Who Needs Mistletoe By Sarah Estep | This Is What Holiday Romance Should Feel Like

 

Title: Who Needs Mistletoe
Author: Sarah Estep
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon

My initial thoughts:

This is what I'm looking for in a holiday romance.😍

The Vibe:

Holiday romance, Small town, childhood neighbors to lovers

My Review:

A holiday romance that goes down for the books!!

First of all, all of the 90s movie references in this story had me smiling for days. So many of them are movies I still love and watch to this day, and that alone immediately set the nostalgic, cozy vibe of this story.

This story opens with Ivy returning home for Christmas after years of keeping her distance, and what starts as a holiday visit quickly becomes a lot more emotional than she expected.

Ivy has harbored feelings for Austin..the literal heartthrob next door neighbor since they were teenagers. As an adult, those feelings don’t necessarily go away… but she does eventually start seeing him in a different light. All thanks to his brother, Grant.

Meanwhile, Grant has been secretly pining over Ivy for years, all while watching her fawn over Austin. It takes him some time to finally get there, but when he does start acting on those feelings… the more we learned about just how long and how deeply Grant had cared for Ivy, the more I absolutely melted. 🥹

This one comes packed with all the feels… from smiling at the sweet moments, laughing out loud at the funny ones, yelling at both Ivy and Grant when they were taking too long to get there, and melting over Grant because he is what book boyfriends are made of. 💗

The Christmas atmosphere was exactly what I expect from a holiday romance. It genuinely felt like Christmas without the holiday setting overpowering the actual story.

This is what I long for in a holiday romance!! 🥰

5⭐

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review

Synopsis:

Ivy Weaver learned the hard way that some confessions are better left unsaid―like the one meant for her longtime crush, Austin, that was accidentally delivered to his older brother, Grant, instead. His brutal reaction made leaving town easy. Staying away for ten years? Even easier.

Until now.

When Ivy’s parents announce they’re leaving Coeur-de-Lac for good, Ivy can’t avoid the inevitable. She’ll return just long enough to celebrate the Christmas season while packing up her parents’ house, and her past, for good.

Grant Underwood has spent his life doing exactly what was expected of him―taking over the family business, keeping everything running smoothly, never making the same mistake twice. But when Ivy comes back to town, he sees a second chance he didn’t think he’d get.

The problem? Ivy has spent the past decade thinking she was in love with the wrong brother.

Between a chaotic family holiday, Austin’s sudden interest in Ivy, and one extremely mischievous orange cat, Grant is running out of time before the Christmas season ends and he loses his chance to prove the boy Ivy once loved isn’t the man she was meant to end up with.

It’s going to take more than mistletoe to seal this love story with a kiss.

Holding Ground By Piper Rayne | Single Dad, romance for the win

 

Title: Holding Ground

Author: Piper Rayne
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My Initial Thoughts:

This was a sweet, cozy romance with single-dad vibes, forced proximity, and just enough predictability to give me that classic Hallmark feel I love

The Vibe:
Small town romance, forced proximity, Single Dad

My Review:

I’m starting to think single-dad romances might just be an automatic read for me at this point.

Elliott is a single dad raising his 5 yr old daughter, Baylor, who absolutely stole the show every time she was on the page. Like any 5 yr old, she says exactly what’s on her mind with zero filter, and I loved her for it.

Emelia comes to Echo Lake for work, tasked with getting the townspeople on board with a new development her company wants to build. Sounds simple enough… well, things heat up when forced proximity has her falling for the one man who gave her a hard time from the very beginning… Elliott.

And speaking of things heating up… the spice was spicing. 🔥

By the end, I was completely obsessed with Elliott, Emelia & Baylor. I genuinely never wanted this story to end.

Thank you, Valentine PR for providing this ARC & ALC.




Synopsis:

I’ve been a single dad for five years. Then the wrong woman rented the guest cabin behind my house, and I knew right then she was going to ruin everything.

When Baylor's mother walked out, I made a promise—I'd be enough. Just the two of us. No one to disappoint her. No one else to leave.

Then Emelia Greene rolled into Echo Lake in a Mercedes and a power suit to convince the townspeople to change what makes our small town great. She’s everything this place isn't.

Emelia's not supposed to be kind. She's not supposed to be good with my daughter. She's definitely not supposed to be the one I find myself confiding in at the end of my dock every night.

She's leaving in three months. I know that.

The problem is, I can't stop wondering what it would be like if a woman like her belonged in a place like this.

In a life like mine.

Before I Disappear By Cate Quinn | Nothing Is As It Seems

 

Title: Before I Disappear

Author: Cate Quinn
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

This one kept me guessing right up to the very end

The Vibe:

Mystery, suspenseful,  crime

Read This If You Like:

3–5 quick bullets.

My Review:

This story had me questioning everything.

April Henderson is a criminology professor who wakes up after a brutal attack with huge gaps in her memory. She knows who she is. But when it comes to what happened to her, why she was attacked, and what she may have been involved in before that night… her memories are spotty.

While trying to piece those memories together, she discovers there’s a darker, more dangerous version of herself who knows things April has absolutely no memory of learning.

In that sense… it reminded me of The Long Kiss Goodnight. I absolutely loved that movie, so once I made that connection, I was hooked.

The more April digs into her missing memories, the more disturbing everything gets. There’s organized crime, manipulation, people around her who may or may not be telling the truth, and this constant question of who she can actually trust…Including herself.

One of my favorite parts of a thriller is trying to piece everything together along with the main character, and this definitely gave me that. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, another piece of information would come along and make me question everything all over again.

There were definitely moments where I had to stop and think…Wait… what?

I did find quite a few plot holes, but at the same time, I had to wonder if some of them were intentional and meant to keep us questioning what was really going on.

Either way… I still want answers!

This was dark, twisted, disturbing, and definitely interesting enough to keep me engaged with this story.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Ms. Quinn has in store for us next.

4⭐️

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review

Synopsis:


If she can't remember, her memories might not be the only thing that goes missing.

When criminologist April Anderson wakes in an unfamiliar hotel room with no memory of how she got there — or why she fled her comfortable life in New York— she's told she's under police protection, the only witness to a horrific crime.

With no memories and no answers to her repeated questions, April isn't sure who to trust — the cop guarding her, or the fiancé secretly tracking her. As April sifts through the wreckage of her own memories, she uncovers a version of herself she doesn't recognize, and secrets she'd rather forget.

As the trial date closes in, April realizes someone else wants her silent. Her missing memories aren't just the key to the case, they might be keeping her alive. Will she remember the truth… or disappear forever?

The Truths We Find By Donna Bollen | They Always Have a Way of Catching Up With You

 

Title: The Truths We Find
Author: Donna Bollen
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

Don’t we all know by now that secrets and lies never stay buried? And they always come back at the worst possible time.

The Vibe:

Romantic suspense, second-chance romance, workplace romance


My Review:

You know how frustrating it is to go above and beyond for your job, only to be passed over for a promotion and then watch them give it to an outsider?.. We’ve all been there 🙄

That’s exactly what happens to Dani.

Except the outsider isn’t some random man. It’s Gavin … the ex who broke her heart over ten years ago without so much as a real explanation. 😩

Dani took that heartbreak and catapulted her career straight out of the gate. Now that she’s finally making a name for herself, here comes Gavin to turn her life upside down again.

Okay…maybe not intentionally. In his defense, he didn’t know she worked there. But Dani certainly isn’t excited to see him.

To make matters even more complicated, Dani is dating Sam, her childhood best friend and the man who helped her pick up the pieces after Gavin. She and Sam have years of history, but Gavin’s unexpected return begins stirring up old feelings, unanswered questions, and secrets Dani never knew existed.

The colossal fuckery that followed!

The workflow, meetings, and pitches slowed the story down just a little,or maybe that was just be as I wanted to “skip to the good part”🤭. In the end, those puzzle pieces were necessary for this story.

I completely devoured this story. Highly recommend if you like a little suspense and psychological thriller vibe molded into your romance yes, this is a yes for me!!

4.5⭐

I received this arc from the author agency in exchange for my honest review




Synopsis:

She’s chasing the biggest story of her career.
He’s her new boss... and the ex who shattered her heart.

DANI
I fought my way up the newsroom ladder. So when I'm passed over for a promotion, I tell myself I can handle it.
Until my new boss walks in.
Gavin. The man who ghosted me for ten years. The man I thought I would marry.
Now I'm stuck working for my biggest mistake... while my possessive boyfriend and unfinished feelings threaten everything I’ve built.

GAVIN
I left to protect her. Keeping a secret that could destroy everything.
Now I’m her boss... and still hopelessly in love with her.
Office rules say she’s off limits. My heart says Dani’s always been mine.
One truth could change it all, but a second chance could save us both.

I'm The Worst By Saige Parker | Is he through?

 

Title: I'm The Worst
Author: Saige Parker
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My Initial Thoughts:

This certainly fed my dark heart. Wolff is unhinged, twisted, disturbing, just the way a dark romance should be.

The Vibe:

Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, Unhinged MMC, addictive

My Review:


We are immediately thrown into the deep end with this story, with no life jacket for support.
AJ is trapped in a human trafficking operation when Wolff enters her life under circumstances that make trusting him nearly impossible.

Wolff certainly tried his hardest to convince me… I mean AJ… he was the worst. And given their first encounter, I know I… she should have hated him. Admittedly, I was conflicted in the beginning, but that was short lived.

After everything AJ has survived, trusting anyone… especially a man like Wolff… is easier said than done.

And then… the I want you… I can’t have you… I’m bad for you… You deserve better cycle became redundant and started to lose me.

And then BANG… just like the beginning, the hits just kept on coming. Once the story found its momentum again, I couldn’t put it down until the very end.

Despite the slow pace in the middle, this was everything my cold, dark heart beats for. 🖤

If you’re a true dark romance girlie who can handle walking on the very dark side, this one is definitely for you.
I only ask that you please check those trigger warnings first.

4⭐️

I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review



Synopsis:


I never wanted a protector.
Especially not Wolff Maddox.

He isn’t a hero. He isn’t noble. And he definitely isn’t the kind of man you assign to keep someone safe. Wolff is a weapon the Sovereign unleashes on their enemies—violent, cruel, and built to destroy problems, not guard them.

And now he’s been ordered to protect me.

I’m angry. Damaged in ways that don’t heal cleanly. The more he tries to control me, the harder I push back. The more distance he puts between us, the more dangerous the space becomes.

But I’m not the only broken thing in this story.

We don’t heal each other.
We make each other worse.This book contains numerous dark themes and scenes that some readers may find distressing or disturbing. Please read the content considerations before continuing, found at the author's website: www.saigeparker.com

I’m The Worst is a standalone novel in The Sovereign series. No prior reading is required. Release order is the following:

The Revenge Duet (Once A Villain & Always A Villain)
Made For Death
I’m The Worst

Always Mine By Laura Pavlov | The One Night That Changed Everything

Title: Always Mine
Author: Laura Pavlov
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My Initial Thoughts:

Having read a few of Laura Pavlov's books before, I went into this expecting a sweet Hallmark-type romance. But what I got was so much more than that

The Vibe:
Friends-to-lovers, firefighter, small-town, Grumpy sunshine

My Review:

Laura Pavlov knows how to do small-town romance, and Always Mine was such a romantic read.

Niko and Vivian have been best friends since kindergarten, so their relationship already has years of history behind it before anything romantic ever happens.

Honeybee has to be the cutest name ever. 🥺

Looking back on her past relationship, Vivian comes to the realization that there are quite a few things she never got to experience. So naturally, she turns to the one person she trusts completely… Niko.

Except Niko has absolutely no interest in risking the most important friendship in his life… Until she wears him down. 🤭

And once the heat is turned up… let’s just say the spice was definitely spicing. 🥵

There’s also so much more to Niko than he lets you see, particularly when it comes to his family and the things from his past that shaped the way he looks at relationships. That gave the story a little more weight without taking away from the cozy small-town romance feeling.

This was such a romantic and heartwarming read that had my emotions all over the place.

This one felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie..except this had a whole lot of spice.

Niko and Vivian were adorable, Honey Mountain completely charmed me, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

4⭐️

Synopsis: 

 He fights fires for a living, but the flames building between us may be too big to extinguish.
Niko West is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Six feet, four inches of broody, chiseled Greek god in a firefighter suit.
He’s also been my best friend since kindergarten.
He always says the only solid thing in his life is our friendship.
He’s Honey Mountain's favorite player and I’m what you’d call a relationship girl.
But when I find myself single for the first time since turning sixteen, I make Niko an offer he can’t refuse.
Who better to show me what I’ve been missing?


But now that we’ve crossed that line, I don’t know if friendship is enough for me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Bossing my holiday By J. Saman | A Very Merry HR Violation

 

Title: Bossing My Holiday
Author: J. Saman
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

Christmas is one of my favorite time of the year so of course I love a good Christmas romance, so give me a grumpy billionaire boss, fake dating, Paris at Christmas, and a little workplace chaos and I’m already interested.


The Vibe:

Why choose, holiday romance, MFM, fake dating, billionaire romance

My Review:

Waverly is Tristan’s assistant, and their story starts with her showing up two hours late for work, crashing directly into him, spilling coffee all over both of them, and dumping the entire contents of her purse onto the floor in front of everyone.

Her contents are mortifying embarrassing to say the least.

Tristan already has a reputation around the office for turning into Scrooge every Christmas, and he seems especially irritated by Waverly. What she doesn’t realize is that there may be a little more behind all that irritation than she thinks.

Then there’s Braxton Hicks… yes, that is actually his name 😂 …Tristan’s best friend and also co-owner of the company, who adds an entirely different layer of chaos to an already questionable workplace situation.

a fake-dating arrangement sends them to Paris for Christmas, things escalate very quickly. And these pages are scorching 🥵

But at the same time, that was part of my issue with the story. There was more spice than plot.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the dynamic between the characters, but I wanted more time watching the emotional side of their relationship develop.

The ending also felt rushed to me. There were a few things I really would have preferred to experience alongside the characters rather than being told afterward that they happened. This one could have benefited from another 50 or so pages

All in all, this was festive, chaotic, and so much fun to read. It had me laughing way more than I expected.

4⭐️

I received this Alc from Valentine PR in exchange for my honest review




Synopsis:

Things not on my Christmas wish list? Fake dating my billionaire Scrooge of a boss, Tristan Ouest.

But that's exactly what I'm doing and why I'm on a plane heading to Paris with him and my other boss, co-CEO Braxton Hicks.

According to Braxton, this is the perfect arrangement. I act as the doting girlfriend to get Tristan's matchmaking, old-money family off his back and he pays off the large debt I have from caring for my grandmother.

Except Braxton has other things in mind with this trip…like sharing me with Tristan.

And the things they want to do to me put them straight on the naughty list.

I should say no to all of this. After all, I need my job and sleeping with both of my bosses is a recipe for disaster. Especially when things start to get messy and complicated.
But they don't just want me as a holiday treat. They want more.

Now they're bossing my holiday. And before I know it, I'm in way over my head--falling for my grumpy fake boyfriend and his sinful best friend.