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Story Blurb Nick Winter is just out of the military, and his Christmas homecoming is not going as planned. What was supposed to be a memorable holiday with his long-time girlfriend goes sour when he learns she cheated on him while he was stationed overseas. At least Nick can rely on his usual shift at the family Christmas tree farm with his best friend, Noel Carter, and her endless supply of Christmas tunes to lift his spirits. A night of fun together is just what he needs to forget about his ex. But then they kiss. And it feels...so right. If Noel can turn Nick's Blue Christmas merry and bright, this might be the last Christmas Nick spends with a broken heart. This year, they'll be Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree as a couple—as long as Nick's ex doesn't go standing under any mistletoe. My Thoughts/Opinion I feel like the story blurb for this book is a little misleading. As it turns out, Noel's history is much more complicated than it appears. I wasn't her biggest fan, to be honest. Nick and Noel have been friends for ever, though. And now that Nick is home for good, doors are opening they never expected. As with most friends-to-lovers stories, I find the tension a little difficult to sustain. There was some great banter though, and some fun side characters that kept me entertained. Favorite Quote: History. Chemistry. All the subjects she'd hated in high school were coming back to haunt her now.

Story Blurb She’ll save Christmas just to spite him… There’s only one thing standing in the way of Cat King saving a small town’s Christmas festival: Grumpy town manager Noah Yates. Single dad Noah takes his responsibilities seriously. When a late season hurricane turns Merry, Connecticut, into a disaster, he’s left scrambling to pick up the pieces of the town he loves. At least, until home renovation expert and smoking hot reality TV star Catalina King arrives with a camera crew and a budget big enough to put the town back together again. But Noah doesn’t want a celebrity diva capitalizing on their tragedyorfilling his daughter’s head with visions of glitz and glam. Blonde bombshell Cat is used to being underestimated, but Noah has an uncanny knack for getting under her skin. They can’t be in a room together without rubbing each other the wrong way…except that time in the dark alley where the rubbing was just right. Can these enemies work together to pull off a Christmas miracle or will their fighting leave them both on the naughty list? My Thoughts/Opinion I can't think of anyone who does grumpy/sunshine better than Lucy Score. I loved Cat from Mr. Fixer Upper, and it was so much fun to read her bulldoze her way to get what she wants. And she drags Noah into her shenanigans kicking and screaming, which is so good for him. This was my first Christmas read of the season and the perfect story to get me in the spirit! Favorite Quote: “You're the color in a gray day. I don't know how else to describe it. I look at you, and I see all this passion and joy and fun and excitement. I've never met anyone like you."

Story Blurb He started to work the laces of his boots loose. Toeing them off, he tugged his t-shirt over his head. “Oh my God. What are you doing?” Paige’s voice barely rose above the spray from the showerhead. “I’m washing your damn hair.” It’s a constant battle on set between sexy home renovation reality star grumpy Gannon and his no-nonsense field producer. Paige has zero time for temperamental talent, especially one who acts like being in front of the camera is the last thing he wants. Mr. Sex in a Toolbelt has made it his mission in life to get a rise out of her, but Paige is a master at locking down her temper. They’re on the road together working long hours fixing houses and changing lives. When cracks in her legendary coolness start to show and sparks fly, Gannon is infatuated and the cameras are there to capture it. But he’s fallen for pretty packages before and Paige won’t be taken seriously if she’s caught sleeping with the star of her show. She also can’t seem to resist those big, rough hands. Those smoldery hazel eyes. The dimples. The toolbelt. That fiercely protective vibe. Too bad it’s all about to fall apart. She never should have trusted him. He never should have let her go. My Thoughts/Opinion When I found out that one of my Christmas Season reads was second in a series, of course I had to go read this book first. And, since it's Lucy Score, I knew I'd enjoy it. Truth be told, I thought the conflict was a little thin. But I love a grumpy hero who knows what he wants, especially when what he wants is the heroine. Lucy's one of the best with witty banter, and this book was no different. Favorite Quote: “Here's your first bit of family business. I'm in love with Paige here, but she won't give me the time of day. So I'm going to be wearing her down during the course of this shoot, and I'd appreciate you all singing my praises to her."

Story Blurb White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel. Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks. So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree. But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves. My Thoughts/Opinion June Hayward is a classic narcissist and while I thought I would be rooting against her for what she'd done (and I was rooting against her), I was still in constant anxiety (in the best way) waiting for the moment when the other shoe would drop. The writing was fantastic and kept me invested throughout the entire story. Although this book was outside of my normal genres, I would highly recommend it! Favorite Quote: “Every writer I know feels this way about someone else. Writing is such a solitary activity. You have no assurance that what you’re creating has any value, and any indication that you’re behind in the rat race sends you spiraling into the pits of despair. Keep your eyes on your own paper, they say. But that’s hard to do when everyone else’s papers are flapping constantly in your face.”

Story Blurb “The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky. Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves. Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules. But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year. Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end. My Thoughts/Opinion I've been anticipating this book for months and it did NOT disappoint. I love Violet, Xaden, and the whole cast of supporting characters. This book was so action-packed, I went back and read it again after the initial readthrough and it still felt like I was drinking from a fire hose. I LOVED it. Can't wait for the third book in this five book series. Rebecca might be willing to rip out the hearts of her readers, but she has yet to disappoint. Favorite Quote: "My house. My chair. My woman."

Story Blurb Beau Eaton is the town prince, a handsome military hero with a tortured past. I'm the outcast bartender, a shy girl from the wrong side of the tracks. He's thirty-five and all man, I'm twenty-two and all . . . virgin. He's also my fiancé. Correction: my fake fiancé. We start out as a bet. He doesn't believe that anyone holds my last name against me. So he offers me his to prove a point. It's a win-win. He gets a break from his concerned family's prying, and I get a chance to shed my family's reputation while I save up to ditch this small town. He says all I have to do is wear his ring, follow his lead, and pretend I can't keep my hands off of him in public. But it's what happens between us in private that blurs all those carefully drawn lines . . . It's what transpires behind closed doors that doesn't feel like pretending at all . . . This engagement was supposed to be for show. This agreement? It has an end date. He once told me he'd never fall in love. And yet here I am, head over heels for my fake fiancé. My Thoughts/Opinion This was the fifth and final book in Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series and it did not disappoint! Through the other books, Beau was at times funny, at times lost, and at times broken. I love that he had to redefine who he is and what he really wants out of life. Bailey has spent her life fighting against peoples preconceptions. She knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to achieve it. Together, Beau and Bailey travel on a journey of growth that neither expected. Such a rewarding read. Loved it! Favorite Quote: "If we're struggling, we're still in motion, yeah? Heading somewhere better. That's what I keep telling myself anyway."

Story Blurb Theo Silva. Rowdy bull rider. Notorious ladies’ man. Scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package. And he’s looking at me like I might be his next meal. But I’m almost free of my toxic marriage and have sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look back is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak. The man is hard to trust—and even harder to resist. Make that impossible. Because Theo is persistent. And no matter how hard I try to freeze him out, he melts my icy exterior and pulls apart all my defenses. Over a drink in a small town bar, I blurt out my deepest, darkest secrets. Then I spend the singular hottest night of my life with him. He worships my body. He makes me blush. I come alive beneath his hands. Then I tell him to forget it ever happened. I want simple, and with him it all feels complicated. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. A secret. But that little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep. My Thoughts/Opinion Oh, Winter! When I first met her in book one of this series, I felt bad for her circumstances but didn't connect with her as a character. I admit that before reading this book, I was concerned I still wouldn't connect with her. The author does such a good job of putting her characters into situations from which they must change and grow. As I look back at the four books in this series (and look forward to reading the last one in the coming weeks), I think that Winter and Theo's story is arguably my favorite of the bunch. Favorite Quote: ...the very last thing I need in my life is someone who makes me feel like there's not enough oxygen in my lungs when I've only just caught my breath.

Story Blurb New Orleans, a city of mystery and magic, of secrets and dreams, and a history drenched in both love and the deepest of heartache. When ballet dancer Clara Campbell arrives in New Orleans, lonely and homesick, she is immediately captivated by the story of Windisle Plantation and the tragic tale that is said to have transpired beyond its gate. Legend has it that it is abandoned by all living souls, but to Clara’s great surprise, it is not a ghost she hears through the stone wall surrounding the property, but a flesh and blood man. A scarred stranger with a pain deeper and darker than the churning waters of the Mississippi river that flows beside his self-imposed prison. The ruined man behind the wall hides himself from the world. The last thing he expects is to find a friend in the selfless girl who speaks to him through the cracks in the rock. The girl who keeps returning week after week. The girl who makes him wish for things he has long since given up on. The girl who strikes both fear and hope within his wounded heart. But there can be no future for them, no life beyond Windisle, for no one knows better than him that monsters only live in the dark. The Wish Collector is the story of shame and triumph, of loneliness and love, and the miracle of two hearts connecting despite the strongest of barriers between them. My Thoughts/Opinion Mia Sheridan is one of the best at redeeming tortured heroes and this book is no exception. I practically read this book in one sitting because of how richly she developed these characters. And, being set in New Orleans, the story had an intriguing and satisfying generational voodoo curse as well. This book is a love story for sure, but it's also a layer deeper than that. I rooted as much for Jonah's redemption as I did for their HEA. Favorite Quote: "Love can't just disappear when this life is through, can it, Jonah? Even if our bodies turn to dust, the love we feel must go somewhere."

Story Blurb She’s his fiancée’s younger sister. He’s the man she’s always loved. When her sister doesn’t show up on her wedding day, Raven has no choice but to take her place — but marriage to Ares Windsor is nothing short of torture. The elusive billionaire media mogul is the man she’s always loved… yet he’s only ever had eyes for her sister. Married to him at last, Raven is determined to win him over. After all, everything is fair in love and war. And this? This is war. My Thoughts/Opinion This book is super successful and most readers love it. So, take what I say with a grain of salt. I struggled to connect with the opulence of the world, but that's something I can absolutely vibe with if the character and the story are compelling. In this case, all I really wanted to do was throttle these two. Raven is co-dependent and annoying. Ares is just a pompous dick. Sorry. I didn't connect with them and can't recommend this book at all. Favorite Quote: "Let's normalize walking away from toxic situations. You don't have to stick it out when your mental health is taking a beating, just because that's what everyone expects of you. It's okay to reassess and decide whether or not a situation is still acceptable to you.

Story Blurb Why am I holding a box of stolen memorabilia in my arms? It's called . . . revenge. After failing my last semester of grad school, I decided to come back to my hometown and wallow in my boyfriend’s sympathetic arms. Instead, he proceeded to dump me . . . for being boring! Now, I'm not typically a spiteful person, but there's only so much I can take. Hence why I’m holding the box of his most cherished possessions…stolen possessions no less! The plan? To give the box back to its rightful owner and rat my ex out. How’s that for being boring? But plans never go the way you want them, because instead of dropping off the box with a note, I’m pinned with the crime by the true owner of the box himself. Hayes Farrow is grumpy, arrogant, and stupidly hot in a way that makes it hard to even look him in the eye. Not to mention he’s my brother’s nemesis so I fully intended to stay far far away from the gorgeous jerk. But to add insult to the injury that has become my life as of late, Hayes gives me two options: turn me into the police and press full charges . . . or work it off. How could I possibly work for someone I can't stand? Easy, I don't look good in orange. But working for Hayes isn't as horrible as I thought it would be. The way I hate him begins to turn into something else - something I never thought I'd feel. But the way my brother reacts when he finds out I’m working for his enemy? He’d prefer me in prison orange. My Thoughts/Opinion I'm a big fan of enemies-to-lovers when it's done well. For me, that means more than anything else, properly motivated. I think the author did a good job of keeping the secret of why Hattie's family hates Hayes, but I was disappointed to find out the reason actually could have easily been resolved years ago. Anyway, the chemistry between Hayes and Hattie is good and I appreciate the work they both did to grow to deserve each other. I'm even more glad to know that Hattie's relationship with her family was reconciled. Favorite Quote: "I'm anything but a prince. If you want to address me, you can address me as king...or daddy. Never prince."

Story Blurb Two childhood friends. Two broken hearts. One impromptu road trip to get away from everything. That’s all this was supposed to be. After all, I’ve been living in the friend zone for years now. But hockey heartthrob Jasper Gervais isn’t looking at me like a friend anymore. And he isn’t touching me like one either. To his fans, he’s the handsome, talented athlete on TV. To me, he’s still the lost boy with sad eyes and a heart of gold. The man I’ve loved in secret for years. So when my life falls apart on my wedding day, it only makes sense that he’s the one to swoop in and save me. And when his world comes crashing down around him, I’m there to return the favor. But the more time we spend alone, the more Jasper doesn’t feel like a friend at all. He feels like everything I’ve ever wanted and thought I could never have. Our feelings aren’t straightforward though. They twist and turn around the pain of his past and the reality of my present. Jasper Gervais acts like he wants me. But after years of turning me away, he’s going to need to prove it. My Thoughts/Opinion This series is amazing! The lead-in to this story from Heartless made me want to dive in and not come up for air. And it did not disappoint. Sloane and Jasper have spent their lives denying their chemistry and it took Sloane running away from her marriage and Jasper fighting through his demons to allow them to acknowledge it. I love them so much and am so glad they got their HEA! Favorite Quote: “Times have changed, Sloane. I'm not scared anymore. You're not my fucking friend. You're just mine."

Story Blurb Dominic was staring at me like he couldn’t decide whether to chop me into pieces or pull my hair and French kiss me. Dominic I got her fired. Okay, so I’d had a bad day and took it out on a bystander in a pizza shop. But there’s nothing innocent about Ally Morales. She proves that her first day of her new job… in my office… after being hired by my mother. So maybe her colorful, annoying, inexplicably alluring personality brightens up the magazine’s offices that have felt like a prison for the past year. Maybe I like that she argues with me in front of the editorial staff. And maybe my after-hours fantasies are haunted by those brown eyes and that sharp tongue. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to be the next Russo man to take advantage of his position. I might be a second-generation asshole, but I am not my father. She’s working herself to death at half a dozen dead-end jobs for some secret reason she doesn’t feel like sharing with me. And I’m going to fix it all. Don’t accuse me of caring. She’s nothing more than a puzzle to be solved. If I can get her to quit, I can finally peel away all those layers. Then I can go back to salvaging the family name and forget all about the dancing, beer-slinging brunette. Ally Ha. Hold my beer, Grumpy Grump Face. My Thoughts/Opinion I'm not convinced that Lucy Score could write a book I don't LOVE. So far, she hasn't been able to. This book is a grumpy/sunshine standalone and both main characters have a lot going on - some of the best character motivations I've read in a while. Something else she did sooooo well in this book was the 3rd act breakup. It was perfectly heartbreaking!! I was practically screaming at the book - NOOOO please don't say that! Please don't hurt her like that! But, it made the reconciliation just that much sweeter. I highly recommend anything by this author, but this one will definitely hold a special place in my heart for a long time! Favorite Quote: “Don’t do this, Dom. Don’t be nice. Don’t ask me questions. I’m hanging on by a thread here.” He pulled me out of the chair and into his arms. It was a hug. A hard, breathless hug.