Release date: August 31, 2021

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day–avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She lives a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who struggles with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.

And she’s happy with how things are–really–until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person’s fairy tale is an ordinary woman’s nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison’s no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who’s sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.

But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she’ll need more than Harrison’s strong arms to shield her–she’ll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they’re willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.

Review:

From the minute that I was introduced to main character, Piper I was smitten. She’s an incredibly interesting and multifaceted character that felt so authentic. She was relatable too, she’s a huge romance reader and even has a romance podcast. Then there’s Harrison, who just made me swoon. Their relationship evolved in such a believable way too, it was a slow burn but they wait was way worth it in the end. They start off as enemies, then become friends before they hook up so you get a little dash of a few different tropes which was fun. Add in a small town that isn’t the usually depicted warm and welcoming kind of place and a Duke and Duchess living next door and I was completely enchanted.

Not only were the characters here complex the story itself was as well. There was wonderful mental health representation, which was so refreshing to see and it was the perfect balance of light and dark since some of the topics explored were heavy, but they were portrayed perfectly. Lots of humor, funny banter and steamy sex, overall this was charming and delightful and I can’t believe this was my first book from the author?!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Release date: August 3, 2021

Publisher: Hyperion Avenue

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America’s favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn’t expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn’t fit, maybe it’s time to design your own.

Review:

I’m obsessed with this one, it was SO freaking cute. I usually don’t gravitate towards retellings but this Cinderella remake was amazing. Cindy stole my heart from the first chapter, she’s so very lovable and endearing and I was rooting for her so hard. When she started on the Bachelor style reality show she is a little over her head and I thought the author did a great job at exploring the behind the scenes aspects of reality TV in a modern and fresh way. Having a plus sized main character was awesome and the author didn’t shy away from tackling issues surrounding this head on. There’s a heavy focus on grief here as well and while it was sad, it wasn’t too heavy or depressing in the slightest. Instead it was a hopeful and sparkling story of love and loss with lots of sweet romance, body positivity and insight into fashion and TV. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 10, 2021

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Stuck in a dreary Boston winter, Annabelle Martin would like nothing more than to run away from her current life. She’s not even thirty years old, twice-divorced, and has just dodged a marriage proposal… from her ex-husband. When she’s offered her dream job as creative director at a cutting-edge graphic design studio in Phoenix, she jumps at the opportunity to start over.

When she arrives in the Valley of the Sun, Annabelle is instantly intrigued by her anonymous landlord. Based on the cranky, handwritten notes Nick Daire leaves her, she assumes he is an old, rich curmudgeon. Annabelle is shocked when she finally meets Nick and discovers that he’s her age and uses a wheelchair. Nick suffered from a stroke a year ago, and while there’s no physical reason for him not to recover, he is struggling to overcome the paralyzing fear that has kept him a prisoner in his own home.

Despite her promise to herself not to get involved, Annabelle finds herself irresistibly drawn to Nick. And soon she wonders if she and Nick might help each other find the courage to embrace life, happiness, and true love.

Review:

This was such a cute, feel good read with depth and emotion! I don’t often come across a book set in my home state and that’s what initially drew me to this one and I adored being able to visualize the different settings and places Annabelle visited around Phoenix. Even if you’ve never been to AZ I think you would appreciate it being set here because it’s something new, not the same old California/NYC setting that’s so popular in many books. Besides a fun setting this has a little something for every reader in my opinion. Annabelle and Nick have a believable developing relationship, I also really like a sunshine and grump trope so that was fun too. Both of them have serious issues they need to work through and the author portrayed mental health struggles in a really authentic and compassionate way. There’s also a subplot with Annabelle’s job and I actually liked that angle more than I thought, it was both fun and interesting and really kept the story that much more engaging. Overall a well rounded romance, very flirty and a tiny bit a steam but great characterization and lots of humor.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 10, 2021

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

She stole my husband. So I’d steal her life.

The Wife
Lane won Candace’s heart over chocolate martinis and karaoke. But weeks into their whirlwind marriage, Candace realized Lane came with burdensome baggage in the form of his possessive live-in sister and her eerily watchful six-year-old son. Lane had a secret that seemed to hold him hostage, and Candace would do anything to uncover it.

The Sister-in-Law
Harper was the kind of woman who cooked homemade meals and dusted under the furniture. It was the least she could do for her brother after her husband’s mysterious death, and Lane took her and her kids in. Then Candace showed up like a tornado passing through, threatening and destructive. But Harper had other plans for her new “sister,” plans Lane could never find out about.

The Husband
All Lane had ever wanted was a white-picket-fence life. The wife. The two-point-five kids. The happy little family. Everything seemed to be falling into place with Candace … until Harper’s jealous streak got in the way, again. But choosing between his sister and wife would be costly … and knowing Harper, the price would be blood.

Review:

This was my first book by the author and right when I started I was immediately curious, it definitely began really strong and had a great hook. I was drawn into the lives of Harper, Lane and Candace and knew there would be much more to all three of them than meets the eye. Flipping back and forth between all three characters in each chapter was fun, you get to see the inner thoughts and secrets from everyone which just added to the tension and secrecy. As much as I was hooked in the beginning, the middle was drawn out and I felt the pacing could have been a little faster and more exciting. I was compelled enough to keep reading as the author was revealing the secrets everyone was hiding very slowly, but it was a little frustrating to be spoon fed things so very slowly. By the last quarter things did pick up and overall I was satisfied with how it all wrapped up, I just wish the middle matched the strong opening and closing. Overall a decent thriller, I would read more by the author for sure. I think anyone who doesn’t mind a slower burn would like this, especially if you enjoy unlikable characters and devious behavior.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 3, 2021

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

When Ruth, a wealthy divorcée, offers to host the Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet, she hopes this will be a fresh start for her and her introverted daughter, Marley. Finally, they’ll be accepted into a tribe. Marley will make friends and Ruth will be welcomed by the mothers. Instead, the parents are turned off by Ruth’s ostentatious wealth and before kindergarten even begins, Ruth and Marley are outcasts.

The last guest to arrive at the meet-and-greet is Gemma, a widow and a single mother to her daughter, Bee. Ruth sets her sights on the mother-daughter duo, and soon the two families are inseparable. Ruth takes Gemma and Bee on Aspen vacations, offers VIP passes to Cirque du Soleil, and pays for dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants. For Gemma, who lives paycheck to paycheck, Ruth’s largesse is seductive, but as the years go by, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s accruing an increasingly unpayable debt. When Ruth’s affair with a married Hillside dad is exposed, and she’s publicly shunned, Gemma uses it to sever ties with Ruth.

Six years later, when Gemma finds herself embroiled in a scandal of her own—Ruth comes to her defense. Their renewed friendship rehabilitates their reputations, but once again, Gemma starts to feel trapped as Ruth grows more and more obsessed with their relationship.

A relentless page-turner, Did I Say You Could Go is the story of friendships steeped in lies and duplicity. It’s about two families who, when pushed to extremes, cross the line with devastating results.

Review:

Don’t you love being surprised by a book? I don’t just mean by twists and turns but more you go into it not knowing what to expect and then what you get kinda blows your mind? I freaking love and that’s exactly what happened here. I didn’t see many reviews of this, nothing on bookstagram so maybe that’s why I ended up enjoying it so much, there was no preconceived ideas!

I love a good dramatic story about frenemies and this one was great, Ruth and Gemma are both pretty questionable as far as morals and values go but there’s something so delicious for me about reading about people behaving badly. This was fast paced and had lots of devious little twists and turns and was just overall a really wicked read. If you like books with unlikable characters and juicy and gripping plot lines check this one out.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 27, 2021

Publisher: Montlake

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

When Dillion Stitch left her hometown, she had no intention of going back. But when her brother gets into trouble, Dillion reluctantly agrees to return home to take her place at the family business.

Being back in Pearl Lake after all these years feels familiar, but also brings a few surprises. She’s quick to notice that someone new has shown up at the cottage next door. Dillion gets more than an eyeful when she goes to check out the newcomer and meets Donovan “Van” Firestone—her beloved neighbor’s grandson—in all his unclothed glory.

Having gotten off to a rocky start, it’s not long before they begin bickering with each other all over town. All that back and forth inevitably sparks an undeniable attraction. But Dillion’s family has issues, Van’s family resents him, and neither Dillion nor Van feels truly at ease in the small town. For these Pearl Lake exiles, home isn’t just where the heart is—it’s where things get complicated.

Review:

Say hello to my new favorite HH read. I absolutely adored this one from start to finish and cannot even tell you how excited I am that it’s the start of a brand new series. I’m a sucker for a small town romance and combine that with the authors trademark humor and sexiness and this was an awesome summer read.

I felt like this was slight departure from some of the authors other books, this had a more mature feel to it that I really appreciated. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed all of her past books that I’ve read but this one seemed more sweet and tender and I am here for it. Dillion and Van had an amazing connection, both physically and emotionally and there’s just something about a romance with feelings that just gets me right in my feels. I loved the quaint little lakeside town and could see so many options for additional books, I see the breadcrumbs HH was laying out and I’m following them for sure. There were a couple of side plots that were interesting as well and they only added to my enjoyment instead of distracting from the main plot. All the stars for this one, romance fans shouldn’t miss this!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 27, 2021

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Andrea, Lauren, and Ronnie all see themselves as good, loving moms who are trying their best, but they each arrive at the Silver Swans preschool Welcome Breakfast with something to hide. Andrea is running away from a past on the East Coast, which she cannot afford for the other parents to discover. Lauren is recovering from a postpartum condition her husband has warned her not to disclose. And Ronnie is hiding herself and her daughter from the one man who could at any moment appear in their lives and ruin everything she holds dear. They already feel like impostors among the school’s community of polished parents. But then notes appear in their children’s backpacks after the first day at school. Notes that indicate that someone knows their deepest, darkest secrets and needs them gone. Does someone not want them in the community? Or is it something more menacing—does someone know everything?

When the principal of the school is the victim of an almost-fatal attack, it quickly becomes clear that the Silver Swans community is not as flawless as the brochures and website would have you believe. The three moms must band together to uncover the school’s many secrets before the other suspicious parents and town police close in and use their outsider status to blame them . . . and before they lose what they have worked so hard for.

Review:

I’ve been a big fan of the author since her PLL books and have enjoyed a couple of her adult thrillers as well but her books always seem to be missing a little something for me in the end. It’s kind of weird because while I’m reading I’m usually engrossed and entertained but when I finish I often find myself thinking, that’s it? So I’m not sure but I do know that I always end up finishing her books, I just find them to be a little lacking in some way.

I’m a sucker for any book that explores motherhood, even more so if the book is a thriller so I was hooked from the start here. The setting of a ritzy private preschool also appealed to me and then three women with secrets is basically my catnip. Like I said earlier, I’m always reeled in enough to read SS books quickly, but I think what was missing for me here was a more mature quality to make this feel like an adult thriller. I think where this author shines is her YA books so maybe next time I read her I just need to remember to go into it pretending it’s YA and I’ll like it more? Who knows honestly, I’m sure I’ll read her books in the future she does come up with some interesting premises. I think if you don’t mind a juvenile feeling “thriller” this may work for you, because her style is compelling for sure and while some parts of this were easy for me to predict I definitely didn’t see everything coming either. Clearly I have mixed feelings.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Release date: July 20, 2021

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.

Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance—both on and off the page.

The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love—and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.

Review:

I freaking love this series and was SO excited to finally get to read The Russian’s story! His backstory has been a bit of a mystery since the start and I’ve been dying to know more about this gentle giant and his wife, Elena. All I’ve known about him before this installment was that he’s a hockey player with a sensitive stomach and a heart bigger than Russia and now that I’ve finished I’m so happy to have learned more about him, he’s the sweetest.

I’m always eager to read a romance where there’s a marriage in crisis and I liked the unique spin here as Vlad and Elena were also in a marriage of convenience. Add in some forced proximity and Vlad writing his own romance novel and this was the sweetest and most tender book of the series. I adore Vlad and am a little in love with him myself, he’s this badass aggressive player on the ice and off he’s an amazing friend and the most sensitive of all the Bros, SWOON! As always I love checking in on the other boys and can’t wait to see who gets to shine in book five. If you haven’t read this series and you love romance novels as much as I do it’s a must, they’re all fantastic!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Release date: June 29, 2021

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Mystery/Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Two women. Two families. Two lifetimes’ worth of secrets.

In the wake of her husband’s sudden death, Cassie Costas finds her relationship with her teenage stepdaughter unraveling. After their move to historic Tarpon Springs, Florida, Savannah hates her new town, her school and most of all her stepmom, whom she blames for her father’s death. Cassie has enough to contend with as she searches for answers about the man she shared a life with, including why all their savings have disappeared.

When Savannah’s rebellion culminates in an act that leaves single mother Amber Blair and her sixteen-year-old son homeless, Cassie empathizes with the woman’s predicament and invites the strangers to move in. As their lives intertwine, Cassie realizes that Amber is hiding something. She’s evasive about her past, but the fear in her eyes tells a darker story. Cassie wonders what the woman living under her roof is running from…and what will happen if it finally catches up to her.

Review:

Do you ever go into a book with the wrong expectations and that basically ruins the whole thing for you? I really thought this would be a domestic suspense/thriller and instead it was more women’s fiction with a side of lighter suspense and unfortunately that just didn’t work for me so well here. There were definitely still elements that I liked but overall I was hoping for more.

I do want to say that the narrator, Vanessa Johansson was fantastic and I credit her with me even finishing this one. I’m quicker to set a book aside in print versus audio and that’s especially true for me if the narrator is engaging and this one was. Between that and the fact that I was invested in the mystery aspect I felt compelled to finish and I’m mostly glad I did. This was character driven with two women who were interesting enough but anything related to the mystery of both Cassie’s husbands death and Amber’s past were both easy for me to figure out. I was hoping for more surprises than I got and I guess just overall I wanted more tension and suspense.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.