Hungry For More by Alexa Riley | Book Review #165

The Bookish Island's Book Review:

Hungry For More by Alexa Riley

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Title: Hungry For More 

Author: Alexa Riley

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Pages:?

Published: 2018

Genre: Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance 

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Date Read: April 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Goodreads

Sage Carter has spent her whole life surrounded by her family that treats her like a child. When she finally decides to live life on her own, it’s still under the shelter of her brother's apartment. But the day before Thanksgiving, his business partner comes to visit and just so happens to find her in the kitchen…in her underwear. Can she make it through the holiday without dying of embarrassment? Or will the incident be the spark that lights the fire from within?

Jensen Powell has done things in his own way on his own timeline. When he’s forced to go home with his business partner for Thanksgiving, he doesn’t expect to find a curvy bombshell waiting for him. One look and she belongs to him if only she’ll give in. He hasn’t had a reason to be thankful until now, and he’s making the most of it.

Warning: This Turkey Day romance is stuffed full of all your favorites. It’s warm and sweet with all the guilty pleasures you’re after. Go ahead and get second helpings. Nobody is looking.

The Rating:

My Review:

Hungry For More is apparently a Thanksgiving-themed novella. And I totally in not read it during Thanksgiving but I still enjoyed it.

It's very much an insta-love story. Very sexy and steamy. And even though Jensen was a little too intense at the beginning I totally got into it and felt that he truly cared for Sage.
And after a few pages of reading their story, I got into it and found myself cheering them on...
to be happy (I didn't intentionally write it this way but let's keep it).

I also liked that Jensen and Sage had the perect amout of backstorry to let their stry make sense even though it as a short novella. And I kinda thik I like Alexa Riley's writing so I might go looking for more of her novels.

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The Bookish Island
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Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Ryan | Book Review #151

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Ryan

Are there spoilers?

I may have written down too much but that's how much I liked this book.
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Title: Dirty Little Secret

Author: Jennifer Ryan

Series: Wild Rose Ranch #1

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Pages: 384

Published: 2018

Publisher:  Avon

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Western

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Date Read: March 4, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Meet the women from Wild Rose Ranch—and the men who want them—in New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Ryan’s breathtaking series of romance and scandal . . .

Noah Cordero is a modern-day cowboy who loves three things: ranching, his younger sister, and his step-father. John Cordero groomed Noah to take over the Montana spread where he learned to ride and work the land. But when John unexpectedly dies, he leaves half the ranch to a woman Noah doesn’t even know.

Roxy shares Noah’s last name, but not his blood. Estranged from her father, haunted by regrets, and eager to escape her notorious mother’s past, she is forced to fulfill her father’s last wishes. Inheriting means sharing a home with infuriating, challenging, and oh-so-tempting Noah. But John didn’t just make her owner of his ranch and guardian to her sister, his hidden sideline is her worst nightmare—she’s the new owner of the notorious Nevada brothel called Wild Rose Ranch where she grew up.

As their strictly business relationship starts to turn to true love, Roxy begins to wonder, what will happen when Noah discovers her dirty little secret?

The Rating:

My Review:

Dirty Little Secret is the first book in Jennifer Ryan's new series, Wild Rose Ranch.

And it follows Roxy, who is just trying to put her past behind her and show everyone that she is more than what they say about her, and Noah, a man trying to make sense of the secrets that are unfolding around him.  Together the two work so well. The chemistry between them was intense in all the right ways. Like, fan yourself to cool of kind of intense. They found true love in each other despite all odds. And that's just wonderful.

Roxy was kind of the best female character I have ever read about. Honestly. This woman can do it all. From teaching herself how to ride and train horses to computer science. Which made me love her even more because we have the same degree.

She is confident, strong, smart and looks banging in a dress and heels, AND jeans and cowboy boots.

Which only made me hate how she was treated by everyone in this story. It was so unfair and dumb. She didn't deserve any of it.

The characters were excellent. The good guys were easy to love and the bad guys were horrible and deserve what they got. And the story was just so well done that I was left wanting more from these amazing and lovable characters.

Now I already had a sneak peek of the next book in the series. Since it was at the end of the book. And from the tiny bit that I did read I already know I need the next one. I NEED IT!

I should add that I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

I also need to add that at first, I was holding myself back on reading this book. But I did and I'm glad because I thought that the whole step-sibling thing was just too weird. But Roxy and Noah have no blood ties and they didn't grow up together. And the way the author as I thought it was gonna be. It was actually pretty good. Their relationship had its ups and downs but they also knew what they wanted from the other and weren't afraid to convey those feelings. Which was so brave and idyllic. It made me want that kind of relationship. 

But ya girl is S.I.N.G.L.E. and doesn't need no boday.

But a good book.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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The Foxe & The Hound by R.S. Grey | Book Review #146

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Foxe & The Hound by R.S. Grey

Are there spoilers?

This one has spoilers!
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Title: The Foxe & The Hound 

Author: R.S. Grey

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Pages: 328

Published: 2017

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Adult

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Date Read: July 26 > 27, 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

When your life is a hot mess at twenty, it’s cute. At twenty-seven… well, not so much.

It’s just that my lofty dreams—making it as a real estate agent, paying rent on time, showering daily—have stayed just that: dreams. Oh, and love? I’ve decided love might be a little ambitious for me at the moment. Instead, I’ve settled for the two guys who will never leave me: Ben & Jerry.

That is until Dr. Adam Foxe takes up residence as the town’s new vet.

With his strong jaw, easy confidence, and form-fitting scrubs, it’s not long before every housewife in Hamilton is dragging neglected tomcats in for weekly checkups.

Like everyone else, I’m intrigued. Even after I spoil my chance at a good first impression, he still offers me a proposition I can’t refuse: play his girlfriend at a family function and he’ll hire me as his real estate agent. Welcome to love in the 21st century.

It’s too bad I underestimated Adam’s irresistible charm and the undeniable attraction that burns between us. The day he pins me to the wall and silences me with a kiss, the line between reality and ruse begins to blur. Every teasing touch brings me to my knees. Every kiss promises more.

It looks like my hot mess of a life is about to get a little hotter.

The Rating:

My Review:

I've been holding back on this review because I had very mixed feelings towards this book. But here goes nothing.

The Foxe & The Hound is about a beautiful real estate agent, Madeleine, who crashes into a handsome vet with an attitude, Adam. And of course, there's the one who got them to crash. Too big for his own good, doggo Mouse. 

One of the things that gave me problems was Adam. I hated him. I swooned at the beginning but then all of a sudden it turned to dislike. He just did some things that made me look at this book with some serious death stares. I even stopped reading it at the point where I couldn't handle how he acted and how Madeleine reacted anymore. But because I had to give it back I powered through having a curtain on those chapters and how I felt and ended up enjoying it after.

I ended up liking the banter between Adam and Madeleine and how their relationship was finding a smooth rhythm. The steamy scenes were just right. Mouse was an amazing and very important doggo. And in the end, I was shocked with that plot twist.

I can now say that with that ending I now am on board.


Now. If you really want to know what bothered me about this book here it is. But you have been warned since this is a spoiler.

There is one scene, past the first 120 pages, where Adam basically assaults Madeleine. But that's not all, because it happens before he tells her that he's sorry for misleading her into thinking that they were more than just acquaintances or friends. That he isn't looking to date anyone since he got out of a messy relationship just recently. Which is also the reason why he moved to that town in the first place. But that's beside the point. 

The point is that he tells her he isn't interested in dating her after she asked him out (taking the courage to ask him out thinking that she has a shot) and then he blocked her only exit to the building they are in and grabs/pins her to the door and assaults her. Now! It doesn't matter that she likes him or that in the end she was "okay" with what he did to her or it turned her on. That doesn't matter. What matters, and what bothers me about Adam, is the fact that he rejects her, grabs onto her wrist to the point where she tells him he is hurting her, ignored her pain, and then plants a kiss on her mouth. And I think that somewhere in that she thinks to herself that he is being forceful towards her but then she goes on to say that she likes it. 
And as I'm writing this I notice that it may be me thinking too much into what he did, but then again it was too much happening at once and I freaked out instead of feeling excited for them like I think the writer intended. That's why I didn't like him. I had to make myself forget that that scene had happened in order to keep reading.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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The Firefighter Daddy by Margaret Daley | Book Review #141

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Firefighter Daddy by Margaret Daley

Are there spoilers?

There's a pinch of spoilers.
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Title: The Firefighter Daddy

Author: Margaret Daley

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Pages: 224

Publisher: Love Inspired

Published: 2016

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance 

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Date Read: January 10 > January 13, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆



From Bachelor to Father


Firefighter Liam McGregory is used to staring down five-alarm fires—but becoming a father to his two little nieces has him sending out a call for help. When the girls return a lost pup to its beautiful owner, Liam thinks widow Sarah Blackburn is just the person he needs—or who the children need. He's promised to never marry again. ' Sarah takes his deal: she'll watch his kids and he'll watch her menagerie of pets—but the new father is off-limits. But two determined little matchmakers can be hard to resist when they need a mom to make one big happy family…

The Rating:

My Review:

The Firefighter Daddy was just like I thought it would be. It's a natural story that did have a lot of drama or an unnecessary love triangle. I actually liked it. It was a quick read that had the nicest slow burn romance between a firefighter who had to take care of his brothers two daughters after his death and is dealing with fatherhood as a single man and a woman who has been through tragedy and loss. And how the both of them find each other thanks to a cute dog and the two girls love for him.

Liam was just like a character out of Chicago Fire. In my opinion. And the way he cared for Maddison and Caddie was too cute. He really loved them and cared for them as his own. And Sara was a cool hairdresser dog mom who took care of her Nana with her mom.

I really can't think of much since I dd read the book really quick. It only took me two days because I had to stop reading it to take care of some things around the house and forgot about it till the next day and even then it took me an hour to finish the bit that was left. But a lot of thins had happened that I can't remember what I wanted to say. I even forgot to jot down notes.


Having read this book I can now tick off one book read in the Romanceopoly. As a part of my 2019 Reading Challenges.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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The Perfect Catch by Cassidy Carter | Book Review #136

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Perfect Catch by Cassidy Carter 

Are there spoilers?

There are some spoilers.

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Disclaimer:
This book was sent to me from the publishing company through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Perfect Catch 

Author: Cassidy Carter

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Pages: 270

Publisher: Hallmark Publishing

Published: 2018

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance

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Date Read: August 9, 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

In the small town of Parker Falls, Jessica Parker spends her time serving pie and coming up with ideas to save the failing diner she inherited from her grandfather. A single mom to eight-year-old Wesley, she has enough to keep her busy well into the future. But when her old high school love, Chase Taynor, unexpectedly pops up, Jess finds herself thinking not of the future but of her past with the handsome professional baseball player.

After a few bad pitches leave his dream career in limbo, Chase slides back home to Parker Falls…although the town may not be as safe as he’d expected. As Jess and Chase reconnect, old feelings return in a major-league way. With the possibility that Chase could return to the baseball diamond at any time, will their reunion be worth the risk to their hearts? Or will it be déjà vu all over again, with Chase choosing the limelight over the woman he loved before the fame?

The book contains a free original recipe for Bacon & White Cheddar Burgers with Spicy Mustard Relish. 

The Rating:

My Review:

The Perfect Catch was a book I read back in August. At a time when I wasn't reading that many books. So I barely remember much about it but I do remember that it was a book I got through NetGalley from the publisher. And I'm thankful that they gave me the opportunity to read it and that I actually finished reading it.

While I was reading this book I got this insane flashing light in my head telling me that I had experienced this story before but I could never figure out when or even what it was. I'm certain I didn't watch the movie but who knows. Maybe all the elements that made up The Perfect Catch just felt familiar to me.

I liked the mother-son relationship the main characters had. It was clear that she would do anything to make her kid happy and it showed in the scenes where she tried her hardest to help him practice baseball. I'm not the biggest sports fan (I especially know nothing about baseball) but I would have had the time of my life if I was that kid and she was my mom. I super don't get why he was embarrassed about her teaching him. Regardless if she was bad or not. I would have taken it as a great thing we would have shared as a family. Especially taking into account that the dad was super not in the picture. I should know mine wasn't and whenever my mom and I would do something together it would be a big deal for me because I knew she was doing her best to be mom and dad.
So I super didn't like his attitude sometimes.

It was also super shitty because, in comes our hero, who also happens to be a baseball superstar, and he replaces her role in helping her kid out. I mean I get it a boy needs a father figure in his life and what not but sometimes that's totally not some random strangers obligation/role. Even if he had a history with Jessica. The kid doesn't know that!

Whatever, Deep breaths all around.

Okay so besides that the romance was pretty much all over the place. Yes, I got some swoon-worthy moments here and there but other than that I wasn't completely rooting for them to have their happily ever after. But that's just me.

The food is also important for me to mention since this is one of those books that include recipes. The whole dinner sounded amazing to me before and after the renovation. I would have totally loved to sit down and order a burger there. And the recipes did sound pretty appealing. If I lived in my own place I would 100% give them a try.

Goodreads  

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The Bookish Island
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Man Hands by Sarina Bowen + Tanya Eby | Book Review #134

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Man Hands by Sarina Bowen & Tanya Eby 

Are there spoilers?

There are some spoilers.

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Title: Man Hands 

Author: Sarina Bowen & Tanya Eby

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Pages: 238

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Published: 2017

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Contemporary

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Date Read: November 21, 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

He puts the "screw" in screwball comedy...

BRYNN

At thirty-four, I’m reeling from a divorce. I don’t want to party or try to move on. I just want to stay home and post a new recipe on my blog: Brynn’s Dips and Balls.

But my friends aren’t having it. Get out there again, they say. It will be fun, they say. I’m still taking a hard pass. 

Free designer cocktails, they say. And that’s a game-changer. 

Too bad my ex shows up with his new arm candy. That’s when I lose my mind. But when my besties dare me to leap on the first single man I see, they don't expect me to actually go through with it.

TOM

All I need right now is some peace and quiet while my home renovation TV show is on hiatus. But when a curvy woman in a red wrap dress charges me like she’s a gymnast about to mount my high bar, all I can do is brace myself and catch her. What follows is the hottest experience of my adult life. 

I want a repeat, but my flying Cinderella disappears immediately afterward. She doesn’t leave a glass slipper, either—just a pair of panties with chocolate bunnies printed on them. 

But I will find her.

The Rating:

My Review:

Man Hands managed to be one of the most fun contemporary romance I've read all year. Not only does it feature a sexy main character that works as a home renovation tv personality but our heroine is a food blogger. Talk about # COUPLEGOALS.

I suffered through 2 swoons and got all teary-eyed on Chapter 36. It was so good in some parts and in others a bit too slow. I totally needed a few more swoon-worthy moments but other than that it was totally great.

Tom was fantastic. I loved that he was a manly man. And that he was in the home renovation business and ha his own tv show. Made me think about DIY or HGTV channels. And Brynn with her food blog and wanting more for herself with her passion for food. I just liked her a ton as a character. Which, with the books I've read, is pretty rare when I like a female lead in a romance novel.

I also loved that the fake engagement. That was fantastically done. 
Their sexy meet-cute was too much (in a good way) and that the whole story with Brynn and Tom was bot sexy and cute. 
They totally loved each other and the way they acted with each other made me fall for them.

Goodreads  

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The Bookish Island
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