Synopsis:

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr. Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.

It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . . are impossible to remember.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. I am a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine love story. I don't know why but they just make me happy. And this one did not disappoint! 

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be AMAZING! From the moment I picked it up, I was transported back to Loveland where I lived and breathed all things Eloise and Gray. Their journey was full of ups and downs. It was heartachingly beautiful and had me feeling all the feels, while letting out all the dreamy little sighs. I will admit that I was extremely frustrated with Gray at times. I may or may not have wanted to Gibbs slap him a time or two. But in the end, he realized what he wanted, needed, and deserved, and set about getting his HEA with the phenomenal woman who was made just for him. 

I hardly ever read reviews or descriptions any more so it was fun to discover a little surprise by the name of Scarlett (with two t's) in the story. Y'all. That sweet, sassy little girl stole my heart the moment she entered the picture. I loved seeing her with not only Gray, but with Eloise as well. Their bonds were precious. 

I loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Side characters are seriously my jam. They just make the book that much better. I can't wait to get my hands on Raya's book. Y'all. She is one tough cookie and I have a feeling her story is going to be the most emotional one out of the Hart sisters. It's going to take someone pretty special to sweep that girl off her feet. 

Can someone please tell me why I've waited so long to read Ms. Walsh's books? Like seriously. Why have I waited? Her books are what I crave when it comes to reading. She's quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I can't wait to read more by her!

And we all know that I can't forget my casting. Again, I am in love with these two! What do you think?

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

Synopsis:

A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

My Review: 5 Stars

Oh my heart! Guys... get ready for all the feels in this one! And I mean All. The. Feels! Once I started this book, there was no turning back. I was hooked!

Poppy and Dallas are perfection! Oh how I adored these two! I loved watching their relationship grow from friendship into love. I quickly fell in love with these two and found myself rooting them on from the very beginning. They both had things in their past that haunted them and held them back from finding love. But if ever two souls belonged together, it would be these two. They balanced each other out and were there for each other during the hard times. Their HEA was absolutely beautiful!

Now lets take a moment to discuss the off the charts chemistry and swoony kisses. YOWZERS! It was hot, hot, hot! I may or may not have turned into a big ol' pile of ooey gooey goodness. This girl had all the heart eyes and dreamy sighs for all things Poppy and Dallas. I seriously did not want this book to end! 

Y'all know how much I love me some amazing side characters and this book was full of them! Gram was probably my favorite. I loved her feistiness. She had me rolling at times. Everyone needs a Gram in their life! I also adored the relationship Poppy had with her sisters. I can't wait to read their stories! 

This is my first book by Ms. Walsh and it definitely won't be my last. I was so engrossed in the book that I didn't even realize I was doing the same thing the characters were doing. I found myself getting teary-eyed, laughing out loud, giggling, and letting out all kinds of little dreamy sighs. I love when an author can make me feel like I am right there with the characters, listening to them tell me their story. And she had me doing just that. I can't wait to dive into more of her books! 

As for my casting. Y'all. I just can't with how much I love these two! What do you think?