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Riding the High- Paisley Hope: Cole Ashby's main priority has always been his young daughter. When he's appointed the new sheriff of Laurel Creek, Cole knows that his new position comes with scrutiny, so he's determined to prove to the town that he's deserving of that title. As the daughter of a congressman, Ginger Danforth has always been taught to maintain appearances, but inside, she yearns to give in to her wild side. Cole and Ginger have always had a playful relationship, but when their group of friends heads to Vegas for the weekend, a little game of drunken truth-or-dare leads to a wedding chapel, and the pair wakes up in over their heads. The pair decides to keep their marriage a secret while they wait for an annulment, but with Ginger watching Cole's daughter for the summer, tensions run high, and their temporary marriage starts feeling permanent.
I loved all the snippets we've seen of Cole and Ginger in the previous books, so I've been eagerly awaiting their story. Their dynamic was so fun. I loved watching them tease and push each other's buttons. The pair felt like real friends, which I appreciated. They were so caring towards one another and understood each other on a level unlike anyone else. Their chemistry was off the charts, and one thing I've noticed with Hope's books is that the spicy scenes go from zero to 100 real quick, which can become a bit much. Aside from the romance, I enjoyed getting to see more of the friend group, but the highlight was watching the connection form between Ginger and Mabel. They were adorable together. My only other slight gripe besides the spice was that the book felt way too long (and was that corny epilogue really necessary?), but it was my favorite in the series so far.
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| Pub Date: 4-24-25 Adult - Contemporary Romance |
I loved all the snippets we've seen of Cole and Ginger in the previous books, so I've been eagerly awaiting their story. Their dynamic was so fun. I loved watching them tease and push each other's buttons. The pair felt like real friends, which I appreciated. They were so caring towards one another and understood each other on a level unlike anyone else. Their chemistry was off the charts, and one thing I've noticed with Hope's books is that the spicy scenes go from zero to 100 real quick, which can become a bit much. Aside from the romance, I enjoyed getting to see more of the friend group, but the highlight was watching the connection form between Ginger and Mabel. They were adorable together. My only other slight gripe besides the spice was that the book felt way too long (and was that corny epilogue really necessary?), but it was my favorite in the series so far.
Rating: 4/5
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I'm always hesitant about going into romances that are longer than 400 pages, because why are they that long? Anything over ~350 pages feels unnecessary to me, and that was part of the reason why I kept putting this series off. Now, I'm kicking myself because I loved this. Even though it's super long, it didn't feel drawn out. Curto's writing was sharp and quick-witted, and the banter between Emmy and Maverick had me kicking my feet. They were so fun together. I loved how they weren't afraid to push each other's buttons, and that mutual sassiness didn't let up once their dynamic turned romantic. I loved watching them open up and let the other in. Maverick was also a top-tier boyfriend. He had me swooning the whole time. I also loved all the side characters, and I'm eager to see how the rest of the series unfolds.
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| Pub Date: 5-30-24 Adult - Contemporary Romance |
Face Off- Chelsea Curto: Emmy Hartwell has spent her entire life dreaming about playing in the NHL, so when she gets called up from the minors, she's desperate to prove she deserves the opportunity. The D.C. Stars may be struggling, but they have a powerhouse captain, Maverick Miller. He's cocky both on and off the ice, and his arrogance leads to an awkward first encounter with Emmy. You can cut the tension between the pair with a knife, and one night it boils over, and they end up in bed together. Both swear it was a one-time thing —Emmy doesn't date hockey players, and Maverick refuses to be tied to one person — but they can't deny their attraction. But they quickly realize once isn't enough and begin sneaking around whenever they get the chance, and their friends-with-benefits situation soon starts feeling like the real thing.
I'm always hesitant about going into romances that are longer than 400 pages, because why are they that long? Anything over ~350 pages feels unnecessary to me, and that was part of the reason why I kept putting this series off. Now, I'm kicking myself because I loved this. Even though it's super long, it didn't feel drawn out. Curto's writing was sharp and quick-witted, and the banter between Emmy and Maverick had me kicking my feet. They were so fun together. I loved how they weren't afraid to push each other's buttons, and that mutual sassiness didn't let up once their dynamic turned romantic. I loved watching them open up and let the other in. Maverick was also a top-tier boyfriend. He had me swooning the whole time. I also loved all the side characters, and I'm eager to see how the rest of the series unfolds.
Rating: 4.5/5
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| Pub Date: 6-17-25 Adult - Contemporary Romance |
Gloves Off- Stephanie Archer: Georgia Greene is one of the doctors for the Vancouver Storm hockey team, and while she loves her job, there is one particular player she can't stand. Alexei Volkov is intimidating both on and off the ice, and the animosity between him and Georgia is well known around the arena. The pair have been at odds for years, but with Alexei needing citizenship for him and his parents, and Georgia needing access to her hefty inheritance to keep her medical research funded, the pair strike a deal to put their hatred aside and get married. But it doesn't take long before their bickering turns even more heated, making the pair think that maybe this whole marriage thing isn't so bad.
I've never read anything by Archer before, but this series has been on my radar for a while, and I'm glad I finally picked it up. A marriage of convenience trope between two people who can't stand one another always hits, so I had a feeling I would enjoy this. I liked the dynamic between Georgia and Alexei. It was entertaining to watch them bicker and push each other's buttons. They both had preconceived notions about each other, and I enjoyed seeing them peel back each other's layers and get to know the real person underneath. I loved how sweet and caring Alexei was under all that grumpiness. I would've liked a little more from the plot, but overall, it was entertaining and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
I've never read anything by Archer before, but this series has been on my radar for a while, and I'm glad I finally picked it up. A marriage of convenience trope between two people who can't stand one another always hits, so I had a feeling I would enjoy this. I liked the dynamic between Georgia and Alexei. It was entertaining to watch them bicker and push each other's buttons. They both had preconceived notions about each other, and I enjoyed seeing them peel back each other's layers and get to know the real person underneath. I loved how sweet and caring Alexei was under all that grumpiness. I would've liked a little more from the plot, but overall, it was entertaining and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
Rating: 4/5
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