Hidden Legacy Series Book 5: Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews

Hidden Legacy Book 5

As Prime magic users, Catalina Baylor and her sisters have extraordinary powers—powers their ruthless grandmother would love to control. Catalina can earn her family some protection working as deputy to the Warden of Texas, overseeing breaches of magic law in the state, but that has risks as well. When House Baylor is under attack and monsters haunt her every step, Catalina is forced to rely on handsome, dangerous Alessandro Sagredo, the Prime who crushed her heart. 

The nightmare that Alessandro has fought since childhood has come roaring back to life, but now Catalina is under threat. Not even his lifelong quest for revenge will stop him from keeping her safe, even if every battle could be his last. Because Catalina won't rest until she stops the use of the illicit, power-granting serum that's tearing their world apart. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49053880-emerald-blaze

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

And here I thought the previous book was amazing. This book just blew that one out of the water. SO FREAKING GOOD! So this book picks up six months after the previous one. To try and get over her broken heart when Alessandro left, Catalina has thrown herself into her work. She has responsibilities and a family to protect at all costs. And with the deal she made with her evil grandmother, her happy ending wasn't going to happen anyway. But things take a turn when her secret job makes her take on a new assignment. And that assignment leads her right back to the man who broke her heart. Yep, Alessandro Sagredo is back. Except, he isn't exactly the same as he once was. Something changed him. Gone is the secretive man who couldn't tell Catalina anything. Now, when it comes to her, he is an open book. And his big plans? Protect Catalina at all costs and never let her go again. As the two of them sort out their romantic issues, there is something big doing down. A battle different than any of them have ever faced. Seriously, crazy crazy thing. And I seriously couldn't figure out their plan to take down such an odd creature. Loved this book. Seriously, great great book. And just a heads up! The epilogue is crazy. A cliffhanger where I was like back up please. But!! No worries! You just gotta read The Cool Aunt short that is in Arabella's point of view after you finish the book. And only after you finish the book. Made me feel tons better to read it. And Ilona Andrews will post it on her blog in a few weeks after release date. So be sure to check it out!! Again, great story. If you loved the previous books this one takes it to new levels.

 

Stonefire Dragons Book 13: Treasured by the Dragon by Jessie Donovan

Stonefire Dragons Book 13

If someone had told Dawn Chadwick that she’d be attending a play put on by children on a dragon-shifter’s land a year ago, she would’ve said they were mad. However, her daughter Daisy has slowly worn Dawn down about her prejudices and she ends up volunteering to help with the play. She’s to assist an eccentric dragonman with the special effects. What she didn’t count on was her daughter’s meddling.

Blake Whitby prefers working in a lab to being around people. He’s a rare white dragon with a black spot, and the attention from a young age has made him hide from others. However, he’s always had a weakness for children and agrees to help them with their play. What he didn’t count on was meeting a beautiful human with a sense of humor and a heart-warming smile. His dragon wants her, but Blake holds back. At least until two kids make holding back impossible.

While Dawn agrees to the mate-claim frenzy with Blake, there’s no guarantee their pairing will work. And when Dawn’s family threatens to cut her and Daisy off, Blake has to convince them both he wants them as his future.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53238350-treasured-by-the-dragon

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I was so excited for this story since Daisy is such a beloved character and we got a sneak peek of her mom, Dawn, and Blake in the last mini story featuring Daisy. Now we get to see the results of Daisy and Freddie's plan to find someone to love at Stonefire. When an accidental kiss kicks off the mating frenzy between Dawn and Blake, Dawn only has a few days to decide if she wants to go through the frenzy before Blake's dragon is no longer subdued. Dawn's ex left when Daisy was a toddler. He couldn't handle kids and walked away forever. Dawn has done her best to raise Daisy on her own but she wasn't sure if a second chance at love was in the cards for her. Meanwhile, Blake never thought he would want a mate. Self-conscious about being a rare white dragon with a black spot, he likes to keep to himself and stay away. But when his true-mate comes along, he wonders if his dragon was right in having a mate. They speed date and decide to go for it. And just when they think they can fall in love and have a happily ever after, their family is threatened by an unexpected source. Can they find a way to be together or will their newfound family be torn apart? Loved this book! Always love diving into this world. And this one was especially fun since we got a sneak peek before. Can't wait for more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
 

Crave Series Book 1: Crave by Tracy Wolff

Crave Book 1

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45892228-crave

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I loved this book. The best part was that it took me by surprise when it came to loving it. Months ago, I must have seen something about this book on a Facebook book group. I'm sure someone raved about it and I must have looked it up and decided huh, I'll request it from the library. Then I get a call from the library the other day that the book is in and I'm like cool. Don't remember what this book is about, but based on cover probably vampires. Awesome. It's on my desk for a while cause I was reading other books. Then I pick it up yesterday thinking I better try this because better to know now if I like it or not. And after a pages or so, I'm hooked. I'm thinking huh, this is actually intriguing, let's see where this is going and then next thing I knew i was sucked in and read probably half the book in one night. And then the rest today. It was amazing and I cannot wait for book 2! So after Grace loses her parents, her uncle takes her in and she moves to Alaska where her uncle is the headmaster and her cousin is a student. Though Grace may not understand exactly what is going on at the school, she knows there is something different about it. And her arrival brings on a whole lot of chaos. Her life is constantly put in danger. She can't understand the different groups of the school just yet. And she is attracted to the most dangerous person at the school: Jaxon. The attraction between them is absolute despite his hot and cold attitude that warns her to stay away. There was just so much to this book. Loved the magic creatures we got to see. Loved the overall role of magic. Loved the romance between Grace and Jaxon. The interesting characters and the many, many twists and turns to this story. The ending especially was a shock. Seriously recommend and I can't wait for more.
 

Black Dagger Brotherhood Prison Camp Book 1: The Jackal by J.R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood Prison Camp Book 1

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sinner brings another hot adventure of true love and ultimate sacrifice in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world.

The location of the glymera’s notorious prison camp was lost after the raids. When a freak accident provides Nyx clues to where her sister may still be doing time, she becomes determined to find the secret subterranean labyrinth. Embarking on a journey under the earth, she learns a terrible truth—and meets a male who changes everything forever.

The Jackal has been in the camp for so long he cannot recall anything of the freedom he once knew. Trapped by circumstances out of his control, he helps Nyx because he cannot help himself. After she discovers what happened to her sister, getting her back out becomes a deadly mission for them both.

United by a passion they can’t deny, they work together on an escape plan for Nyx—even though their destiny is to be forever apart. And as the Black Dagger Brotherhood is called upon for help, and Rhage discovers he has a half-brother who’s falsely imprisoned, a devious warden plots the deaths of them all…even the Brothers. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48838076-the-jackal

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The Black Dagger Brotherhood world gets better and better. We were introduced to a bunch of a new characters in this book and I can't wait to read their stories. This book follows Jackal and Nyx. Jackal has been in the prison for over a century for a crime he did not commit. Nyx gets a lucky break on finding out the location of the prison and decides to enter it alone in the hopes of finding her sister who was sent there fifty years ago. Nyx ends up lucky that Jackal is the one to find here. Anyone else and she could have been super dead. He helps her find what she is looking for: confirmation that her sister is dead or is still alive. Then he plans to get her out of there. Their time together may be short hours wise, but it feels like a lifetime in the prison. Meanwhile, we see flashbacks of Rhage when he met Jackal and their encounter with Darius. At this point in time Darius is looking to build the legendary mansion that will be the home of the Brotherhood and their families and has recruited the Jackal to help him. And Rhage is stuck at the home of an aristocrat after being injured. I loved seeing Darius again in this flashback. It was so nice to see him getting this project started because he truly believed that one day they would all use it. This story was overall a great one. Jackal is such an interesting character and we got to meet some of his prison friends who remind me so much of the Brothers and the Bastards and I hope one day they will all meet. This story was a great peek into another aspect of this world and I can't wait for more!

 

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Space-obsessed 12-year-old Paola Santiago and her two best friends, Emma and Dante, know the rule: Stay away from the river. It's all they've heard since a schoolmate of theirs drowned a year ago. Pao is embarrassed to admit that she has been told to stay away for even longer than that, because her mother is constantly warning her about La Llorona, the wailing ghost woman who wanders the banks of the Gila at night, looking for young people to drag into its murky depths.

Hating her mother's humiliating superstitions and knowing that she and her friends would never venture into the water, Pao organizes a meet-up to test out her new telescope near the Gila, since it's the best stargazing spot. But when Emma never arrives and Pao sees a shadowy figure in the reeds, it seems like maybe her mom was right. . . .

Pao has always relied on hard science to make sense of the world, but to find her friend she will have to enter the world of her nightmares, which includes unnatural mist, mind-bending monsters, and relentless spirits controlled by a terrifying force that defies both logic and legend.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49089021-paola-santiago-and-the-river-of-tears

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Another great addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. I really loved this story! Tehlor Kay Mejia does a great job! We follow Paola, the smart, very logical scientist who just can't understand why her mom insists that La Llorna and all other myths as real. She is a scientist and trusts that above else. But one evening, she goes to meet up with her best friends, Emma and Dante, to watch the stars and Emma doesn't show up. Paola's mother had warned her never to go near the river and that kids keep going missing. It isn't long before Paola and Dante decide to go after their friend. What they don't expect is to be pulled into a world that shouldn't exist. Where monsters are real and there is something dark taking the children. It's a crazy adventure, with lots of great characters and interesting creatures. Paola and Dante learn to be heroes and find a way to rescue their friend. Great story! Can't wait for book two.

 

The Twilight Saga (book 5): Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight Saga Book 5 

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53287484-midnight-sun

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My Review: 3/5 Stars

I have to say it was pretty weird jumping back into the world of Twilight. I haven't read the books in a long time. And I had read them multiple times in the past because I loved them so much. But with time, tastes change. I probably would have been super excited to read this book back when I was into the series. Jumping into it now, it was nice to read but I have to admit there were some things I was surprised about. First off, the book was long. I was shocked to find it was over 600, nearly 700 pages. I had to go back and pick up my Twilight book to check the page count. I guess compared to Breaking Dawn, I thought the rest were smaller. They were big books, but Midnight Sun was a lot longer than the original Twilight. I guess Edward had a lot more to say! And he did. 

It was super neat getting in his head. You learned a lot of things. His thoughts on every interaction and of course the thoughts of those around him. Early on, you got a way better sense of the Cullens and even Billy and Jacob and their history. You get to really see how hard it was for Edward to be around Bella. I did appreciate that perspective. We get her point of view in the other books and we see him struggling sometimes around her, but I never really understand what that translated to. I understand now and I gotta give Edward more credit on fighting against his vampire nature. And you can see just how strongly he believes in wanting to keep Bella human and why. This book was really nice to clear up a lot of those things. And of course any moment when you read Twilight and was like oh man, I wonder how this looks from Edward's point of view. 

So overall, pretty good. The one thing that probably bothered me the most was the fact that the book was so long. And I love long books, but what I really mean here is the pace. It just felt like it took forever to get to certain places and for the story to speed up. I kept wanting to be like okay, let's keep it moving. And you know, part of that I understood because Edward literally hears everyone and he just had a lot to think about and do (and of course don't forget the boy doesn't sleep). Overall, it was a good addition to the series I once was obsessed with. My inner high school self was ecstatic to revisit this world. It's been a long time! 

True North Series Book 7: Heartland by Sarina Bowen

True North Book 7

An emotional friends to lovers romance full of risky secrets and late-night lessons in seduction.

Dylan is my best friend, and the only person in my life who understands me. He doesn’t mind my social awkwardness or my weird history. The only glitch? He doesn’t know that I’ve been hopelessly, desperately in love with him since the first day we picked apples together in his family’s orchard.

But I know better than to confess.

Now that we’re both in college together, I’m seeing a new side of him. College Dylan drinks and has a lot of sex. None of it with me.

Until the night I foolishly ask him to tutor me in more than algebra…and he actually says yes.

But the cool morning light shows me how badly I’ve endangered our friendship. And I don’t know if anything will be the same again. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49110367-heartland

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I made it to the most recent book of the True North series (both yay and nooo! at the same time). Dylan's turn and I don't know why I didn't realize that the heroine in this book was Chastity. Probably because the back of the book doesn't actually say her name... either way it was a nice surprise to see her name on page one! We met Chastity for the first time in Zach's book. She was another runaway and survivor of their crazy cult. Now two years later, she has a better sense of the world and is even attending college. Another thing that happened? She's in love with her best friend Dylan and he has no idea. Dylan hasn't had it that easy either. He was the one who found his dad when he died of a heart attack and he has carried guilt all these years for not being there. He's done a good job of hiding what he really feels and doesn't make promises. At least the kind of promises when it comes to love and relationships. But the chemistry between Dylan and Chastity is an epic surprise to both of them. And it takes them a bit to figure out what that means. I loved their story. They're just two college kids who are older than their years and have been through a lot. Though it helps when they know one another so well and just truly understand the other. Again, loved their story and I can't wait to read the next one whenever that one comes out! Hopefully very soon!

True North Series Book 6: Fireworks by Sarina Bowen

 

True North Book 6

Skye Copeland is on paid leave from her broadcasting job after accidentally drawing a pecker on the traffic map.

Let that sink in. Like it’s her fault the traffic pattern created a perfect schlong?

Skye isn’t laughing. She needs this job. And that’s the only reason she’s willing to chase down a story in her least favorite place—that hell on earth known as Vermont.

A quick trip. In and out. Much like - never mind. She can sneak into the town that once tried to break her, get the story and slide back into the good graces of her producer. Easy peasy.

But things go sideways the moment she steps over the county line. Her stepsister is running from a violent drug dealer. And the cop on the case is none other than Benito Rossi, the man who broke Skye’s teenage heart.

His dark brown eyes still tear her apart. And even as she steels herself to finally tell him off after twelve years, the old fireworks are still there.

Things are about to go boom.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41950855-fireworks

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Benito! Or as his baby niece calls him, Bimbo! Despite the seriousness and bit of heartbreaking flashbacks, this story had some funny moments when you get previous characters involved. But boy, this was a good story. Benito and Skye were separated for twelve years. Skye's year in Vermont when she was sixteen led her to meeting the love of her life (though they didn't even get a chance to have an actual romantic relationship) and keeping on her toes to avoid her mom's latest fling, a seriously bad dude. The same bad dude that twelve years later, Benito is trying to bust for a drug case. Skye vanished on Benito all those years ago. Both of them left with broken hearts. But now Skye is back in Vermont and finds herself being pulled in the middle of Benito's drug case by her step-sister. Both are shocked to see one another, and it is Benito who declares he won't lose Skye again. Reading their flashbacks was heartbreaking. Especially when you learn the truth of why Skye ran away and how they both ended up with broken hearts. Communication! And even after all these years there is no denying the two of them still have deep feelings for one another. Great story. On top of rekindling their love, they are in the middle of this dangerous drug case, so it ups the ante. Just another great addition to this series and as usual I can't wait for the next one! 

True North Series Book 5: Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen

True North Book 5

Sometimes you fall for Mr. Right. And sometimes for Mr. Right Now…

May

Did you hear the one about the girl who walks into a bar and catches her live-in lover kissing someone else? No? You’re the only one in town who missed it.

Luckily Alec is there to wrap me up in strong arms and carry me out the door before things get too ugly. And that’s not all Alec is good at. Our unexpected chemistry makes him the perfect rebound guy.

Alec

I should know better than to hook up with my rival’s little sister, but the fiery look in May’s eyes really turns my crank. She needs cheering up, and I’m just the guy for the job.

It’s not like I’ll fall in love. Not even after a string of scorching hot trysts, and the realization that we’re good at the same things: wild nights and familial disappointment. I don’t do love, never have, never will. So this is the perfect arrangement, for both of us.

Nobody would approve, but nobody has to know… 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40229990-speakeasy

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

May and Alec's story definitely became a favorite of mine. Both of their characters are great. And Alec is especially hilarious. In the story they refer to themselves as a fun couple and how fun the two of them together are, and it is definitely true. So this story starts off with May finding out her girlfriend was cheating on her and before she can make a big scene about it, Alec is there to hold her back. They've been more acquaintances than friends over the years, but for the first time they really get a chance to be in one another's company. And the subtle attraction between them fully blossoms to the point where they become hookup buddies. Too bad friends with benefits is a lost cause and emotion always wins. May doesn't want to jump into a new relationship. She is still struggling with being an alcoholic and her sexuality and though she is doing very well, she is still afraid of making wrong decisions. And her last relationship wasn't exactly stellar. Meanwhile, Alec never thought he was a relationship guy. Afraid of commitment, he figures he can be May's rebound and things will be okay. But he is the first one to realize that he actually has feelings and May has truly changed him. If only he can convince her that they could be a couple for real. Really loved their story. Lots of laughing following their banter. And just an overall great addition to this series and I can't wait for more!

True North Series Book 4: Bountiful by Sarina Bowen

True North Book 4

No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules. Now a USA Today bestseller!

Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling—a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on.

Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life.

Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave From Brooklyn will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.

Hockey star Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.

Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards—and hard won love—are Bountiful.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36446896-bountiful

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When you read the Brooklyn Bruisers series, you want Dave's story. When you read the True North series, you want Zara's. So I'm happy to say that Bountiful gets to satisfy that need and it was a great one! Been waiting to read this one since Brooklyn Bruisers, but I wanted to make sure I read the previous True North books first. Loved this story! Once upon a time a bartender and a hockey player had some multiple one night stands. They kept it casual knowing that it couldn't really bloom into a relationship, but little did they know their affair would have some consequences. Two years later, Zara has a little girl who is a little over a year old and with her father's red, fiery hair. Dave returns to Vermont for another summer vacation. Glad to be back in a place he came to love and to hopefully Zara again. Though he gets quite the shocker to find out he is a father. As Zara and Dave try to find their footing with being in one another's lives and having a child together, things get complicated when feelings return. Loved their story so much. It was great to see their happily ever after. And of course the bringing together of lots of characters I loved between the two series. So glad that these two series exist in the same world. This was a great addition to both series! 

 

True North Series Book 3: Keepsake by Sarina Bowen

True North Book 3

 There's a first time for everything.

Lark Wainwright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.

When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.

Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.

Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.

Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he's good for much more than farm labor. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32791390-keepsake

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Zach's turn! Zach didn't have any easy childhood. He grew up in a cult that threw him out when he was a teenager and then hitchhiked his way to Vermont where he spent the last several years working on the Shipley Farm. The family basically adopted him and helped him figure out the world. Which of course includes watching classic movies and lots of pop culture. He's quiet and tends to keep to himself but is blown away when he learns that Lark is going to be working on the farm for the season. He's had a small crush on her since he met her several months before but he had no idea what to even do about that. He wonders how he is gonna make it through the season without staring at her all day. Meanwhile, Lark hasn't had it easy. An oversea work trip led to her being kidnapped. She was lucky to make it out of there alive but she is nonetheless scared from her endeavor. Nightmares plague her most nights but the strange thing is, Zach is the only one who can actually comfort her and make her feel safe. As they get to know one another little by little, the passion between them is undeniable. But can Lark really have a relationship when her scars are still bleeding pretty heavily? Really great book. Lark and Zach are such strong characters. Both have had their trauma and have to learn to move on and be free of it. They're perfect for one another. Great, great story. 

True North Series Book 2: Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

 

Truth North Series Book 2

She’s the only one who ever loved him—and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there's no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never turn up volunteer in the church kitchen.

She knows it’s foolish to yearn for the man who returned all the heartsick letters she wrote him in prison. But the looks he sends her now speak volumes.

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie's police chief father. But it's a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29087455-steadfast

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Jude's story and boy was it a good one! We met Jude in the first book and he was trying to gain footing after completing rehab after he was released from jail. With the season at the Shipley farm being over, he heads back home where he will be tested to keep up his streak of being sober. What he doesn't expect is for the love of his life to still be in Colebury. Sophie hasn't really moved on from the accident that took her brother's life and her ex-boyfriend's involvement. She just wants the truth of what happened and for Jude to look her in the eye after breaking her heart. Their paths cross and the pull between them is still strong. But there is so much that still threatens to keep them apart. Jude doesn't believe he deserves Sophie and he is still struggling with his cravings. Sophie decides to look more closely at the accident and her father's wrath is beyond scary and threatening. It's a hard journey for both of them, but they learn that being together is worth fighting for. I really loved this story. Lots of twists and turns to this one. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

Midnight Sun by Trish Cook

Seventeen-year-old Katie Price has a rare disease that makes exposure to even the smallest amount of sunlight deadly. Confined to her house during the day, her company is limited to her widowed father and her best (okay, only) friend. It isn't until after nightfall that Katie's world opens up, when she takes her guitar to the local train station and plays for the people coming and going.

Charlie Reed is a former all-star athlete at a crossroads in his life - and the boy Katie has secretly admired from afar for years. When he happens upon her playing guitar one night, fate intervenes and the two embark on a star-crossed romance.

As they challenge each other to chase their dreams and fall for each other under the summer night sky, Katie and Charlie form a bond strong enough to change them - and everyone around them - forever.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34152811-midnight-sun

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

I watched the movie a while back and loved it despite the fact that it made me cry super hard. And then I found a book versions. Which if you have seen the movie it is exactly like the book. Not many differences but still the sad ending. For those who have never read or watch the movie (I recommend both!), this story follows Katie Price. She has a rare disease called XP. Basically she can't go out in the sun or risk getting very sick and dying. The night she graduates high school she goes out to the train station to play her guitar and sing and meets (officially) Charlie Reed. The boy she watched from outside her window since she was a kid. And when he asks her out she is beyond happy and afraid. Afraid for him to know the truth so soon. So she begs her dad and her best friend to let her be normal just for a little while. As they go out on date nights and fall a little more in love every day, she knows that timing is running out and she will have to tell Charlie the truth. But one night doesn't go as planned and it changes everything. A beautiful love story in many ways. And though the ending breaks my heart, it is still a great story.

True North Series Book 1: Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen

True North Series Book 1

The new series is set in Vermont. True North is populated by the tough, outdoorsy mountain men that populate the Green Mountain State. They raise cows and they grow apples. They chop a lot of wood, especially when they need to blow off steam. (Beards are optional but encouraged.)

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28161530-bittersweet

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Going through a Sarina Bowen phase and I have moved on to the True North series. Mostly because I know book four will have a character from the Brooklyn Bruisers series and I've been waiting for his story and have received some spoilers. But oh well! Anyway, book one of this series follows Griff and Audrey. Griff is running the family farm ever since his dad died and knows that he can't fail because failing would be failing to support his big family. He lives to take care of his family and there isn't anything he wouldn't do for them. He eve gave up a chance to go the NFL. What he doesn't expect is for Audrey to show up at his farm. A girl he hooked up with in college and actually wanted to date, but she never called him back. All those feelings come rushing back and he doesn't want to lose her again. Audrey has had a hard time really succeeding at anything. When she finally finds her calling in cooking, she puts herself through culinary school and is now interning with a company she hopes will give her, her big break. They end up throwing her in an impossible situation that leads her to Griff. Sparks fly between the two of them once more but things are rarely easy. Audrey needs to do well at her job and Griff needs to keep the farm from failing. Can they find a way to be together and also fulfill their dreams? Really loved their story. And I love this new set of characters that we are introduced to. I can't wait to read all their stories!

Hate Thy Neighbor by S.M. Soto

Fresh out of a failed engagement, Olivia Hales is in dire need of a fresh start. Tired of being the charming and accommodating girl that always gets stomped on, she’s determined to change her outlook on life.

When she finds her dream job in a small town in California, she thinks she’s finally found her place in life. That is, until she meets her new neighbor.

Roman Banks.

Moody. Foul-mouthed. Jerk.

And the hottest man on the planet.

At a sprawling six foot five, he was coldly distant and physically intimidating. Not only was her new neighbor a God that was good with his hands, he was also a grade-A jerk. Trapped on the same street, sharing the same space together, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous, never-ending game of insults and pranks that result in the destruction of two perfectly good homes.

The tension between them is as thick as the walls of their houses are thin. Roman’s touch burned like fire even when his words were ice, and both of them will stop at nothing to make the others life hell.

In the midst of the pranks and the hate they harbor for each other, Olivia slowly pulls back the layers of the man next door and finds herself consumed with wanting to fix him and his past. When both enemies start to catch feelings for each other, Olivia finds herself hiding her own secrets, not wanting to lose another man in her life.

Lines are drawn. Strict rules put into place. But that doesn’t stop Olivia from wanting to save the quiet, broody man next door.

They say you’re supposed to love thy neighbor, but that was the furthest emotion she felt when thinking about Roman. Hate was all there was to their relationship. At the very least, that’s what she tried to tell herself. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46141161-hate-thy-neighbor

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Probably one of the best definitions of enemies to lovers trope. When Olivia moves away from home after a bad breakup for a chance to be independent she is ecstatic. Finally, a chance to stand on her own two feet and prove that she can do anything. What she doesn't expect is the unexplainable cold shoulder and overall coldness from her next door neighbor, Roman. He might as well be Mr. Freeze over there. Olivia just wants to find out why she is on his bad side but it usually results in tempers being sparked between the two. And those tempers soon lead to an all out prank war. Absolutely hilarious. It isn't until a prank goes wrong do we realize why Roman is the way he is. He has one goal and Olivia threatens to throw his rule book out the window. And Olivia has her own secret too. This book is full of emotional whiplash, hilarious moments and characters, and sweet romantic moments when Olivia and Roman decide to cool down on the fighting. I had a lot of fun reading this book. And when it was done there was a bonus epilogue, which though sad to read, it was a sneak peek of their future and another book for the next generation. Great book! 

10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

Companion to When Dimple Met Rishi

The delightful follow-up to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something about Sweetie, which follows Ashish’s friends Pinky and Samir as they pretend to date in order to achieve their individual goals, to disastrous and hilarious results.

Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few…quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions she’s made (a.k.a. boyfriends she’s had), she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer.

When Samir’s internship falls through, leaving him with an unplanned summer, he gets a text from Pinky asking if he’ll be her fake boyfriend in exchange for a new internship. He jumps at the opportunity; Pinky’s a weirdo, but he can survive a summer with her if there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they'll never forget. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52753485-10-things-i-hate-about-pinky

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Finally! We get Samir and Pinky's story. These two have been circling one another for what feels like forever, though in reality it is just from the last book, There's Something About Sweetie. Complete and polar opposites Samir and Pinky aren't supposed to make sense. They fight all the time and are constantly sniping at one another. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Pinky is tired of her mother constantly accusing her of things she didn't do and just her overall attitude toward Pinky. When emotions run high she tells her parents that she is dating a nice guy for once! Too bad he doesn't exist...yet. Samir was looking forward to his internship in DC. His first taste of freedom since forever. He's had a rough amount of years with his mom being sick and since she recovered, he still hasn't let go of his scheduled and controlled life. But when he arrives in DC, he learns that the internship falls through. Now what? After Pinky learns that Samir's internship fell through, she thinks she found her solution. Bring home the nice boy that her parents would approve of and they will get off her back. She makes a deal with Samir, be her fake boyfriend for the summer at their lake house in the east coast and in return she'll get him an internship with her mom at her law office. And somehow Samir finds himself accepting. A summer of fake dating between Samir and Pinky, what could go wrong? You got to love their arguments. Very entertaining and these two know how to get under one another's skin. But when they aren't fighting, things get real. And soon they find that they have more in common than they thought. And that they are rocks for one another. Sturdy and can just simply to one another. They balance one another. And with each day that goes by they find themselves falling for one another a little more each day. But will it just lead to heartbreak? Will they be too different? I really loved this story. Lot of fun and it filled with such sweet moments between Pinky and Samir. Great book!