Second Chances: A Friends to Lovers Celebrity Romance (Love on Set Book 1) by Alice Reed KU

Blurb

For those who believe lightning can strike twice …

Girl-next-door turned party girl Emelia Young has spent the last five years cultivating an illustrious acting career in LA. But, when fate pulls her back to her hometown of Sydney, she finds the eyes of the world are on her, and this time for all the wrong reasons.

In the midst of a chaotic scandal, Emelia meets the eye of the last person she expected to see: her high school sweetheart, Liam Miller. When the whole world turns dark, Emelia finds light again in the boy she loved all those years ago.

But things have changed. No longer the heart-drawing sixteen-year-old Liam used to know, fame, money and notoriety have changed Emelia, leaving them both unsure of where they stand.

When chance leads them into close proximity, Emelia finds there’s something even more terrifying than having the whole world hate you: developing feelings for someone who she could actually fall for.

Hearts will be set racing in this fast paced second chance romance set on the sunny and romantic Bondi Beach. Do they have it in their hearts to take another shot at love?

Review

    What a heartwarming read!

After reading this book my first thought was, “I wish I could date someone like Liam.” This book was different, since the male lead wasn’t some dark character who was rude and aggressive. Liam was all sunshine. I felt like his personality balanced out Emelia, who was more of the insecure reformed mean girl type.

     Aside from the author’s impeccable skill with character development, the plot was interesting as well.      Liam and Emelia were once lovers when they were teenagers. But then, Emelia broke it off, left Australia, and became a famous actress. Fast forward a few years, Emelia returned to Australia, her mission to confront a passed lover and secure a part in a new series. Then, Liam and Emelia were thrust together by scandal. The scandal was so surprising that I actually shouted, “No way!” while reading. To be honest, it took a bit for me to like Emelia. But by the end, I was rooting for Liam and Emelia to reconnect. Since Liam new the real Emelia, it helped me understand why he loved her.

     If you’re looking for a book with love, betrayal, and scheming executives, this is the book for you!

US Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PNMYRJZ

Aus Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08PNMYRJZ

UK Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PNMYRJZ

Rose (Suitors of Seattle Book 1) By Kirsten Osbourne PF

Blurb

Rose is the first book in a highly anticipated new series Suitors of Seattle, following the adventures of eight Western daughters ready to benefit from

the matchmaking skills of her new Aunt Harriett, whom readers will recognize from the best selling Brides of Beckham series.

Pampered socialite Rose is used to men falling at her feet. But her match with handsome Dr. Shawn Henry leaves her feeling less than adored. Has Rose fallen

in love with a man who can’t love her back?

Want more matchmaking madness? Check out the Brides of Beckham.

Review

     I think I’ve read this book 20 times already! It’s one of those stories that you never get sick of.  It’s an interesting spin of the “unrequited love” theme. Rose is not only pampered but a bit self-obsessed. She have had dozens of suitors, who has declared their undying love for her. So naturally, when she meats Doctor Shawn Henry, who’s also a bit full of himself, she is sure that he loves her.

    What I find most entertaining about this read is that the author does a fabulous job switching between perspectives. On one hand, you have Rose, misinterpreting the gestures that Doctor Shawn, who acts as if the courting process is tedious. Rose, doesn’t find out that the dentist doesn’t love her until after they make love on their wedding night, which serves as a bucket of ice water dumped onto the character.

    What I love about this book is that there is more to Rose. Through out the story, she shows a compassionate, that many are surprised to see. She volunteers in a battered women shelter and helps two of her siblings with their own love stories. She finally gets to know Doctor Shawn, who in turn sees that Rose is truly a gem. She doesn’t have to change as a person, though, I feel like Rose does mature through the book.  

If you’re looking for a historical romance that has flawed but lovable characters, this is the book for you!

https://books.apple.com/us/book/rose/id657179651

Unbreakable Bond (Fated Mates Duet Book 1) By Jess Bryant KU

Blurb

Sometimes fate gets it all wrong.

Zoey Kent has lived with that fact ever since she turned eighteen and learned that the man she loved could never be hers. He’s a born shifter, a wolf,

and she’s a mere human. Fate doesn’t care if on paper they’re a perfect pair. She isn’t his fated mate and she’s resigned herself to the knowledge that

someday, she’ll have to watch Michael mate with another. It’s never crossed her mind that there might be someone else out there for her, that she would

be the one to mate another, to choose another over everything she’s ever known or wanted.

Sometimes fate gets it all right.

Rafe Hudson left his pack behind years ago. Physically and mentally scarred from an attack that left his parents and twin dead, he walked away from his

responsibilities as Alpha. He never intended to return but lone wolf or not, he can’t leave Michael open to an attack he’s learned is coming for his only

brother. What he didn’t know was that going home would mean scenting his mate, the one person in the world that could make him whole again, that could

give him everything he thought he’d lost. His pack, his home and his family.

But fate always has a plan.

There’s no way Michael’s brother is her future, is there? Just like there’s no way that the girl his brother has loved since they were kids, was always

meant to be his, right?

Only fate knows why they were brought together but there is one thing for sure, the sparks between Zoey and Rafe are undeniable. The bond between them

is unbreakable. And together… they’ll change the face of the pack forever.

Review

     This book is so awesome that I had to read it twice! I’m sure that everyone has that “feel good” read. It’s a book you can reread when you’re in a particular mood. I know that in my case, it helped me escape the monotony of staying home.  I love this book for several reasons. The first one is the lack of bone chilling horror. It isn’t a dark fantasy with heads being boiled, but there are a few fight scenes that are enough to keep a fantasy fan like me excited. It also has a romance that is unexpected by both characters.

     You have Zoey, who is a human that was adopted by a shifter couple. She spends the beginning of the book thinking about Michael, her best friend, and alpha of the pack.  Despite longing for one another, the pair still manages to be friends. A relationship between them is hopeless, since they are not fated mates.  Rafe on the other hand is broken for a good reason. Rafe was the rightful alpha of his brother Michael’s pack, who vanished after the death of his twin brother and his parents. He holds on to guilt that kept him away from the pack for years.

Naturally, Michael tries to prevent Rafe from claiming his soulmate, but Zoey fights for the man that belongs to her. Thank goodness, she’s a female lead with a back bone.      This is a shifter romance, so there is instalove, steam, dialogue, and testosterone. The side characters are interesting. The threat to the pack does reveal himself, and he is handled in the second novel, which I have also read and enjoyed.   

If you’re looking for a new adult novel that has steam, love, and hot werewolves, this is the book for you!