The Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy and the Game On series by Kristen Callihan are probably the two most popular series in the college sports romance sub-genre. Jen Frederick makes no secret that their work was the inspiration for Sacked, and in many regards it’s a successful homage.
I tend to avoid love triangles; however, this one has a twist. Evan, a Navy SEAL, leaves his pregnant fiancé, Ryley, when deployed on a special mission. When he’s “killed” in the line of duty, Evan’s twin brother, Nate, is there to help Ryley pick up the pieces. Six years later, Evan returns home to find that Ryley and Nate are engaged and his son calls his brother, “Dad.” The premise sounds intriguing. The problem with this story is in its execution.
After two Alessandra Torre books failed to hit the mark with me, I finally found one I enjoyed. Hollywood Dirt doesn’t have the angst, super naughtiness, or big twists for which she’s known, and that was just fine with me.
I’m surprised by how much I liked this book. I’m a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, but it’s a difficult recipe to follow. Add the romance too suddenly, and the dish doesn’t seem authentic. Drag out conflicts, and the meal tastes sour. Some Sort of Crazy has just the right ingredients, and Melanie Harlow follows the recipe expertly.
Kaleidoscope Hearts reads very much like the type of New Adult novels I try to avoid—a whole lot of drama over nothing.
“I. Love. You. Period. It’s a goddamn soul-shattering love that will never, ever be matched. My love for you is unapologetic and forever.”
Although Spin isn’t a 5 star read for me, I can say it is the start of a new favorite series.
I admit I was disappointed by the depressing overtones of Becoming Calder given that I had expected more of a romance, but I was pleased to find the story picks up steam in Finding Eden.
This novella does a pretty good job kicking off the 5-part Timber Towers serial. Frankie Jordan is Boston’s highest selling real estate agent. She’s poised to take over her father’s successful agency. Derek Block is an elusive cutting-edge architect. He’s the developer for Timber Towers, an exclusive apartment complex in Boston. In Unblocked – Episode One, the two meet when Frankie interviews for the job of the complex’s in-house real estate agent. There is sexual tension, but neither wants to jeopardize their potential working relationship.
“Love is reckless because true emotions are immune to logic. The most beautiful love stories are often the most tragic.” Jewel E. Ann has officially become an auto-buy author for me. The first book in her Jack & Jill series, End of Day, completely blew me away and was a rare 5 star read for me. Middle of Knight proves just how addictive this trilogy is.
Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, but when you’re an avid reader who reads well over 100 novels per year, many books tend to blend together. Authors that bring something fresh to the table stand a better chance of producing work that stands out. Jewel E. Ann brought her A-game with End of Day, and I can honestly say I’ve never read anything like it. She has woven together a gripping, intriguing, and clever novel that I could not put down. What a fantastic start to the Jack & Jill series.
I thought Archer’s Voice was amazing so I was excited to read another book by Mia Sheridan, especially after reading so many glowing reviews of Becoming Calder. I think I set myself up for disappointment because I expected this to be a romance. The story is creepy, dark, tense, and just overall depressing, which is great if you’re reading general fiction or a suspense novel but it’s not what you sign up for in the contemporary romance genre. And while I liked the characters of Calder and Eden, they just didn’t click for me as a couple.