If a romance has marriage of convenience as a trope I’m sold. Bonus – Ride with Me also includes opposites attract and it’s et in the F1 world. I’m looking forward to reading Ride with Me!
SYNOPSIS
A marriage of convenience threatens to go off track in this steamy Formula 1 romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Cross the Line.
Stella Baldwin thought her life couldnât get worse. Being left at the altar was bad enough, and the drunken rant she posted to her social media followers in the aftermath was the cherry on top. But having to show up at her cousinâs bachelorette party in Las Vegas barely two weeks later feels like a cruel joke.
Thomas Maxwell-Brown is just looking for a good time. With his familyâs expectations pressing down, his career as a Formula 1 driver threatened by fresh talent, and a new reputation making him the most hated man on the grid, he needs a break to clear his head. And what better way to decompress than with a stag party in Vegas?
Stella isnât the woman Thomas expects to meet that night. And Thomas isnât the man Stella expects to wake up next to in the morningâwith a ring on her finger. Staying married might be the perfect solution to all their problems, even if it is a little wild. Sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesnât need to stay there. . . .
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher .
SYNOPSIS
He had everything he couldâve wantedâŠexcept her.
Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.
Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.
His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.
He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, sheâs engaged to his oldest friendâand the closer the wedding looms, the more heâs torn between loyalty and desire.
She should be hisâŠand he might just risk it all to have her.
*** Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous.
To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and sheâs engaged to one of New Yorkâs most eligible bachelors.
What people don’t know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.
Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, heâs the only person she finds comfort inâŠ
Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.
REVIEW
What you can expect to find in King of Envy: -forbidden romance -slow burn -angsty/swoony -he falls first -forced proximity -messy/complicated relationships -broody, morally gray hero
I love love LOVE when Ana Huang writes a broody, morally gray hero. Those books are way up there as favorites from Ana Huang (ahem: King of King of Pride, King of Greed, Twisted Love) and King of Envy has moved way up the rankings as one of my favorite Ana Huang romance book.
I can’t help but really enjoy books that are on the messier side and King of Envy was definitely MESSY but in the best way. Vuk falling for his best friends fiancee?? Only he doesn’t realize it’s a marriage of convenience situation that isn’t out of love. GAH the angst in this book was on another level! I could not stop turning the pages.
Ayana and Vuk had so much chemistry. Right off the bat they were making me laugh with their banter. I loved how sensitive Ayana was towards Vuk. Their shared back stories/trauma made them a stronger couple and I loved that. And Vuk always putting Ayana’s needs first – yes, we love a man who YEARNS and Vuk was definitely yearning đ„č.
The suspense part of the storyline had me hooked. I never had a clue of who the “bad guy” was until I was to that part of the book! I’m not always big into suspenseful romance, but Ana Huang does it so well.
Easily a 5âïž read for me! I truly cannot wait for the next book (eek!).
p.s. I love that even though this was one of Ana’s angstier romances – the classic humor was still there and there were moments that literally had me laughing out loud!
This romance has it all: a one-night stand, forced proximity, and only one boat! Beth O’Leary books are always devastatingly beautiful and I expect the same from her newest release Swept Away. When a couple who shared a one-night stand together are stranded at sea – will they get to know one another or stay far far away?
SYNOPSIS
Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth OâLeary.
What if you were lost at seaâŠwith your one-night stand?
Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late fatherâs houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend’s daughter.
Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.
With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, theyâre facing another challenge. Because when youâre stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someoneâand to fall in love with them.
This rom-com is full of adventure and the perfect way to kick off warmer weather. I love a fake dating + second chance romance and I’m looking forward to reading Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker!
SYNOPSIS
Two exes. One mission. A trip she’ll never forget…
Max is just your average girl. She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt and just happens to have an uncanny resemblance to Europe’s youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen . . .
So when the prime minister receives a credible death threat, the CIA approaches Max with a a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister’s annual Italian trip.
It would be a dream if it weren’t for those pesky assassins and Flynn, Max’s ridiculously hot handler – the man who broke her heart years and years ago.
With her life now on the line, Max knows she has no choice but to lose herself in the role. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that’s a risk that she isn’t willing to take . . . Red, White and Royal Blue meets Emily Henry in this opposites-attract, fake-dating romcom. Perfect for fans of Katherine Center and Ali Hazelwood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and audiobook from prhaudio.
SYNOPSIS
A heart-pounding romantasy following a rebellious princess who must compete to the death against her siblings for the crown to ensure justice, while fighting her feelings for her country’s most powerful enemy by debut author Alexandra Kennington.
Revna is no stranger to struggle. As the only member of the royal family without a magical ability, she is seen as an embarrassing mistake to her kingdom and a blight on her family tree. Luckily, Revna has found family in other outcasts in her kingdom. But when her two closest friendsâ lives are put in danger, she is determined to save them by any means necessary, no matter the cost. The Bloodshed Trialsâa competition where the last sibling in the royal family standing takes the throneâmight just be the ultimate price.
Revna turns down her arranged marriage and commits to competing for the throne only to be kidnapped by the mysterious and terrifyingly powerful Hellbringer, the general of her countryâs greatest enemy. He has the ability to rend souls with the flick of his wrist and is every inch as intimidating as the war stories say he is. But Revna wonders if there may be some humanity left in himâespecially when he reveals there are other parties who want her on the throne for their own furtive reasons.
REVIEW
Revna a “godforsaken” is a royal who is treated as like a commoner. In a family in which she is the only daughter among multiple brothers and the only one without any magical powers, she is treated less than – especially from her father. When an offer comes for Revna to strengthen a stronghold through a marriage Revna’s father accepts. But Revna will only agree if she is allowed to fight in The Bloodshed Trials – in which only one of her siblings will be left standing and whoever is left will sit on the throne. But fate has other plans because soon Revna is captured and taken captive by noneother than Hellbringer – her country’s greatest enemy. While being held captive by the Hellbringer, Revna gets to know him. What are his ulterior motives and why is she suddenly starting to have feelings for him?
Blood Beneath the Snow started off really strong for me. I really liked learning about headstrong Revna and her relationship with her brothers, her father and her townspeople. And the mysterious Hellbringer definitely had me intrigued. I really liked his snarky, broody character – especially paired against feisty Revna.
The second half of the book wasn’t as strong as the first half. The romance started to feel very insta-love and I felt like the pacing was off.
I did have an opportunity to listen to the audiobook narrated by Ellie Gossage. I really liked the narration by Ellie Gossage and felt like she did a great job brining Revna to life as well as the mysterious Hellbringer.
Overall a solid 3 star read.
EXCERPT
BLOOD BENEATH THE SNOW by Alexandra Kennington
Ace Hardcover | On sale: March 11, 2025
Excerpt
I tapped my foot, growing impatient. The ritual and ceremony were supposed to start first thing in the morning, while the sun rose over the hills in the east. But here we all stood, blowing hot puffs of breath over our numbing hands, still waiting as the sun ascended in the sky.
The chatter of the crowd closed in around me and I fumed at how normal the godtouched sounded. They discussed what might still be available at the market despite the shortages, what parties they were attending later this week, whether their spouses and children were due back from the front lines in this round of military rotations. All the while, their expensive jewelry flashed in the dappled sunlight and they basked in the warmth of their fur-lined cloaks-as if they all weren’t here to witness a murder.
I tried not to think about the godforsaken-my own people. The ones at the back of the crowd, dreading what the next hour would bring. Knowing they’d see blood of their own spilled on the altar of the gods and then be expected to go about their day as if nothing had happened. I wondered if any would lose toes or fingers from frostbite after enduring the frigid conditions of midwinter in their worn shoes and their thin cloaks, fraying at the edges. Whether their children’s ribs were showing in the wake of a war they despised. Whether they’d go home and cry silently for a few moments, hugging their families tight as they wondered why it was worth living another day.
My thoughts were interrupted by the temple doors swinging open. The crowd fell silent immediately, every head bowing low. I stared at the priests for a moment too long before Freja elbowed me, and I directed my gaze to the ground as well.
The holy men still managed to make me shudder, even after having spent a lifetime in close contact with them. They dressed entirely in white, in robes stretching from their necks to their wrists and ankles. Veils covered their hair and faces so that they blended in perfectly with the snowy landscape-except for the eyes.
The fabric of their veils was pinned to the necklines of their robes, meaning not a single inch of skin was visible on any of the priests. Above each one’s forehead was an eye embroidered with bloodred thread, eerie enough to make both the godtouched and the godforsaken feel the priest was peering directly into the depths of their soul.
I hated the priests almost as much as I hated the gods.
An endless stream of them flooded out the doors until they had filled the steps of the structure, the blades of their scythes winking in the sun. The last to exit brought with him a white cloth with another embroidered eye on it to drape over the altar. Fury ripped through me at the sight, but I forced myself to stay still. My fingernails bit half-moons into the flesh of my palms and I busied my mind with the reminder of what I was here to do.
“Every priest in the country must be here,” Freja whispered as we surveyed them. “I’ve never seen this many in one place before. Do you think they traveled for the ritual?”
“Who knows,” I murmured, feeling the telltale furrow of my brows appear. “I wasn’t expecting them all to be here. This might be harder than we thought.”
My friend nodded, readjusting the bundle of fabric in her arms. “Guess we’ll see how fast we can run.”
Another figure exited the temple. The queen. She’d once confided to me when I was a small child that the crown she wore today was her favorite: an arch that stretched from behind one ear to the other, hugging tightly to her hair, rays projecting out like a halo to frame her face. The gold of it glimmered in the morning sunlight, contrasting against her dark black hair. Her gown was a deep blood red, one of our national colors. It flowed like liquid, and I found myself wondering if she was freezing beneath the fabric. It certainly didn’t look warm.
She stepped to the center of the dais and stood before the altar. My eyes found my feet and I clenched my jaw as if the tension would prevent her from seeing me, recognizing me. A priest came forward to stand next to her, facing the crowd. In one synchronized movement, the other priests pounded the wooden handles of their scythes on the temple’s stone steps, sending a booming echo through the square. The ceremony had begun.
“Ready?” I asked Freja. My heart pounded with anticipation.
She nodded. “Let’s hope this works.”
The priest at the altar began speaking in a resounding voice. “Welcome to the Winter Ritual, beloved citizens of Bhorglid. Today marks the beginning of a new year, one filled with great hope for our country. Even now, we wage holy war against Kryllian, our armies drawing closer to taking over the southernmost country in the Fjordlands.”
A cheer erupted around us, and I suppressed a sigh of irritation. The godtouched in the crowd, whose partners, parents, and children fought on the front lines, were ecstatic to hear it repeated: their loved ones weren’t fighting in just any war. No, it was a holy war. Decreed by the gods.
The priest continued, “Generations ago, the Fjordlands were stolen from us. We, who communicate directly with the gods. Instead of harmony, discord was wrought and the Fjordlands were split into three. For thirteen generations, the gods have mourned with us as we have waited for their perfect timing. Now you are blessed to be part of the chosen few alive to see this miracle come to pass. Kryllian shall be rightfully ours. The gods have declared it.”
I tried not to let my emotions show on my face. The speech had been the same every year since the war began, but it never failed to make me wince. Halvar had been the one to explain to me years ago how the priest’s version of this story had been edited in Bhorglid’s favor. Only those who passed on the original stories verbally still knew the truth. He’d been lucky enough to come from a family that didn’t embrace the revisionist version of our history.
In actuality, the Fjordlands had been filled with wandering people, those with magical abilities and those without living in peace-until a pair with powers far beyond what was necessary for mortal man decided they could speak with the gods. And according to them, the gods said those with abilities had been blessed. Godtouched.
The rest of us were godforsaken. Forgotten by our holy pantheon, called unworthy from the moment we entered the world. While the godtouched enjoyed innate abilities that allowed them to manipulate elements of the world around them, the way the gods had once done as they walked the land millennia ago, the rest of us were normal. Shunted to the edge of a society where an invisible group of gods claimed we were lesser.
The speech grated against my nerves like the screech of a metal fork across a ceramic plate. Enduring the rest of this drivel was going to kill me. I was ready to move, ready to wreak havoc, ready to wrap my hands around the nearest priest’s throat and rip their veil off. Only watching the light fade from their eyes would be enough to calm me.
Freja snatched my hand and squeezed. “No,” she hissed. “We have to wait until they’ve brought out the child.”
My hands shook with fury against hers. But she was right. The priests enabled the foul treatment of the godforsaken, but we weren’t here to rid ourselves of them. Today was about saving a life, not taking it.
Even if I wished it were possible to do both.
The priest droned on, but I focused on Freja’s words and nodded, forcing myself to breathe deeply. The godtouched around us were too intent on listening to the priests to notice me acting strangely.
The ritual speech continued despite my swirling thoughts. “As we perform the new year ritual, this unholy blood will be a tribute to the gods. In exchange for our sacrifice, they will grant us their power. We will gain a powerful advantage in this war; with the vanquishing of this life, we will be able to defeat the Hellbringer. The gods have declared it so.”
Freja squeezed my hand again, barely in time to keep an indignant huff from escaping me. This part of the speech was new, the logic as incomprehensible as the rest. How would killing an infant grant us the power to stop the most powerful godtouched being to exist in any of our lifetimes and end the war? As Freja released my hand, the queen gestured to the side of the stage for several acolytes to bring someone forward. I glanced over but couldn’t make out the woman’s face; the figure was hunched at an odd angle and a low moan emanated from her mouth. There was a wriggling bundle clutched to her chest. My stomach sank, the way it did every year.
The priest took the infant out of the person’s arms and began to move toward the altar.
The figure left in the shadows-undoubtedly the child’s mother, a godforsaken woman-let out a haunting scream, her wail of anguish echoing through the square and silencing everyone, even the godtouched. I clenched my teeth. The screams were always the worst part. Worse than the blood. The mother collapsed to her knees and howling sobs cracked the silence.
Freja and I were the only ones who appeared affected. The priests’ expressions were carefully hidden behind their face coverings and the godtouched on either side of us were reverently silent, waiting for spilled blood to spell their salvation. The queen curled her lip at the bundle in the priest’s arms as he set it carefully on the altar.
As he laid it down, it wriggled, and a tiny hand emerged from the blankets.
Seeing the movement made my throat raw. The last child born to godforsaken parents each year was always culled-a horrifying euphemism-as a sacrifice to the gods. Only the youngest, freshest blood would do for this brutal tradition, repeated winter after winter.
“Now,” I said to Freja as anger sparked in my stomach. “We go now.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and audiobook from prhaudio.
SYNOPSIS
A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.
Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.
Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereofâshe begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.
REVIEW
okay first of all – he wears a thin gold chain đ«Š AND he keeps a list of her favorite things đ«
I finished First-Time Caller a few months ago and I’m still thinking about it. I loved everything about this book. Single parent romances can be hit and miss for me, but B.K. Borison knew what she was doing with First-Time Caller. I loved loved loved Aiden + Lucie. If you’re looking for…
-forced proximity -slow burn -strangers to friends to lovers -single mom -found family/family bond -tension -she wants magic and love x he doesnât believe in that -sheâs a mechanic
Okay hear me out – didnât realize I was going to love this so much until I read it in First Time CallerâŠhe has a gold chain and plays with it when heâs nervous or anxious – gah!!! (brought me back to Connell and his chain from Normal People). OkayâŠmoving on now
THIS BOOK. This book was so so so good. I read Business Casual last year and didnât think that BK Borison could top that, but she did. I have not watched Sleepless in Seattle (maybe I need to?) so Iâm not sure how to compare this book to that movie, but I will say that I was hooked right from the beginning. I loved the dynamics with all the characters in this book. From Lucie and her ex (also baby daddy) to Aiden and his co-worker/best friend Jackson. Every person in this book had an important role to play and I appreciate that none of them were there just for the sake of it.
And the relationship between Aiden and Lucie đ„č I loved the banter and tension between these two. Ugh. This is one of those books that I wanted to fly through and at the same time I didnât want it to end. These two were just so good for one another.
If you are a fan of audiobooks, I highly recommend listening to First-Time Caller. I had an opportunity to listen to the audiobook and it was phenomenal. I feel like E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee did such an amazing job bringing life to Aiden and Lucie! I seriously enjoyed this audiobook rendition so much.
Only gripe with First-Time Caller … I didnât want it to end.
Absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series! BK Borison is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and audiobook from prhaudio.
Deep End (aka Whet) by Ali Hazelwood releases in less than 2 weeks! I loved this spicy, swoony and angsty romance. As with all of Aliâs books I ended up reading this book in less than 2 days. I could not put it down once I started it. It was a bit messy đ and definitely much spicier than her previous books, BUT I loved it and clearly could not get enough. I could happily live in the Ali-verse and look forward to her next book đ„°
SYNOPSIS
A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationshipsâat least, thatâs what she tells herself.
Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. Itâs how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water…
REVIEW
What you can expect to find in Deep End: -diver x swimmer -he falls first -new adult college romance -sports romance x STEM -đ¶đ¶đ¶ (BDSM) -he speaks another language –messy drama (which I loooove) -cameos from a past favorite couple
Scarlett Vandermeer loves her life at Stanford. Sheâs a collegiate diver and loves her team and her coach, but she canât seem to get past the yips sheâs been experiencing since a diving accident. Between diving and applying to med schools, Scarlett doesnât have time for much else – especially not a relationship.
Lukas Blomqvist thrives on control and discipline. Scarlett hasnât shared more than a few words with him and couldnât imagine having anything in common with the world champion. When Scarlett happens to run into Lukas Blomqvist and hear a well guarded secret she realizes they might have more things in common that she never would have guessed. Things like their love of science, getting ready for med school and their shared tastes in the bedroom.
What starts out as temporary soon starts to become something more. But their relationship involves people they love and care about and soon itâs not so cut and dry. Will they find a way to make their complicated relationship work?
As with other Ali Hazelwood books, I finished this book within a matter of two days. I couldnât stop reading about Scarlett and Lukas. And not only Lukas and Scarlett, but their relationships with their friends and teammates was such a huge part of this book. As usual there were some hilariously funny scenes that had me cracking up. I loved how much Scarlett grew as a character in Deep End – those scenes were so relatable.
This book was definitely one of Aliâs spicier books đ¶đ¶. Ali knows how to bring the heat and I loved how intimate Lukas and Scarlett were. Yes there was physical intimacy, but also their emotional intimacy.
I highly enjoyed Deep End and rated it 4.5 stars!
Cannot wait for all the special editions with WHETđŠ
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
She’s the only woman he wants…and the only one he can’t have.
Asher Donovan is a living legendâthe darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.
But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, theyâre forced to âbondâ during off-season cross-training.
Surviving the summer shouldnât be hardâŠuntil Asher meets their new trainer. Sheâs beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he canât take his mind off her.
The only problem? Sheâs his rivalâs sisterâand completely off limits.
***
Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.
Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people .
She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.
Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? Thatâs out of the questionâespecially when heâs the only person with the power to break her heart.
REVIEW
What you can expect to find in The Striker: -soccer romance -brother’s rival -billionaire soccer player x ballerina -forced proximity -slow burn -secret dating -found family -đ¶đ¶
Ana Huang’s foray into sports romance – yay! Not gonna lie – I was totally imagining Ted Lasso but with more romance vibes and I loved it! Not just the football aspect of it, but how seamlessly Ana was able to tie in a soccer player x a ballerina and make it work.
One thing about me is – if Ana Huang writes it, I’m gonna read it. The Striker was no exception. I loved loved loved the tension and slow burn between Asher + Scarlett. Forbidden romances have become a recent favorite and I loved the forbidden aspects of their relationship. Ana Huang does such a good job with angst and there were definitely a few angsty moments that had me tearing up.
Yes, the book is thick clocking it at almost 600 pages, but the relationships felt developed. Not just with Asher and Scarlett but with all the secondary characters in the story as well. What I love about Ana’s books is how she weaves friendships throughout her stories. I loved the found family aspect of The Striker – especially in a day and age when it’s not so easy to make friends. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!!
I caught the attention of a monster. I didnât ask for it. Didnât even see it coming. But the moment I do, itâs too late. Killian Carson is a predator wrapped in sophisticated charm. Heâs cold-blooded, manipulative, and savage. The worst part is that no one sees his devil side. I do. And that will cost me everything. I run, but the thing about monsters? They always chase.
This book is not a conventional romance and contains themes that aren’t to everyone’s liking. Please check the author’s note before reading.
REVIEW
I started God of Malice without reading Rina’s backlist. There are a lot of characters and I was a bit lost. This book is super intense & the opening scene alone left me đł. I definitely had to put it down because I wasn’t ready for it. That being said, I went back to the beginning and read God of Malice and fell in love with Killian + Glyndon.
YES, Killian is absolutely unhinged. But also – I found myself laughing out loud a lot. And his gradual fall for Glyndon – gah! I loved how gone he was for her when initially he just wanted her for the sake of having her. And Glyndon – she’s so tough and was going through so many emotions over her relationship with Killian. I adored the way these two tried to fight their feeling for one another and ended up falling so hard.
I have so many scenes throughout this book highlighted! The banter between Killian and Glydon was *chefs kiss* I was constantly laughing or had a huge grin on my face.
No, these books aren’t for everyone. Know going in that there are a lot of content/trigger warnings. That being said – I’m really enjoying Rina Kent and can’t wait to read more of this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friendâs wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance.
Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. Itâs full of the ironclad dos and donâts theyâve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.
With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgiaâs never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messyâand still very presentâfeelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.
Whatâs not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.
As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eliâs heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what theyâre building isnât the something old that ruined themâitâs a chance at something new.
REVIEW
What to expect in The Ex Vows: -childhood friends to lovers -second chance romance -found family -angsty đ -đ¶đ¶ -single POV
Georgia and Eli have known for a good part of their lives – having met when they were fifteen. Their relationship took its own course from friends to lovers when they both decided to move to NYC from the Bay Area. And then…the one thing that Georgia feared happened – their relationship fell apart and she lost one of her best friends. It’s been five years, but Georgia and Eli are always cordial to each other whenever they interact with their other mutual best friend Adam. With Adam’s wedding looming in the very near distance, Georgia isn’t prepared to be spending so much time with Eli. Except the wedding is literally falling apart and Georgia and Eli vow to work together to make it the most perfect wedding for Adam. Now that they are spending more and more time with each other will their feeling towards one another change with old wounds resurfacing?
Second chance romance is a favorite trope of mine. I want to feel the angst and pain of their past relationship and find out why didn’t it work – what happened to make their relationship fall apart. Eli and Georgia have so much great chemistry and their old hurts were so obviously there. Not gonna lie – I was totally crying into my pillow for a good chunk of this book. But Eli – gah – Eli was so perfect. I loved him for Georgia and the way he just knew her. And Georgia – I felt her pain. The way she always wanted to please everyone and be “on.” Even the fallout between her and Eli had me wanting to give her a big hug.
I loved Jessica’s first book You With a View and was eagerly awaiting The Ex Vows. Her writing is witty, fun and has a lot of big feelings! I look forward to reading whatever she writes next!
Overall, I would give The Ex Vows 4.5 stars, but rounding up!
EXCERPT
This wedding is cursed
“Not again,” I mutter.
To the untrained eye, this text probably looks like a joke, or the beginning of one of those chain emails our elders get duped into forwarding to twenty of their nearest and dearest, lest they inherit multigenerational bad luck.
In actuality, it’s been Adam’s mantra for the past eight months.
Adam is the brother I never had and I’m truly honored to be along for the ride on his wedding journey. But had sixth-grade Georgia anticipated I’d be fielding forty-seven daily texts from my more-unhinged-by-the-minute best friend, I would’ve thought twice about complimenting his Hannah Montana shirt the day we met.
My Spidey senses tingle with this text, though. It hasn’t been delivered in aggressive caps lock, nor is it accompanied by a chaotic menagerie of GIFs (my kingdom for a Michael Scott alternative). Whatever has happened now might actually be an emergency.
Then again, the wedding is ten days away. At this point, anything that isn’t objectively awesome is a disaster.
I pluck my phone off my desk, typing, What’s the damage?
A bubble immediately pops up, disappears, reappears, then stops again.
“Great sign.”
It’s nearly four p.m. on Wednesday, the day before my week-long PTO for the wedding starts, and I still have half a page of unchecked boxes on my to-do list, plus a detailed While I’m Away email to draft for my boss. I can’t leave Adam hanging in his moment of need, though. What kind of best woman would I be?
No better than the largely absent best man? comes the uncharitable punchline. I slam the door on that thought. It’s not like I’ve minded executing most of the best-people activities; it’s been a godsend for multiple reasons. It’s just so typical of him to-
I catch my own eye in the computer’s reflection, delivering a silent message with the downward slash of my dark eyebrows: Shut. Up. I’d rather think about curses than anything tangentially related to the subject of Eli Mora.
For Adam, whose natural temperament hovers somewhere near live wire, it’s been a constant test of his sanity. Even Grace, who’s brutally chill, the perfect emotional foil for Adam, has been fraying.
But then, she would’ve been fine eloping. Every new disaster probably only further solidifies the urge to book it to Vegas.
Adam’s texts tumble over one another:
Georgia
Our fucking DJ
BROKE THEIR HIP
LINE DANCING AT A BACHELORETTE PARTY
IN NASHVILLE
I need to know what I’ve done in my 28 years on this dying earth that is causing this to happen
I start to type, but he beats me to it.
That was rhetorical, Woodward, DON’T
Clearly Adam’s shifting out of his panic fugue, so I shift into fix-it mode. It’s the reason he came to me out of everyone-he knows I’ll step up without hesitation.
Deep breath. Nothing’s burned to the ground, right? I text back. This is problematic but not fatal. We’ll come up with a new list.
The bubbles of doom pop up again and I wait. Again.
I wish I could say my eagerness to jump into this shitstorm is fully altruistic, but since I got back from a six-month work stint in Seattle three months ago, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen Adam, all wedding-related. This has been the only way to reliably stay in his orbit.
Readaholic Book Reviews 