ARC Review: Older by Jennifer Hartmann

Age gap and forbidden romance are definitely my jam, so when I first saw Older from Jennifer Hartmann, I knew this one was going to be good! She definitely didn’t disappoint! Older had me hooked from the very first page to the last and I was unable to put this one down. If you are looking for a captivating story that will have you feeling all the feels, look no further!

Reed and Halley meet and share a connection right away, before Reed learns that Halley is younger than she originally said. Turns out that besides the large difference in their ages, Halley is also best friends with Reed’s daughter. These two know they need to keep their distance, but circumstances keep bringing them together and as they continue to grow closer, lines become blurred and they find themselves more drawn to one another.

I absolutely loved these two. Their connection was so natural and genuine right from the start. They just had an ease about them that felt right. I loved how Halley was so strong and able to overcome all that she had been dealt in life both individually and with the support of Reed, Tara and Whitney. Reed was a great guy all around, trying to do his best by Halley as well as his daughter. He was caring and kind, and I loved that he was so passionate about helping others. Reed and Halley’s circumstances might not have been ideal for anyone involved, but the chemistry and connection were undeniable, and you could feel the love between them growing.

I will say that my rating on this one was based mostly on feeling and the fact that I know this book won’t be far from my mind for quite awhile. This one is definitely one of my favorites from Jennifer Hartmann, but I do wish we had been given a bit more to this ending. It felt a bit rushed and I wanted to see more of them actually being a couple after everything they’d been through. Ultimately though, I loved this book and thought it was a five star read. I highly recommend this one, and I already can’t wait to go back and read it again.

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle |

 

ARC Review: Wild River by Laura Pavlov

 

I am loving the Magnolia Falls series by Laura Pavlov, and I couldn’t wait for Wild River! This one was really good, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. Laura Pavlov is a great writer and this series is one that I think contemporary readers will love!

River and Ruby were so good together. I loved that they were different, yet worked perfectly. These two were independent and strong on their own, but I enjoyed seeing them let the other in. Things didn’t always go easy, but the connection and chemistry was there and it was easy to see that they made a great pair. 

The thing I love most about this series is this group of characters.They are just so lovable and their friendship and bond is truly a testament to family being those that you choose at times vs. the family you were born into. I just can’t get over the dynamic here and these characters never stray far from my mind! The one that absolutely steals the show 100% of the time though is Cutler/Beefcake! This kid is beyond the best and honestly I just can’t get enough of every moment he is around! He alone is worth reading this series for! I can’t recommend this series enough though, it is one I am enjoying so much and I just have so much fun each time I get to read one of these books in this world Laura Pavlov has created.

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle |

ARC Review: Is This Love? by Kaylee Ryan

Is This Love? Is the second book in the Everlasting Ink series by Kaylee Ryan. Each book in this series is a standalone story, though you do get to see characters from previous books as the series continues. I loved the first book in this series and this one was just as good! Kaylee Ryan is an author that never disappoints, and I think readers are going to love this one!

Legend and Monroe were everything. I loved them so much! They were so sweet and had tons of chemistry! I loved seeing them take their friendship to more. It was such a natural progression and just felt so genuine. They were so good together and it just felt right. 

I felt so invested in their story from the very first page and didn’t want to put this one down. I am absolutely loving this series and already can’t wait for the next one. I highly recommend this one, Legend and Monroe are just so easy to love and root for. They are the kind of couple that makes readers love romance stories!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: The Surrogate by Penelope Ward

I always hoped that Penelope Ward would give us Sig’s story after finishing The Aristocrat, so I was so excited when she announced The Surrogate! This book can easily be read as a standalone story, though you do meet Sig in The Aristocrat and Leo and Felicity’s story will be a bit spoiled if you don’t start there. I highly recommend reading The Aristocrat if you haven’t as it is one of my all-time favorites and I just loved it so much that I have read it multiple times now.

Sig’s story is an emotional one, and I was fully invested right from the start. I think even if readers are new to Sig, they will be just as drawn in as I was. Sig has been through a ton, and I felt so much for him. Abby was exactly what he needed and I instantly loved her. She has such a kind heart and was a heroine that you can’t help but fall for right along with the hero. While these two were ones that I felt like I could relate to, their journey is anything but easy. Their situation is unique and honestly unlike any i’ve previously read about. Things are a bit messy, but the ride was so worth it. These two are just such great characters that I never wanted their story to end. 

Penelope Ward never disappoints, but The Aristocrat and The Surrogate are some of my absolute favorites of hers. I just felt so connected and invested in all these characters and they are definitely ones I think of often. I know i’ll reread this one again, and I think that fans will love this book. It is emotional, heartfelt and while it wasn’t always smooth sailing, it was filled with hope and some really funny moments as well. Penelope is one of my all-time favorite authors and The Surrogate is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books**

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ARC Review: Against All Odds by CW Farnsworth

 

Against All Odds is the second book in the Holt Hockey series by CW Farnsworth, but can be read as a standalone story. I couldn’t wait to get Aidan’s story after reading the first book of the series, and I highly recommend reading Famous Last Words if you haven’t already. This series is one I am loving and I think not only sports romance readers, but just romance readers in general will enjoy this series as much as I have!

This is Aidan and Rylan’s story and I couldn’t get enough of these two! These two first meet and have what they believe to be a one-night stand, but when Rylan shows up at Holt University where Aidan goes, they quickly realize that there is more between them. Things are further complicated by Aidan being on the Holt hockey team that Rylan’s dad coaches. Rylan is tasked with tutoring Aidan and soon they are both finding it harder to keep things platonic than they thought it would be. 

Aidan and Rylan had so much chemistry, right from the start! The heat and steam between them was clear, but it was the connection they were building that kept me flipping the pages and not wanting this one to end! I loved seeing them get to really know one another, and there were so many sweet moments between them as well as steamy ones! I loved seeing familiar faces here, and I am already anxious to get Hunter’s book next. This one was such a great read. Definitely recommend for sports romance fans, but even if sports aren’t your thing, there is something for all romance readers here!

**ARC Provided by Valentine PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |