Review: The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Lucy Lang isn’t looking for fireworks…

She’s looking for a nice, decent man. Someone who’ll mow the lawn, flip chicken on the barbeque, teach their future children to play soccer. But most important… someone who won’t inspire the slightest stirring in her heart…or anywhere else. A young widow, Lucy can’t risk that kind of loss again. But sharing her life with a cat named Fat Mikey and the Black Widows at the family bakery isn’t enough either. So it’s goodbye to Ethan, her hot but entirely inappropriate “friend with privileges” and hello to a man she can marry.

Too bad Ethan Mirabelli isn’t going anywhere. As far as he’s concerned, what she needs might be right under her nose. But can he convince her that the next best thing can really be forever?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins is a sweet yet steady contemporary romance. I enjoyed the themes of friendship, family, and forgiving. Other themes were widowhood, death, and grief. I cannot imagine loosing a loved one or how I would be able to move forward from that kind of loss. But with family and friends, anything is possible. But the character has to be willing to let down her guard and accept fate.

Lucy Lang has always wanted marriage and kids. But she lost her husband not too long after they married. That left Lucy alone, miserable, and widowed. She felt like widowhood is a curse in her family. Every woman older than her has lost their husbands. Widowhoodseems to be their curse. Except most of them were able to have kids before they lost their loved ones. Unlike alucy who has nothing but memories to hold of her late husband. It’s been years and she still cannot let go. Until Lucy’s younger sister gives birth to a baby. Holding the baby made Lucy want more in life.

Her plan is to find someone to love her and give her what she wants in a partner. But she does not want to fall in love with the man.

There’s nothing more fun than watching a perfect plan go to pieces.

Ethan is the younger brother of Lucy’s late husband. Ethan and Lucy got along well, in fact, too well. Until the moment Lucy held her sister’s baby, their perfect no strings attached relationship ends. Lucy tells Ethan that they cannot have sex anymore because she wants to find a husband. Ethan has loved Lucy for a long time. Lucy has never realized that nor does she until it’s almost too late…

Cutting off their relationship and trying to be just friends is tough. Ethan starts to treat Lucy like a regular everyday chic. Lucy feels like Ethan has dumped her…but it was her who dumped him. When he starts hanging around women, the jealousy breaks out.

Lucy loves Ethan but thinks he isn’t perfect for her.

Ethan has been therefor Lucy every time and always.

When Lucy starts to date men, things get funny. Some men are just not that great of a match. Both Ethan and Lucy have jealous issues and are starting to realize what they had…or could have if they open up to each other.

The Next Best Thing is funny, sad, and real. Some parts made me laugh so hard while other moments I cried my eyes out. There was always this strong push and pull between Lucy and Ethan. I could not get enough of them and their craziness. Lucy gets into so much trouble that Ethan has to come save her butt every time. He was the closet thing to a perfect knight in shinning armor. Cheesy, feel good, and romantic…this novel almost reminded me of The Big Fat Greek Wedding movie. Overall, I recommend this contemporary romance to all.

 

 

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Review: The Final Score

Synopsis:
In the new Play-by-Play novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Contact, a star quarterback is torn between his love of the game—and the woman who may be the love of his life.

Nathan Riley is ready to follow in the footsteps of his famous football player father. He’s been drafted as quarterback for his dad’s former team, and his future is bright. When his friend Mia Cassidy moves to the same city, their years-long friendship suddenly sparks hot, reminding him of the one night they had together in college that he can never forget.

Like Nathan, Mia is from a sports dynasty family and embarking on an incredible new career—as founder of her own sports management company. Her friendship with Nathan means everything to her, and tossing sex into the mix again could jeopardize it. But the chemistry between them has always sizzled, and it isn’t long before Mia realizes she wants more with Nathan than just late-night talks and pizza. 

 
Passion has a funny way of changing the rules, and soon Nathan and Mia discover that to win it all, they’ll have to make an unexpected play for love.

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Final Score by Jaci Burton is a swoon worthy romance. This book will definitely take to fans of sports, sex, and romance. The once best friend relationship ends up turning into something way more than either thought. Neither MIA nor Nathan can ignore the sparks, heat, and their hearts. Their hearts want each other. However, Mia is determined to try to keep it a best friend only relationship…but as time goes by…she realizes she wants more. Nathan loves football. With Mia nearer to him, he can’t concentrate on just sports stuff. Their relationship has gone and left. Leaving behind something much more intense. Something worth fighting for…

The Final Score is a hot read. I couldn’t stop reading it. Jaci Burton knows how to creation the right amount of lust, heat, and unforgettable characters. The scenes fly by fast. One moment, I’m starting the next, I’ve finished reading. Truly, a novel worth picking up to read. Overall, I recommend to readers worldwide. 

Review: A Sister’s Place

Synopsis:

Sometimes the friend you’ve always needed is the sister you’ve always had.
Throughout the years, sisters Gracie and Juliette Bennett have let life’s changes pull them in opposite directions. But when their beloved grandmother Mimi passes away, they’re drawn back together in the most unexpected way. Set to inherit the family home, a charming Craftsman with an overgrown garden and lush fruit trees near the beach in Santa Barbara, the estranged sisters learn there’s a catch: the house can be theirs, but only if they agree to live in it for one year—together.
Suddenly Gracie, a pragmatic paralegal who’s always stayed close to home, and Juliette, an intrepid recent NYU grad in search of the next thrill, are living under one roof. Forced to reexamine their relationship, they find themselves confronting their pasts and bonding over love, heartbreak, and deeply held secrets. Soon they’ll discover whether a sister’s love is what they need to get them through their darkest hours—and if their grandmother’s clever plan can preserve more than just a piece of family history. It just might preserve the friendship of a lifetime…and reveal the sisters and women they were always meant to be.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Sister’s Place by Savannah Page is an interesting yet heart wrenching novel. Losing someone one loves dear is hard. Life does begin and end…and in this case it was time for a grandma to leave. Her family is brought together. Especially two sisters who were the best of friends when they were younger. Now, as young twenty-something’s they hardly speak or are there for each other. Their friendship hanging by a thin thread. However, with their grandma’s wish, both have to live together in the house for a year. Or else the family home will be sold. Neither wants to lose the family house. With no other choice they begin filling their late grandmother’s wish. 

Savannah Page has created a book that allows readers to re-examine life in a new way. Deeper, more emotional, and funny too. I loved following the two sisters. Their journey made me laugh and cry. Both are completely different. The younger one is taller and more of a wild card. The oldest is more calm and a ruler abiding punctual adult. Together, years and memories unfold as they learn to accept each other as sisters. Sisterhood as their grandma, Mimi, called it. It’s a special gift. After reading this novel, it makes me wish my baby sister was closer. As each day grows, I miss my own sister more. A Sister’s Place is realistic and heartfelt. I loved it. Overall, I recommend every woman and sister to read this book. 

Review: The Holiday Gift

 

Synopsis:

With two kids and an active life, widow Faith Dustin only wants peace and quiet for Christmas. But her snowy Pine Gulch ranch is nothing but chaotic. All that keeps Faith going is her helpful neighbor, cowboy Chase Brannon. He’s always been “good ol’ Chase,” her faithful friend. Until he kisses her under the mistletoe…

Years ago Chase blew his chance with the woman he’s loved since childhood. Now he’s determined to step out of the friend zone…and into the role of husband. But the scared and stubborn Faith won’t let herself fall. With Christmas just days away, Chase will need all the magic of the season—and the help of her two matchmaking children—to unwrap a second-chance at love.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Holiday Gift by RaeAnne Thayne is a cozy heart melting tale. Two best friends who harbored a secret love for one another. Yet neither one wanted to destroy their friendship. The friendship works perfectly until both are single adults once more…

A good looking cowboy loved his female best friend since the beginning. But he didn’t know how to tell her. Then, before he realized it was too late, she was taken by another man. His chance came and went. Now, years afterwards, he’s divorced and she’s a widow. Both have a daughter from their marriages.

As the holiday comes around, can two best friends be bold enough to close the gap and let loose their real feelings? RaeAnne Thayne has once again created a beautifully story that winds itself into readers hearts and souls. It touched me deeply. Sad, frustrating, funny, and sweet. I enjoyed the emotional roller coaster ride and look forward to reading the next book by this talented writer. The Holiday Gift is truly a must read for all.

Review: The Boyfriend Bet

 

 

Synopsis:

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains multiple PDAs, after-school detentions, and gambling on the side. Warning: betting on a boyfriend is bad for your health. Zoe Cain knows that Grant Evertide is way out of her league. So naturally, she kisses him. Out of spite. Not only is Grant her brother’s number-one nemesis, but he has zero interest in being tied down to one girl. She’s shocked and secretly thrilled when they start spending more time together. Non-exclusively, of course, but that doesn’t mean Zoe can’t change his mind, one PDA and after-school detention at a time. Zoe’s brother claims Grant is trying to make her his “Ringer,” an oh-so-charming tradition where a popular guy dates a non-popular girl until he hooks up with her, then dumps her. Zoe threatens to neuter Grant with hedge clippers if he’s lying but Grant swears he isn’t trying to trick her. Still, that doesn’t mean Grant is the commitment type even if winning a bet is on the line.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Boyfriend Bet by Chris Cannon is a YA that readers must not miss. Here, readers will get to experience two best friends not sure on whether they would be a great match or not. Their journey is one that I greatly enjoyed. Filled with choices, trust, honesty, and attraction. Teenagers experience it all in this sweet tale. It all started with a girl’s choice in making her brother angry by dating a guy he hates. But there lies the problem…that hated guy lures her in like no other. He makes her want things. A friendship turns into best friends and then something more. Can love come out of the equation or will the first choice have been a mistake all this time? Chris Cannon’s writing is superb. I couldn’t get enough of the main characters. The older brother’s way of protecting his little sister is annoying but warm-hearted. However, he needs to learn to let his sister do things for herself. If she makes a mistake, it’s on her. Not him. Then there’s the question of whether the guy really is into her or not. That alone leaves room for doubt which turns into mistrust. Relationships as readers will find out in this story is that there has to be, trust first, then communication, if anything is to come out okay. Overall, I highly recommend this dazzling contemporary novel to all.

 

Review: Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky

 

Synopsis:

This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts…

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away.

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again.

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace.

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home?

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky by Holly Martin is hilarious, sweet, and dreamy. A romance like a fairy tale. One that lured me deep into the hearts of the characters. Their lives were interesting. Two best friends who truly love another so much…but then life brings them trouble and heartache. Soon what was destined to be a forever happy ending turned out to be a twelve-year lonely journey separated, frustrated, and wondering what could have been. Life is messy. It has never been easy or anyone. Especially,  when one has gone through a never ending cycle of rejection. Piper’s birth mother never wanted her. She was found abandoned and soon adopted by a caring woman. A woman who couldn’t have any of her own kids. But the husband never wanted Piper. After his wife’s death, he has done his most to make Piper feel unwanted. He led her to believe that her friend and friend’s parents never wanted her. Then, both daughter and father are drowning in a car. Piper makes it out alive. But her father has died. Devasted , stressed, and worried she goes to the one person she has ever loved. But fate would have to play an evil trick on a damaged girl’s heart. She sees something that had her leaving forever without a goodbye. Her best friend has wondered all these years why she left without so much a word. But when fate has them both face-to-face their years of wonder, loss, grief, and heat came back instantly. The love they had as teens is just as strong if not stronger. Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky is full of laughter, family, friendships and reunited love. I fell in love with the characters instantly. Their troubles broke my heart and their passion melted my heart. Holly Martin is indeed a writer with a talent. Overall, I highly recommend this Christma romance story to all.

 

 

Review: The Best Possible Answer

 

Synopsis:

AP Exams – check
SAT test – check
College Application – check
Date the wrong guy and ruin everything you’ve spent your whole life working for– check

Ultra-high-achiever Viviana Rabinovich-Lowe has always had a plan—and no room to be anything less than perfect. But her quest for perfection comes to a screeching halt when her boyfriend leaks racy pictures of her to the entire school. Making matters worse, her parents are getting divorced and now her perfect family is falling apart. For the first time, Viv feels like a complete and utter failure.

Then she gets a job working at the community pool, where she meets a new group of friends who know nothing about her past. That includes Evan, a gorgeous guy who makes her want to do something she never thought she’d do again: trust. For the first time in her life, Viv realizes she can finally be whoever she wants. But who is that? While she tries to figure it out, she learns something they never covered in her AP courses: that it’s okay to be less than perfect, because it’s our imperfections that make us who we are.

E. Katherine Kottaras once again captures what it means to be a teenager in The Best Possible Answer.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Best Possible Answer by E. Katherine Kottaras is a young adult novel unlike any I have personally read. This book is just as epic as The Fault in Our Stars movie was. Mega sad. Actually is was sad all the way until the ending…the ending gave off an enormous feeling just as strong the weight of grief. I can’t ruin it and say what the new feeling was…but it’s one worth experiencing from beginning to end.

Inside, The Best Possible Answer, I like the main character a lot. I easily was able to connect with her frustrations, anger, grief and other feelings. Her reactions are completely normal for any teenage girl. Yet she handled every major life situation as maturely as possible. Okay, shouting at people isn’t mature but certain times do call for it. Working a summer job, she ends up offering her summer money to her mom. That’s shows she handles situations above her teenage years. Most teenagers roll their eyes, show awful attitude, and don’t want to do more than necessary. Here, however, Vivian is pressured into doing too much by both of her parents. This sets into motion the conflict that will hover over every scene.

Katherine Kottaras’s latest novel, The Best Possible Answer, shows readers a realistic side of being a teenager. Not only that but also how a teenager goes through a traumatic experience. Parents divorcing, failing AP exams, doesn’t get into the college of choice, a secret photo popping up everywhere and a health condition that lands her in the hospital. Could the life of Vivian get any worse? Yes. It does. But that’s for readers to find out and for me to keep top secret. I loved reading it. A great novel that captures everything brilliantly. I hope this makes it onto the big screens one day. Super good. Overall, I highly recommend this read to all.

Review: The Girlfriend Request

 

Synopsis:

Emma has been best friends with Eli since she moved to his neighborhood ten years ago. Tired of being cast in the role of the girl next door, Emma creates a fake Facebook profile in the hopes of starting an online friendship with Eli, which would hopefully lead to more. Like…way more. From friend request to In a Relationship–it all seemed so completely logical when she’d planned it.

Eli can’t figure out what Emma is up to. He’s pretty sure she’s the one behind the Facebook profile, but then again, why would she do something so drastic instead of just admitting she wants to be more than friends? And who the heck is this new guy he saw her with? Eli starts to think that just maybe…he missed his chance with the girl next door.

Two best friends, one outlandish ruse. Their status is about to become way more than It’s Complicated…
This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one fake Facebook profile, two best friends who secretly crave each other, and a dreaded sex talk with parents…boy crush in the room included. Pushing a relationship beyond the friend zone has never been so crazy…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Girlfriend Request by Jodie Andrefski is incredible. The story is about young love and friendship. A young girl is tired of being just seen as a friend…she wants to be more than best friends with Eli. Eli is the boy that lives next door to Em and they have been friends since first grade. Em decides to jump-start her life if she ever wants to be girlfriend material. But what happens when she creates a fake profile, dates another guy to make her guy jealous, and can’t get a grip on her feelings…It’s no wonder Eli doesn’t know exactly how Em feels about him. She can’t straight out tell him she’s in love with him. Eli starts to notice the way Em looks at him and how she looks…he’s feelings as well as her’s, get more complicated and heated with every page. This YA contemporary romance is a definite must read for all. I am an adult and I loved it. It took me back down to those awkward teenage years and felt the rush of falling in love again. Wow. Jodie Andrefski’s writing is superb. I highly recommend this fabulous laugh-out-loud and heart melting journey to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Alphas’ Bliss

 

Synopsis:

Micha, King of the Vampires and Devin, Leader of the Wolves, are two alphas who must learn to share one mate. They will also need to work together to convince said Mate to accept them both while trying to keep her safe and alive from a pack of rogue wolves who are dead set on capturing and killing her.

Bliss has lived most of her life thinking she was half human and half vampire. She soon finds out that she’s also part wolf and the mate of the Lead Alpha of the Wolves. News not so well received. While she’s dealing with all these new changes in her life, a rogue pack of wolves is also out to capture her and kill her for unknown reasons.

Will she accept her mates in time for them to help her through her vampire/wolf transition? Will her mates be able to keep her safe from the threat of the wolves?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Alphas’ Bliss by G.J. Cox is a sensational masterpiece that instantly hit home with me. I was immediately blown away by the strong male and female characters. G.J. Cox’s writing is superb. Anyone that opens up any one of her novels knows this…no matter what genre she experiments with…this talented writer can succeed at such levels that readers will feel a tug to her writing and characters. The scenes pop off the pages and once again the characters are definitely three-dimensional. Inside this particular novel, G.J. Cox wrote her first paranormal contemporary romance packed with several surprises. One such surprise is having two alpha males from different sides that are also best friends find their mate…the issue is that both claim she’s their mate. What happens next sent me on a thrilling journey and wild choose chase as the victim and alphas searched for the suspects. Suspects because the danger is so close to home that it’s frightening. The strength of the males is intoxicating…and the heat packed inside is scorching hot. So hot I felt myself blushing as I race to turn the pages in haste to finish reading it all. Overall, I loved this new title and was amazed by the raw beauty of the story at hand. Sure many will say it’s just a romance novel packed with lots of sex, but those who really read this will find that it’s so much more than just that. I felt the characters’ emotions as though I were te only one experiencing the fear, the tears, and the heightened pleasure…a crazy but fun filled world that over took me senses from page one.

 

Book Review: Risking It all by J. M. Stewart

Risking It All is a fabulous romantic read! This is one romance that readers will fall hard for every time. The story is about two friends who have been the best of friends since they were age 10.  Now as adults, the two best friends start to feel a strong attraction towards the other one. Both are afraid that they will lose their best friend if they let their feelings show for the other one. But as time goes on, they eventually let their guards down pushing aside their fears. Ceci is afraid that after making love to her best friend Kyle that she will lose him and their friendship. Kyle finally feels at peace after letting loose his feelings towards Ceci. Making love to her last night felt so right, he never wants to let go of her. Ceci is pregnant with another man’s child, and is wanting to find out about her parents. She asks Kyle to help her find out about her parents. Only she doesn’t know tht he already knows what happened to them. He found out about her parents around the time Ceci’s grandmother was dying. Her grandmother made Kyle promise not to tell Ceci about her parents. Ceci went through tons of nightmares as a child because she remembered images of what happened that day with her parents. But she doesn’t realize that her nightmares are of what happened to her parents. Until, Kyle’s brother comes by and lets it slip. Ceci over hears them talking about it. Will Ceci let this ruin her relationship with Kyle? Or will she forgive? Will they go back to being just friends? Or will their friendship be ruined because Kyle never told her about her parents? I highly recommend reading this romantic novel between two best friends. I loved reading this story! J. M. Stewart definitely knows how to write a heart melting mystical romance novel. I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: A December Bride by Denise Hunter

 

Layla O’Reilly and her best friend Seth make a very public and fake engagement that turns more and more real with every moment. Seth has loved Layla since forever but convincing her to love him back is where the problem lies. Layla needs a fake fiancee in order to show her employer so that she can have her big dream career.  Seth goes along the her crazy idea about being engaged with the thoughts of making Layla see that he is the only right man suited just for her. But will he be able to convince her? Will they have their own little happily ever after? Or will Seth be left with a broken heart? I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a Christian romance. The story is sweet, realistic, and very alluring! I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars!