Book Review: "Ship Happens" by Mason Deaver

Breakups are never easy. Owen and Jacob’s relationship ended when Jacob got an offer to move to the UK and work on a research team. Owen, who isn’t great with traveling, couldn’t fathom moving to another country, no matter how much he loved Jacob. So he let him go.

A year has passed, and Owen is still hurt and angry. It would be easier to hate Jacob, but he misses him too much. Yet when Jacob returns to San Francisco for the holidays, his presence is almost too much to bear for Owen, although he’s left with a huge jumble of emotions.

Then their best friends surprise the group with a 7-day, all-expenses-paid Alaskan cruise as an opportunity to bond. Owen’s first thought is to pass—can he really stand being in such close proximity to Jacob for a week without going crazy? But he knows this is important to his friends, so he agrees to go.

They both try to be nice to each other, and there are times when the memories of what they used to be confront them. They agree that neither is good at being an ex, and Jacob proposes that they try to be friends. Isn’t that better than not having each other in their lives?

Owen feels a bit lost, that all of his friends are moving on with their lives while he is stagnating. On top of that, he’s never stopped loving Jacob, but knows that when the cruise is over, they’ll go back to their regular lives. Then what?

I really enjoyed Owen and Jacob’s relationship. You could tell how much they cared for one another, and particularly, how protective Jacob was of Owen. But I could understand the struggles they had deciding what to do with their feelings. I’ve been a fan of Mason Deaver’s since their debut, and I love how easily they can shift from YA to adult romance.

Book Review: "Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy" by Jacqueline Firkins

Philippa Flynn is a history professor. She doesn’t love her job, especially the college bureaucracy and the treatment she gets as the only woman in the department. But she’s content to keep plodding away—until she nearly gets swallowed up by a sinkhole on the way to work one morning.

She sees the sinkhole as a sign that things in her life have to change, because you never know how much time you have left. So she quits her job, breaks her apartment lease, dumps the guy she’s been sleeping with, and plans to move into the dilapidated house on the water in Maine, which she inherited from her grandmother.

Her grandmother was a prolific writer of swashbuckling pirate romances. When she got sick, she started working with Dylan, another writer, to help her as her strength started to wane. Dylan has been living in the house for the last several years, although he and Philippa haven’t met in person. Imagine her surprise when she discovers that Dylan has been the cover model for her grandmother’s books!

Philippa hopes to pull her life together and come up with a plan. When she and Dylan find her grandmother’s plans for her next five books, they decide to tackle them together. But of course, they’ll have to separate fictional romance from the one happening to them in real life…

I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s definitely a bit of a slow-burn romance, but I was fine with that. My main issue was how absolutely horrible her parents—particularly her mother—were to Philippa. It hit a little too hard and I just wanted her to stand up for herself. But I enjoyed the chemistry between her and Dylan.

Book Review: "Dolly All the Time" by Annabel Monaghan

Annabel Monaghan is an absolute auto-buy author for me. Her characters are always so well-drawn, and her books have such an emotional richness to them. I’ve loved every one of her books, but Dolly All The Time may be my new favorite.

When a small fire occurs one night in her childhood home, Dolly and her teenage son Gus leave their lives in Boston and head back to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island. Ever since her mother left their family when Dolly was 12, she’s been the one who has taken care of everything—for her father and her two younger siblings.

Dolly loves being back in Whitfield and quickly assumes the caretaking role once again. One day after working at the family’s fish house, she comes across Stewart Whitfield, the handsome heir to the Whitfield fortune. (Their hometown is named for his family.) Stewart’s car has a flat tire and he has no idea how to fix it. Dolly shows him how, and the press takes an impromptu picture of them, as Stewart’s engagement has just ended in a scandal.

Stewart is desperate to close the deal on his becoming the company’s new. The one drawback is that his parents think he’s too much of a workaholic to succeed. So Stewart asks Dolly to be his fake girlfriend, a challenge she accepts. Suddenly she is attending benefits and client dinners, and bringing out a whole different side of Stewart.

I’ve read tons of romances and rom-coms that have fake dating at their core. Even though the approach is familiar, the way the relationship between Dolly and Stewart unfolds is just lovely.

I absolutely loved this book. Not only were the main characters totally appealing, but the supporting characters rocked also. There was banter, steam, self-discovery, happiness, sadness, and humor. It was exactly what I needed!

Book Review: "Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef" by Brigid Washington

I am absolutely obsessed with books about cooking, chefs, food, the restaurant business, etc. Every one is so different and I love feeling totally starved while reading. So when I saw Brigid Washington’s new memoir in an ad on social media, I dove right into the flames.

Trinidad-born Brigid was an aspiring journalist living in Raleigh, NC, after graduation from college. But when her relationship ends, she doesn’t know what to do with herself, so she applies to the Culinary Institute of America in upstate New York. (She had been inspired by a stint working in the kitchen of a fancy restaurant.)

While she expected culinary school to be difficult, she had no idea what a challenge it would be—intellectually, physically, and emotionally. The different cooking instructors she had were all over the map in terms of their passion for teaching and their tolerance for mistakes. Brigid talked about all of the courses she took, the instructors she had, what she learned, and where she screwed up.

She also takes a job as the editor of the school’s newspaper for a year, which exposes her to public events with famed chefs, and the opportunity to reflect upon the things she learned. At the same time, she has a strange relationship with a fellow student and she misses the boyfriend she had back in Raleigh.

I found this book so fascinating. Brigid wasn’t only studying cooking—she was trying to build a future amidst the chaos of culinary school. She needed to decide how to use this education and figure out what she needed in her life. There is so much this book taught me, and all of the food they talk about made me ravenous. This really hit the spot for me!

Book Review: "Love by the Book" by Jessica George

Remy’s debut novel was a huge hit and became a bestseller. It was a fictionalized account of the relationship with her three best friends, and particularly, the fierce bond among them. The pressure is on for Remy to write her second book, but she can’t seem to find any inspiration.

As if writer’s block wasn’t bad enough, her friends have finally decided to follow their own paths. One is moving to a house an hour outside of London and having a baby, one is moving to New York for a new job, and one has reunited with her horrible boyfriend. Remy is devastated, lonely, and adrift. Even trying a dating app disappoints her.

One day, Remy (literally) runs into Simone, who remembers Remy from secondary school. Simone is now a teacher, and she is tremendously devoted to her students. She also has a second job to help make ends meet. But when her family finds out about her side hustle, they cut her off.

Remy wants to become friends with Simone, as they both seem to see each other clearly. But Simone isn’t used to sharing herself with anyone, and she rebuffs Remy’s attempts at friendship. Little by little, however, they start to realize how important they are to one another, a valuable discovery as each comes to a crossroads in their life.

“The way you love has always been an inspiration to me, I guess, and something I’ve maybe never told you is that being loved by you is one of the greatest things in the world…and one of the easiest to take for granted. I know I have, just because I’m so used to it, you know?”

This is a platonic love story, and a beautiful one. It would be interesting to read this and then Andrew McCarthy’s new book on male friendships. Jessica George’s debut novel, Maame, was fantastic, and it’s great to see how her talent has gotten even stronger.

Book Review: "I Love You Don't Die" by Jade Song

“It’s a privilege to love. To love is to build a life.”

Of course, it was the title of this book that drew me in. I found the book really thought-provoking (and a bit sad), so I’m glad I’m so impressionable!

Vicky is obsessed with death. She has been since she was young. Part of this obsession manifests itself as nightmares about those close to her meeting a tragic end. But she also lives in a 6th-floor walk up above a Chinese funeral parlor, and she decorates her apartment with zhizha, paper creations which are meant to be burned for the dead.

To top it off, she works for Onwards, a celebrity-founded startup which produces bespoke urns and tries to make death less difficult and mysterious for the living. Even though working for Onwards was her dream, she never feels particularly motivated to work, or do much of anything, really. Other than periodic trips to the office, the only person who can get her out of bed and into the world is her best friend, Jen.

Vicky is also desperate to be loved. She matches with a couple seeking a third, and Angela and Kevin provide comfort and love. But she forgets that the course of love—or friendship, for that matter—never runs smoothly. At the first sign of conflict or being driven to question her own motives, she’s quick to destroy rather than communicate. This leads to disastrous consequences and she wonders whether life is worth it.

This book may be a bit triggering for some. It’s part social commentary, part a story about searching for the things and people who make life worth living. Vicky isn’t the most sympathetic or likable character, but her feelings and questions are definitely familiar and powerful.

Book Review: "Thirty Love" by Tom Vellner

You may not know, but I’m a huge sports fan. I’m in heaven now that March Madness is underway and the Masters tournament is in a month or so. But my favorite sport is tennis. I’ve been a fan since I was young, and I religiously watch all of the Grand Slams as well as lots of other tournaments along the way.

Needless to say, I was excited to read Tom Vellner’s debut novel. He captured the intensity of watching tennis matches, especially the Grand Slams, so well.

Leo was at the U.S. Open in 2003, the last time an American man won the tournament. His dad, Johnny, had been a finalist years before. At that moment he knew he wanted to make tennis his life—and he definitely wanted to win the U.S. Open.

Now, nearing 30 years old, Leo has had some success winning tournaments but not a Grand Slam, although he made the semifinals the year before. And while he’s the top-ranked American man, that’s a lot of pressure, not to mention the fact that his father (who is also his coach) has MS, which is starting to affect him more.

The other obstacle Leo has to deal with is Gabe, a rival American player. He seems to have Leo’s number and knows just what to say—and what shot to hit—to get under his skin. Leo has feelings for Gabe he won’t admit, feelings that magnify when Gabe comes out of the closet. Leo admires Gabe for that but doesn’t feel he’s ready to share his truth, until it all bubbles over one game night. Can Leo have Gabe and make his tennis dreams come true?

I enjoyed this so much. Damned if I didn’t get choked up a few times, too! I’ve often wondered why there are no out male tennis players, and this book made me long for the day when it’s not that big of an issue. Chalk this up to my first M/M tennis romance!

Book Review: "Toe to Toe" by Falon Ballard

Ballet has been the core of Allegra’s life since she was a young girl. Although pushed by her mother, a former dancer who gave up her career for marriage and a family, Allegra loves ballet more than anything. And she desperately wants to become a principal ballerina.

When her ballet company announces it will produce a new ballet, Allegra desperately wants the lead role. But her director told her that he doesn’t think she has the sex appeal to land the part. She is determined to prove him wrong.

After attending her sister’s bachelorette party at an all-male dance club, Allegra is mesmerized by the show’s star, and the owner of the club, Cord. In addition to his obvious physical attributes, she’s impressed by his dancing ability and his overall sex appeal.

Allegra comes up with an interesting proposition for Cord. She’d like him to teach her to be sexier when she dances. Although he’s reluctant at first, he doesn’t want to let her walk away. And being the one to help her realize her own sex appeal is a powerful motivator.

The more they dance together, the stronger their attraction grows. Allegra knows she’s fallen for Cord, but she can’t let a relationship derail her career. Cord knows that Allegra will be pressured to choose between her career and a relationship. What happens if she chooses ballet? Where does that leave him?

While there weren’t too many surprises in the book, I really enjoyed Allegra and Cord’s banter and chemistry. I’m a sucker for stories about dancers and other performers, and juxtaposing ballet with male strippers was really an interesting twist. Once again, Falon Ballard utterly charms me!

Book Review: "Blade" by Wendy Walker

Maybe it’s because the Winter Olympics are about to start, but when I saw this mystery/thriller involving figure skating, I was ready to do a triple salchow. Luckily for all of us, I took the simpler route and just read Wendy Walker’s newest book.

As a teenage figure skater with Olympic dreams, Ana was accepted to train at The Palace, a famous skating facility in Colorado. Training was physically rigorous and emotionally draining, because the head coach believed that breaking down a skater’s fears could help them reach their goals.

By the time Ana turned 16, she left The Palace and her skating career behind. She found a new passion in law and now is a successful (and well-known) defense attorney specializing in working with minors. But the last thing she is expecting is to return to The Palace nearly 15 years later.

Grace, the talented daughter of one of Ana’s best friends from her skating days, is accused of brutally murdering The Palace’s assistant coach. This same man coached Ana and her friends back in the day, playing good cop to the head coach’s bad cop. Grace maintains her innocence even though the evidence certainly suggests her guilt.

But in order for Ana to defend Grace, she must confront her own traumatic memories of The Palace. What happened all those years ago? Could Ana have played a part in the coach’s murder? With a blizzard on the horizon, time is running out to find answers and unearth secrets long-hidden.

I love athletic drama, and there was no shortage of that here. The book shifts back and forth between past and present, contrasting Ana’s time at the Palace with her efforts to clear Grace’s name. I enjoyed the story although at times the back and forth confused me a little. But no characters were quite what they seemed!

Book Review: "Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef" by Slutty Cheff

I’ve been wanting to read this for a few weeks, but I’m not ashamed to admit that I was today years old when I realized this is a memoir and not a novel! (That realization didn’t affect me; I clearly didn’t pay close attention to the blurbs I read!)

“There are two things in my life that are a constant reminder that pleasure exists: food and sex. And I am learning about the different forms they may come in.”

Anonymous chef and columnist Slutty Cheff quit her marketing job after a workplace relationship went sour. She decided the thing she enjoyed most was cooking, so she went to culinary school and eventually did a trial run at a London restaurant. The energy, the camaraderie, even the stress captivated her, and the trial run turned into a job.

She is quickly enamored of her job and craves more responsibility. While it’s hard to be the only woman working in the kitchen, she more than holds her own. But the 60+-hour workweek, coupled with late nights fueled by alcohol and drugs with her colleagues, exhausts her both physically and emotionally.

The book follows her love/hate relationship with being a chef and the whole restaurant culture. She gets overwhelmed by the pressure and the lifestyle, but misses cooking when she’s not doing it. At the same time, she gets involved with several men over time, and realizes that sex gives her the same high.

You know how much I like books about chefs, cooking, restaurants, etc., so this was definitely right up my alley. This is one of those books you shouldn’t read on an empty stomach, and at times, it’s quite steamy, so be prepared. It’ll make you think twice about staying until a restaurant is nearly empty, too!

Book Review: "Flirty Dancing" by Jennifer Moffatt

I don’t know about you, but I can’t resist a book that has this as its title! Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of this fun book.

Archer was an accountant in Ohio who quit his job to move to NYC and pursue his dream of being on Broadway. But the auditioning isn’t going well, and maybe his mother is right: 27 is too old to chase your dreams. Still, he goes on one more audition, vowing to head back to Ohio if he doesn’t succeed.

He lands a job as a performer at Shady Queens, an LGBTQ-friendly resort in the Catskills. It’s not quite what he was hoping for, but you never know where your big break can come from. Much to his surprise, he learns that one of his co-stars is Mateo Dixon, once a Broadway star and Archer’s teenage crush.

After Mateo’s time on Broadway flamed out in spectacular fashion, Shady Queens is one of the only jobs he can get. He’s not thrilled to have been the target of Archer’s teenage worship (which has maybe carried over into his 20s), but all he wants to do is dance. Maybe he’s a little standoffish, but he’s still sexy as hell in Archer’s eyes.

Archer tries to build a friendship with Mateo but always seems to say and do the wrong things. And when a relationship with Caleb, one of his castmates, turns sour, it adds to the drama and tension among the performers. The show starts to suffer, and it’s up to the performers to buckle down and try to leave their emotional issues offstage.

As a huge fan of musical theater and romance, I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fun, emotional, and overly dramatic, much like you’d imagine performers to be. I loved the chemistry between Archer and Mateo, and at times it felt like Shady Queens reminded me of Kellerman’s from Dirty Dancing.

The book will publish 5/27/2025.

Book Review: "Change of Heart" by Falon Ballard

When you find an author whose books you love completely, you jump on each new one right away. Or at least I do! That’s been the case with a number of authors since I joined Bookstagram, including Falon Ballard. I’ve loved every single one of her books!

Cam is an attorney whose entire life revolves around work. She is a partner in her grandmother’s law firm and expects to take over someday. So what if she has no work/life balance? She’s a kickass attorney and that’s all that matters.

But Cam’s grandmother wants her to find a suitable partner, so she sets her up on dates. One night Cam goes out with Ben, a handsome doctor, and although he seems nice and smart, she can’t be bothered with getting to know him. She’d rather deal with her work emails. So she’s rude to him and the friendly waitress who believes there’s a connection between Cam and Ben, whether or not they see it.

The next morning, Cam wakes up in an unfamiliar place: Heart Springs, a town straight out of a Hallmark movie. Her hair and makeup are always perfect, the clothes in her closet are far from the power suits she’s used to. Ben is her next door neighbor, and he doesn’t know how they got there either.

It turns out that Cam will be trapped in Heart Springs until she finds a job she’s passionate about, becomes a valued part of the community, and experience true love. Which should be interesting, given she doesn’t believe in love. Can she change her life—and her heart?

I love rom-coms and I love magical realism, so this book was right up my alley. There’s great banter, great steam, and fun characters—it feels like a cross between a Hallmark movie and The Truman Show. Once again, Ballard has charmed me completely.

Book Review: "I Think They Love You" by Julian Winters

Julian Winters is one of my auto-buy authors, so when I saw he had a new book coming out I was definitely excited. And as much as I’ve loved all of his YA books, learning this would be his first adult novel was even more exciting!

As the son of the CEO of 24 Carter Gold, Atlanta’s most prominent event planning company, Denz has always been expected to make a good impression. He’s tremendously conscious that someone is always watching him, which as an adult has translated into social media success for the company.

When his workaholic father announces his retirement and a search for the company’s new CEO, Denz decides to become a candidate. His family questions his seriousness and his commitment to things, so he tells them he has a boyfriend to prove them wrong.

Of course, now he has to find a boyfriend, or at least someone who’ll pretend to be one. The person to fill the role is the last person Denz is expecting: Braylon, his college boyfriend, who took a job in London after graduation and broke his heart. (Braylon needs Denz’s connections, so it’s not a one-sided fake relationship.)

As Denz jumps through hoops to try and prove his worthiness to be CEO, he and Braylon go all in on fake dating. Of course, there’s always some truth in every pretend relationship, but can either of them admit their true feelings before it’s too late?

I loved how much heart this book had. It’s not only a story about second chances; it’s also about family, friendship, ambition, fear, and trying to figure out what you want out of life. This is a sexy, romantic, emotional story, and proof that Julian Winters succeeds no matter what genre he’s in.

Book Review: "The Close-Up" by Pip Drysdale

“Am I the unreliable narrator of my own life?”

Zoe moved to Los Angeles after her first novel was sold and plans were made for its adaptation into a movie. But her best intentions of revising the book went awry, so she lost momentum and another aspiring author got the break that was supposed to be hers. And with one flop to her name, the pressure on her to knock her second book out of the park is definitely intense.

As she tries to come up with an idea for her second book, she works at a florist’s shop. And much to her surprise, she encounters Zach, a guy who ghosted her three years ago, just before he got his big break as an action movie star. She attempts to convince herself not to fall for Zach again, but shortly after pictures of the two appear online, he dumps her again.

“Because everything dangerous starts with warmth: fire, hope, love. Even hypothermia feels warm before it kills you.”

The pressure from her agent mounts, and to top it off, she apparently has a stalker, who is replicating incidents from her first book. She knows the book doesn’t end well for her protagonist, and doesn’t want the same thing to happen to her. But Zach and his security chief say they’ll get to the bottom of everything, and that she’s safe. Yeah, okay…

This started slowly but before I knew it, the tension ratcheted up, the suspense grew, and the book raced toward its conclusion. I have been waiting to read this for a few weeks, and I thought it was absolutely excellent!!

Book Review: "Unromance" by Erin Connor

This was excellent!! I love how authors can take familiar elements and weave them together into something that feels new and fresh. Erin Connor definitely did that with her debut rom-com, Unromance.

Sawyer is a bestselling romance author who has been dealing with writer’s block since her girlfriend left her. Ironically, she’s also sworn off love, as it only seems to bring complications and pain.

One snowy night, she has a meet-cute with a handsome man in an elevator. Unbeknownst to her, the man is Mason West, a soap opera actor known for his love life as much as his talent. They flirt up a storm and Sawyer decides to go home with him. A one-night stand should do the trick, or it would if they could stop running into each other!

For Mason, running into Sawyer repeatedly is a sign, a sign that they can help each other. He can help Sawyer find inspiration that will lead to her next book, and she can help hopeless romantic Mason become desensitized and stop falling in love with the slightest romantic gesture. And all they have to do is follow two rules: they can’t fall in love with one another, and they can’t have sex. Super easy, no?

Of course, the decision to avoid having sex and/or falling in love never quite goes according to plan. They might not be able to outrun their feelings, and do they really want to?

The chemistry between Sawyer and Mason is off the charts, and so is the steam! I loved the way he treated her in particular, and Sawyer’s take-no- no prisoners attitude was awesome.

Thanks so much to Forever and NetGalley for the advance copy. The book will publish 1/14/2025.

Book Review: "Hungry Heart" by Jem Milton

Laurie is a young food writer in London. His best friend has gotten him an exceptional opportunity: the chance to interview Oryan Adjei, a handsome young chef who made a name for himself by winning a television cooking competition when he was 19.

As a young Black chef, Oryan has become a public fixture, appearing on television shows and in ad campaigns. He never seems to get the chance to cook anymore, however, and he’s beginning to wonder whether this is still the path he wants to follow.

When Laurie and Oryan meet for their first interview, Laurie is starstruck and a bit awkward. But the two strike up a genuine conversation, and Oryan feels, for the first time in a long time, like someone is seeing him for who he is rather than who they expect him to be.

As Oryan’s life becomes more complicated and he finds himself being tugged in multiple directions, what he really wants to do is talk with Laurie again. And Laurie not only wants to interview Oryan again because he’s getting paid to do so, but he definitely feels something for him beyond simple admiration. But why would a famous chef be interested in an awkward mess like him?

Jem Milton’s graphic novel is beautifully drawn and tells a sweet, poignant, and thought-provoking story. It examines how easy it is to let others dictate the path you should take, and how when you get caught up in obligations it can be easy to lose yourself. It also looks at how easy it can be to undermine your self-confidence and convince yourself you’re not worthy of what you want.

Many of you know how much I love anything about cooking, chefs, the food industry, etc., and also how much I love romance. Hungry Heart serves up a fantastic helping of both, full of characters I rooted for and a story I raced through.

Book Review: "The Backup Plan" by Eden Finley

Y’all know I love my sports romances. Well, Eden Finley is one of the writers who have stoked that love!

Thad dreamed of nothing more than becoming a professional baseball player. He spent so much time playing and practicing, but when it came time for the draft, he was hit with the realization that he just wasn’t good enough. Dream: dead.

Now, angry and bitter, he’s pursuing his backup plan of becoming a sports agent. He’s interning at King Sports, one of the biggest firms working with queer athletes. He’d probably like the job and be good at it if he weren’t so mad. But dealing with athletes who are living his dream isn’t easy.

Kelley is a rookie pitcher and he’s on his way to becoming a superstar. He’s also under a lot of scrutiny: his fathers were the first out football players to win a Super Bowl and his brother is a star quarterback. While news of Kelley’s coming out is met with the usual mix of support and derision, his need for approval and his worry about what people are saying about him is only exacerbating his anxiety.

Thad is assigned to watch over Kelley on a two-week stay out of the public eye and off social media. At first, Thad resents that Kelley, who has everything Thad has ever wanted, is acting this way. But then he realizes how tough the pressure is and how much it feeds into Kelley’s other issues, and then Thad shifts into protector mode. And, of course, the animosity between them shifts into something intense, something deeper.

This was a good story, full of memorable characters, great steam, and terrific banter. It’s also a real examination of anxiety and fear of disappointment and disapproval, and how debilitating they can be. I’ll be waiting for book 2 in this series!

Book Review: "From Here to the Great Unknown" by Lisa Marie Presley and RIley Keough

I’ve been an Elvis fan for as long as I can remember. My parents used to play his music, I watched a lot of his movies while I was growing up, and I distinctly remember people being upset when he died. A few years after college, a friend and I even road-tripped down to Memphis and visited Graceland.

As an Elvis fan, Lisa Marie Presley also fascinated me. I enjoyed her music and was always fascinated by her life, and felt it was really tragic when she died. Needless to say, when I heard her memoir, which was finished by her daughter, was going to be published, I knew I needed to read it.

This book was an emotional one. Not only was it sad to read about how devastated she was to lose her father when she was 9, but she struggled her entire life with so many things. Addiction. Depression. Being such a subject of fascination for the public. Finding and keeping love. Grief.

While there wasn’t much in the book that necessarily surprised me (although I had forgotten she was briefly married to Nicolas Cage), it still was gripping to read her thoughts. The counterpoint and further details Riley Keough provided definitely deepened the story through her perspectives.

I often wonder if life in the public eye truly prevents a person from living a “normal” life and enjoying it. Certainly from this book you can see how Lisa Marie’s fierce parenting protected Riley from falling into many of the same traps that her mother did.

This was moving and powerful. I’m so glad Riley decided to ensure that her mother’s story didn’t remain untold after her death. And I feel grateful that the Presleys shared their talent with the world.

Book Review: "Book of the Month" by Jennifer Probst

This was a fun summer read as the season ends, meteorologically, at least. My thanks to Jennifer Probst, Get Red PR Books, and Blue Box Press for the complimentary advance copy.

Aspen’s first novel was an overnight success. But after writing two more books, all readers can still talk about is her first. Is she washed up already? Destined to be a one-book wonder?

What made her first book so good and so meaningful was that it was based on her own heartbreak and anguish and rage. But since she has barely dated since the breakup that inspired her to write, her subsequent books haven’t connected emotionally with her readers. She needs to write another hit. Fast.

Hoping a change of scenery will help, she travels to the Outer Banks to stay with her sister for the summer. Aspen believes that if she can find a man to romance her and then break her heart, she’ll tap into her literary mojo once again. And she finds the perfect man: Brick Babel, a handsome local with a reputation for hot sex and then emotional destruction. (There’s even a support group for women dealing with the aftereffects of dating him.)

Despite the fact that everyone—including her sister—warns her about Brick, she’s determined. It doesn’t help that he rejects her every advance. But when she offers him money to save the tour business he inherited, in exchange for some love and heartbreak, he reluctantly agrees. Yet when the sparks start flying for real, it becomes more difficult to distinguish truth from fiction.

I love fake dating romances, so this hit the spot. I didn’t always love Aspen’s character, but Brick and the supporting characters were so good, even Dug the dog. Crazily enough, I’ve yet to read any other of Jennifer Probst’s books, so I’m ready for more.

The book publishes 10/22.

Book Review: "The Hookup Mix-up" by Riley Hart

My second book by Riley Hart this week! Looks like I’ve found a new favorite romance writer!

Theo is a student at Franklin University and he’ll be the first in his family to graduate from college. But school doesn’t come easy for him, which causes him a lot of pressure, because he doesn’t want to disappoint his parents.

One night at a party he and his housemates are throwing, Theo gets quite drunk. He’s about to fall off a table when Perry catches him, which causes Theo to call him his knight in shining armor. They spend the rest of the party together, and Perry flirts with Theo, who is utterly oblivious to that fact.

When he invites Perry out to lunch to thank him, Perry thinks they’re going to hook up. Theo didn’t realize Perry is bi, which he is not, but they fall into an easy friendship and quickly become inseparable. The more time they spend together, the more Theo finds himself attracted to Perry, which is a shock to him. But he finds the courage to ask if they can be best friends with benefits, which Perry quickly agrees to.

Perry doesn’t do relationships, but he can’t stop thinking of Theo when they’re not together. And while the sex gets hotter and hotter, their feelings for another grow more intense, too, and they help each other deal with other issues that arise as well.

This book was the perfect combination of sweet, funny, and intoxicatingly steamy. I loved the chemistry between Theo and Perry and the banter with Perry’s brother and his partner. This is the start of a series written by different authors, and I’m all in!