A little behind schedule, oops! It’s been a busy week. I also didn’t have a whole lot of luck with my reading, particularly when I was trying to dig into some newer releases. None of them were holding my attention. January to March are traditionally months where the new releases are underwhelming, but there have been so many intriguing ones that I was hoping this year would be different. We’ll see! It’s definitely been mostly misses so far.
The good news? I’ve still been digging up some great books! I read my ARC of Tarah DeWitt’s upcoming small town romance a little while back, and it was just as good as I was hoping. I’ve been loving her work since Funny Feelings, and I’m excited to see where this series goes.
The audiobook of When She Loves dropped this week (duet style!), so I jumped right in and finished the series that I’ve been having so much fun listening to. It was another great installment, and a satisfying conclusion to the series.
I’ve been seeing Silent Vows on the bestseller lists for months, so I decided to finally check it out… and it was super “meh.” Fine to finish, but nothing special.
I did enjoy Houston, We Have a Problem, but it wasn’t the right fit for me, so I ended up leaving it unfinished.
And I’ve been struggling to get into everything else I’ve picked up!
If you read my Teaser Thursday post (found here), you know that there are some exciting books on the way soon! I’ll have reviews going up throughout the week.
If you missed any of this week’s reviews, I’ve got the blurb and rating for each below. There’s also a link to my new release list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great series 🎧
From the author of When She Unravels, comes a new arranged marriage, standalone dark mafia romance.
The most brutal don in the city has a weakness: me.
I never wanted the life my parents tried to force on me, so I vowed I’d never marry a mobster.
Yet here I am, walking down the aisle toward mobster of the century, all to save my sister.
Rafaele Messero. Cold, ruthless, and irritatingly handsome.
Not that I’ve noticed.
After all, this marriage is the end of all my hopes and dreams.
And for him, it’s nothing more than a calculated business move.
At least that’s what I think, until he snaps at the priest to hurry up so that he can kiss me.
He’s known as the ice prince, but when his lips crash down on mine, all I feel is searing heat.
That’s when I know I’m in serious trouble.
My plan was to keep my distance from Rafaele, but he’s not interested in that.
He’s interested in me.
Now that I know what he craves, I vow to never give it to him.
I will never submit to my husband, no matter how relentlessly he tries to conquer me.
~~
When She Loves is an arranged marriage mafia romance, with no cheating and an HEA. It can be read as a complete standalone.
Read the audiobook review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/49y7VMo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sneak peek review
Summer won’t last forever.
Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She’s learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win—something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.
Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.
A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like…
Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.
Releases on May 21st – preorder today!
Read the sneak peek review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4apM9M1
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just okay 🎧
Conner
They thought she was unsuitable as a bride because she was mute.
I thought that made her perfect.
Silent. Invisible.
I could pretend she didn’t even exist.
Noemi
I’ve been promised to the Irish.
My father will kill me if I refuse, just like he killed my mother six months ago.
His merciless ambitions stole the light from her eyes and silenced me in the process.
I haven’t spoken a word since her death.
That didn’t stop Conner Reid from choosing me to be his bride.
He threatens my composure and intoxicates my senses.
He represents everything I hate in this world yet summons my darkest cravings.
I can’t escape him.
The worst part is, I’m not sure I want to.
Because my life is in danger, and Conner may be the only man who can save me.
*Silent Vows is the breathtaking first installment in The Byrne Brothers series. It’s a stand-alone mafia arranged marriage romance, complete with a happily ever after and no cliffhangers. A dark romance with adult themes, Silent Vows may not be suitable for sensitive audiences.
A Note from the Author: While Noemi may be a silent virgin bride, don’t expect meekness. She is bold, fiercely loyal, and one of the few people unafraid of Conner Byrne. These two are electric, and I ADORE them! For those of you who are new to me, I write what I’d call “mafia lite.” My heroes are hardened criminals with soft spots for their heroines. There may be violence and cruelty in my books, but never between the main characters. Enjoy!
Read the audiobook review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TPGZmm
Mini Review
Houston Briggs is at a crossroads, facing the possible end of his career after a devastating injury. With an uncertain future ahead of him and his siblings finding their own happy endings, he’s desperately seeking peace and purpose.
Enter Darcy Paxton, his refreshing new neighbor who is nothing like the women of his past relationships. There’s a realness about her that Houston can’t resist, and she sees the man behind the athlete, bringing calm to the storm of his life.
However, complicating matters is Tamlin Park, a tenacious sports reporter known for her exposés on athletes’ lives. Despite the threat she poses to his already shaky career, Houston can’t deny the chemistry between them, and she surprises him at every turn with her intelligence and passion for baseball.
Caught between two women who seem made just for him, Houston has no idea what his future holds. If only there was a way for them all to find happiness without someone getting hurt.
Books in the Love in Sun City series are tied together and overlap but can be read in any order or as standalones. They contain minimal to no swearing and no explicit content.
Read the mini review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SBAjaI
Check out this week’s new releases here.
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