Tag: Enemies to Lovers

Mistakes We Never Made | Hannah Brown

Posted 06/07/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Mistakes We Never Made | Hannah Brown
Star Rating: 2.5 Stars
Spice Level: 3.5 Flames
Published by Forever on 05/07/2024
Format: DRC (329 Pages)
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This review was tough to write. I didn’t hate Mistakes We Never Made, but I can’t say I enjoyed it either. It was just thoroughly…meh. On paper, this rom-com had all the ingredients of a story I would normally love. A forced proximity road trip, high school friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, and a second chance romance. There were flashes of brilliance here and there, but when all was said and done, the story fell flat. The worst part was the ending—more on that later. The story centers on Emma and Finn, high school friends and debate partners whose relationship slowly blossomed […]

The Love of My Afterlife | Kirsty Greenwood

Posted 05/10/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
The Love of My Afterlife | Kirsty Greenwood
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 3.5 Flames
Published by Berkley on 07/02/2024
Format: DRC (384 Pages)
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Delphie Denise Bookham is dead. She never thought choking would lead to her demise, but here she is—done in by a cheap microwave hamburger. And to make matters worse? She’s dressed in her most atrocious pajamas—green fuzzy socks and a ratty t-shirt with a cartoon star saying, “Honey, it’s Time to Sparkle and Shine!” Things can’t get much worse, can they? Oh, they most certainly can. You see, Delphie is all alone (let’s be honest, she’s preferred it that way until this whole choking thing); she’s got The Tinder Swindler paused on her TV, and the lone browser tab she […]

Catching Feelings | Maren Moore

Posted 05/06/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Catching Feelings | Maren Moore
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 5 Flames
Series: Orleans University #2
Published by Independent Publisher on 03/22/2024
Format: Kindle (356 Pages)
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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 […]

The Veiled Kingdom | Holly Renee

Posted 04/26/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
The Veiled Kingdom | Holly Renee
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 3 Flames
Series: The Veiled Kingdom #1
Published by Independent Publisher on 03/19/2024
Format: Kindle (364 Pages)
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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 […]

Just Don’t Call Me Yours | Heather Garvin

Posted 04/12/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Just Don’t Call Me Yours | Heather Garvin
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 3.5 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Just Yours #1
Published by Tuskan Publishing on 03/15/2024
Format: DRC (315 Pages)
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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 […]

What Is Love? | Jen Comfort

Posted 04/08/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
What Is Love? | Jen Comfort
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 4 Flames
Published by Montlake on 04/01/2024
Format: Kindle (345 Pages)
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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 […]

The Rom-Commers | Katherine Center

Posted 03/18/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
The Rom-Commers | Katherine Center
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 1 Flames
Published by St. Martin’s Press on 06/11/2024
Format: DRC (321 Pages)
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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 […]

Once Upon a Broken Heart | Stephanie Garber

Posted 02/19/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Once Upon a Broken Heart | Stephanie Garber
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 1 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Once Upon a Broken Heart #1
Published by Flatiron Books on 09/28/2021
Format: Kindle (416 Pages)
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I started OUABH immediately after finishing Finale, and I’m glad I did. I was not a huge fan of Jacks at the end of Finale, but I was very curious about what would happen to him. Where will he go, how will he cope, what hijinks will he get up to? I needed to know more. For a general timeline, the first 1/4 of OUABH overlaps the last 3/4 of Finale. In true Stephanie Garber fashion, OUABH sucked me right back into the wonderful world she created in Caraval. I thoroughly enjoyed being thrust back into that world […]

Legendary | Stephanie Garber

Posted 02/12/2024 by Hilarye in Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Legendary | Stephanie Garber
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 1 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Caraval #2
Published by Flatiron Books on 05/29/2018
Format: Kindle (416 Pages)
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The first book follows Scarlett as she plays the game & tries to save her sister, Tess. On the way she falls in love with Julian, learns who she is, what she wants, & what she’s capable of. This book follows Tess as she plays the game & tries to save their mother, Paloma. Dante helps her along the way & of course, they fall in love. Sounds like the first book, but trust me, it’s very different. And Dante. Oh Dante, you sexy, tattooed, secretive, morally grey, beefcake. Your conflicted, brooding & brilliant character arc made this […]