Flirting with the Beast by Jane Porter

E-Reader Addict Rating: 🌟

After having high hopes for this one (because there truly is a shortage of books about older couples) I can only hope to express the depths of my disappointment in the kindest way possible.

This book had a lot of potential. Both the hero and heroine had a significant amount of baggage to wade through – as one has after living for six decades. Between the two of them there’s divorce, death of an adult child, a depressed daughter-in-law (who is borderline neglecting her toddler son), death of a spouse, a strained adult step-child relationship, uncertainty about the future…

But really, the uninspired title should have been a clue. The writing contained an overwhelming amount of repetitive, internal-lamenting monologues that sounded more like young adult characters than people who were supposed to be late 50s (heroine) and early 60s (hero). The best word I could use to describe the heroine is milquetoast; for the hero I choose jackass. And if a “hero” treats the woman he’s supposed to love so poorly he damn well better grovel while begging forgiveness. Did we get that? No. We get a wimpy “I’m sorry” and a half-hearted attempt at a grand gesture more than a month after he was horrible to the heroine for an absolutely irrational reason. I was finally rooting for the heroine because she stood her ground and sent the hero packing. But then SHE CHANGED HER MIND AND WENT AND APOLOGIZED TO HIM.

I enjoy books about older couples because they are wiser and more mature. They’ve learned from past mistakes and aren’t prone to over-the-top outbursts and silly melodrama. They act like…adults. That is not what you get here. This book had the bones for a compelling, heartfelt story. But the execution failed to live up to the potential. It took me over a week to finish this one, which is always a telling sign for someone who can plow through a great book in an afternoon – or a couple evenings at the most. Sadly, there was very little I enjoyed about this book and quite frankly, I’m surprised I even finished it.

* thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Would You Rather by Allison Ashley

E-Reader Addict Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟½

There are very few authors who could get me to read one trope I don’t usually like, let alone two in the same book. But Allison Ashley’s first two books (Perfect Distraction and Home Sweet Mess) were amazing and I’ve read them both multiple times, so she’s earned some trust. Still, I had equal amounts of high hopes and trepidation for Would You Rather, a story that has both friends-to-lovers AND marriage of convenience storylines.

And I’m relieved to say my faith in Allison Ashley is not misplaced!

Mia and Noah grew up as best friends but, other than one almost-incident at a party in college, never dared to take things further. Now in their early thirties, they work for the same company and spend their days plotting revenge for the other’s latest office prank. The banter between them is hilarious and their friendship heartwarming.

But Mia is battling a serious illness, so even though she gets the opportunity at a scholarship to finish the degree she abandoned when she got sick, she’s unable to accept it. No job means no insurance, which Mia desperately needs. When Noah finds out about Mia’s chance to go back to school, he offers to marry her so she can still have access to their company’s medical insurance.

What follows are awkward first kisses, close calls trying to keep their secret, and a boatload of sexual frustration for two people who have been in love with each other forever and just won’t admit it – to themselves OR each other.

This story had a lot going on and so many layers. There was so much more than the usual “we can’t get involved because we’ll ruin our friendship” baloney (but it was there…just not in an annoying amount – thank goodness). Both the hero and heroine had understandable, significant causes for the barriers they erected that kept them from taking their relationship into romantic territory. They also were in desperate need of a therapist because good grief ten years is a long time to not deal with trauma. My frustration with them for not just havin a freaking honest conversation kept this from being a five-star read for me.

However, their unconventional reason for getting married actually works for a modern-day marriage of convenience plot. None of this “I have to marry to get an inheritance” or “I need to be married to get this promotion” malarky. I can’t think of any other marriage of convenience book that I’ve enjoyed – at all – let alone as much as I did this one!

I can hardly wait for whatever Allison Ashley will write next. Her writing, her storytelling, the always lovable characters are romance book perfection!

* thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Bend Toward the Sun by Jen Devon

E-Reader Addict Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

In the years since I joined NetGalley, I’ve strayed from one of my original intentions – to discover new, first-time authors. So when I came across this one from a debut author I decided to take a chance.

And when the book started out with a humorous meet-cute, followed shortly by some dialogue that made me laugh out loud, I knew I was in for a good ride. I mean read. But also listen, because I did both with this one!

There was so much that was great about this story: a heroine with a unique science-based career, a lovely and well-developed vineyard setting in Pennsylvania, lovable side-characters in a large family that eats dinner around a big table, and beautiful writing with fantastically witty dialogue (I will forgive a world of wrongs if your dialogue is top notch). I loved that this story takes place over the course of a year and doesn’t rush the timeline. I could envision myself wandering the vineyard looking over the vines and trying to keep up with all the sarcastic banter during a dinner with the family.

But this wasn’t a romantic story where loved conquered all. Both characters had deeply wounded hearts that kept them from having a healthy relationship and their interactions frequently just made me sad. I found myself so frustrated with the heroine – there was too much take and not enough give to the hero. And I was frustrated with the hero who was willing to settle for scraps and let the heroine be so wishy washy. With the characters’ inability to have open and honest conversations, this reads more like a young adult novel than one about people in their 30s and I am not at the stage in my reading journey where I have patience for that kind of drama llama.

Despite the things I didn’t enjoy about this book, I think this author has a lot of potential. Her world-building was incredible and with all of the Brady siblings, I hope Bend Toward the Sun is just the first in the series!

And I hope if there are more audiobooks, Erin Mallon and Chris Brinkley are available – these two narrators are FANTASTIC! Their inflections, the way they convey emotions, the comedic timing when needed, all

* thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
* thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Incriminating Evidence (Evidence #4) by Rachel Grant

E-Reader Addict Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I freaking LOVE romantic suspense. And Rachel Grant is quickly climbing to the top of my list of favorite authors for this genre.

Isabel Dawson has moved to Alaska to try and uncover what she believes is a conspiracy to cover up her brother’s murder. Alec Ravissant is the owner of Raptor, the special ops training facility Vincent Dawson was working for when he died during a “training exercise.”

When Isabel finds an injured, unconscious man in the wilderness she’s surveying for her job with Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, she bandages his wounds and drags him to a shelter to wait out the night. Once the man wakes up, she discovers it’s the person she believes is ultimately responsible for her brother’s death.

Alec, however, doesn’t know what happened to Isabel’s brother. And when it’s apparent Isabel is in danger, Alec starts to believe her assertion that things at Raptor are amiss. Furthermore, one of his employees may be the cause of all their troubles.

This story is action packed and filled with – my favorite – perilous situations! There’s also plenty of steam…which also makes me chuckle sometimes. The characters in this series frequently have their steamiest times together right smack in the middle of the gravest danger. Is it a little ridiculous? Yes. Do I care? Not a single bit! When an author gives me equal amounts of suspense and relationship development, I am a happy reader and can overlook a multitude of unrealistic situations.

Incriminating Evidence is book four in the Evidence series, and ties in with book eight – Silent Evidence, and book 11 – Broken Falcon. Both of which I previously read, so it was good to finally get the backstory and fill in some of the missing pieces. Not reading in order hasn’t diminished my enjoyment of this series, but I think I would recommend reading them in order.

I’m not sure if there will be more books added to this series, which is up to book 11. But I do know there are still four more I need to read! When will I get to them? Who knows! Yet I fully intend to…

Waiting on Forever (McKinney/Walker Brothers #4) by Claudia Connor

E-Reader Addict Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

It seems like I’ve been waiting forever on this book! 😉

But it was definitely worth the wait. No other author consistently gives me all the feels whenever I read her books. And Waiting on Forever gave me BIG BIG feels.

After experiencing a heartbreaking loss, Maggie Ellis moved away from her family to start a new life where she’s able to keep to herself and keep others at arm’s length. Until she gets a new next door neighbor…

After working undercover fighting human trafficking, Dallas Walker has moved to be near the family he was forced to stay away from for years. Now all he wants is to connect – to his family, and to the beautiful woman next door who is throwing off major stay away vibes. But Dallas is persistent and not afraid to play the long game to win Maggie’s heart.

Claudia Connor’s stories are swoony, heart melting, romance perfection. Her storytelling always draws me in and doesn’t let go until the final word. Her heroes are the best – always kind and thoughtful, and willing to put in the hard work to earn the love of the heroine. Her heroines are always strong and resilient, even if they are a little bruised on the inside. There’s never any ridiculous drama or conflict – my favorite love stories are of couples who meet, fall in love organically, then work through real life issues to have their happily ever after. And that’s what this author gives us every single time.

I can’t help but feel a bit of sadness with the ending of this series – I’ve loved all four of the Walker Brother books. But I’m also really excited for whatever Claudia Connor has next!

* a great big thank you to Social Butterfly PR and Claudia Connor for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review