Review: RACHEL, OUT OF OFFICE by Christina Hovland

Title: Rachel, Out of Office

Author: Christina Hovland

Mommy Wars #1
Publisher: Entangled Amara
Publication Date: January 25, 2021

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Single mom Rachel Gibson seriously needs a break. Between an absent ex-husband, rowdy twin boys, and running her own work-from-home business, her candle isn't just burning at both ends, it's a full-blown puddle of wax. She's the go-to girl for other entrepreneurs, handling all the tasks they dread. Social media posts? She's got it. Website updates? She's on it. Light bookkeeping? She loves it.

Thank goodness Rachel's about to get a reprieve, as her former in-laws plan to whisk her boys away for a summer of fun at the family lake house. But when her ex backs out at the last minute, she finds herself in a pickle. Even though she's drowning in to-dos, she's horrible at saying no—especially when it comes to providing some stability for her kids.

Once Rachel arrives at the lake house, she struggles to keep up with work and balance the demands of family, all the while fending off pesky new feelings for her ex-brother-in-law. Which makers her wonder... is falling for her ex-husband's brother just one more messy complication added to the dumpster fire of her life? Or is anything possible when she's out of office...?

"Limits don't mean you're weak... They actually mean you're strong enough to 

recognize the importance of the other things in your life."

Where do I start?? I loved this book very much! It's one of my favourite reads of 2021. Rachel, Out of Office featured many of my favourite tropes including single parent, second chances, close proximity and the biggie "you picked the right sibling this time" (does this count as a trope? anywho..). More so than the romance which was so darn sweet, I greatly enjoyed and related to Rachel's character development. You go, Rachel! I'm rooting for all the people struggling to balance work and family (and self-care). We are in the same boat.

Review: THE REALITY OF EVERYTHING by Rebecca Yarros

Title: The Reality of Everything

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Flight & Glory #5 (Standalone)

Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Publication Date: August 24 2020
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Two years after the man she loved was killed in Afghanistan, Morgan Bartley is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. The reno on her dilapidated beach house in the Outer Banks might be just the distraction she needs to keep her debilitating anxiety attacks at bay and begin to heal her heart... if she can ignore the ridiculously handsome guy next door.

At twenty-eight, single dad Jackson Montgomery's life revolves around his five-year-old daughter and his job as a search-and-rescue pilot for the coast guard. He's no stranger to saving a damsel in distress, and though his gorgeous new neighbor is clearly in distress, she's no damsel. She's stubborn as hell with walls a mile thick, and the dog tags hanging from her rearview mirror give him a pretty good clue as to why.

It doesn't matter that their attraction is undeniable—she swore she'd never fall for another pilot, let alone a military man. There are some wounds time can't heal, and some fears too consuming to conquer. 

She's a barely breathing heartbreak on the edge of recovery. He's a crash waiting to happen. Together they could have it all... if they can endure the coming storm.

 

"I can't even suggest that it will be easy, because that's a huge lie, but I swear 

that I will always make the shitty lows pale in comparison the to incredible highs."

Wow. Just. Wow. I actually wasn't aware that this was book five of a series. Luckily, it can be read as a standalone and still be fully enjoyed without any confusion. Evidence #1: I LOVED IT. The Reality of Everything was so raw and heart breaking, yet so beautifully hopeful. I'm eager to jump into the first four books now to learn more about the other couples' backstories. I'm desperately wishing that two side characters will receive their own HEA too (Please, Rebecca Yarros hear my prayer). Not only did I love Morgan and Jackson—and Fin, I also loved the entire Cape Hatteras friendship circle. The Reality of Everything shines a light on grief, loss and healing. Witnessing Morgan's pain and struggles felt like being stabbed in the heart, but it made the moments of genuine joy that much sweeter.

Review: ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID by Cindi Madsen

Title: Always a Bridesmaid

Author: Cindi Madsen

Getting Hitched in Dixie #2 (Standalone)
Publisher: Entangled Amara
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
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Violet Abrams may have have been a bridesmaid no less than seven times, but her wedding day was near—she could feel it. Until her longtime boyfriend left her for someone else. That's just fine—she has her photography and a new project redesigning her sister's bakery to keep her happy and fulfilled. Fast-forward to the day of his wedding, though, when Violet might have accidentally, totally not on purpose, started a fire. Worst day ever.

Firefighter Ford Maguire thought he'd seen it all. Until he's called out because someone tried to set the local bakery on fire... with a wedding magazine? The little arsonist might be the cutest woman he's ever seen, but he's too career-focused to consider something serious. Still, Violet seems like a great person to help him navigate his upcoming "man of honor" duties in his best friend's wedding.

Pretty soon, not only is Violet giving him lessons on all things weddings, she's helping him train his latest rescue-dog recruit puppies and weaving her way seamlessly into his lone-wold lifestyle. But forever is the last thin on Ford's mind, and if there's one thing a perpetual bridesmaid knows, it's the importance of a happily ever after.

 

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"Life's too short. The longer you take to start living it,

the more regrets you'll end up with."

Always a Bridesmaid was my first Cindi Madsen book and I am now a BIG fan! This novel brought on all the feels and reignited my love for small town romances. In short, I absolutely loved this fun and heart-warming read. This book skyrocketed up to the top of my favorite reads of 2020. I have the paperback on order and there is a reread in the very near future for me. I need to sticky note all my favorite scenes after all, and there were many. Always a Bridesmaid was sweet. It was adorable, and it was sexy. My heart fluttered and ached as Violet and Ford's relationship grew. 

Dual Review: ROCK HARD + CHERISH HARD

My first two Nalini Singh books! I have lovely book pushing friends who have been trying to get me on this fanwagon for the longest time it seems (my apologies, I'm such a snail). I really need to start one of her paranormal books but the series count intimidates me ahhhhh. I'm glad I could familiarize myself with her writing style via contemporary romance first. Did I say that I dig it yet? BECAUSE I REALLY DIG IT. When I look at the covers, I assumed they were a part of the same series, like book one and book two. Nope. I rarely read out of order but it didn't bring down my enjoyment level at all. I look forward to reading the other books in these contemporary series heheh.

Dual Review: SLOW BURN + FALLING HARD

2019 Confession: I had this review drafted and incomplete for about 3 years [shame on meee]... I've left everything as is and just added a bit to my FH review after a reread. Finally I can let it out into the blogosphere!

~*~

I started these books the last week of winter term—before final exams. Nothing like some sweet and sexy romance books from one of my all-time favorite authors to get my heart thumping and raring to go for my exams right? Hahahah. Not. I didn't know what I was thinking, but even with the need to study, I wasn't able to stop reading. I couldn't fight the temptation!! It may or may not have been the covers calling out to me as I skimmed through my library putting together a summer tbr. What can I say, half naked firefighter covers are a weakness of mine. From the first chapter, I was on a PC [Pamela Clare] high and zoomed through Slow Burn and Falling Hard as if my life depended on it!

Review: RIDE STEADY by Kristen Ashley

Title: Ride Steady

Author: Kristen Ashley
Chaos #3
Publisher: Forever

Publication Date: June 30, 2015

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The ride of her life...

Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy—until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight...

In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damn hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decided whether to ride steady with Carissa—or ride away forever...

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"It was always you. Only you. 

I was into you back then Carissa, in a big fuckin' way... And that hasn't changed."

Second chance romance at its best. Ride Steady effectively shot me in the heart and revived my 'must-read-all-KA-books' mentality after a very long KA hiatus. Joker and Carissa's story had everything I love in contemporary romance: family emphasis, endearing friendships, heart-warming romance, sexiness, an alpha male that's alpha in all the right ways, and a heroine that I wholeheartedly rooted for. I thought Shy was my number one biker boyfriend in the Chaos series, but Joker stole my heart and had me swooning to no end. [Side ramble: What is with all these hot biker names? Like Carson "Joker" Steele...*melts*] 

Promo Tour + Review + Giveaway: DIRTY by A.C. Bextor

Title: Dirty
Vengeance Duet #1
Author: A.C. Bextor
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, MC Romance
Publication Date: July 15, 2015
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DIRTY.

A seemingly innocuous five letter word until you pull back the layers of its meaning.

Imprisoned in a small room within the walls of the Satan's Creed Motorcycle Club compound, Casey Richards struggles to survive the only life she was raised to know. Her mother, a club whore, and her father, an unknown outlaw she's never met, Casey's fate is all but sealed in the eyes of the club.

Foul. Unclean. Undesirable.

Trapped in a loveless marriage, and with no children of her own, Emma Carsen is the only living soul willing to fight for her niece, Casey. She's all but given up on saving her until the one man she's longed to see again unexpectedly finds his way back to town and into her life.

Sordid. Vile. Unscrupulous.

Max Taylor, former-biker of a disbanded MC, has been holding onto reasons to avoid coming back to the small town he grew up in. The same ghosts that drove him away eventually force Max to find his way back. Now that he's home, he may be Casey's only chance for freedom.

Filthy. Hateful. Impure.

In order to get to Casey, Max must find a way to infiltrate the MC. Setting up a meet with Hoss, Satan's Creed's President who's known for this depravity as much as his double-crossing ways, it's clear that forming an alliance is going to be more of a challenge than he expected. Now he must prove his loyalty to the club and in doing so, he's forced to get his hands...

DIRTY.