Dear Heart, I Miss You is the conclusion to Dia and Finn’s story from Dear Heart, I Hate You and isn’t a standalone because there is a lot of backstory necessary from IHY to know before diving into IMY.
Wow. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s told in two parts: the end of high school and then the summer after Dia’s freshman year of college. The book starts where IHY left off after Dia is sent Finn’s sex tape. And while they work through that road bump in their relationship, a much, much bigger obstacle is thrown their way a few weeks later. Faced with the demons of his past and panicked about his future, Finn takes off without a trace.
A year later, Dia is dating someone new when Finn resurfaces. And she is not happy to see him. He abandoned her. (Or so she thought!) Will she give Finn the opportunity to explain what happened and prove to her that he really has changed?
I have to admit, the Finn in this book is not the cocky teen that we met in IHY. This really is a redemption story. He’s done the work on improving himself, and his pain really comes across in the regret he has for what happened the night of the accident and how he lost Dia. For her part, Dia does not make it easy for him when it comes to winning her back. It’s a rocky road, but a lovely journey as these two find a way to forgive themselves for their individual pasts and forge a new future together.
There is also some family fallout with both of their parents that are handled well in this book as well, so the story goes beyond just Finn and Dia’s reconnection. For those who previously read Dear Heart, I Love You, there’s a sweet continuation of Xavier and Aveena’s storyline as well.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Eliah Greenwood
Eliah Greenwood is a Canadian author, proud Wattpad Star, Fiction Awards 2018 Winner, coffee addict and cliché with a twist lover!
She started her writing journey on a website called Wattpad at the age of fifteen. She wrote the majority of her first book Unwritten Rules on the bus on her way home from school. When her debut gathered 31,000,000 reads on the platform, she decided to self-publish the trilogy that set so many hearts, including hers, on fire.
When she’s not writing and screaming at her computer screen, you can find her binge watching her favourite TV shows on repeat or reading in a warm blanket.
She is currently working on her fifth book. It is expected to come out in 2021.
To learn more about Eliah and her books, visit here!
Happily engaged. Fulfilled by a lucrative career. Addison McCormick thought she had it all—until she caught her soon-to-be-husband cheating.
Forced to start anew, Addison decides a vacation is just what she needs to escape the wreckage of her life in LA, and serene Colorado is calling her name.
What she doesn’t expect to find is Chase Prescott: the sexy, brooding neighbor at the cabin she’s renting. She sees him as nothing more than a vacation boyfriend, a quick and dirty fling to help her get over her recent heartbreak.
But when that spontaneity leads to the surprise of her life, Addison discovers that Chase’s mysterious allure isn’t just a front, and that he has a secret that will change everything.
What happens when the fantasy they created crashes head-on with their harsh reality? Can Addison find her new place in a world she might not be welcomed?
The In Between Duet is the first book I’ve read by Amanda Cuff, and I very much enjoyed Addison and Chase’s story. I didn’t think it needed to be spread out in a duet, but I was glad that both books released on the same day so that I could continue straight through with both parts!
In All That Lies Between Us, Addison’s life has been turned upside down when she found out her fiance cheated on her and her dad pretty much then writes her off for not putting up the front of the perfect, dutiful daughter. It’s almost a blessing in disguise because Addison was bored with her life as an attorney and she’d just been going through the motions with her fiance.
Addison drags her best friend, Olivia, along for a spur-of-the-moment trip to Colorado to get away from it all and reset… And finds herself resetting with Chase, the guy who owns the cabin next door.
Chase has some secrets and we don’t know what those are in All that Lies Between Us. There’s a reason he’s so hesitant to get involved with Addison, despite how much he immediately likes her. They embark on a week-long fling while Addison is in town, both of them knowing that whatever is between them has an expiration date.
But when an emergency takes Chase away and back to his “real life” sooner than expected, will his abrupt departure break Addison more than finding out her fiance cheated on her did?
This first book is a lot of setup, I felt. I really felt the spark between Chase and Addison came across on the page, but there wasn’t a lot of “meat” to their story. Well, keep on going for book two….
All That Lies Ahead is the conclusion to the In Between duet, and picks up where All That Lies Between Us left off. It’s been a few weeks since Addison and Chase had a steamy vacation fling, and now they are back to their real lives. And their real lives are complicated.
When Addison has to track Chase down at his family’s business, she knows that she will be delivering some big news to him. And she gets some shocking news in return. This story took a twist I didn’t see coming, and it was not a traditional take on this particular trope! As much as this story was about Addison and Chase trying to make their relationship work among his obligations, it is also about sacrifice and knowing that life can change in an instant.
This story was so full of love — romantic love, friendship, making a family of your own choosing. It warmed my heart despite the sadness of this story. I was on a rollercoaster of emotions reading the conclusion to this story, but it was as beautiful as it was heartbreaking.
I hope that Olivia and Drake get a book of their own, because I am totally shipping them!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Amanda Cuff
Amanda is a mom of four and military wife living wherever the government dictates. She squeezes writing time in between mountains of laundry, taxi mom duties, and stuffing her face with carbs. She never turns down a strong margarita, her husband’s cooking, or a good Netflix binge.
To learn more about Amanda and her books, visit here!
Could Hutton French and I actually be right for each other, or is it all just one big tease?
TEASE, an all new sizzling friends to lovers, fake engagement small town romantic comedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is now available!
I didn’t mean to say I was engaged to a hot billionaire–it just slipped out.
In my defense, I’d had a really bad haircut, a really strong drink, and I was trying to save face in front of the Mean Girl at my high school reunion.
Lucky for me, I happen to know a hot billionaire. Hutton French and I have been friends forever, and even though big social gatherings are not his thing, I called him from the coat closet and begged him for a favor–show up and play my fake fiancé for the night.
Except that word of our engagement spreads like wildfire. Our families are ecstatic. We’re front page news. My little food blog is launched into the stratosphere.
Of course, I offer to set the record straight right away, but Hutton wants to give it a little time–the phony engagement will keep his matrimony-mad mother and every matchmaking granny in town off his back.
He even suggests I move in with him to make the ruse more real.
And we don’t stop there.
We practice kissing. Undressing each other. Saying things–and doing things–we’d never dare if we weren’t pretending. Because it’s all for show, right? We’re just role-playing. Hutton doesn’t want a real relationship, and I don’t want to get hurt. But the more time we spend faking it, the more I start to wonder.
Could Hutton French and I actually be right for each other, or is it all just one big tease?
“Want something to drink? Whiskey or scotch?” “No, thanks. Mostly I just want to take these heels off.” “Leave them on.” I was already bending down to unbuckle one ankle strap. I looked up and saw him standing there with his glass in his hand. “What?” “Leave them on. And come over here.” I straightened up and took one tiny step. “On your hands and knees.” My breath caught. I could feel his eyes on me. Instantly I understood what this was, and even though I was a little nervous, I wanted to play along. I wanted to please him this way. The only problem was, I wasn’t entirely sure I could get to my knees in this tight dress. But I said a quick prayer and dropped to my knees on the carpet in one smooth motion. Thankfully, the dress material had some stretch, and the seams didn’t pop. “Good girl,” he said quietly, igniting a firestorm in my blood that surprised me. “Now come here.” My heart thrummed fast and loud as I lowered my palms to the floor and slowly closed the distance between us. I’d never done anything like this in my life—who am I right now?—but I liked the way it made me feel. Tempting. Seductive. Alluring. I’d never thought of myself that way before, but here and now, in this tight little black dress with the red satin heels, crawling toward a gorgeous, powerful man in a suit in our Manhattan hotel suite? My billionaire fake fiancé? It was easy to imagine I wasn’t myself at all. When I reached his feet, I sat back on my heels and looked up. Our eyes met. His lean, muscular silhouette looked imposing above me. Even that rebel lock of hair had been tamed into submission tonight. He took another sip of his drink and set the glass on the table. Pulled the chair at the head of the table aside. Loosened the knot in his tie. “Are you okay?” “Yes.” “If there’s a point tonight where you are not, you should tell me.” He slipped the tie from his collar. I swallowed hard. “Like a safe word?” His mouth hooked up on one side. His hand freed the top button of his shirt. “You already have a safe word?” “No,” I said quickly. “I’ve never needed one before.” “You do now.” He undid a second button. “So what will it be?” Of course, I couldn’t fucking think of anything, and I panicked. “Roy Kent,” I blurted. He cocked his head, his hand still on his shirt. “Who’s Roy Kent?” “Never mind. I’ll think of another one.” Do not say Oklahoma. Do not say bumblebee. I racked my brain for something else. “Romeo,” I said breathlessly. “That’s what I’ll say. Romeo.” He set his tie on the table and offered me a hand. Placing my palm in his, I rose to my feet. “Is anything going to hurt?” I asked, picturing whips, chains, ball gags, metal cuffs and clamps, shiny rubber gloves. “I don’t need to inflict pain to feel in control, if that’s what you’re asking.” “Okay. Should I—” But that was all I got out because he spun me around and clamped a hand over my mouth, pressing his body tight against my back.
The best friends romance trope is one of my current faves, and Melanie Harlow did a fantastic job with Felicity and Hutton’s story in Tease. Felicity and Hutton are totally relatable characters, and their story is full of angst and does-he-like-me-too feelings of insecurity, and so much sweetness and swoon. There’s also the added layer of both characters suffering from anxiety, which I thought MH handled brilliantly in how it affected each of their reactions with other people and one another.
I devoured this heart-warming tale of two best friends who were afraid to cross the line but were so clearly meant for one another. And wow, does Hutton know how to take control *wink, wink*
Tease is a next-generation book in MH’s Cloverleigh series, and it is a standalone. But there are some great little moments with some of the other couples from this series and obviously Felicity’s parents, Mack and Frannie, from the OG series.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Melanie Harlow USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like Ted, Lasso, Schitt’s Creek, and Fleabag. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the BELLAMY CREEK series, the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, and the FRENCHED series. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
When your best friend growing up is a girl, that’s the song your classmates taunt you with over and over again. But it was never like that… until now.
It’s always been Clara and me. She’s the only one who truly knows me. After I was drafted into the NFL and ended up the starting quarterback for the San Francisco Kingsmen, I begged her to come with me. But she had her own life and responsibilities back in our small Alaskan town, so I didn’t fault her for staying.
We remained the best of friends despite the distance. I’d hang with her in Alaska during the off season, and she’d visit me in California while I was playing. Then, one night the lines blurred for the briefest of moments and set in motion a series of events that changed everything.
I’m not proud of the decisions I made after that fateful night, and I plan on making amends, because I need Clara back in my life. But not as my best friend—as my everything.
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!
I’ve been intrigued by Xavier and Clara’s story since the start of the Greene Family series, and My Scorned Beat Friend did not disappoint!!
All of my questions about their friendship and how it fell apart were answered — and it was a lovely journey as X and Clara repaired their friendship and eventually took a chance on love. The intervention scene with his family had me in tears; everyone knew how perfect Clara was for him, but X was so afraid to take that leap.
I appreciated how there was minimal drama from outside forces when it came to X and Clara. It was all about X needing to get over himself and setting aside his self-imposed fears when it came to their relationship.
Narrators Aaron Shedlock and Holly Warren did a fabulous job of bringing these two characters to life, and I loved escaping into this world once again!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
About the book: Theo Rothschild wasn’t a bad boy, but he wasn’t quite good either. And shy Lily Beachem was content admiring the hottest guy at Welles Academy from the comfort of her quiet corner. Until Lily’s best friend, Theo’s sister, decided two lonely souls should be together.
And maybe she was right.
Theo and Lily felt something that night they sat awake and talked for hours under the cover of the woods and a blanket of stars. But when tragedy struck their small, elite East Coast boarding school, robbing them of friendships and any hope of a normal life, being alone became the only thing that made sense.
But sometimes the deepest bonds are forged through pain, and for Theo and Lily, holding on to the threads of their connection might do more than ease their broken hearts. It may finally make them whole.
Loner is a gripping and heartbreaking story of grief, friendship, and forgiveness. Theo and Lily seemed like an unlikely match, but their shared trauma created a solid bond between them and a lovely romance was born out of their heartbreaking common tragedy.
Lily and Theo both had so much depth to their characters. After the accident, Lily really struggled with her position on the swim team, and all of those fears were wonderfully written by Ginger Scott. She felt like an outsider with her roommates, and I adored the scene where the other B’s told Lily just how much she mean to them. Theo is carrying around so much anger and hurt, and there was a lot of growth on his part as he comes to terms with what happened last summer and learns out to let it go.
Loner deals with off-page abuse and self-harm, so reader beware. Also, I’m not sure if this book is a spinoff of another series or not that I didn’t read, because I felt like there were some pieces of the backstory missing as far as the history Lily and her roommates shared with Anika. Especially the accident. Still, I enjoyed the progression of Lily and Theo’s relationship and how these two tortured and lonely souls found solace and a companion in the other.
I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily left a review.
I lie to keep a secret that would destroy everything in my life if everyone knew.
Holly is the new girl at school and my unwilling lab partner. She hates me because I’m one of the popular guys—one of the bullies who terrorize the unfortunate and the unpopular. For me, it’s who I’ve had to become to keep anyone from getting too close—close enough to see right through me.
When Holly finds out my secret, I have to do whatever it takes to keep her quiet—even if it means telling the most damaging lie of all—the one I tell myself.
“There are so many emotions in this story. It makes you laugh, cry, hope, sigh. It will take you back to your teenage years. You will relive the emotional rollercoaster of that time in your life. This is a must read that you can’t put down.” – Julie, Goodreads
“I could not stop reading this book. This is an exploration of all that motivates the young as they navigate the waters to reach adulthood along with a smattering of education. It shines a light on the invisible burdens that are not so easily recognized by the world at large. Not all handicaps are visible, and the ones we place on our own hearts may do the most damage. I think this book could start a hundred important conversations.” – Rebekah, Goodreads
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Lie That Binds after reading Amy Argent’s Embrace Tomorrow duet. But wow, what a story!
Nathan is one of the popular guys in his high school, and Holly is the newcomer in town, kind of a misfit. They have zero in common, Holly and her friends are often the butts of the jokes made by Nathan and his buddies, and Holly hates her new school at first because of it. But then she witnesses something that Nathan never wanted anyone to see, never planned for anyone outside of his brother and parents to know about. His secret is so devastating — at least to a 17-year-old — that he is willing to do anything to keep his secret. Include befriend and date Holly so she won’t share her business.
But then Nathan falls in love with Holly. And what does he do now?
Amid all the teenage angst and secrets, The Lie That Binds is a wonderful tale of the healing power of love. Despite Nathan’s lies at the onset of their relationship, there is so much beauty in how his feelings for Holly changed him, and the selfish boy’s selfless act changes everything between them. This story was quite enjoyable, and I also loved the support that Nathan and Holly got from their friends!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Hold Me Close, an all-new heartfelt, angsty and emotional novella set in the All of Me world from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Siobhan Davis, is live now!
Sons pay for the sins of their fathers…
Bodhi and Easton Lancaster O’Donoghue have grown up sheltered from the truth. Until it’s time for their parents to reveal what happened and how it shaped the events that came later.
Bodhi is quiet. An intelligent, introspective boy who hides his pain deep inside. Shattered by the harsh reality of the past, he spirals into a dark place where no one can reach him.
Easton loves his brother fiercely and has always been there for him. Despite his own grief and confusion, he tries his best to support Bodhi—even if he seems determined to push everyone away.
Vivien and Dillon knew this moment would come. Yet nothing prepared them for the massive fall-out. As Bodhi retreats, and Easton struggles, they fight hard to keep their family together.
Before history repeats itself and they suffer more devastating loss.
It was so great revisiting Dillon and Vivien in Hold Me Close! Set about seven years after the duet, this novella deals with the trials and tribulations of Dillon and Viven raising two teenage sons. This novella is not a standalone story and should be read after the All of Me duet.
Easton and Bodhi are now high schoolers, and the boys have learned the truth about their family’s scandalous past. I loved how Dillon and Vivien handled their sons’ heartache. This story is messy and chaotic and the boys are each carrying around so much hurt and anger, but Dillon and Vivien rely on one another to get through the hurricane that their family life has become. With multiple chapters from the POV of Dillon, Vivien, Bodhi and Easton, we get everbody’s take on the situation, and I loved that storytelling decision!
I thought there was a missed opportunity for Dillon to have a serious sit-down with Bodhi and talk to him about his own teenage angst. It’s alluded to, but it happens off the page and I really would have loved to have seen how that conversation went! Still, Hold Me Close was a fantastic reunion with a couple that I loved the first time around!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
About Siobhan Siobhan Davis is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Top 10 bestselling romance author. Siobhan writes emotionally intense stories with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She has sold over 1.5 million books and her titles are translated into several languages.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She lives in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
Ford and Sydney’s one-night-stand is explosive. And then his head pretty much explodes when they realize that Sydney has applied to be the nanny for Ford’s adorable daughter, Everly.
There is so much heat between these two, I needed to fan myself. And while Ford is swoony and hot and successful and all those other things that we love in the billionaire hero trope, he’s an absolute mush when it comes to his darling daughter. I could not get enough of those sweet scenes with Everly! As Ford and Sydney try their hardest to ignore the attraction between them, she is creating a wonderful bond with Everly, and I adored the relationship established between the two of them.
This book has all the feels, and kept me entertained from the prologue to the last page.
*UPDATE FOR AUDIO* I did read this book when it was first released several months ago, and had the pleasure of experiencing it all over again on audio thanks to Tor Thom and Summer Morton.
I am a new reader to this series, but I so enjoyed getting to know the Dalton brothers! I will definitely be going back to read the previous books and be on the lookout for The Intern!
I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily left a review.
USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts unique stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband and their yellow Lab. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, or devouring fabulous books.
Moments in Time is a very fitting title for this wonderful small-town, best friends, second-chance romance. It’s got the perfect balance of sexy and sweet, lots of feels, and the right amount of angst.
Jamison and Violet were best friends once upon a time, but their relationship fell apart and they fell out of touch. Violet has always been the one that got away — so when she literally falls into his lap during a lap dance at a private party, he’s determined to be a part of her life once again. And that means tracking her down in the small town where they grew up. Jami is also there to help his brother Anderson run the family campground, so reconnecting with Violet is a bonus.
I really liked the way Jami and Violet’s complicated history is drawn upon in this story as it goes back and forth from then to now. Were they dating? It was never labeled, but they were so much more than just best friends back then. It takes a while for them to move past the hurt of the past, but once they bring their relationship to the present, they are honest with each other about how they are feeling and it was lovely to see that kind of growth between them.
Moments In Time is set in the same world as The Weight of Regret. While I struggled to connect with Jami’s brother, Anderson, and Hope in that book, I am bumping it back up to the top of my TBR list after finishing Moments in Time.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet K.K. Allen
K.K. Allen is the USA TODAY Bestselling and award-winning contemporary romance author of sweet, sexy, and inspiring stories that evoke emotion at every turn.
K.K.’s debut romance novel, Up in the Treehouse, was named the Best New Adult Book of the Year by RT Book Reviews, an honor beyond belief. And she continues to take reader’s emotions on an epic ride every single time with real, layered, coming of age romance stories that will make you fall in love over and over again.
Born in Hawaii, raised in Washington, and currently residing in Florida, K.K. lives for laughs with her little dude, the great outdoors, watching football, dancing the night away, and her eclectic taste in music.
K.K. also loves connecting with her readers and attends signings when she can! You can find upcoming event dates and other information at:www.kkallen.com.
★★★★★ “It was edgy, raw, heart-stopping and highly emotional- checking all my boxes.” -BC Booklover
Blurb:
The last time I saw the only woman I’ve ever loved, we stood in a church as I tried to stop her from walking down the aisle toward the wrong man. I failed.
In the four years that have passed, she had his kid while I went on to achieve the sort of success with my band that we never could have dreamed.
I’ve sampled enough of the female population to realize no one will ever measure up to the woman who holds my heart, but she’s a mom now, and I’m unsuitable for kids.
They’ve built their life far enough away from me, but they’re coming to California. They want to see me.
My first response? No comment.
The fire that always burned between us still rages when they show up, but I should really stay away. After all, she didn’t just marry some random guy. She married my brother.
Once again, Lisa Suzanne delivers a powerful, emotional, angst-filled love triangle with No Comment. Tommy and Rachel’s story is a bumpy, wild ride full of missed opportunities, regrets, and a love that won’t die. Lisa Suzanne’s love triangles have always intrigued me, and the story between Tommy, Rachel and Eddie reminded me a bit of the triangle between Mark, Reese and Brian in the first trilogy of the Vail series. But she ups the ante with No Comment because not only is Rachel the one that got away for Tommy, but she is married to his brother Eddie and they have a child.
TW: There is some cheating involved, but I thought it’s handled in a way that flowed well with the story. It also lead to some major anticipation to see Rachel and Tommy finally reunite.
And that bonus epilogue? I cried.
This book is part of the Capital Kingsmen series, but can be read as a standalone. It is also set in the Vail world since CK is on Mark Aston’s Ashmark record label — and I LOVED the scenes between Mark and Tommy as they discussed the unique heartbreak of loving your brother’s girl.
I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily left a review.
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Sunny Shelly Reads 