Book Review: Top Secret by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Stand Alone

Format: ebook

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, M/M

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

LobsterShorts, 21

Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF.

LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome.

SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app.

LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy?

SinnerThree: All the time. I'm an equal opportunity player. You?

LobsterShorts: [crickets!]

SinnerThree, 21

Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF. 

SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?

LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.

SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries...

LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?

SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.

LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing...

Review

Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy are back with another M/M romance. And it definitely delivered. It was fun, engaging, and full of great characters.

A lot of M/M romances (I've read) are pretty angsty. Keaton and Luke don't have perfect lives, but there isn't a ton of angst. Instead there is tons of humor and great banter. There's also an enemies-to-lovers element which is executed pretty well. The two main characters interact a lot through a dating app which I love. I'm a sucker for textual communications.

Keaton and Luke begin their app convos because Keaton's girlfriend wants a threesome for her birthday. Ms. Bowen and Ms. Kennedy say there is not a cheating element to this story. I can see why that is their standpoint, but I think it's actually more of a personal view on these grey areas.

Sometimes surrounding Keaton's girlfriend are what stops me from giving this five stars. I like her...it's other stuff.

Keaton and Luke were both great characters and I love their interactions. Keaton always has fun animal facts which I think is adorable. I'm also full of useless information so I can relate. They both had personal struggles which aren't related to their sexuality. I really liked that being gay/bi is not the only identifier for them and the only conflict.

This was such a fun and exciting read. It was a joy to read and I highly recommend it.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Overnight Sensation by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #5

Format: ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports/Hockey

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

There's this girl...

Heidi and I have been trading hungry looks all year, and everything she does makes me smile. But I don't do girlfriends, and I certainly can't get involved with the league commissioner's daughter. I need shots on goal, not a hookup and a widely misunderstood paparazzi photo.

Can I resist her, though? The way she teases me should be a game penalty for interference with my libido. 

There's this guy...

Jason wants me, but he won't admit it. That man looks at me the way a hockey player eyes the lunch buffet after practice--and I love it. 

But when victory is finally within my grasp, I blow it and humiliate myself. Even then I can't even avoid him--as the team intern, I'm in constant view of his hard body and cocky smile. 

I need another chance. Jason Castro is about to learn the true meaning of an overnight sensation.

Review

I read this so fast-I only put it down because my kindle needed to be charged. Sarina Bowen always sucks me in. She has some sort of magic for my brain.

The world of the Brooklyn Bruisers is so well down. It feels so real and I love the found family of the team. I am always a sucker for male friendships. Becky and Heidi's relationship and interactions were also A+.

Heidi was a fun heroine, but not my favorite. I did like how hardworking she was. Heidi wanted to be independent and was willing to stand up for herself-including to Castro.

Castro was also great. I loved how he would quote Dickens and Shakespeare-and that this was just expected and understood by his teammates. His backstory was a little typical/cliche, but still worked and made me emotional.

They had a pretty fun romance. It's a pretty standard one-one night stand turns into more. But it was done well and I was rooting for them the whole time. I especially liked that they both supported each other and their goals. They do have great chemistry immediately.

Potential Spoiler:

I particularly liked that Castro wasn't afraid of Heidi's dad. And he was never afraid to stand up to him. I respect that.

This book was everything I wanted. Now, I want to know if there is another book coming, because I need Silas' story. He's intriguing and I'm always a fan of a goalie book. 

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen

Series: True North Book #5

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 272

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

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…

Review

Speakeasy was a great read, but probably my least favorite in the True North series. It's still 4 stars so of course I liked it.

I definitely cared about May and Alec. Alec a little more. But I wasn't as emotionally invested as I was to the characters in the previous books. Alec is a likable goofball on the surface, but he has a strong desire to be respected. It did break my heart a little when people would dismiss him or speak down to him. And I like seeing how May had to deal with her family and how they treated her. It's also always interesting to get in the head of an alcoholic/addict.

The romance was really fun. It starts out as a rebound hook-up which is a common thing in romance. I liked the chemistry and conversations between them. You could especially tell how much Alec cared about Meg.

Before I even read this book-with just the synopsis-I was thrown. I thought May was a lesbian the whole time. Maybe she was described as bisexual and I don't remember it. I guess it doesn't actually matter, but it was just odd for her to end up with a guy when that wasn't what I previously thought would happen. This probably wouldn't be a "thing" upon a re-read and my rating may go up. I was just through off by it and couldn't stop thinking about it.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Studly Period by Sarina Bowen

Series: The Ivy Years Book #5.5

Format: Newsletter Serial (for now)

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Sarina Bowen's Serial

Genre: New Adult

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

There are 1016 people in the freshman class at Harkness College. I can’t be the only socially awkward nerd girl virgin among them. Right?

It’s time I learn to talk to guys without blushing and stammering. So I take a confidence-building job at the student tutoring center. Twelve bucks an hour, plus human interaction. What could go wrong?

A fun-loving French Canadian hockey hunk, that’s what.

When Pepe Gerault sits down at my tutoring table, my brain shuts off and my mouth goes right into hyperdrive. Even the sound of my name on his lips—Josephine—gives me a mini orgasm.

I want to hand him my V-card. But all I manage to hand him is…my thesaurus. And my dignity. All seems lost, until I hatch a plan to get him alone…

Review

I wasn't sure if I should review this or not. But since Ms. Bowen will be publishing the serial I figured it would be a good idea.

This is a cute story about Josie and Pepe who is a hockey player at Harkness College. Since Pepe is French Canadian, it's only in Josie's POV. Ms. Bowen said it wouldn't have felt right to write Pepe in English. Of course I miss having the hero's POV, but I appreciate the artistic choice. And the language barrier added a fun and comedic element to the story.

The romance was very cute. I'm not always a fan of a meek heroine, but Josie worked for me. She's very self-aware and funny when she let's herself go. Pepe is so kind and sweet. He works very well with Josie as a complement and brings her out of her shell.

And it was great to be back at Harkness. I love this world and it feels like coming home. So, of course I'm super gushy about this story and the characters.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Bountiful by Sarina Bowen

Series: True North Book #4/Brooklyn Bruisers #3.5

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 312

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Christmas Gift

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

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 No-Last-Name 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.

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.

Review

This isn't my favorite in the True North series, but its a nice addition. Seeing Zara from this perspective made me want to reread the first book. And it's always nice to see the Shippleys again.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of babies in stories-especially secret babies, but Ms. Bowen did a good job with it. And this was probably the most plausible secret baby book I've read. It helps that Nicole contributes to Dave's development. I especially liked when he would get frustrated about people stepping in whenever he would try to take care of her. 

Zara is a great character. So many author would've made her a one-dimensional "slut" in book 1 and been done with it. But not Sarina Bowen. She made her a real character with depth. Her unabashed sexuality is just a part of that.

Oh, and a special shout-out to the Brooklyn Bruisers-especially Castro. They were great friends to Dave and supported him during this tough time. and you know I love a good friendship.

I saw on Sarina Bowen's Instagram there's going to be a book about May and I am all about that.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Brooklynaire by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #4

Format: ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

You’d think a billion dollars, a professional hockey team and a six-bedroom mansion on the Promenade would satisfy a guy. You’d be wrong.

For seven years Rebecca has brightened my office with her wit and her smile. She manages both my hockey team and my sanity. I don’t know when I started waking in the night, craving her. All I know is that one whiff of her perfume ruins my concentration. And her laugh makes me hard.

When Rebecca gets hurt, I step in to help. It’s what friends do. But what friends don’t do is rip off each others’ clothes for a single, wild night together.

Now she’s avoiding me. She says we’re too different, and it can never happen again. So why can’t we keep our hands off each other?

Review

I was so excited for this book. There were little bread crumbs for it throughout the previous books and I'm a huge sucker for sequel bait. And this was exactly what I needed. This feels like a nice cup of tea on a rainy day. It was pleasant and brightened my day.

Normally, Sarina Bowen books rip my heart out, but this was a treat. I loved spending time with Nate and Becca-individually and as a couple. I want to be friends with them! They are fantastic realistic and endearing characters. And its a very good friends-to-lovers romance.

Speaking of the romance-let's talk power dynamics. Generally, I avoid romances between a boss and employee because of the imbalance of power makes me super cringey. And it's even harder to handle in the hyper-aware world post Harvey Weinstein. but Ms. Bowen navigated this well. She acknowledged the potential issues and had Nate and Becca address them as mature thoughtful adults.

I can see this easily becoming a compulsive re-read for me-especially when I need a pick me up. Thank you, Sarina Bowen for still publishing this after Berkley dropped it. it's a fast favorite and I'm so happy it's part of my library.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #3

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 336

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Christmas Gift

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports/hockey romance

Publisher: Berkley Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.

Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.

Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.

One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.

Review

It should come as no surprise that I loved this because I'm obsessed with Sarina Bowen. I read like 20 minutes on my lunch at work and then the rest was one sitting on my couch. My cat really appreciated just being able to sit on my lap for 3 hours.

Lauren was a real treat. Over the course of the series, she has gone from random bitchy girl to great character. It's a nice reminder not to judge people by how they appear. Mike was cute and I liked seeing him with his daughter. He's a little too impulsive for me, but that's personal preference.

As an aside, I want to talk about Mike's daughter and her manny. Their names are Elsa and Hans. I see what you did Ms. Bowen. Although, I did keep thinking of Hans from The Mighty Ducks.

The romance was well developed and pretty emotional. My eyes definitely teared up especially for Lauren. This is a reunited lovers story which is one of my favorite tropes. I would have liked a little more talking before jumping back into bed, but it wasn't a huge issue.

It was also nice to see a little friendship growing between all the ladies of these books. I hope that continues into the next one.

Speaking of, it better come out in February. I need Nate and Becca's story!!! There isn't a cover on Goodreads yet, so I'm a little nervous it will get pushed back.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

October Wrap-Up (2017)

Well October basically went the way I expected. I read/listed to four books. And two of them were very short.

But between going on vacation and overtime at work I wasn't feeling like reading a lot. And honestly I'm still feeling that way. So, November may be kind of an adventure.

Below are the books I read this month along with their ratings.

The Year We Fell Down- 4 Stars

The Year of the Crocodile-4 Stars

Hold Me-3 Stars

The World According to Mr. Rogers-4 Stars

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Good Boy by Sarina Bowen

Series: WAGS Book #1
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 269
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Hosting her brother’s wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning’s life. Already the family screw-up, she can’t afford to fail. And nobody (nobody!) can learn of the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. It was wrong, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. Even if he is the sexiest thing on two legs.

Blake Riley sees the wedding as fate’s gift to him. Jess is the maid of honor and he’s the best man? Let the games begin. So what if he’s facing a little (fine, a lot) of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he’s really a good boy with a bad rap. Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you’ve got to make an effort if you want to score.

But Jess has more pressing issues to deal with than sexy-times with a giant man-child. Such as: Will the ceremony start on time, even though someone got grandma drunk? Does glitter ever belong at a wedding? And is it wrong to murder the best man?

Review

I'm going to be honest, when I started reading this I thought I wasn't going to like it. Which would've been quite the disappointment since I love Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. But I pushed myself to keep going and I'm so glad I did.

So this book is a lot a bit crazy. Blake especially is so over-the-top. He's like Dean from The Score times 100. And hew was the reason I was initially put off. I like humor in books, but he was so much that he didn't feel real. But as it continued I was able to understand him as a character and why he acts the way he does. Jess was easier to connect with because I've had some of the same feelings as her. It was nice to see Wes and Jamie again. I really need to read their second book.

The romance was well executed. At first, I thought it might be rushed based on how the book started. But it developed very naturally and I really wanted to see them happy and together. There was a lot of sexy times and sexy talk. I didn't think it was too much but wanted to mention it in case that bothers you.

I was a little disappointed by the lack of dogs. The cover has a dog on it! There should be tons of dog action. I will forgive it this one time. The next book better have more dogs.

If you've read it, let me know what you thought.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

April Wrap-Up (2017)

April is kind of a blur to me. I don't really remember what happened in my life or reading. I read a decent amount of books and a nice blend of genres. I also read quite a few books I've read before.

Below are the books I read this month along with their ratings.

Just for Now-2 Stars

The Viscount and the Vixen-5 Stars

Scandal in Spring-4 Stars

Darkest Hour-4 Stars

Good Boy-4 Stars

The Understatement of the Year-4 Stars

When Beauty Tamed the Beast-4 Stars

Every Girl's Dream-3 Stars


What did you read?

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #2
Format: Mass Market Paper Back
Pages: 336
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Publisher: Berkley Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O'Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team’s massage therapist.

After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now, she’s decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers’ MVP. O'Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O'Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good...

Review

I honestly don't have much to say about this but I wanted to write something about it.

This was an enjoyable read with interesting and likable characters. The romance was nice and they had good chemistry. Sometimes Ari was a little annoying in her reactions. And the Becca/Nate thing! I must know more. Will there be a separate book or is it just going to be a secondary plot?

And I'm actually excited about the next book after some of the character information we got toward the end of this one.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Keepsake by Sarina Bowen

Series: True North Book #3
Format: Ebook
Rating: 5 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

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 Shippley 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.

Review

I went in thinking this would be my favorite in the series. It might be, but I'm very conflicted. THe series is unified but each book has it's own tone. The first one is very fun and sexy. The second is filled with so much heart-wrenching emotion. And this one is kind of a combination, but also shows how great human beings can be. I can easily see myself reaching for any of them when my emotions demand it.

Zach is just amazing. He was everything I expected and so much more. This is how you write a complex and multi-dimensional character. And I love him. He's basically my catnip.

Lark has my catnip all over her too. She's dealing with some PTSD which is always interesting to read. She's also sex-positive and a good friend. I shouldn't be surprised, she's a Sarina Bowen heroine after all. I connected with her so easily.

I've really loved this series and the Shippleys of course. I would be so happy if there were more books or a spinoff series just for them.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers Book #1
Format: Ebook
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Hockey
Publisher: Berkley

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

 
Review

I really enjoyed this. I am still a little upset I had to pay $7.99 for an ebook. Traditional publishing has a lot of problems and that's one of them. But I don't hold that against Sarina Bowen.

Speaking of, there were a lot of issues I couldn't overlook. Typos I'm pretty forgiving of, but continuity errors really bother me. They tend to pull me out of the story. If you are a major publishing house there is no reason a book you release has several continuity errors.

Since I considered this an editing issue and this isn't self-published it doesn't impact my rating. But I needed to get it off my chest.

Onto the actual book/story.

I love a good hockey romance-especially with fantastic characters. Georgia is a kick-ass woman. She's very passionate about her job and is very ambitious As a young woman myself I admire her. And her dreams are no less valid than Leo's. He is also fun and very sweet. He isn't your traditional hockey hero and isn't afraid to show his love for Georgia.

The side characters were also well done. But this is Sarina Bowen-I shouldn't be surprised. I loved Silas and am sad because I feel like he will never get his own book. Nate and Becca though. I'm smelling sequel bait and it better happen because I need to know the story about those two. And Nate seems like he wouldn't be a traditional billionaire hero.

The romance was on the steamy side. Sometimes that can be a bit much but it worked. It helps that Ms. Bowen shows Leo and Georgia talking, too. Reunited lovers is one of my favorite tropes so that was a plus. One thing did feel a little rushed though.

I also loved seeing the other Trevi family members. D.J. is one of my favorite Bowen heroes. So, whenever he was around I was happy.

And now I have to wait until January for the next book. I don't want to wait!

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

Series: True North Book #2
Format: Ebook
Rating: 5 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

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.

Review

Sometimes when I blow through a book I have no idea how to review it. That's what happened here. I've actually been thinking about this for five days and have gotten nowhere.

I really liked the characters-especially Jude. Ms. Bowen did such a good job of dealing with addiction. I've never had a drug or alcohol addiction, but it did remind me a lot of the compulsions when my OCD was at it's peak. And the Shippley family returned they are the true stars.

This was definitely an emotional read and personally I need that. But, based on the synopsis, I feel like the next/last book will be a real roller-coaster. I can't wait for it!!!

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen

Series: True North Book #1
Format: Ebook
Rating: 4.5 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

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.

 
Review

Now, I want to visit Vermont. It sounds so amazing. Although I do live in Apple Country already. Sarina Bowen just knows how to grip me.

This was a cute story with a whole cast of characters. I really enjoyed Griff's family. And I'm so happy the other two books are about Zach and Jude because I'm pretty intrigued. There's some serious elements, but overall it's a cute and sexy romance.

Griff is kind of broody, but is actually very caring and passionate. He's never afraid of his feelings for Audry. And he obviously cares for his family, the farm, and his workers. That's very attractive in a man.

And Audry's pretty likeable, too. She's a little repetitive when it comes to her mommy issues, but I didn't find that particularly annoying. She was actually pretty relatable because she doesn't have everything easy.

I already bought and downloaded the next book because I NEED to know more about Jude.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Top 10 Tuesday: College-Set Books

I've been out of college for five years but it is still one of my favorite settings. College wasn't the best-time of my life (or worst) but I'm still drawn to it for some reason. I do think part of it is that I really New Adult-especially good New Adult.
Top 10 Tuesday was created by the Broke and the Bookish. You can find more information here

 

I did put series together because otherwise this would be a list of all Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. While that would be accurate it isn't very informative.

Like all of my lists these are in more particular order.

1) The Ivy Years Series by Sarina Bowen
2) Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy
3) Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie
4) Wait for You/Trust in Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5) Game On Series by Kristen Callihan
6) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
7) Easy by Tammara Webber
8) Bowler University Series by Megan Erickson

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books You'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed You A Fully Loaded Gift Card

Top 10 Tuesday was created by the Broke and the Bookish. You can find more information here.

Damn this is a topic! There are so many books I want that I don't already own. So, how to narrow it down-Books that would add to my TBR? Books that I've read and just don't own?

Fortunately, I already have a list of the books I want to buy soon so I pulled from that. And I only did ones that are already released. It's primarily romance and new adult, because that's what I'm really into right now.

It's been a long time since I did a Top 10 Tuesday, but in case you were wondering, I put these in no particular order.

So, here's my list.

1) Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

2) His Royal Secret by Lilah Pace

3) Us by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

4) Broken Prince by Erin Watt

5) Up in Flames by Abbi Glines

6) The Power by Jennifer L. Armentrout

7) Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne

8) Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

9) Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen

10) Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: The Fifteenth Minute by Sarina Bowen

Series: The Ivy Years (Book #5)

Format: Ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, College

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. Something's haunting his dark eyes, and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.  

Review

I don’t really know why but this book made me so happy. Basically, I was smiling like a girl surrounded by her crush the whole time. There are definitely some sad things, but it was also a very sweet story. And Sarina Bowen knows how to write characters and a romance I will care about.

Lianne interested me in Bella’s story, but she’s amazing. She’s very likeable and intelligent. And I really like how she is shy and confident. Some people probably think you can’t be both, but different situations will bring out different parts of your personality. And I’m very happy we still get to see her friendship with Bella because it’s great. And lady friendships.

Then, there’s DJ. Oh my god, I think I have a crush on that guy. He’s so nice and caring. He just does all of these little things for Lianne that showed he is such a good person.

The romance was so well done. It felt like a very traditional development but that’s kind of refreshing because New Adult is usually full of a bunch of craziness. I also really enjoyed how music brought them together and took down barriers. Those were some of my favorites scenes. Their chemistry is spectacular and the progression of the physical aspect of their relationship was handled very well.

Speaking of things that were handed well, let’s head into spoiler terroitory.

Ms. Bowen decided to take on a pretty touchy subject. And I shouldn’t be surprised at this point but she did it with care and respect. Rape and assault are very common in New Adult and I love that she looked at the person who is accused of rape. Daniel had to face serious consequences both internally and in the world at large. And I’m so glad Annie wasn’t some vindictive bitch. She had her own issues and is also a good person. Their story shows how important it is that we discuss assault and how we handle it.

Onto more cheerful things. One of the reasons I really like reading companion series like this is the opportunity to see the other couples happy. There was so much Bella and Rafe and Graham and Rikker. It’s like Ms. Bowen knows what my catnip is and wrote it all into one book.

Oh, I almost forgot about the pretty heavy sequel bait. I’m a sucker for it and really put it out there. I hope there will be more books in this series because I love Harkness so much, but I’m very excited to read the first book in the spinoff series. I don’t want to wait until next year.

Thanks for reading!

Review: The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen

 

Series: The Ivy Years Book #4

Format: Ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, College

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second guess herself.

Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright sinister fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.

Bella doesn’t want Rafe's help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can't be extinguished.

 

Review

This isn’t my favorite in the series even though it is a great book. I said in a status update that I would give this book 5 stars because of how it deals with slut shaming and I stand by that.

To me, this book should be read by anyone who reads or writes new adult. I see a lot of slut shaming in NA. This book is not only sex positive but it outright stands against slut shaming. It is so important that we all (but especially women) support the choices women make with their body. Ms. Bowen addressed this in many ways through Bella’s story. I’m also glad she took on STIs in a mature and non-judgmental way. And showed that women can be friends and be sex positive which I feel like doesn’t happen often.

OK. I’ll stop now.

I liked Bella in the previous book and thought she was funny but I really loved getting in her head. Generally, she is very aware of who she is and I like her perspective on life. She has a confidence that feels real but isn’t annoying or obnoxious. I’ve been super into beta heroes and nice guys and he’s like the king of them. He’s so great but just like Bella isn’t annoying about it. Liane was the surprise stand out of the book and she better get her own story.

To me this book is more about Bella and her story but the romance was still good. I liked their interactions. It was interesting because that had chemistry but it felt more like a slow and low burn than a hot flash bang. And I loved how they really became friends. I do kind of with there was some more romance.

I highly recommend this book and the whole series. Ms. Bowen creates a great world and characters I always enjoy spending time with.

Thanks for reading!