Cold Pressed: Seacroft Book 2, Allison Temple

Life has definitely dealt two raw deals to Oliver and Nick.  But when one meet-cute turns into a meet-hate and a second chance through a blind date turns that into a meet-hot-against-a-brick-wall, you know we're in for a bit of a roller coaster.  There are definite lows and a few highs that speak to their souls and give them glimpses into another side of themselves, one they fear, and they'll have to choose if they'll give up what they could have for something they may not be able to save despite their best intentions.

This was hard.  I wish I could say I didn't like this book because there were some really hard moments here that frustrated me, hurt me.  But that's just not what I can say at the end.  I think it was a bit jarring because a lot of it was reality and reality isn't all sunshine, rainbows, and happy conclusions.

Nick was my favorite of the two.  He was believable in his struggle and since we spent a lot more time in his head, we got to know him more, to know how deep his confusion, frustration, and dissatisfaction went.  By the end there was no clear conclusion or fix for all the things in his life, but it was very clear that the best partner he could have is the one he got.  The situation with his son was heartbreaking and there were zero moments of saying just the right thing, coming to a perfect understanding, mending fences, building bridges...or pretty much any other trite cliche you can think of to describe fixing years and years of doing the wrong thing.  Instead, we get honesty and that honesty isn't exactly pretty.  I think Nick could and should have made much bigger strides to saying at least something, but where we end up shows that there is a ton of hopeful potential between them.  They're on the right path and Nick is committed to staying on it because beneath all his failings, he's so full of love for his troubled son that there's no other future he's willing to settle for if it means a life without his son.

Oliver's struggles stem from trying to live a life that wasn't his dream.  Having his heart and expectations crushed by a weak man did him no favors.  Except maybe that was the biggest favor; freeing him to find and build a life in Seacroft turned out to be the greatest gift.  In Nick he found someone that could support him in an adult way and could give him the love and passion he didn't know was absent from his previous life.  I enjoyed his eagerness to connect with Nick even if it all just began as an FWB situation.  I do wish he had been a bit stronger at the end instead of being constantly tossed around by his emotional turmoil, that he were less reactionary and used his intelligence to think his way through his situation rather than to just keep ramming his head against the wall.  I also wish there were more on the page about his tentative connection with Nick's son and not just the one moment in the interrogation room.  There is a lot to heal there.

Without the harsher realities of life it's cliche, and yet so very true, that we can't fully appreciate or enjoy the triumphs and happier moments in life.  A lot of time was spent in their heads and less on the action of the story so we didn't even really see things get going until probably halfway through, and then the really big stuff didn't come until near the end.  I wasn't a fan of the pacing or the navel-gazing, but I respected and grew to appreciate the story as a whole because it really was closer to real life than some imagined idea of life with a knowledge that the cheesy HEA is right around the corner.  Typically that's the kind of book I gravitate towards, but then I get surprised with a book like Cold Pressed and have to reevaluate why I shy away from stories that echo a less idealized version of reality.  So overall it was a bit harder to read, but no less satisfying when we see where they end up.  I definitely want to see Avery get his own story and to see Oliver and Nick's progress on the periphery.

*$3.99 on Amazon

No strings attached is all Oliver can offer. He's hiding a broken heart that holds him back from diving into a new relationship, but he'll go on a blind date to make his family happy. Just one date, though; he doesn't have time for love to derail his plans.

Divorced and demoted to the night shift, Nick has his own problems. He's got an ex-wife who needs him and a kid with one foot in juvie. The last thing Nick needs is to butt heads—or other body parts—with a tempting hipster who wears a sad smile on their blind date. 

Their chemistry can’t be denied, though, in an argument or in bed. No strings sex is uncomplicated and that's what Nick and Oliver need. But getting into bed together is one thing. Staying out of each other’s hearts soon becomes so much more complicated than either one imagined.

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Falling for His Hero: Soldiers Support Group Book 2, Jamie June

When Yves finds Liam, there's a shy attraction there that draws both men into what could become the lasting love and family they've both needed.  What I liked about this slow-burn romance was that they spent time with one another, learning and sharing, in such a way that when the intimacy was added, they already had something worth building.

So I know I said slow-burn, and this next bit might seem contradictory, but I'll get to that.  The evolution of this relationship was actually very quick.  They met and progressed super far in only a few months.  What made it feel like it was a slower-burn book was all the telling.  I didn't actually realize things had a faster timeline until I was nearly done with the book and a season change was mentioned.  Prior to that moment, there was so much description of thoughts, feelings, mundane activities, procedural steps to get between those mundane activities...just so many words!  Once I got used to it and just accepted that this is the way it would be, I sank into the men's lives and yearned, hoped, and worried right along with them.

Both Yves and Liam were relatable, likable men.  Each of them had disappointments and hurt in the past that colored their actions and yet when they were together I didn't see virtually any of that emotional angst.  Their overall attitude of mellow stability predominated most things.  With the one bigger altercation in the story it settled very quickly in the name of moving on and moving forward rather than letting the negativity dictate their happiness.  It seemed rather simplistic and anticlimactic.  Despite moving on quickly from that, there was a smooth transition into a huge decision that I felt should have taken a LOT more time, thought, discussion, and planning.  While it would be considered rash and ill-cautioned here in the real world, it worked out very well in fictionland.  It gave the story a very sweet, hopeful ending with an amusing little teaser about the next story in the series.

*$4.99 on Amazon

I just need a win - any win. But with him by my side, I know I can't fail.

Fresh off a divorce and retirement from the Army, Yves is floundering. He feels stuck, certain that he should have done something by now to distinguish himself. The only thing this chef has left is his devotion to the warm, spicy flavors from his Louisiana childhood. Getting a business loan for his dream restaurant may be an uphill battle, but at least making people happy with his food comes easy... especially when he begins to make friends from the G-MIL support group. 

If he wants to feed one hot-headed young soldier in particular, well, that's his business, isn't it? 

He makes me feel a little less alone.

Making friends doesn't come easy to Liam. He never had to work at it back home, but now that his parents have disowned him for coming out, and moving onto base has removed him from any possible support system leftover from his school days, he's been keeping himself to himself and living off of determination and tv dinners. 

When Liam meets Yves at a G-MIL support group meeting, he can't help but be attracted to the older man. But when things start to heat up in the kitchen, will these two men settle for a fling… or have the courage to invest themselves in true love?

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 43

  

• I Swear to You, Sloan Parker
• Only in Time: Touched by Magic Prequel/Mystique Antiques Book 1, Kelli McCracken
• Seduced on Bear Mountain: Bear Mountain Shifters Book 3, Sloane Meyers

One mistake, one moment where Grady could have everything his heart and body wanted.  But his fear robbed him of that happiness.  It wasn't just he that was robbed, though, the object of all his desire suffered for his fear as well.  I always have a hard time with second-chance stories where their first parting was due to hurtful things said or done.  This was no exception.  Despite my misgivings, though, this story was full of love, confessions, and a path of healing was forged for those that needed it most.

The more dramatic elements were quite large for a story so short and detracted from the reconciliation.  As for the relationship, the story ended with so much promise.  Grady was difficult to like at first and without the earnest way he pursued Mateo once he pulled his out he would have remained unlikable, but he really won me over in the end.  There wasn't much about Mateo, though what we got ran the gamut of emotions from hesitant and besotted to fearful and resentful.  We got a pretty good idea of both guys but I felt that there was a bit of growth missing.  Were dreams really enough for Grady to accept himself?  The grand gesture wasn't exactly grand and seemed pretty passive.  Also, Grady's brother wasn't humorous in the least, in fact he was offensively obnoxious and unnecessary.  His job didn't even help them out in the end, it was just a side note that he was there.  If the story were more focused on the men and their evolution it would have been way better, but I will definitely say the tenderness and steam was absolutely spot on.  3 stars.

Miscommunications and lack of communication separated two friends who could have had so much more.  With the meddling of friends, family, and a mysterious watch, Ally and Jonah get a second chance at their love.  If this story rose above the overdone "I'm not going to listen to you," "You hurt me so I'll hurt you back," pettiness, I would have really loved it.  Unfortunately, it just gets a pass for me because the refusal to listen, the lack of strong communication, and the avoidance of reasonable reactions were all so predictable that I had a hard time looking past those things to the sweetness underneath.  If there had been more attention paid to their sweet moments, a true reconciliation, it would have been amazing, especially in light of what Ally witnessed between Jonah and her father.  The best parts were the prologue, the event with the mysterious watch, and the ending with the hints at their well-deserved happiness.  3 stars.

In a world where humans don't know about shifters, there's a mountain whose inhabitants are finding life mates in humans, something that could bring them all a danger they don't need.  If Evan had his way, he'd stay far away from all of them and hide out in his cabin on Bear Mountain, but one roadside rescue sets his world spinning.  His gruff manner is a little more off-putting than endearing, but mostly because we don't get to see a lot of the sweetness underneath.  And with very little actual words coming out of his mouth, it's a lot of cranky thoughts that are the only clues as to who he is and why we should have faith in him.

For a partner he gets the positive, hardworking, upbeat, and curious Jackie.  It's clear right from the start that she's the type to shake things up all while putting herself last in order to keep the peace.  She's aware that her life in California is comfortable but not something she's driven to hold on to and when she gets the opportunity to live closer to the enigmatic shifter, it's no wonder she goes about making things work.  Whether that sticks is up to Evan and if he can offer her more than she's leaving behind.  Their pairing bodes well for the mountain's clan, but when it comes to the increasing turmoil between the humans of the area and the shifters, it's clear that something big is brewing and I'm mildly interested to see how that all turns out.  3 stars.

Changed: The Imperfect Girls Book 1, T.S. Murphy

A surprising diagnosis throws a huge wrench in the future Kate dreamed of sharing with her brother's best friend.  I suppose having that guy only see her as a little sister puts a damper on that dream too.  But when Quinn's romantic situation changes it opens them both to the possibility of so much more.  There was quite a bit of angst with jealousies, changing perspectives, medical drama, personal insecurities, and withholding explanations which all worked together to make it read as appropriate to the ages of the characters.  It didn't pretend to be more mature but it also didn't sink into the land of immature young adults either.  The author found a good balance between the two to make the story feel genuine and the hard-won happy ending all the more worth the journey it took to get there.

I can absolutely do without all the jealousies and secrecy.  That goes for every book in the romance umbrella, so this isn't an attack on this book at all.  While those two issues did push the angst portion of the book forward, I feel like it could have been achieved a different way.  Struggling through a journey doesn't always breed strength and while they learn their lesson quite late regarding the value of supportive partners, they did eventually learn it.

The ending was much more upbeat and had a completely different feel from the majority of the story.  It was well-earned and ended on such a happy, humorous, playful note.  I wish that were included in more of the story because it felt like we went from painful situation to painful situation.  There were some lighter, sweeter moments, but even the tenderness of discovering the person you truly want to be with was overshadowed by a secret moratorium governing all of Kate's actions.

Watching Kate come to terms with her diagnosis as well as the passion inside her and finding an outlet for it within the bounds of her physical limitations was eye-opening and felt genuine.  I liked that this wasn't an easy story, I just have a few issues with how it was described.  This was a wonderful story overall that was both educating for the reader as well as entertaining.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Kate McGuire has loved her brother’s best friend for years—an older guy who didn’t know she existed and whose smoking-hot girlfriend could punch her into next week. But now Kate’s eighteen and Quinn Haley is girlfriend-free and looking at her like she’s outside the friend zone. Everything is working out perfectly—until she receives a surprise diagnosis, one that may prevent her from ever having sex.

Quinn has dealt with abuse and rejection his entire life, but when he finally breaks up with his cheating girlfriend, he realizes his best friend’s little sister has always been there for him. 

Kate’s entire future will be a lifetime of no. No children. No sex. No Quinn. And when Quinn won’t take no for an answer, she fights him every step of the way.

Mending Heartstrings: Forging Forever Book 1, Aria Glazki

A much slower-paced romance, Kane and Sabella have a subtle chemistry that carries through despite the distance and past hurts that threaten to keep them apart.  The relationship build is based on something much deeper than passion, but what I enjoyed was that their passions came through in other ways.  I always like steam in my romances, but sometimes I'm willing to overlook the closed-door moments when a couple comes through with the tenderness.  That was mostly the case here and I think the best word I can describe Kane and Sabella, their relationship, and their whole progression is "understated".

Sometimes the supporting characters upstaged the MC's and I can't say it wasn't well-deserved.  There was also a secondary conflict with Gina that could have dominated the story, but even though the situation was pretty serious, it only served to strengthen Kane's character and show Sabella for the concerned and observant friend that she is.  I loved that she wasn't like so many younger heroines who get caught up in all their own drama that they overlook, dismiss, or downplay the important people around them.

Kane was a great male lead with his patience, concern, consideration, and honesty.  A small spark led him to make some big changes in his life and his heart that were absolutely necessary to give him his musician's soul the boost it needed.  He did lash out and make some pretty hurtful assumptions at some points, but once he got over himself and his past he moved on to a future with Sabella.  He was determined and supportive and a tender man that had something really special about him.

Being that the pace was much slower it did drag at times and got a bit bogged down in the descriptions and exposition of so many things that happened in the story.  I wished the pacing had picked up at any point in the story, but aside from the Gina drama, it was just a slow read.  While the many details served their purpose and gave us a clear picture, it was a bit too much on the "tell" side of things rather than focusing on the "show" aspect of story telling.  But overall this was a sweet story with good, solid characters and a tender love story worth reading.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Kane’s a country singer who’s tangled with too many deceitful women. He’s learned his lesson: girls are for flirting and fun; emotions are for his music. But after spending a night with an earnest woman unlike any he’s known, he can’t force her out of his mind. So he goes in search of the woman he knows only as “Elle.”

On her last night in Nashville, the staunchly pragmatic Sabella found herself in a situation more suited to a romance novel than reality. Swept away, she ignored her rigidly self-imposed rules, succumbing to the fantasy just this once. But she knows real-world relationships have nothing in common with their fictionalized portrayals. When Kane unexpectedly shows up at her Portland apartment, she must choose between the practical truths she has learned and the desire for a passionate love she has struggled to suppress.

Despite the distance, Kane’s tour schedule, and their meddling friends, both are drawn to the chance for a romance neither quite believes is possible.