Better Watch Out

This is going to be a different kind of book review. I could rave about this book for all the things that made it such a wonderful Christmas-time book. The Christmas movie references. New York at Christmas magic. The suspense was on point. The romantic tension between the main characters was amazing. Natalie Walters can write suspense, y’all  

But this book will forever be a favorite because at 8:00 a.m. on December 23rd, I sat next to the glittering lights of my tree with tears streaming down my face. You see, Natalie Walters didn't know it, but she wrote a representation of my life into her story. She wrote a scene that I didn't know I needed to see in a book. 

A mama and a little girl stood in a line. The little girl had purple headphones and a pink tutu. Ours are blue and that tutu is the only pink star shirt that isn't itchy. The mama had to step out of a very long line--a line that, no doubt, she had been standing in for a long time-- in order to calm her daughter down. I have stepped out of that line. The author goes on to write that the heroine calls this mama a "warrior mom," and I am crying all over again writing this line. 

I've had this book on my TBR for the last year, but just never got to it. God knew exactly when I needed to read this story. In the year of our diagnoses. In the middle of the Battle.  

Sometimes as a mama of a child with a diagnosis, I feel anything but a warrior. Each day can be a battle, but often times, I see myself waving a white flag or laying in the trenches. But Natalie. She wrote it with such grace. And guys, it was only a few paragraphs. But those few lines were enough to give me confidence that day. Enough to know that people see us as more than the mess that I feel. Enough to give my little girl a hug as we step out of the line to calm down. 

So, thank you Natalie, for writing a real story into your fictional world. I will forever be thankful for this reminder  

The Casualty of the Heart

 

"And right then, I fell off the fence I had teetered on and straight into love. With Patrick Milton of all men. What a disaster." 

Can I just begin by stating that I thoroughly enjoy the way this author writes? She has a way of telling a story that captivates my mind completely. The way she brings real life circumstances into a regency setting is beautiful. 

Now to the book...

The author weaves my favorite trope into the Season of the ton so well. The main female character has anxiety and a true dislike for crowds in a time when evening balls are on the menu almost daily. Enter the childhood rival main male character and a fake dating ruse. 

Fake Dating-in a regency book. Yes, please. And thank you. 

And to top it off, there is a mystery, twins switching places, a lost necklace, and a hilarious grand gesture.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Pick it up and enjoy the banter as Clare and Patrick learn to know each other as adults and each take their own time to realize their love for each other. 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

Loyally, Luke

This book was high on my list of MUST READS in 2024, and it did NOT disappoint. 

The first two books of this series made me fall in love with the characters, and I could not wait to see what was in store for Luke. 

Luke is a man's man. He likes flannel, Rambo, hard work, and absolutely zero Hallmark vibes. In fact, don't even use the phrase "Hallmark vibes" around him. He is not interested. But underneath his gruff exterior is a teddy bear just waiting to take care of his sisters and cousin. He has a heart of gold, but his past is holding him back from any...romance. I can just imagine my 12-year-old son's reaction to that word coming out of Luke's mouth. 😝😆

Ellie has a past that she is trying to repair and overcome. Plus, she's a royal, and I adore royal stories! I could not have picked a better love interest for Luke. Pepper did an amazing job crafting their story! 

Things I enjoyed: 

I laughed out loud SO MANY times in this book. I enjoyed the way Luke helps Ellie with her bucket list. The renovations for the orphanage and how the characters interact with the kids was beautiful. Hidden Identity. Luke's protection of Ellie. The meddling shop owners. Redemption. The chime. The Hallmark references and tropes. Getting to hear from Izzy and Penelope again. All of it. I could go on and on. 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

A Royal Promise

Drew and Bri have been best friends since childhood. The only problem, Drew is in love with Bri, and she has no idea. When Drew's parents try to force him into an arranged marriage with a woman he can't stand, he brings up The Marriage Pact from their youth. 

Did I forget to mention this was a royal story with a fake engagement? 

This is a royal story with a fake ENGAGEMENT! 

I adored everything about this story. The space references. The hiking. The bracelet. Childhood friends learning new things about each other's personality. Watermelon. All the sweet gestures that Drew does for Bri. Bastian-he may have been my favorite character of the book. :) 

I enjoyed Bri's character development throughout the book and her journey to not only fall in love with her best friend but also realize her place in this world. 

I cannot recommend this book enough! This entire series has been incredible. I promise that you will enjoy A Royal Promise. 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

Resorting to Romance

"The real me loving the real you."

I think by now we all know how fake dating in a romance book ends, and I'm always here for it. But wow. Savannah Scott wrote this one to perfection. Kai is so straight-laced that fake dating is the last thing I expected from his character. "I'm a rule follower." But he also has a protective streak that cannot be denied. When Mila is faced with her past, Kai steps in to be a friend and shield. This book is filled with a "will they ever realize what everyone else already knows" vibe that was fun and captivating. Mila is a single mom and business owner and has written off dating until her son is older. Kai's love for Mila's son is quite possibly my favorite aspect of his character. He doesn't want to overstep, but he also wants Noah to have that father-figure in his life. He isn't afraid of the responsibility that comes with caring for him. It's just...love. 

And the pantry scene. I can't spoil it for you--but it's by far one of my favorite "he takes care of her" moment that I've read lately.   

The joy in this series for me is the friendships between the men of the books. Ben, Bodhi, Cameron, and Kai share a great dynamic and tell it like it is but always with a silly, over-dramatic Ben. The author weaves their lives together in a beautiful "let's do life together" community that I think everyone longs for. 

Also-there was a homeschool representation! This doesn't happen often in my reading, and it was a fun tidbit. 

This book was a "I can't put this down until I finish it" story for me. I highly recommend you pick up this series! 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

Walking on Hidden Wings

"A place for my dreams to fly but also a steady landing place."

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"A haven for healing."

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I always enjoy discovering the words behind the titles of books. Rachel Scott McDaniel so beautifully placed meaning behind this title throughout this breathtaking story. Marriage is a place to dream your biggest dreams-knowing that the other person will support you and even dream with you. But it's also a place to sit in the knowledge that you can be comfortable with your spouse at the same time. They are your steady landing place when life throws hard trials your way. Marriage -along with our Savior- can be a place to find healing and shelter from life's greatest hurts.  I love how beautifully the author expressed this covenant.

If you've been around long, you'll know I adore all things Fake Dating or Marriage of Convenience. This book had an extra special twist to the story. I don't want to spoil anything, just know that Geneva and Warren had lots of obstacles trying to destroy their marriage before it even got off the ground. Mystery. Strained relationships-in several aspects. Hidden Identity. Finding love and healing from the past. A fun Time Slip/Dual POV that I haven't seen done before. Daring adventures. And they had the best meet cute!  

As always, Rachel weaves history throughout her stories with the kind of depth that makes me want to reach for a history book. The details are rich and captivating! And now, I have a small longing to learn to fly a plane. But maybe I'll settle for flying my son's lego planes around our living room. 😉

**I received an ARC of this book. This is an honest review, because I adored this book.  

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About the book: 

Title: Walking on Hidden Wings

Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Publication Date: April 23, 2024

Geneva Ashcroft Hayes's marriage to a newspaper mogul might have been arranged, but the New York socialite is devastated when her husband's plane crashes a few short months after their nuptials. When the authorities suspect murder, Geneva sets out on a wild mission to find his killer--and to prove it wasn't her!

When mysterious notes surface pointing to Geneva's guilt in his death, they only strengthen her resolve. She has little to go on except for a detective friend's cryptic list of locations connected to her dead spouse. When the friend also disappears, she trades her sparkling gowns for coveralls and pilot goggles.

Armed with a new name and career as a wingwalker and barnstormer, she travels from town to town in hopes of unearthing clues and locating her missing friend. But Geneva discovers that her past may not belong to her . . . what she once believed as truth may be nothing more than lies and deception.

Catch a Wave

Oh man. This was a book that took me on a roller coaster of emotion. And I really enjoyed this roller coaster. Or maybe I should say it tossed me out into the tumultuous ocean and brought me back to shore with the desire to dive back in for more. 

As I was looking back over my highlights in preparation to write this review, the emotions washed over me all over again. There are not many books I've read that I can confidently say I would read a second time. This is one of those books that I would read all over again immediately. 

Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott, book 3 in the Love Trippin' series, is a second chance romantic comedy, but with depth. Oh, the depth! This story had me laughing, crying, wishing I lived at the ocean, hungering for tacos, and enjoying every single minute of it. 

The angst between the two main characters felt so real, and I wanted to give each of them hug at different points in the book. The character development felt genuine, and I loved the pure joy each of them felt for the other at main milestones in their lives. **I'm trying hard not to give away any spoilers here. But Bodhi's moment of pure emotion, pride, and joy for the Kalaine...it was my favorite part of the whole book. Second favorite part of the book: The Kiss. Whew. Savannah Scott knows how to write a surf culture kiss scene. 

I really like second-chance books with flashbacks so that we can get a grip on what went wrong in their first relationship and how it is redeemed in the second. Plus-we discover where their nicknames originate. Who doesn't love a sweet nickname?? 

There are several side characters that I REALLY hope get a book of their own. And since this is the third book in the series, it was fun hanging out with old friends. :) 

Catch a Wave is out now. I give this book every single star and then some! 

About the Book: 

Did you ever see a guy and just know you had to meet him?

That was me and Bodhi Merrick. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he donned his wetsuit at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks. I’ll never forget that day. Or every time our paths crossed after that. Big wave surfing is a small world.

And, as it happens, Bodhi felt the same tug—this irresistible attraction that drew us to one another.
We became known as surfing’s “it couple.” Our love was more famous than either of us.
Until life threw us for a loop and tore what we had apart.

Now, two years after our breakup, I find myself standing on my brother’s front porch, ready to beg my only sibling for a place to crash.
Only, the man who answers the door isn’t my brother.
It’s my brother’s best friend—also known as my ex-boyfriend, Bodhi Merrick.

Now we’re living in the same house on Marbella Island.
Bodhi seems to have moved on.
My heart will always be his.

How am I supposed to heal from the biggest tragedy of my life when he’s walking around in board shorts with his wavy hair falling across his forehead, and calling me the nickname he gave me years ago? Maybe I don’t want to get over him. The question is: After all we’ve been through, can we give our relationship a second chance?

Catch a Wave is a closed-door romcom that will grip your heart and take you on a ride ending in a sweet happily ever after. Catch a Wave is the third book in the Love Trippin’ series, but can be read as a stand-alone without reading the other books in series.

Title: Catch a Wave

Author: Savannah Scott

Series: Love Trippin'

Publisher: Indie

Publication Date: March 15, 2024