Stranded at the Sandbar by Jess Mastorakos

 

Synopsis:

When they get stranded in paradise, can they put aside their differences until the cavalry arrives?

Kate Wilson jumps at the chance to live in Hawaii when her brother offers to let her rent his extra room. Unfortunately, the last time she was in town, she kissed his best friend... then ghosted him. And he does not seem pleased to see her.

US Marine Tyler Stone prides himself on being a nice guy. But when he gets stranded at the sandbar with the kind of girl who would rather date a long string of losers than find a life partner, he's done being nice. Her loss.

Kate and Tyler aren't on the same page about much when they first wind up alone in the clear-blue water. They'll need to find common ground--and fast--when Tyler gets injured. As the fellow castaways get closer to being rescued, they also find themselves falling in love. But what happens when they get back to civilization and old wounds re-open?

Stranded at the Sandbar is the third book in a new sweet military romance series. Follow along with six handsome heroes in these interconnected stories about the Marines stationed in Kailua, Hawaii.

My Review: 5 Stars

As a reader, there's no greater feeling than seeing a new book by a favorite author waiting for you to dive in and get lost among its pages. And there's nothing worse than real life pulling you away and stopping you from devouring said book. Y'all... I may or may not have gotten irrationally angry that this was happening to me while reading. Apparently it was too much to ask for uninterrupted reading time. Life can be so rude sometimes! 🤣

Because of all the interruptions, I treasured every single minute I spent in this book. I absolutely adored Tyler and Kate! They quickly became favorites of mine. Being stranded on an island can definitely bring two people closer together. I loved that, even though Kate was scared out of her ever loving mind, she trusted Tyler to protect her and keep her safe. His calm demeanor helped her to put all her faith in him and know that he could and would get them through anything. These two were absolutely perfect for each other. ❤️

Y'all know by now that one of my favorite things about series like this is getting to see and catch up with old friends and meeting new ones. I love how close knit this group is and how they're always there for each other. We all need friends like this in our lives. I cannot wait to get my hands on PJ's book. He has intrigued me from the very beginning and I'm dying to know what makes that man tick. And bonus for me... it's a single parent trope! Whoop! Whoop! Haha. 

Ms. Mastorakos has quickly climbed my list of favorite authors. I may or may not squeal and do a little happy dance whenever I see one of her books hit my kindle. I can always count on her to give me that much needed break from reality. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

As for my casting... y'all! I'm in love! What do you think?!

Don't Marry the Ex by Emily C. Childs

 

My Review: 1 Star

I don't normally review anything less than 3 stars on my blog. But I'm making an exception for this one.

Everyone knows how much I love finding new authors. It's something that I'm constantly doing. I want to be the first of my friends to find a book and then scream about it from the rooftops. That is exactly what is happening with this book. But, sadly, it's not going to be a good scream from the rooftops.

As I'm reading this book, I'm getting a weird sense of deja vu. The more I read, the angrier I become. If you're a Jennifer Peel fan and you start reading this book, then you'll probably feel the same way. This book is pretty much a copy of My Not So Wicked Ex-Fiancé. There are just WAY too many things in this book for it to be a coincidence. 

The heroes in both books are heartbroken and jilted. Both heroes leave and come back after making it big by creating an app. Both heroes are set on getting even with the heroines to show them what they've lost. Both heroes have a special tattoo for the heroines. Both heroes have a brother that works with them. Said brothers both date a boutique owner named Marlow(e). Both heroines have the same saying... Oh Mylanta! Both couples were going to elope until they discovered "the big secret" and breakup. The reason behind the breakup is the exact same except flipped. There are more similarities but you guys get the picture. Again... WAY too many things to be considered a coincidence. 

I have to admit, I've looked at other books by this author and between the synopsis and titles, they sound an awful lot like other books I've read by other authors. What in the world is wrong with people? I get that you really can't do original stories because everything has been done over and over again. But to copy someone else's work, switch details around and claim it as your own? Did the author think that no one would notice that she copied Jennifer Peel's book? Did she not think that fans of Jennifer Peel's would be reading her books? Did she think that no one would call her out on it? Well guess what! Here I am... calling her out. Sorry, not sorry. I know these kinds of things happen more than I realize but I never thought I would see it in any of the books I read. This is disgusting and extremely unprofessional. How many other authors has she done this to? One thing is for sure... I will be telling EVERYONE I know NOT to read anything by this author. 

Silent Partner by Jennifer Peel

Synopsis:

He thinks his silence will protect her. She needs to hear what’s in his heart.

When it comes to love and life, Kinsley Kramer knows one thing—she’s always second best. Tired of feeling like she’s never enough, she decides to give up on men and adopt a cat. What Kinsley doesn’t know is that Brant Holland wants nothing more than to tell the world how much he loves her, but he has kept his distance to protect Kinsley from the secrets he keeps and from his ex-fiancée’s family.

But when Kinsley is about to lose her restaurant, Brant can’t help but act. He steps in and becomes her silent partner. Unable to deny the passion that sizzles between them, they must open painful doors to the past, and the secrets Brant has been keeping must be unleashed. Secrets that threaten to destroy everything and everyone he holds dear. Kinsley must now decide if she can bear the pain of Brant’s past choices and an uncertain future as everything in the Hollands’ world hangs in the balance.

See how it all unfolds in this heart-tugging final chapter of the Pine Falls series.

My Review: 5+ Stars!

Holy Hannah! Y'all! Brace yourselves! And while you're bracing, clear your schedules of any and all the thangs. Once you start this book, you will NOT want to put it down! Y'all are in for one heck of a ride!

From the moment I started this book, I was transported to Two Girls and a Guy in Carrington Cove, where I sat in a booth, eating yummy food and listening to Kinsley and Brant tell me a story. A story of heartache, of pain, of trials, of hope, of forgiveness, of family, but most of all of unconditional love. They told me their story. And oh what a heartachingly beautiful story it was! The feels are alive and well in this book... and I mean ALL the feels!

Kinsley has become one of my all time favorite heroines... HANDS DOWN! Wow! She went through A LOT but she remained super sweet and down to earth the entire time. Out of all three Kramer girls, she is definitely the strongest and most resilient. People seem to underestimate her and count her out. I loved watching her prove them all wrong.

And can I just tell you how freaking amazing Brant is?! Y'all. I have all the heart eyes in the world for this man! I absolutely adored him! He's not afraid to go out and get what he wants and refuses to take no for an answer. I loved how much he loved Kinsley and I loved how he fought for her. If ever there was a couple who deserved a HEA, it's these two. 🥰

Now, it would be remiss of me if I didn't mention all the swooniness that was going on in this book. Y'all. That first kiss? And that second kiss? And all the kisses after that? Explosive! The chemistry between these two was hot, hot, HOT! 😍

I loved seeing all our friends in Pine Falls and catching up with all the happenings of their lives. But I do have to say that I may or may not have been livid with a few of them for the way they treated Kinsley. I also may or may not have yelled at them to back off and leave her the heck alone. Y'all. If I could've, I would've jumped through my kindle and Gibbs slapped the lot of them with a cast iron skillet! I'm sure you'll feel the same way when you read this book. 😉 Haha.

I'm not going to lie. I did not want this book to end. And not just because I loved every single minute I spent in this book. It's also because I'm not ready to say goodbye to all my friends in Pine Falls. This series has quickly become one of my favorites and it's always a little bittersweet to see it come to an end. But I will say, if it does have to end, this was the perfect ending to a phenomenal series!

It's no secret that Ms. Peel is one of my all time favorite authors. I am in awe of the worlds she creates and the journeys she takes us on. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! Knowing her it's going to be fantastic!

And of course no review of mine would be complete without my casting. I am seriously in love with these two! What do you think?

Swoon Worthy Spotlights!

Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights hosted by KJ's Book Nook! 

Once a month I'll feature 1-3 of my favorite books that I have read during the month. I'll share the cover(s) and my review(s).

Yes... I know there's more than 3 but I had an amazing month for reading! 

For this month I'm going to choose... 

The Mostly Real McCoy by Julie Christianson

More Than Second Chances by Sara Jane Woodley

Rescue a Stubborn Heart by Cindy Roland Anderson

One Choice I'd Never Make by Remi Carrington

The Off Limits Rule by Sarah Adams

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What are some of your favorite reads from May? 

The Off Limits Rule by Sarah Adams

 

Synopsis:

I have found rock bottom. It’s here, moving in with my older brother because I’m too broke to afford to live on my own. But that’s okay because we’ve always been close and I think I’m going to have fun living with him again.

That is until I meet Cooper…

Turns out, my brother has very strong opinions on the idea of me dating his best friend and is dead set against it. According to him, Cooper is everything I should stay away from: flirtatious, adventurous, non-committal, and freaking hot. (I added that last part because I feel like you need the whole picture.) My brother is right, though. I should stay away from Cooper James and his pretty blue eyes. He’s the opposite of what I need right now.

Nah—Who am I kidding? I’m going for him.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. I have been on a roll lately and reading all kinds of good books that I absolutely adore. I'm always afraid that after so many good books, I'll get duds. While searching for my next book, I remembered I had not read the It Happened in Nashville series. Crisis averted for at least 2 more books... 😉

Oh my gosh. You guys.. I absolutely adore Lucy! She's seriously awesome. I want to be like her when I grow up. She's the in for a penny, in for a pound kind of gal. She might care about what people think in the beginning and then it's screw it! I know what I want, I know what will make me happy and I'm going for it dang it!

As for Cooper. Y'all prepare to swoon and bust out laughing at his antics. That man is the best thing to happen to Lucy besides Levi. He pushes her, he lifts her up, he stands behind her and he loves her wholeheartedly.. quirks, awkwardness and all. Everyone deserves a Cooper in their lives!

Y'all know how big of a sucker I am when it comes to single parent tropes. They are probably one of my favorites. I love seeing the interaction between the child(ren) and the love interest. Cooper and Levi were seriously the cutest! I think I fell in love with Cooper a little more each time he was with Levi. 

I cannot wait to read Jessie and Drew's book. I already love how feisty Jessie is and I'm looking forward to Drew meeting his match. It's going to be very entertaining, that's for sure!

One of the things I love most of about Ms. Adams' books is how real and relatable they are. I could totally see myself doing some of the things her beloved characters do. She's one of the best when it comes to writing awkward, loveable heroines. These heroines are quickly becoming favorites of mine. 

I have seriously loved every single book I've read by Ms. Adams. I need to stop making myself wait so long to read them. It's really not fair to either of us. Haha. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

As for my casting, y'all. I am in love! What do you think?! 

Rescue a Stubborn Heart by Cindy Roland Anderson

 

Synopsis:

She doesn’t believe true love is real.
He thinks he’s too broken for love.
Everything changes when two stubborn hearts meet.

On the run from her ex-husband’s twisted family, Finley seeks help from Jaxon Hudson, the Navy SEAL who rescued her three years ago. Even though she only knew him for a few hours, it was long enough for her to fall in love. But Jaxon’s imminent deployment squashed any hope of a relationship, and he walked away, taking a piece of her heart with him.

Now Finley is older and wiser and not looking for love. So when Jaxon proposes a marriage of convenience and offers the protection of his name, but not his heart, Finley accepts the terms.

There’s only one problem, the spark they had three years ago never died out...placing her in danger of falling for him all over again.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Oh my heart! Y'all! I can't even with this book! I. Can't. Even! 😍

Where do I begin?! 

I fell in love with Jaxon when he made his appearance in Catch a Falling Star. There was just something about him that drew me in. I knew from that moment, it was going to take someone pretty amazing to rescue our hero. I never imagined it would be under the guise of him rescuing her. 

From the moment Jaxon and Finley met, there was a strong, undeniable connection between the two of them. The pull toward each other was strong, but it just wasn't their time and life ended up taking them in different directions. But life has a way of bringing people back together when they need it the most. 

Y'all. There are no words to express how much I love Jaxon and Finley! Their story was so heartachingly beautiful and tugged at my heart strings. The journey back to each other wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. It was filled with hurt, pain, guilt, and doubt. But along the way they found peace, happiness, trust, love, and family. Watching these two broken souls get their happily ever after had me feeling all the feels. The chemistry between these two was sizzling and their kisses had me melting into a big ol' pile of goo! YOWZERS! 😍

Can we just take a moment to talk about little Gracie? She is such a sweet little bundle of joy who melted the hearts of all the Hudson's. Watching Jaxon with her made my heart smile and had me letting out little dreamy sighs. It was adorable! 😍

I am loving this series! I cannot wait to get my hands on Walker and Briar's story. Y'all. The hardest part about loving a series like this is waiting for the next book to be released. Oh how I wish I could just snap my fingers and their book would appear in my hands. But alas, that wish never comes true. I have to keep reminding myself that writing takes time. 

You guys. If you haven't read any of Ms. Anderson's books then you are definitely missing out. She's an amazing author and I have loved everything I've read of hers. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

As for my casting... *dreamy sigh* I am seriously in love! What do you think?!

Shadow Redemption by Rebecca Deel

 

Synopsis:

After surviving a nightmare, supermodel Ruth Monihan's past is firmly in her rearview mirror. But when unwanted gifts threaten to drag her back into the darkness, she turns to a tall, dark, and deadly operative with fire-tested skills and courage to unmask a stalker with a lethal agenda.

Living and working in the shadows is a matter of survival for Fortress operative Ben Martin. But when the woman who rocked his world asks for help, the battle-hardened warrior walks into the limelight, triggering a cascade of events that may conclude with their deaths.

My Review: 3.5 Stars

Y'all know how much I love Ms. Deel's books. So imagine my surprise when I realize that I never reviewed one of them. Gotta love a reason to reread books by a favorite author. 

Ruth and Ben both have demons in their past that they have a hard time with. Both think that they are broken and not good enough to have someone special in their lives. But past trauma is what paves the path from friendship to something more. 

I absolutely adored these two and loved watching them not only grow stronger as individuals, but also as a couple. These two were made for each other. Both knew what the other one was experiencing and knew just what to say and how to help each other. These two are definitely favorites of mine! 

While I loved these two, I do have to say, there were a few things that held me back from completely loving it. 

I was really disappointed with Bridget and Trace for the way they treated Ben. The way they reacted to the news of Ben and Ruth becoming a couple was ridiculous. Neither one of them thought Ben was "good enough" for her because of his past that they knew nothing about. I struggled with it because it wasn't true to their characters. 

I was also disappointed in the few plot points that were left unresolved (there's no resolution for the second half of the "mystery"), as well as some inconsistencies (in the previous book Ruth doesn't have any allergies but in this one she's death allergic to strawberries and she also spent time in Bayside with Sorensen in the previous book but doesn't know who he is in the book), and grammatical errors that should've been caught my beta readers and/or an editor. Had I not loved Ben and Ruth so much, I probably would've given it a lower rating. 

I seriously cannot get enough of Ms. Deel's books. They're all favorites that I can read over and over again. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

And of course I cannot forget my casting. I absolutely LOVE these two! What do you think?!

The Mostly Real McCoy by Julie Christianson

 

Synopsis:

Single-dad Mac needs a temporary nanny for his daughter, Daisy. I need a second job until my promotion kicks in. Since our arrangement is only for one month, I am positive I won’t get attached. Medium positive. Okay, I’m negative.

This is a terrible idea.

Because I can’t give Mac and Daisy what they need, and I won’t risk breaking their hearts, but his green eyes and her crooked pigtails have me dreaming about forever. And who can resist a dad buying pink ballerina tights after a day spent in a hard hat?

The thing is Mac is a fixer, and I need to repair my own life. Better yet, I don’t want to feel broken. So it’s a good thing the worst has already happened to me. Nothing will hurt more now. Water can’t get wetter. That’s what I keep telling myself.

Too bad I’m all wrong...

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. It's probably a good thing that I got everything thing done that I needed to get done for the day before I started this book. Why? Because the moment I started reading, there was no way I was putting this book down until I finished it.

I was quickly swept away to Apple Valley where I lived and breathed all things Brooke, Mac and Daisy. Oh how I adored these three! They had me busting out laughing (literally and now my neighbors think I'm even more crazy), getting teary-eyed (it's not all sunshine and rainbows), swoonying (that first kiss... yowzers), and letting out little dreamy sighs (I couldn't help it!) throughout the entire book. I loved their journey of self discovery, of healing, of strength, of family, of being their for each other even if it's sitting on the sidelines and cheering them on. Their journey was absolutely beautiful! I loved every single minute of this book.

I do have to say that little Daisy kinda stole the show for me. Watching her blossom and grow under Brooke's care was seriously the sweetest thing ever. I just can't with all her cuteness! And her names! MeeMaw and PeePaw. Y'all! I lost it! I seriously love Daisy! Haha.

I will admit that I was kinda sad when the book ended. I was not ready to say goodbye to Brooke, Mac and Daisy. Thank goodness this is a series and I'll get to catch up with them soon! I am dying to get my hands on Emi and Nash's book. Y'all. I can already tell that Emi doesn't stand a chance. Nash is a go getter and he always gets what he wants. I'm already planning on clearing my schedule when their book is released. I have a feeling I'm going to be sucked in again. Hehe.

I am SO glad that I found Ms. Christianson while searching Amazon for new authors to try. The moment I read the synopsis, I was stalking her until release day. I highly recommend grabbing this one! It is SO good!

And of course we can't forget my casting. Y'all. I'm loving these two! What do you think?!