Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: The Apple Tree by Jewel E. Ann

The Apple Tree by Jewel E. Ann is now live! 

He’s a single dad starting over in a new town. She’s a relentless flirt with a penchant for trouble, ten years younger than him, and the babysitter. What could go wrong?

Eve has just graduated from high school, but she doesn’t know what’s next aside from working at the local motel, spying on Kyle, her neighbor, and stealing apples from his orchard. If she doesn’t figure things out soon, she’ll be stuck at home and treated like a child forever.

Kyle is a single dad and the new football coach who needs a babysitter for his adorable son. When he meets Eve, there’s an instant connection because she reminds him of someone—himself. But Eve is the preacher’s daughter, off-limits, and Kyle has already had his heart trampled by his ex.

After earning his son’s affection with her homemade apple sauce and youthful spirit, Eve asks Kyle to teach her things like driving his fishing boat and shooting his hunting bow. Despite his better judgment, he agrees, but swears Eve to secrecy so no one gets the wrong idea about them.

Their playful banter and innocent flirting crosses a line, and Kyle misses the heartbreaking secret Eve’s hidden in plain sight.

When tragedy strikes, can they find their way back to each other?

The Apple Tree is a standalone in the Sunday Morning series by USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Jewel E. Ann.

  Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/47LyBJy

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/TheAppleTree

Hardcover: https://mybook.to/AppleTreeHC

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4dryjbZ

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Oh my gosh, Jewel E. Ann delivers another stunning forbidden romance, rife with family drama and full of angst, in The Apple Tree.

Age gap stories can be hit or miss for me, but I absolutely loved the connection between Eve and Kyle. And I adored her relationship with his little boy, Josh. From the first moment their paths crossed, I was all in, rooting for this couple. And their story was worth all the tension, angst, frustrating moments, and stolen glances. I cried. I cried a lot.

There’s a turning point in this book where everything hits the fan and Eve needs to face some hard facts about herself. That was hard to read, at times, because I was just feeling so much for this couple and wanted them to work things out. For a while there, i didn’t think it was going to happen, but don’t worry — JEA gives these two the happy ending they deserve, complete with a swoony epilogue set in the future.

The Apple Tree is set two years after Sunday Morning. There are references to Sarah’s story (and despite the events from SM, the Jacobsen parents have not relented in their strictness one bit), but TAT is a standalone. Having now read Eve and Kyle’s story, I recall so many little things about 16-year-old Eve from Sunday Morning that clicked into place. I didn’t even know that JEA was foreshadowing! So I can’t wait to see what she gives us with Gabby’s story!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Jewel E. Ann

Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she’s not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance. 

Connect with Jewel

Website: https://www.jeweleann.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7505427.Jewel_E_Ann

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jewel-E-Ann/e/B00IJYHDIG/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjeweleann

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/485996228236493

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjeweleann/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JewelE_Ann

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jewel-e-ann

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jeweleannauthor/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeweleannauthor

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Just Like That by Lena Hendrix

JUST LIKE THAT by Lena Hendrix is NOW LIVE!

Tropes:

Accidental single dad

Guardians/ instant family

Enemies to lovers

Forbidden romance (sibling’s ex)

Forced Proximity

Age gap (7 years)

grumpy/sunshine

rakish villain with a heart of gold

Billionaire

Blurb:

He’s my sister’s ex, a stubborn jerk, and completely off-limits.

Getting a man to give up custody of a son he didn’t know existed should have been easy. Trouble is, nothing with JP King is ever easy.

Suave, grumpy billionaires aren’t supposed to have strong hands or filthy mouths, and I never expected our snippy banter to be so much fun.

JP regards me as something he scraped off the bottom of his dress shoe, but when this reluctant single dad looks at my nephew, there’s a softness there he struggles to keep hidden.

He may be gruff and uptight, but something simmers beneath his controlled, polished exterior. Sure, I’m wild and reckless, but when we’re forced together as guardians, everything changes.

His cold and calculated exterior melts into hushed conversations and lingering stares. The more we fight, the harder we fall.

I’m scatterbrained, unconventional, and everything he’s been missing. The closer we get, the less we understand why we were ever at odds.

. . . until just like that our lives are turned upside down.

BUY IT HERE: https://geni.us/justlikethat

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I love a redemption story and JP King’s delivered on all fronts! He’s been the prickly, stuck-up, no-fun brother we’ve gotten bits and pieces of through this series. Then Hazel Adams and her adorable nephew Teddy burst into his life like a hurricane, and her chaos and unpredictability ended up being exactly what JP needed in his life.

Much like Hazel, hers and JP’s story is messy and chaotic. When she arrives in Outtatowner insisting that her nephew is JP’s son, he has zero recollection of having been with her late sister. JP wants nothing to do with Hazel and Teddy, but don’t we all love seeing an adorable kid chip away at the icy heart of a billionaire? And watching said billionaire fall equally hard for the last woman he ever expected to develop feelings for?

JP is such a complex character, more so than I imagined he’d be. Though he is not the eldest of the King siblings, he was groomed by Russell to run the business, putting him in a place of leadership in his family that he never really asked for. As it turns out, the guy has hangups and insecurities just like the rest of them, and underneath that icy exterior is just a scared kid who lost his mom when he was a little boy. Seeing him bond with Teddy through similar losses was one of my favorite parts of this story. So, so good.

This book was *chef’s kiss* — from start to finish, and the twists and turns along the way, it was perfect. Stephen Dexter and Samantha Brentmoor were engaging and entertaining. I was completely smitten by the way they voiced JP and his Hex from the get-go.

I’ve really loved the through-line in the Sullivans and Kings series as these two rival families have become one big, blended brood. There are some awesome moments in Just Like That between the two families, and that made me all warm and fuzzy. As sad as I’ll be to see this series conclude with MJ’s story, I loved that teaser with her and the big, hot rugby player!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Daring Destiny by Kaylene Winter

 

 

DARING DESTINY

Kaylene Winter

Release Date: January 27

 

 

Daring Destiny is a sweltering saga of billionaire intrigue, opposites-attract, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers with an unexpected life-changing twist.

Before I founded my AI tech company, I spent my high school years silently pining over Astrid Gustafsson, the unattainable ice-blonde beauty. Fast forward a decade and I’m shocked when she asks to collaborate on a secret project. The opportunity is too enticing to pass up.

Our newfound friendship quickly ignites into a wildfire of
desire, and my passion for Astrid intensifies, leaving me eager to risk everything for our future. The challenge is, relentless demands of my high-stakes empire threaten to smother the flames of our burgeoning romance.

When fate dramatically intervenes, will a life-changing twist dare us to embrace our destiny?

 


 

Grab Your Copy HERE!

 

 

 

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Oh, my heart! Brennan and Astrid were so much more than I was expecting! The prologue — set in present day — hooked me right away. The story then begins two years ago, and Brennan and Astrid’s slow-burn romance unfolds in the most delicious way.

My heart ached for both of these characters at times. Neurodivergent Brennan and his vulnerabilities, how he still feels like the geek from high school even though he’s one of the most successful tech giants in Seattle. Astrid is one of the most successful realtors in the area, but she always feels less-than around her family. Both of them put on a mask to the world, yet when they are with one another, they both feel like they can be their authentic self. I loved that they had that connection, and how their relationship had a strong foundation of friendship before things turned romantic.

And wow, gotta appreciate the dirty mouth on sweet Brennan. This book mixes the spicy spice with family drama (there’s an overlapping timeline with Cillian’s book, Tender Temptation, and there’s also lots of drama with Astrid’s folks), sweet and vulnerable moments, and several plot twists.

Daring Destiny is definitely worth checking out! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

 

Meet Kaylene Winter:

 

Kaylene Winter is an Amazon best-selling author of steamy, contemporary romance.

Each character-driven novel is filled with snappy dialogue, pop-culture references and enough steam to make you fan yourself. Kaylene weaves authenticity, emotion and angst into a turbulent rollercoaster ride of love, passion and soul-searing romance always ending with a delicious HEA.

Kaylene lives in Seattle with her amazing Irish husband and gorgeous Siberian Husky. She loves creating art of all kinds.

Keep up with Kaylene and subscribe to her newsletter: https://kaylenewinter.com/newsletter/

To learn more about Kaylene Winter & her books, visit here!

Connect with Kaylene Winter:

https://kaylenewinter.com/contact/

 

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Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Once Upon a Fake Date by Jennifer Chipman

🎀 𝓝𝓔𝓦 𝓡𝓔𝓛𝓔𝓐𝓢𝓔 🎀 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 (Castleton University Book 2) by Jennifer Chipman is now LIVE! Don’t miss this spicy Sleeping Beauty inspired college romance! 

𝟏-𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝! https://geni.us/OUAFD

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕: 

💕 Fake dating

🎭 Theater kids

🌸 Popular girl x Shy jock

✨ Childhood friends to strangers to lovers

🎀 Inspired by Sleeping Beauty

Blurb:

Once Upon A Fake Date…

Audrey

All my life, I’d been dreaming of two things: shining in the spotlight on stage and falling in love. When I landed the lead part in the spring musical junior year, it felt like everything was falling into place. Especially when my childhood best friend came waltzing back into my life. Only, he’d gone from a scrawny pre-teen to a handsome athlete, and it was hard to take my eyes off of him.

Especially when he ended up as my co-lead for the musical. But our friendship meant too much to me to risk. I wasn’t sure my heart could survive losing him again.

Parker

Transferring to Castleton University for my senior year was my chance to start over and focus on lacrosse and getting my degree. What I didn’t expect when my teammates dragged me to a party was finding the girl of my dreams… also known as my childhood best friend.

I was supposed to be focusing on lacrosse. Not volunteering to be the lead in the musical with her. Or fake dating her.

Except for when I saw her in my jersey, smiling just for me, I had a hard time remembering why this was supposed to be fake.

Which was why I intended to prove that I was the happy ending she’d always dreamed of.

One fake date at a time.

A spicy Sleeping Beauty inspired college romance.

ADD to Goodreads: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205983720-once-upon-a-fake-date

Read A Not So Prince Charming (Castleton University #1): https://geni.us/nsprincecharming

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

This was a super cute fairy tale reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. Parker and Audrey (aka Rosie) had been best friends when they were around 12-13, but then his family moved away and they lost touch. Years later, they run into each other when he transfers to Castleton University and they rekindle their friendship. He’s a shy jock, she’s a free-spirited drama major…. when Audrey is having some issues with a former paramour, Parker steps up and offers to be her fake boyfriend to get the ex off her back. And of course, we all know how that goes!

I really loved the easy friendship between these characters. It was natural and effortless, and I didn’t feel like the chemistry was being forced upon me. Parker is a total cinnamon roll golden retriever book boyfriend, and this romance totally has the “it’s always been you” vibes.

This was the first book I’ve read by Jennifer Chipman, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Once Upon A Fake Date is a super charming, lighthearted, feel-good story! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Find more books by Jennifer Chipman here: https://www.jennchipman.com

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Brick Wall by Andi Burns

🏒 𝑵𝑬𝑾 𝑹𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑬 🏒 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟 (Bainbridge Hockey #3) by Andi Burns is now LIVE! Don’t miss this all-new forbidden love, college hockey romance! 

1-click Today! FREE in Kindle Unlimited! 

https://geni.us/brickwall

WHAT TO EXPECT:

🥅 New Adult/College

🏒 Hockey Romance

🤫 Secret Romance

🍼Accidental Pregnancy

BLURB:

Brick Wall is a college hockey romance with a hero who falls hard and fast for the one girl he can’t have.

JT

Life hasn’t always been easy, but things are beginning to look up. I’m the starting goalie for the BU Wolves, Coach Baylor has become the family I have always wanted as a kid, and my dream career is waiting for me. All I need to do is defend my net for the next few seasons so I can prove to the Boston Bruisers that they drafted me for a reason. That’s a pretty bright future for a man with a past like mine.

When I hit up a party with a bunch of my roommates, I never expected to fall hard. But from that night on, it’s out of my control. Maggie Baylor is the one for me, no matter how much she tries to deny it.

Just when I think we’re getting somewhere, she ghosts me. But there’s one thing Maggie doesn’t understand: I’m not letting anything or anyone—not even Coach—stand in our way.

Maggie

As a transfer student, I have one goal: finish my senior year without any drama. And, ok…I may have lost sight of that goal before the year officially started. But that’s not my fault—Hottie Gym Shorts Guy was…well, hot. And sweet. And so very talented. That’s why I bolted the next morning. I didn’t move back home to fall in lust or worse, love. I came back to Bainbridge to spend time with my Uncle Hudson and earn my degree.

Besides, there won’t be any drama because I’m never going to see him again.

Except I do. We just keep running into each other. It’s fine, though. I can resist.

Until I can’t. JT is crumbling all my defenses. I’m on the verge of letting myself fall in love, even if I know my uncle will disapprove, when two little pink lines appear. I brace myself for impact because the only thing I know about love is that it doesn’t last.

But JT doesn’t leave my side. He slays my dragons and rubs my feet and makes me reconsider everything I thought I knew.

Is this really something I can believe in, or will our world come crashing down just when we need each other the most?

***

Brick Wall is the third book in the Bainbridge U hockey series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone. If you love a stoic hero who’ll do anything to protect the woman he loves and the family they’ve created, no matter who tries to stop him, JT Norris will melt your kindle. If you can’t resist a jaded heroine who learns to trust again, Maggie Baylor is your kinda girl. If you want all the laughs, all the feels, and every single bit of steam, and no third act break-up, then settle in with your favorite snack—Maggie recommends dark chocolate peanut butter cups—and dive into this forbidden love, surprise baby college hockey romance. 

The Bainbridge Hockey Series: https://geni.us/BBHockey

Find more books by Andi Burns here: https://amzn.to/4bjWaKq

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3 Stars

Brick Wall started off strong — I liked the meet-cute with Maggie and JT and the sizzling connection that led to a one-night stand during a frat party, and now they kept running into one another around campus. But then, I felt like things just started getting thrown at me, I was being told, not shown, parts of the story. Things were happening off-page, things were being repeated, plot points began but were never carried to fruition… And we got so much information about side characters that didn’t really need to be there because it didn’t impact the story between Maggie and JT.

JT’s big mistake from his past and his cousin… kind of unnecessary drama, for example. Cut out all of that nonsense, condense the story, and this would have been a great story.

I struggled because I really liked JT and Maggie and thought this book lot of promise. He was certainly dedicated to Maggie, that’s for sure. He was all-in way before she was. Like, when did she decide she was in love with him? The execution kind of fell flat.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: The Path To Loving Him by Meghan Quinn

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a new forced proximity, single dad romantic comedy. This steamy, laugh out loud, enemies-to-lovers, small town standalone romance is now available in all formats and delivers the perfect happily ever after. One-click your copy today!

https://mybook.to/ThePathToLovingHim

About THE PATH TO LOVING HIM:

What does one do when they completely blow an interview?

If you’re me, you pick up a one-night stand with the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen… 

That’s right, after a lousy interview that could have changed everything for me, I headed over to the local small town bar to sulk when the one man I shouldn’t want walked in. And when my friend convinced me to take him back to my hotel room, I didn’t think about it, I just did it . . . well, I did him.

It was an unforgettable night, but I didn’t stay for breakfast. Instead, I got out of there and tried not to think about him again.

Everything was fine until I received a call from the interviewer saying I got the job as the assistant baseball coach at Almond Bay High. I’d be working directly under the one and only Ryland Rowley–my one-night stand. 

Now, I’m not only working with him but renting the apartment above his garage. And I have to deal with the fact that he’s the man I dream about and can’t have while not letting my attraction get in the way of keeping the harmony between us. Sounds easy, doesn’t it?

It should have been, except the plan falls apart when my shower breaks, and night after night I have to slip into his house to use the bathroom only to find him in the kitchen, staring me down with those hungry, single dad eyes. 

ONE-CLICK YOUR COPY TODAY!

https://mybook.to/ThePathToLovingHim

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I have been waiting for Meghan Quinn to give Ryland Rowley a happily ever after, and she did exactly that with the last book in her Almond Bay series.

Gabby and Ryland complemented each other perfectly. From their hot one-night stand, the awkwardness of discovering he is her new landlord, his shock that she is his new assistant coach, to them falling in love, this book was just perfect. I loved every moment of these two together, from start to finish. Both of these characters had troubled childhoods, and I loved how they connected over that. One of my favorite scenes is the vulnerability Ryland showed during his lame attempt to break things off with Gabby, and how she just loved him through the rough spot.

This book had all the spice and humor that I love in a Meghan Quinn book, and so much heart. I was full-blown crying when Bennett got called up to the majors, when Hattie and Hayes got engaged, when Mack started calling Ryland “Uncle Dad…” I cried as hard as I laughed with this book.

And the epilogue… the epilogue!! What an amazing wrap-up for this series!

Narrators Sebastian York and Samantha Brentmoor read this story in dual narration, bringing these vibrant characters to life with their top-notch storytelling.

I know this is the last of the Almond Bay books, but I really hope that Ryland’s best friend, Abel, finds his soulmate in another series someday! And I wouldn’t at all mind seeing Bennett and Bauer as the main characters in an older woman/younger man book. *Pretty please, Meghan*

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

A person sitting on a couch

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

ABOUT MEGHAN QUINN:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Never miss another NEW RELEASE, text READ to 474747.

Connect w/ Meghan:

Website: https://authormeghanquinn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanquinnbooks/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn

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Sunny Shelly’s Review: All The Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫, 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚!

𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒇, 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑.

𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥—𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥.  

𝘕𝘰𝘸, 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.  

𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺.  

𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘳 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘺’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳.  

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘺’𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴, 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯. 𝘚𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺, 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘺’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘨’𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺…

Grab your copy from any retailer here! → https://geni.us/ATMPAll

Read on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited! → https://geni.us/ATMPAmzn

Grab the Audio here! → https://geni.us/ATMPAudio

Snag the Deluxe Ed w/Sprayed Edges → https://geni.us/ATMPDeluxe

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Five-plus stars for All The Missing Pieces! I have been reading Catherine Cowles’ books for a while now, and I always appreciate how she mixes emotion and romance with suspense. All The Missing Pieces was a perfect blend of all three elements as Colt and Ridley went from barely being able to stand the sight of each other to falling in love. (Oh, I can’t forget the perfect names her characters come up with for one another, like Chaos and Law Man!)

After losing her twin sister, Ridley has made it her life’s mission to try to help other families gain a sense of peace that she doesn’t have. She’s a popular true crime podcaster who investigates cold cases, sometimes successfully helping law enforcement find a new angle to solve the case. That is what brings her to Shady Cove — and because the unsolved case she’s tracking actually involves a victim, Emerson, who managed to get away, Ridley and her poking around are not exactly welcomed.

Colt and Ridley definitely get off on the wrong foot, but that makes their falling in love so much sweeter. Because the chemistry between those two was off the charts! While her being in Shady Cove is stirring up all kinds of emotions in him, and bringing things to light that his family would much rather leave in the dark, it also helps him heal and move past the trauma that he and his family lived through.

All The Missing Pieces was beautifully written, from start to finish. Colt and Ridley captured my attention from the first moment they met — fighting over her cat Tater, who was left unattended in her van — to the very last page. As I fell in love with the main characters, I also fell in love with the supporting players in the story — especially Emerson and her resilience. (I can’t wait to see her get her own HEA as this series continues!) The suspense component of this story had me guessing all the way, and I never suspected the twist that the story took!

Sebastian York and Andi Arndt narrated the audio for this book, and they did a phenomenal job. I loved listening to the way SebYo said “Chaos,” and how the vulnerability he brought to the character of Colt. Likewise, Andi was so colorful in her portrayal of Ridley

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca and voluntarily left a review.

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Sunny Shelly’s Review: Beautiful Crazy by A James

BEAUTIFULLY CRAZY by A James is AVAILABLE NOW

Blurb:

As a single mom with my hands and heart full, finding love is the last thing on my mind.

Then Everett Windward comes along.

My new neighbor is charming, handsome, and sexy—and before I know it, I have a new friend…with benefits.

Fun and filthy benefits.

There’s just one problem—He’s also my son’s teacher.

That alone should have me pumping the brakes… except it doesn’t. I’m drawn to him and to the way he makes me feel. Everett has a filthy side that has reignited something inside of me that I haven’t felt in years.

Something I thought I lost.

But there are rules…

My son can’t know.

No sleeping over.

And absolutely no feelings involved.

But as time goes on, it becomes impossible to ignore the butterflies in my stomach when I catch him looking at me, or when I watch him play ball with my son day after day.

Before I know it, he’s so intertwined in our lives, and I can no longer deny the desire to break the very rules that I put into place to begin with.

But it’s not just my feelings I have to consider.

I can see how quickly my son is becoming attached to him. See the way he yearns for that father figure in his life.

We have experienced enough hurt and loss to last a lifetime. Can I really open up our hearts, knowing the risk I’m taking?

Buy Link:

https://geni.us/beautifulcrazy

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Beautiful Crazy is the first book I’ve read by Ashley James, and this was such a cute, heartfelt small-town — with a lot of spice and a very dirty-talking MC!

After inheriting his late grandmother’s house, Everett moves from Seattle to Blossom Beach, SC. He keeps crossing paths with Gemma: at the beach, at the cafe, at his hotel, and eventually discovering that they are neighbors. Fate puts them in each other’s paths once again when Everett turns out to be her son Sutton’s new teacher. As a friendship forms between Everett and Sutton, the sizzling chemistry grows between him and Gemma.

A friends-with-benefits situationship soon develops into so much more. I thought these characters really had a great connection, and I enjoyed seeing how their relationship progressed. The story is low angst, but there are high emotional stakes with Everett’s toxic relationship with his dad and Gemma grieving her late husband. Everett was such a solid support for Gemma as she navigated how to move on with a new relationship, and stepped up for Sutton in so many ways.

I binged this audio on a Sunday, listening to Connor Crais and his smoldering baritone as I put away Christmas decorations and did laundry. Likewise, Samantha Brentmoor was also a great narrator in telling Gemma’s story (complete with her Southern accent).

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Ashley James:

Ashley James is a romance author who enjoys writing (and reading) LGBTQIA+ books. She is from Washington State—and no, not Seattle—and currently resides in South Carolina with her two kids and hairless kitties, Goose, Maverick, and Houston. Ashley is introverted and slightly (okay, majorly) awkward. She refuses to make this section sound like a tacky dating app profile, so she won’t be telling you how much she enjoys music, how she thoroughly enjoys dancing and singing in her kitchen, despite not being able to carry a tune, and she won’t be telling you about her love of toxic and broken fictional men.


Connect with Ashley James:

https://authorashleyjames.com/links/

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Sunny Shelly’s Review: War by Brittanee Nicole

WAR by Brittanée Nicole is AVAILABLE NOW!

Blurb:

I’ve never been a good bet.

I wear my emotions on my tattoo-covered sleeve, I say all the wrong things and I revel in pissing off a certain redhead far more than I should. In other words, I’m the last person the court would choose to parent any child, let alone three of them.

Yet being their father is all I want.

So when the woman I love to hate offers to help make all my dreams come true, I jump at the chance. Marrying Ava is a convenient solution: she’s my kids favorite person and the court will absolutely approve of the woman who runs the biggest charity in Boston.

But there is nothing convenient about the way I feel when she fights with me, or when we kiss. And I’m not sure which I enjoy more.

This marriage may have a time limit but I’m beginning to think I’d like to keep my wife. She’ll probably fight me on it, but as they say, all’s fair in love and war.

Buy Link:

https://a.co/d/9Rpd5jZ

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Tyler Warren is a tattooed hockey god with a heart of gold. I absolutely loved the plot of this book being a single guy (a pro athlete, no less!) wanting to adopt three kids on his own. Enter the marriage pact between Tyler and Ava.

Both Tyler and Ava have a lot of emotional baggage — he always felt like he wasn’t really a fit in his father’s life, and she was literally conceived to be a donor for her sister, a la My Sister’s Keeper. Ava never wanted to have kids of her own as a result, so it was sweet seeing her become the maternal figure for Brayden, Josie and Scarlett, and how the three kids changed her mindset about being a parent.

One complaint about this book/series: So I’ve read two books in this series now (#1 and #3) and while I always love and appreciate a found family group, there were a lot of characters and I had trouble keeping tabs on who was with whom. It also took me about 1/4 of the way before I really got into this story because I felt like I was missing part of it. Yeah, he stood her up (not meaning to, but because Brayden needed help) two years earlier. But did she ever give him a chance to explain? That’s why she hated him for two years? They had a common circle of friends, so they were around each other often, but I didn’t really get why Ava hated Tyler so much. It was a case of being told, not shown, which is a pet peeve of mine.

Overall, I thought this book was very well done. As much as this was a spicy romance novel, it was also a well-thought-out family story; Brittanee Nicole did a great job handling the adoption part of the story. Tyler is totally a reformed playboy who becomes a big cinnamon roll around his wife (aka Vicious) and the kids. Ava is a feisty firecracker, and I loved the banter between the two.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Brittanée Nicole:

Brittanee is an author who lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two children. Her town is a character in itself in all of her books. 

When she is not writing she enjoys spending time outdoors by the water with her children, reading at the beach or by the pool (or really anywhere), dancing with her friends, singing Karaoke, spinning, bike riding and boating. 

Some of her favorite authors are Sophia Kinsella, Elin Hilderbrand, Liane Moriarty, Mary Higgins Clark, Meghan Quinn, Daphne Elliott, Amy Alves, Claire Kingsley, Melanie Harlow, Christina Lauren, Sally Thorne and Sarah Adams. (Clearly, she has a problem and can’t pick favorites.)

Connect with Brittanée Nicole:

https://linktr.ee/brittaneenicoleauthor/

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Sunny Shelly’s Review: Forbidden Dreams by Natasha Madison

FORBIDDEN DREAMS by Natasha Madison is AVAILABLE NOW!

Blurb:

When the single mom moves in next door, it’s your enemy’s soon-to-be ex-wife.

Lines are drawn, and I have to remember not to cross them.

Brady

For once, my life was calm.

Behind us was the threat our distillery was going to be shut down.

Now we could focus on growing our brand exactly the way I dreamed of doing it when I took it over.

Nothing was going to stop me.

Until she moved in next door.

My enemy’s wife with her seven-year-old son.

I don’t need this right now.

But everything inside me pulled me toward her.

Even offering her a job. Little did I know, again, I was starting a war.

However, I’m ready for it this time.

Harmony

It was no secret my husband had a wandering eye.

Leaving him shouldn’t have been a shock to anyone.

For Winston, it was more about failing at something that got under his skin.

Besides, he had to make his parents happy.

Which means he’s going to make my life unhappy.

When the pounding starts at my door one night, I’m ready to ignore it.

Until the stranger next door comes to our aid.

He’s everything you want in a man.

I know I shouldn’t involve anyone else in my life.

But maybe it’s time for me to see what dreams are made of.

Pre-Order Link:

https://books2read.com/KUForbiddenDreamsNM

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

The second book in the Dream series, Forbidden Dream follows Brady (Autumn’s brother from Shattered Dreams) and Harmony Cartwright, who is a single mom trying to get divorced from Winston Cartwright. Yep, Winston is the stuck-up brother of Autumn’s horrible ex, who died in the car accident that took place before this series began. And he is a real piece of work…

Harmony moves next door to Brady, trying to piece her life back together and create a safe space for her son, Wyatt. But Winston and his parents do not make it easy for her. Despite his initial reaction to not get involved, Brady steps in to be Harmony’s knight in shining armor more than once. They don’t start off on the best foot, but their friendship grows when Brady reluctantly gives Harmony a job serving tables at his bar… and then things really take off.

It’s kind of a slow burn until it hits Brady all at once that he’s been waiting to have someone like Harmony in his life. When he moves them into his house to keep them safe from her ex, it strikes Brady just how much Harmony and Wyatt have made his house a home. Brady gives Harmony and Wyatt the home life they never had with Winston, and they in turn bring color to his world, as he tells her. There are some really swoony moments between these two characters, and I equally loved how he developed a sweet relationship with Wyatt. He never set out to be Wyatt’s father, but was more of a dad to that kid than Winston ever was. I loved seeing their bond grow, and how this trio becomes a family!

I also *loved* the cameos by Ryleigh (as Harmony’s lawyer), the scary uncles Max & Matthew, and Autumn’s grandfather-in-law, Charlie’s Pops, Casey Barnes! They are a scary bunch and they made me laugh!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Natasha Madison:

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

Connect with Natasha Madison:

https://linktr.ee/natashamauthor