Michelle S

Baby Bayer and Sylvie

Revisado: 04-14-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

It's almost a year since I read my last Brooklyn Bruisers book and I miss the gang so much! Bombshells just gave me all the feels again--I absolutely adored this book!

In Bombshells, we are introduced to the now women's hockey team--the Bombshells--female counterpart to the Brooklyn Bruisers (the inequalities between a men's hockey team and a women's hockey team were discussed in the book and I really appreciated that). Our heroine is Sylvie, the Bombshell's second (back up?) goalie and our hero is Anton (aka Baby Bayer) and they were so great together. I loved how their relationship grew from friendship to something more--I thought Sarina did a really great job building that.

When I got to chapter 9 I had to read it twice because one half of my favorite couple from Sarina's Ivy Years series, Scarlet made a cameo (and later in the book Bridger, too)! Ahhhh!! I completely forgot Scarlet played hockey but she is the Bombshell's star goalie so hopefully we'll see her and Bridger again in future books.

I read this book entirely via audiobook, and both narrators (Patrick Zeller for Anton and Desireé Ketchum for Sylvie) were new-to-me, but I have no complaints! I thought both narrators sounded like how their characters would sound. There was some French in the novel (Sylvie is French-Canadian), but I'm not familiar with language enough to judge if they did a good job or not--for what it's worth, it sounded good to my ears. I read everything via audiobooks these days, and I do recommend reading Bombshells via audio.

Overall, Bombshells was a fun read! I enjoyed it a lot--not a new favorite hence the 4 stars, but you can't go wrong in Bombshells if you're in the mood for a hockey romance (with actual hockey playing in it). Bombshells can be read as a standalone, and with the introduction to the women's hockey team, this is a good point to pick up the series.

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Steele and Ella

Revisado: 12-14-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Steele is the ninth book in the Arizona Vengeance series--Sawyer Bennett's ongoing hockey romance series. I love this series and I've read every single book so I've grown quite attached to the characters. But, each book can be read as a standalone book. Reading the previous books in the series is not necessary, and the author does a good job giving quick rundown of other characters' backstory (as a longtime reader of the series, it helps me too because nine books in I don't always remember who is who).

Anyway, Steele is about James "Jim" Steele and his quest to woo his estranged wife, Ella, to giving him a second chance. Jim and Ella married young and have a teenaged daughter together. But, Jim had always prioritized his hockey career over his family and Ella has had enough. They separated about a year prior to the start of Steele, and Jim had moved out of their house. In the previous book, Kane, Jim had a reality check when he saw his wife on a date with another man and he realized he needed to do something before it's too late and he loses the love of his life who he still very much love.

Steele is one of my top favorites in the entire series. I absolutely LOVE the second-chance romance plot about estranged spouses falling in love again. I'd read everything with that plot, and Steele checked all my boxes. I love Jim and Ella individually and together. I rooted for them to find love again, and work through their issues. I really enjoyed their journey back to love. I also like how Steele and his daughter's relationship evolved too, because he's had to rebuild that relationship too.

I read Steele entirely via audiobook, and I highly recommend it! The audiobook was casted perfectly--Brian Pallino's voice was perfect for Jim--it embodied his character and it was excellent. Jill Redfield is one of my favorite narrators and she did an amazing job as Ella--I always love her performances.

If you're looking for a quick, sexy second-chance read to while away the afternoon, look no further than Steele.

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Fun Premise

Revisado: 11-01-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

It's no secret that I love Sawyer Bennett's Jameson Force Security series (although Sawyer Bennett is one of my auto-read author--I'll read anything she writes!) and I've been following the series since the beginning. However, each book is a standalone so don't feel like you need to read the first five before picking up this one. That being said, I do recommend reading the books in order because it's a much richer reading experience knowing the stories other characters because they pop up and play supporting roles in each other's books. It's a real treat seeing previous characters again and getting an update on them. But, if you don't want to read the previous books before Rook, it's still a great read on its own.

Rook is one of my top favorites in the series. I love the premise! Our hero, Cage Murdock, after a grueling mission, went to a bar to unwind. There he met our heroine, Jaime, and they had what was supposed to be a one-night stand. But, Cage couldn't let her get away, and after about only a couple of months of seeing each other, they ended up getting married in Vegas. The thing is, Cage told Jaime he is a used car salesman (he's actually one of Jameson Force Security's top agents), and now he doesn't quite know how to tell his new wife the truth for fear she'll leave his sorry behind.

It was such a fun premise! One of my favorite spy movies is True Lies, and Rook was such a fun take on the same trope. I love Cage and Jaime--the chemistry between them was hot! Actually, I loved them already before this book because we got a glimpse of them in the previous book in the series--Code Name: Ghost. The events in Rook and Ghost are mostly happening at the same time. I already knew I was going to have fun reading Rook, and I was right! As always, with every book in the series, there's also a new mission and this one involves Jaime. It's not as intense as the ones in other books, but still entertaining.

I read Rook entirely via audiobook, and I thought both narrators (Emma Wilder for Jaime and John Lane for Cage) did a great job bring both characters and the story to life. The audiobook is well-casted, and so much more entertaining than if I was reading the book on my own. I recommend reading Rook via audiobook!

If you're in the mood for a light yet sexy spy romance, I recommend Rook (and the Jameson Force Security series). You'll be highly entertained!

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Second-chance, rock star romance

Revisado: 09-24-20

Real Rating: 3.5/5 stars

I went into Lies & Lullabies a little apprehensive because it has two tropes I don't voluntarily reach for--rock star romance and secret baby. But, it's by Sarina Bowen who is one of my auto-buy authors so of course I picked it up.

Lies & Lullabies, at its heart, is a second-chance romance between Kira and Jonas. They spent a summer together in Maine and then went their separate ways. Kira soon finds out she's pregnant, but doesn't tell Jonas. After his summer in Maine, Jonas's music career blew up but he never forgot Kira. A few years later, Jonas went back to Maine wanting a peaceful place to work on his songwriting just as Kira also showed up to visit her father. They see each other, and the story takes off from there...

Things I love in Lies & Lullabies:
-Kira and Jonas's daughter Vivi was adorable! She always stole whatever scene she was in.
-Kira and her brother Adam's relationship.
-Adam. He's my favorite character in the book. That scene in the hospital in the end had me cracking up. I'd love a novella between him and Ethan.
-Jonas and his relationship with his tour manager, Ethan.

In the end, I really enjoyed Lies and Lullabies. Both Kira and Jonas were likable and I enjoyed their romance overall. I liked that the conflict that came up between them didn't drag, and they communicated really well, avoiding unnecessary drama. And I love how their story came full circle in the end. But, what really hit me in the feels was the familial relationship between Kira and Adam because they were a unit, and I loved how Adam supported his younger sister and took care of his niece Vivi. He's the best!

I read Lies and Lullabies via audiobook and it was great! When Sarina shared a clip of the audiobook in her FB group of the narrator for Jonas (Tim Paige) actually singing and playing the guitar I knew I had to get the audiobook. Erin Mallon for Kira was awesome too (though Erin Mallon's voice will forever be Lily Calloway to me). I highly recommend the audiobook--it is excellent!

Lies & Lullabies is a great start to the series! I'm looking forward to seeing what the other authors will do with the other members of Hush Note because based on what we learned about them in Lies & Lullabies, I am very intrigued!

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Kane and Mollie's Friends-to-Lovers Story

Revisado: 09-18-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Actual Rating: 3.75/5 stars

We are officially in "Season 2" of the Arizona Vengeance series with Kane. The first seven books focused on the men in the first line of the team, and starting with Kane, we're hanging out with the group of men in the second line. But, never fear! The Arizona Vengeance are a close knit team, and ALL the men (and their wives and girlfriends) do get together so our favorites from "Season 1" still make appearances. I am really enjoying getting to know the second line group though. We get glimpses of their stories and I'm very intrigued! I can't wait for their books.

Anyway, Kane is a friends-to-lovers story. Kane Bellan and Mollie Callister met in college and quickly became the best of friends. Over the years, their career separated them as Kane is a professional hockey player based in Arizona and Mollie is a travel blogger, but they text each other every day and Mollie often goes to Kane's games whenever she's in the area. But, one morning Mollie shows up unexpectedly at Kane's door. An ex-boyfriend had attacked her and she needed her best friend. Kane, who would do anything for Mollie, insists she stay for as long as she needs. Kane and Mollie always insist they're just friends, but it's obvious to everyone that they're in denial. So, when one of Kane's teammates takes Mollie out on a date, Kane felt all kinds of emotions that he couldn't deny anymore that what he feels for Mollie is more than friendship... And the story takes off from there.

I really enjoyed Kane and Mollie's characters. They were both very likable, and since I listened to the audiobook, I thought that narrators did a good job bringing them to life. It was fun seeing Kane and Mollie navigate their relationship from friends to lovers. They were well-matched and their story was a great addition to the Arizona Vengeance series. I did give it 3.75 stars because while I found Kane entertaining, it was just that: a fun diversion. It didn't quite had the punch of Erik or Dax's books, which are my top favorites in the series.

If you're in the mood for a fun, quick friends-to-lovers hockey romance, Kane is your book. I highly recommend the audiobook edition as well. Like I said, the narrators Jeremy York and Lessa Lamb were excellent. I did listen to Jeremy York before and he's always delivered, but it was my first time listening to Lessa Lamb and I'd definitely listen to her again. For fans of the Arizona Vengeance series, Kane is not to be missed!

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Malik and Anna's Book

Revisado: 07-02-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I've been looking forward to Malik Fournier's book for a while because his story is a couple of books in the making. He was held captive by foreign militants after a failed mission a few books back. He was rescued by the Jameson team, and we saw him in the previous book recovering from his ordeal. But, Code Name: Ghost opened with Malik's actual rescue and we see first hand how that went down.

Unlike the previous books in the series where the plot centered on a brand-new mission, Code Name: Ghost was about Malik's struggles after his ordeal. He was determined to get back to normal as soon as possible and get back to his work at Jameson, but he had a lot of healing to do, especially his feelings of guilt having survived the mission while others didn't. And to make things more complicated, he had to grapple with his growing feelings for Anna Tate, the widow of one of the men who died during the mission.

Code Name: Ghost was an emotional journey for both Malik and Anna. I enjoyed both of their characters. I especially liked strong, independent single-mom Anna, who was pregnant when she lost her husband. She very was determined to stand on her own and raise her daughter despite her devastating loss. I really like her friendship with one of the Jameson agents too, Cage Murdock--their scenes together provided a lot of the humor in this book. I did think Malik and Anna got together a little too quickly, and I wish they had more of a slow burn. However, family (Malik's whole family, Anna's mom, the Jameson team as a tight-knit group) played a huge role in this book and I loved reading about that. Malik's family especially made me so happy and my favorite scene was when he was discussing the bro code with his sister, brothers, and brother-in-law (now I really want to read Cold Fury series!)--that scene made me laugh out loud.

I did read Code Name: Ghost entirely via audiobook and I thought it was well-casted with Aaron Shedlock as Malik and Virginia Rose as Anna. Their voices really fit their character and they did a good job conveying all the emotions in this book. Both narrators brought the story and the characters to life, and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. You can't go wrong with the audiobook--I highly recommend it.

All in all, Code Name: Ghost was an enjoyable read--a bit more emotional than previous books in the series but a welcome addition. I can't wait for the next book in the series, which will be about Cage who got himself in a bit of a pickle...

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4.5 stars! Wylde and Clarke

Revisado: 05-17-20

I am following a couple of series by Sawyer Bennett (she's one of my all-time favorite authors) and the Arizona Vengeance series is my favorite. I love these group of characters we have grown to know and love in the past six books and Wylde is a special treat because it's a "conclusion" of sorts for the previous couples. More on that later...

Wylde follows Aaron Wylde and Clarke Webber. One day while out on a run, Wylde came across a small shop and got a glimpse of pretty Clarke with her messy bun and glasses. She's not his usual type of puck bunnies and glammed-up women, but he couldn't stop thinking of her anyway. And after running around in circles, passing by the store every time, Wylde went in and introduced himself and somehow convinced Clarke to be his date to one of his teammate's wedding. And the story goes off from there...

Yes, I recognize that Wylde is the bridge between the previous books in the series and the next set of "new" guys from the team who are going to have their own books in the near future. We met a few of them and I am definitely intrigued. Actually, I am more than intrigued--I am ecstatic and I can't wait until I get my hands on those books.

I loved how Wylde courted Clarke, how he visited her store just to hang out with her, and took her to all those weddings. I liked how despite Clarke's hang-up about dating a famous person, she couldn't stay away. With that being said, Wylde and Clarke's romance was sweet and I enjoyed them as a couple, but it's not a new favorite of mine (btw, Erik and Dax are my top favorite books in the series)... it was a good romance because it's Sawyer Bennett. I love her writing and I love pretty much all of her books and Wylde is no exception.

I did read this book solely via audiobook. Wylde's parts were narrated by Teddy Hamilton, who is one of my top favorite male narrators. He's perfect for Wylde and his voice is just *chef's kiss* candy for my ears. CJ Bloom was the narrator for Clarke and she's great too, but I personally think her voice is tad too perky for Clarke, who I pictured as someone more reserved. Maybe more like Erin Mallon's voice? However, this duo brought the story to life and I was highly entertained.

If you haven't read the previous books in the series, Wylde can be read as a standalone and it's actually a good place to start because, like I said, it introduces the next men who are getting their own books in the series, and it gives you crash course on the previous books in the series so you'll get all caught up. I do highly recommend you pick up the previous books in the series though because they're amazing! This series is an auto-buy for me and I can't wait for more!

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My first ever Amy Daws read and it's FANTASTIC!

Revisado: 04-27-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Right after I read the last page of One Moment Please, I kicked myself for not picking up and reading a book by Amy Daws sooner. One Moment Please is my first ever Amy Daws read ever and I was highly impressed! I laughed, I swooned, and I smiled throughout--I thought it had the perfect blend of humor, romance, and heart. Actually, even before finishing One Moment Please, I already bought the other two books in the series--technically One Moment Please is the third book, but it's a complete standalone.

One Moment Please is about Lynsey Jones, who, for the last several months, had been working on her thesis in the hospital cafeteria (the only place where the words seem to flow for her) and Dr. Josh Richardson, an ER doctor at the hospital. Dr. Richardson isn't happy with this random girl who doesn't seem to be visiting or know anyone at the hospital but had commandeered a corner of the cafeteria and often buys last slice of the silk pie. Their first meeting ended with Lynsey throwing a fistful of pie at the grouchy, jerk of a doctor earning him the nickname Dr. Dick. But, they meet again later that night when they ended up in the same bar and they ended up having a one night stand. Fast forward three months later, and Lynsey ended up in Josh's ER and her bloodwork revealed that she's pregnant... with his baby! And the story takes off from there.

I read One Moment Please entirely via audiobook and it was fantastic! It's narrated by two of my favorite narrators--Teddy Hamilton for Josh and Erin Mallon for Lynsey--and they were perfect for their character. I always measure audiobooks by whether the narrators' performance elevates the author's writing and that's certainly the case here. Teddy's delivery of the arrogant doctor was spot on and there's a lot of humor in this book (especially in Lynsey/Erin''s chapters) and the narrators knocked it out of the park. I highly recommend the audiobook!

I am so happy I finally picked up an Amy Daws rom-com. One Moment Please was highly entertaining and was such a fun read. If you need a fun romance to pick you up and put a smile on your face, I highly recommend One Moment Please. I can't wait to read the other books in the series, as well as Amy Daws's other series. I have a feeling she's going to be a new favorite!

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Bebe's Book

Revisado: 04-01-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

That book cover plus that synopsis? I was dying to get my hands on Code Name: Hacker. Our hacker is Bebe Grimshaw, who we met in book 1 when the hero from that book, Kynan McGrath, who was then forming the elite Jameson Force Security. He recruited her from prison, and got her out ahead of her 35-year prison sentence.

Six months after leaving the high security women't prison, Bebe, her son and her mom have settled in a little town just outside of Pittsburg. What Bebe doesn't know is that someone from her past want to tie up loose strings and has sent someone to eliminate her. That someone is sexy and bearded biker Griffin Moore, who had decided the fastest way to get close to Bebe was befriending her 10-year old son Aaron.

The Code Name: Hacker is the fourth book in the Jameson Force series and it can be read as a standalone. This whole series is so entertaining and fun and every book was a page-turner. I basically read (via audiobook) Hacker in one sitting. I love the characters, the friendship/found family among the Jameson team, the different espionage-y jobs they have to pull--all super fun and keeps me at the edge and reading through the night. While Hacker isn't my favorite (I just wish there wasn't that twist on Griff's characters about a quarter in), it was still a fantastic read! My favorite character was Bebe who I related to the most out of all the heroines so far in the series.

Like I mentioned, I read Hacker entirely via audiobook and it was excellent. Aiden Snow with his deep, manly man voice was perfect for Griff--I enjoyed his chapters just a bit more than I did Bebe's chapters in terms of performance. I liked Savannah Peachwood's Bebe too (I especially liked her boy voice for Aaron), but sometimes her inflections took me out of the story.

Overall, I recommend this series if you want a romantic suspense with a dash espionage and fun sexy times that you can read in one sitting. Hacker can be read as a standalone so feel free to pick it up whenever, but if you are reading the series in order there is an overarching story line and I can't wait until the next book!

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Marriage of Convenience

Revisado: 04-01-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I am a sucker for the marriage-of-convenience and the best friend's little sister trope so Dax checks off all my boxes! Sawyer Bennett is one of my go-to authors for sweet, swoony, with lots of heart and just right amount of steam to make me grab an ice cold drink. It's no different with Dax--actually, Dax (along with Erik) is one of my top favorite in the series!

Dax's best friend Lance was killed in a mugging, leaving behind his younger sister Regan. Dax soon finds out that Lance had been paying large amounts of money to help with Regan's medication because she suffers from a serious illness. Now, with her brother dead and no work insurance to cover her treatment, the only option was for Dax and Regan to marry so she could be put under his.

Dax had always seen Regan as a little sister, but over the years she had blossomed into a beautiful and very smart woman. The attraction between Dax and Regan was instantaneous and they quickly act on it, but Dax felt tremendous guilt and feelings of inadequacy. Can their marriage of convenience turn into something more?

I love Dax and Regan together! Regan is this sweet and innocent girl, but she does have a backbone on her and more than a match for Dax, who is this big, sexy hockey player. They balance each other out and I love how their relationship evolved from friendship to love. They are so swoon! And the sex of course is HOT--I mean, we are talking about Sawyer Bennett here!

My favorite part of the series though is the close knit friendship between the Arizona Vengeance team. I love the found family aspect of the team, how they support each other and there's never any question that they each have each other's backs. I also love the sisterhood amongst their wives and girlfriends and how they easily welcomed Regan into the group. I also love the friendship between Regan and Dax's sister Willow.

I absolutely loved Dax and I read it solely via audiobook and it was a great time! Aiden Snow as Dax and Virginia Rose as Regan were perfect! They brought both characters to life and added much more to my enjoyment than if I was reading the book on my own. I highly recommend the audiobook! And I highly recommend the series as a whole, but if you don't have the time or inclination to start from book one, Dax can be read as a standalone.

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