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Story Blurb Kristen Peterson doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children. Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen -- especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he'd be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to keep him at arm's length. The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass. My Thoughts/Opinion Oh my gosh, I love a sassy heroine who says exactly what's on her mind and Kristen was a GEM. I loved how Josh was all-in from the jump and how he never gave up despite Kristen trying to push him away. This book had all the feels and dealt deftly with some REALLY heavy stuff. I think I read it in a day and a half. Abby does such an incredible job with building relationships deeply, and her spice is well-written and addictive. Another incredible read, and this was her debut novel. So so good! Favorite Quote: This crisis laid everything bare. I'd found my person. She was the foundation. She was the thing that all other things are built on.

Story Blurb Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka. It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together? My Thoughts/Opinion I am on a HUGE Abby kick and this is her latest release. The first two books in this series were serious 5-star reads for me, this one fell a tiny bit short of five stars but was still an amazing read, as all her books are. I loved the relationship between Emma and Justin and I adored his family, and her best friend. My only struggle with this story was the major plot conveniences and resolutions we didn't need (Neil I'm looking at you...) I don't think I could ever be unhappy with one of her books. Seriously. Highly highly recommend them all. Favorite Quote: The best kind of love doesn't happen on moonlit walks and romantic vacations. It happens in between the folds of everyday life. It's not grand gestures that show how you feel, it's all the little secret things you do to make her life better that you never tell her about.... It isn't glamorous, it isn't butterflies and stars in your eyes. It's real . This is the kind of love that forever is made of.

Story Blurb Iris DuPree meets August West in a sports bar during her last semester of college. It's the conversation of a lifetime and sends sparks flying in every direction. The connection is undeniable…but the timing is all wrong. August is poised for the NBA draft, and Iris belongs to another man―basketball's "golden boy" and August's long-time rival. The two go their separate ways, but they often recall that electric night and what could have been. While August has embarked on his all-star life, studded with wealth and fame, Iris's perfect public relationship has become a nightmare behind closed doors. A tarnished dream of fool's gold. When August re-enters her life, the world seems briefly bright again, but Iris's darkest nights are not over yet. To survive, she must build her own strength and trust that her bond with August can endure after all this time. Even when her fraudulent prince has vowed never to let her go. My Thoughts/Opinion Holy Cow - I expected a sports romance and I loved the meet cute between Iris and August. What I didn't do was look at the trigger warnings associated with this story. And boy, I should have. This is probably the most realistic (and terrifying) portrayal of domestic abuse I've read in a romance. August is in the shadows, unaware of the situation, until near the climax of the story. Iris finds her own strength to escape the abusive relationship, and the author does a fantastic job of allowing her to heal and grow and value herself. I'm so happy the characters battled for their HEA. What an emotional rollercoaster!! If you're looking for an angsty rip-your-heart-out story, this one is for you. Favorite Quote: “If you were mine, Iris there would be no doubt what position you’d hold in my life. You’d be center. I’d play you at the five.”

Story Blurb Benefits of a summer romance: It’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken. Ali Morris is a professional organizer whose own life is a mess. Her mom died two years ago, then her husband left, and she hasn’t worn pants with a zipper in longer than she cares to remember. No one is more surprised than Ali when the first time she takes off her wedding ring and puts on pants with hardware—overalls count, right?—she meets someone. Or rather, her dog claims a man for her...by peeing on him. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right—like he likes what he sees. He looks at her like she’s a younger, braver version of herself. The last thing newly single mom Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little summer romance. Is there? My Thoughts/Opinion I didn't expect to read this book in one day, but there I was at 10:30 last night finishing it. Poignant, great characters who I rooted for, and lots of life going on around the central romance of the story. Great internal conflict for Ali, and lots of growth as an individual which she had to have in order to turn this summer romance into something real and lasting. Most of the romances I read aren't about 30-something divorcees with kids, but the author did a great job of showing this full, messy life and making room for something new. I adored Ethan and even though his personal baggage wasn't nearly as heavy, he had to grow as well. I seem to be on trend lately with books that appear light and fluffy but pack a lot of emotional depth. I'm not sad about it! Favorite Quote: "When I’m quiet I can hear my heart yearning for impossible things. I want a perfectly pared-down home, and I want to hang on to every scrap of the past. I want a break from my kids without missing a single minute of their lives. I long for a partnership, and I long for freedom. I long to be enmeshed with someone without losing myself. I want all of it. Maybe”

Story Blurb A wedding planner and her grumpy ex must work together to plan a celebrity event in this deliciously spicy and funny novel from Ali Hazelwood's "favorite writer."  Ama Torres is an optimistic wedding planner who doesn’t believe in marriage. But weddings? They’re amazing. Elliot Bloom is a brooding florist who hates owning a flower shop…until a certain bright-eyed, donut-loving workaholic shows up at his door. Once upon a time, they collaborated on events by day, and by night, Ama traced the intricate flower tattoos etched along his body. Then Ama shattered his heart and never spoke to Elliot again.     Now they’re working on an event that could make or break both of their careers—except neither of them has gotten over what happened two years ago. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. But as the wedding takes on a life of its own, Ama and Elliot are about to discover that some things can survive a complete catastrophe . . .  My Thoughts/Opinion This book started a little slow for me and I'm not usually a fan of dual timelines, but overall I really, really enjoyed this book. The writing was phenomenal and (despite the dual timelines), the pacing worked well. I liked Elliot and his heart, I liked Ama too but between the two, I'm definitely team Elliot. I struggled a little bit to connect with Ama's backstory and reluctance to fall in love, but I like the twisty dichotomy at the end. All in all, a great read that I am happy to recommend to others. Favorite Quote: “You may think everything ends one day, but you haven’t had ‘everything’ with me.”

Story Blurb A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really. My Thoughts/Opinion Why Oh Why did I wait this long to get on the Emily Henry bandwagon?? This book...wow...I don't know why but I did NOT expect the depth of emotion and characterization in this book. I am flabbergasted to say the least. January and Augustus both have a lot of baggage and a past together. And the vulnerability of each of them to fight for their future almost had me in tears. So so so so good. I can't wait to read all of her books!! Favorite Quote: “When I watch you sleep," he said shakily, "I feel overwhelmed that you exist.”

Story Blurb Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again... Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…. Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf. My Thoughts/Opinion Ali Hazelwood is a gifted and talented writer, and her first foray into fantasy romance did not disappoint. Although the plot was a bit predictable, it didn't take away at all from the reading experience. I loved Misery and Lowe's love story (big fan of fated mates here). I loved how their trust grew until they were an unstoppable force together. I don't think this author could disappoint me if she tried. If you're looking for a break from standard contemporary romance fare, give this one a shot. Favorite Quote: “You think, but you don’t know. You don’t know anything about what it’s like to find your other half, I would take anything she chose to give me—the tiniest fraction or her entire world. I would take her for a single night knowing that I’ll lose her by morning, and I would hold on to her and never let go. I would take her healthy, or sick, or tired, or angry, or strong, and it would be my fucking privilege. I would take her problems, her gifts, her moods, her passions, her jokes, her body—I would take every last thing, if she chose to give it to me.”

Story Blurb Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living. But she wasn’t always that way. Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen. But he wasn’t always that way. And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before—at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him—but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school—and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it. As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love—which is the riskiest move of all. My Thoughts/Opinion As my first Katherine Center novel, I was expecting rom-com fluffiness and there was plenty of fun banter and a great supporting cast. I liked the themes of the novel. Overall though, this book just went on way too long, and in several instances, I really had to suspend my disbelief hard. I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author because she weaves a good story, but I hope my next read by her is the five-star I was hoping for this one. Favorite Quote: I'm not happy because it comes easily to me. I bite and scratch and claw my way toward happiness every day...That it wasn't about finding one big thing—but about collecting as many tiny pieces as you could.

Story Blurb One night—a single moment—cost me everything. My body, broken beyond repair. The boy I’d thought was my forever. The life I’d always dreamt of. Now, Holt’s back. And he’s no longer a boy, but a man with shadows in his eyes and demons haunting him. He says he’s here to make things right. To get back a little bit of all we’ve lost. And he doesn’t show any signs of leaving the small town that has been my refuge. As stolen moments turn to days, Holt’s around every corner. With his burning stare and lingering touches. Before long, my walls come crashing down and I’m just hoping that taking this second chance isn’t as reckless as it feels. But not everyone is happy that Holt has returned. As tragedy strikes again, I’m the one left in the crosshairs. And Holt might not be able to save me this time… My Thoughts/Opinion Ahhh...this was the romantic suspense I needed. It was a fantastic blend of both. Holt and Wren were star-crossed lovers who get their second chance. I love that it took enough time but not too much time for them to figure out they deserved that chance. The underlying suspense was masterfully woven throughout the story and I loved that I had no clue until the big reveal who the bad guy was. Bravo! Can't want to read another title by this author! Favorite Quote: "...sooner or later, she would believe that forever was just a lifetime of a little whiles."

Story Blurb As the only Beckett cousin who is still unattached, I'm a shoo-in to win the bet with my cousins to be the last man blissfully not in love by Christmas. Of course, I know they're still going to make me follow the rules of our bet and go on six dates with the same woman—but I've figured out a way out of that too. I'm getting married. Is it love? Not even close. Chelle Finch needs a temporary husband and I need to win this bet. We agree to put a ring on it knowing that this marriage of convenience will end in divorce. Except, somehow dating my wife has me realizing that I don't ever want to take this ring off if it means losing her. What does the guy who can talk his way out of anything have to do to sweet talk his temporary wife into forever? My Thoughts/Opinion I didn't realize this book was third in series when I picked it up, but I was completely able to be read as a standalone. No problem. I really liked the premise, but I was prepared to be annoyed by a mansplainer hero. However, it didn't take long to understand how Nash came to be the way he was and his character arc was really good. Conversely, Chell was quite immature for a 42 year old woman. I had to get past some of her more childish behaviors and lines because I did enjoy the chemistry between them. This was my first book by this author, but she's a great writer and I look forward to reading more from her. Favorite Quote:

Story Blurb Rosie Belmont has been driving me wild for years. The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild. But mostly the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her. After living in the city, she comes blasting back into Rose Hill like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed desperate plea for a job is all it takes for me to hire her. Forbes may have labeled me the World’s Hottest Billionaire but all I care about is opening my new recording studio. Something that comes to a screeching halt when I end up face-to-face with a young girl who claims I’m her biological father. Now I spend my days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old all while trying desperately to keep my hands the hell off my best friend’s little sister. I vow to keep Rosie at arm’s length. I try to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her verbal sparring is merely foreplay—friction that turns to blistering heat. I know damn well I shouldn’t cross that line. But shouldn’t and can’t are two very different things. And the only thing I truly can’t do is resist her. My Thoughts/Opinion Oh, Elsie Silver. I first met her writing with the Chestnut Springs series and fell in love. We met Ford briefly, as Willa's brother, in that series but I wish I could go back and get a little more insight into him from the previous books. I really loved his character and Rosie's too for that matter. Their forbidden, brothers-best-friend romance was so sweet and I loved his protective instincts toward her. But I think my favorite part of their story is how they both bonded over his previously unknown 12-year-old daughter, Cora. She quite literally stole the show. And her bonus epilogue (as a parent of grown kids) made me want to cry. Another great read by Elsie Silver. First in series, and I can't wait for book two! Favorite Quote: “She’s the sun, the rest of us are just dumb rocks orbiting her.”

Story Blurb He barely has time to catch his breath... Army veteran Cameron Pope arrives back in Jubilee, Kentucky, for the first time in years. He barely has time to catch his breath when he becomes embroiled in a race of life or death for his little niece and a deadly hunt for the human traffickers who are destroying the peace of his mountain town. When he's reunited with Rusty Caldwell—a woman from his past he's never stopped thinking about—he wants to believe they can finally be together. But Rusty belongs to one of the rich families in Jubilee—the same rich folks who scorn the rural families living on the surrounding mountainside. Cameron and Rusty will have to find a way to end the feuding and take down the human trafficking ring if they're to have any chance at happiness. My Thoughts/Opinion I hadn't read in my romantic suspense genre for a while so I sought out a popular RS author who I hadn't read before and came across Sharon Sala. She's extremely popular and her books are highly rated so I was excited to jump in. For me, insta-love is a bit hard to swallow sometimes and that was definitely the case in this book. I really liked both Cameron and Rusty, but I wish the story had leaned a little more into a realistic romance for them. I was surprised that this story had so many points of view as well. I've gotten used to usually just the two main characters but there were easily 10-12 POVs in this story. But I think the thing that was missing the most for me in this story was that the entire suspense plot line just flowed from one clue to the next, no red herrings, no failures. Just win after win after win until the mystery was solved. The author is a good writer. A really good writer. Enough so, that despite my drawbacks, I wanted to finish the book and find out the bad guy. Maybe next time I'll look for a romantic suspense that leads more with the romance. This was a miss for me, but super highly rated so you might consider it if you're in the mood for an easy RS read. Favorite Quote: