Review: Taming Hollywood's Baddest Boy

Taming Hollywood's Baddest Boy by Max Monroe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been hearing about Max Monroe's books for some time now, and I am very happy I finally made time to read one because I absolutely loved "Taming Hollywood's Baddest Boy." It was funny and sweet with just the right amount of steam and, as an added bonus, it hit several of my favorite romance themes all at once: behind-the-scenes Hollywood, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn relationship development, and a grumpy hero.

Both of the story's main characters were incredibly likeable and endearing, but given my love of a grouchy hero, Luca's personality was one of my favorite aspects of the book. He really needed someone like the female lead, Billie, to come along and shake him out of his rut. She pushed him to leave his hiding spot in Alaska and rejoin the real world, even though he wasn't sure he wanted or could handle any other lifestyle. Luca may not have recognized it at first, but he matured quite a bit during his time away from Hollywood and developed all of the skills he needed to build a life there on his own terms, without falling prey to others' ambitions or the lure of past bad habits. I loved watching him come out of his shell thanks to Billie's influence and finally find the happiness he deserved.

Billie was so sweet, funny, and determined, and I loved the way in which she not only managed to invite herself along on Luca's hiking trip, she kept up with him no matter how unprepared she was or how much she hated the outdoors. I also admired that Billie was so sunny and positive most of the time, especially after having suffered so many losses at such a young age. She devoted a lot of energy to advancing her career in her mother's honor, and it was lovely to see her succeed as well as find a partner who would support her future efforts.

In addition to Luca and Billie, I enjoyed the secondary characters in this story, particularly Luca's old friends (Andrew the actor, and the director whose name is escaping me at the moment) and Billie's sister Birdie. I would love to read stories about them in the future!

In sum, I highly recommend "Taming Hollywood's Baddest Boy" for all fans of contemporary romantic comedies and look forward to checking out more of Max Monroe's books very soon.

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Review: On The Rox

On The Rox by Kat Addams
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 57%, Kindle edition (Chapter 8)

Unfortunately, I did not care for "On the Rox" by Kat Addams and ended up abandoning it shortly after the halfway point. There were a lot of scenes and dialogue that I could tell were intended to be funny, but I wasn't laughing. It wasn't at all the type of humor that appeals to me. There were way too many crude, immature sexual references, and I lost count of how many times the male lead, Jay's, "endowment" was described along with his propensity for premature "arrival" in his pants. That really isn't something I find attractive in a potential romantic partner, and I certainly don't want to read about it. However, I guess he's well-matched with the female lead, Rox, since she peed her pants at least once (and gleefully told her best friend about it the next day). Perhaps one day soon Rox and Jay can add matching underwear to their wedding registry since it seems as if they'll both be needing some new ones!

I didn't find Jay or Rox to be particularly likeable, and there was zero relationship development between them. Jay just seemed kind of weak and boring, although I think the author's intent was for him to come across as a super sensitive "nice guy" and the complete opposite of Rox's abusive ex, Tommy. By contrast, Rox was supposed to be very wild and tough, having sworn off relationships after her breakup and only pursuing hookups with random guys. She seemed to get over her relationship issues pretty quickly after meeting Jay, however, because after they hooked up for the first time, they were rarely apart.

I was not a fan of the author's writing style, either. The dialogue in particular seemed oddly stilted to me because contractions were used only half the time (or less). At times I felt like I was listening to people who were trying really hard to speak properly and enunciate because they were drunk, or something.

Bottom line, I did not enjoy and cannot recommend this book, but it may appeal to readers who are fans of the insta-lust/love trope and/or gross-out humor. I do not plan to continue with the series or try anything else by this author.

*ARC provided by the author/publisher via Hidden Gems Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Blog Tour + Review: "The Plus One Proposal" by Cassie Cross

I am very excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating Cassie Cross's latest release, "The Plus One Proposal," book #3 in the Love Is... series. A few characters from the first two books in the series made cameo appearances in this story, but "The Plus One Proposal" still reads as a complete standalone; in fact, I didn't even realize that there had been previous books until I started putting together this post. Also, while it was a relatively short read (novella-length) without a whole lot of character development, the story itself was cute, sweet, and amusing, and I enjoyed the couple of hours I spent reading it on a chilly afternoon.

Both of the main characters, co-workers Peyton and Adam, were likeable and funny, and I really enjoyed their relationship dynamic, especially the witty banter. They acted exactly like best friends from the very beginning of the story, so I was surprised that it took them so long to acknowledge that aspect of their relationship. It was much easier for me to understand why Adam was concerned about the prospect of admitting his romantic feelings to Peyton. She made her stance on romantic relationships pretty clear to everyone, and while I completely understood (and agree with!) her desire to travel and have a career before settling down, I was very happy that she recognized her true feelings for Adam before it was too late. They made a great couple, and I'd like to think that they will have lots of adventures together in the future.

Overall, "The Plus One Proposal" was a lot of fun and I would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I look forward to checking out more books by Ms. Cross in the future.

*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About "The Plus One Proposal"

Peyton Castillo’s life is nearly perfect. She has a job that makes her happy, the perfect apartment, friends who love her, and all the time in the world to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants. She’s single and loving it, but she has a handful of weddings she’s RSVPed to and no plus-one to go with. That’s where Adam Portman, her gorgeous-and-knows-it coworker comes in.

Peyton’s proposal is simple: she’ll complete a work assignment Adam’s been dreading if he agrees to be her date to one of the weddings.

The offer is tempting, but sparks fly when Adam counters with a proposal of his own. That work assignment isn’t the only thing he’s been dreading. His parents’ 30th anniversary celebration is coming up soon and his mother is determined to set him up with her best friend’s daughter, who will be at the party. Adam needs a date to play along and convince his mom he’s off the market, and Peyton is the perfect choice… 

Blog Tour + Review: "Wrong Turn" by Samantha Chase

Today, I am pleased to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Wrong Turn" by Samantha Chase, book #2 in the Road Tripping series. This story is a complete standalone featuring all new characters who are completely unrelated to the cast of book #1, but continues with the same theme of main characters falling in love while taking a road trip together.

I'm a big fan of road trip romances, and "Wrong Turn" was a fun one that featured likeable, relatable main characters and witty banter. I really empathized with the female lead, Chelsea, who deserved much better than the way her supposed best friend, Bianca, treated her. Without a doubt, Chelsea was more serious than Bianca and the others in their social group, but to me, that translated to maturity, not being uptight or boring. She was far more loyal to her friends than they deserved, and I loved seeing her finally gain enough confidence to stand up to them. A lot of that confidence had to do with her burgeoning relationship with the male lead, Drew.

Drew was a pretty likeable guy despite coming across as somewhat immature and shallow at first. Over the course of their road trip to Bianca's wedding, he came to realize that he had misjudged Chelsea - thanks in large part to Bianca's catty comments about her - and set about convincing her to give their relationship a chance. There were a number of obstacles in their path, but they were obviously happier together than apart, and I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA.

Overall, "Wrong Turn" was a short, sweet, and fun story, and I recommend it for fans of contemporary romantic comedies. I look forward to the next book in this series!

*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About "Wrong Turn"

Chelsea Cooper thinks her best friend’s fiancé is the world’s biggest jerk.

She’s never really been one to make waves, but when it comes to that guy, Chelsea’s willing to make an exception. There’s just no way she can let her best friend make the biggest mistake of her life by marrying him. She’ll do anything to stop the wedding, even if it means teaming up with the one person who’s an even bigger jerk—the groom-to-be’s best friend.

Drew Russo thinks his best friend’s fiancée’s best friend is the prickliest woman alive.

Everything about Chelsea aggravates him. She’s too structured, too uptight, and too opinionated—especially when it comes to her thoughts on his best friend. When he’s tasked with keeping her away from their best friends’ secret wedding, Drew knows he’s in for one hell of a challenge. Never mind the days he’ll have to spend trapped in a car with the world’s most annoying woman.

The plan is simple enough—keep Chelsea from interfering with the wedding. But between distractions, delays and detours, they discover they aren’t the enemies they thought they were. And sometimes a wrong turn can lead you in the right direction.

Warning—This sweet, sexy, and laugh out loud funny romance is filled with all the most ridiculous road trip stories you can imagine and will make you realize sometimes being wrong can be a lot more fun than being right.

Release Blitz + Review: "Love the One You Hate" by R.S. Grey

I am delighted to participate in today's release blitz celebrating author R.S. Grey's latest standalone novel, "Love the One You Hate." I loved this book so much, just as I have so many of Ms. Grey's previous books. She has a gift for creating likeable, relatable characters and compelling stories, and this one was no exception. Main characters Maren Mitchell and Nicholas Hunt had a really fun, slow burn, enemies-to-lovers relationship dynamic that kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting for them to finally admit their true feelings for each other. I kept reading long past my bedtime because I just had to know what was going to happen next in this story! Overall, I highly recommend "Love the One You Hate" and can't wait to see what Ms. Grey will come up with next.

About "Love the One You Hate"

Nicholas Hunt is the man I hate.

For good reason.

His opinion of me is tainted by prejudice even before my arrival at his grandmother’s estate, and my first impression of him is just as abysmal.

His arrogance and icy demeanor make it clear that he’s the type of man who’s best handled at a distance.

Fortunately, space shouldn’t be an issue inside this Gilded Age mansion and its lush gardens. If I stick with the servants and he keeps to his sailboat and vintage Porsche, we should hardly cross paths at all. Unfortunately, at Rosethorn, I find that all roads eventually lead to Nicholas Hunt.

Sparks fly as we spar at the dinner table. Fighting words are flung in the shadows of the palatial halls.

We hang suspended in our hatred of one another, painfully oblivious to the heat and tension that build with every moment we’re left alone. We’re liable to kill one another, I think…right up until my eyes land on his lips and a new feeling grips hold of me: lust.

What’s worse?

He knows it.

They say you should keep your enemies close, but when Nicholas tightens his grip on my waist and draws me near, I’m not sure if it’s out of loathing or love.

One thing’s for sure—I intend to find out.

My Review

I adored "Love the One You Hate" by R.S. Grey, a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance featuring endearing, well-developed characters and a funny, heartwarming plot. The story was set in Newport, not the Hamptons, but even so, it reminded me a bit of "The Great Gatsby" (though with a much happier outcome for the main characters). The female lead character, Maren Mitchell, provided an outsider's perspective on the upper class world, and I very much enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful Gilded Age mansions and Newport coast that were provided along the way.

Maren was a wonderful lead character: tough but vulnerable, kind, honest, and loyal. The reason that Cornelia hired her to work at the Rosethorn estate was a bit of a mystery at first, but it made for compelling reading as I tried to figure out if Cornelia had some kind of master plan in mind beyond a simple offer of employment. I really liked Maren, and I couldn't help but hope that good things would happen for her. The friendship she formed with Cornelia was really lovely, and it set them both on a path to a whole new life.

Cornelia's grandson and Maren's eventual love interest, Nicholas Hunt, seemed to be very cool and reserved at first, but it was easy to see how much he loved his grandmother. He always tried to look out for her, even when she thought she didn't need his help. Nicholas was deeply suspicious of Maren in the beginning, but she slowly won him over, which made perfect sense to me because they had a lot more in common than they realized.

Overall, "Love the One You Hate" was an excellent read, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I look forward to R.S. Grey's next book!

*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Gauging the Player

Gauging the Player by G.K. Brady
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not a hockey fan, but thanks to authors like Avery Flynn and Helena Hunting, I have become a fan of the hockey romance over the past year or so. With that in mind, I picked up "Gauging the Player" by G.K. Brady, which turned out to be an enjoyable addition to the genre. The main characters were quite likeable and well-developed, and I couldn't help but empathize with what both of them were going through. The male lead, Gage, seemed pretty straitlaced for a pro athlete, possibly because he was trying to live up to the "perfect" image his family had of him. He didn't really date, choosing instead to focus on his family, hockey, and charity work. Overall, he seemed like a genuinely caring man, but even so, I can understand why the female lead, Lily, was hesitant to get involved with him at first. In addition to her grief following the death of her husband, Jack, the prospect of a partner whose career involved traveling for so much of the year would be daunting for any number of reasons.

Lily seemed like a sweet, genuine person as well, but I have to admit that I was a bit annoyed with her at times because of the way she seemed to treat Gage as nothing more than a booty call or friend with benefits. Gage was very good to both her and her daughter, Daisy, and deserved a lot more consideration than she sometimes gave him. Gage was very patient with her, however, and at least the reasons for her behavior were understandable.

While Gage and Lily's story was mostly a standalone, characters from the first two books in this series made a number of appearances along the way. I haven't read the earlier books yet, and unfortunately felt a bit lost regarding how some of the characters were connected to each other. At least one of them was Gage's teammate, but it wasn't entirely clear how he knew the others at first. Perhaps the author could have provided that background when these characters were first introduced to Lily, who was new to the group, so that readers (like me) who are new to the series wouldn't feel quite so lost or confused.

At any rate, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it for all fans of sports romances. I will plan to check out the next book in the series featuring Gage's sister Sarah.

*ARC provided by the author/publisher via Hidden Gems Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Release Blitz + Review: "Nemesis" by Skye McDonald

Happy release week to author Skye McDonald, whose third novel, "Nemesis," released on Tuesday. "Nemesis" is book #3 in the Anti-Belle series, which has been such a pleasure for me to read. Each book has been better than the last, featuring likeable, well-developed characters and unique, engaging plots.

"Nemesis" reads as a complete standalone, so those who have not yet picked up the first two books in the series will not feel lost at all by starting here. However, readers already familiar with the series may remember the female lead character, Liv Milani, as the former girlfriend/current close friend of book #1's male lead, Ben Addison. In the earlier books, Liv came across to me as very cool but sometimes prickly, especially after an incident that took place with the female lead character of book #2. Despite that, I always liked Liv and suspected that there was more to her than met the eye, so I was excited to get to know her better here in book #3.

As it turned out, Liv was very passionate but struggled with finding the right direction in which to channel all of that energy. While it seemed to her family and friends that she lacked follow through and simply did whatever struck her fancy on a given day, the truth was that Liv's "whims" over the years were just her way of trying to find the right path. After volunteering at her niece's daycare, she finally found her true calling as a teacher and, with some "encouragement" from her love interest, Will Langer, obtained the necessary certifications to take on the job. In addition to her passion, I enjoyed Liv's snarky remarks and the fact that she didn't take flak from anyone. She wasn't afraid to stand up for herself, but that tough attitude sometimes got her in trouble. She seemed to soften a bit by the end of the book, or at least was better about saying she was sorry when she went too far. 

Will was also a very interesting lead character, particularly because of his strict upbringing in Texas. I completely understand why Liv's brother Tom would describe Will as intense (at the very least, he was a workaholic), but I was honestly impressed by how normal he seemed given his background. Generally speaking, however, Will was a good guy, and I didn't quite understand why Tom felt so strongly about Will not pursuing Liv, unless he had an issue with their age difference or he simply didn't want to have to share his best friend. Will certainly seemed to bring out the best in Liv by pushing her to follow through on things and articulate her needs and wants.

Overall, I loved "Nemesis" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

About "Nemesis"

She’ll bring him to his knees. It’s exactly where he wants to be.

Liv Milani knows she’s That Girl. Bold, cool, fiercely loyal—and easy to blow off. Liv is a pro at guarding her heart and not taking things seriously. She is a champion at ignoring Will Langer, her brother’s best friend and Liv’s personal nemesis. The broody jerk’s stony silence is the last thing she needs during a season of change, and now he’s sharing her house for the summer.

Will has spent years behind a stoic expression, longing to make Liv see just how incredible she is. He’d give anything to tell her that she’s his dream girl, but Liv is off-limits. Her brother made that clear long ago. Living with her is going to be a challenge, but Will knows how to control his feelings. Usually.

Suddenly, everything is shaken up, and not taking things seriously is impossible. That Girl is becoming a warrior with a new career calling. Liv and Will’s strong personalities ignite cold indifference into white-hot passion that burns bright even after the Nashville summer has cooled. Against all the rules, they’re falling hard for each other. But keeping secrets is dangerous, and Liv has demons to battle before she can tell her nemesis just how much he means to her.