Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Playmaker by Sierra Hill [Review]

Playmaker (Moo U #9) by Sierra Hill
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 6, 2023

Moo U
1. Boyfriend
2. Blindsided
3. Slapshot
4. Holdout
5. Gametime
6. Overtime
7. Halftime
8. Darkroom
9. Playmaker - Paperback | Kindle
10. Snowballed
11. Goalkeeper

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Busy Bean
1. Sweetheart

In Vino Veritas
1. Wildfire

Speakeasy
1. Touchstone

True North
1. Bittersweet

Vino and Veritas
1. Roommate

Sierra Hill
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
There’s no faking it in love or hockey...

Transferring to a new school under false pretenses is harder than I expected, especially when my cocky new housemate, Callan Thomas, annoys me at every pass. He’s treated like a god and revered by everyone on campus. Too bad he made me feel like a rejected fool the first night we met.

But that doesn’t stop me from accepting his offer to become his fake girlfriend, because he has skills that I need. Only Callan can help me improve my game and make the USA women’s hockey team.

I try to keep despising him, but he keeps proving my first impression was wrong. And the more time I spend with him, the more complex my feelings become. I need to tell him the truth about who I really am before anyone finds out and things go too far.

Problem is, I think they already have...
Thoughts on Playmaker: Callan and Aria have a complicated thing going on and I am here for it! FYI, I don't mean complicated in the usual sense, but rather they're housemates (sharing the 3rd floor of their sports house which means they really can't avoid one another since, you know, they have side by side rooms and literally share a bathroom) and Aria had secret reasons for transferring to Moo U that she isn't keen on anyone finding out about.

As for the housemates thing...that would be workable. Probably. If the two of them didn't spark off one another something fierce and just tolerated the other's presence...no problem. But they do spark and they do more than tolerate and yeeeeaaaah. Throw in Aria's not so fun (well, most of the time) night terrors and things get verrry interesting.

On Cal's end, he's trying very hard to make good choices (which he articulates to Aria very poorly) and he has more than a few daddy issues. In the end, Aria's the best sort of complication even though she was hiding a thing or two about herself.

Hockey, steamy kisses, parental issues, sexy middle of the night shenanigans, and two people who have to figure things out before they can find their emotional happy place. *thumbs up*

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Darkroom by Kate Willoughby [Review]

Darkroom (Moo U #8) by Kate Willoughby
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 6, 2023

Moo U
1. Boyfriend
2. Blindsided
3. Slapshot
4. Holdout
5. Gametime
6. Overtime
7. Halftime
8. Darkroom - Paperback | Kindle
9. Playmaker
10. Snowballed
11. Goalkeeper

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Busy Bean
1. Sweetheart

In Vino Veritas
1. Wildfire

Speakeasy
1. Touchstone

True North
1. Bittersweet

Vino and Veritas
1. Roommate

Kate Willoughby
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
As a top draft pick from a family of hockey royalty, I'm under so much pressure that I’m losing my edge on the ice. I need something to snap my brain out of this self-destructive stress-loop. That’s where Indi Briscoe from my photography class comes in. She’s flirtatious and funny one moment, sweetly shy the next.

But she’s cagey. She has secrets. Also? She’s a virgin. Did I mention the pressure thing? Maybe I’m crazy for starting something with her. But we can’t seem to help ourselves...

Warning: this standalone novel contains heat, heart, familial expectations, extreme milkshakes, and a hamster with deep thoughts.
Thoughts on Darkroom: Okay. Sexy Hudson Forte is up and his special someone has maybe a tiny bit of baggage she needs to deal with before the two of them can be blissfully happy together in the long term. To be fair, Hudson also has some baggage to deal with. Just so you know it's not all one sided.

First up: Indi. Let's start by saying the lady has some self image issues. Between her birthmark (which got her bullied and teased relentlessly when she was younger, so I completely get where she's coming from with her coping mechanisms) and her disconnect with her heritage, she has a few things to work through. It takes time for her to come to terms with both.

As for Hudson, he's got big shoes to fill when it comes to his family and hockey. He's also been taught that he should suck it up and play through whatever's bothering him (okay, it's not said like that exactly, but it was the idea that some of the things he was dealing with weren't something that should bother someone like him) and that leads him to ignore some issues that could have been dealt with earlier. That said, once things start moving in the right direction, he makes big strides.

Family dynamics, pizza, self-image, more pizza, and some steamy kisses. *thumbs up*

Monday, March 25, 2024

Halftime by Kim Findlay [Review]

Halftime (Moo U #7) by Kim Findlay
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 6, 2023

Moo U
1. Boyfriend
2. Blindsided
3. Slapshot
4. Holdout
5. Gametime
6. Overtime
7. Halftime - Paperback | Kindle
8. Darkroom
9. Playmaker
10. Snowballed
11. Goalkeeper

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Busy Bean
1. Sweetheart

In Vino Veritas
1. Wildfire

Speakeasy
1. Touchstone

True North
1. Bittersweet

Vino and Veritas
1. Roommate

Kim Findlay
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
There’s no halftime in hockey, but maybe there’s one in love…

Drunk dialing your girlfriend to tell her that you didn’t really cheat is a bad idea--a lesson Seb Hunter learned the hard way. It was no surprise when she cut him completely out of her life. Now he’s finally moved on, and he’s looking forward to sophomore year at Moo U. Until his ex arrives on campus.

For goalie Faith Devereaux, cheating is a hard pass. She grew up knowing all too well how destructive infidelity can be. She’s gotten over Seb and picked the college of her dreams. The fact that he’s a student there will not be a problem. Hockey is her priority. Not guys, not dating, definitely not exes.

But when an exhibition game forces them into close proximity, it isn’t long before their old attraction flares. Regaining trust is hard, though, when the heart plays a good defensive game.

But when the goal is love, one more shot might be all they need.
Thoughts on Halftime: Oh man. Faith and Seb were kind of a mess for a while. And what I really mean is they were a HOT MESS. Seb had never really gotten over Faith and Faith had spent a year believing the person she trusted most had cheated on her at the first opportunity. Being on the same campus and (nominally) sharing space had both of them on edge from the start.

Good thing for both of them they had Seb's teammate willing (and able) to play matchmaker. Without Coop, they'd probably still be scowling their way around campus, desperately hoping they don't cross paths. Well, maybe Seb would have been okay with crossing paths, but Faith was all in on the avoidance.

As it turns out, Seb did not cheat. Faith had to work her head around that (which caused a little friction at times) and then she had to face down some baggage (courtesy of her mom and dad's weird relationship) that had unconsciously shaped her.

Hockey, family issues, trust, and two people who had to relearn how to be with one another. GOOD STUFF.

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Kade by Tasha Black [Review]

Kade (Alien Adoption Agency #2) by Tasha Black
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 25, 2023

Alien Adoption Agency
1. Noxx
2. Kade - Paperback | Kindle
3. Tyro
4. Zane
5. Odin
6. Rexx
7. Arik
8. Jett
9. Zyon
10. Troy
11. Luka
12. Jace
13. Jhon
14. Rafe
15. Kian

Tasha Black
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
She’s the target of an intergalactic bounty hunt. If he wants to protect her, first he'll have to capture her heart.

Aurora Day is running from a crime she didn’t commit – or at least, she didn’t mean to commit. But the intergalactic soldiers on the hunt for the woman known as the Fox don’t care about the details. Hiding out on the remote frontier moon of Clotho is her only hope for survival. But to gain access, she has to adopt an alien baby. Aurora is shocked when she learns that a dragon warrior of the Invicta is part of the package.

Kade knows two things about Aurora. The bright-eyed Terran is going to be the mother of the child he has pledged to guard and grown to love. And the mysterious woman is fated to be his mate. But Aurora has no interest in his love, and she doesn’t even seem to be that interested in adorable baby Lyra. She’s clearly hiding some secrets, and Kade is determined to unearth them before his dragon’s wild lust for her burns them both alive.

When Kade runs afoul of the local law enforcement, only Aurora can save him. The perfect life she’s dared to dream of is almost in her grasp, and now it’s all about to come crashing down around her. Will she stand her ground and fight for her new family? Or will the Fox keep running for freedom?
Thoughts on Kade: We're back on Clotho with the second of the three women who are part of the alien adoption thing. No lie, the fact someone who's considered a criminal made it past the agency's background check ahs me questioning their methods. BUT...maybe Aurora was just that good at hiding herself. Although she did use her real name and everything. You know what? I'm going to just go with it. Aurora's good at hiding.

So. Aurora only took the job as an adoptive mother because hiding out on the frontier gives her a little breathing room. To be honest, I'm not sure she really thought the whole "mother" part through. But she figures things out. She likes the baby after she gives herself a chance to hold her. She also likes Kade. Considering he's part and parcel with the baby this is a good thing. The sticky part? She's worried about putting people around her in danger is she's found out. Which means she's blowing a little hot and cold with the big dragon shifter.

On Kade's end, he's already smitten with baby Lyra. Feeling an instant connection with Aurora shocks him a little, but he's down for it. After all, he loves the adorable baby, why not her adoptive mother? But he's also a possessive, proud dragon warrior and when Aurora steps in to protect him, he gets a little miffed. That said, once she explains her reasoning, he understands that he needs to take care of himself in order to be able to take care of Aurora and the baby.

A protection racket nobody likes, a lady on the run, neighbors with their own secrets, a possessive dragon, a sweet baby, and a competition that leaves everyone surprised. *thumbs up*

Friday, March 22, 2024

Overtime by Kat Mizera [Review]

Overtime (Moo U #6) by Kat Mizera
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 5, 2023

Moo U
1. Boyfriend
2. Blindsided
3. Slapshot
4. Holdout
5. Gametime
6. Overtime - Paperback | Kindle
7. Halftime
8. Darkroom
9. Playmaker
10. Snowballed
11. Goalkeeper

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Busy Bean
1. Sweetheart

In Vino Veritas
1. Wildfire

Speakeasy
1. Touchstone

True North
1. Bittersweet

Vino and Veritas
1. Roommate

Kat Mizera
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
Hotshot hockey star Patrick Graham has been groomed for the pros since before he could walk. Fast forward to his junior year of college, and he’s having the time of his life. What could be better than pucks, partying, and having his pick of campus women? But if Patrick doesn’t buckle down and get his grades up, he could find himself benched for the championships. Could a beautiful brainiac be the solution to his problems?

Nineteen-year-old Master’s student Ellie McGinn could do so many things with her biology degree, but her mother is pushing her toward a future she doesn't want. Tutoring a hockey hottie seems like the perfect opportunity to start making her own choices and living life on her own terms.

When learning turns to yearning, will they be ready to face the heat and heartache that love can bring?
Thoughts on Overtime: No lie, Patrick was not my favorite character in Pax's book. I mean, I get that the twins had stuff to work through and Patrick wasn't at his best because it was Pax's story, but maaaaannnn. Let's just say the guy had to prove himself to me before I would get rid of my sour lemon face.

The good news? I did end up liking Patrick. He might have been foot loose and fancy free during Pax's story, but he cleaned up nicely. Having a genius tutor helped get him on the right track. Well, that and the possibility of being benched if his grades got to bad. Regardless, he buckled down and did what he needed to do and I can respect that.

As for Ellie, that lady's on fire. She's smart and sweet and, yeah, maybe she hasn't had the most typical college experience, but Patrick helps her unwind in that regard. Her biggest hurdle? Figuring out what she wants to do with her life. She really is smart enough to do anything, but her parents are pushing her in a direction she doesn't want to go and that makes things tough.

Adulting choices, steamy kisses, hockey family, and two people who work well together. *thumbs up*

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Crossroads Magic by Tracy Cooper-Posey [Review]

Crossroads Magic (Witchtown Crossing #1) by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 25, 2024

Witchtown Crossing
1. Crossroads Magic - Paperback | Kindle

Tracy Cooper-Posey
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):
I’m just an ordinary, middle-aged woman, and my life is falling apart…
When did I become such a cliché? I’m divorced, working a crappy job, living on next to nothing, and wondering how it all went so wrong.

Then it goes even more wrong. My grown daughter turns up after not speaking to me for two years, with stunning news of her own, and to cap it off, I’m summoned to a tiny, isolated hamlet in northern New York called Haigton Crossing, where my mother has lived for decades.

Haigton Crossing looks like a throw back to another time. For such a small place, it is stuffed full of secrets. The people there are different, including the town’s doctor, Benedict Marcus. And Haigton Crossing is way, way too small to host a murder….
Thoughts on Crossroads Magic: There's a lot going on here and, well, I'm here for it. Anna is a middle-aged, divorced woman with adult children, a crappy job, and an ex who can pounds rocks because I really don't like what he did to her to drive her to the point she's at (frankly, I'm hoping VERY HARD that he gets what's coming to him down the road because his actions were SUPER NOT COOL and I'm a big fan of karma.)

So. Anna's in a low point, her daughter shows up after a couple years of estrangement, and Anna gets called to the small town (not even a town, really, more like a hamlet or something even smaller) her mother lived in to deal with her sudden death. With Ghaliya (her daughter) in tow, she sets out to see what needs to be done.

As it turns out, Haigton Crossing is a odd place inhabited by colorful characters. As Anna attempts to investigate her mother's death, she comes face to face with a world she didn't know existed. Or maybe she did know, but didn't realize because her mother was smack-dab in the middle of it and some of that had to have impressed on Anna a little. Regardless, her eyes are opened in a big way and everything changes for her pretty quickly.

A small (but not necessarily as close-knit as you might think) town, a little magic, a mystery Anna is determined to uncover, a daughter who needs support, a doctor who plays his cards close to the vest, and a lady who is discovering who she is when she's called to Haigton Crossing and has the world open up around her. *thumbs up*