book review: FORMULA FREEDOM, by Sawyer Bennett

Race Fever #3

Reid & Lara

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m loving this series more and more!  I love all the technical details that the author includes in the story, it makes it so real and like I’m there at the race track, I only need the sound track.  Also, the story about childhood friends who lost their chance not once, but twice, and now finally can make it real.  It’s chef’s kiss!

Reid is a driver in the FI International Matterhorn team.  He will be racing in the Melbourne Grand Prix and went to the promotional event the night prior.  There he encountered his brother Lance and fiancee Lara.  They were all very close childhood friends, their parents are close friends and own a business together.  Lara is the one who got away, the one he never got over.  And to make it worse, he finds Lance being his usual show off, and Lara strangely diminished and sad.  When Lara later calls him asking for help, an incredible line of events and love story begins.

As with the previous books in this series, and actually, all Sawyer Bennett’s books, I’m enchanted with the stories and the characters. It’s her impeccable writing, the engaging characters who compel to want to be their friend too.  Lara is sweet and considerate, Reid is handsome and dashing. The fact he drives cars around a race track at three hundred miles per hour make him very intriguing.  There are other characters that add to the story, like Carlos Moreno, friend and FI driver, Posey, the romance writer who posed as a journalist, and the new female FI driver, Francesca Accardi, hired by Brienne Norcross, owner of the Titans hockey team, now entering the FI field also. Good times!

Reid and Lara’s story is full of pitfalls, since Lara just broke up with Reid’s brother, and they are worried on the effect it will have on their parent’s friendship.  Lara is a worrier, quick to forgive, but also strong enough to decide that she’s done.  Reid respects and loves Lara and lets her dictate the progression of their relationship. Their story is inevitable, because they have been in love since they were fifteen, they just shoved it into a box because it was not their time. Then after graduation, Reid couldn’t give her the attention she deserved because he was making his name in racing.  So third time is the charm, and what a wonderful steamy story it was!  

Purchase links

https://geni.us/SB-FormulaFreedom

Available in KU 

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Connect with Sawyer Bennett:

https://geni.us/SawyerBennett

Book review: ALL TIED UP, by Abbi Glines

Mississippi Smoke #7

Ransom & Noa, part 2

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This conclusion to Ransom and Noa’s story is one of the most romantic books in this series.  Ransom is forbidden to see Noa, the command comes from Blaise Hughes himself.  This causes unending despair and frustration on Ransom, and an utter desolation in Noa.  She felt rejected, tossed aside after one night of sex.

Reading about Ransom’s torturous weeks of missing Noa was very angsty and romantic.  Abbi Glines wrote a maelstrom of emotions as he wrestled with missing his woman, his best friend, the one who calmed the darkness within him. And Noa, submerged into utter devastation, when she lost her daily texts with the man she loves.

The book is very emotional, I loved how Ransom comes into the realization of how much he loves Noa, how much he needs her to stay sane.  The final parts of the book were very dramatic, very compelling, before we’re gifted with the long awaited HEA.  Another winner to add to this incredible series!

Purchase links

https://geni.us/AllTiedUp

Read All Jacked Up: https://geni.us/AJUAG 

About the author

Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Field Party, and Existence series. She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She finally moved to New England into a home that is 200 + years old with it's own ghosts. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but alas she being born in Alabama, her life in New England is as close as she will get. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, and/or watching Netflix like the introvert that she is. 

You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways:

www.abbiglinesbooks.com

TikTok @abbiglines

Twitter: @abbiglines

Instagram: @abbiglines

Snapchat: abbiglines

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbiglinesauthor

Book review: WHIRLWIND, by Alison Rhymes

Seattle Blades #4

Tyson & Kit

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alison Rhymes writes riveting books that grab the reader from the get-go.  I already knew Tyson and Kit from previous books in this series, and was delighted to read their love story.

In Rainfall, I loved Tyson, I actually liked him better for Isla than Cillian because of Cillian’s actions.  So I was happy to see that this is his story, and I loved that he gets such an interesting and quirky heroine.  Kit sees herself as weird, but as the story evolves, we see that she has a brilliant mind that never rests.  She seems to be processing data all the time, or retrieving information from the immense memory server in her mind.  She’s interesting and full of fun trivia!

Tyson is evolving, from feeling sad that he lost Isla, to feeling jealous that Cillian now has everything he wanted, a family, with the woman he loved.  When he meets Kit, he’s intrigued and as he gets involved and starts to fall in love with her brilliant mind, he starts to question what he felt for Isla.

The story is incredibly romantic and emotional, evocative as Tyson compares what he had and what he now has, funny/tender as we read about Kit’s cute quirks.  There’s a dark story about Kit’s childhood, very sad, and it affected her sexuality.  It’s lovely to see Tyson worried and supportive, and helping Kit get over it. I loved every word and enjoyed it immensely.

Purchase links

https://www.amazon.com/dp /whirlwind

About the author

 Alison lives somewhere in the shadow of a Pacific Northwest Mountain, bordered by the Puget Sound, and not too far from the country roads she grew up on. 

When not writing, she can be found avidly reading, traveling with youthful wanderlust, or slowly turning the inside of her house into her own personal houseplant jungle. 

Content Warnings for Alison's books can be found on her website alisonrhymes.com

You can join Alison's newsletter to receive early news and bonus scenes: https://tinyurl.com/ymrrdtfc

Alison can be contacted at alison@alisonrhymes.com

Book review: TO THE CHASE, by Julia Wolf

Mile High Billionaires #3

Tore & Bea

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The beauty of Julia Wolf’s stories lies in her incomparable characters.  In this book, Bea and Tore are magnificent, Bea is quirky, different, mean when she gets mad, but loving the rest of the time.  Tore is autistic, so he’s very literal, very focused, very intense.  He misses social cues and couldn’t care less.  I loved that he was so perfectly imperfect, all those scenes where he was overwhelmed but tried to process fast and perform.  Bea was his perfect match because she understood him like no other and appreciated his uniqueness and sexy nerdiness.  

Only a genius nerd like Tore would build an app just to keep contact with Bea during the two years they were separated.  The conversations between Bea and Anthony, her digital butler, were enchanting.  

Tore moved to Denver due to a contract between his cyber security company and the DoD.  The fact that Bea was there was a big enticement.  After a very sad loss, Tore took some time to reorganize his life and then go to the chase of Bea.  He was determined, if slightly clueless on how to proceed.  Thankfully, he had the help of his dandy father and enthusiastic nieces and nephew!

The story is delightful and entertaining, with humorous notes, a slight industrial intrigue, and wonderful characters.  Tore and Bea were a combination of dour and vibrant, one determined suitor, an independent woman who wanted to belong to a beloved one, great friends, kids and precious big dog.  A page-turner for sure!

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4l0LPrk

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4kF0vwp

About the author

Julia Wolf writes sexy rockers, broken bad boys, snarky heroines, and bad ass women. She's a firm believer in happily ever afters, no matter how rocky the road is to get there.

Julia lives in Maryland with her husband and three crazy, beautiful children. When she's not writing romance, she's reading it. Some of her favorite things are, in no particular order: goats, books, coffee, and Target.

 

Connect with Julia

Website: http://juliawolfwrites.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17563191.Julia_Wolf

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Julia-Wolf/author/B078VDJ3Z1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJuliaWolf

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2086152844974595

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjuliawolf/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuliaIsWriting

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorjuliawolf

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julia-wolf

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorjuliawolf/

Book review: DREAM ON, by Jennifer Hartmann

This is the angsty type of story that I like, people dealing with issues that stop them from realizing their dreams.  Stevie dreams of a future in Hollywood, doing films with music and singing.  Lex has already done Hollywood, but a traumatic event has him running away to Chicago.

Stevie is poor but has a happy home life; Lex is wealthy but has a crappy home life.  Guess who is better off?  He sees Stevie’s home and it smells like happiness and he loves being there, crawling from her bedroom window to the roof and look at the stars.  This is the happiest he’s been.

 A tragic accident tears them apart, Lex returns to Hollywood and his movies, she’s left with physical damages and a broken heart, making do with singing at a bar.  

When Lex realizes he needs her at his side to give credence to the movie based on their story, he brings her home and realizes why he hasn’t been happy and why he can’t sleep.  His mother is a cancer eroding their lives, and I saw Lex acting as a wimp, taking all the manipulations and believing that he’s not enough to protect Stevie.

Stevie’s side of the story is full of love, family and support.  Lex’s side is full of manipulations, expectations, horrible memories.  This contrast works during all the story, and I feel sorry for Stevie’s all encompassing love, and angry at Lex’s listlessness.

This story was so riveting, as Lex and Stevie work for their happiness, Stevie with a ferociousness full of love and determination.  I saw Lex as an empty soul, like his life in Hollywood and his parents killed his zest for life, his acceptance of not having happiness. He was sort of floating around, accepting cues from his mother and his agent, letting events move him around, not doing anything to secure his happiness and take charge of his life.  

I got a little tired of seeing him suffer from insomnia, suffer from his mother’s constant bullying, coast along in an insufficient life, and not rallying.  I realized then that he’s only twenty-two, he’s young and he didn’t have the best modeling on how to live a successful life, unlike Stevie who had excellent models.  

I haven’t been so happy at reaching an HEA!  This couple really had a hard time getting there, but once eradicating the poison from his life, Lex finally got it and zoomed up high.  Great story!

Purchase links

FREE with #kindleunlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/45haCkU

Limited deluxe edition paperback: https://geni.us/DreamOnNovel

Audible: https://bit.ly/4lQWFkB

Narrated by: Angelina Rocca & Lee Samue

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4kpbme2

About the author 

Jennifer Hartmann resides in northern Illinois with her own personal romance hero and three children. When she is not writing angsty love stories, she is likely pondering all the ways she can break your heart and piece it back together again. She enjoys sunsets (because mornings are hard), bike riding, traveling, bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and that time of day when coffee gets replaced by wine. She loves tacos. She also really, really wants to pet your dog.

http://www.jenniferhartmannauthor.com

Book review: HANDSOME DEVIL, by L.J. Shen

Forbidden Love #3

Tate and Gia

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gia and Tate’s relation went from toxic to devoted and we got to enjoy the turbulent ride.  Gia is a beautiful and kind woman with a lovely British accent, biracial due to a Jamaican father and white Cuban mother. Tate is everything dark, ruthless, a predator with a perfect body and broken mind.  He’s obsessed with Gia, and when she needed help with her ailing mother, he pounced and demanded marriage in return.  Then the war began!

This was similar to the movie War of the Roses.  They were both feral, but under all that toxicity there was attraction.  Gia fought her attraction, denied Tate of his marital rights, he was horrid in his treatment of her, and yet, underneath it all, you could sense that he was taking care of her.  

As the book progresses, I enjoyed seeing a Tate that starts to care for his wife, protects her not out of responsibility but of concern for her safety. Gia is snarky and sassy, never gives an inch, but is falling, very reluctantly, in love with her husband.

I loved how his heart jump-started and started feeling again, although it took a lot of rife and mayhem and danger, before it happened.  His horrible childhood and Gia’s family loss were very sad moments in the story, but it was balanced with the subtle humor, sarcastic prose, and slightly unhinged moments of the story.  There were some ick moments (e.g. the Ferrantes initiation), a kidnapping, some gritty violent events.  Even though the author warned about triggers, none of it fazed me except the ick moments, and they only caused some indigestion.

All in all, this was another fantastic journey into LJ Shen’s brilliant and creative world, where anything goes, it’s all crazy ongoings before the couple settle into domestic bliss.  It was certainly a page-turner full of all the emotions, highly entertaining.

Purchase links

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

ebook: https://amzn.to/4cTjUqJ

Audible: https://tinyurl.com/hdljsaud

Deluxe Edition Paperback: https://amzn.to/3ELzTtZ

Indigo Exclusive Edition: https://shor.by/NMB5

Walmart Exclusive Edition: https://tinyurl.com/y979h86h

Add Handsome Devil to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/hd3ljsgr

 

Start the Forbidden Love series today → https://amzn.to/4lsG6LX  

About the author

L.J. Shen is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of contemporary, new adult, and young adult romance. Her books have been translated in over twenty different countries, and she hopes to visit all of them.

She lives in Florida with her husband, three rowdy sons, and even rowdier pets. She enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows, and reading to her heart’s content. 

Connect with L.J. Shen

Website  www.authorljshen.com 

Instagram (@authorljshen)

Facebook group at http://goo.gl/QZJ0NC. 

Sign up for her newsletter at https://bit.ly/3LhsIrb, and text SHEN to 313131 to get new release alerts (United States only).

Join LJ's mailing list for exclusive material ➜ https://bit.ly/3LhsIrb

Website ➜ www.authorljshen.com