How to Kiss Your Best Friend

   

How to Kiss Your Best Friend
(Hawthorne Brothers, #1)

by Jenny Proctor

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Publication Date: May 24, 2022
Publisher: Four Petal Press
Pages: 307
ISBN: 9798830887472
Genre: Contemporary | Romance
Source: ARC (ebook)

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Available for Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Synopsis: Kate and Brody have been best friends forever. They were practically inseparable as kids but then Kate took off to travel the world and be a journalist. Brody has finally decided to move on once and for all but then Kate shows up back in town (temporarily) and his old feelings start to surface. Can Brody convince Kate to stay once and for all?

Review: Omg!  This is just the cutest love story ever. I am a sucker for friends-to-lovers and small-town romance. This entire story gave me total Hallmark movie vibes. I love the dual POV, I find that makes the story more relatable when you can see inside both characters instead of it being just one-sided.

I love the relationship Brody has with his brothers. His family felt very relatable and I was instantly drawn into their dynamic. The fact that there is going to be an entire series with his brothers makes me giddy. Can those all be available now? Mmkay, thanks! I couldn't put this book down, I just devoured it and it gave me all the feels. Seriously, could Brody be any sweeter?! He is just adorably perfect.

“I thought about you every day, Kate,” he says softly into my hair. "I never stopped thinking about you."
― Jenny Proctor, How to Kiss Your Best Friend

I can't even adequately explain how much I love this book. The story might be closed-door romance but it is not lacking in steam. This was my first Jenny Proctor book and it definitely won't be my last, I will read anything she writes, that's how good it is.

Overall I give this book 4 stars because I loved the plot, I enjoyed the character development, and the storyline was very engaging. I can't wait to see what happens next in this series.

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The Fate She Sees

      

The Replacement Wife

by Allie Davies

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Publication Date: Mar 9, 2022
Publisher: Alison Glossop
Pages: 315
ISBN: 9781739727918
Genre: Thriller | Suspense | Psychological
Source: ARC (ebook)

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Synopsis: Emily is struggling. She has been dealing with something traumatic while also trying to salvage her fractured marriage. She knows her husband is withdrawing more and more so she hires a private investigator to follow him and uncover his secrets. But then strange things start to happen to her. Late one night on the Tube, Emily encounters a man who claims to be psychic and asks to read her palm. At first, Emily is reluctant but then at the last minute, she changes her mind. The psychic predicts that within a month three people will betray her and that he mentions that he sees a gun pointed at her head. Emily originally doubts the man and his predictions, that is until they start coming true.

Emily starts trying to put the pieces together to figure out what her husband is really up to, who is the mysterious person that seems to be following her and hanging outside her house, and who is this psychic really?

Review: I'm shocked that this is Allie's debut novel. The writing is really good, what a fantastic debut novel. I ended up plowing through this book because every time I got to the end of one chapter, I had to keep going to see what the next chapter would bring.

I love when the narrator is unreliable. Especially when other factors come into play such as alcohol or in this case, going off anti-depressants cold-turkey. It makes it incredibly hard to trust the character and as a reader, you spend a lot of time wondering what is real and what isn't. I spent the entire time trying to figure out and guess what was happening, trying to put all the pieces of this puzzle back together to see the full picture. This is one of those books where you think you understand the connections and bigger picture, but when you get to the end you realize you had it very wrong. 

“They whisper in hard tones, probably hoping they cannot be heard over the thunderous rumble of the Tube. It's obvious they are in the midst of a heated discussion. He's staring into her eyes. I recognise the forced expression that appears on his face when he says, 'There's no one else.' Yes, I know that look.”
― Allie Davies, The Fate She Sees

I really enjoyed Emily's character. She was very relatable and it was easy to get sucked into her mind and experience her feelings. 

Overall I give this book 3.5 stars because I loved the plot, I enjoyed the character development, and the storyline was very engaging. I can't wait to see what Allie writes next.

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The Replacement Wife

    

The Replacement Wife

by Darby Kane

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Publication Date: Dec 28 2021
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780063119680
Genre: Thriller | Suspense | Psychological
Source: Library

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Synopsis: Elisa is desperately trying to put her life back together after a horrific accident. She tries to avoid the past trauma and horrible memories by being a devoted wife and attentive mother. They live in a quiet idyllic town on the outskirts of the city and are well-known members of the community.

Not only is Elisa trying to put her life back together following the trauma of the past, but she is also desperate to find her missing friend, Abby, who also happens to be her brother-in-law's fiance. Abby has been missing for several months and the police have ruled her disappearance as a runaway and believe nothing sinister happened. Elisa won't let it go and begins snooping around trying to figure out where Abby went but as she unlocks clues about her family's past, she begins to realize that she doesn't like what she finds. All signs point to Josh being a murderer, after all, he has one dead wife and a missing fiance. Then enters Rachel, Josh's new girlfriend. Elisa is appalled that Josh would begin dating so quickly after Abby's disappearance and she decides that Rachel is really in danger and she will stop at nothing to protect her from Josh's womanizing/murderous ways. 

Review: This book is such a head trip. The entire time I kept saying out loud, "What is happening?!" because it's so hard to wrap your brain around what is going on. The narrator is unreliable so the entire story is told from her distorted view which makes your head spin.

This entire book is filled with manipulation, gaslighting, lies, and delusions. It's absolutely perfect at making you question everything. I can't even adequately describe the amount of gaslighting in this book - it made me stop multiple times and question whether the narrator was becoming unhinged or if she was being manipulated.

“That’s how grief works. Grief, depression, trauma. They overwhelm. They’re louder than the good things happening in your life. You can’t compartmentalize the darker aspects and put them in a box and think they won’t leach into the rest of your life.”
― Darby Kane, The Replacement Wife

Overall I give this book 4 stars because the story is the epitome of what a true psychological thriller is meant to be and it keeps you hooked until the very end.

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February 2022 TBR

Happy first day of February, bookworms!

I am so excited to put January behind me and move on to February, which will hopefully be a better month! What a tough month January was! Thankfully I was still able to reach my reading goal so I am still on track for the year. I had a hard time picking what to read for February - there are so many good books I want to get to and I am hoping I have time to read more than four, but we’ll see. Here’s what I hope to read in February:

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelle-Dale

Here's to hoping for a great reading month! What about you? What are you reading this month?

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January 2022 Book Haul & Wrap Up

It's the end of a month which means a quick recap on my reading goal and book haul. I can’t believe January is almost over. Is it just me or did it seem to go by really fast for everyone else too? This month was a super small book haul month for me, I guess I was just preoccupied with everything else going on.  

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Who else is excited to put this month behind them?! January has been a rough month in our house. Lot’s of tears and stress but I am hopeful February will bring calmer times and less stress. It’s crazy how this month seemed to fly by but also at the same time, felt like forever. Thankfully I had a good reading month though! 

 This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

The Fastest Way To Fall by Denise Williams

Night Came with Many Stars by Simon Van Booy

 Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster

How did you do with your monthly reading goal? Did you hit it or fall short? What about your January book haul? Did you get anything really awesome?

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*New Release!* Cream and Punishment by Susannah Nix

   

BOOK TITLE: Cream and Punishment

SERIES: King Family #2

AUTHOR: Susannah Nix

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

TROPES: Second Chance, Coworkers/Office Romance, Cinnamon Roll Hero, Small Town, Big Family

RELEASE DATE: January 18, 2022

~ BLURB ~

She’s not just my ex-girlfriend. She’s my new coworker.

I knew Lucy Dillard was The One the first time I met her. Yes, I’m enough of a sap to believe in love at first sight. When I fell for Lucy, I fell hard. Everything was great between us—until the moment she dumped me.

Now I just want to forget about her. Instead, I’m stuck staring at her face all day. But I need this job, so I’ll find a way to be civil and professional.

There’s just one small problem: I’m nowhere close to being over her.

First, we were lovers. Then enemies. Now we’re trying to work together.

I didn’t set out to break Tanner King’s heart, but you know what they say about the road to hell.

I’ve got too many responsibilities and no room in my life for love. I can deal with Tanner’s resentment until he starts working at the desk directly across from mine. Obviously, a truce of some kind is required. We’re both grownups. We can handle this situation like professionals.

There’s only one thing threatening this fragile peace we’ve negotiated: all these inconvenient feelings I apparently still have for him.

Cream and Punishment is book #2 in the King Family series set in the small town of Crowder, Texas, home of the King’s Creamery ice company. Each book is a standalone, full-length contemporary romance that follows one of the six King siblings as they find and fight for love.

 

UNIVERSAL LINK: https://books2read.com/CreamAndPunishment

EBOOK LINKS
AMAZON: https://geni.us/amznCAP
APPLE: https://geni.us/appleCAP
NOOK: https://geni.us/nookCAP
KOBO: https://geni.us/koboCAP
GOOGLE: https://geni.us/googleCAP

AUDIOBOOK LINKS
AUDIBLE US: https://adbl.co/3ew6fse
AUDIBLE UK: https://adbl.co/3Hk0iuv
AMAZON: https://geni.us/audioCAPamzn



AUTHOR LINKS:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Susannah_Nix

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@susannahnix

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/susannah_nix

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susannah-nix

Website: http://www.susannahnix.com



AUTHOR BIO:

Susannah Nix is a RITA® Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of rom-coms and contemporary romances who lives in Texas with her husband. On the rare occasions she's not writing, she can be found reading, knitting, lifting weights, drinking wine, or obsessively watching Ted Lasso on repeat to stave off existential angst.

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The Fastest Way to Fall

   

The Fastest Way to Fall

by Denise Williams

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Publication Date: Nov 2 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 361
ISBN: 9780593101926
Genre: Romance | Contemporary | Adult Fiction
Source: Library

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Available for Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Synopsis: Britta has spent the last few years working for a lifestyle website. There is a new position open to be a full-time writer and Britta desperately wants it. Unfortunately, Claire, Britta's coworker, also has her eyes on it. The pair find themselves testing out two competing fitness apps and blogging about the experience in the hopes of winning over their boss.

Wes is the CEO of FitMe, a body-positive fitness app that includes a personal coach/trainer, but despite his success, he feels that his life lacks purpose. He decides to go back to what he loves - being one of the coaches. Britta is assigned to him as his first new client and they immediately hit it off.

Britta didn't plan to fall for Wes but after the pair started working out and meeting in person, it's hard to deny the chemistry and for them to remain professional.

Review: This book is everything. It is the absolute perfect romcom and Denise's storytelling is pure gold. I loved the body positivity of this book, it actually made me want to start being healthier and working out. Britta and Wes are so loveable and you can't help but root for them and their happy ever after.

The character development is fantastic in this book. Britta is such a strong female. She is bold, sarcastic, witty, I could just go on and on about her. I'm not sure how someone could read this book and not want to be Britta? She is adorable! 

I loved that Britta and Wes formed a connection on an emotional level first. They became friends and even though the chemistry was present, it wasn't really introduced until later on. I loved that it was relatable and not just full of lust and chemistry (which I do also enjoy).

“I want you to be my everything, because it feels like you already are”
― Denise Williams, The Fastest Way to Fall

Overall I give this book 4 stars because I enjoyed it so much, it's inspirational and motivational. It's just such a fantastic feel-good romance.

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January 2022 TBR

Happy first day of January, bookworms!

I can’t believe it’s already a brand new year which means the beginning of a brand new reading challenge. It feels strange to be “starting over” with my reading - I swear it was just October? Anyways, I am going to stick to my goal from last year and keep it at 52 books. I’m obviously hoping to surpass that but ultimately I will be happy if I finish one book a week - that’s also probably more realistic for me. Here’s what I hope to read in January:

The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams

Hooked by Suton Foster

Night Came with Many Stars by Simon Van Booy

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

Here's to hoping for a great reading month! What about you? What are you reading this month?

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