Review: Worth the Wait by Karla Sorensen

Worth the Wait by Karla Sorensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author and Smartypants Romance, all opinions are my own.

While this is listed as the 4th book in the Love at First Sight series, you can read it as a standalone. Each of the books in the series follows a different member of the Buchanan family as they navigate love and the family "curse" of falling in love with their soul mate the first time they meet. This particular story follows Hunter, who has been mentioned in the previous installments, and fans of the series have been long awaiting his story. If you are just starting with this book, I highly recommend reading the previous books, but you don't need to read them to get to know Hunter and Iris.

Hunter and Iris fell hard for each other in high school, but Iris' rough home situation caused her to push him away. Now after years of being apart and growing into capable adults, Hunter and Iris find themselves back in Green Valley at the same time and reunited by Iris' younger brother and ward Theo. Hunter never stopped loving Iris, but he's trying to respect her wishes to be friends and not push her boundaries. He knows that his big feelings for her scare her and she didn't grow up in a kind, loving, accepting family environment until moving in with her Grandmother. Iris still has feelings for Hunter, but she is 100% committed to taking care of her brother. That means getting her business off the ground and protecting him from their mess of a mother.

I loved Hunter and Iris together. Iris slowly comes out of her shell and into her own as she lets Hunter back into her life. I love how fiercely protective of her brother she is. I feel like the author did a great job describing Iris as a person who suffered at the hand of a manipulative and abusive parent, and still shoulders the burden of that. It is easy to criticize Iris and say she needed to let people in and help carry the weight of her burdens. That is part of her journey and I think it was portrayed very well. I felt like there was the right amount of slow burn and angst to this story.

I really enjoyed the side characters. Theo and Maxine were great additions to add some comic relief. I also enjoyed getting to see the characters from the previous books to let readers know what they are up to.

If you are looking for a bit of an angsty second chance romance, I highly recommend this one!

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BLOG TOUR: Fling by Adriana Locke

 

   

FLING by Adriana Locke 

  Release Date: August 15th Genre/Tropes: Contemporary Romance   

  Grab your suitcase and prepare for the time of your life in this swoony tale that’s as hot as the tropical destination itself. Fans of runaway brides, close-proximity, one-bed, and friends-to-lovers tropes will fall hopelessly in love with this fling-to-forever romance.   

  AVAILABLE NOW! FREE IN KU!!! 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3881pl1 

  Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/FlingLocke

 

  Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/cqw2

 

  Blurb: 

CONTEST: WIN A DATE TO MY HONEYMOON   I realize that a social media post isn’t the usual way to secure a date to your honeymoon—for obvious reasons—but here we are. My wedding was canceled. What’s not canceled is the nonrefundable, ten-thousand-dollar all-inclusive vacation at a luxury resort, and I’m not about to let it go to waste. I’m packed and ready to hit the beach. ButI can’t deny that it might be more interesting to honeymoon with someone. Since my track record of picking dates isn’t exactly golden, I’ve done something that I hope I don’t regret. In a moment of weakness—mixed with panic and fueled by margaritas—I agreed to let my friends choose someone to go with me. It’ll be a blind date / postnuptial vacation—without the nuptials. A few fun days in paradise with no expectations. No obligations. Before you say, “pick me for a free vacay!” a few things to consider … The perfect candidate will be single. He won’t talk too much on the plane. And he’ll be able to leave town quickly. He will also be okay with sharing a bed. It’s a honeymoon suite, after all. If you want to be considered, email Rebecca and Sara your application at the address below. (Get creative. There’s a free vacation on the line.) Wheels up next week! Godspeed, honeymooners.   Grab your suitcase and prepare for the time of your life in this swoony tale that’s as hot as the tropical destination itself. Fans of runaway brides, close-proximity, one-bed, and friends-to-lovers tropes will fall hopelessly in love with this fling-to-forever romance.   

  About the Author: 

  USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.   She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket.

Connect w/Adriana: 

  Website: https://adrianalocke.com 

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoradrianalocke 

  Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/booksbyadrianalocke 

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/authoralocke 

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoradrianalocke 

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8379774.Adriana_Locke 

  Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ivy7xd 

  Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/adriana-locke 

  Newsletter Signup: http://bit.ly/NewsletterAddy   

Review: The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It by Emma Hart

The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It by Emma Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review.

This was really fun! This follows Holley, one of the owners of Bookworm's Books in the small town of White Peak, Montana. She was once best friends with superstar pro baseball pitcher Sebastian Stone. Sebastian broke her heart on prom night and they haven't spoken in 8 years. Sebastian has suffered a major injury so he is back home to rehab and spend time with his family. He also wants to reconnect with Holley and explain what really happened that night. Holley can hold a grudge and doesn't want to let him back into her life, but when their crazy grandparents and Seb's stressed out mom get involved suddenly the whole town thinks they are dating. Unwilling to fake their relationship Holley is always willing to give Seb a hard time, but she's never gotten over him. Fortunately for her, Sebastian isn't really faking anything.

I really like this series. The bookshop girls are hilarious and I love the scenes at the nursing home with the ducks and the wacky grandparents. The banter between Holley and Sebastian is awesome. She constantly snarks at him, and he never stops pushing back and calling her on her crap. I love the dynamic between her and her friends.

If you are looking for a fun, quick, enemies to friends to lovers romance with a happy ending pick this up. This is the second book in a series, but it can be read a stand alone. I do recommend reading The Bookworm's Guide to Dating and The One Night Stand Next Door & The Girl Next Door as they will introduce the characters and explain a few things, but it isn't 100% necessary.

One-Click Today!

Series Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gDoUlk 

TBR: http://emmahart.pub/TBGTFI-GR

Amazon US → https://amzn.to/3eFnxlb 

Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/3dqG1UT 

Apple Books → https://emmahart.pub/TBGTFIapple 

Nook → https://emmahart.pub/TBGTFInook 

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Review: Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen

Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first of many books being released by Smartypants Romance, brainchild of Penny Reid. This is set in Green Valley and the Donner Bakery where Jennifer Winston nee Donner makes her famous banana cakes and she fell in love with Cletus. While Jen and Cletus have cameos in this, Penny's characters do not play a large role in the storyline. The main characters Joss and Levi as well as all of the side characters are all Sorensen's own and you will love getting to know them.

Joss and Levi met 5 years ago when he was coaching her wheelchair basketball team. For Levi it was love at first sight, as the men in his family have a "curse" and when they meet the one that's it for them. He immediately knew Joss was the girl for him. Joss is new to town and still trying to get used to life in a wheelchair after recovering from a virus that has left her partially paralyzed. Levi eventually asks her on a date, but Joss turns him down and asks if they can be friends instead. Fast forward 5 years and they are best friends. Levi is looking for a job as a physical therapist after graduating from college and Joss has gotten a job at the local bakery. Levi is still head over heels in love with her but she has no clue because she doesn't really think anyone can see past her chair and the issues it would bring to a relationship. She has a bit of a self-confidence problem, but with Levi and his family she is just Joss and they love and respect her. As she puts herself out there by working in the bakery she meets a new guy that sparks an attraction that she isn't used to feeling. Turns out the guy at the bakery is also her new physical therapist. When she tells Levi that she might have romantic feelings for someone he is naturally hurt, but with advice from his family he starts to let her know that PT guy has some competition. Their friends to lovers relationship begins to take off from there and while it wasn't smooth sailing it was funny and adorable to watch them figure things out.

This was so much fun to read. I adored the characters and I loved being back in Green Valley. I want to get to know more about all of the side characters and I hope we get the opportunity. If you are looking for a super angsty story, this isn't it. It doesn't have a ton of drama, which let's be real sometimes you just need a feel good story with a happy ending. This is that story. I really enjoyed it!

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