What a week! I live in the Pacific Northwest, where we are currently experiencing record-breaking temperatures. I found it hard to concentrate this week, but still managed to finish seven books. I also threw my best friend a baby shower on Saturday, so didn’t have as much free time as I normally do. All in all, I had a great week of reading, all four-and five-star reads (and one re-read).

Just a reminder, my rating scale is as follows:
Five-star: I LOVED this book and would highly recommend it to anyone that asked me for a recommendation. I believe the writing is quality, the characters are so loveable that you can’t help but love their story, and the plot has little or no gaps in my opinion. A five-star book often results in a re-read because I loved it so much.
Four-star: I really liked this book and would recommend it to most readers. The writing is good, the character development is great, and the plot has just a few areas that I think needed more development.
Three-star: I liked this book. I wouldn’t necessarily re-read it again, but I didn’t stop reading because I felt compelled to find out what happened. There might be errors or other editorial complaints.
Two-star: This book was not for me. I couldn’t get into it for whatever reason. There were likely many things that turned me off, including but not limited to: a poor choice in POV, character development, flow, energy, attention grabbing, etc. I would not recommend this book to my friends.
One-star: Likely, a one-star is a DNF book for me. There were too many problems. Would not recommend this book to anyone.

To star this week, I finished the A Chance of a Lifetime series with Luck of the Draw and Best of Luck by Kate Clayborn.

Luck of the Draw

Buying a lotto ticket with her two best friends didn’t change Zoe’s life. Only following her heart would do that…

Sure, winning the lottery allows Zoe Ferris to quit her job as a cutthroat corporate attorney, but no amount of cash will clear her conscience about the way her firm treated the O’Leary family in a wrongful death case. So she sets out to make things right, only to find gruff, grieving Aiden O’Leary doesn’t need—or want—her apology. He does, however, need something else from her. Something Zoe is more than willing to give, if only to ease the pain in her heart, a sorrow she sees mirrored in his eyes…

Aiden doesn’t know what possesses him to ask his family’s enemy to be his fake fiancée. But he needs a bride if he hopes to be the winning bid on the campground he wants to purchase as part of his beloved brother’s legacy. Skilled in the art of deception, the cool beauty certainly fits the bill. Only Aiden didn’t expect all the humor and heart Zoe brings to their partnership—or the desire that runs deep between them. Now he’s struggling with his own dark truth—that he’s falling for the very woman he vowed never to forgive.

Rating: Five-stars. I loved this relationship-of-convenience storyline. Zoe and Aiden both have pains from their past that originally separate but eventually bring them together. Zoe tries to make things right by atoning for her sins and works really hard for Aiden. At the same time, Aiden is trying to atone for his twin’s death, trying to set up a drug addiction wilderness camp on the land where Aiden and Aaron went as children, but for the wrong reasons. Zoe holds space for Aiden to grieve, but also is a strong enough character to help Aiden work through some of the grief that threatens to follow Aiden around for the rest of his life. I enjoyed these characters because they brought very real challenges to life in the pages of this book.

Best of Luck

Winning the lottery is the biggest ticket to freedom Greer Hawthorne’s ever had.
Until her best friend’s brother comes to town . . .

Greer Hawthorne’s winning lottery ticket doesn’t just bring her wealth, it also means her chance at a long-postponed education. She’s finally on the cusp of proving to her big, overprotective family that she’s independent—until a careless mistake jeopardizes her plan to graduate. Lucky for her, there’s someone in town who may be able to help . . .

Alex Averin plans to show up for his sister’s wedding, then quickly get back to his job as a world-renowned photojournalist. But when gorgeous, good-hearted Greer needs an assist with a photography project, he’s powerless to say no. Showing Greer his professional passion ignites a new one, and rouses instincts in Alex he thought he’d long set aside.

Can a ceaseless wanderer find a stopping place alongside a woman determined to set out on her own . . . or are Alex and Greer both pushing their luck too far?

Rating: Five-stars. Once again, Clayborn brings to life realistic characters going through hard things. Greer and Alex’s stories entwine in a beautiful love story full of hope, passion, and compassion. Both Alex and Greer walk through some pretty heavy health challenges. Greer gives Alex the space he needs to process trauma from his past, while Alex helps Greer find strength in her own story. Greer’s story of bravery and independence is inspiring, and I love how she is strong despite her health challenges and focuses on chasing her dreams, helping Alex to experience those emotions associated with working really hard for your life’s passion. This story was a beautiful reminder that our skeletons do not have to remain in the closet; they can be launching pads for hope in our futures.

The Heartbreaker by Claire Contreras

They say you never forget your first.

Jagger Cruz, the popular, gorgeous, athletic, heartbreaker, was my introduction to college flings.

Over the years, I’ve tried to pay no attention to every wicked rumor I heard about him, even though deep down I knew they weren’t just rumors. Unable to face the consequences of what we’d done, if we were ever in close quarters, I ran in the other direction. If we were coincidentally put in the same class, I dropped it.

Avoidance was the name of the game and so far I was winning.

That is, until we’re assigned the same apartment.

Living with Jagger during my last semester was definitely not in my plans, but I’m determined to make it work. As long as I don’t look at him for too long or let his innuendos get under my skin, I should be fine, right? I have to be.

They say hooking up with your roommate can be messy, and losing my heart to Jagger would be disastrous.

Rating: Four-stars. Jo and Jagger – childhood friends who finally hook up their first week of college, only to build up walls to protect their hearts from each other. Jo wants Jagger. Jagger wants Jo. But miscommunications lead to years, literally years, of ignoring and avoiding each other. Jo dates the rival QB, while Jagger dates everyone else, but in the end, they come back to each other….in the form of roommates. Yikes. Jo is trying to figure out who is she is outside of the shadow of her parents and their money, while Jagger tries to figure out what to do with his life and whether or not that includes a future as a pro football player. It took too many pages for these two to just TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS, but I sort of loved the slow burn, which led to their friends with benefits relationship, which led to more. Both characters have loving families and siblings who enhance the character development and camaraderie. I loved this story and can’t wait for the next installment to come out.

Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid

At this point, you might realize I accidentally enjoy reading books out of order. I unfortunately did that here as well, but I still enjoyed knitting in the city book 4, and love that there are more books within this story that I can enjoy!

There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous—local Game Warden, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself.

Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.

Rating: Five-star. This was my first Penny Reid read and it certainly won’t be my last! Reid delivers a charming story about Ashley and Andrew, who are some of my favorite characters from this year! This story is full of characters who love one another, family, and a strong, silent type hero. When Ashley has to return home from Tennessee because she’s the only person on the list at the hospital that is OK’d to visit her mother, she finds an additional broody man in her family’s barn, Drew Runous. From the very moment they meet, sparks fly. While they bond over a love for pie, Ashley’s mother, and books, both characters struggle to come to terms with how they feel about one another. I wish Drew was a real life man – swoon!

Despite the bickering and back and forth banter, there is still a deep level of care evident, like the love of family (but not brother/sister feelings). Ashley’s mom leaves nuggets for her daughter to help her navigate the world in the future, and my favorite nugget was this: “Fear don’t count if you really want something.” It takes bravery for both characters to move in this relationship, a give and a take with actions and then with words that show true love. “If sorrow as a force is gravity, and mere happiness is inertia, then love and being in love is momentum. A force built upon actions of the past, moving us. We move.”

Player by Staci Hart

He’s a player.

He plays the bass with expert fingers. He plays women with intoxicating charm. And he’ll play me with the ease of a virtuoso.

Who better to teach me to play than the master himself?

I’m his model student, front row, pencil sharp. Pick up lines? I’ve got them. Free drinks? By the dozen. Kissing? Let me grab my chapstick.

But the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that there’s so much I don’t know. Like why his touch sets off a chain reaction straight to my nethers. Or how I’m certain each kiss is the best I’ll ever have, until the moment his lips take mine again.

There’s so much I don’t know.
Like the fact that I’m only a bet.
But we are what we are. He’s a player, through and through.

And I’m the fool who fell in love with him.

Rating: Five-star. The second installment in The Red Lipstick Coalition was absolutely smashing. I absolutely love books with diverse main characters, and Val is a knockout. Maybe I related more to her because I’ve had similar thoughts and feelings about my body in the past, but Val is a leading lady you can get behind. She has an incredible support system in her huge family and her tightknit friend group. Leading man Sam also does not disappoint. A serial bachelor who is convinced he’s not made for relationships, Sam uses his powers to show a girl like Val how any guy should treat her… not realizing that the guy for her was, well, him. These characters speak many languages to one another: words, emotions, dance, music. All of these play a beautiful part in braiding their stories together.

Falling For Your Best Friend by Emma St. Clair

I know how this story ends. And it’s NOT with the best friends falling in love.

Even if Chase checks all my boxes–and then some.

He’s the perfect guy, and he deserves the perfect girl. Which, to be clear, is not me.

I knew one day I would have to let him go. I just didn’t know it would be so soon.

Or that my traitorous friend would be the one setting him up with a string of potential girlfriends.

Now, I have an impossible choice to make…

I can watch Chase find love with someone else.

Or I can throw my hat in the ring and face my biggest fear, one not even he knows.

One that might make him run for the Texas hill country.

But if I don’t make a play, I might lose my best friend and my only chance at love…

Rating: Four-stars. This book had potential to be a book I would LOVE, but it firmly lands in the LIKE category. Chase is a super sweet hero in love with his best friend, Harper, who also happens to be in love with him. Harper has some sensitivity issues that have gone undiagnosed in her life, but these challenges provide a barrier between her and Chase. I spent the first 65% of the book (maybe more) wishing THEY WOULD JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER. (See: “She was my inspiration when I had none, my hope when it had gone dark, my strength when I was at my weakest. Everything about me is better for knowing her. But have I ever said this in words? Nope. I just make lentil burgers.” UGH). Although frustrating, Chase and Harper’s relationship played out exactly how it needed to. Bonus: Harper’s friends and family are so encouraging! I loved how St. Clair approached some tough conversations in this novel.

Only When It’s Us by Chloe Liese

Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster brimming with laughter, tears, and slow-burn sexiness in this new adult romance that tackles the vulnerability of love with humor and heart.

Ryder

Ever since she sat next to me in class and gave me death eyes, Willa Sutter’s been on my shit list. Why she hates me, I don’t know. What I do know is that Willa is the kind of chaos I don’t need in my tidy life. She’s the next generation of women’s soccer. Wild hair, wilder eyes. Bee-stung lips that should be illegal. And a temper that makes the devil seem friendly.

She’s a thorn in my side, a menacing, cantankerous, pain-in-the-ass who’s turned our Business Mathematics course into a goddamn gladiator arena. I’ll leave this war zone unscathed, coming out on top…And if I have my way with that crazy-haired, ball-busting hellion, that will be in more than one sense of the word. 

Willa

Rather than give me the lecture notes I missed like every other instructor I’ve had, my asshole professor tells me to get them from the silent, surly flannel-wearing mountain man sitting next to me in class. Well, I tried. And what did I get from Ryder Bergman? Ignored. What a complete lumbersexual neanderthal. Mangy beard and mangier hair. Frayed ball cap that hides his eyes. And a stubborn refusal to acknowledge my existence.

I’ve battled men before, but with Ryder, it’s war. I’ll get those notes and crack that Sasquatch nut if it’s the last thing I do, then I’ll have him at my mercy. Victory will have never tasted so sweet.

Rating: Five-star. This book. is. everything. I. love. Extremely grumpy (but sweet and sexy) hero. Tough as nails yet soft (with the right guy) heroine. Inclusive. Real. The first of the Bergman Brothers makes you fall in love with the Bergman crew. Ryder suffers hearing loss at the beginning of his collegiate soccer career, dashing all hopes of becoming pro. Instead, he turns mute, communicating only via text message, and not letting anyone outside of his family and very small circle of friends get close to him. Until Willa. Willa’s a star soccer player at UCLA, working extremely hard to make it pro while balancing being a student athlete. When one professor gets in her way, Willa struggles to rise to the challenge, being forced to work with Ryder, who seems to ignore her one day when she sits next to him in class. She’s humbled when she finally gets an introduction and learns that he wasn’t actually ignoring her. He just simply couldn’t hear her. Through a group project, a series of pranks, some miscommunication, and some heavy life stuff, these two burn brightly. Ryder might be my favorite hero in recent memory, and that’s saying something… The dedication sums it up perfectly: For every woman who fought bravely and for those who loved her through it. Read this book. You won’t be sorry!

Okay. That’s a wrap! Let me know what you’re reading this week in the comments section below!