My eX-MAS Emergency by Jennifer Peel

 

Synopsis:

Very few in Aspen Lake expected that I, Calista Monroe, their most notorious wild child, would ever amount to anything besides being a model prisoner. So, imagine their surprise when I returned as the hospital’s newest ER doctor. Believe me, no one is more surprised than I am. I had vowed to never return, even if it was the last safe haven during the zombie apocalypse. But when my niece Quinn begged me to come home, I couldn’t say no. My plan is to stay out of trouble this time, and above all, avoid Quinn’s uncle Tristan—the man I love to hate and the reason I left Aspen Lake.

But trouble starts to brew when my niece gets it into her pretty head that her uncle and I need to reconcile. The devious little thing insists we deck the halls together all season long. And since I’ll do anything to make Quinn happy, I agree, believing I’m completely immune to Tristan’s charm. Except the joke’s on me. Who knew that Tristan’s biggest regret was letting me go? And the infuriating man seems willing to do everything possible to win me back. Well, it’s going to take a Christmas miracle before I ever give him a second chance. Unfortunately for my plan, our chemistry could set a blizzard on fire. Now I have a major Ex emergency on my hands.

Do I give my niece her Christmas wish, or do I let the love between Tristan and me flatline for once and for all?

My Review: 5 Stars!

Oh my heart! Y'all! I can't even with all the swooniness! I. Can't. Even! Where should I begin? I do have to warn you, this is going to be one of those gushing reviews. But you guys, I can't help it! This book had absolutely everything I want in the books I read! 😍

All the feels? ✓ Swoony? ✓ Lots of kisses? ✓ Giggled/laughed out loud? ✓ Let out all the little dreamy sighs? ✓ Big gestures? ✓ Old and new favorite characters? ✓

You guys. This book right here will have you forgetting that you're an adult and that you have things you need to get done. But how can you get anything done after starting it? If you're anything like me, you can't. You. Just. Can't. And if you're also like me, you won't care even a little bit that said things did not get done. You have to keep your priorities straight you know... books first... boring chores later. Right? Right. 😉

It didn't take me long to fall in love with all things Calista and Tristan. If ever two souls belonged together it would be these two. They may have spent the last 13 years apart, and Calista may have sworn solemn vows to stay far, far away from Tristan, but their off the charts chemistry is just too hard to ignore. She does her best to stay away and keep at least one of her said vows but the tenacious man has other plans for her. You've got to love a man in love who's not afraid to go after what he knows will make is life complete and his soul happy. *dreamy sigh* Y'all. I just can't get enough of these two! I absolutely adore them! #CouplesGoals

And of course I can NOT forget about Quinn! She is the absolute best scheming little sidekick ever. I seriously loved this girl. Her close relationship with her aunt and uncle was so sweet and will melt your heart. They would do anything and everything to make her happy. And they quickly learned she would do the same for them in return. She is #TeamCalistan all the way! 😉 

Ms. Peel has done it again! She never ceases to amaze me. I am in awe of her talent. She has a way of capturing the reader and not letting them go until the very end. There's a reason why she's one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to get my hands on Jules' book. Y'all. Now is the time where I will be reminding myself on a daily basis that writing takes time and that authors have lives outside of writing. I have no doubt that the book will be more than worth the wait! 

As for my casting.. y'all. I. Am. In. LOVE! *dreamy sigh* They are absolutely perfect! What do you think?!

One Last Play by Annah Conwell

 

Synopsis:

She could be the one.

I’ve spent twelve years caring for my niece Maddie who I adopted after my sister died. Having a daughter has made me picky when it comes to the women I spend time with. Not to mention dealing with the pressure of being a college football coach.

But when I spot MJ at a mutual friend’s wedding, something draws me toward her.

My friend tells me to forget about her, but how can I when she becomes Maddie’s art teacher and our paths cross again?

I ask her out, she turns me down. Rinse and repeat. But I don’t plan on giving up any time soon.

My instincts are always right, and they’re telling me Meadow Jane Carter might just be my future wife.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. This book needs to come with a warning. Something like... 

*WARNING*

Clear your schedule before you think about starting this book because once you pick it up, you will have the hardest time putting it down and will have zero desire to adult. I may or may not have tried to get my manager to let me leave early so I could go home and read. If you're wondering, no, it did not work. She just laughed at me. 🤪

Oh my heart! Y'all! I can't even with all the swooniness! I. Can't. Even! Where should I begin? This book right here had everything I have come to love and crave in the books I read. All the feels? ✓ Swoony? ✓ Lots of kisses? ✓ Giggled/laughed out loud? ✓ Let out all the little dreamy sighs? ✓ Witty Banter? ✓ Sweet moments between characters? ✓ Counted down the minutes until I could pick the book back up? ✓

Gaaaaaaaaaaaah! You guys! I could not get enough of Meadow and Sebastian. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he just knew there was something special about her and knew that he needed her in his life. Meadow had some big walls built up around her heart and I seriously loved watching Sebastian and Maddie (his daughter) work together to take them down. Y'all. Sebastian is freaking fantastic and I loved how he loved Meadow. He was all in from the very beginning and I loved watching these two get to know each other and find their HEA. It seriously made my heart smile! 😍

And I would be remise if I didn't give a shoutout to Maddie, as well as Meadow's brothers. Y'all. They had me rolling! They were the BEST side characters ever! Like... I can't even with some of the things they did! And I cannot wait to get my hands on all the brothers' books! Eeeeeeek!

This is my very first book by Ms. Conwell and, if you haven't already guessed, it won't be my last! She sucked me in from the very beginning and refused to let me go until the very end. I found myself sneaking in reading whenever I could. I seriously love it when an author can do that! 

And of course, I can't forget my casting. *dreamy sigh* They're pretty perfect in my opinion. What do you think? 

Hidden Gems

Welcome to Hidden Gems hosted by KJ's Book Nook! Once a month I'll feature a new to me author that I've discovered and fell in love with their books. I'll share the author's bio, one of my favorite books of theirs and a review.

For this month's Hidden Gems I am going to choose...

Emily Schneider

Emily Schneider is a multi-award winning author who grew up in Minnesota where she spent most of her life studying music and singing, which ironically has nothing to do with writing fantasy novels or rom-coms.

While music had always been a passion, Emily could never get away from her love of reading and writing books full of dragons, Fae, monsters, magic, and romance.

When she is not writing about dragons and romance, you can find Emily chasing around her two dogs, Pixel and Frodo, playing Mario Kart with her husband, or watching The Lord of the Rings for the one-hundred-and-eleventh time.

Emily is the author of the best selling Ash & Smoke trilogy, winner of the '21 and '22 Best Indie Book Awards. Emily is also winner of the 2022 Minnesota Author Project in YA Fiction.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mood reading is a thang y'all. When I get in the mood to read a particular trope, I will not stop looking for books until I find at least one. Grumpy/sunshine is what lead me to finding Emily Schneider and I just have to tell you... I am SO glad that it did! From the moment I started reading The Heart Shot, I could NOT put it down and I wanted ALL my bookish friends to read it! This book had all the swoony feels that I have come to love and crave in books. I'm not going to lie, this is definitely one of my top 3 books of the year. It. Is. Amazing!

Two strangers. One couple's photoshoot. What could possibly go wrong?

I’m Elsie Faren and I hate love.

Err, not hate, exactly. More like I no longer believe in it. After watching my parents divorce, then dumping my deadbeat boyfriend, I realized the idea of love is a fantasy.

For four years I’ve been perfectly content to remain single and alone, but now my best friend has tricked me into doing a couple’s photoshoot with a stranger.

Unfortunately, that stranger, Jameson Beck, has somehow managed to worm his way into my life, convincing me to go on three dates with him.

I was so certain that my hardened heart would be immune to his sunshine demeanor and kind soul. Little did I know that between all my fears, our flirting, and some flying donuts, there would be a sizzling spark between us…one that would have my heart begging to be let out of its cage.

But I’ve seen the effects of broken love—and I can’t risk it—not even for Jameson.

…Right?

You can check out my review here.

Happy reading my fellow Book Dragons!

The Heart Shot by Emily Schneider

 

Synopsis:

Two strangers. One couple's photoshoot. What could possibly go wrong?

I’m Elsie Faren and I hate love.

Err, not hate, exactly. More like I no longer believe in it. After watching my parents divorce, then dumping my deadbeat boyfriend, I realized the idea of love is a fantasy.

For four years I’ve been perfectly content to remain single and alone, but now my best friend has tricked me into doing a couple’s photoshoot with a stranger.

Unfortunately, that stranger, Jameson Beck, has somehow managed to worm his way into my life, convincing me to go on three dates with him.

I was so certain that my hardened heart would be immune to his sunshine demeanor and kind soul. Little did I know that between all my fears, our flirting, and some flying donuts, there would be a sizzling spark between us…one that would have my heart begging to be let out of its cage.

But I’ve seen the effects of broken love—and I can’t risk it—not even for Jameson.

…Right?

My Review: 5 Stars!

Oh holy swooniness with all the feels Batman! Where do I even begin?! This book was AMAZING! 

I hadn't even finished reading the description before I was downloading this baby. To say I was intrigued was an understatement. A reverse grumpy/sunshine? Strangers pretending to be in love? Why not give it a shot? Y'all. I am so glad that I did! 

It didn't take very long for me to be transported to Meridel, IA where I became fully immersed in all things Elsie and Jameson. These two quickly made their way into my heart and I couldn't help but love them!

My heart ached for Elsie. She had been through so much. To keep her heart from being hurt again, she built her walls up so high in hopes that no one would ever break through them. But one look at Jameson and she knew she was going to be in trouble. 

Jameson... *dreamy sigh* Y'all. He will have you swooning like no other. This man knows what he wants and he wants Elsie. There is just something about her that calls to him. He has no problem tearing down those walls to see into her heart, to see her. 

Gah! I couldn't get enough of these two! Their chemistry, their banter, their sizzling, swoony kisses... *dreamy sigh* They were absolutely perfect for each other! 

This is my first book by Ms. Schneider and it definitely will not be my last. Her writing style is so fun and I can see her personality shining through every single word she writes. I cannot wait to get my hands on Maya's book. I have a feeling I'm going to love it just as much as I did this one. 

Y'all. Make sure you read the dedication of this book. It will hit you right in the feels. Best dedication I have read in a long time. 💗

And of course I can't forget my casting... *dreamy sigh* I had so much fun picking these two out! I don't know about you, but I'm in love! What do you think?

Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

 

Synopsis:

Juniper Bean has big plans for her writing career. Swoony kisses, sigh-inducing happily ever afters—she’s going to write them all.

There’s just one problem: she can’t seem to stop killing off her main characters.

After accepting that a genre change is in order, Juniper sets out to do some research. What’s the best way to carry a dead body? How exactly does one pick a lock? Juniper is going to find out—with the unwilling help of her new roommate, Aiden.

But Juniper’s plans go haywire when she stumbles across an actual, real-life dead body—and before she knows it, she and Aiden are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery that seems suspiciously tied to Juniper’s past.

Who killed the girl in the woods? Can Juniper ever get the hang of mystery writing? And, perhaps the biggest question of all: Why the heck does Aiden look so good in a tweed jacket?

My Review: 5 Stars

Book slumps are the worst. I have pretty much been in one all year. I have read countless samples but there have been very few books that have grabbed my attention this year. My brain has been screaming at me to find something different. Something that I normally wouldn't read. After expressing this to one of my favorite authors, she suggested Juniper Bean. Mystery and RomCom? Together? Definitely something I've never tried before. So I thought, what the heck! Let's do it. 

Y'all. Juniper needs to be my best friend! She had me literally laughing out loud from the very beginning and had me wondering what in the world she was going to do next. The things that girl got into... I just can't! 😂 Even with a bad childhood, she was just so fun and full of life. I loved her way of thinking and how she wasn't afraid to live her life. She danced to the beat of her own drum and you just can't not love her!

Just ask Aiden. He tried. He really, really tried. But y'all. This is Juniper we're talking about here! She doesn't take no for an answer and dragged him into all her craziness. He may have balked at it but I think that, deep down inside, he loved every single minute of it. He, too, couldn't wait to see what in the world she would do next. 

Juniper and Aiden were absolutely perfect for each other! They are total opposites but they totally work. There will never be a dull moment in their relationship, I can promise you that. She'll definitely keep that man on his toes. Gah! I just love these two! Y'all just need to read this book. That's all there is to it! 

This is my first book by Ms. Mitchell, but it definitely won't be my last. Any author who can suck me in from the very beginning, and have me busting out laughing while reading is a definite winner in my book. I have already pre-ordered the next book in the series and can't wait to get my hands on it! Come on October! Get here already!

And of course I can't for get my casting. I saw these two from the very beginning. I didn't even have to go looking for pictures because I knew exactly which ones I wanted. I have to say, these two are pretty perfect. What do you think?

Deadly Trap by Rebecca Deel

 

Synopsis:

Following a heartbreaking loss, Brynn Gilbert leaves behind death and danger. Now, she focuses on creating and sharing beauty and peace through gardening and landscaping. But a deadly plan is in the works in Maple Valley, and Brynn is standing in the way. When she becomes a target, one man appoints himself as her protector.

Caleb Montgomery, Fortress Security operative and Morgan County deputy, answers a late-night emergency call and prevents a kidnapping. To his shock, the victim is the woman he's falling for. Caleb races to identify the man targeting Brynn. But when he falls into a deadly trap, only Brynn can save him.

My Review: 3 Stars

Y'all. I'm not going to lie. I'm a bit disappointed after finishing this book. I see all these 5 star ratings and wish I could add one more to them, but I just can't. This is going to be a hard review to write because this book had a lot of potential.

However, after talking to one of my bookish friends, she nailed it right on the head. It just seems like a lot of copying and pasting from past books. The phrases are the same, the food is the same, they all have the same "fears" in the relationships (which are always unfounded if the MC's would just open their eyes), even the bad cop, bad cop routine with zero investigation is repeated (and is definitely getting ridiculous). Add to that the grammatical errors, unnecessary or missed information, and inconsistencies throughout the book and you can see why I'm disappointed. The alpha reader(s)/beta reader(s)/editor(s)/proofreader(s) are not doing a very good job of helping Ms. Deel's books be the best that they can be.

With all that being said, I really did like Brynn and Caleb's story. These two quickly stole my heart with all their swoony kisses and sweet moments. I loved that Brynn was independent, but actually listened to Caleb and others when they were trying to keep her safe. She didn't push back and demand to be included in whatever dangerous situation they were going into. I may or may not have been shocked when that happened. She could be stubborn, but was smart when it mattered most.

I will still continue to read Ms. Deel's books because there are SO many of them that I love and reread ALL the time. I'm holding out hope that her future books will be added to the list of all the ones of hers that I love.

Naming of the Queen by JJ Makenzie

 

Synopsis:

What is the cost of a name? Everything.

The princess always knew her name would come with a price, but she never knew how steep the cost would be. Falsely accused of killing her husband’s family, she’s on the run with the father she never knew. With help from him and a band of outcasts, she’s learning just how much she might have to pay, not only to save herself but all of Greatland. It’s up to her to learn who she truly is and restore the ways of the Ancestors. Yet what her heart yearns for most is to be reunited with the man she must speak her name to first—Rowan, king of Northrend.

Rowan vowed no woman would ever own the heart of the king of Northrend again. But the woman with no name captured not only his heart but his soul. And despite the crimes she’s been accused of, he’s having a hard time believing he was wrong about her. Yet with the balance of Northrend and Greatland in his hands, he has a choice to make—choose the woman he loves, or save his kingdom from going to war.

It is a dangerous game they play. One where it’s hard to know who is a friend and who is a foe. But if they wish to win, the lovers must reunite and help their people choose love and freedom before a shadow overcomes the land. The people must name their queen before it’s too late.

My Review: 5+ Stars!

Oh my heart! Y'all. I don't even know where to begin to tell you how much I utterly adored this book! It was absolutely phenomenal! Here it is, days later, and I can't stop thinking about it. It's definitely one of those books that will be staying with me for a long, long time. 

But, y'all. This book needed to come with some warnings!

1. If at all possible, read it with one of your bookish friends. I can attest that you are going to want to have someone to chat with throughout this entire book. 

2. Make sure you have tissues at the ready. If you're anything like me, you'll definitely be crying. Some sad tears, but also happy tears. 

3. Make sure you have cleared everything off your schedule before you even think about starting this book. I promise that zero things will get done once you start. 

4. Be prepared for the biggest book hangover of your life! You will definitely be ruined for the foreseeable future. 

Wow. Just WOW! I am completely blown away. I don't know where to begin with my review. If I'm being honest, I don't even want to leave one. Why, you ask? Because I don't want to take any chances of giving anything away. This is definitely a book that you need to experience yourself. Trust me. My advice would be to curl up in your comfy reading spot and enjoy the journey you're about to embark on.

Princess and Rowan hold a special place in my heart. Their journey is so heartachingly beautiful. There's just something about these two that make me want to hold their story close to my heart and protect it from the world. I honestly can't explain it. Their love story is just too special, too incomparable in beauty. My wish is that everyone loves them as much as I do.    

Ms. Makenzie had me feeling all the feels in this book. I absolutely love when an author can literally make me feel the same way the characters are feeling. It makes the book more real to me, like I'm sitting right there with them experiencing everything they are. It's the best feeling in the world! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

As for my casting, I am still in love with these two! What do you think?!

Love Rescheduled by Jennifer Peel

 

Synopsis:

My name is Natalie Archer, and I confess to loving nothing more than scheduling my life. And by scheduling, I mean every aspect. So why not schedule my wedding? Do I have a groom? No. Am I dating anyone? Also no. But I have a plan. A good plan, even, to find a Mr. Right who fits all my criteria. The biggest one being he MUST not be famous. Been there, and never doing that again.

I’m just about ready to put my plan into action when my famous ex reenters the picture. Josh Keller, the hottest stand-up comedian around, otherwise known as the thorn in my side and the love of my life. With him comes a major embarrassing moment, caught on video no less. It only proves exactly how incompatible we truly are and that I made the right choice leaving him three years ago. Unfortunately, Josh doesn’t think so, and he’s doing everything in his power to prove that you can’t schedule love. Well, I’ll show him. Maybe. Possibly. Why does the dang man have to be so annoyingly charming? And how can we make it work when his famous life is way out of my comfort zone? Is there any way for us to save the date?

My Review: 5 Stars

As most of you know, I'm a sucker when it comes to second chance love stories. Add in a quirky heroine with a troubled past and I am hooked. Once I started Love Rescheduled, I had no desire to put it down and ended up staying curled up in bed reading it until the very end. I just couldn't get enough of Nat and Josh!

Oh my heart! Their journey had all the feels I have come to adore in second chance stories. My heart broke for our sweet Natalie. With a troubled upbringing, she didn't see any other choice than to push Josh away. All she wanted was for him to be happy. She thought she was doing good on her own until fate brought Josh back into her life. Now her life has been turned upside down and she doesn't know whether to run to or from Josh.

Speaking of Josh... *dreamy sigh* If ever anyone was perfect for Nat, it would be him. He loved her unconditionally and refused to give up on them without a fight. I loved that he knew just which buttons to push to help her step outside her comfort zone and own who she really is, quirks, schedules, and all.

Every introvert should have at least one extrovert best friend. But what's even better than that? TWO extrovert best friends! Tara and Jolene were the best! I adored these two and the story definitely would not have been complete without them. I'm crossing my fingers that we'll get their stories as well. I am not ready to be done with this trio! They are seriously the best!

One of my favorite things about Ms. Peel is she's not afraid to embrace the hard stuff. She has the ability to take the taboo topics of real life and write them in a way that's easy to read, all while still tugging at your heartstrings. She never fails to make me feel all the feels. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us next!

And of course I can't forget my casting. This one was a bit hard but I absolutely love them! What do you think?

In Darkness Forged by Kenley Davidson

 

Synopsis:

In a land of darkness and deadly adversaries…
He might just be the deadliest one of all.

Burdened by a debt she can never hope to repay, Aislin is sent by her cruel lord to the mysterious land of Dunmaren, where she must beg the night elves for a single favor. The shapeshifters demand a steep price, but Aislin will do anything to save her family—even travel alone into a nightmare forest filled with monsters.

Except she isn't quite alone...

Talyn's magic is as deadly as his blades, but he lives only for his chance at revenge. Betrayed and imprisoned by his night elf kin, his only hope of freedom is to serve as guide and bodyguard to a human woman foolish enough to enter the perilous depths of the Darkspring.

Talyn wants nothing to do with a weak and useless human. In Dunmaren, only the strong survive, and soft things are easily broken. But Aislin defies his expectations at every turn, and what he once believed to be weakness might just prove the key to their survival.

In the shadows beneath the earth, an unlikely bond is forged between the renegade night elf and the fiercely determined human. But few ever return from the depths, and it will take more than stubbornness and steel to defeat the enemy that awaits them at the very heart of the Darkspring.

My Review: 4 Stars

I know... I know... this is a slow burn and I don't do slow burn. But I enjoyed it. It dragged for me a little bit in the middle but then picked back up and kept me reading way past my bedtime. 4am came FAR too quickly for me. Haha.

Tal and Aislin had all the qualities I crave when it comes to reading fantasy. I loved watching their relationship develop from enemies to friends to something more. I loved their HEA but wished I could've seen a couple other things before the book ended.

I love that this is a standalone. It's hard to find them in this genre. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books in this series.

2023 Genre/Trope Reading Challenge

Happy New Year my fellow Book Dragons! Welcome to my 4th Annual Genre/Trope Reading Challenge! 

1. Grumpy/Sunshine: The Heart Shot by Emily Schneider

2. RomCom: My eX-Mas Emergency by Jennifer Peel

3. Enemies-to-Lovers: The Queen With No Name by JJ Makenzie

4. Urban Fantasy: Magic Forged by K.M. Shea

5. Forbidden Love: Heart Seeking by Lindsay Grace

6. Magic: In Darkness Forged by Kenley Davidson

7. Opposites Attract: How to Find Love When You're Weird by Camilla Evergreen

8. Sports: One Last Play by Annah Conwell

9. Forced Proximity: Snowed in at the Cottage by Catelyn Meadows

10: Military: A Blind Date for the Marine by Jess Mastorakos

If you're a fan of any or all of these genre/tropes, feel free to join me! If you do a blog post, make sure you share the link in the comments so I can add it to my post.

2023 Genre/Trope Challenge Participants:

Happy reading my fellow Book Dragons!

2023 Reading Challenge

Happy New Year my fellow Book Dragons! Welcome to my 7th Annual Reading Challenge! 

1. A book featuring an inheritance: Hankering for Home by Rachael Eliker

2. A book you meant to read last year: Later On We'll Conspire by Kortney Keisel

3. A book with script font on the cover: Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

4. A book that makes you happy: Love Rescheduled by Jennifer Peel

5. A book you gave 5 stars: Naming of the Queen by JJ Makenzie

6. A book with a flower on the cover: My Favorite Moosetake by Jacqueline Winters

7. A book written by a new-to-you author: The Heart Shot by Emily Schneider

8. A book with a 4 word title: Second Chance in Paradise by Jennifer Peel

9. A book set at the beach: One Enchanted Evening by Trish LeBaron

10. A book written by two authors: 

Does this challenge sound like one you would love to try to accomplish? If so, feel free to join me! If you do a blog post, make sure you share the link in the comments so I can add it to my post.

2023 Reading Challenge Participants:

Heidi Reads

Happy reading my fellow Book Dragons!