Swan Song by Katy Regnery

 I've been a fan of Katy Regnery's stories for many years. Her family sagas in the Blueberry Lane series are kind of rom-com, but emotional rom-com, if that makes sense! 

And then came her Modern Fairytale collection, which began with a Beauty & the Beast retelling in The Vixen and the Vet. These stories are all highly emotional & very well-written! 

Swan Song, a retelling of The Ugly Duckling, is her latest. There were definitely tears reading this one!! 

My Review:

Vaughn & Sasha's story is beautifully written & full of high emotions. I wanted to hand out lots of hugs to these two throughout the book! Told in three parts, it's a journey spanning several years. Their love takes some hard hits, but part of the beauty is in its survival through hardships.

I struggled with some bits (OW/OM, but no cheating or betrayals), but understood their necessity to the story even if I didn't like them. I absolutely adored Vaughn & Sasha, though!

This is a story showcasing the strength of love, the importance of healing, and how a seemingly insignificant kindness can sometimes save a life. It's full of poetry & friendship, family & fierce intensity. Dreams, and how they can shift as life brings new opportunities.

I enjoyed their story!

😍😍😍

Have you read Katy's work?

Highly recommend!!

TTFN!

: ) 

Always Salty by Lani Lynn Vale

 Wow!

I didn't realize I'd not posted in a while. 

What better time to break back in than with a new LLV, tho, right?? 

This is the last book in her Semynov Bratva series, & I've adored every book! This family keeps me entertained. 😁

My Review:

Excellent story! Dima & Keely are so perfect for each other! They both have a bit of brokenness, but their jagged edges are perfect fits.

I love how protective Dima is, and how protective Keely gets. They both have darkness & interesting ways of seeing justice. I love their family relationships & how absolutely they love.

There are some dark themes & scenes, and some super spicy acrobatics. There are kittens! And just so much goodness even in the dark.

Stay salty, my friends!

😍😍😍

Pick up the series & let me know what ya think. 

I'll try to post more often, too.

TTFN!

: )

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whistle by Cambria Hebert

 Happy new Elite day!! 

I adore Cambria & this found family of swimmers she's created - and now it's time for their Coach to get his HEA!

My Review:

Coach gets his HEA!!! And so does Bodhi!!! Seriously made me so happy that Bodhi is pulled into the Elite fold. He needed these bros, bruh. 💛

Their story is very angsty, because there's a lot of healing that needs to happen. The emotions are sooo well written, I definitely had tears more than once. We also get some great LOL moments with the Elite group texts, and of course this author brings lots of 🔥🔥🔥 - from the very beginning, too!

There were a couple things that weren't my jam, but I know there's a huge fanbase for those things (idk what to call them! Pet names?) & they fit the story perfectly, so it really is a me thing. 😄

Anyway, I love this series, this huge found family of swim bros, and altho this is the last book, I'm hoping a holiday novella may weave its way into the author's brain someday... 🥰

Emmett & Bodhi are awesome & I want to hug them both lots. Their journey to healing wasn't easy, but it was worth it!

😍😍😍

Read in KU!

I struggled a little with this one bc of the Daddy bit. I am just not down with that moniker in a steamy-time capacity & it takes me out of the story/distracts me. That is 100% a me thing & not anything bad about this story! 😁

I hope by now you've discovered the amazing Cambria Hebert & I'd love to know if you've read & fallen in love with this team along with me! 

TTFN!

: )

NIGHT THE stars Went Dark by H. D'Agostino

 First of all, Heather is awesome & is an author I look forward to seeing every year at WOTR in Peoria. I always try to preorder her new releases when she has them available for the signing, & I did that with this one. 

She writes beautifully emotional stories! 

💙

Her latest release is about healing & not giving up on your dreams. 

My Review:

This is a story of healing with a hint of romance. Aspen has grown up with music being an integral part of her life. It's the bond she shares with her father. 💙

Bryson becomes her best friend in college. A fellow musician, he supports & encourages her to realize her dreams. When her father unexpectedly passes away, Aspen loses her love of music because it's just too painful. (Tissues!!) Her friendship with Bryson is collateral damage, unfortunately.

Bryson, however, doesn't give up, & I love the way he brings her back to herself! He once again supports & encourages her, with a little more tough love sprinkled in - as well as some super cute dates & snogging. 😁

😍

Links

US: https://amzn.to/462PGhj 

UK: https://amzn.to/3zA2Ki5

CA: https://amzn.to/4cCA3zx

AU: https://amzn.to/3S3elga

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Let me know if you grab this one & what you think!

TTFN!

: ) 

King of Nothing by Aurora Rose Reynolds

 Happy new release to one of my favorite author friends!!

I've devoured ARR stories since stumbling upon Until November many moons ago! I don't even think Nico was out yet, but I might be wrong. I know she became an instant favorite, tho! 

And I have her to thank for discovering my friend Rochelle Paige, so I'm forever grateful!

Ok, enough gushing, I suppose. 

Let's take a look at this GORGEOUS cover. 

And maybe read my review:

Fantastic, beautiful story of falling in love while healing each other's hearts.

I adore Elora! She feels like she's drowning, but is unknowingly spreading love, joy, and sunshine to everyone. Including Roman, who is having the same feeling. Without the side of sunshine, since he's a wee bit ... grumpy. 😄 Elora's able to get under that grumpy shield with her rays, without even trying.

Her kindness intrigues Roman, and he doesn't understand it, but he wants to be around her all the time. And while they build a friendship, it slowly sparks into more.

Their journey is full of beautiful moments, learning about each other in different ways, healing hurts along the way. I LOVE Roman's reactions & how he takes care of Elora - and allows her to take care of him.

There's a lot going on in the story that I loved but can't say anything about bc ... spoilers! This is a story I feel like you need to experience. Fall in love! I did. 💛

Oh! And, there might be a lil cameo I highly enjoyed, too. 😉

😍😍😍

And then maybe you wanna pop over to Amazon & KU this beauty? 

😁

US https://a.co/d/bBBpTI0 

UK https://amzn.eu/d/ehcqYjH 

CA https://a.co/d/7rpXK2x 

AU https://amzn.asia/d/0TfEPjp 

Let me know what you think, too!

TTFN!

: ) 

Writers on the River 2024

 WOTR is one of my favorite signings, and I'm so grateful to attend every year! 

It's in Peoria, IL, about a two hour drive away on the interstate, and proceeds go to Thistle Farms. 💜

My friend Rebecca makes the official cookies & they are the best sugar cookies! Highly recommend her bakery, Sugar* a la Mode! 

This year, due to a recent car accident & needing to get a new car (😭) I only pre-ordered from three authors & bought two other books. But I had a blast seeing friends & visiting! Totally worth the painful flare on the drive home & "signing hangover" today. 

Currently reading!

💙🖤💙🖤💙

CA Harms 🩷

Lacey Black 💙

Emotional support duck & frog.

Someone had turtles, but I didn't make it to the right table to find them! 

My friend Yvonne & I got to hang out for a bit!

😁🥳🥳😁

I just love getting to see my peeps!

I did miss a couple ppl & hope to see them elsewhere sooner than next year! 

If you've been to signings, I'd love to hear about them!

TTFN!

: ) 

Thirst Trap by Lani Lynn Vale

 It's that time!

Happy new LLV Day! 

😁

This series is about the Carter family & they're quite the trip. A loving family full of LEOs, their work definitely plays a part in their stories. 

My Review:

If you're reading in series order, you'll be prepared for Quinn & Shayne's story to be angsty. They have a deep & heartbreaking history, which we've gotten glimpses of. Throughout the years, tho, their love has never died.

We get a good look at their relationship & issues through the years, & it's very well told, but I still really wanted to shake some sense into both of them. Shayne's stubbornness caused a lot of missed time, imo, for what was essentially Quinn's stupid mistake.

Even with that, I very much enjoyed their story, rooted for them throughout, and loved their HEA!. 😁 There is some crazy stuff that goes on, too. We get that suspense element, humor, steam, and some great family time with the Carter clan. All good stuff! Oh, and some Silas & Sawyer. 💚

😍😍😍

Have you given one of my favorite authors a try?

Let me know!

TTFN!

: )