It was a sweet story of reconnection and a steamy ass story between the sheets. lol.

*Release date 05/6/2025 – This will be released before this blog review is up.

You Deserve To Know | Aggie Blum Thompson
If you want tea, this neighborhood serves it up piping hot! When I tell you, if you got friends like these characters, you don’t need no damn enemies. lol. This book was full of secrets and betrayal and I was all in. Every page I turned was another twist. This was the first book I’ve read from this author and I was all in. The characters were not lovable at all but that’s what made this story even better. I have been so deep in cute and spicy love stories that I reveled in every moment of this book. A good thriller book is my first love and I definitely enjoyed this one.

After The Storm | Jensen Kate (ARC Review)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog being published
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to receive this ARC by Jensen Kate via BookFunnel.

This was angsty and cute and sprinkled with spice. All I need! There were definitely parts in the book that were frustrating. I’m just yelling “JUST TELL HIM ALREADY!” But that’s the angst that pulls on the heartstrings for me.

Roman. What. A. Guy. The way he loves and the need to protect is like…gimmeee gimmee gimmee. lol. The FMC, Audra, did pull on the nerves a little but the author wrote out great supporting characters to keep me engaged and hopeful for the FMC.

This is a debut novel for Jensen Kate and I enjoyed each word. I would love to read more from her.

*Release date 05/15/2025 – This will be released before this blog review is up.

Can’t Get Enough, Skyland Series Book 3 | Kennedy Ryan
(watch my video review on IG here)
Let me just say that I am madly in love with the Skyland Series and I am so sad it’s done. I am secretly hoping there is a spin off of this series so it doesn’t quite have to end. I have loved Hendrix since book 1 and my love for her just kept growing and growing until it was time to read her own story. The love story she has with herself, her girlfriends, and the love story she has with Maverick were such beautiful things to read. I loved all the love that was portrayed and felt in this book and I just don’t want any of it to end. Kennedy Ryan will always be one of my favorite authors, if not my favorite of all time. Kennedy Ryan’s stories are like poetry. Her characters are strong, amazing, and loving humans in the fiction world that I wish to know in the real world. This is a MUST read. If you haven’t already, get the whole Skyland Series. It’s a series you’ll want to visit over and over again.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder | Holly Jackson
This book was was enjoyable. I do love me a good thriller. I lean more towards non YA thrillers because I do like that extra umph of fear and gasping but this wasn’t too bad. There was a pretty good amount of twist and turns that kept me engaged. I do look forward to continuing the series.

Bridesmaid By Chance (Bridesmaid For Hire Series, Book 3) | Meghan Quinn
This series begun as extremely humorous and still very sexy. This book is still that with a lot more heat. The extreme sexual tension? Count me the fuck in!. lol
But as I read through and reached about 60% of the way, I really did think the book definitely could’ve been quite a few pages shorter. I couldn’t remember if Hudson’s vibe was the same as when he was mentioned in the previous book. Yes, there was some spicy possessiveness that in another kind of book I would have loved. I just didn’t think it fit in with the character or in this book.
I love me some tension in a story but this one dragged out a little too long for me.
I loved the beginning of the book as it aligned with the same style I was used to in this series. I hit the middle of the book and it seemed it took a little turn. But I did love the ending.

This one wasn’t my favorite book of the series but still not a bad read.

The Summer for Us (Golden Falls Series, Book 1) | Izabela Kamila (ARC Review)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog being published
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to receive this ARC by Izabela Kamila and Luna Literary via BookFunnel.

This book is a love story between Jules, the sassy city girl, and Wes, the grumpy handsome boo thang. I have read these kinds of love stories over and over again and yet, I’m still not tired of them. The difference in all these kinds of stories is how the author gets you to love the characters and I loved them all. The FMC, MMC, and all the supporting characters definitely had me wanting to visit this fictional town! I loved reading all the moments that lead to Jules and Wes’s love. And, my gawd, the way this man loves this woman and would do anything for her!!! *swoon* Also, the way she loved that man! Now that is a down ass chick!

This was worth the read!! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series as they come!

*Release date 06/20/2025 – This will be released before this blog review is up.

Forever Then | Rachae Stevens (ARC Review)
(watch my video review on IG here)
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to receive this ARC by Rachae Stevens and Love Notes PR via BookFunnel.

I fell in love with the characters instantly. So much so that the moment the pining vibe entered the chat, I felt the pangs in my chest. Not just for the parts of “then” to unfold but also the roots Gretchen was seeking. But yearning for “then definitely made me never want to put the story down.

Aside from the serious moments, gawd the banter between these two. I was all for it! They were comfortable, they were funny, and flirty. I found myself smirking and laughing a ton and I kept reading lines over and over because it was just so good.
Along with the banter between Connor and Gretchen, the jokes with the supporting characters were so good too. I loved the relationship that everyone had with each other. The fierce love and affection and the strong sense of care and protection everyone had.

This was such a great debut novel for Rachae Stevens and omg I can’t wait for more from her!

When You Rec’d My Plans, Book 3 of Romance Rehab Series | Jess Christine (ARC Review)
*Reviewed on Goodreads prior to this blog being published

This book is exactly as Jess Christine describes her books. Very much cotton candy romance and very much smutty. lol. Wren and Tanner were not a couple that was expected to happen and when it did it was a cute read. Tanner was a former playboy who fell hard and fast for Wren. I loved reading how much he cared for her and her family. He supported her in every way and whatever was important to her, was important to him. Wren didn’t expect to fall for Tanner but when she did, her fierce faith and protection of him made me love her to death. Cute. Cotton Candy.
Then there’s the smut. Ooooweee when the smut kicked in and the kinks were activated it was a fun time, I’ll tell ya.

This is a cutesie fun read.

*Release date 06/26/2025 – This will be released before this blog review is up.

One Golden Summer | Carley Fortune
I wanted to love this book as much as I loved her other books but this one just didn’t hit for me. I’m not sure why but I just couldn’t connect or love the FMC, Alice. I already did have a soft spot for Charlie from Every Summer After and it carried on to this book. This was my least favorite book from Carley Fortune’s collection but the story was still a good one. My ratings and love for the book are on vibes and I just didn’t vibe with this one. Many readers seemed to love her love story with Charlie but I, unfortunately, didn’t feel the umph I wish I could’ve.

Happy Reading!

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