Story Blurb Camille Ashwood had always loved a plan. Her latest was her best yet. She was going to get married so she could secure her daughter’s future, get her overbearing parents off her back, and finally start building her own life in small-town Meadowlark, Wyoming. Easy, right? But when her groom doesn’t show up to the wedding, Cam’s life is turned upside down—she doesn’t even have a place to live. That is until she finds out the house she’s loved since high school is available to rent. There’s only one problem: the neighbor. Dusty Tucker has spent nearly all of his adult life running. Running from what, though? More like who: Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who was his first, well, everything has become a woman seemingly determined to keep him at arm’s length. And he was okay with that—at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. She was getting married, after all. But now she’s single and living next door. Dusty wants to show her that they can be friends, and that he can stay put. Despite her best attempts to stay far away from Dusty Tucker, Cam realizes that being close to him is like slipping into her favorite jeans. Easy. Comfortable. That is until past wounds start to open and feelings—both old and new—wreak havoc. Nearly ten years after they first met, Dusty and Cam begin to wonder if their first love can also be their last. And this time, will it be forever? My Thoughts/Opinion I love a phoenix heroine who has to rise from the ashes of past mistakes and past hurts. And Camille Ashwood has had plenty of both. She's been an integral character in this series from early on, but her life seemed settled on a certain path until her world blows up around her. Enter Dusty Tucker, her first love. What I loved most about this story is that they really had to work hard to get through the mistakes they both made as younger people to have the opportunity to embrace who they could be now. It was a beautiful way to end this series. Not just for Cam and Dusty but for the beauty, sadness, and joys of Rebel Blue Ranch. I'm so glad I read the whole series! Favorite Quote: “I love you madly and deeply. I love you in ways that people don’t believe exist in real life. I love you for who you’ve been and who you are and who you’re going to be, Ash.”

Story Blurb Teddy Andersen doesn’t have a plan. She’s never needed one before. She’s always been more of a go-with-the-flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn’t seem to be going her way this time. Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it’s starting to change. Teddy is used to being a leader, but now she feels like she’s getting left behind, wondering if life in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore. Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn’t know what’s harder: taking care of his family’s 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he has to admit that he can’t manage everything on his own. He needs help. His little sister’s best friend, the woman he can’t stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy’s the only option he’s got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he’ll never find what he needs. Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether they should act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned? My Thoughts/Opinion This was probably my favorite book from the Rebel Blue Ranch series. I've loved brash Teddy from the first pages of the first book and have been looking forward to her eventual crash and burn and rebirth with grumpy Gus Ryder. This book rode the perfect line of enemies to lovers and allowed both Teddy and Gus to be true to themselves while growing into a beautiful HEA. Some great steamy bits and, even better, some amazing heartfelt moments. Favorite Quote: “He was just so…grumpy. Men who are that good-looking should not be allowed to be such assholes. It was false advertising.”

Story Blurb The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career. When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss. Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place. Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love? My Thoughts/Opinion Ah, Wes is just the best. Honestly, such a good book boyfriend. I stumbled back into Rebel Blue Ranch after reading the first book in the series several months ago. I thought it was fine, but was in no big hurry to get back to the universe. But I'm so glad I did. Each subsequent book got better and better. I love Ada's guarded heart and how hard Wes works to help her learn to trust again. There's nothing earth-shattering about this story but it warmed my heart in all the best ways. Also, loved getting to know the side characters in this world even more in this second book. Favorite Quote: “You're the moon and I’m the tides. You pull me in without even trying, and I come to you willingly. I always will.”

Story Blurb Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General. Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the same day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right? Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Noah will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal. My Thoughts/Opinion Why did I read a book about werewolves who are actually also doctors? I don't know what made me pick it up, but I'm so glad I did! If you've read my reviews, you know how much I love a good enemies to lovers, plus this book also has fake relationship and fated mate vibes so how can I refuse? The writing was great, the steamy parts practically set my Kindle on fire, and the HEA was truly satisfying. Perfect for a fun paranormal rom-com, in my opinion. Favorite Quote: “We both know you're always looking for things to be wrong with someone, because finding something right with them would mean opening yourself up to something that you can't control.”

Story Blurb A princess is determined to survive an arranged marriage to a heartless fae prince in this standalone enemies to lovers fantasy romance. As the half faerie daughter of a human king, my days were spent tucked out of sight—until the Seelie Fae sought an alliance with our kingdom. In exchange for my father’s help in defeating their Unseelie enemies, I would wed Atakan the heartless. The Seelie prince loathed everyone, but none more than me. Throughout the years leading to our nuptials, each encounter grew more terrifying than the last as he demonstrated how he’d earned his infamous reputation. Fear would only doom me faster. So I learned to hide it with games I soon became happy to play. I wasn’t supposed to crave a monster. But just when I’d thought I might tame the untameable, fate intervened. And delivered me straight to his enemy. My Thoughts/Opinion Whew! This book was a dark edge of enemies to lovers. So much so that at times, I wasn't certain that love was endgame. This is a standalone romantasy which is exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up. Although there is a LOT that happens in this story, and some others panned it for the whiplash it gave them, I found the story to be both interesting and entertaining. Don't look too deeply for story theme or incredible, stay-with-you writing, but if you're looking for a romantasy world that will take you on a thrill-ride and keep you in suspense til the very end, you might want to pick this one up. I enjoyed it a lot! Favorite Quote: “Atakan was more than my mate—he was the edge I sharpened my armor upon and the safety I surrendered my softness to.”

Story Blurb Gripped by a tyrant king and in the thrall of dark magic, the kingdom is in peril. Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last—and most important—one remains to be found: the Twin Alders. If they’re going to find the card before Solstice and set free the kingdom, they will need to journey through the dangerous mist-cloaked forest. The only one who can lead them through is the monster that shares Elspeth’s head: the Nightmare. And he’s not eager to share any longer. My Thoughts/Opinion I was so invested after One Dark Window in Elspeth and the Nightmare, I immediately jumped to this second book in the duology. And the story just got richer and deeper and more amazing. I loved the sacrifice offered by so many, and the truth of treachery at the center of this story. So so good. I don't even really have to encourage you to read this one. If you read and enjoyed One Dark Window, there's no way you don't see this story to its conclusion. Favorite Quote: “I'll tell you a story, I whispered. It always helped me sleep as a child. He nodded, folding his hands over his lap, and closed his eyes. There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King, a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two- I couldn't go on. Elspeth. No. I'm not ready. Not yet. Finish the story, dear one. My voice shook. The two were together- Together. So the two were the same. The girl, he whispered, honey and oil and silk. The King... We said the final words together, our voices echoing, listless, through the dark. A final note. An eternal farewell. And the monster they became.”

Story Blurb Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her. Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom she calls home—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it. Except the highwayman just so happens to be the King’s own nephew, Captain of the Destriers…and guilty of high treason. He and Elspeth have until Solstice to gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly, darkly, taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him. My Thoughts/Opinion I listened to this book on audio and, in retrospect, I think it is a better experience to read the book, or do a tandem read/listen. So much of this story is tied to Providence Cards and their magic that understanding it is tricky when just listening. But the story itself is compelling. It's a quest journey at its heart, sprinkled with romance between Elspeth and Ravyn Yew. The depth of the story is what hooked me. And the monster. Such a good book, along with Two Twisted Crowns, the second in the duology. If you're in the mood to sink into a story with darkness at its heart and hope fighting at the fringes, I highly recommend this one. Favorite Quote: “There once was a girl,” he murmured, “clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: “The girl, the King… and the monster they became.”

Story Blurb Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life. Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him. It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life. But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists. When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one. My Thoughts/Opinion Although age-gap romance isn't my favorite trope, it can be really good if done well. I became invested in Maya and Conor when they were side characters in Not in Love. Plus, I'll read anything Ali Hazelwood writes. Though Maya comes off a little petulant at times and Conor comes off a bit too angsty, I enjoyed the path they took to find each other. Not as good as Not in Love, in my opinion, but still worth the read. Favorite Quote: “I have never wanted anything as desperately, as ungovernably, as persistently as I want you. Not a single goddamn thing. Not my dead mother back. Not revenge. Not the well-being of the people I love. Not professional success, not even my own happiness. Absolutely nothing has consumed me as mercilessly as you have.”

Story Blurb A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science—from New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood. Rue Siebert might not have it all , but she has enough : a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down. Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through—and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him. Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business—one that plays for keeps. My Thoughts/Opinion Oh, the yearning in this book! These characters were undeniably quirky and broken, so smart and so complicated. It was incredibly easy to lose myself in this story. The steamy, no strings hotness of this book was unexpected and off the charts. But what made this story for me was how vulnerable Rue and Eli had to get to finally get their real HEA. So real and raw. And the deception that lies at the core of this story just adds another level of greatness. You won't regret picking up this book. Favorite Quote: “And I’m going to—I’m going to want to see you every day. I’m going to learn more dishes and pack your lunch and write cute little notes on it. I’m going to ask you if you want to sleep at your place or mine and always assume that we’re spending the night together. I’m going to think about you all the damn time. I’m going to assume I’m watering your plants when you’re out of town. I’m going to hold your hand in public. I’m going to kiss you in public. I’m going to organize surprise parties for you with your friend. I’m going to send a hundred texts per day with stupid online shit I think you should see. Clingy as fuck, Rue. Can you do it? Can you live with me as your boyfriend?”

Story Blurb Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached. Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie? Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work but when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too. My Thoughts/Opinion I have been so looking forward to reading Fizzy's story since The Soulmate Equation. I love watching a character who is so put together and seems to have life by the throat go through crisis and be forced to grow into something new. I also love the single dad trope, so this one had me from the first page. The slow burn romantic tension was first class and getting to see both Fizzy and Connor stand for each other by the end of the story was fantastic. I highly recommend anything by Christina Lauren but this one is one of my faves. Favorite Quote: “My grandparents have been married for over sixty years, and when my grandma walks into the room, my grandpa looks at her like he’s still nineteen and trying to figure out how the prettiest girl in school is giving him the time of day.” He laughs. “I want that. To be as head over heels in love at eighty as I was at thirty. To be together and just… feel joy.”

Story Blurb Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her “princess of pop” image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome . . . Rome, Kentucky, that is. When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He’s too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room—but only until her car is fixed—then she’s on her own. Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose—she’s Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can’t help but get close to her. Soon she’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she’ll help him open his heart to more. Amelia can’t resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually. My Thoughts/Opinion This story had everything you could want in a soft grumpy/sunshine rom-com. I loved Noah and Amelia, Noah's sisters, and the whole town of Rome, KY. Poignant at times, there was a depth to the writing I hadn't expected which only added to the richness of the story. Also, this book is a great setup for the stories of the sisters, which continues the series. Favorite Quote: “Care is reckless because it doesn’t come with the seat belt that selfishness offers. Care has so much to lose, and almost always ends in heartbreak.”

Story Blurb Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t. They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends. Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most. Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best? My Thoughts/Opinion This is probably my least favorite Emily Henry novel. I liked the complexity of the undercurrents in several of the relationships between this group of friends and how they eventually boiled to the surface. But as far as the romance went, I struggled with the conflict between Harriet and Wyn because it felt so easily overcome-able. Still, great writing. Of course. I enjoyed the story overall and was truly satisfied with the ending. Favorite Quote: “You're like gravity. Everything keeps spinning, but my mind's always got one hand on you.”