Maybe This Once (Rock Bottom Love,#3)

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  Thank you to publisher,St Martin's Griffin, for providing with E ARC via Netgalley, In exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

Two people end up with more feelings than they bargained for after pursuing a summer fling, in this small-town, opposites-attract romance from Sophie Sullivan. 

Charlotte “Charlie” Ashford has worked hard to become her own person. Tired of living in the shadow of her famous parents, she gladly left behind a life of glitz and glamour to pursue her true passion: becoming a counselor. However, when a viral video upends Charlie’s plans, she wonders if the real key to discovering herself is through her late father. 

Grayson Keller has finally found his footing. He’s settled in one place, surrounded by family, and secure in his business. By his third summer as owner, Get Lost Lodge is showing a steady profit and seeing its fair share of repeat visitors. Whatever happens, Grayson is perfectly content with his quiet life and careful heart. That is, until he meets Charlie, who he can’t seem to get out of his head. 

On the surface, Charlie and Grayson seem to have nothing in common more than a growing attraction that neither of them can fight. Trusting each other isn’t easy. They’ve both been hurt before, and they’re not looking for anything serious. The solution is easy: they’ll date, have some fun, and walk away unscathed. Right? Or, maybe this once, they can see past the hurt to what, or who, is on the other side waiting for them.

 

 🌷

 
I’ve been hearing about Sophie Sullivan from my friends, but I have yet to read her books. Maybe This Once was the first book that I read by her, and I’m so glad that I did. There is so much that I adored about this book: the characters, their connections with each other, and, of course, the setting. I loved the way everyone came together and how welcoming they were towards Charlie; it’s what she needed – friends. I enjoyed the big focus on the found family, which is one of my favorite tropes to read about. Maybe This Once won’t have you connecting only with the main characters but also with the secondary ones. It’s not a story that you will forget. 

What drew me into the story was the title and the cover. I think both of those tell their own stories. I didn’t realize it was part of a series until I started reading, but it can be read as stand-alone and Sophie did an excellent job on that. One of my favorite parts was the setting, Get Lost Lodge, which sounds like a perfect place to escape to. I love nature, and all those descriptions had me imagining myself there. I loved the way that everyone worked there; they were a team. I do wish that Sophie told others the truth; but I understood why she didn’t but was afraid of what might happen when others found out. 

How can you not love Grayson? He’s the type of guy that every girl wishes for. Grayson needed someone like Charlie, and she needed him. You could tell that there was something special between the two of them from the moment that they met. I feel that Charlie was the most relaxed when she was around him. I was rooting for the two of them throughout the book. This was such a heartwarming story, and now that I have read it, I want to read the others in the series. I highly recommend checking out this book.

In The Likely Event.

 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 4.5★

 

When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful. 

Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now. 

Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River. 

Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right.
Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life.
He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.

 

 🌷

 
It didn’t take long to fall in love with this story. I devoured this book. 

In The Likely Event was the fourth book that I have read by Rebecca Yarros; it’s safe to say that she became one of my favorites. I love the way that she creates the connection between the reader and the characters. I knew there was no way I could imagine how Izzy and Nate were feeling; while reading their story, I could. I felt their fear, but I also felt their love and Izzy’s confusion, along with Nate’s frustration. Every page had me craving for me; wanting to know what was in store for Izzy and Nate next. 

I loved the slow-burning romance between Izzy and Nate. I think I was rooting for the two of them from the moment that they met. I saw something special between the two of them, and the way Nate was with Izzy, it was clear that he fell for her before she did. I liked that the dual perspectives were written from both characters' points of view and across different timelines. It was clear how much Nate still loved her. I was wondering if the two of them would find a way to one another. The chemistry between the two of them was incredible, to the point where you didn’t want to put the book down. 

One of my favorite things about Rebecca Yarros's books is the way she portrays her characters and their emotions. I adored Izzy and Nate; although there were times when I got frustrated with the two of them. Although I liked both of characters, but I felt as if I could connect with Izzy more. In The Likely Event you won’t fall in love with only the main characters but also the side characters in the story. It’s an emotional book but it’s worth it every page.

The Astral Library.

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

3.5★ 

  Thank you to publisher,William Morrow, for providing with E ARC via Netgalley, In exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

 

02.17.26 

 

Alexandria “Alix” Watson has learned one lesson from her barren childhood in the foster-care system: unlike people, books will never let you down. Working three dead-end jobs to make ends meet and knowing college is a pipe dream, Alix takes nightly refuge in the high-vaulted reading room at the Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels and dreaming of far-off lands. Until the day she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives...inside their favorite books. 

The Librarian takes a dazzled Alix under her wing, but before she can escape into the pages of her new life, a shadowy enemy emerges to threaten everyone the Astral Library has ever helped protect. Aided by a dashing costume-shop owner, Alix and the Librarian flee through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen to the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes and the champagne-soaked parties of The Great Gatsby as danger draws inexorably closer. But who does their enemy really wish to destroy—Alix, the Librarian, or the Library itself?

 

 🌷

 
I have been a fan of Kate Quinn since I read The Alice Network in 2021. I have read a few of her books since and enjoyed them all. I was excited when she announced Astral Library on Instagram. A library where you can escape into books, that sounds so magical to me. I was eager to see what Kate Quinn would create in this magical world. I enjoyed the book, but not as much as her other books I have read. I liked most of the story and the setting itself; however, it wasn’t what I had expected. It didn’t have the magic that I expected when I picked up the book. 

The first half of the book was interesting and had me wondering what adventure awaits Alix next. I liked how she discovered the Astral Library. When Alix discovered the library, I found myself wondering what book she would pick, and if she ended up staying there or choosing a different book. The Astral Library was different from other Kate Quinn’s books, and that was one of the things that I liked about it. I do wish we could go inside the worlds that Alix and the librarian jumped into to explore them further. I also felt that sometimes the transition between the worlds was a bit confusing. I liked that the literary worlds they ended up in were classics; some of my favorites. 

The Astral Library sends a powerful message. In general, I enjoyed exploring the worlds of Astral Library. I would like to escape into my favorite book, and escape reality for a while. I’m eager to see what Kate Quinn has in store for us next!

Louder Than Words(Lyrics From The Heart,#2)

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ 

 

 Thank you to the author,Olivia Tucker for providing me with E-ARC, and  Rattle The Stars PR for giving me opportunity to be part of Olivia's Street Team!

 

 

  02.24.26

 

Allie:
Three months ago, I crashed into my favorite rock star—literally. 

And I walked away with more than a bruised ego. I walked away with him.

 But happily-ever-after isn’t as simple as it looks from the outside. 

The world’s watching our every move, just waiting for us to fall apart. 

Jax holds me together when I know I’m unraveling, makes me laugh when I want to cry.

 But love doesn’t fix everything.

 And I don’t know if we can survive what’s coming next.

 
Jax:
Allie isn’t just the girl I fell for—she’s the calm I never knew I needed.

 Now the world’s spinning faster than ever: album about to drop, band drama boiling over. Everyone wants a piece of me, and I’m running out of pieces to give. 

Then the last person I ever expected to see again walks back into my life.

 He’s back, asking questions that pull open scars I learned to hide. 

Except this time, I’ve got something worth fighting for— 

and I’ll burn it all down before anyone takes her from me.

 🌷

 
I have no words. When I finished Louder Than Words; it took me a while to gather my emotions and my thoughts. This story will take you on emotional roller coaster ride. I think that Louder Than Words was one of the most emotional books that I read this year. As you read the book, you will experience all the emotions that Jax and Allie do, as if it’s happening to you. I read this book in 2 days because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t pull away from Allie and Jax’s story. I’m still finding myself thinking about the story, and I know that it will stay with me for a long time. 

I read Don’t Think last year for my book club, and that’s when I fell in love. Although, I loved the first book; I loved Louder Than Words even more. I felt that the second book had much more emotion and was more in-depth. I have been curious to see what was next for Allie and Jax since the last book, especially after that cliffhanger in Don’t Think. I adored Jax even more in this book; the way that he took care of Allie and her daughters. Jax is the type of guy that everyone dreams about. Jax and Allie; they belonged together. 

I loved the way that Jax and Allie’s relationship grew throughout the story. I could tell how much they loved each other. All through the story; I was praying for their happy ending. I also loved Allie’s best friend, Ana; she reminded me so much of mine, always by my side through it all. I wish I could keep talking about this fantastic book, but I don’t want to give too much away. If I could, I would give this book more than five stars; highly recommended!

Winter In Paradise(Paradise,#1)

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

Spend the coldest days of winter on a Caribbean beach with New York Times Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand. 

Join New York Times Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand on the stunning beaches of St. John for the beginning of her thrilling new winter series-The Paradise. Welcome to Paradise, the first book in the Paradise series, has everything that readers have come to know and love about an Elin Hilderbrand novel, plus a healthy dose of intrigue. Irene Steele’s idyllic life-house, husband, family-is shattered when she is woken up by a late-night phone call. Her beloved husband has been found dead, but before Irene can process this tragic news, she must confront the perplexing details of her husband’s death. He was found on St. John island, a tropical paradise far removed from their suburban life. Leaving the cold winter behind, Irene flies down to the beautiful Caribbean beaches of St. John only to make another shocking discovery: her husband had a secret second family. As Irene investigates the mysterious circumstances of her husband’s death, she is plunged into a web of intrigue and deceit belied by the pristine white sand beaches of St. John’s. This exciting first book in the Paradise series will transport readers to a new beach locale-another world that Elin knows as well as her beloved Nantucket-and have them longing for winter. 

 

 🌷

I feel like I shouldn’t be surprised, considering that I have been reading Elin Hilderbrand books for years. Yet, once again, I am. What I loved about Winter In Paradise is the location- the Caribbean, all those descriptions in the book had me imagining I was there. When I was on a Caribbean cruise in December, one of the stops was in the British Virgin Islands, and even though we didn’t go to St. John’s, I remembered how beautiful it looked, making me wish we had more time to spend there. While reading Winter in Paradise, I imagined myself back there, and it was magical. I loved that this book took place in a different location than her other books. It also makes me wish that I could go back to the Caribbean. The descriptions were one of my favorite parts of this book. 

I loved most of the characters, though some frustrated me, and I wondered what they were thinking. I like the mystery surrounding Irene’s husband, Russ, and his death. Of course, like everyone else, I was curious about the woman who was in the helicopter with him. I was interested to see what Irene and her kids would uncover. However, I didn’t have a good feeling about it. I liked that the story was written in three parts, but I did feel the first part was slower. Once it picked up, I had trouble putting it down. I was curious to see what would happen with everyone next. 

Winter In Paradise was part of my friend’s book club pick, and I’m so glad that I finally got a chance to read it. I do feel that Baker and Cash should tell Ayers the truth from the beginning, because it wouldn’t end well for either of them if she found out. I could tell that she liked both brothers, and I was curious to see which one she would pick. That ending – I did not see it coming. Now I have to read the second book and see what happens next. I highly recommend checking out this book.