The Dare by Elle Kennedy

Rating: ⭐⭐💫

Genre: Sports Romance

Series: Briar U #4

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥

Release Date: June 16, 2020

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

I will admit that I haven’t read all the books in the Briar U series, but did really enjoy The Risk I was excited to read another book set at Briar U, but sadly I wasn’t as blown away by The Dare as I had hoped to be.

Taylor is a sorority sister, but she doesn’t always love it on Greek Row. Not only is she not interested in the parties, but she’s also not super-model skinny and is a bit insecure about her curves. Her sorority president is a bit of a mean girl and it seems like she’s always out to get Taylor.

Hockey player Connor can have his pick of any women he wants, but he’s tired of the revolving door of women in his life. He hasn’t had a meaningful relationship that’s lasted and he’s a bit over it.

When Taylor accepts a dare to seduce Connor, something special happens. The two end up talking all night and truly end up really liking one another. This is the perfect opportunity to fake date, to make everyone think that they’re truly a couple.

Connor and Taylor are both trying to come into their own while in college and are having a bit of difficulty trying to “fit in.” I really enjoyed how sweet Connor was with Taylor and how reassuring he was about her insecurities regarding her weight. But I really had a hard time finding the chemistry between Connor and Taylor.

The second half of The Dare dragged for me and I wasn’t as interested in the story line twist as I wanted to be. The main conflict resolved itself pretty quickly, but I expected to feel more angst than I did.

I did enjoy the camaraderie between Connor and his friends. Those scenes were some of my favorites. I just wish I was more invested in the romance between Connor and Taylor.

Overall I would give The Dare 2.5 stars.

My heart has been heavy for weeks now and all but completely broke in the last few days. My skin is not white, and yet still I do not feel the same injustices as those who are Black. I may have felt prejudice and racism in the past, but I can not even pretend to know that it feels like to walk a mile in a Black American’s shoes.

I will be honest and say that I hadn’t really read very many books from authors who were not white in the past. It wasn’t until I joined bookstagram that I really noticed that most authors that I was supporting were mainly white authors. And that’s on me – because I should have been diversifying myself even before I joined bookstagram.

But that’s one great thing to come out of being friends with other book lovers who also make an effort to diversify the books that they read. I don’t particularly read a lot of non-fiction, but even through the fiction I read I am able to learn about different cultures if the books I am reading are not all by white authors. I am able to learn about the hardships and struggles that people of color face.

I looked at my shelves and I own six books by Black authors. I need to make an effort and change that number. In the picture above are a few Black authors who I have either read or will be reading very soon. I have diversified myself over the past year, but I need to do better.

I have so much learning to do and have to look within myself to start that change. I have been having an open dialogue with my friends, family and even my young children. We have to do better and it has to start with us. I need to take a real good look at the way I address racism, privilege and anti-Blackness. Not just today or tomorrow – we must be actively making these changes in the weeks, months and years to come.

Please consider reading from BIPOC authors – whether you enjoy reading fiction or non-fiction, there are so many resources available to us.

Sure Shot by Sarina Bowen

Series: Brooklyn #4

Release Date: May 12, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

Do you enjoy reading sports romances? I absolutely LOVE sports romances and especially hockey romances! One of my favorite hockey series is the Brooklyn Brusier/Brooklyn series by Sarina Bowen. So when I found that there was going to be a fourth book in the series I couldn’t wait to read it! Sure Shot definitely stands on it’s own and you don’t necessarily have to read the other books in order to understand everything that happens in the storyline.

Bess Berringer is a busy woman. She has her own company and is a sports agent. She recently moved to Brooklyn and the last person she expects to run into is a past hookup and a new Brooklyn Brusier – Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz.

I love a great second chance romance and Sarina did such a wonderful job re-introducing us to Bess and Tank. The chemistry is sizzling from the moment that they set eyes on each other again. Bess tries to keep it a one-time deal, but she is drawn to Tank and can’t stay away.

Bess and Tank have different long term goals. Tank has just separated from his wife and the media is having a field day of why he divorced. Bess has a five-year plan that is color-coated and all mapped out. Will Bess and Tank find a way to compromise and settle down together, or are they not meant to be?

I loved Bess and Tank together. I have so many parts between the two highlighted (a text chat had a smile on my face). Sure Shot had me laughing out loud, but also moments that had me crying into my pillow. There are some sensitive topics that are discussed in Sure Shot and I feel like Sarina did a wonderful job including the reader into the discussions and decisions that Bess and Tank make.

Bess is so strong and I LOVE that about her! The meetings between Bess, Georgia and Rebecca were some of my favorites. It’s always so great re-visiting with past characters. As always, I loved the camaraderie between the hockey players. Although Tank was an “outsider,” he won the hearts of his teammates eventually.

I really enjoyed Sure Shot and hope that Sarina lets us come back to this world!

I guess I’m doing it then and starting a blog! Eekk! This is so exciting and slightly terrifying at the same time.

I have honestly loved learning about book publishing, the process of obtaining advanced reader copies and making genuine lasting relationships with publicists and other book friends so much last year.

It’s been almost a year since I started my Instagram/bookstagram page (Readaholic19), and I wanted another place where I can talk about about my love of (romance) books!

Thanks for coming along on my journey 🙂