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: Steal My Heart by Laura Pavlov

If 2024 was good for anything, it was solidifying my love for Laura Pavlov! Her Magnolia Falls series was my favorite of the year, and I loved every single book from start to finish. Meeting Easton in his sister’s book had be chomping at the bit for his story. Steal My Heart was absolutely everything I had hoped it would be and more! Steal My Heart is the first book in the Rosewood River series, and can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the Magnolia Falls series if you haven’t already read it!

Steal My Heart is Easton and Henley’s story, and I knew from the first page I was going to love it. These two had so much heat and chemistry, but it was their connection that had me unable to put this one down. I loved seeing them get to know one another as they didn’t get off on the right foot. There was a lot that made these characters who they were, especially Easton, but seeing them grow and move forward was so rewarding. I loved how kind, supportive and patient Henley was. She was absolutely everything you would look for in a strong female lead. 

Laura’s books are always filled with genuine and relatable characters, and Steal My Heart was no exception. Besides the amazing characters though, you can’t help but fall in love with the journey and story right along with the characters. I love how this book made it okay to not only sometimes need help, but also be able to ask for it. It is so nice to see things like this normalized. It was absolutely okay to mess up and apologize and not have it be some huge deal breaker. I just can’t recommend Laura’s books enough, and I loved this one so much! I highly recommend checking Steal My Heart out, and I already can’t wait for the next one!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

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ARC Review: Finding Hayes by Laura Pavlov

I have loved the Magnolia Falls series from the very first book and so it was a little bittersweet reading Finding Hayes as I just wasn’t ready for this series to finish! Laura Pavlov has written such an amazing group of characters with this series and I have to say she definitely finished it off as strong as ever! Finding Hayes was amazing, I just loved this book from the first word to the last.

Finding Hayes features Hayes and Savannah, and I couldn’t get enough of these two. These childhood best friends  spent years apart after a misunderstanding and find themselves suddenly back in each other’s lives here. They had such a strong connection and it was great to see them get to know one another here after growing up. The chemistry was off the charts and I just never wanted it to end. 

The reason this series has been such a standout to me has absolutely been this cast of characters. I have never felt so connected to a group of characters where I was genuinely so excited for each book of the series. This group is filled with lovable and genuine characters who feel so real and relatable. Truly a case of family is what and who you make it, not what you are born into. The support and love between them is unlike any I’ve read about before. Hayes and Savvy’s book was a strong finish and I loved it just as much as I loved the previous books. The real star of the series though for me was Cutler. Beefcake stole every scene he was in, and I was so glad that he was still a huge part of this story after his dad’s book. I can absolutely picture him leading the next generation forward as the rest of the characters got their HEA’s and are settling into married life. 

I am also really looking forward to getting Easton’s book as the start of a new series from Laura Pavlov. At this point, I will read whatever she writes and cannot recommend her books enough. If you haven’t read the Magnolia Falls series, you are seriously missing out. Each book is a standalone story but I believe that each book is worth the read and starting at the beginning is definitely the way to go if you can. One of my all-time favorite series and I already can’t wait to read them all again!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

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ARC Review: Play the Game by SJ Sylvis

Play the Game is book one in the Blue Devils Hockey series by SJ Sylvis. This book is a standalone story, but fans of her Bexley U series will recognize some familiar faces here. I really enjoyed this one, and I think a lot of readers will as well.

Emory and Scottie’s story starts off to a not so great start, but they quickly find themselves in a marriage of convenience. She needs money and he needs help cleaning up his image. Soon they find themselves having very real feelings for each other though. 

There is a ton of chemistry between these two. I felt it right away and it just got stronger throughout this book. I really liked both Emory and Scottie. They were strong and independent, yet worked perfectly together. They were so hot together, and the amount of “my wife” moments in this book was everything you could possibly hope for! Emory is definitely the kind of character romance readers can’t help but fall for right along with the heroine. 

Overall, another great read from SJ Sylvis! I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for Rhodes to get his story next! Hot single dad and nanny, sign me up! I know this series is going to be just as fantastic as Bexley U was, and I can’t recommend SJ Sylvis and her hockey hotties enough!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |