Book Review: "Built to Last" by Erin Hahn

One of my favorite YA romance writers releases her first adult romance…and it’s so good!!

Shelby was a popular child star and pop singer, starring on a hit television show. When her relationship with her costar, Lyle, ends badly, she has a bit of a public meltdown and then retreats to her childhood home in Michigan, where she recognizes her talent for restoring and improving vintage furniture.

Whenever Shelby has had a problem, her other costar, Cameron, has come running. But whenever they get close enough to act on their feelings for one another, Cameron runs again, pursuing a successful career as a nature photographer and documentarian around the world.

Five years later, Lyle tries to get Shelby and Cameron together to film the pilot of a home renovation show. Shelby is interested in showing the world that she’s moved past her messy phase and is a grown woman with real talent. Cameron is tired of running, and as much as the idea of giving in to his feelings for Shelby appeals, he doesn’t know how long he can stay. And of course, Lyle is just interested in causing trouble for the both of them.

I love second-chance romance and I’m a sucker for home renovation shows, so this was such a winner for me. As always with Erin Hahn’s books, the supporting cast is fantastic—there could be books about so many of them. There’s chemistry and banter and romance and even some steam, and I was there for all of it!

Book Review: "The Old Place" by Bobby Finger

In Bobby Finger's debut novel, secrets and drama abound for one woman in a small Texas town.

Mary Alice has always been a formidable presence in the small town of Billington. She’s been a teacher for almost 40 years, and she’s a bossy, opinionated, slightly mean woman, although most in town let her attitude roll off their backs.

Forced into retirement by the school district, she doesn’t know how to occupy her time, other than showing up at the school and terrorizing her replacement. But there is one bright spot: she starts having coffee with her next door neighbor, Ellie, every morning. The two single mothers had been close for years, and their teenage sons were friends, too. But after both women lost their sons, one after another, the grief strained their relationship.

As their friendship starts to deepen again, Mary Alice’s estranged sister arrives in Billington to share a bombshell that could change not only Mary Alice’s life, but her relationship with Ellie. How much longer can she protect the secrets that are swirling around her and her life in Billington?

At first I thought this was going to be a story with a lovable curmudgeon who sees the beauty of belonging, but that definitely wasn’t the case here. I love family drama and the revealing of secrets, so this book was definitely up my alley. It’s a slow burn, but I was hooked from the start.

Book Review: "Mad Honey" by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

In Jodi Picoult's latest book, a collaboration with Jennifer Finney Boylan, a mother has to confront the past she’s tried to leave behind in order to save her son.

“You tell yourself this wouldn’t happen in your hometown. You tell yourself this isn’t anyone you know. Until it does, and it is.”

To escape her abusive husband, Olivia moves back to her hometown in New Hampshire with her young son, Asher. She takes over her father’s beekeeping business and her son grows into a handsome, popular athlete. While she still has flashbacks of her husband’s abuse, she hopes her son has remained unscarred.

But one day Asher calls her from the police station. He found his girlfriend Lily dead and he is being questioned. She can’t believe he could ever harm anyone, especially Lily, whom he loved fiercely. Yet as the case against him unfolds, she wonders—and fears—whether some of his father’s temper and ability to project innocence and calm has rubbed off on him.

This story was a compelling one, told by Olivia moving forward (with flashbacks into the past) and Lily moving backward. In typical Picoult fashion, the book is full of detailed information about other things; in this book, it's beekeeping, honey and uses for honey, and much more.

There’s much more to this story that is better left for you to discover. It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Picoult’s books, and the addition of a co-author for the first time deepened the narrative. I really liked the book but I felt like there were a lot of details that were mentioned once but never picked up on again. And for a book that is nearly 500 pages, it moves fairly quickly.

Book Review: "The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen" by Isaac Blum

This debut novel is insightful, emotional, and very relevant.

Judah “Hoodie” Rosen is an Orthodox Jewish teenager. He knows he’s supposed to be focused on his studies but there’s always something to distract him—quite often it’s the mischief he and his friends cause in class.

But even though life seems carefree, it’s actually quite stressful. Their Orthodox community has moved into the suburban town of Tregaron and they intend to build a large apartment complex so more of them can settle there. However, the town has other ideas—they don’t want to get overrun by Jews, and thwart and harass the community at every turn.

And then Hoodie meets Anna-Marie Diaz-O’Leary, the daughter of Tregaron’s mayor, who is leading the charge to “protect” the town. He falls head over heels, as she’s completely different from anyone he’s ever met, and the fact that he’s not even supposed to talk to her only adds to her appeal.

As antisemitic violence increases in Tregaron, Hoodie is viewed as a traitor by his family and friends, and is ostracized. But when the violence takes a tragic turn, Hoodie has to decide between his family and his faith and the girl who won his heart.

Hoodie is such a terrific narrator, sensitive yet oblivious, funny, and flawed. This is an incredibly relevant story—whether it’s Orthodox Jews, immigrants in general, people of other races and ethnicities—there are many communities committed to doing whatever it takes to keep these “outsiders” out. This was definitely a memorable read!!

Book Review: "One Last Gift" by Emily Stone

Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don’t expect. That's the idea behind Emily Stone's newest book following Always, In December.

After their parents died when they were young, Cassie’s older brother Tom has always looked out for her. The two of them and Sam, Tom’s best friend, have always been a trio, although as they’ve gotten older, Cassie’s feelings for Sam have complicated things a bit. And then she realizes Sam isn’t the person she thought he was.

And then tragedy strikes, leaving her more alone than ever. But when she is given an envelope with Tom’s handwriting on it—horrible handwriting she always teased him about—she realizes this is the first clue in his annual Christmas treasure hunt that he always did for her. He had promised this year’s hunt would be truly epic.

If she follows the treasure hunt Tom planned, will it bring her closer to him, or will it hurt more in the end, because it’s the last one he’ll ever do? What if she can’t even figure out the clues without him?

Cassie realizes that she’s less alone than she thought. And more than that, she realizes that Tom wouldn’t want her to live a life of grief and fear—he’d want her to pursue her dreams and never settle. But when she gets to the end of the hunt, what will be the treasure she finds?

One Last Gift is a sweet, emotional, friends-to-lovers romance about finding your way to the life you were meant to live, not the one you’re expected to. Like most romances, it’s predictable, but that’s part of the appeal. And while you expect a reasonable amount of push and pull in romances, there was a little too much of it in this book, plus one-sided miscommunication. But it still made me tear up!!

Book Review: "Egotistical Puckboy" by Eden Finley and Saxon James

Wow, this was fun, sexy, and super steamy!

If you've followed me before you know I love my hockey romances! I’d already ran through all of Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy’s books, and then I heard of this series. And if the first book is indicative of the entire series, I’m all the way in!!

Ezra has no problems being an openly gay NHL player—in fact, he seems to relish it. He’s cocky, talented, and has no problem getting whatever guy he wants, and doesn’t care if his encounters show up in the media. In fact, the only thing that seems to get under his skin is Anton Hayes, a rival player on another team.

Anton wants to be known for his talent on the ice, not his sexuality. And there’s nothing wrong with keeping his love life private. So why can’t he stop obsessing about Ezra? Sure, he’s sexy, but his cockiness drives Anton crazy. Maybe sleeping with Ezra once will get him out of his head?

Nope.

After a one-night stand proves too addicting for the both of them, it leaves them questioning their choices. Ezra never lets himself get serious about a guy, but why does that thought cross his mind when he’s with Anton? And is Anton ready to take his private life public—with Ezra at his side?

This book has it all—hockey, pranks, banter, and lots and lots of steam. The characters are all fun and memorable, and I particularly loved the group of out gay hockey players that served as a support system for each other. This one definitely hit the spot for me!

Book Review: "Bad Girl Reputation" by Elle Kennedy

They can’t stay away from each other. But should they?

Evan was Genevieve’s first love. They always had a tempestuous relationship, fighting and loving and breaking up and getting back together, vowing the next time would be different, but it never was. And one day, Gen left their hometown without saying goodbye, because she knew it was the only way she could break the cycle of their relationship.

But now, a year later, Gen is back in town for her mother’s funeral. She wants to get out as soon as she can, but she promises to stay and help her father with his business until he hires a replacement. In their small town, it’s inevitable she’ll run into Evan—and of course, she feels the same intense pull toward him when she does.

However, Gen has vowed it’ll be different this time. She’s not drinking, she’s not taking risks, and she’s not hooking up with Evan. No matter how good he looks. But Evan was really hurt by Gen’s walking away without saying goodbye, and he’s determined to make her stay this time—and stay with him. Even if it means changing himself.

Elle Kennedy is definitely one of the authors I’ve become hooked on since joining Bookstagram. This is a follow-up to Good Girl Complex but you can read it as a stand-alone. As always, her books have great steam, intense chemistry, and fun banter between the characters. My only issue is that so much of the drama is based on one of my least favorite tropes—miscommunication.

I will read anything she writes, though! Thanks to Get Red PR Books and St. Martin's Griffin for inviting me on the tour and providing a complimentary copy of the book!