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- Things We Hide From The Light, Lucy Score
Story Blurb Nash Morgan was always known as the good Morgan brother, with a smile and a wink for everyone. But now, this chief of police is recovering from being shot and his Southern charm has been overshadowed by panic attacks and nightmares. He feels like a broody shell of the man he once was. Nash isn’t about to let anyone in his life know he’s struggling. But his new next-door neighbor, smart and sexy Lina, sees his shadows. As a rule, she’s not a fan of physical contact unless she initiates it, but for some reason Nash’s touch is different. He feels it too. The physical connection between them is incendiary, grounding him and making her wonder if exploring it is worth the risk. Too bad Lina’s got secrets of her own, and if Nash finds out the real reason she’s in town, he’ll never forgive her. Besides, she doesn’t do relationships. Ever. A hot, short-term fling with a local cop? Absolutely. Sign her up. A relationship with a man who expects her to plant roots? No freaking way. Once she gets what she’s after, she has no intention of sticking around. But Knockemout has a way of getting under people’s skin. And once Nash decides to make Lina his, he’s not about to be dissuaded…even if it means facing the danger that nearly killed him. My Thoughts/Opinion My goodness, I love the Morgan men. This is the second of the three books in Lucy Score's Knockemout series. I wondered how Lucy would expose Nash's wounds. He was the good Morgan brother. I also loved her backstory for Lina. Lucy is an exceptional author and wow - she really made me root for these two. If I scoring the three books, this is probably my 3rd of 3, BUT I will reread this entire series more than once. It's that good! Favorite Quote: “Being vulnerable doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you trust yourself to be strong enough to handle the hurt. It’s actually the purest form of strength.”
- Pen Pal, J.T. Geissinger
Story Blurb The first letter arrived the day my husband was buried. It was postmarked from the state penitentiary, and contained a single sentence: I’ll wait forever if I have to. It was signed by Dante, a man I didn’t know. Out of simple curiosity, I wrote back to ask him what exactly he was waiting for. His reply? You. I told the mystery man he had the wrong girl. He said he didn’t. I said we’d never met, but he said I was wrong. We went back and forth, exchanging letters every week that grew increasingly more intimate. Then one day, the letters stopped. When I found out why, it was already too late. Dante was at my doorstep. And nothing on earth could have prepared me for what happened next. My Thoughts/Opinion This book was a little darker than I normally read, but it was really well done. While I felt confident that I'd figured out the twist about halfway through, the writing and story were so good, I had to finish to make sure I was right. Note: This book is definitely for mature audiences only. Readers should read trigger warnings before reading the book. Favorite Quote: “Funny thing, isn’t it, hindsight? It’s memory, but with new understanding tacked on, so that the past means something different than it did before.”
- Heartless, Elsie Silver
Story Blurb Working as a nanny for the world’s grumpiest single dad should have been simple. Except I can’t keep my eyes off him. And he can’t keep his hands off of me. Cade Eaton is thirteen years older than I am and barely looks my way. Until I get him into the hot tub one night for a game of truth or dare. Then all bets are off—and so are our clothes. He’s gruff, a little rough around the edges. But broad-shouldered ranchers with calloused hands and filthy mouths are this city girl’s kryptonite. So who am I to resist? But it’s in our quiet moments together that he softens. It’s when he takes care of me that I realize his hardened exterior is just a façade. It’s when I watch him go all sweet with his little boy that I really fall for him. Someone convinced him once that his best wasn’t good enough. But I’ve never felt more cherished than I do in his arms. My contract may say this arrangement is only for two months. But my heart says this is forever. My Thoughts/Opinion Well, I no sooner got done with Flawless than I knew I had to pick up Cade and Willa's story. They both played important roles in book one. Cade's scars run so deep. I wanted him to find happiness. I really wish we couldn't delved deeper into Willa's background, but the arc of this story really belonged to Cade. And boy, was this one FIRE! 🔥🔥 Favorite Quote: “Game on?" I rasp out, as all my reservations about touching the nanny fly out the window. I don't need them - definitely don't want them. Not with the way she's staring at me right now, eyes fixed on my lips while I grip her elbow and prop another hand against the wall of hay behind her. Her lip is still wet when she whispers, "Game on."
- Flawless, Elsie Silver
Story Blurb The rules were simple. Keep my hands off his daughter and stay out of trouble. But now I’m stuck with her. There’s only one bed. And well, rules are made to be broken. I’m the face of professional bull riding—the golden boy. Or at least I was, until it all blew up in my face. Now my agent says I have to clean up my image, so I’m stuck with his ball-busting daughter for the rest of the season as my “full-time supervision.” But I don’t need a goddamn babysitter, especially one with skin-tight jeans, a sexy smirk, and a mouth she can’t stop running. A mouth I can’t stop thinking about. Because Summer isn’t just another conquest. She sees the man behind the mask, and she doesn’t run—she pulls me closer, even when she shouldn’t. She says this means nothing. I say this means everything. She says there are boundaries we shouldn’t cross. That my reputation can’t take any more hits—and neither can her damaged heart. I say I’m going to steal it anyway. My Thoughts/Opinion Oh, I needed a cowboy romance in my life and this enemies to lovers, bull riding hero vs. fiesty heroine fit the bill. There were real issues the characters had to resolve to get to their HEA, even broken trust. I especially loved Harvey, Rhett's awesome dad. Some great lines and I just loved his heart for his boys. This whole series is well done and HOT! Favorite Quote: “Now, tell me honestly, Summer. If this were your last moment on earth, what would you want me to do?" I don't even need to think about it. I know what I want from him. "Ruin me." "Good. I'm about ***ing done being a gentleman with you. And the only thing I'm ruining you for is anyone else."
- Secretly Yours, Tessa Bailey
Story Blurb Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to Napa Valley, and when Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she'll finally get that smooch. But the starchy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly. One wine-fueled girls’ night later, Hallie can’t shake the sense that she did something reckless—and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian. Oh shit. On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt—and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past. Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s grayscale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her... and her very presence is turning his world upside down. My Thoughts/Opinion This was my least favorite TB book so far. I struggled to connect with the characters, and Julian's dialogue (especially during the schmexy parts) had me rolling my eyes. I love TB and still think she's an amazing rom-com queen, but this one missed the mark for me. Doesn't deter me at all from reading her again, though! Favorite Quote: “As I’m writing this, I’m starting to wonder if the longer we fight change in ourselves, the less time we have to live as better people. Or at least more self-aware people. I propose that we both do something that scares us this week.”
- Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros
Story Blurb Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. My Thoughts/Opinion Holy crap. I didn't know romantasy was even a thing. And now I'm OBSESSED. I freaking loved everything about this book and I'm glad I didn't read it until now because I only have until November to wait for the second book in this series. There is nothing not to love about this book. Incredibly intricate plot, main characters you can't help but root for, amazing side characters (many of who unfortunately die) and...dragons. Yarros is such a talented writer and the world-building in this book is so good. I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time. Favorite Quote: “I would rather lose this entire war than live without you, and if that means I have to prove myself over and over, then I'll do it. You gave me your heart, and I'm keeping it.”
- The Last Letter, Rebecca Yarros
Story Blurb Beckett, If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have. I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride. My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair. And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help. So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family. Please don’t make her go through it alone. Ryan My Thoughts/Opinion If you've read this book and didn't at least get teary-eyed, I'm not sure we can be friends. Rebecca Yarros is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I've read this and two others of hers recently. They're all different and all so well done. This one just flat out broke my heart. And I still loved it. Favorite Quote: Sometimes bad things happen.And there's no blame to be placed.You can't reason with the universe, no matter how sound your logic is … We are imperfect people made that way by an imperfect world, and we don't always get a say in what shapes us.
- Cold Cruel Kiss, Toni Anderson
Story Blurb When the daughter of the US Ambassador to Argentina is kidnapped in broad daylight on Christmas Eve, the FBI sends one of its best negotiators to investigate—in this Romantic Thriller by NYT bestselling author Toni Anderson. Supervisory Special Agent Max Hawthorne arrives at an embassy thrown into chaos as US and local law enforcement hustle to track the young woman. Is this a simple kidnap for ransom, or part of a political agenda? Could it be something more sinister? Lucy Aston has something to hide. Preferring to stay in the shadows, the lowly, fashion-challenged office assistant resents being assigned to help Max. But Max can’t resist a puzzle…he’s starting to suspect Lucy Aston is not what she seems. When rumors emerge of a suspected Russian spy operating out of the embassy, Lucy’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble. As she and Max race to rescue the ambassador’s daughter, Lucy has to do whatever it takes to keep her cover from being blown—even if that means betraying the man she’s falling for. My Thoughts/Opinion It's been a hot minute since I've read a romantic suspense or romantic thriller, and I'm really glad this book was my pick. Lots of action, super believable plot with lots of unexpected twists and turns, and a good slow burn romance subplot. I need to jump into the rest of this series, which can all be read as standalones. Favorite Quote: “She hated lying to him. If Max ever discovered the truth, he'd never trust her again. He'd despise her."
- Booked on a Feeling, Jayci Lee
Story Blurb Jayci Lee's romcom Booked on a Feeling features an overachieving lawyer. A failing bookstore. A childhood friend. And the chance of a lifetime… Lizzy "Overachiever" Chung, Esq. has her life mapped out neatly: * Become a lawyer. Check. * Join a prestigious law firm. Check. * Make partner. In progress. If all goes to plan, she will check off that last box in a couple years, make her parents proud, and live a successful, fulfilled life in L.A. What was not in her plans was passing out from a panic attack during a pivotal moment in her career. A few deep breaths and a four hour drive later, Lizzy is in Weldon for three weeks to shed the burnout and figure out what went wrong. And what better place to recharge than the small California town where she spent her childhood summers with her best friend, Jack Park. Jack Park didn't expect to see Lizzy back in Weldon, but now he's got three weeks to spend with the girl of his dreams. Except she doesn't know of his decades-long crush on her--and he intends to keep it that way. She's a high-powered attorney who lives in L.A. and he's a bookkeeper at his family's brewery who never left his hometown. He can't risk their friendship on a long shot. Can he? When Lizzy decides that the local bookstore needs a little revamp, of course, Jack is going to help her bring it back to life. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore there might be more than just friendship among the dusty shelves and books... Sometimes the path to the rest of your life has been in front of you all along. My Thoughts/Opinion I like a good friends-to-lovers story, but my challenge with them is that there often isn't enough conflict to sustain the plot. And that's where this one fell for me. The things keeping the hero and heroine apart at 70% of the story were the same things keeping them apart at 10%. The writing is great and I like the author's voice, but I'll have to check out a different book in the series to appreciate her talent. Favorite Quote: “At this stage in her life, romance novels were still the right books for her but for slightly different reasons. She didn’t need them so much to feel the human connection anymore but to help her hang on to hope.”
- The Bromance Book Club, Lyssa Kay Adams
Story Blurb The first rule of book club: You don't talk about book club. Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him. Welcome to the Bromance Book Club. Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife. My Thoughts/Opinion I met the author of this awesome book at a recent writing conference. The concept for the series sounded intriguing and fun and I couldn't wait to dive in. I'm so glad I did! This book was so good. Not many romances are reconciliation stories and I loved how hard the hero and heroine worked for each other. And the Book Club group is awesome. Love them so much. Can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series! Favorite Quote: “Men are idiots. We complain that women are so mysterious and shit, and we never know what they want. We fuck up our relationships because we convince ourselves that it’s too hard to figure them out. But the real problem is with us. We think we’re not supposed to feel things and cry and express ourselves. We expect women to do all the emotional labor in a relationship and then act confused when they give up on us.”
- The Dead Romantics, Ashley Poston
Story Blurb A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston. Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won't give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father. For ten years, she's run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it. Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories. My Thoughts/Opinion I had a friend recently say that Ashley Poston was a master at making paranormal normal. And she wasn't wrong. I enjoyed so much about this book - the quirkiness of the heroine and her family, the remarkably fun and unique story line, the fantastic writing. I think most of all, I loved the growth of the hero and heroine as the story unfolded. Highly recommend! Favorite Quote: “There is no happy ending, there's just. . . happily living. As best you can.”
- Archer's Voice, Mia Sheridan
Story Blurb I wanted to lose myself in the small town of Pelion, Maine. To forget everything I had left behind. The sound of rain. The blood. The coldness of a gun against my skin. For six months, each breath has been a reminder that I survived--and my dad didn't. I'm almost safe again. But the moment I meet Archer Hale, my entire world tilts on its axis . . . and never rights itself again. Until I trespass into his strange, silent, and isolated world, Archer communicates with no one. Yet in his whiskey-colored eyes, something intangible happens between us. There's so much more to him than just his beauty, his presence, or the ways his hands communicate with me. On me. But this town is mired in secrets and betrayals, and Archer is the explosive center of it all. So much passion. And so much hurt. But it's only in Archer's silence that we might just find what we need to heal . . . and live. My Thoughts/Opinion I don't know what I expected from this NYT bestseller. Maybe I had gotten a little jaded, not having read anything in super recent history that I was in love with. In fact, I'd just DNF'd a book this week. This book, though, got me in all my feels. It was so different, so fresh, so raw and rich. I ached for these characters, not just to find their HEA, but more importantly to find themselves. I read the book in a day and wish it wasn't over. Favorite Quote: “I'm afraid to love you. I'm afraid that you'll leave and that I'll go back to being alone again. Only it will be a hundred times worse because I'll know what I'm missing. I can't…” He sucked in a shaky breath. “I want to be able to love you more than I fear losing you, and I don't know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don't let me destroy this.”












