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: CARIBBEAN CRUSH, by R.S. Grey

I was completely enchanted with this book! The heroine initially appears to be a bit ditzy but as you read you realize she’s just had a few hard years and she’s just floating, waiting for her bad luck to change. She’s been toiling at a menial job in a travel magazine, waiting for a chance at a travel journalist position but my take is that they were using her with no intent to deliver.

When Casey mentions she knows reclusive Phillip Woodmont, she’s given the assignment to get an exclusive interview during the Aurelia maiden voyage. So she’s cruising along the Caribbean, with a fantastic new friend, influencer Sienna Thomas, and trying without success so get her interview. Her attempts are comical until they finally get it going.  She’s unaffected, beautiful but doesn’t realize it, intelligent and kind. I liked that her actions showed integrity even as she has no shame bargaining with Phillip for her interview.  At the moment, she’s aimless with no home, her future seems dim, but she’s not bitter, just oddly at peace.

Phillip is the kind of man who wants a completely ordered existence, total control all around. He had an ideal girlfriend who filled all the checkboxes but she dumped him. Now, he’s dealing with this rebel rouser who turned his world topsy turvy, irritates him but excites him to no end. 

This is the case of two opposites who have found the perfect partner to balance them. Casey woke Phillip up to life and made him embrace the chaos. Suddenly, he realizes what he was missing and wants more, but she finds she’s not enough. She has no life to speak of and she needs to find her future. There are some very deep moments while Casey grows and realizes she was in a rut. 

I loved casey’s and Sienna’s antics, the beautiful friendship they formed, the love that started forming out from a childhood brief friendship and that now grows from incredible chemistry and passion, the banter and the good times that are the hallmark for a cruise. The romance was wonderful, great development of their feelings, the pull and push of a cruise fling that goes more serious than expected.  I loved Casey, she’s so kind and quirky, there’s just no helping loving her.

This is one of the nicest books this author has written and I had a great time reading! I cringed, laughed, said “oh no she didn’t!” several times, got sad several times, loved seeing Phillip lose control, the dancing on top of the table, it was a great trip!

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/48roHf5 

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/CaribbeanCrush    

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/42J9JzT

About the author

R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including seven #1 bestselling romantic comedies. She lives in Texas with her husband, two daughters, and dog.

 

Connect with R.S.

Website | www.rsgrey.com  

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Amazon | https://amzn.to/3ST7bvq   

Facebook | https://bit.ly/3SSrhWX    

Facebook Group |  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1378399812435745    

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Book review: TEMPEST, by Alison Rhymes

Seattle Blades #3

Gavin & Odette

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whenever I’m going to start a book by this author I know I’m in for a wonderful emotional story.  Her female characters are strong women with vulnerabilities and the men they love are flawed but with the capacity to grow and evolve into the man they deserve.  Such is this story!

Odette and Gavin were together for only sixty-nine days, the summer after senior year, before leaving for college. Gavin had a girlfriend for three years but he loved her like a sister, he was with her obeying parental pressure. The girl he always crushed on was Odette, the odd, quirky and very talented girl, who has ambitious plans to make it big in the fashion industry.  Then his previous girlfriend turned out pregnant and he left Odette, married his old girlfriend and sent them all on decades of regret.

Eighteen years later, divorced Gavin is playing his last hockey season with the Seattle Blades and Odette came to Seattle to mentor in a fashion design program. And as fate would have it, Gavin’s daughter Tori is one of the mentees which brings them near once again. And a lovely, angsty and bittersweet story begins!

I loved, loved this book! I found their second chance was full of old hurts and regrets. I hurt for Odette because she’s the who lost the most. And Gavin had to fight hard for his second chance and convince Odette that she’s the one, not a placeholder. All of this happens in the midst of the hockey scene and the fashion world where Odette reigns supreme. I liked that Odette is as famous and rich as Gavin, if not more, so he has nothing to offer, just his heart and sincerity.

I loved all the rumination the characters did, as they analyze their feelings and try to understand what the other went through. Odette was very closed up, but she was also kind and generous, Gavin was determined and willing to give her whatever she needed to trust him again. The emotions involved, the insecurities and regrets were very present and I felt each conversation and all the tears that were shed. A truly beautiful romance!

Purchase links

Free in Kindle Unlimited

https://geni.us/ARTempest

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