I'm not going to lie, I was really excited about Brady getting a book. The chef has been an interesting addition to this town and it was obvious he haI'm not going to lie, I was really excited about Brady getting a book. The chef has been an interesting addition to this town and it was obvious he had a secret. Adding a woman to the small town police force was unique and while I hated what she was dealing with from her old job, the town of Nugget embraced her quickly. Living next door to one another gave Brady and Sloane a foundation of friendship and while they were both not looking for more, they found it in each other. Both their pasts come calling in this story, but in the end it is their trust in each other and the town that embraced them that keeps them where they both feel they belong. I enjoyed this one a lot. ...more
I've read this author for over a decade and I keep waiting for her to write a book like she used to write. This wasn't it. I honestly can’t even call I've read this author for over a decade and I keep waiting for her to write a book like she used to write. This wasn't it. I honestly can’t even call this book a romance; there was nothing romantic about it even their so called relationship seemed more practical than anything and such a let-down....more
For a second chance romance, Sneaking Around with #34 was a pretty fun and delightful read,4.5 stars full review coming 3/8/22 www.simplylovebooks.com
For a second chance romance, Sneaking Around with #34 was a pretty fun and delightful read, yes there were moments of frustration, anger, and sadness, but there were a lot of lighthearted and sweet moments to balance it out. I can say without a doubt that Sneaking Around with #34 is my favorite in the Hockey Hotties series. ...more
I have loved Tawna Fenske's work for a lot of years, that being said this one did not work for me.
Trigger warnings: death of a parent (previous), infI have loved Tawna Fenske's work for a lot of years, that being said this one did not work for me.
Trigger warnings: death of a parent (previous), infidelity (previous but discussed at length in the book), life threatening illness (previous)
It’s taken me a few days since reading this book to sit down and write this review. The synopsis for this book didn’t really describe the book I read and to be honest it wasn’t what I expect when I read a book by Tawna Fenske. The drama and angst were high in this book and there were several times when I set it aside to decide if I wanted to continue. I did and while I was happy with the outcome of this book, it was a chore to read. What the synopsis doesn’t tell you, so I will, is the heroine, Nyla, and the hero, Leo, are billed as best friends but honestly there was nothing in this book to confirm that and Leo also is divorced from Nyla’s sister and even that wasn’t a huge deal to me, I’ve read books over the years with this same theme. This book overall just wasn’t cohesive. I felt like it was three or four books rolled into one, it tried to tackle so many different tropes/issues and the romance got lost in the shuffle.
I really liked Leo, I felt like he was a solid guy; one that went out of his way to help others. A good son, father, and friend, and I felt like he was a good husband but he and his ex-wife, Mandi grew apart. He has remained a part of her family often attending family events because of his son, Seth.
Nyla was one of those characters that I couldn’t decide if I loved her or was ambivalent about her. On one hand, it was evident that she cared deeply for people especially those in her family, but on the other despite being a well respected nurse she seemed immature. The whole can’t keep a secret thing while understandable of her reasoning, I felt was ridiculous for a grown woman who obviously had self control or wouldn’t be working in a hospital as a nurse. It just didn’t work in my opinion and in fact at times I felt this storyline was almost ridiculous.
Leo and Nyla together, that wouldn’t bother me except there, seemed to be no build up and honestly, I didn’t feel it between them. I was told it was there, but the fact that they spent so much time dissecting Nyla’s failed relationship and Leo’s divorce from Nyla’s sister, talk about a mood breaker. I had no doubt they liked and admired one another and were friendly, but I never saw the “best friends” they were labeled as being and didn’t feel the sizzle or zing between them.
I adored Seth and felt he had such a good handle on his life (despite forgetting things frequently but isn’t that a pre-teen?). He seemed mature for his age but I think that stemmed from growing up with parents who had busy careers that sometimes took them away from home, spending time with his grandparents, and being an inquisitive sort of kid. At times I felt like he was the most mature character in this book, so let that sink in.
The families…I love family based romances but have to say that Nyla and Mandi’s parents in particular their mom was overbearing and it got old quick. I couldn’t figure out Leo’s mom’s hate towards his ex’s family until towards the end when it made a bit more sense, but still again the constant disparaging of them wasn’t necessary.
All of these things coupled with a few I didn’t even get into made for a very busy story leaving the supposed romance between Nyla and Leo left out twisting in the wind.
While this book had some funny moments, some that I’m sure were supposed to be funny came off as ridiculous and not in a good way. The serious themes got lost in the shuffle and to be honest the big payoff scene was a let-down. As I am not one to ride the drama llama or the angst antelope, this book did not work for me at all. That being said, I’m sure there are many who will enjoy it. For me, The Best Kept Secret was a miss. ...more
From the first chapter, I was completely engrossed in this engaging, smart, fun, sexy, and heart-warFull review coming 2/22/22 www.simplylovebooks.com
From the first chapter, I was completely engrossed in this engaging, smart, fun, sexy, and heart-warming story. I absolutely could not put Up In Smoke down and when it was over despite the extremely satisfying ending, I kept hoping more chapters would appear. ...more
This friends to lovers, single dad, and sister’s best friend4.5 stars full review coming www.simplylovebooks.com 11/2/21 TikTok @sharonsimplylovebooks
This friends to lovers, single dad, and sister’s best friend romance packed a punch on many levels. It was flirty and sexy, but it contained a lot of emotion as well. ...more
This book was a bit of a let down after the first book in this series, but I appre3.5 stars full review coming 7/6 www.guliltypleasuresbookreviews.com
This book was a bit of a let down after the first book in this series, but I appreciated that neither character’s trauma was glossed over, that they both could understand somewhat where the other one was coming from, but also knew when to push to keep each other moving forward....more
I enjoyed this book but I didn't love it. I honestly found the whole reality baking show background distracting. I didn't really feel the heat betweenI enjoyed this book but I didn't love it. I honestly found the whole reality baking show background distracting. I didn't really feel the heat between the characers and their quality alone time was lacking or constantly interrupted which got old. I would have liked to see them have more time together without the constant reminder of Justin's dissatisfaction with the way his "brand" was being handled or Brody's soon to be ex-husband, it was lather, rinse, repeat and it got old. ...more
4.5 stars for me, half star because the hero was a a$$hole to the heroine previously and at the beginning of this book. Yes, he had reasons, but no it4.5 stars for me, half star because the hero was a a$$hole to the heroine previously and at the beginning of this book. Yes, he had reasons, but no it doesn't excuse the behavior towards her.
Donovan (Donny) returns to The Cove to clean out his grandmother's mansion, fix it up, so he can sell it to the man who gave him a job years prior when he was a mess of a young man just trying to figure out his life. What he doesn't expect is that his grandmother signed a contract for a fundraiser for abused children, something she turned a blind eye to in regards to her grandson. He also doesn't expec that the event planner for the fundraiser to be Sophie, the girl who he knows he treated horribly and then bailed from town. He doesn't quite recognize the woman she's become, but he can also see the girl he left behind so many years ago.
I enjoyed this story, yes I spent a good part of it seething at Donny, but because Sophie was willing to let it go I did too. I loved that he relaized he did her wrong and it bothered him all along. As Sophie began to put the pieces of the puzzle that comprise Donny together, she realizes that she still has feelings for him and even though he's leaving again, she plans to enjoy him while he's there and boy do they enjoy one another often!
Donny opened up a lot to Sophie which surprised me because he was so closed off, but she brought out a side of him that no one every saw, she also made him happy something he'd had little of in his lifetime. He knew she was way too good for him, but he also couldn't stay away. He was good to her and helped her see that despite the flaws she saw in herself, she was beautiful just the way she was.
This book was a bit darker, more emotional than the first one but it was warranted and it was an excellent story. ...more
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