I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my friends friends for clogging my Goodreads feed with updates of binge reading books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Because of them I just may have found a new favorite author. I definitely discovered a delightful sports romance to add to my favorites bookshelf.
Licked is the first book I’ve read by Brooke Blaine, and I’ve got to say I love her writing style. It’s very reminiscent of Alice Clayton in its sexy humor, but with a quirky, irreverent flair.
I can pretty much sum up my review in five words. I. Effing. Loved. This. Book. I wasn’t sure I would like it because I’m not into covers with mostly naked men—shocking, I know. I always feel like they’re overcompensating for a small…plot. And really the basis of the story isn’t anything deep or even original. Best friends pretend to be a couple, but eventually they cross the line between pretending and genuinely feeling something more. The End. Right? Except not so much in this case.
Appealed is the third book in the Legal Briefs series, and I’ve really been looking forward to Brent’s story. I fully expected to love it, especially after falling madly in love with the previous book, Sustained. Appealed isn’t the slam-dunk I hoped it would be, but it’s still highly enjoyable. It’s a friends to enemies to lovers story that cleverly combines two popular tropes.
This book was awesome sauce! Based on the Penny Reid books I previously read I was expecting a loveable, quirky heroine, and Reid didn’t disappoint me. If I had to pick an adjective to describe this story, it would be adorable.
I don’t know how many times I’ve told you I love you but I know that number is all wrong because it isn’t enough I’m beginning to think Melanie Harlow is a magician. How else did she manage to write a romantic comedy, weave in a mental health issue, and make it moving, sexy, and lighthearted as well?
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.
This may have been a case of the right book at the right time, but I thought Tangled was utter perfection. Emma Chase deserves a standing ovation for her ability to write a story completely from a male point of view in such a convincing and humorous manner. I’m terribly late in joining the bandwagon on this series so I won’t bother with a synopsis or lengthy review. Basically this book is all that and a bag of chips. Who knew living inside a man’s mind could be so enjoyable? Drew is fun, kind of kinky, irreverent, romantic, hilarious, and—yes –at times he’s immature. But seeing him interact with his niece, Mackenzie? Could there be anything sweeter? Kate is his ideal counterpart. She’s a smart and sexy woman who makes Drew earn her affections for a change. I had a huge smile on my face from beginning to end while reading this and, really, what more can you ask from a book?
Emma Chase has topped herself. I never thought I’d say this but I loved Sustained more than Tangled, and that’s saying a lot. In my opinion it’s been a rather mediocre year for romances. There have been several 2015 releases I’ve enjoyed but only a handful that I’ve absolutely loved. And even then there’s usually something I find fault with. Maybe there’s a dreaded case of insta-love in the beginning. The ending is too rushed. The plot is a bit too predictable. You get the picture. But this book? I wouldn’t change a thing about this book. It’s absolute perfection and my favorite book of 2015 so far.
Penny Reid can do no wrong in my book, and although I’ve only read one book by L.H. Cosway, I was impressed with her writing style. I thought pairing up these two intelligent and witty authors to write a book together was a smart move. It was with great anticipation that I settled in to spend an entertaining weekend reading The Hooker and the Hermit.
Alice Clayton is best known for her popular Cocktail series and Redhead series, the later of which sits firmly on my “favorites” bookshelf. So when I found out she was writing a new series, I admit I started fangirling just a wee bit. Okay, a lot, but then I gave myself a reality check. Angela, I thought—my little freak out session had temporarily caused me to refer to myself in the third person, you see—calm the heck down and don’t get your hopes up. I’m sure it’s incredibly hard for an author to meet readers’ expectations once the bar of excellence has been set. Well, I’m happy to say Ms. Clayton hasn’t lost her creative mojo. Nuts is funny, sassy, and altogether charming.
