Book Review: Here for the Cake by Jennifer Millikin

A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it’s a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single.

Bachelorette weekend changes everything when she runs into her old college frenemy, Klein Madigan.

Klein is still intelligent and funny, and somehow time has only made him more attractive.

Paisley is Klein’s ‘one that got away’, not that he’d ever admit it to her. A colossal misstep (and one terrible kiss) in college sealed their fate.

Or so they thought.

Klein’s an aspiring author allergic to social media. Paisley owns a digital marketing agency.

A brilliant plan is hatched: A trip across the country for a week of faking out her family in exchange for her firm marketing his work.

One hastily scrawled and signed contract on a bar napkin later, Paisley and Klein embark on a journey of tension, only one bed, and fake dating shenanigans.

Paisley’s goal is to survive the week.

Klein’s plan is to enjoy the sun, sand, and wedding cake.

But then there’s a scorching kiss to make up for that bad one in college.

And another kiss in a lighthouse during a thunderstorm. A gentle palm on Paisley’s lower back, and a reassuring hand squeeze under the table.

Everyone is convinced Klein and Paisley are the real deal, but as the week wears on, they begin to wonder if the only people they’re kidding are themselves. (From: Goodreads)

Book Review: Puck Block (Bexley U #3) by S.J. Sylvis

Ford Collins is my brother’s best friend and Bexley U’s favorite defender on the ice. Unfortunately, he feels the need to block much more than the puck.

Namely, ME and any chance I have with a guy.

Encouraged by my older brother, Ford has ruined every single date I’ve ever had. With his hot smirk and sly maneuvers, he has made it his mission to make me the most unattainable female college student in the world—that is, until I have a brush with death, and I beg him to help me.

After all, he owes me. And I’ve come to collect.

Determined to rid himself of the guilt, Ford promises to help me score a boyfriend—or two—and swears he won’t interfere.

But the more time I spend learning from one of Bexley U’s most desirable playboys, the more I start to question the real reason why he’s been sabotaging my dates over the years.

With the lingering touches, heated stares, and sizzling chemistry between us, we both know we’re playing with fire. What happens when our game of “practice” and Ford’s spicy lessons become something real that we not only need to hide from my older brother, but from each other? (From: Goodreads)

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Book Review: Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end. (From: Goodreads)

Blog Tour: Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa

Hiya, bookish peeps!

It’s me again with another blog tour! Who am I even? Today I’m featuring another contemporary, grumpy/sunshine, and best friend’s brother tropes of a romcom called “Plot Twist” by Erin La Rosa, the author of “For Butter or Worse,” one of my favorite reads in 2022. Read ahead to see what I think about this new release, will ya?

Blog Tour: What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

Hello, bookish friends!

Welcome to my blog tour for a lovely, insightful book published by Hanover Square Press, an imprint of Harper Collins, called “What You Are Looking For Is in the Library!” It’s a modern world setting Japanese award-winning bestseller and is now translated into several languages all around the world. That being said, I’m beyond thrilled to share more about the book and my overall thought with you in the following post, so sit back, relax, and let’s go!

Blog Tour: The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

Hello, bookish people!

Happy Summer! Welcome to my first blog tour of 2023!! Today I’m bringing you a lovely, light-hearted romcom by Ashley Winstead called “The Boyfriend Candidate,” which will certainly brighten up your summer. Without further ado, let’s get started, shall we?

Book Review: Heartless Boys Never Kiss (St. Mary’s #4) by S.J. Sylvis

Sloane

He’s my best friend’s brother, and he’s completely deranged.

Dark, disturbed, and hell-bent on making my life as his new tutor an actual living nightmare, he’s the enemy I should shy away from.

Secrets are locked behind my red lips, just as his are concealed by his pressed tie and crisp school uniform. We are more alike than either of us are willing to admit.

Tobias says heartless boys never kiss…

But he kissed me.

Tobias

She’s my sister’s best friend, tutor, and a liar. But her little white lies are what draw me in.

Sloane is smart-mouthed, self-righteous, and—unfortunately for me—a total knockout. She’s impossible to ignore. As my new tutor, she’s everywhere, waving notecards in my face and shoving study guides under my door.

She is bound and determined to fix me, and I’m obsessed with deciphering every last lie that floats out of her mouth.

I told Sloane that heartless boys never kiss, and after all is said and done, she’ll see just how heartless I am.

Heartless Boys Never Kiss is a full-length, complete standalone in the St. Mary’s Series! It is recommended to read the other books before this, but not necessary!

Blog Tour: For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa

Hello, everyone! First of all, thank you for stopping by! I know it’s been a while since I last participated in a blog tour but I’m beyond thrilled to share this wonderful summer read with you! By the way, I’d like to thank the one and only Harper Collins Publishers for including me in this blog tour. 🙂

Without further ado, let the party begin, shall we?

The book I’m featuring today is For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa, and I’ll share the book info, author intro, exclusive excerpt for Chapter 1, my full review, and fun recipes inspired by the story. Just keep reading!!

Book Review: Dead Girls Never Talk (St. Mary’s #3) by S.J. Sylvis

AMAZON Top 50 Bestselling Author, SJ Sylvis, brings an addictive interconnected standalone boarding school romance set in a deliciously dark world packed with angst and off-the-charts chemistry.

Cade

Loving her was like breathing air—it was hard to live without.

Journey Smith was quiet and guarded, and above all else…beautiful. When we were alone, I grew to know the girl behind the stormy eyes. Her hesitant touches and hidden smiles were reserved for me, but now they’re gone. Stolen moments of happiness were replaced with sharp barbs and fiery glares concealing her fear.

Our past was written in the stone of St. Mary’s—a past that I was not willing to repeat. But what I assumed to be the truth was nothing more than a fabrication of such.

Journey was back, but she was no longer mine.

Journey

They say time heals all wounds—unless, of course, your heart was broken by someone like Cade.

Cade Walker was elusive, part of the Rebels who ruled the halls of St. Mary’s. However, I got his playboy smile and deep dimples. When we were alone, he said all the right things–until his betrayal.

Now that I was back, we no longer stood on even ground. With every fleeting glance he gave me, my hammering heart tried to obscure my fear. Cornered in the darkened halls of St. Mary’s Boarding School, Cade demanded to know the truth.

A truth I wasn’t willing to give.

Dead Girls Never Talk is a complete standalone in the St. Mary’s Series and ends with an HEA. This book deals with subjects that some may find triggering.  (From: Goodreads)

Book Review: Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships (Love, Lists & Fancy Ships #1) by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Sometimes a yacht, a bold bucket list, and a kiss with a handsome stranger are all a person needs to dive into the deep end of life.

For the last year, yacht stewardess Jo Walker has been attempting to complete a bucket list of thirty things she wants to accomplish by her birthday. Jo has almost everything she’s ever wanted, including a condo on the beach (though she’s the youngest resident by thirty years) and an exciting job (albeit below deck) that lets her travel the world.

Jo is on track until a family tragedy turns her life upside down, and the list falls by the wayside. But when her two nieces show up unannounced with plans to stay the summer, they discover her list and insist on helping Jo finish it. Though the remaining eight items (which include running a marathon, visiting ten countries, and sleeping in a castle) seem impossible to complete in twelve weeks, Jo takes on the challenge.

When she summons the courage to complete item number five–kiss a stranger–and meets Alex Hayes, all bets are off. As her feelings for Alex intensify and Jo’s inability to confront difficult emotions about her family complicates her relationships, she must learn to quit playing it safe with her heart before she loses what matters most. (From: Goodreads)