Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters #2) by Tessa Bailey ~ Review

Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair & honest review.

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man...

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he's a guaranteed good time--in bed and out--and that's exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She's immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his... personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox's spare bedroom. She knows he's a notorious ladies' man, but they're definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport's resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker's eye... yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she's walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and... and... man overboard! He's fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he's all in, she'll choose him instead? 

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound

After reading It Happened One Summer, I was pretty much salivating for this book. So I ran over to NG, put in my request and anxiously waited approval. (Lucky for me, I read The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood during this time, so the wait wasn't too agonizing.) Then I finally got approved, sent it to my Kindle, and proceeded to binge read the heck out of this beauty. And it was really good!

In and of itself, Hook, Line, and Sinker is a swoon-worthy romance. Fox and Hannah are a perfectly matched couple. They understand each other on a special level. They start as friends and grow so close they can't help but take notice of their chemistry. It was built up so well, and I truly enjoyed it.

That said, this book also has the pressure of following up It Happened One Summer, which I was obsessed with. I'm still in love with it. So I can't help but compare the two, and I personally preferred book 1.

But with THAT said, I still had an amazing time reading this one. Like I said, the romance was lovely. And now please allow me to declare my undying affection for Hannah and Fox. Both of which have their own hang-ups, but watching them grow and work through them was a delight.

And it must be said that Fox is so head over heels for Hannah the entire way through this story and I LOVED it. Did he mess up? Of course. But his remorse was instant every time, and he always put in the effort to make it right and learn to be better. I respect that a whole heck of a lot, and it was so refreshing.

Overall, Hook, Line, and Sinker was a lovely, fun friends-to-lovers romance that I can already tell I'm going to love more and more with each re-read. Because I WILL be re-reading it. And even though I personally preferred It Happened One Summer, I am positive there are going to be readers who prefer this one because it IS a great novel. I definitely recommend picking it up no matter what, because Fox and Hannah are more than worth a shot!

4 stars - A beautiful friends-to-lovers romance that had me laughing from the very first chapter.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood ~ Review

Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair & honest review.

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound

I picked up an ARC of this on a whim. I knew I wanted to read it, but I was content to wait until the book's release to pick it up. But then I saw it on NG and thought "why not?" and requested it. And then I got approved the next day and gave it a glance. I then proceeded to let this book take over my life until I finished it. So suffice it to say, that this book was fantastic and I LOVED IT.

From the very beginning The Love Hypothesis hooked me. Olive's voice comes through loud, clear, and arresting from the start. And the humor, the banter, is present right away. I wasn't even a full chapter in and already laughing. So I suppose all of this is my way of making a case that Ali Hazelwood is an excellent writer.

The plot is everything I could think to want in a romance. The tropes alone are magnificent. Grumpy & sunshine! Fake dating! Slooooowww beautiful burn! Did I mention the grumpy hero??? And Ali Hazelwood executed all of these tropes in a way that was so perfect, my ever aching heart was so full.

And the romance. The. Romance! I could write an entire love letter about the romance alone. I was so invested. So satisfied. So happy. Olive and Adam are 100% OTP material and will live in my heart as one of my favorite couples.

The setting and side characters complemented the story so well also. I haven't read a lot of STEM based romance, but I will need to search some out because I loved it here. And Olive's best friends? Top tier. And Adam's best friend? Also the greatest. And everyone together was so funny and supportive and amazing and I loved them all.

Overall, The Love Hypothesis brought me so much joy, and will for sure be one of my top ten reads of 2021. I adored the romance with all its well done tropes, and will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled so I can pounce on whatever Ali Hazelwood has coming next. And if you're on the fence, please allow me to peer pressure you into picking this one up! You won't regret it!

(...Especially if you're a fan of Mariana Zapata. This book filled the MZ-shaped hole in my heart that I always have between her releases.)

5 stars - The grumpy + sunshine slow burn fake relationship romance of my dreams!

A Wicked and Beautiful Garden (Witches of the Island #1) by Katie McGarry ~ Review

Source: eARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Twenty-eight year-old Cassie Strega can’t escape fate.

All she wants is to live a normal, quiet life delivering the babies in her small town. But when she discovers she comes from a lineage of witches, her life becomes extraordinary—in the gravely dangerous type of way.

Then, she’s reunited with her first love.

Orion, the sultry Fae warrior who broke her heart years before, is searching for a baby. Not just any baby, but the queen of the Fae who will one day lead them in their final battle against the demons determined to rule the world. The same baby who has been calling to Cassie for help in her dreams.

Fighting the intense attraction of their former blood bond, Cassie and Orion work together to find the child. But when the heartbreak that nearly destroyed Cassie nine years before looms once more, she’ll have to decide whether getting involved in the supernatural war is worth losing everything, including her life.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

I've been a fan of Katie McGarry since her first book, but all of her books I've read have been contemporary. So I was very intrigued to see how she handled a new genre. Especially since this step into a new genre had such a interesting premise--with witches and fae and a romance with a warrior??? Count me in. And I'm glad I picked it up because A Wicked and Beautiful Garden is a very good introduction to this new series.

I'm going to do this review in list form because that's the way my brain is working right now...

Things I Liked:

- First and foremost I will say that Katie McGarry is great with words. It wasn't hard to get interested in this book, and it wasn't tough to stay interested either. 

- I loved the characters. Cassie was awesome. She's kind and selfless and smart and sassy. And Orion took time to grow on me, but he seems like a good guy. And I very much enjoyed the side characters as well.

- The take on witches and fae was so unique. Especially the way they were intertwined for this world...I'm excited for more as the series progresses.

- Flashback scenes can be hit or miss for me, but I rather liked the ones in this story. It really helped piece things together as the plot progressed. Especially things between Cassie and Orion.

- Speaking of Cassie and Orion...I'm kind of on the fence about them. Do I like them together? Yes. Do I feel like they have had adequate time to really form a strong relationship? Not so much. So they're going in both what I liked and what I didn't like. Here I'll talk about what I liked: they are very devoted to one another. And they make a good match. I'll be very interested to see where their romance goes...

Now...Things I Did Not Like:

- Cassie and Orion and their romance. Second chance romances are always a hard sell for me, and this one has me torn. I like the characters individually. And I don't hate them together. But I feel like we didn't see enough of their relationship building and growing. Instead, they just resurface feelings they apparently had before rather quickly. I'm looking forward to more of them in the next book, where hopefully their relationship feels more organic.

- While the plot was good, it sometimes read as a little disjointed. This was rather minor, but it was on my mind as I read.

- Like the plot, some of the worldbuilding and the magic system was kind of odd. I have high hopes that it will all make more sense as the series arc continues to play out, however. But things seemed to be introduced out of nowhere--like the connection with Orion, for example. I wish we could have gotten more info on exactly how that works. Mostly that's what I'm saying here--I want to know more about how things WORK.

Overall, A Wicked and Beautiful Garden was a solid and interesting introduction to the Witches of the Island series. There were a few aspects I found a little rocky, but it's a unique take on witches and fae. I'd say it was definitely worth the read, and I am very much looking forward to picking up book 2!

3.5 stars - A solid & interesting introduction to a new series!

Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling #6) by Nalini Singh ~ Review

Source: Purchased.

Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he's a wolf, she's a cat, and they're both used to being on top.

But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man - before his shadowy captors decide he's no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it'll leave them both branded by fire...

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

After a long break from the Psy-Changeling series, I finally picked up the next installment. And I know I've enjoyed the previous books, but it was so lovely to ease back into this world again. Braded by Fire is another solid and awesome installment in this series.

I've got to start this review by talking about how much I love this world. How well written it is. How easy it is to fall into, even while being incredibly complex. Nalini Singh is talented and brilliant. And this goes for the world and the overall plot within it, but also the characters. We get to see the couples from the previous books. I love checking in with them. And at the same time, there's an entire cast around the main characters of THIS book, ripening for their own stories and I'm excited.

As for the main couple in Branded by Fire, I of course was a fan. Something special about Mercy and Riley was how early they got together. Don't get me wrong, there is complications and conflict and it's still a lovely story of them becoming a couple that will last, but I enjoyed that their romance was built of a push and pull that involved them TOGETHER instead of apart. 

While the romance was marvelous, I also have to mention the familial relationships in this one--Riley and his siblings, Mercy and hers. I adore it. And their bonds to their packs! Have I mentioned that I love them?

The entire story was well done: the world-building, the plot, the romance, the side characters, literally everything. That said, this one just wasn't a favorite for me. Not sure if it was my mood or my forever love for Brenna and Judd or what, but this one fell juuuuust short of a 5-star read for me.

Overall, Branded by Fire is another strong installment in the Psy-Changeling series. It has everything I was looking for: a lovely romance, an interesting plot, and world-building that was comprehensive but not overbearing. If you've been holding out on this series, y'all, you really must pick it up!

4.5 stars - This series continues to be brilliant!

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ Review

The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Source: ebook copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

She's been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

So I'm sitting here, trying to figure out how to start this review and I just don't have words. Obviously I was excited when this book landed on my Kindle for review. I loved From Blood & Ash, I loved A Kingdom of Flesh & Fire even more, and The Crown of Gilded Bones was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. But now I've read it and it was amazing and I don't know how to put it into words.

So I'll do what tends to help me in these situations and resort to bullet points:

- From the very beginning, this book is interesting. It doesn't take a few chapters to draw you in. It picks up right where book 2 left off and takes off running.

- The romance is, of course, extraordinary. Poppy and Cas are such a strong couple--literally the power couple of my dreams. They have their sweet moments, they have their steamy moments, they have their badass moments...they're everything and I love them.

- I was such a fan of the all-around character growth. Poppy has come such a long way. She's brave, she's clever, she's caring. And she's not afraid to speak up when she has something to say. 

- And in that vein, I ADORE the way Cas supports Poppy in all ways. If she speaks up about something, he backs up her word. If she feels a certain way, he's at her side for whatever she needs. She needs to be able to protect herself? He's all in to fight along side her as she does. It warms my heart.

- I also am in love with Kieran. His bond with both Cas and Poppy--the trust and respect between all of them--is *chef's kiss*. I want 500% more Kieran all the time. He's the greatest.

- The. Freaking. Ending. I'm not going to say anything in particular because I don't want to spoil, but in hindsight I should have seen it coming. And I am in dire need of book 4 now!!!!!!

I could probably go on much longer about this book and how obsessed I am with it and how much it hurt me in all the best ways. But I'll wrap it up here. The Crown of Gilded Bones is not only the best book in this series so far, but also one of the best books Jennifer L. Armentrout has written, period. If you're on the fence about picking this one up: do it. If you haven't even started the Blood & Ash series yet: DEFINITELY DO IT. 

5 stars - One of the best books JLA has ever written!

Mini Reviews: Broke Down, The Spanish Love Deception, and Drag Me Up

I've read a few books lately that I want to talk about, but I don't think I'm quite in the mood to write an entire long-form review. So...here we are with mini reviews! :)

Broke Down by Sharan Daire

Source: KindleUnlimited.

My car broke down on an icy road in the middle of nowhere. I’ve got no money in the bank, no place to stay, and no food for my kids. Can it get any worse?

Sure. A police car pulls up.

The county sheriff calls his twin brother to tow my car for repairs that'll probably cost more than the beater is worth. They say don’t worry about it. They only want to help.

Sure they do.

These gorgeous guys just happen to have two friends who own a luxurious motel called Little Cypress Lodge. I walk into this incredible hotel and it's like I've entered a new fantasy world. It's warm, there's plenty of food for my kids, and they say I can stay. For free. As long as I need a place.

The four of them even want to hire me to do some modeling work for their new fashion line. Crazy, right?

Me. The broke down, homeless single mom.

If I can keep up the act long enough to make some deposits on a new place, I can start a new life for me and my kids. If I don't lose my heart first.

Goodreads | Amazon

**Available through KindleUnlimited!**

I picked this one up as a brain candy read right before the new Mariana Zapata book released. I started it and it was so fun. Then the MZ book released, so I put this one aside for a few days before picking it back up. It was just as easy to get into the second time as it was the first. It doesn't have loads of depth, and it falls on rather simple tropes that tend to be present in books like this, but it really did hit the spot. If you're looking for a quick read that will make you smile and, yeah, probably roll your eyes too...but that's part of its charm, then I say definitely give this one a try!

3 stars - A fun, brain candy RH!

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Source: KindleUnlimited.

A wedding. A trip to Spain. The most infuriating man. And three days of pretending. Or in other words, a plan that will never work.

Catalina Martín, finally, not single. Her family is happy to announce that she will bring her American boyfriend to her sister’s wedding. Everyone is invited to come and witness the most magical event of the year.

That would certainly be tomorrow’s headline in the local newspaper of the small Spanish town I came from. Or the epitaph on my tombstone, seeing the turn my life had taken in the span of a phone call.

Four weeks wasn’t a lot of time to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic–from NYC and all the way to Spain–for a wedding. Let alone, someone eager to play along my charade. But that didn’t mean I was desperate enough to bring the 6’4 blue eyed pain in my ass standing before me.

Aaron Blackford. The man whose main occupation was making my blood boil had just offered himself to be my date. Right after inserting his nose in my business, calling me delusional, and calling himself my best option. See? Outrageous. Aggravating. Blood boiling. And much to my total despair, also right. Which left me with a surly and extra large dilemma in my hands. Was it worth the suffering to bring my colleague and bane of my existence as my fake boyfriend to my sister’s wedding? Or was I better off coming clean and facing the consequences of my panic induced lie?

Like my abuela would say, que dios nos pille confesados.

The Spanish Love Deception is an enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating romantic comedy. Perfect for those looking for a steamy slow-burn romance with the sweetest Happily Ever After.

Goodreads | Amazon

**Available through KindleUnlimited!**

Before I say anything else, I must tell y'all that THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. It was such an absolute delight. So many of my favorite romance tropes thrown into one beautiful book: grumpy hero, fake relationship, office romance, SLOW BURN! I'd been looking forward to reading this one, and I'm so glad it delivered. I give it 4.5 stars (rounding up to 5) only because of a couple of tiny things that don't entirely matter but did take it from being a definite favorite to only a *contender* for favorite. Even so, I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the tropes I listed, and also to fans of Mariana Zapata.

4.5 stars - A delightful slow burn romance!

Drag Me Up (Gods of Hunger #1) by R.M. Virtues

Source: Purchased.

They say he’s a myth...

And Hades prefers it that way. He may do all the work, and Zeus may get all the credit, but at least it allows Hades to preserve the one thing he truly cares to have: his solitude. The mere mention of the Wraith of Khaos Falls is enough to keep order, and he is rarely forced to leave the shadows of Casino Asphodel.

She belongs in the spotlight...

And Persephone clawed her way out of Demeter’s shadow to reach it. Now she’s lead in Calliope’s Cirque production but not without great cost, and there is not enough money in the world to pay off the debt accrued for the simple mistake of trusting Zeus. Though it’s easier to ignore the bars when she still has room to fly.

Landing a residency at the legendary Casino Asphodel is everything she trained for. Meeting a man she’d been convinced didn’t exist? She could never be prepared for that. Hades isn’t prepared for her either, but it’s soon evident they’re a force when together. He gives her a soft place to land, and she makes him want to reach for the stars. But when Zeus ups the stakes, they must be willing to go all in, even if it means coming down from the sky. Or stepping into the light.

Goodreads | Amazon

I've been seeing this book all over Twitter lately, and I was intrigued enough to download the sample. Then, of course, the sample intrigued me enough that I bought the ebook. And I must say that I'm glad I did, because I really enjoyed it. Mostly because the romance was so well done. Hades and Persephone (yes, THE Hades and Persephone!) connect right away, and I love that neither of them play games with each other as they ease their way into a relationship. It was sweet and lovely. Drag Me Up also uses Greek mythology in a unique way. I liked it, but I wish I'd been more drawn to the inner workings of it all. Maybe as the series goes and I get to know the characters better, I'll grow more interested in that aspect. Overall, I really liked Drag Me Up and I'm excited to read more of the series as it releases! I definitely recommend y'all give this book a try!!

3 stars - A well done Hades & Persephone romance!