As I’m still trying to play catch up on overdue reviews, I’m giving you another Reviewing the Unreviewed. But this time it’s all about holiday romances.
Some of these reviews will be really short. Like, shorter than the book’s blurb short. It might look a little weird, but I want to keep my review archive with Ultimate Book Blogger going, so bear with me.
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Series: Heartbreaker Bay #8
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Publication date: September 24, 2019
Publisher: Avon Books
How I got it: From the publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon
My rating:
After a lifetime on the move, Ivy Snow is an expert in all things temporary—schools, friends, and way too many Mr. Wrongs. Now that she owns a successful taco truck in San Francisco and an apartment to call home, Ivy’s reinvented life is on solid ground. And she’s guarded against anything that can rock it. Like the realities of a past she’s worked hard to cover up. And especially Kel O’Donnell. Too hot not to set off alarms, he screams temporary. If only his whispers weren’t so delightfully naughty and irresistible.
Kel, an Idaho sheriff and ranch owner, is on vacay, but Ivy’s a spicy reason to give his short-terms plans a second thought. Best of all, she’s a tonic for his untrusting heart, burned once and still in repair. But when Ivy’s past intrudes on a perfect romance, Kel fears that everything she’s told him has been a perfect lie. Now, if only Ivy’s willing to share, Kel will fight for a true love story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In Review: My Thoughts
Wrapped Up in You was a great addition to the Heartbreaker Bay series! I love a good expiration dating/friends with benefits story and this one between Ivy and Kel checked all my boxes. Their chemistry was smoking hot and they gave me plenty of feels to go with that heat, too. The pairing between a taco truck owner with a disdain for authority and the town sheriff, who also happens to be a rancher, was a lot of fun.
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Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Publication date: October 15, 2019
Publisher: Penguin/InterMix
Format: eARC
How I got it: From the publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon
My rating:
Stranded at the Red Moss Vineyard a week before her best friend's wedding, LA native and professional matchmaker Alice Weatherford is not pleased with her first trip to Oklahoma, or the epic snowstorm forcing her to stay. So much for Christmas cheer. What she needs is a project, something to distract her...and, oh, has she found one in neighboring rancher Clay Henry. Gorgeous, charming, and unlike any other man she's ever met, finding the right woman for Clay should be easy....
Having grown up with the Bellini sisters, it's no hardship for Clay to ride out the storm at their cozy family vineyard, especially since that means spending time with their savvy and smart houseguest. But despite Alice’s best efforts, he's not the least bit interested in her matchmaking....
Alice is the only woman Clay wants. Now he just has to convince the matchmaker herself to give love a chance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In Review: My Thoughts
Can you believe this is my first Jaci Burton book? I’m almost embarrassed to admit it. It was a total hit. This Christmas novella was fun, festive and smoking hot. It also did a great job kicking off a new series I’m super excited to read more of. I’m a sucker for cowboys, y’all. Also, opposites attract. Add in some forced proximity and instalove, which isn’t always my preference but totally worked here, and I was all in. Alice and Clay were great together and I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.
One Christmas Eve by Shannon Stacey
Series: Cedar Street #2
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Publication date: November 11, 2019
Publisher: Carina Press
Format: eARC
How I got it: From the publisher
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon
My rating:
Zoe Randall is busy living her life as she damn well pleases. She’s back in her favorite town, her divorce in her rearview mirror, and living out her childhood dream of running a bookstore with her cousin. She has no interest in the uptight nerd who opened his boring-ass business next to her shop…until he complains about one of her sexy window displays.
Then it’s game on.
Preston Wheeler knows he takes life a little too seriously. But when the saucy bookseller next door starts pushing his buttons, he can feel that changing. Beautiful, vivacious Zoe challenges him in all the best ways, and soon he’s pushing her buttons right back: teasing and flirting all the way through the holiday season.
As Preston loosens up and Zoe is treated to the man behind the suit (particularly his forearms), she realizes she’s more interested than she cares to admit. And Preston comes to see the beauty—the absolute delight—in adding Zoe’s bright splashes of color to his once very black-and-white existence.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In Review: My Thoughts
So far I’ve only read two Shannon Stacey books and both have been holiday novellas. They’ve also both been great reads, so I should probably get around to reading something else sometime soon. But, I digress. One Christmas Eve was a fun and sexy enemies-to-lovers Christmas novella with a spunky heroine and a grouchy hero. Zoe and Preston had oodles of chemistry and I loved the push-pull between them. Zoe’s bookstore antics and Preston’s reactions made me literally laugh out loud. This novella gave me all the Christmas cheer I needed and totally helped heat up the cold winter night.
Let’s Chat
Have you read any of these books?
What’d you think?