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Story Blurb Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins. A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life. Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home. But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat. Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done? My Thoughts/Opinion I don't often read psychological thrillers but this one was highly recommended to me so I went for it. Lisa Jewell is a master of misdirection. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going (or that it couldn't possibly go...there), she proved me wrong. Excellent writing. As an HEA girlie, it was nice to go on a side trip that still leaves me thinking about the book well after I've finished it. Favorite Quote: “When she doesn’t like the reality of things, she finds a reality she prefers.”

Story Blurb For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape. Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her. Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames? My Thoughts/Opinion I had heard a lot about this series and finally decided to pick it up. The sexy banter was fun, the characters were engaging and overall I enjoyed the book. The main driver for the FMC to return home seemed to get glossed over and pretty conveniently resolved which I struggled with a little bit. I also thought the "your brother will hate me if we're together thing" thing could have (and should have) been resolved with a simple adult conversation amongst thirty-something year old men. The writing style was fun and I did root for the HEA so at some point I'll likely go pick up the second book in the series. Favorite Quote: “There was something in her eyes I hadn’t realized was missing when I’d looked at her before: fire. I started walking toward her, unable to help myself, ready to get burned.”

Story Blurb Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago. With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy—and still very present—feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized. What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together. As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them—it’s a chance at something new. My Thoughts/Opinion I loved Jessica's first book, You With A View, so much. And just like that book, this one pulls at every heartstring. She writes with such a depth of emotion and puts her characters in such heartrending situations I wonder how she will end with an HEA. Georgia and Eli are both relatable characters whose childhood trauma has driven the adult decisions that tore them apart. I loved loved loved their journey back together. I highly recommend anything this author writes! Favorite Quote: “When I say I’m still in love with you,” he says quietly, “I mean today and yesterday and this entire week. I mean at Nick and Miriam’s wedding and I mean for the past five years.” If possible, he gets even quieter, but now he’s closer so I get every word. “When I say I’m still in love with you, I mean the first time I saw you and right now. I mean every second in between.”

Story Blurb Cordelia James was once at the top of her game—a renowned street photographer with a massive social media following, gallery showings in Chelsea, and a lucrative book deal. But after the sudden death of her father, Cordelia can barely force herself to leave her apartment. That is, until she sees an ad for a summer gig at a cozy cottage on Ireland’s picturesque Inishmore island. Cordelia is on a plane before she can talk herself out of it. The moment she steps off the boat, she crashes—literally—into Niall O’Connor, a grumpy local who’s just returned home to Inishmore from Dublin. Niall is nursing a broken heart and trying to patch up a broken life, and he has no time for posh American tourists. The more Cordelia’s and Niall’s paths cross, the more they make each other’s lives hell. But as with all rivalries, their hatred is about to reach a tipping point—and it’s going to heat up their cool coastal nights. My Thoughts/Opinion This was a cute, fairly predictable rom-com but a good palate cleanser after reading a long romantasy series. The story started a bit slowly and I struggled to feel invested in either of the main characters. The setting and the side characters were fun and entertaining but that shouldn't be what one enjoys most about a romance. Favorite Quote:

Story Blurb Book 1, Daughter of No Worlds A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates. Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life. Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders. The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both. But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart. Even if it means wielding death itself. My Thoughts/Opinion I only included the blurb for book one because I wouldn't want to spoil one second of this amazing romantasy trilogy. When I tell you I submersed myself in this series, I mean it. I read the entire enthralling beautiful rich cinematic story in less than a week and these are not short stories. I love Tisaanah and Max as much or more than any book couple ever. I enjoyed this author's other work and expected to enjoy this as well, but certainly not to the depth in which I did. When I wasn't reading I was thinking about it. It's been a bit now since I finished and just typing this makes me want to go back and read it again. So so so good!! Favorite Quote: “I wanted him in so many ways. As a friend, as a kindred soul, as a fierce teammate. As skin and lips and teeth. As a hitched breathless moan in the darkness or a lazy embrace in the sunrise. I wanted that. I wanted it all.”

Story Blurb Twenty-eight-year-old Georgia Stanton has to start over after she gave up almost everything in a brutal divorce—the New York house, the friends, and her pride. Now back home at her late great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado, she finds herself face-to-face with Noah Harrison, the bestselling author of a million books where the cover is always people nearly kissing. He’s just as arrogant in person as in interviews, and she’ll be damned if the good-looking writer of love stories thinks he’s the one to finish her grandmother’s final novel…even if the publisher swears he’s the perfect fit. Noah is at the pinnacle of his career. With book and movie deals galore, there isn’t much the “golden boy” of modern fiction hasn’t accomplished. But he can’t walk away from what might be the best book of the century—the one his idol, Scarlett Stanton, left unfinished. Coming up with a fitting ending for the legendary author is one thing, but dealing with her beautiful, stubborn, cynical great-granddaughter, Georgia, is quite another. But as they read Scarlett’s words in both the manuscript and her box of letters, they start to realize why Scarlett never finished the book—it’s based on her real-life romance with a World War II pilot, and the ending isn’t a happy one. Georgia knows all too well that love never works out, and while the chemistry and connection between her and Noah is undeniable, she’s as determined as ever to learn from her great-grandmother’s mistakes—even if it means destroying Noah’s career. My Thoughts/Opinion Oh, my goodness. She did it again. How many books can this woman write that yank so hard at my heartstrings? The dual timelines in this story add so much richness and the human-ness of the characters, especially the glimpses of Scarlett as a young woman in love are done so well. The sweetness of the resolution to this story will stick with me for a long time. Definitely pick this one up when you need a good sacrificial love story. Favorite Quote: “I see the way he looks at her, like she’s the reason the seasons change and the sun rises until they’re a hundred and one years old.”

Story Blurb Doctor Fionn Kane is running from a broken heart, one he hopes to mend in small-town Nebraska, far away from his almost-fiancé and his derailed surgical career. It’s a simpler life: head down, hard work, and absolutely no romantic relationships. He wants none of the circus he left behind in Boston. But then the real circus finds him. Motorcycle performer Rose Evans has spent a decade on the road with the Silveria Circus, and it suits her just fine, especially when she has the urge to indulge in a little murder when she’s not in the spotlight. But when a kill goes awry and she ends up with an injured leg, Rose finds herself stuck in Nebraska, at the home of the adorably nerdy town doctor. The problem is, not every broken heart can be sewn back together. . . . And the longer you stay in one place, the more likely your ghosts are to catch up. My Thoughts/Opinion I really enjoyed the conclusion of this trilogy and the post story excerpts that bring us all the way back to Sloane and Rowan from Butcher & Blackbird. Fionn and Rose have incredible chemistry. I was a little disappointed in the lack of filling out Fionn's tragic broken heart backstory which was why he was where he was mentally and physically. And I'm not exactly sure the timelines added up between book two and three, which kind of took place in the same continuum, but the writing and the love story were enough to still to sustain this book as a great read for me. Favorite Quote: “It's okay to love your darkness and still love yourself. It doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you a whole one.”

Story Blurb Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first. And they can’t stand each other. Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be. As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them. There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep. And this one has come for blood. My Thoughts/Opinion I held off reading this when it first came out because it seemed like the buzz around it was that it was a disappointment after Butcher & Blackbird, which I read about a year ago. I devoured this audiobook in two days. Pros: Lachlan's Irish accent in the audio. Lark's badass dying Aunt Ethyl, the hate to love arc between our hero and heroine. I actually loved that Lachlan was the first to fall. Cons: The super annoying laugh tracs in the audio. The lack of red herrings. I wish the suspense/danger subplot had been more developed. Overall, still a great read/listen. So much so that I jumped immediately to book 3 in this trilogy! Favorite Quote: “My feckin’ catastrophe,” he says as his thumb coasts across my cheek. “You fucking destroyed me. And now I can’t imagine being anything but the man that I am with you.”

Story Blurb Hazel Hart was a successful romance novelist until a breakup drives her straight into writer’s block. Having failed (and failed some more) to deliver her new manuscript, she’s hiding from the world behind a wall of old takeout containers until her publisher lays down the law. If she misses her next deadline it’s The End. Desperate for inspiration, Hazel impulse-buys a historic home online and flees Manhattan to tiny Story Lake, PA. Upon her dramatic arrival—involving an incident with a bald eagle—she discovers the charm of her new home may have been slightly exaggerated. The house is a wreck and the town is struggling after their biggest employer shut down. Also, since her raccoon-infested home came with a seat on the town council our introverted heroine is stuck with a front row seat to all the small-town shenanigans. But Hazel isn’t worried. Not since all six-feet-three inches of grouchy contractor Campbell Bishop slapped a bandage on her forehead and unintentionally inspired the heck out of her. There’s only one thing to do: Hire Cam and his equally gorgeous brothers to renovate her new spider museum…er…house. Okay two things. A fake date for “research purposes” will really put her work-in-progress on track. Before Hazel knows it, she’s writing a romance novel and living one. At least until the drywall dust settles, the town she’s falling in love with faces bankruptcy, and growly Cam remembers why he can’t live happily ever after. My Thoughts/Opinion Lucy Score is my undisputed Queen of sexy banter and I love her for it! I loved Hazel and Campbell. I laughed out loud more times than I can count, and oh my....the heat is heating in this book! Do NOT sleep on this new release. It's one of my favorite reads so far this year! Favorite Quote: “Campbell Bishop, we agreed that we weren't in a relationship. We agreed that we were going to have secret hot sex and nothing more." "Yeah. Well. I changed my mind."

Story Blurb With her death foretold, Althea Zoltaire only has three years to become what she’s always dreamed of being: a warrior legend. Women are forbidden to wield blades, so she has trained in secret her entire life. Now racing against the clock, she fights to secure her place in the elite guild charged with the protection of the five kingdoms. The sparring and hazing of the new trainees border on deadly, but even more dangerous is her growing attraction to Wilder Hawthorne, her unwilling warrior chaperone. All around them, schemes are afoot and darkness looms. Will Althea pass the perilous initiation test and take her place as a champion of Thezmarr – or will the invading evil snatch away her dream before it starts? My Thoughts/Opinion I think a big lure for this series for me is that it's complete. After my Onyx Storm hangover, I needed to start a series that I could read through to the end and I'm glad I chose this one. Althea starts out singularly focused and I admire her tenacity toward her goal. Wilder is a fantastic hero and this first book was filled with a great balance of world building and relationship building. I love the secondary cast, especially Kipp and Callahan. Really hoping those two make it out of this series alive...tbd...onto the next book! Favorite Quote: “If you seek power in a world of men and monsters, there is nothing more powerful than knowledge and the ability to wield it.”

Story Blurb It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love. My Thoughts/Opinion I will read absolutely anything Abby Jimenez writes. Rabidly. I was in between series when I saw this little gem pop up and I latched onto it. It was a quick short story read with relatable characters and, in traditional Abby style, some heavy topics handled with compassion and grace. The premise was fun, if a bit unrealistic but I'm telling you I don't even care. I loved Charlotte and Seth and their unlikely romance was just what I needed. Favorite Quote: “It was Sunday. Valentine’s Day. I’d never cared for this holiday. It always seemed like an excuse to spend money. Today it felt like an excuse to make Charlotte smile, which meant I was now a fan.”

Story Blurb A chance encounter leaves a belle and rogue wondering about the possibilities of love and happily-ever-afters. Slashing through French soldiers at Waterloo was easy compared to engaging a bevy of marriage-hungry debutantes. Finding the perfect bride-to-be isn’t Viscount Linscott’s intention; he only needs a match to satisfy the demands of the man holding his income hostage. Does he choose a wife from his friend’s lengthy list or get ensnared by the demure deb with golden eyes? Following the rules has never been more difficult, especially with an aunt determined to parade Annabelle Greene in front of every unattached septuagenarian. She doubts her ability to attract a single suitor, but as the season progresses, she may have to turn away two. A stolen kiss on a terrace and she is bargaining for more than she can handle. If she listens to her aunt’s advice, she would marry a stodgy old goat, but she pines for the worst sort of rake whose lips make her head swirl. Faced with impossibly high stakes, Annabelle and Jack must abandon entrenched preconceptions to embrace the promise of true love. My Thoughts/Opinion This was my first Stacia Kaywood read. The writing was really good and I cheered for Annabelle to find her way in a social circle she wasn't really a part of. Being totally honest, I struggled to like Jack for most of this book, and it may just have been that I wasn't in the right headspace for a Regency era MMC. I found very little about his actions or manner worthy of redemption so I probably wasn't as invested in their romance as I would have liked to be. I'm excited to read more in this series though because the writing was witty and fun, and there was an interesting cast of side characters (including the hero's father) that are hopefully in line to get a book of their own. Favorite Quote: Not even his first kiss at the age of fourteen had caused his heart to accelerate the way this one did. At once lightheaded and giddy like a virgin, it filled him with a longing he did not know his body possessed. Possession was a word. Who possessed whom, was the question.