ARC Review: The House Guest by Penelope Ward

 

Penelope Ward is one of my favorite authors and I couldn’t wait to read The House Guest as soon as I read the blurb. This book was really good and I honestly couldn’t put it down. If you love angsty and emotional reads, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Primrose has been staying with her aunt and her aunt’s husband while attending art school. After their untimely passing, her aunt’s husband’s son comes to the estate to handle matters as well as take over his dad’s business. Dorian agrees to let Primrose stay while attending school and the two strike up a friendship. Their connection grows over time and soon they find themselves feeling something unlike they’ve ever felt before. But just as they realize they are falling for one another, life suddenly changes again. 

Primrose and Dorian were so good together. I loved the chemistry between them and really enjoyed them getting to know one another. Their connection was so genuine and felt easy, it was clear why they both were having the feelings they were. I wanted them to really give things a go, and I was surprised with how things went. I was not expecting the curves life threw at them, and was just as shocked as Primrose to learn the entire truth. 

While I did like how things ultimately ended up, their path wasn’t an easy one. I felt for both of them, doing what they could with the knowledge they had. It was rough at times, but I really felt like these two belonged together and would find a way back to one another. 

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: Denim & Diamonds by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

 

Vi Keeland and Penelope Douglas are one of my all-time favorite author duos and I will read pretty much anything they write at this point. I have long since stopped reading the blurbs for their books and just immediately add to my TBR. Denim & Diamonds was no exception. Luckily, they never disappoint and that was the case here as well.

I really liked February and Brock’s story. With them being so different, him a small town simple guy and her being a successful business owner from a big city, it didn’t seem like a natural fit. But the more time they spent around one another, the more it made sense. Their chemistry was everything you look for in a great romance, and their connection just grew stronger the more I read. I couldn’t get enough. While there were many obstacles stacked in their way, I just knew there had to be a way to make it work for them. 

I always recommend Vi and Penelope’s books to others, and this one is another winner. You can’t go wrong with their solo books, but they really shine when writing together. These two are able to deliver books full of heart and soul, while also bringing the heat and chemistry, every single time they team up. Denim and Diamonds is not to be missed!

**ARC Provided by GIve Me Books**

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ARC Review: Indiscretion by Vi Keeland

Vi Keeland is one of my all-time favorite authors and with each new book she releases, she just proves how talented she is! I don’t even read blurbs anymore when it comes to her, because I know I’m going to love whatever she has to say. She is just one of those authors for me that I trust to deliver every time and she has never let me down. Indiscretion was no different, and I had a great time reading this one!

I was hooked from the very first page and knew this one was going to be so much fun! Dawson and Naomi meet for the first time in the middle of the night when they both find out that the AirBnB they booked for their friend’s wedding was actually double booked. Dawson winds up with a black eye and Naomi winds up with a cast! From there things continue, and I was instantly invested in seeing how things would go. Dawson becomes Naomi’s boss and things between them continue to change the more time they spend together. The heat and chemistry that is between them is there from the start, but with both of them having things in their past that they need to deal with, their journey isn’t easy. 

I felt so connected to these two and I think a lot of that was because they were each so interesting and genuine. They felt so relatable, and I loved getting to know each of them as they got to know each other. Dawson and Naomi just felt so real to me, and I loved their story from beginning to end. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I can already tell this is one I’ll reread again. Vi has written some of my all time favorite characters and stories, and I think readers are going to love this one!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: The Rules of Dating A Younger Man by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

The Rules of Dating A Younger Man is the 4th book in the Laws of Opposites Attract series from Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. Each book is a standalone story about one guy from a group of friends and the lucky lady that wins each of their hearts. This group of friends is one that I have been obsessed with since the very first book, and I just love them all so much. I highly recommend reading each book if you can because they are really great stories, and seeing them each fall in love  over the course of this series has been so enjoyable.

This book is Brayden’s story. He is the least involved with the building the group owns in the city, but runs the Ryan’s House charity. It was so great to see him so passionate about helping others and using his resources for good. I really felt connected to him here, and fell even more for him as I read this book. He is just such a great guy, and I loved how sweet and caring he was. His maturity level and good head on his shoulders made it impossible not to fall for him! This is probably why I struggled a bit with Alex from time to time. I understood some of where she was coming from, but Brayden was just so amazing it was hard to see how she couldn’t see it also!

I didn’t see the twist coming, and while Alex’s way of dealing with it was not my favorite, it made me like her more. I got a new understanding and appreciation for her that I really needed. I did feel like Alex and Brayden had strong chemistry and a great connection. They fit well together and it was easy to see why their connection was so easy and genuine. 

Overall, this one was really good and I enjoyed it a lot. Brayden is worth the read all by himself, but I really liked him and Alex together and it was great to catch up with the group and see familiar faces! I can’t wait to see what Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward write next! They are such great authors alone, and when you get to read one of their co-writes it is guaranteed to be a great read! Their styles blend seamlessly and they are probably my favorite author duo ever. Another winner here, I can’t recommend their books enough!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: The Rocker's Muse by Penelope Ward

Penelope Ward is an auto-buy author for me and has been for years! I always look forward to her books and they never disappoint! The Rocker’s Muse was no exception! This one was such a great read, and once I started I didn’t want to put this one down.

Tristan and Emily’s story starts when Emily finds herself going on tour with Tristan’s famous rock band. Despite the age difference, Emily and Tristan find themselves drawn to each other from their very first meeting and their connection continues to grow as they spend time together on tour. What Tristan doesn’t know is that Emily has a secret that changes everything. 

These two had such a genuine and easy connection. I loved seeing them get to know one another and how natural it was, despite the fifteen years that separated them. They were supportive of one another and really helped the other in ways that no one else could. Penelope Ward made it so easy to feel connected to Tristan and Emily throughout the story, and it feels like the reader is right there with the characters experiencing everything that the characters were. 

The Rocker’s Muse had so many great moments that I honestly wanted to keep reading, while also wanting to slow down and savor each bit of the story for as long as I could. While there were some really emotional parts of the story, there were so many lighthearted and funny moments as well. I always enjoy Penelope’s books and this one was one of her best! Tristan and Emily will definitely be characters I think of in the future, and I have no doubt i’ll be reading this one again to revisit them at times! I am already anxious for her next book and I think readers are going to really enjoy this one like I did. You can’t go wrong with anything Penelope writes alone or with her co-author, Vi Keeland. If you haven’t read anything by Penelope, you are truly missing out and The Rocker’s Muse is a great place to start!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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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: 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: 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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