I didn’t get a lot of reading done in December, but it was a very busy month so I’m not really surprised. Standouts for December included the Ice Planet Barbarians series, re-read of Fix Her Up and Every Summer After which releases in the spring. Hoping that 2022 will bring us a lot of amazing books 🙂
I can’t believe that the year is almost over – where did it go?? I feel like at times this year was moving at a snails pace and then bam – it’s already December! I need to start thinking about my top list of books in 2021 already! I’ve read so many amazing books this year. While I didn’t read a lot this month, the books that I did read were spectacular. Standouts include The Wedding Ringer, Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships and Duke, Actually!
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Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction
Heat Level: Closed Door
Release Date: November 23, 2021
Publisher: Berkley
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
Sometimes a yacht, a bold bucket list, and a kiss with a handsome stranger are all a person needs to dive into the deep end of life.
For the last year, yacht stewardess Jo Walker has been attempting to complete a bucket list of thirty things she wants to accomplish by her birthday. Jo has almost everything she’s ever wanted, including a condo on the beach (though she’s the youngest resident by thirty years) and an exciting job (albeit below deck) that lets her travel the world.
Jo is on track until a family tragedy turns her life upside down, and the list falls by the wayside. But when her two nieces show up unannounced with plans to stay the summer, they discover her list and insist on helping Jo finish it. Though the remaining eight items (which include running a marathon, visiting ten countries, and sleeping in a castle) seem impossible to complete in twelve weeks, Jo takes on the challenge.
When she summons the courage to complete item number five–kiss a stranger–and meets Alex Hayes, all bets are off. As her feelings for Alex intensify and Jo’s inability to confront difficult emotions about her family complicates her relationships, she must learn to quit playing it safe with her heart before she loses what matters most.
REVIEW
Yacht stewardess Jo Walker is on a mission – to complete a 30 before 30 bucket list! She’s checked off so many of the items on her list and only has a handful of things left to do. But recently Jo hasn’t felt much like celebrating or ticking items off of a list. She lost her young nephew and she now feels lost and not so sure what brings her joy.
But Jo’s summer is about to turn upside down because her nieces are coming to visit for the summer! And they are adamant that Jo completes her list. One of the items on Jo’s list is kissing a stranger and Jo soon realizes that the stranger she ended up kissing would be no other than the yacht chef Alex orhot yacht chef as he wants to be known (lol!). As Jo and Alex grow closer, will she let down her guard and let him in or keep everything on the surface as she has been since her nephew passed.
Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships was such an emotional read for me. Sarah’s writing was so poignant and she truly writes beautiful prose. I would stop reading a passage just to reread it again. I felt Jo’s pain as well as the pain of her nieces and even her sister after losing a prominent figure in their lives. And while yes, the heavy parts of this book could be really heavy – I also found myself laughing or grinning like a fool at the antics of Jo and her nieces, or Jo and her best friend Nina or Jo and Alex (swoon)!
While LL&FS crossed over more to women’s fiction, the romance aspect was definitely prominent. I was longing for Alex and Jo to find their way to one another. They both had to get there on their own though and I loved their respective journey’s.
I highly recommend Love, Lists and Fancy Ships and can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
CW: death of a loved one, grief, parental neglect, cheating (not main character)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
Britta didn’t plan on falling for her personal trainer, and Wes didn’t plan on Britta. Plans change and it’s unclear if love, career, or both will meet them at the finish line.
Britta Colby works for a lifestyle website, and when tasked to write about her experience with a hot new body-positive fitness app that includes personal coaching, she knows it’s a major opportunity to prove she should write for the site full-time.
As CEO of the FitMe app, Wes Lawson finally has the financial security he grew up without, but despite his success, his floundering love life and complicated family situation leaves him feeling isolated and unfulfilled. He decides to get back to what he loves—coaching. Britta’s his first new client and they click immediately.
As weeks pass, she’s surprised at how much she enjoys experimenting with her exercise routine. He’s surprised at how much he looks forward to talking to her every day. They convince themselves their attraction is harmless, but when they start working out in person, Wes and Britta find it increasingly challenging to deny their chemistry and maintain a professional distance.
Wes isn’t supposed to be training clients, much less meeting with them, and Britta’s credibility will be sunk if the lifestyle site finds out she’s practically dating the fitness coach she’s reviewing. Walking away from each other is the smartest thing to do, but running side by side feels like the start of something big.
REVIEW
Britta, a journalist for a lifestyle website is tasked with showing readers her experience with a body-positive fitness app. Britta wants to be more than an assistant at her company and this is the opportunity for Britta to shine.
Britta is paired with Wes – owner and coach of the fitness app that Britta is using. Their back and forth banter soon has them thinking more about one another. When an opportunity arises for Wes and Britta to finally meet in person, they realize that the sparks they have for one another might be worth acting on. But what about their professions? Are they willing to risk it all for one another?
I have to preface this review by saying that over the past year, my journey has been very similar to Britta’s. I found myself making lifestyle changes that at first started similar to Britta’s. Yes mine were more health related and weight loss was a part of my goal, but it wasn’t the end of my goal. I had to figure out how to incorporate this healthy lifestyle into my daily routine. Much like Britta does with running and strength training – it was a process. And unlike Britta, I didn’t have an amazing coach urging me on. So gosh, I wish I had this book a year ago when I was feeling not so good and scared and a bit lonely if I’m being honest. This book is not only an amazing romance, but also shows how it can be so uplifting if we have someone in our corner. Fighting for us. Telling us we can do it – just one more mile or a few minutes more.
Britta and Wes were so cute together in The Fastest Way to Fall. I loved their witty dialogue, their chemistry and the back and forth banter they always had with one another. Their story flowed so effortlessly. I will say that some of the side characters/names of the businesses did get lost a little (I had to go back and see who was who and where they were working), but overall I really enjoyed this romance with a side of body positivity!
Denise Williams is an amazing author and I always find myself flying through her books. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
A woman who wants nothing to do with love or friendship finds both in the unlikeliest ways in this hilarious and heartwarming debut by Kerry Rea.
Once upon a time, Willa Callister was a successful blogger with a good credit score, actual hobbies, and legs that she shaved more than once a month. But after finding her fiancé in bed with her best friend, she now spends her days performing at children’s birthday parties in a ball gown that makes her look like a walking bottle of Pepto Bismol. Willa dreams of starting fresh, where no one knows who she used to be, but first she needs to save up enough money to make it happen.
Maisie Mitchell needs something too: another bridesmaid for her wedding. After a chance encounter at a coffee shop, Maisie offers to pay Willa to be in her bridal party. Willa wants nothing to do with weddings–or Maisie–but the money will give her the freedom to start the new life she so badly desires.
Willa’s bridesmaid duties thrust her into Maisie’s high-energy world and into the path of hotshot doctor Liam Rafferty. But as Willa and Maisie form a real friendship, and Liam’s annoyingly irresistible smile makes her reconsider her mantra that all men are trash, Willa’s exit strategy becomes way more complicated. And when a secret from Maisie’s past threatens to derail the wedding, Willa must consider whether friendship–and romance–are worth sticking around for.
REVIEW
At one time socialite and social media darling Willa Callister had it all. A thriving career, blog & Instagram followers, a fiancé, a best friend who she shared everything with – a seemingly perfect life. Until one day Willa walked in on her fiancé and best friend in bed together. Now her life is nothing like it was before The Incident. Willa finds herself living with her sister and her family while she decides how to move forward with her life. When a chance encounter with a woman at a coffee shop has the potential to turn Willa’s life around – will she take the opportunity to let herself feel again? Or is she bound to harden to heart so that it never gets broken again?
I cannot put into words how much I adored this wonderful book. The Wedding Ringer took me by surprise, but in the best way. Right from the beginning the writing captivated me and had me laughing out loud and at the same time feeling the hurt and anguish that Willa goes through when she sees her ex best friend at a birthday party. The way Kerry Rea brings all of these emotions out and lets us feel them alongside Willa is amazing.
Friendship is such a key component in The Wedding Ringer. Friendships can be amazing; they can lift us up when we’re feeling down, help us with a should to lean on when we need it the most or just be there when we want to vent. But Willa has lost that with her best friend and the loss is profound. So I can see why Willa has such a hard time opening up to friendships especially with a whirlwind like Maise. Maise is the ray of sunshine that Willa didn’t even know she was missing in her life. I loved their friendship so much and how they were truly there for each other when they didn’t think they could rely on anyone else.
While the friendships were front and center in The Wedding Ringer, I loved the romance between Willa and dark and sexy Liam. The banter, the playfulness – gah! They were so damn cute together and I loved the way they slowly came around to one another.
I highly recommend The Wedding Ringer! This is Kerry Rea’s debut and I can’t wait to read more of her books!
I received a complimentary copy & audiobook of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday follows A Princess for Christmas with another delightful contemporary Christmas romance between a playboy baron and a woman who has said goodbye to love.
Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is trapped. Under pressure from his domineering father, he must marry a suitable bride before he inherits a title that feels like a prison sentence. In New York to meet a prospective wife, he ditches his responsibilities and appears on Dani Martinez’s doorstep. He’s been intrigued by the no-nonsense professor since he met her at the Eldovian royal wedding and is determined to befriend her.
Newly single Dani is done with love—she even has a list entitled “Things I Will Never Again Do for a Man”—which is why she hits it off with notorious rake Max. He’s trying to escape relationships, and she’s resolved to avoid them at all costs. All they want from each other is friendship and a distraction from their messy lives.
As their bond begins to deepen, so does their attraction, until they end up in bed together. Falling in love was never part of the plan—Max’s family doesn’t see Dani as a perfect match, even as his heart tells him she’s the one, and Dani isn’t sure she can make it in Max’s world. Can they find the courage to live they life they desire, even if it means risking everything?
REVIEW
After Dani’s husband leaves her for a younger woman, Dani finds herself newly single. She’s finally able to do the things that she wasn’t able to when she was married – including spending more time with her family. Dani doesn’t want to find herself in a relationship anytime soon and nothing can change that.
Maximillian von Hansburg is known as a ladies man. On the surface, Max is carefree and nothing fazes him. But Max is feeling the pressure from his parents. They want Max to find a suitable wife before he inherits the title of Duke. Max had a perfect thing going with his best friend Marie, but she ended up finding her one true love (in A Princess for Christmas) and now he’s back to square one.
When Max finds himself in New York and calls on Dani – a tender friendship forms. Max and Dani already know of each other as both of their best friends are going to marry each other. But Max insists on befriending Dani. Dani isn’t quite so sure about the Depraved Duke, but soon finds herself actually liking him. Can they keep their relationship strictly platonic? Or will sparks fly?
I read A Princess for Christmas last year and remember really enjoying Max’s character. But I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in Duke, Actually. Well, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I absolutely loved this book. I loved the slow progression of friends-to-lovers between Max and Dani. Duke, Actually had the slowest of slow burns, but I never felt like the relationship was going too slow.
Both Max and Dani were so sweet with one another and yet I found myself grinning or laughing at their antics. Their relationship felt so real and that made me love this couple even more because of that. They had their own insecurities and vulnerabilities, and yet they completely understood each other and were always there for each other – no matter what.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Duke, Actually and really enjoyed it. The audiobook was narrated by Stacy Gonzalez and I felt like she did a great job. The narration took me a bit to get into, but once I started really getting into the story – I ended up really enjoying all of the voices Stacy narrated. I could always tell when a character was upset or happy. I was constantly grinning when Dani and Max were texting and felt all of the burden Max was shouldering when he was interacting with his parents. Overall, I feel like Stacy Gonzalez did a wonderful job narrating Duke, Actually and highly recommend the audiobook!
If you’re looking for a sweet, tender, friends-to-lovers romance with Christmas-y vibes, grab your copy of Duke, Actually!
CW: Parental neglect/abuse
**Although Duke, Actually can be read as a standalone, I think there’s a lot of backstory on Max and Dani from A Princess for Christmas and would recommend reading the books in order.
October came and went in the blink of an eye, it feels! I started off the month strong, but didn’t end up reading a lot this month. Work, Halloween, activities with my kiddos during the day kept me pretty busy! I did a lot of re-reads this month because that’s what I felt most like reading. Favorites books included The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan and a re-read of The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan (moved my rating up from 4🌟 to 5🌟).
Following The Heiress Hunt, beloved author Joanna Shupe continues her new Fifth Avenue Rebels series with a scandalous romance about a good girl desperate to rebel and the rebel desperate to corrupt her.
A first-rate scoundrel.
A desperate wallflower.
Lessons in seduction.
The woman no one notices . . .
Shy heiress Alice Lusk is tired of being overlooked by every bachelor. Something has to change, else she’ll be forced to marry a man whose only desire is her fortune. She needs to become a siren, a woman who causes a man’s blood to run hot . . .and she’s just met the perfect rogue to help teach her.
He’s the life of every party . . .
Christopher “Kit” Ward plans to open a not-so-reputable supper club in New York City, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to hire the best chef in the city to guarantee its success. Even if it requires giving carnal lessons to a serious-minded spinster who has an in with the chef.
Their bedroom instruction grows passionate, and Alice is a much better pupil than Kit had ever anticipated. When the Society gentlemen start to take notice, Kit has to try to win Alice in other ways . . . but is he too late to win her heart?
REVIEW
Heiress Alice Lusk needs a teacher. Specifically someone to teach her the art of seduction. Her mother thinks that Alice will have no problem finding a suitor – especially with her large dowry. But Alice wants to marry for love. So she finds the one person who she thinks would be perfect in helping her become a vixen – Kit Ward.
Christopher “Kit” Ward is a known scoundrel. He likes to keep his relationships on the surface and is definitely not the settling down sort. So when Alice comes knocking at his door with a proposal to teach her how to seduce a man… he’s at a loss for words. But Alice and Kit just happen to be at the same place at the same time – a house party thrown by Kit’s friend Maddie. And Maddie has forbidden Kit to seduce any of the young women at the soiree.
But when Alice has a proposal for Kit – he has a hard time turning her down. She will help Kit with written recipes for the opening of his supper club and he will help her with her lessons. What could possibly go wrong?
Oh how I loved The Lady Gets Lucky. Kit and Alice had so much chemistry together and I loved every single scene where they were together. Their interactions always left a grin on my face. But with the sweet and funny was also the perfect amount of angst. I wanted these two to end up together right from the beginning of the book.
I will admit, I wasn’t a fan of The Heiress Hunt, but absolutely loved the second book in the The Fifth Avenue Rebels series. I can’t wait to find out who is getting their story next!
CW: parental verbal abuse, alcoholism, death of a friend by alcoholism
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
Single mother April Parker has lived in Willow Creek for twelve years with a wall around her heart. On the verge of being an empty nester, she’s decided to move on from her quaint little town, and asks her friend Mitch for his help with some home improvement projects to get her house ready to sell.
Mitch Malone is known for being the life of every party, but mostly for the attire he wears to the local Renaissance Faire — a kilt (and not much else) that shows off his muscled form to perfection. While he agrees to help April, he needs a favor too: she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at an upcoming family dinner, so that he can avoid the lectures about settling down and having a more “serious” career than high school coach and gym teacher. April reluctantly agrees, but when dinner turns into a weekend trip, it becomes hard to tell what’s real and what’s been just for show. But when the weekend ends, so must their fake relationship.
As summer begins, Faire returns to Willow Creek, and April volunteers for the first time. When Mitch’s family shows up unexpectedly, April pretends to be Mitch’s girlfriend again… something that doesn’t feel so fake anymore. Despite their obvious connection, April insists they’ve just been putting on an act. But when there’s the chance for something real, she has to decide whether to change her plans — and open her heart — for the kilt-wearing hunk who might just be the love of her life.
An accidentally in-love rom-com filled with Renaissance Faire flower crowns, kilts, corsets, and sword fights.
REVIEW
Single mom April is about to have an empty nest. With her daughter Caitlin ready to graduate high school, April doesn’t feel the need to stay in Willow Creek. April is ready to move on from small town living – maybe the big city or a change of scenery is up next. But she needs help renovating her home before she sells. And this is where her good friend Mitch offers his services. Mitch is willing to help April with her renovations if she returns a teensy tiny favor. If April can pretend to be his girlfriend for a weekend then he’ll help with renovations! April isn’t quite sure, but soon finds herself agreeing.
And that’s when all the fun begins! I really enjoyed Well Matched. This charming friends to lovers/fake relationship romance was so sweet. I adored Mitch and how funny and sweet he was with April. While I’m not usually a fan of the age gap – I really didn’t see the issue with April being older than Mitch. Mitch was mature and their interactions always felt sweet and romantic – never weird or forced.
Both April and Mitch have so many vulnerabilities and I loved how they were always there defending each other whether they asked for it or not. The moments with April and Caitlin really got to me. I don’t read a lot of single parent romances, but felt like Jen DeLuca did a wonderful job with this sweet mother and daughter in Well Matched.
If you’re looking for a sweet romance that will sometimes transport you to the Renaissance Faire (I seriously loved these scenes) then grab your copy of Well Matched!
September was such a busy busy month. While I read the most books in quite some time in August, it seems like I slowed way down and read maybe my fewest books in a month in September. My month started strong, but then I fell into a book slump. And I just felt like re-reading a lot – so that’s exactly what I did ☺ Favorites of this month include TheKingmaker by Kennedy Ryan (why did I wait so long to pick up this book?!) and Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore (ARC)
Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan (re-read via audiobook)
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (re-read via audiobook – ALC)
The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy (ARC)
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren (re-read)
TheRoughestDraft by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka (ARC)
Readaholic Book Reviews 