BOOK REVIEW: Sweetheart by Cookie O’Gorman

April 25, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Sweetheart by Cookie O'Gorman
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Sweetheart (suh-weet-hart): Someone who is kind, friendly, and/or lovable. For reference, see Scarlett Kent.

Seventeen-year-old Scarlett Kent likes the idea of love—in theory. She’s just never had time for romance. Voted Most Likely to Succeed, founder of a youth mentoring program, and an aspiring professional violinist, Scarlett has goals—and a list of “firsts” she’d like to complete before graduation.

One thing that’s not on her list: Falling for Sam Bishop.

Flirtatious jocks who sleep through class aren’t her type—no matter how good Sam looks in his jersey. But when her car breaks down, Sam stops to help…which leads to an unexpected offer.

Sam volunteers to help Scarlett complete her list. In return, she’ll help him win back his ex.

It’s a sweetheart deal that should benefit everyone.

But between kissing lessons and pretend dates, Scarlett realizes Sam is the perfect fake boyfriend. And if she’s not careful, he could be her first real heartbreak.

This book features two souls who’re meant to be, one fake arrangement, so many heart-melting kisses and answers the question:

What happens when a perfectionist falls for a player?

Review:

Sweetheart was a fake dating, young adult romance that was smile inducing and will warm your heart. The characters were so easy to love, and the story-line had me finishing this book in less than 24 hours! If you love books that have a fun and flirty vibe, are beyond adorable, and radiate happiness, then you need Sweetheart in your life!

“Just get in the car, Starlet,” he said.
He popped the locks, and I did just that.
As I slid into the car, however, I mumbled, “My name’s Scarlett. Not Starlet.”
Sam gave me that half-grin. “I know,” he said.
Sure you do.

Scarlett Kent had a list of “firsts” that she wanted to complete before she graduated High School. When Sam Bishop picked her up on the side of the road, after her car died, he also agreed to help complete her list. In exchange, it would help him win back his ex. But as they made their way through her list, it was hard to keep feelings just fake. And not fall in love with the other.

His hand on my waist burned.
His eyes stared into mine.
His breaths were so close I felt as much as heard his next words.
“You okay, Kent?” he asked.
“Yeah, I—”
A locker door slammed loud enough to make me jump.

I adored Scarlett! She was determined and focused on her goals. Whether it was the youth mentoring program she worked on, or dedicating hours to become a professional violinist, Scarlet gave her all. So I love that she was brave and wanted to conquer her list! Even if she was skeptical of love. And while she was someone who seemed to like to be in control, I loved watching how Sam pushed her outside her comfort zones in the best possible way. Especially when he was constantly being the object of her attention.

“I’m not crying.”
“Yeah.” He reached forward, cupped my cheek, and gently ran his thumb beneath my eye, capturing a tear that had managed to escape. “Must be my mistake,” he murmured.

Sam was a soccer player who was so effortless to love. He was one of those guys who was sweet, but also sexy. Playful, but could also take charge. I loved every single side of Sam! And the little clues he seemed to be dropping were right there, in front of Scarlett’s face. The way he could say one thing, when it was actually something else had me squealing in joy! Yet Scarlett was too focused on the end game to see what was truly going on. Sam will make you swoon, sigh, and fall in love! I loved him with my whole heart!

Sam was right. I’d imagined my first kiss in a million ways, in different places, different scenarios. But try as I might, even with my overly active imagination, one thing remained the same. There was one face that always came to mind.
His.
But the kiss wasn’t real, I reminded myself.
We did it to seal our agreement and check an item off the list.

Sam and Scarlett used to be the bestest of friends, yet that all fell apart when they went to high school. So there was this tension between them that was delicious. And as they started to check things off Scarlett’s list, it was so easy to fall that much deeper for the two of them. From that first kiss, to spinning, kisses on fingers, practicing with a bystander, to mini golf, there were so many memorable moments! Plus I adored the nickname Sam gave Scarlett. Watching their fake dating and love story unfold was not only so much fun, but it was heartwarming too!

“Mission accomplished.” He grinned, but I just shook my head. Before I could think better of it, I said, “I missed you.”
Sam’s expression sobered. “I’ve been right here, Kent.”
I nodded. “Yeah, but…never mind.”

You know that moment, when what started out as fake, no longer feels that way? When they can’t stop thinking about each other, and the touches and glances just move to another level? O’Gorman executed making the reader feel all of their feelings and angst beautifully! And on top of that, there were so many characters that appeared from previous books in this story! Do you need to read any books before this one? No! But I can’t recommend all of her books enough! Scarlett’s sister’s story was Bookworm fyi ♥.

“One more kiss.”
“Whatever you want,” Sam said and pulled me closer.
Those words would replay a thousand different times in my mind.

Sweetheart was an adorable fake dating romance story that will have you smiling from that first page to the last! There were moments that will make you laugh and also have you falling in love. So if you need a feel good story that will leave you happy, definitely give this one a try! I can’t recommend it enough!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Tips Up by Christina Hill

April 23, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Tips Up by Christina Hill
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Myra wasn’t expecting to get divorced. She also wasn’t planning to book a flight to the Montana mountains to teach herself to ski. But after three glasses of wine—maybe it was four?—and her newly purchased just-for-me underwear, she embarks on her solo ski trip.

There’s just one minor issue, and he’s ten years younger.

Lincoln and his avalanche dog, Otto, moved back to patrol the mountains he grew up skiing. It wasn’t his first choice, but he’s on a different journey now. One he thought would be easier to navigate on and off the slopes than waiting for a stork-delivered girlfriend to drop from the sky. Instead, she rammed into him.

Running into each other had its perks. She now had a fake boyfriend to prove she was definitely not in a divorce-life-crisis. She was, but would rather give up her beloved Gilmore Girls DVD set before admitting it. He just wanted to bring a woman home to impress his family. If only it wasn’t so easy to fake it.

But Myra’s second chance at love and Lincoln’s crash course in speaking his mind might come with more bumps than getting off the chair lift.

For fans of Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez and Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison, readers will swoon and sweat over this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy set in a small town in Montana.

BONUS EPILOGUE available for newsletter subscribers!!

Review:

Tips Up was an age gap, fake dating romance, that was a quick read. But as someone who loves to get emotional when reading a book, I wasn’t able to connect with one of the main characters. And when that happens, I usually struggle enjoying myself throughout the book. There were also some other issues I had, with how the story played out. But don’t mind me standing on my own little island. So many other people on Amazon and Goodreads love this book, and I seem to be the anomaly.

First off I have to say my three favorite things were Lincoln, his dog Otto, and the whole scene before and after something involving a swimsuit. Lincoln was one of the good guys. He was sweet, kind, and lovable. And if you adore men who take charge of a situation, with just a touch or a word, he is your man. Lincoln had me melting time and again. He was so swoon worthy!

My main struggle was that I couldn’t ever connect to Myra, let alone like her. I gave her slack in the beginning of the book, for arguing with an eight year old child. Because I expected her to grow. And while she did grow from that first page to the last, I still couldn’t click with her. I struggled to see what Lincoln saw in her besides their scorching chemistry and someone who was interested in him.

The other struggles I had were with scenes that played out in the pages. Some of them were…

*The dog scene and the bed. Nooooo. That made me go from this is so hot, to being thrown in a cold shower in 2.2 seconds.

*When there’s an age gap, I have no problem whatsoever with that trope. I have multiple family members that have 10-15+ years between them. But when the older person refers to the younger person as a baby-man, newborn baby-man, and says baby-man’s dick that just gives me the ick factor. I can’t do it.

*The ending. I hated it. Yes, it’s a happily ever after. But that’s just not what I thought would pan out.

*I felt like Myra still needed to work on herself, before jumping into a new relationship. When she cried because she saw something, that made me pause. I get that emotions can be messy, but it felt like she shouldn’t sleep with someone, let alone fake dating someone until she had moved on and healed herself.

*I also felt like the reader was supposed to suspend their belief for a few things on the mountain to make the story flow. I’ve read contemporary books, and some arcs, where it states to suspend your belief in this contemporary world and I loved that lol. So I think if you read this story as someone who rarely ever or never skied or snowboarded, then you wouldn’t have the same issues as me. But as someone who spends almost every winter weekend snowboarding, and has a lot of friends that work for ski resorts in all different areas of the business, the two things that bugged me were…

-I really struggled that a ski patrol person would take a beginner on a lift, when they haven’t even tried the basics like pizza on the magic carpet ride. Even when you take lessons, for someone who has never ski/boarded before, you start out on the magic carpet ride. Which is a fraction of a green run, and usually not as steep. Then part way through your lesson, you move over to the bunny/green run. I’m thinking it was probably done this way in the book, so there could be a swoon worthy scene.

-The struggle in the latter half of the book. Oh gosh. I’m thinking this is another thing where I should have suspended my belief? I’ve been to 7 different resorts from tiny to huge and there are sooooo many warnings above and below ☠️ lol. I don’t want to say more than that, because of spoilers, but I really struggled with this scene.

So while this book didn’t work for me, so many other people love it! I think it’s definitely a me issue. And I hope if you pick this one up, that you end up finding everything in the pages to love!

PS How can you not like leftovers? I think chili and soup are always so much more tasty that next day.

BOOK REVIEW: Phishing for Love by Lara Martin

April 20, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Phishing for Love by Lara Martin
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Katherine Center, Phishing for Love is a swoony, laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance.

Phishing: When hackers send malicious emails designed to trick people into falling for a scam.

Phishing test: When organizations send deceptive emails to their own staff to test their response to phishing attacks.

It all started with a cat video.

A video that Tess Miller, a sassy and talented greeting card writer, shouldn’t have clicked on. But cat videos are her kryptonite. And how was she to know the video embedded in the email was a phishing test designed to take down the company she works for?

The infuriating man who tricked and humiliated her? Aaron Sinclair, cybersecurity consultant brought on by her paranoid boss to whip their company into peak security shape. A dark-haired man with a dark past, and an unrelenting thorn in her side.

Buried beneath their mutual animosity, however, is an attraction they both have reasons to fight. Thanks to Aaron, Tess’s boss has labeled her a high security risk and her professional reputation is at stake. A fierce battle of wits ensues as Tess uses every trick not to fall for Aaron’s random phishing tests.

With the end of Aaron’s six-month contract fast approaching, Tess is faced with the looming risk of losing not only her job but also her heart to the man who has tested her in every way possible.

Review:

Phishing for Love was a workplace, enemies to lovers that was an instant favorite! With banter that will make you laugh and sigh, and so many memorable moments, this book was so easy to fall in love with. The characters leapt from the pages and I didn’t want to put this book down. This story was so effortless to love and I can’t recommend it enough if you love grumpy/sunshine adult romance that has the most fabulous slow burn!

This is the moment my ploy backfires dramatically because… those eyes. They seem to see right through me, stripping me bare.

Tess Miller was so relatable, kind, and made me laugh. She worked at a greeting card company along with her two best friends. And from the first moment she met Aaron Sinclair, I was laughing and screaming. Her comment was heard throughout the conference room and I wanted to hide away because of the embarrassment level. So while she definitely put her foot in her mouth, I loved watching Aaron dish it right back!

I turn to see my current nightmare exiting the elevators. My stomach doesn’t know what to do with itself, getting all quivery at the sight of Aaron.

Aaron’s looks had me melting into a puddle on the floor. He was the silent, grumpy type who you just wanted to steal from the pages. So I desperately wanted to know everything he was thinking! In the moments where he would be kind and thoughtful, like thinking picnics weren’t weird, I fell that much harder for him. But I also loved that he could be so tricky. There were moments, like the bet, where I was gasping out loud afterwards and I couldn’t stop the smile on my face! Aaron was a protective, good guy, who pulled on my emotions.

“What happened to ‘sharing is caring?’” he asks, quoting my words back to me.
“It doesn’t apply to my mom. Besides, you don’t seem the kind of man who shares.”
He nods slowly. “You’re right, I’m not.”
For an arrested moment, his eyes hold mine. In their depths, it feels as though there’s a message there for me, a message that sends a shiver through my whole body.

From that first moment they met, I was glued to the pages. Aaron and Tess didn’t seem to like each other, so the tension and banter between them was delicious. I loved how the sparks flew anytime they were near each other. Whether he caught her drawing him as the devil and I was cracking up, to her teasing him with her sexy boots, the chemistry between them simmered! And while some of their banter was laced with barbs, we got to watch as these two souls shared the emotions that were within them. And that they needed to work through. I loved them both so much!

Surrounded by his thoughtfulness, I fall just a little bit more.

But I have to say….I had some horrible thoughts. The moment Nathan popped up on the pages, I was not a fan. I mean, who doesn’t laugh at Friends? That’s a deal breaker for me right there haha. But there were so many other characters I adored! Mevia was hilarious with her ability to find out all the gossip. And I loved Tess’s best friends and their vending machine moments and texts. They made me laugh and I wanted to be besties with all of them! I also adored the close relationship she had with her parents and grandma. And while I struggled with her sister and some of her choices, I’m excited that she is getting her own book! I feel like she has so much room to grow and I can’t wait to watch it unfold!

My lips part and my head tilts back as his fingers skim the base of my throat and glide up my neck to cradle my jaw. I hear his breathing quicken.

This book made me laugh so much! But it also had an emotional side that cut so deep. I cried multiple times. So with characters that you’ll fall in love with and an epilogue that was everything, I can’t recommend this closed door romance enough! If you adore the feelings you’ve gotten while reading a Christina Lauren, Melanie Harlow, Lauren Layne or Livy Hart book, you desperately need this story in your life!

PS, I just loved this quote and wanted to share this one too…

I think, this is what everyone deserves to have. And I’m so very, very grateful I have it, because when that giant tidal wave comes out of nowhere and breaks over you, threatening to drag you under, friends and family are who you cling to. People with deep, strong roots.
I close my eyes and take comfort in two truths: I am strong. I am loved.

BOOK REVIEW: Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber

April 15, 2024 / Jen / 1 Comment

Caraval (Caraval #1)
by Stephanie Garber
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Welcome, welcome to CARAVAL, Stephanie Garber’s enchanting, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling fantasy debut about two sisters swept up in a mysterious competition filled with magic, heartbreak, and danger

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful and cruel father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to attend. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, and her sister disappears forever.

Continue the adventure in Legendary and Finale―out now!

Review:

Caraval was a young adult fantasy that swept me away. This book completely enraptured me and I had to know what happened next. With jealousy, trust, betrayal, and love filling the pages, I absolutely adored this story! But just a heads up, you definitely want to read this before Once Upon a Broken Heart. I was told otherwise, and I wish I hadn’t read OUABH first. There was a huge spoiler for me, that made me realize a scene was not what it seemed, ugh.

For the first time in her life, she’d felt special. Chosen. But once again, rather than feeling as if she were playing the game, it seemed as if the game were playing with her.

Scarlett was someone I easily liked. She tried her best to protect her sister from her father’s wrath. And she thought her arranged marriage would help her and her sister, Tella, escape from the little tiny island they lived on. So her lifelong dream of attending Caraval was fading away, until she got an invitation to attend this year. Tella and a sailor took Scarlett to Caraval, yet not everything was what it seemed. Tella was taken by the creator of Caraval, and whoever found her first was not only the winner, but got a wish too.

Scarlett tried to wiggle free, but the look on his face stopped her. He’d never stared at her like this before. Sometimes he gazed at her as if he wanted to be her undoing, but just then it was as if he wanted her to undo him.

From the moment Scarlett found herself on the boat with Julian, I was hooked. I loved that he called her Crimson. And while Julian was a complete mystery, I loved the tiny bit that we knew. He seemed to have a kind heart and his humor cracked me up. Yet Julian had many shades of gray. And I wondered what secrets he was keeping from Scarlet, because he seemed to know more than he shared. So while I didn’t understand why I could be so nervous for a man that seemed to have lies swirling around him, I couldn’t deny I had fallen for him. He captured me so easily in his web.

“Julian,” she said in a whisper, as if anything louder would destroy the delicacy of the moment, “why are you doing this?”
His amber-flecked eyes met hers, and something in them made her breathing hitch. “I’d think that answer was obvious.”

The pages were filled with riddles galore, and I was glued to this story. The world Scarlett found herself in was shrouded in mystery. And it seemed like there were wisps of magic everywhere. From her dress, to those she met, to even what her eyes witnessed, it had to be magic. Or maybe you just weren’t supposed to trust what you saw. But as the story unfolded, Scarlett learned that this game had a deadlier side. Death, blood, and loss could be found in the pages. And scenes left me staring in shock. I couldn’t believe what had happened. Who knew Caraval was so dangerous…..

Scarlett didn’t know how many times she repeated his name. She said it like a prayer. A plea. A whisper. A good-bye.

If you love young adult fantasy, I can’t recommend this book enough! And if you love romance laced into your stories, you’ll definitely be happy. The earrings, day of life and message in the clock had my heart soaring! The moments that Scarlett and Julian were together, were everything! Now I’m excited to read Tella’s story next!

BOOK REVIEW: Ship of Shadows (Stolen Crowns #2) by Tee Harlowe

April 10, 2024 / Jen / 0 Comments

Ship of Shadows (Stolen Crowns #2)
by Tee Harlowe
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
He broke my heart once. Now working with him might shatter it for good.

I’m chained to my crown. Queen of a court I don’t want. Ever since my brothers and father disappeared, I’ve been forced to rule, to give up the freedom I crave.

It’s all the pirate lord’s fault. Bastian Lore sailed into my life, charmed me completely—then betrayed me. The scoundrel kidnapped my brothers and delivered them straight to the shadow court where they’re trapped, their shadows now under the court’s control.

Worse, Bastian has returned—and his offer to rescue my brothers and find my missing father is too good to be true. All he wants in return? My help finding a cure for his mysterious illness. I don’t trust him, but if anyone can navigate the shadow court and get my family back, it’s him.

He’s as charming as ever. But I can’t fall for him again. If I’m not careful, it won’t just be my heart that I lose—it’ll be my family, my court… and my life.

Ship of Shadows is book two in Stolen Crowns, a series of steamy standalone but interconnected fairytale retellings. This enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance is perfect for fans of banter, (very) snarky heroines, and slow-burn fantasy romance.

Review:

Ship of Shadows was a beautifully, captivating retelling that was Disney meets romantasy! It was Peter Pan, yet with Hook as the love interest, and wrapped around the tale was also The Little Mermaid. I loved this book! The characters came alive, the story was impossible to put down, and I loved how elements of the original tale played out but also found new light. The twists and turns were fabulous, and the ending had me closing the book smiling!

“Do not speak to me like that,” I said, stepping forward. “I am the princess of Apolis, and you will address me as such, or you’ll lose your tongue.”
Bastian chuckled darkly. “You won’t cut out my tongue, not when you know firsthand all the things I can do with it.”

While this can easily be read as a standalone, I can’t recommend reading Mirror of Malice first. There you meet our main heroine, Princess Gabrielle. Her brothers were taken by the pirate lord, Bastian Lore. And then her father and his men disappeared too. She was to become Queen, yet that wasn’t what her heart wanted. With Bastian back and promising to help get her brothers, in exchange for finding a cure for an illness, Gabrielle’s world was going to get turned upside down. The man had already broken her heart once, how could she trust him? Yet what unfolded was the most fantastical journey that had me glued to the pages!

Our entire relationship was stolen moments. Secret trysts. A lie.

From those first few words out of Bastian’s mouth, I was a goner. He was protective, ruthless, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect those he cared for. He was feared, yet underneath that gruff exterior was a heart of gold, or at least I hoped. From the moments he seemed to show he cared, like the fireworks, I fell that much more in love with him. Bastian made me laugh, smile and when he shared little pieces of his past, it made the stars shine brighter!

Second star to the right, he’d said. That’s our star.

Gabrielle tugged at my heart. She was trapped with a future she didn’t want. Her brothers were taken by the man she had fallen in love with. And when she boarded Bastian’s ship, everyone hated her. Her loneliness pierced deep into me. Yet through it all, she was resilient. I loved watching her use her water magic. I loved her finding a way into those hearts around her. And I loved watching her use her cunningness to try and stay one step ahead of others. Yet, Gabrielle also double crossed Bastian. So there were many shades of gray within the pages!

“I’m trying to be so good,” he whispered, “when all I want is to be so very bad.”
I didn’t move, letting his words, his breath, his scent, wash over me.

Bastian and Gabrielle together were explosive. The sexual tension could be seen with every look, touch, and word between them. There was an enemies to lovers vibe there. And the secrets they both kept were numerous. Yet through it all, they both acted like they were trying to protect the other. And while I’m super picky about second chance romance, this one was done fabulously! So when there were moments between them that were more, the steam was perfect too!

There were a million reasons not to do this. Yet with his voice so soft, so vulnerable, I couldn’t make myself care about a single one.

Along for the ride were Bastian’s crew, Driscoll and Leoni. I adored the two women on Bastian’s crew and Driscoll. Driscoll made me laugh numerous times! Yet Leoni and I never clicked. I’m hoping that will change with a future book. Within the story, there were so many moments that had me smiling in joy! I loved how elements from the original tales played out. So many of them twisted in ways that were shocking and unique. I’m not going to say much besides walking the plank part and afterwards, the cabin, and many more were some of my top favorites!

He dipped his head down, a question in his eyes, and I answered, tipping my head up. He brushed his lips against mine.

Ships of Shadows was filled with twists and turns, moments that will make you laugh and fall in love, and the ending was perfect! This second chance, enemies to lovers vibe romance swept me away! With found family and forced proximity laced within the pages, it just made me love this book even more! I’m so excited to see what happens next in this world, and I have a guess about what two fairy tales it will be. I can’t wait!

He placed his hand over mine. “Then who do you need me to be if not your hero?”
A grin spread across my face. “I need you to be what you’re best at. The pirate lord of the Dark Seas.”

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*