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.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Do you like to read sports romances? I love a sports romances, so when I read the synopsis for Not My Romeo – I knew it was a book I had to pick up right away!
Elena doesn’t have the best of luck with men. They usually love her and leave her and she’s had enough. But when her best friend sets her up on a blind date – she agrees. Turns out her date is a hottie and they end up having a one night stand. But her one night stand isn’t who he said he was and turns out to be football quarterback Jack Hawke.
I absolutely LOVED Not My Romeo. I read it over the course of one day and could not put this book down. With Jack and Elena’s respective histories, you would think that these two wouldn’t be so willing to be together. But Elena and Jack had so much great chemistry and I loved the way they let their guard down with one another. Their little inside jokes and hanging out (watching K-dramas) were my favorite.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters in Not My Romeo as well and that is really hard to do. A lot of times secondary characters are added in, but don’t really help with the plot of the book. Definitely not the case with this book and I loved everyone from Elena’s mom to Timmy – the little boy who idolizes Jack.
Not My Romeo was my first book my Ilsa Madden-Mills, but will most definitely NOT be my last! I can not wait for the next book in the series (maybe Devon or Aiden?).
The Dare by Elle Kennedy releases on Tuesday June 16, 2020 and I am so excited to share an excerpt! I’ve loved the Briar U series and just started my ARC of The Dare .
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
EXCERPT FROM THE DARE BY ELLE KENNEDY
“Thank you,” she breathes the moment we’re alone.
“No problem. Mind if I make myself comfortable?”
“Um, yeah. I mean, no. I don’t mind. Sit if you want. Or—wow, okay, you’re lying down.”
I grin at her visible nervousness. It’s cute. While I stretch out my six-foot-two frame amid the stuffed animals and decorative pillows on the bed, she remains the startled rabbit plastered against the door and breathing heavily.
“Gotta be honest,” I tell her, entwining my hands behind my head, “I’ve never seen a girl so unhappy to be locked in a bedroom with me.”
This has the desired effect of loosening her shoulders and even eliciting a shy smile. “I have no doubt.”
“I’m Conor, by the way.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I know.”
“What’s the eyeroll for?” I ask, playing wounded.
“No, sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. Just, I know who you are. You’re, like, campus famous.”
The more I watch her, hands braced at her sides against the door, one knee bent, dirty-blonde hair a little messy and draped over one shoulder, I can’t help picturing myself holding her arms above her head while I explore her body with my mouth. She’s got very kissable skin.
“Taylor Marsh,” she blurts out, and I realize I don’t know how long we were silent until then.
I scoot to the far side of the bed and put a pillow beside me as a divider. “Come on. If we’re going to be in here awhile, let’s at least make friends.”
Taylor laughs out a breath and with it she releases a bit more tension. She’s got a nice smile. Bright, warm. It takes a bit more coaxing, however, to get her on the bed.
“This isn’t like a move,” she tells me, lining up stuffed animal guards to patrol the pillow wall between us. “I’m not some sort of weirdo who tricks men into getting in bed with her and then mauls them.”
“Sure.” I nod with mock seriousness. “But a little mauling would be okay.”
BLURB
Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy!
College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no. The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class. Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy. Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes. But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see. And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
After reading Get a Life, Chloe Brown last year I knew that I had to read Take a Hint, Dani Brown!
Dani Brown doesn’t do emotional relationships. She’s been burned in the past and doesn’t want a repeat performance. Dani is also a practicing witch and asks the universe to send her the perfect no-string-attached partner.
Zafir Ansari and Dani work at the same place and Zaf has kind of had a crush on Dani for some time now. When Zaf ends up rescuing Dani from a stalled elevator (super cute scene), they go viral with the hashtag #DrRugbae!
I absolutely love a fake relationship trope and Dani and Zaf are faking it for the cameras constantly pointed at them – but how long will the faking last? The chemistry between Zaf and Dani was so great and I was rooting for them right from the beginning!
I love a strong heroine and Dani Brown was amazing! She was so sure of herself – from her sexuality (bi-sexual) to her work on intersectionality in feminist literature. And Zaf…swoon! Zaf was so perfect. Not only was he a rugby player, but he also teaches kids on how to work through their anxiety. He has dealt with loss and anxiety over the years and there’s no one better to teach young athletes on how to manage that. Zaf’s family was also from Pakistan and I loved the Hindi/Punjabi works sprinkled throughout the book. It definitely helped me to relate to his character. Oh … he also reads romance books!!!
As always, Talia’s writing was so beautiful. I have so many parts of the books highlighted that resonated with me. Whether it was the way Zaf felt about Dani or the way Dani was so passionate about her work and how was afraid of entering into a relationship.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown was the perfect follow up to Get a Life, Chloe Brown and I can’t wait for Eve’s book next!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
I was so excited to read an early copy of Faker by Sarah Smith last year and instantly became a fan of her work. When I found out she was releasing a self-published novella this year I was so excited! I’ve had a bit of a hard time focusing on reading (I’m sure that is the case with a lot of us), but I am so excited to read If You Never Come Back. Second chance romances are one of my most favorite tropes and I look forward to reading If You Never Come Back!
Synopsis:
I hate Valentine’s Day for one reason and one reason only: Wes Paulsen.
He came into my life like a wrecking ball one year ago today. After an incredible night together, we were inseparable for months. I’d never been happier in a relationship—neither had he. We were just starting to build a life together when everything changed…
Turns out Wes was hiding things from me—big things. I wanted to work through it, but he walked out, never giving me—never giving us a chance. I didn’t know how I’d be able to get over him, but I threw myself into my art. After months of working nonstop to escape the memories of Wes, my career’s finally taking off and what do you know—Wes walked back into my life. Once again on Valentine’s Day.
One year to the day that we met.
I’ve spent six months hardening my heart. It should be easy to reject him, to tell him I’ve moved on. But he’s doing everything—and more—to win me back. He’s being the boyfriend I’ve always wanted. It’ll take everything in me to resist him—I’m not even sure if I can. But I’ll sure as hell try.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Girls night out (GNO) is something I look forward to (when it’s safe to hang out again) with my girlfriends! We usually meet about once a month and I love hanging out with them. We discuss every topic under the sun and by the end of the night my mouth usually hurts from laughing so hard! Since being quarantined I definitely miss GNO. There’s something uniquely special and healing about talking with your female friends vs your significant other. I absolutely loved loved loved the relationship that the three women in The Boyfriend Project had with one another.
Samiah Brooks works at a tech company and is currently dating a guy she met on a dating website. While getting ready to go on their date, she realizes via Twitter that he is on another date with another woman! Samiah decides to head down to the restaurant and confront him. This is where Samiah meets London and Taylor. The two other women who were also dating the same man!
I loved this relationship meet cute between Taylor, Samiah and London. Their interactions and weekly dates were so much fun. I could definitely see myself meeting with my girlfriends just like this!
I also really enjoyed that all three friends were very independent and successful in their own professions. I absolutely love it when strong females are written in romances and Samiah, Taylor and London embody that.
While swearing off men for the time being along with her new girlfriends, Samiah happens to meet Daniel at work. He’s a new co-worker at Samiah’s tech company and they casually start seeing each other.
What lacked for me was the romance equation of The Boyfriend Project. The romance really took a back seat. Samiah’s relationship with her girlfriends and her ability to write a new app were a big part of The Boyfriend Project as well as the reason Daniel was at the company. I enjoyed the suspense surrounding Daniel’s profession, but the reveal and ending tied up a bit too neatly for me. I enjoyed the relationship between Samiah and her girlfriends, but I wish I was more invested in the romance.
I am definitely looking forward to London and Taylor’s books!
I absolutely love older Christina Lauren books. They have so much heart, but also a lot of steamy scenes (that are very evidently missing in their newer books). This whole series probably contains my favorite books from them (Dirty Rowdy Thing I think will always be my favorite). I love the story of a group of guys meeting a group of girls and then whoops they’re accidentally married in Vegas!
Lola and Oliver have been connected since book 1 in the series when they married each other in Vegas (read book 1 for the whole story), but had the marriage annulled because they realized what they had done after the alcohol wore off. And since then they remained friends. But underneath the friendship they have had feelings for one another and they both finally realize that they want more from one another than just a platonic friendship.
Dark Wild Night was such a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance. Unlike newer Christina Lauren books this book had a lot of steamy scenes, but I feel like the intimacy added to the story. I loved the fact that Lola was a comic book creator and Oliver had a comic store! They were so cute together.
Christina Lauren’s writing is always so beautiful and Dark Wild Night was no exception. I loved the other facets in this book that made it so lovely. The relationship that Lola has with his dad, Not-Joe’s relationship with Oliver and of course seeing the group again!
Although Dark Wild Night can be read as a standalone I really think that the first two books need to be read before so that you can get the full impact of Lola and Oliver’s aka Loliver‘s friendship.
I started off reading strong in May, but my brain literally could not read more than a few pages at a time near the end of the month. Audiobooks and the comfort of re-reads really did take up a majority of my reading in May.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Daringandthe Duke by Sarah MacLean (ARC releases June 30, 2020)
Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden-Mills (ARC releases August 18, 2020)
Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross
TheHating Game by Sally Thorne (re-read)
Someoneto Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas (re-read)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
40-Love by Olivia Dade (ARC releases June 18, 2020)
Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting (re-read)
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
TheBoyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon (ARC releases June 9, 2020)
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
TheTroubleWith Hating You by Sajni Patel (ARC)
Did we read any of the same books? What are you looking forward to reading in June?
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.
Sisters Amanda Foster and Erin Turner have little in common except the childhood bedroom they once shared and the certainty each feels that her way of life is best. Amanda follows the rules—at the school where she works; in her community; and as a picture-perfect daughter, wife, and mother-to-be. Erin follows her heart—in love and otherwise—living a bohemian lifestyle on a shoestring budget and honoring her late father’s memory with a passion for music and her fledgling bath-products business.
The sisters are content leading separate but happy lives in their hometown of Potomac Point until everything is upended by lies that force them to confront unsettling truths about their family, themselves, and each other. For sisters as different as these two, building trust doesn’t come easily—especially with one secret still between them—but it may be the only way to save their family.
Author Biography
Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than two million copies. She is a two-time Booksellers’ Best Award finalist and a National Readers’ Choice Award winner, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing novels, she enjoys hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah and dancing around the kitchen while cooking. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family. Fans can get exclusive excerpts, inside scoops, and be eligible for birthday gift drawings by subscribing to her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/b7k7G5. She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks.
Q&A with Bestselling Author Jamie Beck
How do you describe your newest novel If You Must Know?
This book is a “beach book” in the best sense. It’s not angsty, yet it has a page-turning plot and a bunch of interesting, relatable characters. I think it’s entertaining and heartfelt at the same time, which is exactly what many enjoy reading while on vacation.
What inspired the novel?
The external plot came to me as a result of the influence of two people in my life. My dear friend’s husband is a forensic accountant, so some of his stories about how people hide money and flee their families provided one point of inspiration. The second is my mother’s best friend who, in her seventies, sold her house and bought a boat, which she and her husband live on full-time. The impetus for the oil-and-water sisters was to provide myself an opportunity to explore the sibling-rivalry dynamic.
Tell us about the two main characters in the story—sisters Amanda and Erin.
Amanda is the middle child. She’s diligent, earnest, hard-working, and generous. She wants the people she loves to be happy and feel her love. Her weakness is a deep-seated insecurity—a sense that she is not interesting enough to be lovable. This leads her to overlook when she is being taken for granted because her need to be pleasing is omnipresent.
Erin is the baby of the family and her late-father’s pet. She is outgoing, fun-loving, and views her average intelligence as a blessing (rather than lamenting that her siblings are smarter). She is willful and has her own way of moving through the world. The big weakness she has is her impulsiveness, whether with jobs or relationships. As she approaches her 30th birthday, she’s looking to mature and create a more stable life for herself.
What kind of relationship do the sisters have?
I think they share a typical relationship insofar as their differences cause many misunderstandings and instill in each a sense of being judged by the other, and yet they do care about and love each other, too. They simply do not know how to be true friends and trust the other—at least not at the outset of this tale.
This book focused on the main female characters growing and learning about themselves. What prompted this ‘women’s fiction’ approach to the story?
Partly market forces and partly my own need to stretch. At 53, it was becoming more difficult to write a 20-something woman facing the challenges of dating. The shift to women’s fiction allows me to write late-30 and early 40-something characters, which comes more naturally to me. I also enjoy exploring family and friendship dynamics, and absolutely love having endless options for story arcs (as opposed to having to follow a traditional romance arc).
What does your new Potomac Point series have in common with your previous books?
All my books to date have focused on critical relationships and some type of redemption theme. I find damaged people to be very interesting and believe that there is good in most everyone, so I prefer to populate my stories with flawed people who must confront their inner demons in order to be happy. My new books will also focus on relationships and redemption, but the non-romantic relationships (or even the relationship with one’s self) will be more central.
***
If You Must Know Excerpt
I rolled onto my side with a groan, coming face-to-face with one of my favorite family photos. We’d taken our annual family summer trip to Hilton Head—the one real splurge my dad had made sure we enjoyed every year. We had a tradition of having lunch at a little open-air cabana bar and restaurant called Coco’s on the Beach.
Between the deck and the volleyball court in the sand stood a tall pole with colorful arrow-shaped signs pointing in different directions. Each one was painted with the name of a different city somewhere on the globe, along with the mileage to get there. We’d dream about all the places we might go, and after high school I’d had the chance to see many. In this picture, our whole family is standing around that sign, smiling at the camera. My dad has his hand on my shoulder, and if you look closely, you can see Amanda holding my hand. I must’ve been only five or six—young enough that she hadn’t given up trying to be my second mother. At the time, I’d felt smothered by her attention, but looking back, I’d also felt loved.
I grabbed my phone and called my sister, but it went to voice mail. A heaviness pressed on me, but I couldn’t tell if it was from looking at that picture of our family that would never again be whole or from the fact that I’d disappointed my mom and sister today.
They loved me in their way even if they couldn’t love and accept me as I am. My dad had, though, and to honor his memory and wishes for our family, I couldn’t continue to drift out of their lives as I’d been doing.
After the beep, I said, “Hey, it’s moi. Surprise! My plans have changed and I’ve got a little time. If you get this message, let me know where you are and I’ll try to catch up.”
I hit “End,” my feet restlessly kicking the foot of my bed. The small bedroom seemed claustrophobic, but I didn’t want to talk to Max. Not that I could avoid him in here, either, where his dirty laundry, sandals, and other items lay about. Rather than take a match to it all, I decided to organize some of his things to help with his packing. Hauling myself off the bed, I then went to the armoire to get to the vintage albums my dad had left me in his will.
Some were fairly valuable, like the Beatles collection box set from 1982, valued at roughly a thousand bucks. Or the Led Zeppelin first pressing with the turquoise label, which should net around eight hundred or so dollars. U2’s Joshua Tree collection box set from 1987—maybe worth six or seven hundred. Then there were others worth less than one hundred dollars. But each one had infinite sentimental value.
Every song resurrected a specific memory of time spent with my father playing cards, washing cars, grilling hot dogs … anything. Whatever he’d wanted to do, I’d done with him, and he’d always chosen the perfect background soundtrack for every activity. Those stolen moments had also been a great way to escape my mom’s endless lectures and demands. She’d never yelled at me for skipping out on chores or being messy when I’d been spending that time with him. Probably because he wouldn’t let her.
At present, my restlessness matched the mood of a typical Bob Seger song, so I grabbed Beautiful Loser and slipped the record from its sleeve, resisting the urge to hug it as if it were my dad. I set it on the old turntable he’d also left me. As the few first drumbeats clangored, my heart kicked an extra beat or two—partly happy, partly sad. I glanced toward the bedroom door, picturing Max on the sofa, and then got to work.
It didn’t matter where life led me next. I had faith because my own personal angel was looking out for me now.
Readaholic Book Reviews 