Showing posts with label 4.5 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4.5 stars. Show all posts

Review Tour: Crooked by Vi Keeland | Penelope Ward

REVIEW TOUR
Title: Crooked
Authors: Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
Tropes: Bodyguard, Close Proximity
Mafia Daughter, Forbidden
Release Date: March 29, 2026

BLURB
 
A new, sexy standalone novel from New York Times Bestsellers, Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward…
 
The last thing I needed was a live-in bodyguard. And I definitely didn’t want him. Six foot two, with broad shoulders that were impossible to ignore and a talent for getting in my way, Wes Callahan was a walking bad decision.
 
But when you’re the daughter of a notorious mob boss, apparently your opinions stop mattering the moment your father ignites another war. I’d spent my entire life trying to escape that crooked world—new name, new city, newfound freedom. At least until I was suddenly shacked up with my new bodyguard. 
 
Wes knew exactly how to push my buttons. He was also infuriatingly protective. And smart. And funny. And thoughtful when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.  Little by little, the walls I’d built started to crack, and falling for the bodyguard became the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done. Because if my father found out, Wes wouldn’t just lose his job. He’d lose his life. 
 
Getting involved with him was reckless, yet I couldn’t find a way to stop it, no matter how hard I tried.  But while I was busy losing my heart, the man who took it was hiding a secret. 
 
And it turned out, the most dangerous man in my life wasn’t my father after all—it was the one who threatened to break my heart.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: 
  • BODYGUARD
  • CLOSE PROXIMITY
  • MAFIA DAUGHTER
  • FORBIDDEN



PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE




⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

No surprise here that Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward created another masterpiece!!  I say it every time and I'll say it again, this duo cannot be beat.  Every single time they create a fresh, amazing world to become emersed in.  

Forbidden romances are my favorite type of romance, add in mafia vibes and I am sold.  Juliette wants to be far away from her mafia family.  So much so that she moves cross country and tries to change her identity.  Of course, things were not going to work out exactly as she planned.  Enter Wes, the bodyguard meant to protect her.  

I love these two characters.  The banter between them is awesome, the chemistry is next level, everything I want in a couple.  I read this book in one sitting and like every other Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward book, I highly recommend giving this story a chance.
  
VI KEELAND


Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.


PENELOPE WARD


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

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Posted by Once upon a twilight at 7:00 PM 0 comments
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Review Tour: What Happens at the Lake by Vi Keeland




Title: What Happens at the Lake
Author: Vi Keeland
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Trope: Grumpy-Sunshine
Release Date: January 15, 2024


BLURB

When life took an unexpected turn, I decided to get out of New York for a while. What better place to go than the idyllic small town my father spoke about so fondly when I was growing up? Laurel Lake held the title America’s Friendliest Town for seventeen years running, and friendly was just what I needed right now.

Unfortunately, friendly wasn’t the welcome I got when I arrived.

Instead, I got Fox Cassidy. My tall, dark, and burly neighbor, who grunted at me instead of saying hello.

Okay, so I might’ve had his mailbox in my hands the first time we met. And it might’ve been a little crushed after removing it from under my tire. And I might’ve needed his help breaking into the place I was staying in after the key broke off in the lock. But still…he didn’t have to be so grumpy.

As time went on though, I started to notice things about Fox other than his glares. Like how he watched me when he thought I wasn’t looking, or how fire ignited in his eyes whenever we bickered. Though I was in Laurel Lake to escape my problems, not create new ones. And getting involved with a man like Fox screamed trouble, even if he was gorgeous and unlike any man I’d ever met.

But alas, problem seemed to be my middle name this year. So why not have some fun while I was here for the summer? It seemed like a good plan. At least until it was time to go home…

They say what happens at the lake, stays at the lake. But it’s not so easy to walk away when what stays behind…is your heart.







PURCHASE LINKS



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Vi Keeland once again produces an amazing book. As usual, I went into this book completely blind. It starts out with Josie hitting the mailbox of her new grumpy neighbor. She had inherited a house from her dad when he passed away and up until recently, it had been occupied by an elderly, hoarding tenant. The realtor informed her it just needed a little TLC but when Josie got there it was in desperate need of a complete overhaul.  We find out that Josie holds a PhD in pharmaceuticals and her job caused her severe anxiety and depression that lead to a month long inpatient stay in a mental facility. Once she is discharged, she’s still not ready to go back to work so she decides to stay at the house she inherited in her dad’s hometown. 


Fox has a bit of a past as well which attributes to his perpetual grumpiness. He’s a giant, sexy ex hockey player turned contractor that always finds himself helping out his new neighbor. 


I love how this book navigates mental health. I have never read a book that approached it the way this one did and it was refreshing to read. I love Josie!  She’s such a bad ass that never wants to give up no matter how difficult her task seems. Of course I love Fox!  He is a great guy at heart also and is aptly described as a coconut, hard on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside. I read this book in one sitting as it was a quick read and I couldn’t put it down. As always, it was packed with all the emotions that I’ve grown accustomed to feel in a Vi Keeland novel. It was an amazing journey of perseverance and personal growth. I definitely recommend this one!


AUTHOR BIO


Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria, Israel, and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.


AUTHOR LINKS






OTHER BOOKS BY VI


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
GOOGLE PLAY / AUDIOBOOK
PAPERBACK



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
GOOGLE PLAY / AUDIOBOOK
PAPERBACK

Posted by Once upon a twilight at 7:00 AM 0 comments
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Book Review: I Could Never by Penelope Ward

 




Title: I Could Never
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Forbidden Romance/Enemies to Lovers
Release Date: August 21, 2023


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new forbidden, enemies-to-lovers story…

It all started with an unexpected phone call.
Two years after my fiancé passed away in an accident, his father died suddenly, leaving Brad’s adult, special-needs brother with no one to care for him.
The next thing I knew, I was on a cross-country drive to New Hampshire where I’d be moving in to look after Scottie until I could get him into a group home.
The last thing I ever expected?
I wouldn’t be taking care of him alone.
Josh Mathers, my fiance’s best friend—who also happened to be my sworn enemy—insisted he was the better person for the job. He told me to go back to California, and I told him where he could stick that demand.
Our disdain for each other wasn’t anything new. It dated back to a text I’d accidentally read years ago.
We hated each other. But we both loved Scottie, so neither of us budged.
Now we were living together in a tiny house—with one available bedroom. Thank goodness it was only temporary.
Over time, I realized the broody jerk I thought I knew was different than I’d imagined.
I found myself slowly growing attached to someone I once considered the enemy…and growing attracted to him.
Sure, both of us were guilt-ridden over Brad. We were also two grown people with pent-up frustration toward one another—stuck in a cabin in the woods.
But this was Josh.
I could never.







PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU




⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am SOOOO in love with “I Could Never”. I have to start by saying I love Penelope Ward so much and I am NEVER disappointed by her books.  She has once again blown me away with her words. 

This story genuinely touched my heart. I love Carly, Josh, and Scottie so much. Josh and Carly have a bit of a misunderstanding in the beginning which 
caused them to have animosity towards one another. Carly was engaged to Josh’s best friend, Brad, that passed away. Brad’s dad also ended up passing away, leaving the only member of the family, Scottie, almost completely alone. Scottie had Autism and needed around the clock care. Carly decided to honor her late fiancé by dropping her life in California to come take care of Scottie. Josh had the same idea, leaving his life in Chicago. They both found out very quickly, that Scottie would need the both of them.  Living in close quarters would prove to be quite challenging in more ways than one. 

Josh is such a sexy, charming, loving guy and Carly is so sweet, beautiful and caring. Their love for Brad and Scottie was really touching. This book gave me all the feels and I was able to read it in one day. Such a sweet book!  I recommend this book as well as all of Penelope Ward’s books.  I’m rating this book 4.5 stars!
Reviewed by:


AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

SEE MORE BOOKS HERE

Posted by Once upon a twilight at 7:00 AM 0 comments
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Book Review: Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother's Best Friend by Willa Nash

Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother's Best Friend
Holiday Brothers #2
Author: Willa Nash
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: 4th November 2021
Review Source: Purchased

I pride myself in being grounded. Sure, I’ve had my share of childhood fantasies. Winning an Oscar. Winning the lottery. Winning an Olympic medal for an athletic talent I have yet to discover. But the only fantasy I ever thought might actually happen was winning my brother’s best friend.

Heath Holiday.

My crush on him has ebbed and flowed over the years, but the day I started working for his construction company was the day I smothered it for good. Sort of. Mostly. It was on my to-do list. Making it a priority would have been easier had he not arrived at his family’s annual Christmas party looking ridiculously handsome in a suit.

Then he kissed me. We stepped into an alternate universe and he kissed me. I assumed the next day I’d just be Guy’s little sister again. The office newbie. Our kiss forgotten. Except he keeps showing up at my house. With gifts.

A gold bracelet carrying three jingling bells. Two dainty jeweled earrings, each shaped as a bow. And finally, he brought himself.

One brother’s best friend, asking if I can keep a secret.


This installment has one of my favourite tropes - the falling-for-my-brother’s-best-friend trope, which, in my opinion, is always a good addition to any book. Stella had a crush on Heath since way back when, and now they’re both finally doing something about it.

For a while their romance sizzles in secret, Stella and Health fearful of her brother’s reaction (who, by the way, is a bit of a douche) and now things are a little bit more complicated since they work together. I really enjoyed reading their journey.

Honestly, Stella was the shining star of this book. Her quirky personality made her my favourite character from this series (alongside Violet from The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny). She had the best sense of humour. Here’s a small snippet to show you what I mean:

“Thank you. I know he’s going to be as mad as a hater but . . . he’ll get over it.”
“You’re welcome.” A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. This woman and her messed-up sayings. “And it’s as mad as a hatter.”
“I know. But—”
“You like your version better.”
“Yeah. Haters gonna hate.”
“You got that one right.”

Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother's Best Friend is a cute, fun read with hot sex and a pinch of tension mixed in. After reading it injected a feel good mood and I'm here for it!

Posted by Shannon at 11:00 PM 0 comments
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