Buttercup's Book Blog

Friday, September 29, 2023

Review: Best Enemies Forever by Olivia Hayle

Best Enemies Forever by Olivia Hayle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

This was so fun! I love a good enemies to lovers and this delivered. This also had a little bit of a second chance romance aspect, but the banter between Connie and Gabriel was really what shines through.

Constance "Connie" Connovan is the youngest daughter of a powerful company, likewise Gabriel Thompson is the only son of an equally powerful rival company. While their companies don't really deal in the same type of business, they have always have a healthy competition as to which business was the most powerful and have tried to play in each other's sandbox a time or two. Connie and Gabriel both attended the same prestigious prep school, separated for undergrad and were reunited a few years later at Harvard Law. Connie being the youngest daughter by almost a decade not only had something to prove to her father and brothers, but as a woman in a man's world in general. She always got perfect grades, carefully crafted her image, likes to be overprepared, and meticulously plans everything so it is perfect. Gabriel is her complete opposite, he is great at thinking on his feet, is a little more carefree, and loves to challenge Connie at every possible moment. The two of them trade barbs like professional boxers. They both have a competitive nature and neither will back down from a challenge. This as you can guess leads to a very unexpected and unorthodox Vegas wedding.

I really loved the family dynamics and character development we get to see play out in this book. I was so frustrated by the way that Connie's family treated her and the way she was treated by the men in her field. I really feel that the author did a good job of capturing the dynamics of how differently men and women are treated in the workplace. It is getting better, but it still isn't great. As Gabriel and Connie play at being husband and wife to save face, they realize that they actually might like each other. Their banter changes from mean spirited to playful and they find that they have found a support system and respite in each other that they don't have elsewhere. I really enjoyed getting to know them as they got to really know each other.

I cannot wait for Alec's book. I can already tell it is going to be a good one! He was really tough to like in this book and I'm hoping as we get to know him his hard exterior softens a bit.

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COVER REVEAL: Flame by Adriana Locke

Adriana Locke has revealed the gorgeous cover for Flame!

Releasing: November 2, 2023

Wanted: A Marriage of Convenience

I swore I would only get married if my life depended on it.

Oh, the irony.

Because the universe took that as a challenge, I’m now in the market for a husband. But if I’m going to be stuck in a temporary marriage, I want it to be with the right man.

I might as well try to enjoy this experience, right?

Considering the circumstances, I need a protector—someone who will throw down for his short-term wife with no questions asked. He’ll be fit. Intelligent. My potential short-term husband will have a dry sense of humor. And, if I’m dreaming big, he’ll be drop-dead gorgeous and a little grumpy. Hot, grumpy men are so attractive.

I mean, if a marriage of convenience is the only way out of this precarious situation, I may as well look for a perfect, broody bodyguard, right?

It could be fun. Lots of fun.

Especially if the one man I know who fits the bill will play along.

But, if Foxx Carmichael does agree to this crazy plan, for better or worse, death might do us part in a whole other way.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/45KjpdL

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/FlameAL

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3QU81HQ

Meet Adriana

USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows best—big families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.

She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.

Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.

Connect with Adriana

Website: www.adrianalocke.com

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Adriana-Locke/author/B00NPBY8FE/

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

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

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrianalockewrites

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoradrianalo

Other: https://www.youtube.com/adrianalocke

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/adrianalocke

Thursday, September 28, 2023

EWE COMPLETE ME by Susannah Nix & Smartypants Romance RELEASE BLITZ

Ewe Complete Me, an all-new forced proximity romance from USA Today bestselling author Susannah Nix, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited!

Love defies logic when two polar opposites attract.

Chloe and Brandon have nothing in common. She’s a spontaneous, people-loving fiber artist; he’s an uptight, introverted law student. The only thing they agree on during their blind date is that they hope to never see each other again.

Except they do have something in common—Brandon’s mother Dawn, who happens to be Chloe’s boss and dear friend. Which is how they end up stuck with each other for a six-hour road trip to Dawn’s destination wedding.

But as they get to know each other better, their mutual irritation morphs into an inescapable connection. Maybe these two opposites aren't so mismatched after all. Could Brandon be the yin to Chloe’s yang? The peanut butter to her jelly? The rock to her roll?

Or will their differences tear them apart when they return to their normal lives at the end of the wedding weekend?

'Ewe Complete Me' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #6 in the Common Threads series, Seduction in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/44k2Rbr

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/3qolAVf

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/45pQ1ci

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/45lfAvh

Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4569ezs

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/456rppv

About Susannah Nix

Susannah Nix is an award-winning author of contemporary romances featuring smart women and swoony men, including the Chemistry Lessons series of romcoms about women who work in STEM fields and the Starstruck series of movie star romances.

Susannah resides in Texas with her husband, two ornery cats, and a flatulent pit bull. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, knitting, watching stupid amounts of television, and getting distracted by Tumblr. She is also a powerlifter who can deadlift as much as Captain America weighs.

Find Susannah Nix online

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B072KHZS5W

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

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/160037207970579/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susannah-nix

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

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16880740.Susannah_Nix

Twitter: @Susannah_Nix

Website: https://www.susannahnix.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

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Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Review: A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this! It is the first book in a new mystery series called the Parisian Orphan. This follows Evelyne Redfern, daughter of an English Royal and a French woman who had a very public and scandalous divorce. Now Evelyne is doing her part supporting the war effort working in a munitions factory, when an old family friend offers her a position as a typist working in Winston Churchill's secret underground. She is to report back to him anything strange she notices while on duty, yet on one of her first days one of her fellow typists is murdered and she becomes embroiled in an investigation to solve the murder and find out who is selling secrets to the Germans with one of the Prime Ministers most trusted aides. Evelyne has a way with people, and she is able to get potential suspects and witnesses to divulge information about the victim and potential suspects that the other investigators were not able to uncover. Paired with the aide, David Poole, the two are able to piece together a timeline and list of suspects for the murder and the mole within a few days.

This has a bit of a cozy mystery feel to it which I really enjoyed. It has moments of total convenience that don't always seem plausible. This is fairly common in cozy mysteries, and something you have to accept for the plot to work. This is set during WWII, however it isn't set on the front lines so it isn't quite as bleak as some of the other historical fiction from that time period that I've read. Evelyne and her friends make the best out of their situation and are still able to have a bit of fun here and there despite the conditions in London. This lightens up the mood in the book. There is also a hint at a budding romance between the two main characters in future installments of the series.

Overall, if you enjoy historical fiction and cozy mysteries give this a try. I really liked Evelyne and David as a team and look forward to seeing them team up in the next installment. This mystery wraps up, and gives hints to what David and Evelyne will get up to in their next investigation.

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Review: Peaches and Dreams by Juliette Cross

Peaches and Dreams by Juliette Cross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I actually really enjoyed getting to know Marly and Wade. They were the perfect opposites attract couple and nicely balanced each other out. Marly is impulsive and fun, where Wade is logical and has a plan for everything. I love a good grumpy sunshine trope and they delivered. This is low angst and has a nice found family vibe to it. I liked watching Marly go after her dream of becoming a Moonshine maven and Wade and her friends supported her. Their family dynamic with Jake, Wade's son, was adorable and he was such an awesome kid!

This was a little spicy for my personal tastes. If you enjoy spicy books with a lot of dirty talk then this is going to be the book for you. I don't mind a little spice in my books, but we all have our preferences this did not cater to mine. I did appreciate the character development though. Marly is going through some growing pains trying to start her own business and gain the approval from her father who does not approve of her life choices. She doesn't like to be told what to do, and she doesn't like to be criticized for living her best, authentic life on her own terms. Enter Wade, who is her complete opposite and wants to understand her and her impulsive ways. Because she is sensitive to people questioning her decisions because of some family issues, Marly is quick to anger when Wade asks her questions. Wade doesn't really know how to fight in a relationship and isn't sure where his missteps lie when Marly gets upset. His previous relationship was amicable and void of passion, yet Marly is overflowing with enough passion for both of them,

Overall this was a really fun opposites attract, grumpy sunshine romance.

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Thursday, September 21, 2023

Review: Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz

Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is a tough one for me to review because I thought the book was well written and I enjoyed the storyline. On the other hand I had I really hard time connecting with the main character Liyah. I felt like she went out of her way to make herself unlikable. She was rude to her friends and was constantly insulting the love interest under the guise of teasing. Her character felt over the top and forced at times. As we get to know her better we learn that it is both a defense mechanism and a coping mechanism that she has developed. Towards the latter half of the book we learn about some of the experiences and trauma that causes her to act the way she does and some of her actions and reactions begin to make more sense. On the other hand I did like Daniel. He was patient and kind and willing to put up with Liyah's antics and support her when she needed..

I will say I enjoyed the representation in this book. Not only do we have a diverse cast of characters who have regular lives and jobs, we also get a good representation of therapy and normalizing taking care of your mental health. The friend group was great! I loved that the four friends formed their own club to vent about life and work and whatever and they took minutes and had club rules.

Overall, this is a cute slow burn, second chance romance. I don't think I'm the target audience for this particular book. I think I would have really loved it if I had been able to relate to Liyah a bit more. Someone out there is going to love her character and really love this book.

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PEACHES AND DREAMS by Juliette Cross & Smartypants Romance RELEASE BLITZ

Peaches and Dreams, an all new single dad small-town romance from Juliette Cross, is LIVE in Kindle Unlimited!

Marly Rivers is not crazy. No matter what everyone says. They may think her dream is foolish, but she plans to prove them all wrong—one jar of moonshine at a time.

Single dad Wade Kelley is just fine. No matter what his best friend Jed says. He doesn’t need a woman in his life. But when his son Jake breaks a jar of moonshine, he sets something in motion that neither Wade nor Marly are prepared for.

A friendly favor turns into late nights, long dinners, and a romp in the woods. And in a deer stand too. By the time Wade realizes he’s fallen hard and deep for Mad Marly, it may be too late to tell her. When she falls into real and sudden danger with poachers, he may not even be able to save her.

‘Peaches and Dreams’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Green Valley Heroes series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Reserve your copy TODAY!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3rWYK7p

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/3KC9s9M

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/3DRHMdm

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/3QA6xCG

Goodreads:https://bit.ly/3s9cL20

Audiobook: Coming this fall!

About Juliette Cross

JULIETTE is a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance & the co-host of the podcast, Smart Women Read Romance. As a native of Louisiana, she lives in the heart of Cajun land with her husband, four kids, her labs, Kona and Jeaux, and kitty, Betty. When she isn’t working on her next project, she enjoys binge-watching her favorite shows with her husband and a glass (or two) of red wine.