Tag: Banter

Catching Feelings | Maren Moore

Posted 05/06/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Series: Orleans University #2
Published by Independent Publisher on 03/22/2024
Format: Kindle (356 Pages) 📖 Purchased
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Reese Landry is not what he appears to be. Sure, he’s Orleans University’s all-star catcher and the number one MLB draft pick. And there is no question that he’s devastatingly handsome, my-family-owns-a-private-jet rich, and stupidly charming. But underneath that silver-spoon playboy appearance, he’s sweeter than honey, the kindest soul you’ll ever meet, and much to his chagrin, the bane of Vivienne Brentwood’s existence. Vivienne Brentwood is an introverted extrovert who’s obsessed with all things spooky. When Viv was in 11th grade, her dad passed away, and her mom has been consumed by depression ever since. Viv has had […]

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The Undermining of Twyla and Frank | Megan Bannen

Posted 05/03/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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All-Time Favorite
Series: Hart and Mercy #2
Published by Orbit on 07/02/2024
Format: DRC (464 Pages) 📖 NetGalley
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Did I drop everything to read this book the second I was approved for the ARC? Yes, yes, I did. Did I lose countless hours of sleep finishing it faster than I should? Also, yes. Did I enjoy every single second of this story? 100% YES! The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy was hands down my favorite read of 2023. Hart and Mercy destroyed my heart, put the shattered pieces back together better than before, and then lovingly wrapped me in the softest blanket while handing me a mug of hot cocoa. When I saw ‘The Undermining of […]

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The Veiled Kingdom | Holly Renee

Posted 04/26/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Series: The Veiled Kingdom #1
Published by Independent Publisher on 03/19/2024
Format: Kindle (364 Pages) 📖 Purchased
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The Kingdom of Mamoris is ruled by an evil king who covets magic and power. His firstborn and only child, Princess Verena, is the sole heir to Mamoris’ throne. But, despite the king’s many, and often abusive, attempts to draw out Verena’s magic, she remains powerless. When Verena turns ten and is still without magic, the king refuses to acknowledge her as his heir and locks her in one of the castle’s towers because a kingdom cannot be ruled without significant power. After many failed attempts at producing a worthy heir, the queen (Verena’s beloved mother) dies in […]

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Lips Like Sugar | Jess K. Hardy

Posted 04/22/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Series: Bluebird Basin #2
Published by Pinkity Publishing on 03/28/2024
Format: DRC (364 Pages) 📖 NetGalley
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Jess K. Hardy has done something miraculous. She made me love Cole Sanderson more than I already loved Matthew Madigan. I was sure it couldn’t be done, but alas, here we are. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I want to live in Red Falls. It has small-town energy, beautiful scenery, a delicious bakery, a fantastic bar named Jimmy O’Callaghan’s Irish Public House (with a jukebox), and insanely hot 50-some-odd-year-old rockstars. What’s not to love? Cole Sanderson is the epitome of the ‘golden retriever’ MMC, and I’m pretty sure my heart grew three sizes while reading […]

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Come As You Are | Jess K. Hardy

Posted 04/19/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Series: Bluebird Basin #1
Published by Pinkity Publishing on 11/01/2022
Format: Kindle (318 Pages) 📖 Purchased
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Were you a 90s alternative kid? Do you like small-town feels, 90s grunge, flannel, a good mixed tape, one hell of an epic love story, and adorable St. Bernard puppies? How about a sexy 53-year-old guitar player with tattoos or a badass 46-year-old divorcee who owns a ski resort? No? Well then, we can’t be friends. An ex-rockstar and recovering addict—who now runs a sober living home—helps a divorced, single mom save her beloved ski resort from being bought by her asshole ex-husband. That simple synopsis does NOT do this book justice. Because Jess Hardy created a relationship […]

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Just Don’t Call Me Yours | Heather Garvin

Posted 04/12/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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All-Time Favorite
Series: Just Yours #1
Published by Tuskan Publishing on 03/15/2024
Format: DRC (315 Pages) 📖 NetGalley
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Well, color me shocked. I didn’t think I liked the rockstar romance trope, but apparently, I was very, VERY wrong. Jackson Phillips may come off as a sarcastic, uncaring, rockstar playboy, but deep down, he’s a loyal, loving, tender-hearted teddy bear. And he loves to play the guitar—like, a lot. All Jackson wants is to be in a band and go on tour. However, Jackson’s dad thinks he’d be throwing his life away and vehemently disapproves of Jackson’s musical dreams. So Jackson is begrudgingly attending his first semester at the University of South Florida with his best friend, Matt. But […]

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What Is Love? | Jen Comfort

Posted 04/08/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Published by Montlake on 04/01/2024
Format: Kindle (345 Pages) 📖 Purchased
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I have always loved all things trivia — my husband and I fell in love going to “nerd” trivia at our favorite bar — and let me tell you, What is Love? by Jen Comfort just took trivia to a whole other level. Theodore “Teddy” Ferguson III is an Oxford-educated professor of geography and geoscience at Princeton University. He likes to play it safe and loves a good schedule; consistency is his middle name. Maxine Hart is a skydiving, video game loving, public school dropout. She has horrible ADHD and lives by the seat of her pants; chaos is her […]

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Funny Feelings | Tarah DeWitt

Posted 04/05/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Published by St. Martin’s Griffin on 05/02/2023
Format: Kindle (311 Pages) 📖 Purchased
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Farley Jones is a lot of things. But ask anyone, and the first thing they will tell you is, that she is funny. Like really, REALLY funny. But booking gigs as a woman in comedy is hard. Especially when you’re crass, high-maintenance, and have no filter—consequences be damned. Meyer Harrigan was once a very successful standup comedian. He retired from comedy when he unexpectedly became a single dad and the sole caregiver to his daughter, Hazel. It’s Hazel’s 7th birthday, and things aren’t going well. A freak rainstorm tears through LA, ruining her perfect water park party plans. Every […]

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The Rom-Commers | Katherine Center

Posted 03/18/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Published by St. Martin’s Press on 06/11/2024
Format: DRC (321 Pages) 📖 NetGalley
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This was my first book by Katherine Center, and it will definitely not be my last. I was hooked from the first page and voraciously devoured Emma & Charlie’s story. I was pleasantly surprised how Center effortlessly spun a fun and epic love story but managed to sprinkle in bits of tragedy, hardship, and perseverance. The more somber moments didn’t detract from the levity of the story. They, in fact, made it better; more believable & real. Just two wonderfully flawed characters, trying their best to deal with the tragedies of their past. All while hoping for a […]

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Bride | Ali Hazelwood

Posted 03/15/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

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Series: Bride #1
Published by Berkley on 02/06/2024
Format: Kindle (410 Pages) 📖 Purchased
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All of Ali Hazelwood’s books follow pretty much the same formula. A smart, sassy, accomplished woman with some much-deserved baggage is forced to spend time with an equally smart, slightly grumpy, golden retriever of a man with baggage of his own. They are both, naturally, very easy on the eyes. Mix together a hefty helping of witty banter, some complicated feelings, a dash of angsty longing, and lots of sexual tension until you get a couple that finally realizes they are in love. Sexy time ensues. Introduce a small conflict or misunderstanding, have a brief yet terrible third-act […]

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