This Chick Read: Making the Match (River Rain #4) by Kristen Ashley

Tom and Mika met long ago when Tom was a rising tennis star and Mika was the “It” girl. Tom was already in love and despite wanting to be friends, Mika knew it would be too hard and they went their separate ways. Years later after Mika goes through a personal loss they meet again but Tom’s transgression against his now ex-wife was too big for Mika to take the chance and she shut the door on any kind of relationship. Present day, Mika receives a packet in the mail the provides details that would affect a large sports company and picks up the phone to call Tom to ask for his help. Together they decide to investigate that mystery as well as start a new friendship with each other.

I’ll admit, I had zero interest in reading this novel. That’s a rarity for me because I read practically all of Kristen Ashley’s novels (I skipped the erotica) and have read the first three in this series and enjoyed them tremendously. Why, if I enjoyed the others was I going to skip this novel? It deals with a cheating spouse and I didn’t think I could look past that transgression to root for this couple. BUT I picked it up anyway because I wanted to read the most recent novel that just came out and knew this couple would be a part of it, if only as side characters. Surprisingly, I liked it. Not as much as the other novels in the book but I did enjoy more than I thought I would.

I’m not sure what makes an “It” person other than KA telling us that this character had it all that made her so fascinating to society, but as a person, I like Mika. She was interesting and had a view on life that was different and made me want to keep reading. I LOVED her daughter and hope she gets her own book in the future. She was FAB. Tom has been in the previous novels because they all revolve around his own family. His ex-wife’s love story as well as his daughter ‘s gave us a peek into his own emotional trauma and other than the cheating he seemed like an interesting character. What the author did with these two together was give the reader a reunion love story but also gave us this side plot “mystery” to focus on. For me that side plot was integral to pulling me into their story and ultimately had me liking the novel and these two characters.

Surprise! I really liked the two main characters by the end of the book. It helps that this author excels at giving her main characters interesting family members and friendships. They round out a story and provide comic relief or a glimpse into the future of another novel. This series is full of those moments and luckily enough I have purchased the newest novel already and can get down to reading it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Making the Match

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Bree Camden and her best friend NFL quarterback Nathan Donelson are strictly in the friend zone. Although she has feelings, Bree doesn’t want to jeopardize a friendship that started when they were in high school. Once a ballerina striving to become a professional, Bree suffered a terrible accident that killed those dreams. Not wanting her circumstances to hold Nathan back she pushes him away and it’s years before they speak again. Now best friends again, they are both fighting their feelings. After a night of drinking Bree spills her secrets to a TMZ reporter and her story about she and her best friend goes viral.

This book has been on my radar for a bit but for some reason I hadn’t chosen to read it before now. I haven’t read a book by Sarah Adams but I’m for sure going to read more of her books now. This story combine’s the “best friends” and “fake boyfriend” tropes to create a really cute story. I thought Bree and her struggles to keep her dance studio open was something readers could identify with and let’s face it, Nathan and his secret crush on Bree was too adorable to turn away from. The only thing that got old was that Bree took too long to give up the “best friends” moniker and allow herself to give in to her feelings. When she finally did, the reading was easy breezy and so much fun.

My favorite part of this book was Nathan asking his football friends for advice on how to woo Bree. There’s nothing like a bunch of guys giving advice. The cheat list idea was totally cute and reading those ideas coming to fruition- some good and some bad- made for some funny moments. If you’re looking for that feel-good weekend or vacation novel, this is the book I’d recommend. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Cheat Sheet

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka

After a recent divorce, singer-songwriter Riley Wynn approaches her label with a great concept, an album based on all of her break-ups. When her famous ex claims her newest single hit is about him she looks up her first love, Max, and asks him if she can release his name to the press. He agrees under one condition, he wants to go on tour and play the piano in that single. As they tour, they slowly work out their baggage and are given hints of hope for a future.

When Riley shows up at the retirement living center that Max is running he is faced with the regrets from his past. He chose his family over a life on the road with Riley and has always wondered what his life would’ve been like if he’d made the other choice. Her offer is the chance for him to see where that path would’ve led. I like a good second chance romance if the plot moves quickly but The Breakup Tour seemed to mire the story in both of their regrets, making it seem like it took forever before either of them could move past them. Because of that slow pace I felt like the tone of the story was moody and sad rather than playful and fun.

I loved how the author’s actually gave us the lyrics to the songs we were reading about. They all fell at the end of the book and I think I’d have liked to have read them sooner, but they were a wonderful addition and were filled with the words I’d imagined while reading about Riley singing them. I always enjoy song-filled stories and The Breakup Tour (the novel) could’ve had an album full of words filling these pages.

I enjoyed Riley and Max’s second chance story and although I’d wished their happy reunion was filled with more light hearted moments it felt real. I thought the ending was totally satisfying and I loved where the story led us. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click the link to purchase this book!* The Breakup Tour

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: My Top 5 Most Anticipated Book Releases- Feb’24

I feel like this February has more books being released by authors I love than normal. This was a hard list to choose my favorites, but I am up for the task! I’ve perused my favorite book lists and found a few that I can’t wait to read and a couple that I’ve already enjoyed. Here are my top 5.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this novel. Guys, it was so good! I love the way Kylie Scott writes characters who a reader can enjoy. Sometimes I feel like I’m forcing myself to like a character in order to get through a story. Not this one! I loved these two main characters.

Synopsis: When Lilah Goodluck saves the life of Good Witch Willow as they’re crossing a busy L.A. street, the last thing she expects is five unwanted predictions as a reward. Who gives someone the winning lotto numbers then tells them they’ve only got a week to live? And who believes in that nonsense anyway?
 
But when the first three predictions come true within twenty-four hours, Lilah’s disbelief turns to mild panic. She’s further horrified when she nearly runs a car off the road that belongs to Alistair Lennox, who just happens to be the illegitimate son of the British king.
 
While Alistair is intrigued by her preposterous story, Lilah is adamant about resisting the heat between her and the playboy prince. If she denies he’s her soulmate, then the last prediction can’t come true, right? As the days count down, they become maybe friends…and then maybe more. But between the relentless paparazzi and some disapproving royals, finding time for love isn’t easy, especially when her days may be numbered.

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck

Tia Williams previous novel Seven Days in June was soooo good! I knew A Love Song for Ricki Wilde was going to make my top 5 with its book release. Can’t wait!

Synopsis: Leap years are a strange, enchanted time. And for some, even a single February can be life-changing.

Ricki Wilde has many talents, but being a Wilde isn’t one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she’s the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. Where they’re long-stemmed roses, she’s a dandelion: an adorable bloom that’s actually a weed, born to float wherever the wind blows. In her bones, Ricki knows that somewhere, a different, more exciting life awaits her.

When regal nonagenarian, Ms. Della, invites her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance for a fresh beginning. She leaves behind her family, wealth, and chaotic romantic decisions to realize her dream of opening a flower shop. And just beneath the surface of her new neighborhood, the music, stories and dazzling drama of the Harlem Renaissance still simmers.

One evening in February as the heady, curiously off-season scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air, Ricki encounters a handsome, deeply mysterious stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.  

Set against the backdrop of modern Harlem and Renaissance glamour, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a swoon-worthy love story of two passionate artists drawn to the magic, romance, and opportunity of New York, and whose lives are uniquely and irreversibly linked. 

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Love Song For Ricki Wilde

It’s been a few years since the last Katie Ruggle romance novel and when I saw this one was coming out I clicked that auto-buy button immediately. Her characters are quirky, fun, and always surprise me with their depth. She also writes a great action sequence so don’t be surprised if there’s a little danger in that romantic plot.

Synopsis:

When Dahlia Weathersby’s sister disappears on what should have been a simple day hike, Dahlia immediately heads deep into the Colorado Rockies to find her. Knowing she’ll never survive the mountains alone, she convinces the local hermit—adorably grouchy survival expert Winston Dane—to be her guide. All it takes is a good helping of Dahlia’s charm…and just the teeniest bit of blackmail…before she’s got all six-foot-something of him wrapped around her finger. But even with her very own mountain man in tow, things aren’t going to be easy. There are:

  • Long hikes through gorgeous wilderness? Check.
  • Bears? Check.
  • A single shared sleeping bag? Check.
  • Enough sparks to set the Rockies ablaze? Check, check, check.

With everything the wilderness has to throw at them, it’ll take more than charm and some city girl ingenuity to make this trek anything but a disaster waiting to happen…and an adventure she’ll never forget.

Click this link to make a purchase!* Fish Out of Water

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase one of these books through the appropriate link I’ll receive a small stipend.

When Erin Hahn is good she is really good. The premise leads me to believe this one is going to be great. Plus that cover? Gorgeous!

Synopsis: The only thing keeping nineteen-year-old Case Michaels together after the death of his best friend, Walker, is a list Walker left behind of things he wants Case to accomplish in his absence. So far, though, Case hasn’t even been able to continue riding bulls in the rodeo circuit, something he’s done his entire life, balking at the thought of competing without Walker by his side. But the list? Case is determined to follow it to the letter– and he follows it all the way to Winnie Sutton.

Eighteen-year-old Winnie Sutton just wants to keep her family together. She graduated high school early to work long shifts at the Michaels family ranch so she can support her younger siblings and a father who’s more than happy to let Winnie fill the responsible parent role. If she sometimes sneaks out to ride the horses herself and forget about life for a while– well, that’s no one else’s business– until the day she crashes headfirst into Case Michaels. Case sees her riding skills and immediately ropes her into competing for the ranch and becoming his friend.

Winnie and Case couldn’t be more different, but Case can’t help but be inspired by Winnie’s badly-hidden passion for riding and competition. And there’s something about Case that makes Winnie want to try grasping onto a dream for herself, whether that’s a shot at a rodeo trophy, the annoyingly handsome rancher’s son who won’t leave her alone, or maybe both.

Click this link to purchase the book!* Even If It Breaks Your Heart

A paranormal romance by Ali Hazelwood?!!! I was so lucky to get this book ahead of time and can’t wait to listen to the audio book when it comes out. It was original, the characters (as usual) were amazing, and the world building was so surprising! I can’t wait for a second novel in this world.

Synopsis: A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Bride

This Chick Read: The Bright Spot (Sunrise Cove #5) by Jill Shalvis

Luna Wright runs the happy but struggling Apple Ridge Farm with her motley crew of friends. They’ve made a place for themselves in the community with their farm to table cafe, a menagerie of rescued animals, and some small boutiques run by her grandmother. When the owner of Apple Ridge Farm dies and leaves Luna half of the property to be run with his investment manager Jameson Hayes, she finds that the old man had a lot of secrets. Can she keep her family together and the doors open?

Luna not only collects homeless animals, but she seems to collect quirky friends and family members. Something that she must have in common with the author because she excels at writing about circles of friends and eccentric family members. My favorite moments in this story did revolve around Luna and her rag tag group of friends. Those relationships showed off Luna’s strength of will and love for her friends. The fact that she wanted to take on the world and protect her little family was nice but got a little tiring. I loved her resolve but wanted the resolution to come about a little quicker. The addition of Jameson into their group as her partner and love interest added some emotion to the story. I like him a lot and liked the way he settled her. She was a lot to handle!

I read Ms. Shalvis’ novels because I know I’m going to get fed some comfort food. Interesting characters, an envious circle of friends, and a lot of heart. This book delivers all of that plus a good-hearted love story that rounds out the novel really nicely. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Bright Spot

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chicks Audio Review: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Maelyn Jones hates her life. She is in a dead end job, living with her parents, and just made a huge romantic error. The only thing going well is that she is in her happy place at the cabin in the woods where her family spends the holidays, along with her parents best friends and their kids. As the weekend implodes and Mae drives away she makes a wish that changes her life, or at least starts the weekend all over.

I thought this Groundhog Day-esque rom-com was wonderfully well done. Patti Murin’s narration was spot on and she did a great job voicing all of the different characters… and there were a lot of them! I listened to the book leading up to the holidays and it set the write note of family drama, holiday traditions, and love gone comically wrong. I laughed with Mae, and then fell along in love with her lifetime crush, Andrew. Everything does go horribly wrong but it’s fun to watch Mae try to turn what she knows will be a disaster into a positive.

I’ve read a couple of reviews that said they weren’t a fan of Andrew’s (our romantic hero) personality. I actually thought his calm demeanor was perfect for the somewhat chaotic mess that was Mae. He did remind me of some of the gentlemen from my southern California roots so I must like a more laid back fellow. Well, to read about anyway. LOL.

If you’re looking for a fun holiday rom-com and haven’t read this novel yet pick it up or better yet take a listen! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* In a Holidaze

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick’s Audio Review: The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries #1) by Elle Kennedy

Gigi Graham is working hard to make the women’s US hockey team. Something she hopes will help her step out of the shadow of her famous father. She needs to improve her game behind the net and ask the new co-captain of Briar’s men’s hockey team for the help. Ryder is eager to take her up on the favor since he needs one in return. He wants her to put in a good word for him to her father to help him get the job at her dad’s training camp. The only thing standing in both their ways is the sizzling chemistry between them, and it’s very hard to ignore.

I love sports romances and when I saw Teddy Hamilton’s name as one of the narrator’s I spent that credit and didn’t look back. He’s a big talent and I love his voice! CJ Bloom voices Gigi’s character and is a new favorite after hearing her bring Gigi to life in this novel. The two of them together were fantastic.

I’ve never read a book by Elle Kennedy, but she was recommended to me and I’m always looking for new authors who have a trunkful of novels I can dig into if I like them. Did I like this novel? Yep! And I’ve already read four more of her books in less than a week. Now, I will say that these are VERY spicy novels! The heat is high and caught me a little off guard when listening to this book, but the plot was addictive and the cast of characters were a lot of fun. Ryder was a grumpy hero who slowly opened up to Gigi over the length of the novel. Gigi was much more open and carefree. She was very secure, sassy, and somehow able to get Ryder to open up to her, which made this duo so interesting! His back story was dark and she brought the light into his life. I loved that.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Graham Effect

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: Knockout (Hell’s Belle’s #3) by Sarah MacLean

Lady Imogen Loveless has a love for experiments and explosives, which comes in handy when she and her counterparts in the Hell’s Belle’s are investigating some bombings in the East End of London. Private Detective Thomas Peck keeps running into Imogen in suspicious circumstances, most recently at the site of one of the bombings he’s investigating. When she turns up missing, he’s assigned to find and guard her giving him access to this woman whom he finds so fascinating.

This is not the first time we’ve come across Tommy and Imogen. They’ve crossed paths in the first two novels and the author has given readers hints of how exciting their own story would be. I wasn’t disappointed at all. Lady Imogen, who is the sister of an Earl, uses her rank to keep close to some of the more reprehensible members of society and helps feed Det. Tommy Peck clues that have helped him bring some men to justice. Imogen’s love for explosives has made her a really unique heroine in this historical romance genre and it was interesting to see how two people from two walks of life find commonalities and surprisingly explosives seems to be one of those things. When Tommy decides that Imogen is his there is a shift from he needs to keep her out of trouble to he must protect her at all costs, which adds some tension to their romance plot that kept things very interesting!

I love how this series keep giving us unusual heroines and heroes who have met their match despite the differences they may have, both societal and upbringing. I also like how the characters reflect real life people, in this case a slightly overweight woman who likes explosives. Haha! The explosives part isn’t that normal but the overweight insecure woman certainly is. I love a good historical romance and Sarah MacLean always seems to deliver something unique and different. And fun! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Knockout

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: Caught Up (Windy City #3) by Liz Tomforde

Single dad MLB pitcher, Kai, has just fired his fifth nanny in as many months. Miller Montgomery is a top bakery chef and has just won the highest accolade possible and is home for a break to visit her MLB manager dad. When she gets roped into spending her two month hiatus nannying for Kai she is determined to not get attached while at the same time introducing him to a little fun. This opposites attract plot was supercharged by emotional zings and a lot of humor, and one too cute little baby boy.

I’m a sucker for a great sports romance and this series is pretty high on my list for hitting all the right notes. Caught Up is the third installment and the first MLB hero. The other two books featured pro hockey and basketball. I love how this author has mixed it up and created a group of guy friends who quietly support their friends and find love. Kai is the All-American baseball hero, at the top of his game when an ex-girlfriend dumps a surprise baby on him and leaves, not wanting to be a mother. Kai steps up and changes his player mentality and becomes responsible. Maybe a little too responsible. When Miller shows up with her tattoo’s and irreverent living out of her van lifestyle he is intrigued. He finds her seriously hot, but he thinks he needs to concentrate all of his attention on his baby boy. What he doesn’t realize is that Miller fits in perfectly with their little family. If only she wasn’t leaving at the end of two months.

I think some of my favorite scenes were with Miller and Max. Miller is only 25 so Kai is a bit older at 32. She’s never really been around kids and isn’t at that point in her life where she’s even thought of having a family. However, she and Max develop a bond that is so sweet. The author did such a great job of slow building that relationship that I think Max tugged on my heartstrings just as much as Kai did, which is totally apropos as they are a matched set. The dynamics between the three of them were just adorable and I also loved how Miller’s slight edginess and humor only added to the romance and wasn’t a distraction. This was such a feel-good romance! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Caught Up

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

This Chick Read: Rainy Day Friends (Wildstone #2) by Jill Shalvis

Six months a widow, Lanie Jacobs finds out that she wasn’t her husbands only wife. Destroyed by his infidelity, Lanie goes back home to Wildstone and takes a temporary job at the family owned Capriotti Vineyard. Being enveloped by this warm and welcoming family makes Lanie feel a little uncomfortable but she quickly settles in while maintaining boundaries. Deputy Sheriff Mark Capriotti and his two adorable twin girls get past her guard until River Green makes those walls come back up. River, young, pregnant and obviously out of money also gets embraced into this welcoming family and makes friends but is keeping a big secret.

This Wildstone series is a little different from Jill Shalvis’s contemporary romance novels. They read a little less romance and more drama, but the reader is still able to relax into a story filled with friendship. Something that Jill Shalvis is especially great at portraying. River and Lanie’s friendship is rocky because of secrets and lack of trust but as the novel goes on they become closer until that climax where the reader is clued into the big reveal. It’s not especially surprising due to the basis of the plot being about a philandering spouse, but I did like both of these characters and wanted to see them come through the drama with their friendship intact. The romance portion of this book was slow and steady. The two little girls breaching Lanie’s line of defense with humor, charm and giggles. I swear, you can’t beat cute kids in a romance novel for helping to break down barriers. Their Dad wasn’t too bad either.

The Capriotti family were in your face, kind, knowing, and warm. I loved their dynamics and had hoped that this series would follow a couple of these characters. They were so interesting! I’m still getting through the series so I haven’t lost hope yet. This fictional family is worth the read alone, but I liked the other sub-plots too. This was a well-rounded story! ❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Rainy Day Friends

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.