The first in the Campus Nights’ series, Secret Puck is a friends-to-lovers, brother's teammate romance!


Secretly hooking up with the team captain's sister was a bad idea.

Would I do it all over again?

In a heartbeat.

Title: Secret Puck
Author: Rebecca Jenshak
Series: Campus Nights (Book 1) 
Pages: 310
Genre(s): Contemporary, US, College Romance, Hockey Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance, Secret Romance, Brother's friend romance 
Hot Buttons: /

Release Date: 19th October, 2020

 

Likeable, young romance

3 stars

Rebecca Jenshak is a new to me author, despite having many of her books on my wishlist as a result of my newly discovered enjoyment of new adult romances.

This particular book is the first in a new series, Campus Nights, about a group of students at Valley University in Arizona. We get to meet lots of characters in this books - Ginny’s new friends and her brother’s (and Heath’s) teammates from the hockey team. Presumably some, if not all, of those characters will get future books in the series.

So, alongside all these characters, we get a lot of detail about the comings and goings of Ginny, Heath and their friends. And I mean a lo-ot of detail. Detail that, to my mind, wasn’t required for the story or for building the scene. Just bits and pieces of extra information that I didn’t know what to do with. It never slowed down the story, but I admit to being a bit confused by the need for such minutia.

Ginny was a nice-enough character, but she came across as a little needy to me. I know these are young people, but she seemed very immature and inexperienced in life. It was hard for me to root for her when I had nothing in common with her.

Similarly, Heath came across as a little young, and nothing like the kind of hero that I would swoon over. As much as I like a ‘forbidden’ romance, in this case, there was no reason for this to be so. If Ginny had told her brother where to go, if Heath had been a bit more adult about the whole thing - there would be no reason for sneaking around.

My main reason for the lower rating was that I just didn’t feel the connection between Ginny and Heath. Their first meeting was surprisingly lacklustre and suddenly we’re being told that there’s a crazy connection between the two. I must have missed that. And, sadly, continued to miss it.

This book certainly wasn’t bad. The writing was interesting and kept me reading, even if I couldn’t 100% get behind the characters or the story. Before I started reading NA romance, I feared that I wouldn’t feel any connection with the characters with this disparity in our ages. That’s how I felt with this book. It made me feel old and weary faced with excitable, impulsive college age kids.

It’s really difficult when you go to review a book only to find that everyone adored it - except you! It’s not that I hated this book, it just didn’t illicit any strong reactions or emotions in me, which made it a 3-star read. But if it takes your fancy, or you’re a fan of Rebecca Jenshak, then still give this book a go. I hope I’m just the exception that proves the rule!
 

 

 

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AUTHOR BIO!

 

Rebecca Jenshak is a self-proclaimed margarita addict, college basketball fanatic, and lover of the Hallmark channel. A Midwest native transplanted to the desert, she likes being outdoors (drinking on patios) and singing (in the shower) when she isn’t writing books about hot guys and the girls who love them.

 

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Dear Ida,

My boss is an egotistical, arrogant, cuff link wearing jerk.
I wanted nothing more than to throw my badge at his face and walk out the door. But the heat of the moment took over... We went too far... and I liked it.
Maybe I should just leave the city and change my name to spare myself the embarrassment.
Stop me now before I do it. Please.

Royally Screwed in the City,

Piper

 

Title: Brazen Bossman
Author: Emma Nichole
Series: Cocky Hero Club
Pages: 209
Genre(s): Contemporary, US, Enemies to Lovers, Office Romance
Hot Buttons: Alzheimer’s Disease <-- highlight to reveal (may contain spoilers)


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Exceptionally likeable

5 stars

I have been really enjoying the books in Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero Club and seem to subconsciously gravitate to those inspired by Stuck-Up Suit. Each of the books stand completely alone. You don’t need to have read others books in the series, or the work it’s inspired by, to read and enjoy this one.

This is the first Emma Nichole book I have read but I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from her as this book ticked all the boxes for me. From the blurb alone, I was looking forward to an enemies to lovers, workplace romance… but what you get is so much more. The writing style is snappy, fast paced and I just flew through this book, finishing it in 1 day. But not only that, it’s very sexy and surprisingly funny. It’s not meant to be a romantic comedy, but I found myself actually laughing out loud on occasion. Always a bonus.

Piper loves her job but it’s her boss, Nathanial, that really gets her back up. He’s a grumpy so-and-so and is always irritating and provoking her to snap back at him. What I liked about this is that he really was a grumpy boss - I probably would have quit after a week! And throughout the book, he remains grumpy. He’s not so terrible that we can’t root for him, but he doesn’t miraculously become a sweet, delightful boss just because he and Piper’s relationship is changing.

Piper is delicious as a heroine. She’s feisty and independent but she’s still really down to earth and relatable. The fact that she’s an over thinker made me like her all the more. Same girl, same.

Nathanial is the poster man for my perfect kind of hero. As I mentioned, he’s super grumpy - understandably so, but what he really needs is someone to be on his side, and be there for him. He just needs a big ol’ hug, really. And Piper is definitely that person.

Even when the two are at odds in the beginning, you can feel the connection between the two. What fantastic writing to enable us to feel that powerful, undeniable bond and sexual tension between the pair, without ever overtly mentioning it. The pair felt destined for each other and I was 100% there for that.

The journey of their relationship was a delight to read - even if it was marred by bumps along the way. Piper has family problems but it’s Nathanial’s issues with his father that are quite poignant. I didn’t ever get emotionally bogged down in it, but boy did it make me pause. However, if you have a relative who suffers from Alzheimer’s or dementia, this might be quite difficult to read. Kudos to Ms Nichole for including a difficult subject and treating it respectfully without allowing it to overshadow what we’re really here for - the romance.

There is plenty of heat in the novel - but as with other elements, it doesn’t overtake the story. That’s not to say that you won’t be thinking about the desk scene for hours, days and weeks to come! *fans self*

After learning about Piper throughout the book, I did feel that her reaction to the email wasn’t quite right for her personality. I do think she would have read it - I would have, too - but I don’t think she wouldn’t have confronted Nathanial about it. But that’s just a minor thing that occurred to me.

And please don’t use “off of” or “the both” - it makes me shudder to see this in a published book.

Neither of the last two points swayed me away from my 5 star rating for what is a fun, energetic and exceptionally likeable story. It’s another winner from the Cocky Hero Club universe and I will be happily looking out for other books by Emma Nichole - especially if she writes a book about Piper's brother and best friend. For this one - 5 stars and recommended.

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Fake dating the cute owner of a bakery Dean is an investor in sounds kind of messy…but messy can be fun.

Norah Donahue wants bakeries not babies, but her matchmaking mother won’t stop trying to play Cupid.

Dean Moser is a cocky stock market savant whose friends are all settling down, leaving Boulder’s infamous ladies’ man all alone.

When Norah needs a fake date for her parents’ anniversary party, her new silent investor is the perfect guy for the job. It seems like a foolproof plan.

That is until Norah decides to break her biggest rule and lock lips with Dean in the middle of the party to spite her meddling mother.

Turns out that Dean and Norah’s chemistry is sizzling hot, and mixing business with pleasure could turn out to be a recipe for disaster.

Or maybe they can have their cake and eat it too.

Title: Take a Number
Author: Amy Daws
Series: n/a
Pages: 283
Genre(s): Contemporary, US, Romantic-Comedy, fake relationship
Hot Buttons: n/a

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I absolutely adored the previous book in this series - One Moment, Please - about Lynsey and Josh. Dean, our hero in this book, appeared in that book and in the earlier books in the Wait with Me series. Despite that, this book stands alone and you don’t need to have read the other books to understand and enjoy this one.

In fact, I think I might have enjoyed this book so much better had I come in with no knowledge of Dean. You see, I had a preconceived notion of Dean based on those books. As a best friend - he’s, hands-down, perfection. He’s loyal, sarcastic, funny and a little bit sassy. As a hero in his own right? Hmmm - jury’s out for me.

I just felt that he was a little, well, limp as a hero. No pun intended. He’s a metrosexual - which is fine - but it’s not something that makes me swoon. I prefer my men a little more rough around the edges - and possibly dirty and smelly, too. And Dean’s humour, especially in the face of Norah’s fairly stoic personality, didn’t hit the mark with me. In fact, sometimes, I felt he was downright condescending towards her. Just because she didn’t have fun they way he had fun, didn’t make her wrong.

Norah was a likeable character, too. I thought she came across as very real, even if, at least at the beginning, she was anti-boyfriend, anti-marriage and anti-family. I know we like to watch people eat their words but it was hard to be 100% team Norah when she was the opposite of me. Even if she liked lists as much as I do.

As always with Amy Daws, this book is bloomin’ hilarious! I laughed out loud on many occasion with genuine humour. Unique to this book, too, is the drool worthy inclusion of croinuts, Norah’s signature baked good in her bakery. And boy do I want one. Or six. Or more. Absolutely salivating for warm, fresh-from-the-oven pastries. Sigh.

There was enough sexiness to make me happy. I also love it when one of the characters gets drunk and blurts out their real feelings. But what happened next? Oh boy! That was almost as delicious as the baked goods. I felt the pair’s chemistry and wanted them to be together.

It was only once, but I feel I have to mention the flippant use of the term ‘OCD’. This is a serious medical mental health issue and can be devastating and all-consuming for the sufferer. It’s certainly not just someone who likes order and precision in their life. I just don’t think people should bandy about terms like this but, fear not, I didn’t let this affect my rating of the book.

 

Amy Daws always delivers a fun and sexy treat as delicious as Norah’s glazed croinuts. (And yes, you will be as obsessed as I am about baked goods once you read this book!) For me, I just wasn’t sold on Dean as a leading man and, as happy as I am for him to have found his own HEA, I can only give this story 3 stars.

 

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AUTHOR BIO!

 

Amy Daws is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author of sexy, contemporary romance novels. She enjoys writing love stories that take place in America, as well as across the pond in England. When Amy is not writing in a tire shop waiting room, she’s watching Gilmore Girls, or singing karaoke in the living room with her daughter while Daddy smiles awkwardly from a distance. 
For more of Amy's work, visit: http://www.amydawsauthor.com

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What do you do when your fake engagement starts to feel too real…

Aspiring clothes designer Victoria Scott spends her days working in a bar in Chelsea, and her evenings designing vintage clothes, dreaming of one day opening her own boutique. But these aspirations are under threat from the new department store opening at the end of her road. She needs a Christmas miracle, but one is not forthcoming.

Oliver Russell’s Christmas is not looking very festive right now. His family’s new London department store opening is behind schedule, and on top of that his interfering, if well meaning, mother is pressing him to introduce his girlfriend to her. A girlfriend who does not exist. He needs a diversion. Something to keep his mother from interfering while he focuses on the business.

When Oliver meets Victoria, he offers a proposition: pretend to be his girlfriend at the opening of his store and he will provide an opportunity for Victoria to showcase her designs. But what starts as a business arrangement soon becomes something more tempting, as the fake relationship starts to feel very real. But when secrets in Victoria’s past are exposed will Oliver walk away, or will they both follow their hearts and find what neither knew they were looking for…

Title: Meet Me in London
Author: Georgia Toffolo
Series: tbc
Pages: 320
Genre(s): Contemporary, UK, Christmas
Hot Buttons: Accident, Infertility

A sweet treat

4 stars


I am a fan of Made in Chelsea so am familiar with - and liked - Georgia Toffolo before knowing she’d written a book. However, if you’re not a fan of reality TV, or have no idea who Toff is, please don’t let that put you off. Ms Toffolo has always been a writer - the TV programme showing her when she worked at a popular ladies magazine. So her credentials aren’t just that she was previously on a reality show.

Anyway… onto the book.

This was super cute and a perfect Mills & Boon Christmas treat. The writing is fresh, fun and has the enthusiasm and excitement I’ve come to expect from Ms Toffolo. There is quite a lot of conversation and a lot of detail, but you never get bogged down or overwhelmed. In fact, it’s the myriad of little details that really draw a bigger picture of London at Christmas time. It’s clear that the author has a real love of London and all its nooks and crannies - especially fabric shops!

Victoria is a likeable character and felt real to me. She has lots of layers, including trauma in her past - but it’s never too much and never lets you feel sorry for her. She acts in ways true to how I think I would act if I was participating in a fake relationship - and was falling for my fake fiancé! Panic, fear and over-thinking everything, mainly!

Oliver was an equally delightful character. He’s frustrated with his life and the path that he’s on so the joy he finds in Victoria’s company is especially delightful. He’s like a hot, sexy geeky millionaire and such a decently nice guy. He was perfect for Victoria and the book as a whole.

As I mentioned, Victoria has gone through some trauma that has affected her outlook on life and love. While this is an important part of Victoria, and is ‘teased’ for a few chapters before finally revealed, it’s never too upsetting or angsty. And with the right man, her medical issues are not issues at all - a fact Oliver proves when he’s finally told.

There’s talk of it, but the sex in the book happens completely behind closed doors which definitely fit with the tone of the book. Seeing anything would have felt kind of wrong, somehow - so I’m pleased, for once, that there were no overt shenanigans!

One thing I will say is that I felt this read more like a new adult romance than a contemporary one. The characters are 28 and 31, if I recall correctly, and while Oliver was probably more believable as someone in his early 30s, Victoria’s position, outlook and overall demeanour definitely read, to me, as someone in their early 20s. This isn’t necessarily a criticism as I very much enjoy NA romances, but I felt happier once I adjusted their ages in my head!

Overal, this was a sweet, lively and readable Christmas romance that perfectly fits the Mills & Boon brand. Victoria’s friends appear quite heavily in this story, and seemed to have a close bond as a group. If Ms Toffolo writes stories for the rest of the friend group, I’m going to snap them right up. As a first book, this was a super sweet treat and one I would recommend if you enjoy a M&B tale. 4 stars.

 

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AUTHOR BIO!

Georgia “Toff” Toffolo is a British television personality, Instagram star and author. She is best known for appearing on the E4 reality show, Made in Chelsea, and winning the 17th series of ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! She released her first book, Always Smiling in 2018 and signed a 4 book deal with Mills & Boon in 2020 to produce enchanting stories of love and enduring female friendship.

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