If This Was A Movie by Morgan Elizabeth (Evergreen Park #2)

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

4.5 stars - A delightful holiday romance!

I will definitely be listening to this one again once it's closer to the holidays. It was a great reminder of how much I love reading Christmas stories in the Summertime. It was a fairy tale come to life, with magical moments swirled around some of my favorite tropes:

** Forced Proximity
** One Night Stand
** Single Dad x Nanny

A second chance in a small town, with the help of meddling family and friends. This is my favorite miscommunication book, which says a lot since I usually avoid them, but it was a brief part of the beginning, so you're fully able to drive into their story. Sophie is the absolute cutest little girl, full of wonder and innocence, making it easy to fall in love with her.

Beautifully narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York, I found myself enamored with the characters, not wanting the audiobook to end. A terrific read for the holidays, or any time of the year!

Now available at:

Audible | BookBub | GoodReads | Kindle Unlimited

Needing You Close by Kennedy Fox (Ex-Con Duet Series #2)

❤❤❤❤❤

The breathless conclusion to a gripping duet! Needing You Close was worth the wait, but man is my head still spinning from the wild ride the authors take you on.

**If you haven't read Keeping You Away - STOP NOW, go read it and then you're good to binge this one too.

Tyler...I don't even know where to begin with him, he's gone through so much and the one person he wants to be with is finally back within reach, but all that is shattered just as quickly as it started.

Gemma's whole world revolves around her family and there isn't anything she wouldn't do to preserve the memory of her mother, or protect her father. Blackmail is an ugly weapon, and not often one you can find a way of escaping from.

I had actual chest pains while reading this book and I have to admit, I doubted a happily ever after from one of my favorite author duos for a few chapters (that felt like hours!)...so prepare your heart for some seriously crazy plot twists!

 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

I never expected to see my first love again after he left me twelve years ago. Though I've moved on, working with Tyler is no easy task -- especially when he focuses his bedroom eyes on me. Flirting with the past is like playing with fire, and considering I'm engaged, I'm bound to get burned.

When the man I promised to marry reveals he's a wolf in sheep's clothing, I run to the safety of Tyler's strong arms. As we grow closer, so do our feelings. Threats and ultimatums are made, and the revelation of the truth is enough to bring me to my knees. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family, even if it means shredding my heart.

Too dangerous, too unpredictable, too risky to handle alone -- we need each other now more than ever.

After our world nearly collapses, there's nothing left to do but take it back. Tyler and I team up to destroy the people who are determined to ruin our second chance at a happily ever after. Though our love is undeniable, I just hope it's enough. We'll fight until the end to be together -- regardless of who tries to get in our way.

Now available at:

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What the Heart Wants by Audrey Carlan (Wish #1)

❤❤❤❤❤

A beautifully woven tale of love and discovery! What the Heart Wants broke my heart, multiple times, but with any Audrey Carlan story, I had faith in the journey. She's truly the only author that make me shed cathartic tears and come back for more.

Suda Kaye and Evie are left with letters from their mother after she passes away. Not wanting to have regrets in life, Suda Kaye follows her Mom's advice to Fly Free and leaves behind the only man she's ever truly loved.

I literally felt pain in my chest for Cam. The fact that he's always wondered if he did something wrong to make her leave so suddenly, or if he somehow hurt her the night they shared something special. He will forever have my heart!

It showed more courage and strength for Suda Kaye to come home and face those she hurt when she disappeared. Although most everyone welcomed her back with open arms, there are a few people that still kept their distance, afraid she'll leave again.

This has been my favorite book of 2020 and I've read it twice within the last week. Such a poignant and emotional story that will inspire you to not take a second for granted, love with all your heart and follow your dreams. I can't wait for Evie's story next!

 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

"Fly free."

For ten years those words, written on pink parchment paper in her mother's beautiful handwriting, have been Suda Kaye Ross's guiding star. Every year on her birthday, Suda Kaye opens another of the letters her mother penned before she passed, heeding the advice inside as she fills her life with experiences. From Italy to Australia, from Rio to Russia, she's slaked her wanderlust. And then, on her twenty-eighth birthday, she opens the letter that sends her home.

Returning to Colorado means confronting everything -- and everyone -- she left behind, including her cherished sister, Evie, and her first love, Camden Bryant. Suda Kaye and Cam spent four years and one unforgettable night together. Given the way she ran out on him, it's no surprise that he's wary, resentful...and engaged to someone else. Evie, hardworking and uberresponsible, just wants her sister to put down roots at last.

For Evie's sake, and her own, Suda Kaye is trying to build a new life, all the while wondering whether it's too late to come back home -- or if the most important part of her never really left.

Now available at:

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Ousted Princess by Tasha Lewis (Modern Princess Collection #6)

👑👑👑👑

This book will have your mind in a tug of war with your heart! Ousted Princess is a wonderful story that will have you second guessing who you want the main character to end up with.

Roni is the girl who took the plunge and confessed her feelings to her best friend, only to have them squashed and not returned. Just when she's starting to open her heart to someone else, her past comes back to bite her and she's torn between what's good for her and what she wants.

Sean is a character that you'll love to despise, at least until you get to know him, then you'll definitely be on #TeamSean for the long haul. He's trying to fix his past mistakes and get his best friend back into his life, but he has a lot of explaining to do.

Throw in a love triangle, second chance, and a mending heart - you'll be in for a beautiful fairy tale loosely based on the history of Pocahontas (don't rely on the Disney version).

This was a wonderful addition to the Modern Princess Collection and I hope we see a follow-up/redemption story someday with a certain character that I won't name. *Wink  wink, nudge nudge Tasha.*

 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

I was humiliated at the end of freshman year. Now all I want to do is focus on my studies and avoid my former friend and love of my life, Sean Courtright. And I was doing just fine on all accounts until my favorite professor asked me for a favor: tutor the boy who shattered my heart.
If the request had come from anyone else, I would have turned him down.

Oh boy, I should have...Being cramped in the same room each day, his familiar scent wraps around me and soon, we both slip back into old patterns. If that wasn't enough, Sean raises the stakes and offers me a bet, one I can't possibly turn down, even if it sounds way too familiar to last year's broken heart.

Will fate allow us a second chance at love? Or will it all come crashing down, for the second time?

Now available at:

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Southern Storm by Natasha Madison (Southern Series #3)

💙💙💙💙💙

You're going to need a strong seatbelt for this ride! Southern Storm is the book I've been waiting for since this series began and I was NOT disappointed.

Savannah was introduced in the first book as the home wrecker who got herself knocked up and convinced the town's golden boy to cover up her mistake.

Beau is the man who's loved her nearly all his life, but could never do anything about it since he believed his best friend was the father of her child.

When the truth comes out, it's a tangled web that runs deeper than anyone could've imagined, also revealing some disturbing truths about Beau's father.

This book was beautifully written and the story unfolded perfectly. I couldn't put it down until I knew how everything panned out and even then, I couldn't get enough.

For an author to be able to write a character that you despise SO strongly in one book, then they turn it around and open your heart to them later...that's a true achievement and a testament to their writing skills, but that's exactly what happened with Southern Storm!

 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

SUMMARY:

Buried secrets never stay hidden in the South.

Savannah
I'm the one who broke up the golden couple. The woman people still whisper about, point at, and give dirty looks to.

Did I sleep with the prom king? No. Did I sleep with the town's golden boy on vacation from college? Yes.

Did I believe that he was going to marry me? Wholeheartedly.

Did he? Not even close. He got engaged right in front of me and then his father threw two hundred dollars at me and told me to take the trash out.

So, I raised my son in a town where people love him because they think that his father is the sheriff.

It was going great, everything was working out till my lie got out.

Beau
I was getting ready to take over the mayoral office from my father, who was my hero.

Until I heard the secret he hoped would stay buried forever.

My brother has a son, not just any son but a son with the woman who was my best friend.

The woman I secretly have loved from the moment she stood up to me and broke my nose in kindergarten.

I need to protect her and in order to do that, we need to get married.

Too bad her nightmare is my dream come true.

Now available at:

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Nobody But You by Megan Green

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Nobody But You is a wonderful second chance romance! Prepare yourself to not be able to put this book down if you're a fan of:

*Second Chance Romance
*Hot Single Dad
*Firefighter
*Animal Rescue

Mason Cooper is just trying to provide the best life for his little girl after his wife walked out of their lives. He can't say no to her, but when an abused dog crosses their path, it brings more than one complication to his life.

Maddy Woods was hurt by the one person she allowed herself to get close to in high school, so she did what was best for her, left town to attend college and didn't look back. Now Mason is back and she's forced to deal with her blast from the past.

This irresistible story will have you falling for a dog named Hope, an adorable little girl named Hannah, all while waiting for the story of what happened in the past to surface.

So much goodness in one book, Mason and Maddy are the perfect examples of fire and ice, and their chemistry is explosive! This was my first read by Megan Green and I'll follow her anywhere after reading this.

🐾 Animal Rescue
 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

Summary:

Former firefighter Mason Cooper knows how it feels to be burned, both by life and by flame.

Still, nothing could have prepared him for life's ultimate task - single fatherhood. As the sole provider for his little girl, there's simply no room in his carefully constructed life for distractions.

When a stray dog lands him in the office of the new local vet, Mason come face to face with a major complication. Because the new vet in town is none other than his childhood friend, Madeline Woods, the same girl who up and left him without a trace.

Gorgeous, smart, and thoughtful - the more time Mason spends with Maddy, the more he finds himself questioning whether she's the thing he and his daughter have been missing all along.

But being with Maddy is like playing with fire, and while a little heat might be nice, can he trust her not to burn them both?

Now available at:

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Confessions of a Naughty Nanny by Piper Rayne (The Baileys #6)

💜💜💜💜💜

Confessions of a Naughty Nanny is about giving love a second chance! This book will have you falling in love with the Bailey family all over again. If only they really existed, I'd move to Alaska in a heartbeat!

Phoenix Bailey is the one in her family that can't seem to do anything right, so when she arranges to become a nanny in order to advance her music career, you know it's going to end up blowing up in her face.

Griffin Thorne has had enough of the fame and wants to focus on his son while he's still young. The last thing he wants is to be in a relationship, let alone with someone who has their sights set on moving to LA and entering the world he just escaped from.

This story was everything I wanted and more! The dynamic between Maverick (who stole my heart) and Phoenix was the highlight of the book for me. The way they connected over similar experiences won me over immediately.

I know Piper Rayne loves to mess with my heart, and this was no different. There are moments when I wanted to message them and threaten bodily harm if I didn't get a happy ending, but I've learned to trust the process.

As usual, you get all the Bailey clan in this one and it's always like attending a family reunion! I love the family dynamics and each book just gets better and better. I can't wait for the next one!

Summary:

When a famous music producer moves to Lake Starlight it can't just be a coincidence. It's the universe helping to move things along in the right direction so that Griffin Thorne can discover me.

I have to confess - I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Confession #1: I may have overheard that he was in search of a nanny. What can I say? My brother has a big mouth.

Confession #2: It's possible I helped along the assumption that I had nanny experience. Hey, babysitting my nieces and nephew counts, right?

Confession #3: There's a good chance I oversold my qualifications. But my Grandma Dori backed me up, so it's not completely my fault.

And it worked. He hired me. Only for me to find out that he left the business. I guess it's on to Plan B.

When he accidentally overhears me singing, I expect nothing from him. Then he asks to work with me on a song for our town's Founder's Day Parade and it feels like a dream come true. Until...

Confession #4: I've fallen for him.

Now available at:

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A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting (All In #1)

❤❤❤❤❤

A Lie for a Lie is the perfect second chance romance! I've been getting a little burned out with romances lately, but give me a feisty and stubborn female lead, and I'm all in (no pun intended.)

When Lainey and RJ are reunited, I knew I wouldn't be able to put this book down until I finished. This can definitely be read as a stand alone, but it makes me want to read the entire Pucked series, just so I can appreciate some of the characters storylines more.

This was such a wonderful book from Helena Hunting, who is one of my one-click authors for a reason, and I can't wait for A Favor is a Favor!

 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

Summary:
Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that comes with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be the normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.

Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I'm called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.

A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey's keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.

Now available at: 
B&N | BookBub | GoodReads | Kindle Unlimited

Last Slice of Pie by Kathryn Andrews (Starving for Southern #2)

🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒

Last Slice of Pie is a delicious treat! A second chance sports romance that'll have you believing in love and happily ever afters again, and is the perfect recipe to fully immerse yourself in the story.

Lexi has always had an unrequited crush on Bryan, and my heart immediately felt her plight in the first chapter. The thrill of knowing he was returning to their town, had me turning the pages as fast as I could read after that point.

Now Bryan...that man owns my heart! From the smallest things (his cherished memories of Lexi's cats while they were growing up), to his pursuit to win her over. He's the perfect example of what every book boyfriend should be.

Every time I re-read this book I'm making it a personal goal to make at least one of the recipes (there's one at the end of every chapter!)

 💧 Drama

💋 Romance

🏈 Sports

Summary:

Lexi Jarvie

Pie isn't just a dessert, it's a way of life. Pies, fillings, jams, jellies, honey, they're all a part of my award-winning business, Firefly Kitchen. After being left behind, by everyone, I was determined to make it all on my own, and I have. I love what I do, I love what I've created, and I love who I've become. Yes, it's small, but it's mine, and nothing or no one can stop me now. Not even Bryan Brennen. He may have returned, but it won't be long before he leaves. And regardless of which way you slice it, some things can't be forgotten, no matter how sweet the taste.

Bryan Brennen

Football isn't just a sport, it's a way of life. I've spent more years than I can remember chasing my dream. When you come from nothing, it's even more important to become something. The unstoppable drive and incomparable determination that is ingrained in me has gotten me to where I am now; twenty-eight years old and undoubtedly the best professional quarterback in the league. To be happy is to be perfect. Plans, plays, passes, I've mastered them all, but it was never just for me, it was for her, too. Only she doesn't know it, and now, ten years later, I'm ready to tell her.

She's a small town girl. He's a household name.

Off the field and out of the kitchen, will they break and crumble, or finally get their second chance at the biggest game of them all...love.

Available at: 

BookBub | GoodReads | Kindle

The Truth About Cowboys by Lisa Renee Jones (Texas Heat #1)

💙💙💙💙💙

The Truth About Cowboys will make you swoon in your boots! Filled with delightful comedy, tender moments and secrets nobody wants uncovered.

Jessica attempts to make the best of a bad situation by renting a cottage in the country, but from the moment she arrives, her path crosses with the one person who doesn't want her there.

Jason wants to leave his glory days and fame in the past, but when a distraction arrives on his doorstep, he's anything but welcoming to her.

Grandma Martha is the highlight of the story and will keep you rolling in laughter with her meddling. She means for the best and will stop at nothing to see those she loves, happy.

Lisa Renee Jones has been an author I've enjoyed following, but I have to say that this is my favorite book of hers so far. I love the storyline, witty characters and I couldn't put it down until the last page. Loved it!

😄 Comedy

 💧 Drama

💋 Romance

Summary:

When I was off pitching in the big leagues, my family was back in the small town of Sweetwater, Texas, running the family ranch. Then tragedy hit and I discovered there were secrets that my family kept, problems they hid. I went home, left behind the money, women, and fame. I took over the ranch and took care of my grandmother. I took over hiding the secrets. Then she came to town. A smart-mouthed, clumsy, too-smart-and-too-pretty-for-my-own-good city girl hiding out to write a book. She's right here, on my property, in the cottage my grandmother rented her without my permission, and she sees too much. She knows too much.

Now suddenly my world is spinning, and she's shoving a baseball back in my hand while baking cookies with my grandmother. She's the devil and an angel all in one fiery little package. I decide I'll wait her out. She'll go back to the city. Only suddenly I don't want her to leave, and everything I've settled for in my life isn't enough. I want to play ball and I want her, but there's that secret that won't let go, but neither will she.

Available at: 

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Piece of My Heart by Sydney Logan

🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠

Piece of My Heart is a beautiful second chance story. I love high school sweethearts, they're some of the most genuine romances to read.

When Amber Tucker is introduced to readers, she's finally brave enough to leave her husband, after he goes to far and hits their son. Fleeing back to the hometown she once ran from, she tries to start over and create a better life for her son.

I'm from a small town, so watching everyone know Amber and her life story is no surprise to me. She has a great support system of friends and family to lean on, but her number one priority is Cade, her 10 year old son.

Noah Murphy has never stopped loving Amber, even after the betrayal that took her out of his life. He's the ultimate book boyfriend and everything I'd want in a guy.

I loved every chapter of this story, but the epilogue was the highlight for me. It gives you the perfect closure and made me cry.

Sydney Logan knows how to write a beautiful romance, with minimal angst and just the right amount of drama and romance. Well done!

**Trigger warning:

If spousal abuse is a trigger for you, be cautious, but it's very minimal, and a vital part of the story.

 💧 Drama

💋 Romance

Summary:

They say true love never fades. I've spent the last decade, and a fortune in paint, making sure of it.

Amber Tucker never dreamed she'd return to Cedar Grove, but when she finally finds the courage to leave her abusive husband, she knows her old hometown is her only option. Desperate for a new life, Amber takes her ten-year-old son and moves in with her Aunt. She prays for a fresh start while hoping to avoid her childhood sweetheart - the man whose heart she broke nearly a decade ago.

Noah Murphy has spent the last ten years trying to forget Amber Tucker. He's had a hard time letting go - as evidenced by the big red heart on his farm's grain silo. Noah painted it when he was sixteen and crazy in love, and every spring, he gives the heart a fresh coat of paint. It's all he has left - the only reminder that Amber was real.

That is, until she returns to Cedar Grove.

When her husband comes calling, Amber knows she has to break the cycle of abuse, once and for all. But, when she takes matters into her own hands, can Noah protect her from the consequences of her actions? Or, will he lose her all over again?

Available at:

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The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis (Wildstone #3)

🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋

The Lemon Sisters is a heart-warming tale of two sisters trying to discover what they want, even though they're both at very different stages in life. Filled with laughter and tears, you'll be recommending this book to anyone who'll listen!


The thing I appreciate most about Jill Shalvis books, is her ability to write characters in real situations and without filters. The realities of motherhood aren't sugar coated, and you can feel Mindy's distress come through the pages of the story.

The tension between Brooke and former flame Garrett is undeniable, and made me excited for each scene containing the two characters. They definitely have things to work through from their past, but it's as though fate intervened when Brooke ends up next door to him.

My favorite part of the story was Mindy's kids - each one special and unique in their own ways, but they'll steal your heart and run away with it!

 💧 Drama
💋 Romance

Summary: Brooke Lemon has always led the life she wanted, wild adventures - and mistakes - included, something her perfect sister, Mindy, never understood. So when Mindy shows up on Brooke's doorstep in the throes of a break-down with her three little kids in tow, Brooke's shocked.

Wanting to make amends, Brooke agrees to trade places, taking the kids back to Wildstone for a few days so Mindy can pick up the pieces and put herself back together. What Brooke doesn't admit is she's just as broken... Also how does one go home after seven years away? It doesn't take long for Brooke to come face-to-face with her past, in the form of one tall, dark, sexy mistake. But Garrett's no longer interested. Only his words don't match his actions, leaving Brooke feeling things she'd shoved deep.

Soon the sisters begin to wonder: Are they lemons in life? In love? All they know is that neither seems to be able to run far enough to outpace her demons. And when secrets surface, they'll have to learn that sometimes the one person who can help you the most is the one you never thought to ask.

Available at:
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The Locker Room by Meghan Quinn (Brentwood Baseball #1)

⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾

Meghan Quinn will make you laugh until you cry, then rip your heart out and do a tap dance on it...yet, you'll keep coming back for more, cuz when she makes everything better, it's the best thing you'll ever read!

The Locker Room was so much more than I was expecting, in the best way! I thought it'd be a light-hearted story, but the intensity between Knox and Em will have you reeling and wishing more men were like him.

Knox Gentry is the ultimate book boyfriend! I love how unfiltered and honest he is with Em. There were times I wanted to throw the book (if you've read it, you know what I'm referring to), but their journey is worth all the tears and laughter.

#dropTHATtowel

😄 Comedy
💋 Romance
⚾ Sports

Summary:
Have you heard the rumor around campus about the locker room?

If you haven't, let me enlighten you: Legen has it if you bring a girl into the sacred after-game domain of the baseball locker room, it will end with a walk down the aisle. One rowdy and naked encounter against the lockers with the girl of your dreams will make her your wife.

Translation: baseball players are stupidly superstitious and believe the locker room has magical powers.

But not all baseball players are superstitious, me included.

So when the girl I've fallen for brushes me off, I start to question if I need to switch my way of thinking. Maybe it's time I finally hand out a coveted invitation to the locker room.

The only question is, will she accept?

Available at:
BookBub | GoodReads | Kindle (KU)

That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn (Getting Lucky #1)

💙💙💙💙💙

You can't read this book and NOT fall in love with the entire Knightly family, as well as Port Snow. I'd give it 6 stars if I could! I love how everyone has an established role in the community and just seem to constantly pop up out of nowhere. This was definitely one I found myself laughing out loud at work while listening to the story.

My heart broke for the tragedy that Griffin suffers, but his struggle to keep his heart safe was understandable. He does everything for everyone else, but doesn't want to risk the curse being true, causing another death.

Griffins family just wants to see him happy again, curse be damned. The brothers are hysterical and such lovable characters, you want to take them out of the book and welcome them into your own family!

Ren Winters is a breath of fresh air! I love the witty banter between her and the brothers. Their chemistry is definitely one for the books, and you'll find yourself rooting for Griffin to let go of his fears, because Ren is perfect for him!

I adore Meghan Quinn and she has the incredible ability to make me ugly-snort while reading, unfortunately it's usually in a public place, lol. This is the first in a new series and I can hardly wait for more!!!

😄 Comedy

💧  Drama

💋 Romance

Summary:

After a birthday celebration gone wrong, Griffin Knightly loses the love of his life. After that, believing it could happen again, he shuts off his heart to anyone else.

Ren Winters moves into town, escaping her over-protective parents after an almost fatal accident. She quickly finds she can't resist the one Knightly brother she can't have...

Available at:

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