ARC Review: Older by Jennifer Hartmann

Age gap and forbidden romance are definitely my jam, so when I first saw Older from Jennifer Hartmann, I knew this one was going to be good! She definitely didn’t disappoint! Older had me hooked from the very first page to the last and I was unable to put this one down. If you are looking for a captivating story that will have you feeling all the feels, look no further!

Reed and Halley meet and share a connection right away, before Reed learns that Halley is younger than she originally said. Turns out that besides the large difference in their ages, Halley is also best friends with Reed’s daughter. These two know they need to keep their distance, but circumstances keep bringing them together and as they continue to grow closer, lines become blurred and they find themselves more drawn to one another.

I absolutely loved these two. Their connection was so natural and genuine right from the start. They just had an ease about them that felt right. I loved how Halley was so strong and able to overcome all that she had been dealt in life both individually and with the support of Reed, Tara and Whitney. Reed was a great guy all around, trying to do his best by Halley as well as his daughter. He was caring and kind, and I loved that he was so passionate about helping others. Reed and Halley’s circumstances might not have been ideal for anyone involved, but the chemistry and connection were undeniable, and you could feel the love between them growing.

I will say that my rating on this one was based mostly on feeling and the fact that I know this book won’t be far from my mind for quite awhile. This one is definitely one of my favorites from Jennifer Hartmann, but I do wish we had been given a bit more to this ending. It felt a bit rushed and I wanted to see more of them actually being a couple after everything they’d been through. Ultimately though, I loved this book and thought it was a five star read. I highly recommend this one, and I already can’t wait to go back and read it again.

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

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ARC Review: Wild River by Laura Pavlov

 

I am loving the Magnolia Falls series by Laura Pavlov, and I couldn’t wait for Wild River! This one was really good, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. Laura Pavlov is a great writer and this series is one that I think contemporary readers will love!

River and Ruby were so good together. I loved that they were different, yet worked perfectly. These two were independent and strong on their own, but I enjoyed seeing them let the other in. Things didn’t always go easy, but the connection and chemistry was there and it was easy to see that they made a great pair. 

The thing I love most about this series is this group of characters.They are just so lovable and their friendship and bond is truly a testament to family being those that you choose at times vs. the family you were born into. I just can’t get over the dynamic here and these characters never stray far from my mind! The one that absolutely steals the show 100% of the time though is Cutler/Beefcake! This kid is beyond the best and honestly I just can’t get enough of every moment he is around! He alone is worth reading this series for! I can’t recommend this series enough though, it is one I am enjoying so much and I just have so much fun each time I get to read one of these books in this world Laura Pavlov has created.

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

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ARC Review: Is This Love? by Kaylee Ryan

Is This Love? Is the second book in the Everlasting Ink series by Kaylee Ryan. Each book in this series is a standalone story, though you do get to see characters from previous books as the series continues. I loved the first book in this series and this one was just as good! Kaylee Ryan is an author that never disappoints, and I think readers are going to love this one!

Legend and Monroe were everything. I loved them so much! They were so sweet and had tons of chemistry! I loved seeing them take their friendship to more. It was such a natural progression and just felt so genuine. They were so good together and it just felt right. 

I felt so invested in their story from the very first page and didn’t want to put this one down. I am absolutely loving this series and already can’t wait for the next one. I highly recommend this one, Legend and Monroe are just so easy to love and root for. They are the kind of couple that makes readers love romance stories!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: The Surrogate by Penelope Ward

I always hoped that Penelope Ward would give us Sig’s story after finishing The Aristocrat, so I was so excited when she announced The Surrogate! This book can easily be read as a standalone story, though you do meet Sig in The Aristocrat and Leo and Felicity’s story will be a bit spoiled if you don’t start there. I highly recommend reading The Aristocrat if you haven’t as it is one of my all-time favorites and I just loved it so much that I have read it multiple times now.

Sig’s story is an emotional one, and I was fully invested right from the start. I think even if readers are new to Sig, they will be just as drawn in as I was. Sig has been through a ton, and I felt so much for him. Abby was exactly what he needed and I instantly loved her. She has such a kind heart and was a heroine that you can’t help but fall for right along with the hero. While these two were ones that I felt like I could relate to, their journey is anything but easy. Their situation is unique and honestly unlike any i’ve previously read about. Things are a bit messy, but the ride was so worth it. These two are just such great characters that I never wanted their story to end. 

Penelope Ward never disappoints, but The Aristocrat and The Surrogate are some of my absolute favorites of hers. I just felt so connected and invested in all these characters and they are definitely ones I think of often. I know i’ll reread this one again, and I think that fans will love this book. It is emotional, heartfelt and while it wasn’t always smooth sailing, it was filled with hope and some really funny moments as well. Penelope is one of my all-time favorite authors and The Surrogate is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: Against All Odds by CW Farnsworth

 

Against All Odds is the second book in the Holt Hockey series by CW Farnsworth, but can be read as a standalone story. I couldn’t wait to get Aidan’s story after reading the first book of the series, and I highly recommend reading Famous Last Words if you haven’t already. This series is one I am loving and I think not only sports romance readers, but just romance readers in general will enjoy this series as much as I have!

This is Aidan and Rylan’s story and I couldn’t get enough of these two! These two first meet and have what they believe to be a one-night stand, but when Rylan shows up at Holt University where Aidan goes, they quickly realize that there is more between them. Things are further complicated by Aidan being on the Holt hockey team that Rylan’s dad coaches. Rylan is tasked with tutoring Aidan and soon they are both finding it harder to keep things platonic than they thought it would be. 

Aidan and Rylan had so much chemistry, right from the start! The heat and steam between them was clear, but it was the connection they were building that kept me flipping the pages and not wanting this one to end! I loved seeing them get to really know one another, and there were so many sweet moments between them as well as steamy ones! I loved seeing familiar faces here, and I am already anxious to get Hunter’s book next. This one was such a great read. Definitely recommend for sports romance fans, but even if sports aren’t your thing, there is something for all romance readers here!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

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ARC Review: Stay Present by Kaylee Ryan

Stay Present is a standalone story in Kaylee Ryan’s Kincaid Brothers series. This one is the sixth book, but can easily be read without having read the other books. I hadn’t previously read this series and had no issues starting here. That said, I enjoyed this one so much that I can’t wait to read the previous books!

Ryder and Jordyn were so good together, and I loved them each on their own and together as a couple! I really loved that during their time apart they were loyal to one another. They had so much love for one another, it was clear that their separation was due to circumstances and not feelings. They had so much chemistry between them, but it was their connection that made them special. These two were absolutely meant for one another, and it really showed throughout the entire book. 

I will say that while I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was on the sweet side. There were several moments that were a bit overly sweet and a tad cheesy. That didn’t stop me from enjoying this one though. It was honestly refreshing to see feelings being acknowledged so openly with characters willing to talk and work things out and not just assume the worst. I recommend this one and can’t wait to read more from Kaylee Ryan!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: Eleven Eleven by Micalea Smeltzer

I will admit that the love I have for this book started with the cover! It is so gorgeous and honestly was what sold me on this book. But as beautiful as the book is on the outside, the contents are even more so! This book is by far my favorite I’ve read so far this year, but also in a really long time!

Micalea Smeltzer captivates you with her words and story-telling from the very first page with characters Reid and Via. These two were just so easy to love and feel connected to. They had so much chemistry and a clear attraction from the start, but it was the connection between them that had me unable to put this one down! This is a reverse age-gap, which isn’t usually my jam, but with these two I couldn’t help but fall in love right along with them! I loved them both so much and honestly Reid is what book boyfriends are made of! He was so mature and patient for his age, and I couldn’t get enough. He was perfect for Via.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. It was just such a great read that I constantly found myself wanting to keep reading to see what would happen next, but also slow down and savor it. I am also really excited that we are going to get another book in this world featuring two characters I really liked from Eleven Eleven! I already can’t wait for that book next! In the meantime, I’ll be re-reading this one! This one is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

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ARC Review: Hooking the Captain by Kimberly Knight & Rachel Lyn Adams

Hooking the Captain is the first book in the Off the Bench Duet by Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams. If you read After Hours Lectures, you’ll recognize the characters here, but if you didn’t read it, you’ll have no problem understanding anything here. It does give you the backstory for these characters a bit, but Kimberly and Rachel do a great job of giving you everything you need here so you don’t feel like you are missing anything. Since I had previously read After Hours Lectures, I was anxious to get Coop’s story, while also being a bit unsure of how I would feel towards Ford. I shouldn’t have worried at all though, this book hooked me right away and I need more of these characters.

Ford and Coop meet when they are both out of town, proving that it is a small world when they realize that they both live in the same place. They immediately hit it off, and things between them quickly turn to more as Coop begins to explore a side to himself that he has kept hidden due to his high profile career in the NHL. Coop isn’t the only one that has secrets though, and as Ford struggles with his past, the knowledge that he must come clean threatens to destroy everything that he and Coop are building. 

I really felt for Ford here upon learning more about his past and what he had been through. While it doesn’t excuse his actions, it does explain them and I found myself liking him more than I originally expected. I loved him and Coop together! They had chemistry and were building a strong connection and I enjoyed seeing them both happy. I will admit that I knew things were heading in a certain direction though with all the secrets, and it broke my heart right along with these two as it happened. I hated seeing both of them struggle and just have to hope that things work out as they should in the end. Beware, Hooking the Captain does end with a doozy of a cliffhanger! I cannot wait to get the conclusion to their story in Retaking the Shot! These two both deserve to be happy and I know that the journey will be worth it in the end.

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: What Happens at the Lake by Vi Keeland

What Happens at the Lake by Vi Keeland was the perfect way to start the new year! I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. It had everything I have come to know and love from Vi, but was also new and original.

Fox and Josie had me hooked from the very first page. Fox, a former NHL player, and Josie, a research doctor, get off on the wrong foot when she runs into his mailbox upon moving in next door. As bad as things start though, Fox can’t help but be drawn to her and finds himself helping her out regularly. As they get to know one another, they both realize that there is so much more to each of them than meets the eye. Each of them had been through things that were rough, but it made them who they were. I liked seeing the evolution of their relationship. The chemistry was there early, but watching them get to know one another was what had me unable to put this one down. 

Vi Keeland never disappoints, but this grumpy sunshine story is one of my favorites of hers. There was just something about these characters that had me captivated right away and feeling as though I was on the journey with them. I felt that the characters were genuine and relatable, and I think romance readers will agree. This one was such a good story. Vi Keeland is one of my all time favorite authors, and What Happens at the Lake is not to be missed!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: Loving Romeo by Laura Pavlov

I am somewhat new to Laura Pavlov’s books, but after reading and loving After the Storm, I was anxious to read more from her! Loving Romeo was a great read, and solidified the fact that I am becoming a big fan of Laura’s. If you like small town contemporary romance, I highly recommend checking out Laura’s books if you haven’t already.

Romeo and Demi didn’t get off to a good start here, with Romeo being a bit blinded by Demi’s family and the past. While it was understandable, I was glad to see how he started to realize that Demi wasn’t the same as her family and should be treated as her own person. These two had tons of chemistry, but I really loved seeing them get to know one another. I loved how Demi didn’t give up on Romeo, even when it took him awhile to warm up to her. Once these two started to figure things out though, I loved how supportive and protective Romeo was. Romeo is definitely one of those heroes that you can’t help but fall for right along with the heroine. 

What really got me with this book though was the whole ROD crew, especially Cutler! I loved this group and I honestly can’t wait to explore this world more. Cutler/Beefcake is just about the cutest kid ever and really stole the show here! This one was such a great book to start the new year off with, and I already can’t wait to return to Magnolia Falls. This one is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle |