ARC Review: The Best Men by Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely

The Best Men is the first co-authored book by Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely and I enjoyed this one a lot! It was cute, funny and full of swoony romance that I couldn’t get enough of! I had a lot of fun reading this one from start to finish and I think romance lovers will like this one as much as I did.

Asher and Mark were great! I couldn’t get enough of them. I loved how different they were, yet how perfect they were together. Mark’s nerdy side was so cute, and I loved how into it Asher was. Seeing these two grow and evolve over the course of this book had me unable to put it down. I also really loved how great Asher was with Mark being a single dad. It was really sweet to see how that changed as well, and I couldn’t get enough of those adorable moments either. 

Overall, this book was great and I honestly had a great time reading it. It was exactly what I was looking for, and I hope these two continue to write together. Seeing things start how they did and grow into more here was everything and I think readers will be as anxious for more as I am. Highly recommend this one for fans of Sarina and Lauren’s as well as those that might be new to them! Sarina and Lauren are great with contemporary romance books and this one was no exception!

**ARC Provided by Candi Kane PR**

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Blind Date with a Book Event with Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

In 2016, Sarina became a Rita Award winner! The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.

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ARC Review: Temporary by Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry

I am a huge fan of Sarina Bowen, both on her own and her co-written books with Elle Kennedy. That being said, I have never read anything by Sarah Mayberry, so I was excited to see what her and Sarina's style would be like together with Temporary. While I liked this book, I didn't love it and I ended up feeling as though it lacked the spark that I am used to with anything having Sarina Bowen's name attached to it. 

Grace works hard to support her sister since their mother is unable to, so when she lands a job helping to inventory an estate of a man from a rich and powerful family. What she never expects though is the attraction and connection she feels for Callan Walker, the man's nephew who wants her help in keeping his mother far away from everything to do with his uncle's estate. She knows that once everything is settled though that he will be back on his way home to Australia, and with her sister to think about, can she really afford the risk for something temporary? 

I liked both Callan and Grace. I didn't really feel connected to them though. Things just felt surface deep here and I wasn't really invested in their story or relationship. They were attracted to one another and their connection seemed genuine, but there just wasn't anything that stood out as special to me and I pretty much forgot about them as soon as I set this one down. 

Overall, this was a good quick read but in the end it was just okay for me. Things were definitely set up here for Callan's sister to get her own story, and I would be interested to read it and get to know her better. While I wasn't her biggest fan, she seemed to be on the right track at the end of this book. I just wish that I had been able to connect more with the characters here and that it hadn't felt like something was missing. While I do think that it was just okay, I think if you are looking for something quick and light to read you might give this one a shot. It was still good, just not great like I have come to expect from Sarina Bowen. I am hoping that if these two authors continue to write together that they will find their groove.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: Hello Forever by Sarina Bowen

Hello Forever is the second book in the Hello Goodbye series by Sarina Bowen, but it is a standalone story. This book was previously published under a different name by Sarina's Pseudonym Nealy Wagner. I was so excited to read this one after loving Goodbye Paradise. Fans of that story will enjoy getting to catch up with Josh and Caleb here just as I did. They are impossible not to love, so it was definitely good to see them again. But while I liked Hello Forever and Axel and Caxton, I didn't love their story or them like I did Goodbye Paradise. 

Axel and Caxton were close friends who were turning into more as teenagers when they were caught making out in the woods. Cax disappeared and wasn't to be seen again. Now six years later, Axel is shocked to spot Cax in the crowd of some basketball footage for the school he is thinking about accepting a position at. Knowing that he can't just let Cax disappear again, Axel takes the job and they find themselves face to face after years of no contact. But while Axel is out and proud, Cax is very much in the closet and his life depends on it staying that way. While Cax would love nothing more than to be with Axel and finally be himself, he knows that it can't be that way. But Axel is willing to take what he can get if it means a chance to have Cax at all. Can they find a way to be together, or will they both lose everything?

I liked Axel and Cax. They had a clear and obvious connection and the chemistry between them was strong. I felt like they really belonged together and I liked getting to know them. But I didn't feel the same passion and intensity that was between Josh and Caleb and I found myself comparing them to the other couple a lot. I just wasn't as connected to them, and I wish that there had been a bit more to draw me in when it came to their relationship. I wanted to feel invested in them, but I wasn't fully able to. 

Overall, I liked this story and it was good. It just wasn't great like Goodbye Paradise and I had been hoping for a bit more. I still think that fans of Sarina's will enjoy this story as I did, especially if they love Josh and Caleb like I did. But while I liked this book, I didn't love it. Sarina Bowen is a great writer though, and this won't be the last I read from her.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen

I am a huge fan of Sarina Bowen's and I have loved everything I have read from her. This series is one of my favorites of hers and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, even if I was a bit worried before reading it. If you have read the previous books in the series, you will recognize Lauren as the cold and snobby assistant to Nate the team owner. You do not have to read the previous books as this is a standalone, but having read them I wasn't sure that I could ever really like Lauren after seeing her previously. Sarina is a great writer though, so if anyone could pull this off I knew it would be her. 

Lauren and Mike were once in love, but then Mike made a choice that broke Lauren's heart. Since then she has done everything she can to avoid anything to do with him and the Bruisers. But when her boss Nate makes her take a more active roll with the team, Lauren is forced to face the man that destroyed her. Mike never forgot Lauren and hates that he hurt her, and is more determined than ever to make things right. But these two will have more than the past to worry about, as Mike's daughter could prove to be their biggest obstacle yet.

I really felt for Lauren. It was the last thing I expected, and yet I loved her when we got to see everything that had happened. It all became so clear, and I couldn't help but feel protective of her and my heart absolutely broke for all that she had been through. I loved seeing her open up to the girls here though and finally let them in on why she was the way she was. I loved their support and friendship, especially with how things started. I will admit that Mike was one that I struggled with a bit. While I understood his reasons for doing what he did and I saw things from all sides, I hated how things went down. It was clear that he was doing what he thought that he needed to, and yet he really hurt Lauren and that broke my heart as well as hers. He came out of it all looking good, while she hadn't fared the same. They had chemistry and a connection that had never died, yet there were a lot of really tough times and hurt that they went through as well. 

Overall, this was another great story from Sarina. She really knows how to write an emotional and captivating story that will have leave you with all the feels. This one was filled with heartbreak and sadness at times, yet it was also filled with love and support. I was surprised just how much I ended up loving Lauren, and I was so glad that Sarina let us get to know her and see beneath the tough and cold exterior that we had only seen before. This series is one of my favorites and one I definitely recommend if you are a contemporary fan and especially if you love sports romance stories. No one does hockey romance like Sarina Bowen, and I can't wait to read more from her!

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Goodbye Paradise by Sarina Bowen

I was so excited when I found out that Sarina Bowen had a new M/M novel/series coming out. (HA! See what I did there!?!) Goodbye Paradise is the first book of the series and is a standalone story. This book/series was previously released under a different title (In Front of God & Everyone) and pen name, and I am so glad that Sarina decided to re-release under this name because otherwise I might never have found these books! Like everything I have read from Sarina previously, I loved this book and the idea behind the series is one that absolutely fascinates me. 

Best friends Caleb and Josh grew up in Paradise. A small but strict religious community that tightly controls every aspect of their lives. They are not allowed to watch TV and most of the members of the Compound aren't allowed to leave. Though they each work around the property to help contribute, many of them end up disappearing, never to be seen or heard from again. They definitely aren't allowed to have the kind of feelings Josh and Caleb have for one another. But when Josh is cast out and finds himself homeless in a world he has no idea how to navigate, Caleb will have to rush to find him before anything can happen to him. Can they finally find a place together where they can admit their true feelings for one another and see where the future takes them? 

I absolutely adored these two. After the way they grew up and were raised, it was so great to see them finally be able to be themselves and share that with each other. They had such a strong connection that had always been there as friends, but that was so much more powerful and intense as they were able to open up about their true feelings for one another. Josh had always been picked on in the Compound and wasn't as good at everything that the others were, but Caleb had always looked out for him and done his best to take care of him. I loved how sweet they each were and their genuine love and affection for not only each other but those that they cared about. These two were so perfect for one another, and I honestly cannot imagine either of them without the other!

I will say that there was one big thing that happened that had me not so happy with Caleb. Just like it did to Josh, it broke me! I understand what he was trying to do, but I hated that he didn't stop and think about Josh in all of it. After everything that they had been through, it really hurt to see him have so little regard for Josh and their relationship. Luckily it didn't take long for him to realize just how badly he had messed up, but while I could forgive just like Josh did I wasn't able to forget it. That is the only reason that this book wasn't a five star read for me. I just couldn't believe that he could even think of doing something like that after all that had happened and that he knew about Josh. Overall though, this was yet another fantastic book from Sarina Bowen and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy! Not only do I love their solo books, but I have been a huge fan of this writing team since I first read Him. Good Boy is the first in the WAGs series and a spin-off of the Him series which are M/M books. Good boy is a standalone M/F story, and for those that haven't read the Him series or aren't fans of M/M stories you don't need to worry about jumping in here for this one, as you don't need to have read the Him series to understand this book. 

I have been waiting for Blake's story since his character was first introduced! I instantly loved him, and that love only grew the more I saw of him! Blake and Jess Canning had a moment last spring, but with her brother's wedding Jess can't afford to screw anything up. Since she is already known as the family mess, Blake Riley is the last thing she needs. But Blake is determined to show her that he really is a good guy who just happens to have a bad reputation. 

I already loved Blake, but I loved Jess as well! These two were fantastic, and I couldn't get enough of them! Blake is seriously one of my favorite heroes ever. He is sweet and funny, and extremely lovable. He is the jokester that everyone knows, yet he is so much more. I loved digging deeper into who his character was here. He really used his humor to mask so much of how he truly felt, and I really felt for him and how lonely he actually was. My heart went out to him, and I was so glad to see him find someone here. Jess kept up with him and these two had some of the best banter ever! Not only were they great for one another and together, but their chemistry was off the charts. They were sexy and hot together, but it was just so much more. These two were everything and I just can't say enough good things about them. 

Honestly I wasn't sure that even with my love for Blake that this book could pass how I felt about the Him series. I truly love those books and they are some of my all time favorites. But I really think that Good Boy might just be my favorite ever from these two. It was so funny and perfect, and gave me the worst book hangover. After reading Blake and Jess's book, nothing would do because these two are just perfection. Just like the team that created them. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough or anything by these two. If you are looking for a great romance filled with humor as well as sweet and sexy times, you have to read Good Boy. This is definitely the best book I have read this year, and I already cannot wait for the next in the WAGs series.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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ARC Review: Hard Hitter by Sarina Bowen

Hard Hitter is the second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series by Sarina Bowen. I am a huge fan of hers and I couldn't wait to read the next installment in this series after loving the first one so much. Hard Hitter was a great addition to this series and I really enjoyed Patrick and Ari's story. Leo is still my favorite so far, but I think that readers will love this one, especially if they enjoyed the first in the series. 

Patrick O'Doul is used to being the one who takes the hard hits as the enforcer and captain for the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of playing, he is starting to show the signs of the pain both physically and mentally. So when the team trainers and coaches send him to the team massage therapist and yoga instructor Ari, he wants nothing to do with it even if he is attracted to her. But as he starts to spend more time with her, his feelings begin to change and soon he is ready for more. Ari has just gotten out of a bad relationship and the last thing she needs is to start a new one. But O'Doul is willing to wait for her to be ready and is determined to protect her from her crazy ex at all costs. Can Ari risk her heart once more and give him a shot?

I liked both Ari and Patrick a lot. While I did enjoy their story, I didn't feel quite the same connection to them that I did with Georgia and Leo though. Ari was sweet and caring, and genuinely interested in the health and well being of not only Patrick but the whole team. She really frustrated me at times though, even if I did see why she acted the way she did. Patrick was amazing though. I loved his patience and persistence when it came to Ari. He knew what he was facing with her and he looked for ways to show her he really cared. I absolutely adored him, especially seeing him with his teammates and the way they came up with ideas for what to do for Ari! Trust me you will love it! The chemistry between these two was strong, and their connection continued to grow over the course of this book. It was real and genuine, and they were great together.

I really did enjoy this book, and I loved these two and the way their relationship built. I wasn't the biggest fan of Ari's actions at times, and the stuff with Ari's ex wasn't my favorite. But honestly I still really enjoyed the book on the whole and I think that this series is one of Sarina's best. Her writing seems to just get better and better, and I think fans of hers will really love this one. If you like sports romance stories, I definitely recommend this series. Even if you don't love sports romance though, I think that this is one worth reading and has something for everyone. I am really looking forward to more in this series as I love the characters and the world that Sarina has built. I am really hoping that we get stories for all of these characters as they are so much fun to read about!

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Keepsake by Sarina Bowen

Let me just say that I absolutely love this series! Sarina Bowen's True North series is seriously one of my favorites ever! These books are so unique and each one is just fantastic from start to finish. Keepsake definitely didn't disappoint, and I cannot recommend these books enough. Each book is a standalone story, but I recommend reading them all because they are such great books! 

Lark arrives at the orchard to help her friend at the farmer's markets and to try and heal after a tragic event. Zachariah is battling his own issues after growing up in a cult and being tossed out at the age of nineteen. As Zach and Lark get to know one another, they grow close and things begin to heat up between them. But can Zach show her that she can trust him enough to have a chance at a relationship? 

I loved these two so much! Lark was strong and she was such a fighter. After all that she had been through she was still sweet and continued to move forward. Zach was sweet as well, and he had always been the quiet guy that we knew had so much more to him. I was absolutely fascinated by his character and the life he had come from. It shaped who he was, and I loved that he was able to survive just like Lark had. These two were such a perfect match for each other. While he helped Lark and was caring, he didn't push her beyond what she could handle. Their chemistry was there right from the start and their connection was so real and genuine. 

I also love that this series while emotional, is also refreshing and different from anything else I have read before. These characters and their lifestyle are something I have no knowledge of, so I love learning things with each of these books. Sarina Bowen does a great job of describing everything for the reader that it is so easy to visualize and feels almost as if you are right there with these characters. I seriously cannot get enough of these books, and can't recommend them enough. This series is a must read, especially for contemporary romance fans. I think that they each have something that everyone can relate to.

**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

The first novel in a sexy new series featuring the hockey players of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the women who win their hearts—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Ivy Years series.

In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold...

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

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ARC Review: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

I am a huge fan of Sarina Bowen's, and at this point I don't even question whether or not I will read whatever she releases. But I have to say that with the last few books of hers, I honestly believe that each story is just as good if not better than the last. That is absolutely the case with Rookie Move. This book was fantastic! I could not put it down, and it was just such a great story. 

Leo Trevi and Georgia Worthington thought that they would spend their lives together forever, until a horrible event changed everything for them. Georgia made it clear that she needed space, and Leo was left with no other option than to walk away. But Leo and Georgia never forgot about one another, or were able to fully move on. Now Georgia has the chance of a lifetime when it comes to furthering her career and she just needs everything to go perfect starting with her first solo press conference. But Georgia finds out shortly before that not only are the Brooklyn Bruisers getting a new coach (her father) but that they are also getting a new player (her ex)! Leo isn't about to let Georgia go for a second time, but can he convince her that they belong together? 

I absolutely loved these characters. I felt so invested in them right away, and I couldn't get enough of them together. They had so much history and I really felt so emotional about all they had been through. My heart broke for the awful things they had endured, but I could tell just how much they meant to one another. Despite everything, their connection and chemistry were stronger than ever here. It was clear that nothing had changed their feelings for one another and their love and bond was unbreakable. I was so glad that Leo didn't let Georgia push him away again. He gave her space when she needed it, but he was determined and it was great seeing him never give up. 

Overall, I honestly cannot say enough great things about this book. It was just such a great story that seemed perfectly written for me as a reader. The characters were everything that we read romance novels for, the story was solid and captivating filled with depth and emotion. The secondary characters here were just as interesting as Leo and Georgia and left the reader anxious for more. Sarina Bowen really hit it out of the park with this book and I honestly cannot wait for more in this series. I highly recommend this story and if you are looking for a great all around story, look no further than Sarina Bowen.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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