Pippa Grant: Until it was Love

 Copper Valley Pounders book 1 read in 2025

Goldie is a life coach, author and influencer she has a great job which she loves and when we meet her she is going to be moving to England in a few short weeks for a great job opportunity that she doesn't want to pass up... she did that once for a man but not again.

Fletcher Huxley is a international rugby star who has recently been sent from a top tier team in England over to the Copper Valley Pounders in the US, Rugby in the states isn't as popular of a sport as it is in the rest of the world... but Fletcher wants to change that he's not a too old, washed up player that needs to quit he still has at least a few years in him and he's going to prove it to his ex coach and ex team mates when this new team is at the top of their game and selling out the venues where they play.

Fletcher is handsome (muscular/athletic) he looks like Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds had a baby... or at least that's what I pictured him looking like throughout the book since they kept bringing up the man's mustache, this was a bit much a few jokes about it fine... but it was throughout the whole book gah!  Anyways back to our couple...

Fletcher is on the same team as Goldie's younger brother and they end up going to help Goldie's friends with a blood drive where he passes out on her (meet cute sort of...) they have met before (or at least been in the same place at the same time) briefly where Goldie over heard Fletcher bad mouthing her years prior when she was still playing soccer, she has since had to end her dreams of playing professionally due to an injury so she knows a thing or two about having to give up on a dream and looking for a way to work towards new goals.  

Lately Goldie's brother has been sabotaging every relationship she has tried to have and she's sick of it she's an adult, so when she finds out that her brother hates Fletcher what would be better than fake dating the enemy, it works for both of them Fletcher is a twice divorced playboy and not looking for anything really serious and why shouldn't Goldie have a bit of fun prior to her big move.  

Fletcher has an adorable dog, Goldie has lost her girl friends when her last serious relationship ended badly but has made friends with 3 adorable elderly ladies who have taken her into their group with loving arms and she has a super cute niece who also befriends Fletcher and Silas (Goldie's brother) isn't happy about it.  

Spending more time together while faking their relationship naturally leads to their situationship and faking starting to feel more real especially when they talk about child hood issues and past relationships and what went wrong.  But Goldie is leaving soon and Fletcher doesn't really want anything serious he has been there done that and he doesn't want to get burned again.  

I have read other stories by this author and they tend to be pretty kooky/quirky at times as far as plot and dialogue goes so prepare for that if you decide to read this book or any of her other books.  I enjoyed this more than the last Pippa Grant book I read, but there were definitely some cringe dialogue/moments and I didn't really see them "falling" for each other in such a short period of time, I would consider it insta lust/love at that point since they spent such a short amount of time together. 

 I did finish the book and got the second book in this series which I plan to read soon.   

what is your favorite Pippa Grant book?  

*sports romance  *rugby romance  *female lead was a soccer player  *enemies --> more   

*Brooding MMC  *Grumpy/sunshine  *friends --> more  *fake dating/fake relationship 

*younger brother's team mate   *spice  *Slow burn  *happy ending  *banter *humor *drama

--> author mentions different characters race and sometimes sexual orientation  throughout the book after reading some other reviews there was a pattern where some readers found it hard to over look with how often it was mentioned even with characters only brought up once where it wasn't something the reader needed to know.  

Savanna Golden: stealing Squatch

 Silver Ridge Shifters book 2  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227752466-stealing-squatch

This is the second book in this series but I read this out of order and I wish I hadn't after finishing the book because many of the things from the first book are brought up in this one, it is advertised as a stand alone but I would suggest reading them in order.  I will go back and read the first one but might wait a bit between.

Our leading lady Kai is a shifter (wolf) and has been found to have a fated mate he's a really sweet guy Alder he is also a shifter (sasquatch).  Kai while she doesn't dislike Alder... she dislikes the whole "fated mates" situation since her parents were always at each other and fighting due to this she never wanted that for herself and turns away from Alder trying her best to avoid him.  

Kai is part of a pack that her best friend (Finley) is now the leader of, she is second in command and in charge of security for the group.  Their pack has recently become inclusive to other species including Alder and his best friend Xan who is a warlock (and Finley's fated mate).

Alder even though Kai continues to avoid him is determined to win over his mate he wants a love match and knows that they could have true happiness if she would just give him the time of day... his latest plan is to make their own space away from the rest of the group while out getting supplies for their home and breakfast (a man/squatch) has to eat!  Anyways while out he runs into an evil witch from out of town and falls under her spell next thing you know Alder and this new woman are going to be "mates"... not on Kai's watch Alder is her squatch, get back witch!  

This book had drama, action, love, friendship and heart!  If I were a shifter I would want to be part of this pack they really care about each other. 

This was a cute quick read that happened over a short period of time and swapped POV's regularly.  While I kind of wished there was more focus on our lead characters relationship and less jumping around between everyone I did enjoy the story and liked seeing our couple finally find each other and their happy ending.  

have you read anything by this author?  have you read this book?  

*multiple POV  *some spice (lighter)  *fated mates  *cinnamon roll MMC  *shifter romance  

*found family *happy ending  *Indie author 

Lynn Rush + Kelly Anne Blount: In the Penalty Box

 Read in 2023

Willow is a figure skater she suffers an injury and is worried that her skating dreams are gone but she's a hard worker and knows that she can get back to where she was with rehab and a competitive spirit.  

Brodie is the captain of the hockey team, he's just as driven to succeed as Willow is and when a championship win is on the line with college scouts at the event he needs to do what he needs to do to help his team succeed... even if that means convincing a figure skater to try out for goalie when the other options are looking grim at the moment.

Willow faces challenges as a female goalie on a male team but she's fierce... no sweat she's got this!  Also would it be weird for the rest of the team to know that their captain and goalie are into each other?  

Brodie and Willow both have some bigger issues they are dealing with at home making you as the reader want a happy ending for our couple.  

I really loved the Cutting Edge when I was a kid and I love the Hockey boy + figure skater pairing, it was great seeing their relationship grow and how they were able to teach each other new things and help push each other towards their goals.  Brodie worries that Willow will get called back to her figure skating world and want to stay there... what about their team?  What about him?  

Willow becomes torn between these two different parts of her life throughout the book you see how much she misses figure skating and how she would love to be back on top again going for her golden goals... but she also loves her Hockey team and being able to handle her own on a boys team has been rewarding... and she really likes Brodie, she doesn't want to let down him or her team.  

have you read this before?  Have you read anything else by these authors?  

what would you recommend?

*Young Adult *Hockey/Sports romance *Ice Skater *High school *Dual POV  *clean (no spice)

 *age appropriate read  *slow burn  *Friends --> more 

*small town *secret relationship (hiding it from the team) *happy ending  

Trigger warnings:  Death of parent discussed, alcoholism

Karla Sorensen: Forever Starts tonight

 Book 4 in the Wilder Series read in 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208662056-forever-starts-tonight?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ciUGFfwlbL&rank=1

So I read these out of order and I had liked the whole idea of Poppy and Jax in other books you could see that there was something there but he was keeping away from her because she is his best friends little sister.  From the other books in the series you could tell that Poppy is crushing hard on this man and has been for a long time.  

This book finds our MMC had a mother who was only looking for the next man in her life who could take care of her and didn't help build Jax up in the confidence department, what he did have was a man across the street named Henry who took him under his wing taught him life lessons and showed him how to build and repair things Jax looked up to this man who was single and a "lone wolf" and decided that was the life for him he wouldn't need love or a partner in his life he could do without the drama that seemed to follow his mom and as an adult that's the outlook he's had: don't get too attached to women never really date, playing the field and having a hook up here and there is the life style for him.  

One night he gets talked into going to the bar by his best friend Cameron (Poppy's older brother) and goes up to the bar where he sees the back of girl he might want to spend time with for the night, he tells the bar tender he will buy her next drink and then is surprised when it turns out to be Poppy, he's been talked into going to her 21st birthday party... he has done his very best to avoid and keep a distance he knows (everyone knows) she has a crush on him and he doesn't want to lead her on she wants marriage and forever and he is a lone wolf for life.

I like this author and usually enjoy their books but I was disappointed that I didn't actually read the reviews or summary of the book until after I got the Audible version to go with the book... turned into a surprise/unexpected pregnancy book and I'm generally not a fan of that trope.  

There are multiple time jumps in this book the next time we see the couple is several years later (after the 21st) birthday when  Poppy and Jax have a one night stand --> **potential Spoiler ahead**

Poppy has a bad date and gotten a bit on the drunk side she gets an Uber to go to Jax's house and decides to just come out and tell him that she wants him and offers up a "no strings attached" one night stand just to get him out of her head.  Due to a snow/ice storm she is now stuck at his place he tells her no multiple times and it's not a good idea gives her a blanket and pillow and tells her to sleep on the couch as she is a bit on the drunk side.  Later that night she sneaks into his room and into his bed cuddling up near him (not taking no for an answer) and one thing leads to another and fireworks occur for their "one night only."  As a reader I wish things had happened differently he said no multiple times and she went in anyways to try to change his mind... if roles were reversed and he did that to her everyone would be really upset that he was trying to push himself on her.

**end of spoiler**

After this we find that Jax might have some feelings for her to but he is emotionally unavailable from the baggage that his mom has placed on him as a boy and runs off for an adventure anytime things get to be too much in the feelings department.  This time he ends up in Spain for 3 months when he gets back he finds out that Poppy is pregnant... and dating another man who looks like Captain America and Thor had a baby, he is also the town veterinarian and is practically perfect in every way... I found him to be a bit too perfect since he seemed to be smitten with Poppy after barely starting to date her and he was totally fine finding out she was pregnant with another man's baby, he was also on a break from sex until he found someone he wanted to marry since he was a bit of a playboy in college and didn't want that life anymore.

Poppy never tells her family who the father of the baby is because she wanted to let Jax know first but he is who knows where and unreachable in Europe... so everyone including her boyfriend think that the baby's dad is out of the picture forever, she doesn't say who the dad is but she doesn't deny it when her family thinks its from the date she had (earlier the same evening of the one night with Jax).  Jax comes back and is very surprised to see a very pregnant Poppy for some extra drama they are all at work and her family is standing around when he finds out this news.    

A lot of this book I felt dragged on a lot of "lets just be friends" and see how that works for us since we are going to have to co-parent soon, our main couple doesn't start to get back together until the last like 15-20% of the book and I felt too much time went into discussing the relationship with Captain Thor since she liked him but didn't feel sparks... she only felt those with her emotionally unavailable grumpy lumberjack Jax.  

I love the Wilder family and how supportive they are everyone is in everyone else's business but you can see the love and when needed everyone is there for one another, anyone would be lucky to have a family like that.  

I liked the ending it was good to see Jax come out of his shell a bit and actually say what was on his mind and the book had me tearing up in a few spots when he talked with his friend Henry (who has dementia) and when it was discussed about Poppy's dad (who we know from this book and previous books recently passed away).  

What is your favorite Karla Sorensen book?  Have you read any of the others in this series? 

*older brothers best friend  *unrequited love *Dual POV  *some spice *surprise/unexpected pregnancy *one night stand--> more  *age gap (MMC is 10 years older) *friends --> more  *happily ever after

*supportive family (Poppy's side) 

Abigail Bridges To stop a Scoundrel

 read in 2023

The Ashton Park Series Book 1 (299 pages) this was the first book I read by this author.  

Rose Timmons and Thomas Ashton were friends as children Thomas ends up moving away and they end up meeting later in life when Rose is considered a spinster and Thomas has been a rake for years.  

Rose has basically an underground network of informants who keep her apprised of society's scoundrels and she has made it her mission to protect vulnerable young women from being involved in a scandal.  Her sister is making her debut this season and she is 100% making sure that her sister doesn't fall prey to any "gentlemen" with ill intentions.

Thomas Ashton, Lord Newbury and heir to the Duke of Kennet has been away from society living how he pleased for many years but he is now making his way back into society because his father has made the decree that him and his 2 brothers need to be on their best behavior and follow society rules if they want to continue to receive the Duke (their father's) support... he has to make this happen soon as he has to be married by the end of the year to keep his inheritance how is he supposed to behave in polite society again?  

Thomas runs into Rose at a society event and they eventually decide to work together to help with each other's missions she will help him find a suitable bride and help him get back into society's good graces and he will help her deal with the scoundrels who are attempting to ruin young ladies.  Rose has a secret as she was once a vulnerable young lady and she still carries the scars from that incident (emotionally and physically) due to this she feels it wouldn't be right to marry anyone and plans to retire to the country after helping to find her youngest sister a suitable husband.  Naturally working closely together they start to have some feelings for each other, could it be more?   

Thomas has a younger sister who is making her debut to the ton too and he is protective of her he doesn't want her to fall prey to the wrong guy either.  

Lots of drama in this book (even more than a regular historical romance novel) and miscommunication which was sometimes frustrating.  Book was probably longer than it needed to be and the ending felt kind of rushed.  I did end up reading the rest of the series and enjoyed the series overall the remaining books in the series follow Thomas's two brothers and his sister.  

*possible spoiler*  Thomas was made to give up his mistress at the start of the book and continued to think of about her and miss her etc... even after when he was supposedly falling for Rose. 

*strong independent woman *miscommunication  *historical romance  *Some spice (slow burn)  *HEA

*childhood friends *friends to more *Rake/Rogue  *Spinster/Wallflower  *older female lead 

*male lead is a bit of a hot head

Trigger Warning: Attempted sexual assault, attempted murder,  a bit darker for a historical romance novel (not sure if it has a trigger warning list but you might want to check for this prior to reading). 

Rose's mom is also pretty unbearable as a character

Have you read anything by this author?  what would you recommend? 

D.S. Kinahan: Some Unexpected Vacation Baggage

Read in 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222889206-some-unexpected-vacation-baggage

Our story starts with Margaret she is a hard worker and rarely "lets down her hair" for some fun, she is an accountant and used to taking care of everything... including cooking and cleaning after her boyfriend Ben she has been with him for 4 years so she is surprised to come home one evening from work to find a simple note saying he is unhappy so he is bailing on their relationship and he's left... he didn't even say anything before now so what was he so unhappy with?  He also didn't pay for much of anything including their upcoming trip to Canada.  

What is Margaret going to do she had a full trip planned to the Canadian Rockies for 2 and it's doubtful she can get a full refund since it's so close to the trip, instead of going by herself she decides to run an ad looking for a partner to go on the trip and split the costs with and someone takes her up on the offer when she gets on the plane she is shocked to see that it's not a female companion like she originally thought it is Kelly a man and she is floored she can't go on a trip with this stranger now what is she going to do?

Kelly is a wealthy business owner (chain of mattress stores), he is outgoing, outspoken and fun he's not getting off the plane like Margaret wants him to... he paid his share of the trip and he's going she's just going to have to deal with it.  I get that Margaret was just dumped in a bad way but I felt she truly was rude and at times obnoxious towards Kelly who was trying to make the best of things on their trip. 

Kelly is a sweet guy and really does what he can to get Margaret out of her slump and encourages her to enjoy the trip... considering how she is behaving I feel bad that he has to room with her at times, she eventually admits that she's being a stick in the mud and starts to enjoy the trip maybe they could even be friends for the time being. 

Once Margaret starts to break out of her grumpy shell and enjoy herself she and Kelly end up having a night of passion... or two.  Kelly believes that they will continue some kind of relationship afterwards, Margaret still needs time to get over her baggage related to her Ex.

I liked the first part of the book more than the back half of the book, while the book was a cute cozy read after the trip ended there were multiple time jumps the couple ends up moving in together shortly after returning home from vacation, she has a confrontation with her ex then she needs to move out of her apartment due to not being able to afford the rent.  Margaret briefly discusses with Kelly her troubled past with her family but there is really not much drama for this couple minus some mood swings from Margaret and Kelly possibly over sharing things with his younger sister.  

Back half of the book includes a lot about what Margaret is cooking for dinner and how she is redecorating Kelly's home.  Low spice with brief mentions of getting nude but it is closed door.  

The thing that kind of took me out of this story was the dialogue was a bit awkward (if it is a modern day story which I'm guessing it is supposed to be it just was not how younger people would talk) if it wasn't mentioned a few times that the couple were in their 30's I would have thought based on the banter and dialogue that the couple were way older but I guess the couple are old souls.  

The story was ok and cutesy but in the back half once they started using "pet names" they used them ALL the time like every few sentences was a "Babe" "Baby" "sweetie" and talking about lengthy "smooches"... that part for me was a bit over the top... but someone else might love this in their reads.  

This is my first time reading this author, have you read anything by this author?  have you read this book?  what did you think?  

*Strangers --> more  *MMC divorced  x 1  *cinnamon roll MMC  *low drama  *Forced proximity

*happily ever after  *cozy read  *under 250 pages  *Indie author

*mentions of spice but it is closed door with just kisses for those who don't like the spicier stuff

Trigger warnings: mentions of loss of parents

Maggie Dallen: One little Lie

 Book 3 in the first loves series read in 2024.  This is actually the first book I read in this series then I went back to read the first two, can be read as a stand alone. 

Addie has had a lot of changes recently her mom has gotten the opportunity to go to Europe to further her culinary training and knowing how hard her mom has worked over the years and knowing that she would never go if Addie didn't give her a little extra push she needs.  In order for her mom to go Addie   has to change everything she a senior in high school and instead of spending her final year with her friends she is moving across the country (New York to Montana) to live with her father and his new family.

Addie hasn't spent much time with her dad in the past besides short visits during school vacations... but now she will be living there full time and going to a new school.  Already nervous about her first day her day gets progressively worse when trying to be nice to her step mother she agrees to put on an outfit she picked out for her (that is not her style and too small/short), she ends up around the side of a building to catch her breath prior to going in where she witnesses an altercation between two guys and shortly after the queen bee of the school thinks she is trying to steal her boyfriend because she was again just trying to be nice. 

The guidance counselor trying to be helpful pairs Addie up with the other new kid in school Vince he's big, has tattoos, transferred recently from juvie... oh and he was one of the guys that got in the fight earlier that day he's strong, tough, and claims he doesn't need friends but everyone needs a friend right?

Not wanting to draw more attention from the school bullies Addie leans into the new rumor she hears swirling around that Vincent "Vince" and she are an item... and when asked about it while not really saying that they are getting together she doesn't directly say no either, she then tries to keep close to Vince who in turn is trying to not get closer to Addie.

Problem is Vince has noticed Addie more than he wants to and he finds himself wanting to take care of her and keep her out of trouble he's recently transferred to this school and he doesn't want to be there either but maybe this new girl is just who he needs to help him feel welcome in his new situation, he's originally from California and now living with his rich somewhat dysfunctional family if that isn't dramatic enough he is going to the same high school as his super popular nephew who doesn't want anything to do with him.  Will he ever feel like he belongs?  

I really enjoyed this book, super cute quick read and age appropriate for teenagers.  

Have you read anything by Maggie Dallen?  which book would you recommend?

*dual POV  *Teen/young adult (clean)  *bad boy  *Grumpy/sunshine  *high school romance 

*friends --> more  *happy ending  *sweet/innocent girl 

*mentions of marijuana use