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Romance Review – HAPPY MEDIUM by Sarah Adler

Romance Review – THE BREAKUP TOUR by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka @berkleyromance

Romance Review – LAST CALL AT THE LOCAL by Sarah Grunder Ruiz @berkleyromance

Romance Review – HOUSEBROKE by Jaci Burton @berkleyromance

Romance Review – RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART by Jo Segura @berkleyromance

Romance Review – THE FAKE MATE by Lana Ferguson @berkleyromance

Review: GUY’S GIRL by Emma Noyes

Blog Tour – IRIS KELLY DOESN’T DATE by Ashley Herring Blake @berkleyromance

Blog Tour Review – BETTER HATE THAN NEVER by Chloe Liese @berkleyromance

Blog Tour – THIS SPELLS DISASTER by Tori Anne Martin

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About Me

Hi, I'm Suzanne. Proofreader by day, book blogger by night, devourer of books 24/7. My reading tastes: Basically you name it, I probably like it. I read a lot of contemporary and historical, both adult and YA, and I've also been enjoying more and more fantasy lately. Hobbies include: buying and hoarding of books, rambling about books to anyone who will listen, and trying to recommend books to my family and friends whether they are readers or not - because seriously, how can you not love to read books?

BOOKSTAGRAM

Thanks for the free book @saturdaybooks @stmartins

Thanks for the free book @saturdaybooks @stmartinspress & the #gifted ALC @macmillan.audio #macaudio2025

📚 Review - WE MET LIKE THIS 📚

Author - Kasie West

Pub Date - 9/16/25

I have always enjoyed Kasie West’s YA romance books, so I was excited to read her adult debut, We Met Like This. I went into this one blind and found it to be absolutely delightful!

Margot is a hopeless romantic who dreams of a perfect meet-cute where she finally finds her Mr. Right. She keeps reluctantly turning to dating apps to meet men since she isn’t finding Mr. Right out in the wild but somehow keeps getting matched with Oliver over and over again. Margot and Oliver swiped right on each other the first time they were matched and had a super awkward date, followed by a not so awkward makeup session. It has become a running joke with them that they keep matching on these apps, and they soon form a pretty great friendship.

Friends to lovers is usually just okay for me, but I just enjoyed it so much in this book! Oliver is adorable, and his banter with Margot is just fantastic. You could feel the chemistry between them so much that it was hard to believe their first date was so awkward and I was eager for Margot to give him a second chance. It’s a slow burn waiting for it to happen but so worth it when it finally does!

I also loved that this story was set in the world of publishing. If you know me, you know I love a bookish romance! In addition to this story being a friends to lovers romance, there’s also a whole personal journey that Margot goes through as she seeks to make the jump from a junior literary agent to a full fledged agent who has her own clients. I was equally invested in this journey & the romance plot and was cheering Margot on to make something happen for herself.

The audiobook was narrated by Katie Bloomwood, and I thought her performance was fantastic! Even when I needed to set the paper copy of this book down, I could not stop listening. Her voices for each character were so distinct that it took me a while to realize there was only one narrator.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - If you could work in a bookish field, what would be your dream job?

Thanks for the free e-ARC & #gifted ALC @berkleyro

Thanks for the free e-ARC & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🔎 Review - THE PRINCESS AND THE P.I. 🔎

Author - Nikki Payne

Pub Date - 9/16/25

*physical copy purchased by me*

I love a good romantic suspense story, and Nikki Payne really delivers with her latest, The Princess and the P.I.!

Fiona is the daughter of a prominent church leader. She has lived a sheltered life, but unsatisfied with that living that way, Fiona has also cultivated a secret life as the online amateur sleuth, @Princess_PI. When her brother is murdered and the invention he had been working on is stolen, Fiona decides to use her sleuthing skills to avenge his death and get his invention back.

Things don’t go as planned and not only does Fiona end up arrested and accused of murder. Enter Maurice Bennett, the former cop turned PI. When he learns of Fiona’s predicament, he decides to intervene and bails her out of jail, then starts working with her to try to clear her name and find the real perpetrator.

It was so entertaining watching these two work together to solve this mystery! Maurice is a little broody and at first has no patience for Fiona and her online sleuthing persona, but the more they work together, the more he starts to see her how she really wants to be seen, as more than just a good girl. I thought their chemistry was fantastic and was immediately invested in them as a couple.

I won’t say much about the actual investigation aside from that it takes Maurice and Fiona on a wild ride and that it had plenty of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I really enjoyed Payne’s writing, both in the way she wrote these two characters with so many layers, and in the way she skillfully weaves suspense, tension, humor, & spicy romance into this story.

I read this one with my eyes and ears and thoroughly enjoyed the narration of Arissa Evans & Jaime Lincoln Smith, who both did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life & playing up the chemistry between them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - If you read mysteries, are you good at figuring out the whodunnit or are you like me & guess wrong every step of the way?

Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyrom

Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance @acebookspub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🧹 Review - UNCHARMED 🧹

Author - Lucy Jane Wood

Pub Date - 9/16/25

If you’re looking for a witchy read with all of the cozy vibes to add to your fall TBR, Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood is one you should definitely check out!

The story follows Annie, who is basically the Mary Poppins of witches. Annie runs a magical bakery, and as the book’s tagline states, she is “practically perfect, in every witch way.” At least that’s how her life appears on the surface anyway. In reality, Annie is a people pleaser who usually puts the happiness of others above her own. Those people pleasing ways are how Annie gets volunteered to mentor Maeve, a teen witch struggling to control her magic and with the rules of witchy society. Whether Annie realizes it or not, Maeve and the chaos that swirls around her is exactly the shakeup that Annie needs in her life.

Annie and Maeve end up staying at a little cabin while Annie goes to work trying to help Maeve with her magic, and this is where they meet Hal, the grumpy wizard who owns the cabin. While their encounter is initially awkward, the three of them soon bond and the found family vibes really shine through. I loved these characters and the way they interact with one another, and I especially enjoyed what ultimately becomes an emotional journey of growth for Annie as she finally starts to put herself and her happiness first for a change. There’s a hint of charming romance between Annie and Hal as well, but Annie’s journey is really at the heart of the story.

This was my first time reading this author and I enjoyed her writing, especially the character development, and the way she has balanced heart and humor here.

I did an immersive read with the paperback & audiobook and thought Evie Hargreaves’ narration was delightful. I thought her tone really added to the overall cozy atmosphere.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Annie customizes her magical baked goods to best help her customers. What kind of magic would you want in your baked good?

AOTD - Something that gives me more hours to read everyday. 😅

Thanks to @avonbooks @harpercollins #partner for t

Thanks to @avonbooks @harpercollins #partner for the gifted copy!

⚾️ Review - PITCHER PERFECT ⚾️

Author - Tessa Bailey

Pub Date - 9/9/25

Pitcher Perfect is the fourth book in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots spicy sports romcom series. It’s an enemies-to-lovers, fake dating story that follows Robbie Corrigan, an NHL rookie with a reputation for being a ladies’ man, and Skyler Paige, a collegiate softball pitcher who has no interest in guys like Robbie. Sklyar’s brother recruits her to pitch in a “friendly” baseball competition against the Boston Bearcats hockey team, and it’s here that Skyler and Robbie first cross paths and boy do the sparks fly!

Robbie is instantly smitten, but Skyler, having overheard Robbie bragging about his sexual exploits, is not interested. She also has a crush on her brother’s best friend, Madden, and when Robbie hears this, to make amends for being a jerk at the ball park, he offers to help Skyler catch Madden’s attention by being her partner at her family’s annual Paige Stakes competition.

I had so much fun with this book! The chemistry between Robbie and Skyler is pure fire, and their banter is filled with sarcasm and snark that had me laughing out loud so many times! Robbie comes off as such a player at the beginning of the book, so I really loved getting to know him better as the story progressed and seeing that a lot that was an act and that he’s actually a sweet guy. I loved watching him put in the work to prove himself to Skyler and I also loved the dynamic between the two of them when Robbie gives Skyler lessons on how to flirt.

Skyler was a fantastic character too. I loved how independent & driven she is. I also appreciated we get to see her vulnerable side as she feels out of place in her family because she hasn’t had the success they have.

While the book is full of romcom goodness, my favorite part is the emotional connection that forms between Robbie & Skyler. They see each other like no one has before & that connection had me fully invested in them.

Tessa Bailey really outdid herself with Pitcher Perfect & it’s my new favorite in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - Last book that surprised you in a good way?

💙 Monday Blues - Berkley Romance edition 💙

💙 Monday Blues - Berkley Romance edition 💙

Hey book friends! Is your week off to a good start or are you like me and dealing with a serious case of the Monday Blues? I’m turning my Monday Blues into a positive by sharing a big stack of some of my favorite Berkley Romance books that have blue spines. Some of these were gifted, so huge thanks to @berkleyromance #partner for those. 🩵

❓QOTD - Have you read any of these books? Or what are you starting off the week reading?

Books Featured:

💙The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
🩵Love and Other Flight Delays by Denise Williams
💙The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson
🩵Until Next Summer by Ali Brady
💙The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest
🩵The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
💙One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
🩵Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson
💙Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey
🩵When I Think of You by Myah Ariel
💙The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
🩵The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea
💙The Dane of My Existence by Jessica Martin
🩵Well Matched by Jen DeLuca
💙The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
🩵How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes
💙A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
🩵Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake
💙It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant
🩵Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
💙You, With a View by Jessica Joyce
🩵Beach Read by Emily Henry

🏷️ #MondayBlues #bluebookstack #bluebooks #berkleyromance #berkleybookstagram

👻 SHELFIE SATURDAY - HALLOWEEN VIBES 👻 Hey

👻 SHELFIE SATURDAY - HALLOWEEN VIBES 👻

Hey book friends, I hope you’re having a good weekend. I needed to get out of my own head for a bit today and was struggling to read so I decided to go ahead and decorate my bookshelves for Fall/Halloween.

I’m a big scaredy cat so I like to go for fun and cute Halloween decorations. It’s hard to tell with the lighting but most of my ghosts are pale pink. I can’t decide if I’m finished or not. I’m thinking I need lights or maybe some pink bats.

I’ve been listening some of the audiobook of Nikki Payne’s The Princess and the P.I. while decorating and really enjoying it.

❓QOTD - What are you up to this weekend? Reading anything good?

🏷️ Halloween, black cat, pink ghosts, pumpkins, gnomes

✨ MINI REVIEWS - HAVEN BROTHERS ✨ Thanks to @

✨ MINI REVIEWS - HAVEN BROTHERS ✨

Thanks to @sourcebookscasa #partner for the gifted books.

✨Review - Obsession Falls ✨

Author - Claire Kingsley

Pub Date - 10/12/23, re-released 2/4/25 (Sourcebooks)

Obsession Falls is book 1 in the Haven Brothers series, a small town romantic suspense series where each book works as a standalone.

Audrey is a journalist down on her luck. The only newspaper job she is able to find is in Tilikum, a small town near where she grew up. She’s not excited to return home but decides to make the best of a bad situation. She finds a house to rent, and her landlord is Josiah Haven, a sexy, grumpy lumberjack type. Sparks fly from the moment these two first meet and they soon start spending more time together.

I loved the chemistry between Audrey and Josiah, and I especially loved that even though Josiah is guarding his heart because he has been hurt before, it doesn’t take long for him to fall for Audrey and when he falls, he falls hard. His protective side also comes out when someone starts stalking Audrey, leaving dead squirrels outside her door and playing mind games with her.

I thought the suspense storyline was really well done. There are plenty of twists that kept me guessing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Review - Storms and Secrets ✨

Author - Claire Kingsley

Pub Date - 1/25/24, re-released 8/26/25 (Sourcebooks)

Storms and Secrets focuses on Zachary Haven. Zachary has been secretly in love with his sister’s best friend, Marigold, for as long as he can remember. Marigold is a hopeless romantic who is looking for a happily ever after, while Zachary is a troublemaker. A near death experience while doing electrical work at Marigold’s salon is a wake up call & he starts trying to win Marigold’s heart, but she has just started dating a new guy she thinks might be the one.

i enjoyed watching Zachary try to win Marigold over, & when he suspects that there’s something shady about her new boyfriend, I was into his sleuthing to uncover dirt on the guy.

The suspense was a little predictable, but I still enjoyed the story overall. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - If you could hang out with any fictional character, who would you choose?

Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyrom

Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

👻 Review - GHOST BUSINESS 👻

Author - Jen DeLuca

Pub Date - 9/9/25

I loved the first book in this series and was so excited to be back in the quirky, haunted town of Boneyard Key, Florida! I’m all about a rivals-to-lovers story & just loved that the main characters are rival ghost tour owners.

Sophie is a local and she prides herself on running ghost tours that are accurate and that spotlight the supernatural history of Boneyard Key. Tristan, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the area, and being a former theater kid, his goal is to entertain, even if it means making up ghost stories that are completely untrue. Tristan rubs everyone the wrong way - Sophie, all of the locals who don’t appreciate him trying to put Sophie out of business, and even the local ghosts, who don’t appreciate him telling lies about the areas they are haunting.

I enjoyed this one! Even though I shared in everyone’s initial annoyance with Tristan, I appreciated that he was trying to make a go of this business in order to get out from under his overbearing father & I wanted him to do that, just not at the expense of Sophie’s business.

I thought the evolution of Sophie and Tristan’s relationship was fun too. They’re clearly attracted to one another even though they’re supposed to be rivals, and the more they cross paths and push each other’s buttons, the harder it is to fight that attraction.

Boneyard Key and its residents were definitely the star of the book for me. I love all of the residents, both the living and the dead, and how fiercely loyal they are to those they care about.

I read this one with my eyes & ears and loved Jeannie Sheneman’s entertaining narration. The banter was popping and her voices for each character were unique & easy to distinguish from one another, and I listened comfortably at 1.8x while reading along with the physical copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - If you read seasonally, what kinds of reads do you prefer in fall?

AOTD - I love paranormal romances, witchy reads, & the occasional thriller. No horror though because I’m a scaredy cat.😅

🔟 TEN BEFORE THE END 🔟 It’s the bookies v

🔟 TEN BEFORE THE END 🔟

It’s the bookies vs. the calendar and our 10 unread books. We’ve trained for this. Will our TBR break us? Plot twist TBD... 📚☕️🗓️#BFs10BeforeTheEnd2025

📚☕️🧡🗓️🧡☕️📚

For my 10 Before the End, I’m choosing to mostly stick with the books from my 25 in 2025 challenge that I haven’t gotten to yet, plus a few others that have been on my TBR for a while.

Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie
Play Along by Liz Tomforde
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
Wild Side by Elsie Silver
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Oathbound by Tracy Deonn
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Rodham Clinton
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

❓QOTD - Have you read any of these? Or what’s a book that has been on your TBR for a while that you’re determined to read before the end of the year?

📚☕️🧡🗓️🧡☕️📚

This collab & more bookish community fun is hosted by the members of @bookends.friends 🫶🏻

#bookendsfriends #bookishcollab #bookstafriends #booklovers #bookishcommunity #bookishfun

Thanks for the free book and fun PR package @dellr

Thanks for the free book and fun PR package @dellromance @randomhouse @ballantinebooks #Partner & for the gifted ALC & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🍁 Review - PEOPLE WATCHING 🍁

Author - Hannah Bonam-Young

Pub Date - 9/9/25

People Watching is a spicy, small town romance that packs an emotional punch and a book that I easily devoured in a couple of sittings.

Prudence (Prue) once dreamed of a life outside of her small town, but when her mom is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease, Prue’s plans change and she contents herself with working at the family gas station, writing poetry in her free time, and helping her dad take care of her mom. When we meet Prue, she is feeling the need for a change. That change shows up in the form of Milo, a man who prides himself on being a wanderer and sharing stories about his many adventures. Milo has only returned home because his brother needs his help, but meeting Prue changes his perspective.

Prue was an easy character to love. Her devotion to caring for her mom just had my whole heart. She’s such a good daughter, but at the same time, I was heartbroken for her in the sense that she has ended up so isolated and lonely. She has no close friends and no experience when it comes to men. When she meets Milo, he fills that void in her life with his charming, easy-to-talk to personality.

It took me a little while to warm up to Milo, partly because one of the first things we learn about him is all about his many sexual exploits. It seemed odd for that to be first and foremost. I fell for him though when he jumped in and helped out with Prue’s mom.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Prue and Milo, especially how willing Prue was to have some pretty deep conversations with him. One of those conversations ends with her confessing her lack of sexual experience and asking Milo if he would give her lessons, which he agrees to do. I thought these scenes were well written.

The audiobook is narrated by Victoria Connolly & Brandon Francis. They did a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life and capturing the depth of emotion in this story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What are you reading this week?

Thanks for the gifted ARC, @youhadmeathea @stmarti

Thanks for the gifted ARC, @youhadmeathea @stmartinspress #partner

📚Review - LOVE WALKED IN 📚

Author - Sarah Chamberlain

Pub Date - 9/2/25

Mari Cole’s superpower is that she has a knack for being able to revive and save struggling Indie bookstores. Mari’s childhood wasn’t the best, which has made her somewhat hesitant to get close to people. Instead, she has turned to books as her safe haven. When her mentor asked her to come to London to try to help rescue a once prestigious bookstore, now in danger of going under, Mari happily agrees. She is surprised when she gets there to discover that the owner, Leo Ross, is a cold and hostile man who clearly does not want her there.

I love a bookish romance and I love the grumpy-sunshine trope, so I was thoroughly entertained by this book. It was a little hard to warm up to Leo at first, just because he’s so rude to Mari, but once we learn more about what’s really going on with him, it becomes easier to like him and to root him and Mari on, both romantically and of course, when it comes to saving the bookstore.

Mari intrigued me because she comes across as sunshine personified, but that is covering up what has been a tough go. She lost her mother when she was very young, never knew her real dad, and her stepdad bailed on her as soon as she turned 18. She hasn’t had much of a support system since then and has had to rely solely on herself, and has shied away from relationships with others. I love a story where one character is reluctant to let love in, and the other character has to work to break down those walls and was cheering Leo on because the more they bonded while trying to save the store, the more apparent it became that the two of them would be perfect together.

If you like grumpy-sunshine bookish romances and a London setting, definitely check this one out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What are some of your favorite tropes?

🍂 SEPTEMBER HOPEFULS 🍂 Happy Friday, book f

🍂 SEPTEMBER HOPEFULS 🍂

Happy Friday, book friends! I hope your month has gotten off to a good start and that you’ve already had some great reads. Mine is off to a pretty solid start.

My September hopefuls list is a pretty big one but I’ve already knocked out a few of these, so I’m feeling good about getting through most of the list. There are several in my hopefuls list that were gifted, so I’ve tagged those publishers. Thanks so much to all of them! ♥

📚 Physical Copies: 📚

People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young (Finished, review to come soon)
Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca (Currently reading)
Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
Road Trip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine
We Met Like This by Kasie West
It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram
Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain (Currently Reading)
Obsession Falls by Claire Kingsley (Finished, review to come soon)
Storms and Secrets by Claire Kingsley (Finished, review to come soon)
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon ((25 in 2025 book - This one is a brick so I started it 9/1 since it will take me all month to get through it.)
Hooked by Emily McIntire (25 in 2025 book)

🎧📱E-ARCs/ALCs: 📱🎧

The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne
The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
Hollow by Karina Halle
Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
Game On by Ki Stephens

❓QOTD - What are some books you’re hoping to read in September? Do we have any in common?

Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyP

Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley!

🤠 Review - THE BACHELOR COWBOY 🤠

Author - Jessica Clare

First published 1/26/21, Re-released with new cover 9/2/25

This was such a cute read! I’ve enjoyed Jessica Clare’s witchy reads in the past, so now that I’m in my cowboy romance era, I thought it would be fun to read a boy in her Wyoming Cowboy series. The Bachelor Cowboy is actually the sixth book in the series, but it worked perfectly as a standalone.

Layla is the town accountant, and she is shy and not used to being noticed by men. She attends a charity bachelor auction, and because her mother backs her into a corner, Layla ends up bidding on and winning herself a date with one of the bachelors, Jack Watson. Jack is a sexy and charming cowboy who isn’t really interested in dating anyone right now, but when his sister-in-law guilt trips him into joining the charity auction, Jack says yes since it’s for a great cause. His interest in dating changes once he meets Layla, and when they somehow end up sharing ownership of Oscar the dachshund, Jack has ample opportunity to get to know Layla better.

I loved the whole opposites attract vibe of Jack and Layla’s story. He’s a super confident and charming ladies’ man, while Layla is reserved and full of insecurities, thanks to her narcissistic and toxic mother. I loved the way Jack would gently persuade Layla to go on dates with him, and that he recognized how much her mom’s narcissism had really beat down her confidence. He helps her to recognize it and to finally stand up to her mother. As much as I enjoyed the chemistry between Jack and Layla and watching romance blossom between them, especially their flirty text messages, I was also just so into Layla’s journey of personal growth.

This was a fun, fast read with the perfect amount of both sweet and spicy scenes. Definitely recommend if you’re into opposites-attract and/or cowboy romances.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Have you ever won a contest or giveaway, or bid on something at an auction and won? If so, what did you win?

Thanks for the free ARC & #gifted ALC @berkleyroma

Thanks for the free ARC & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🍁 Review - IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY 🍁

Author - Julie Olivia

Pub Date - 9/2/25

When we first meet Michelle, she is grieving the death of her mom and the end of her marriage. She has also just moved from Seattle to a small town in Vermont to temporarily run her parents’ B&B until her sister finishes school and takes over. Things start off awkwardly for Michelle because she has no idea how to run a B&B and isn’t good when it comes to interacting with the guests, or with people in general. The charm of the town, coupled with wonderful neighbors who truly want to help her, soon win her over and she settles in.

It also doesn’t hurt that her next door neighbor, Cliff, is a sexy single dad who has major Golden Retriever vibes, two fantastic daughters, and also happens to be a master baker.

I adored Cliff. He’s so charming and he’s an amazing dad. He’s also incredibly patient with Michelle, no matter how cold and awkward she sometimes comes across. I loved watching him break through her defenses and get her to open up to him.

The relationship is a slow burn, as Michelle and Cliff start off as friends & gradually become more. I thought the relationship was so well written & its progression felt very realistic.

Michelle is also on an emotional journey, processing both her grief & some unresolved feelings regarding her relationship with her mom. Being a part of this small Vermont community helps her reevaluate what she wants out of life and I was fully invested in her journey.

There’s so much to love about this book! It’s set in the 1990’s and gave me so much nostalgia for that time period. It’s also set in the fall and the charming, small town fall atmosphere was giving major Gilmore Girls vibes, which I loved.

The audiobook was perfect for immersive reading. It’s narrated by Blair Young, Emily Eiden, Alex Raby, & Sean Patrick Hopkins. This cast delivers a charming performance that really elevated my overall experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - Since Cliff is a baker, what’s your favorite baked good?

AOTD - Right now I’m loving apple cider donuts!

Thanks to @hambright_pr, @EmilyRathAuthor, & @Kens

Thanks to @hambright_pr, @EmilyRathAuthor, & @Kensingtonbooks for the #gifted copy!

🏒 REVIEW - PUCKING STRONG 🏒

Author - Emily Rath

Pub Date - 8/26/25

While Pucking Strong is the fourth book in the Jacksonville Rays hockey romance series, it’s my first time reading Emily Rath’s books. I’ve been wanting to try her books so when I saw the books in this series work as standalones, I decided it was time. I’m so glad I did too because this book had my whole heart from start to finish!

Henrik is the Swedish star player on the Rays, while Teddy is a doctor for the team. Teddy has also had a crush on Henrik, dating back six years to when he was an intern. Henrik and Teddy are opposites, with Henrik being reserved yet protective, while Teddy is drama and chaos personified but in the most endearing way.

When a tragedy leaves Henrik’s young niece, Karolina, orphaned in Sweden and Henrik faces challenges securing custody because he’s single and a professional hockey player, Teddy proposes the perfect solution — he & Henrik should get married. Teddy doesn’t know how he’ll be able to hide his real feelings from Henrik, but all that matters is keeping Henrik & Karolina together.

I enjoy a marriage of convenience story, and the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding this one, combined with Teddy’s huge heart stepping up to help Henrik, just melted my heart.

I adored both Henrik and Teddy & was so invested in them as a couple. This is a slow burn though, not just because Teddy and Henrik are so focused on Karolina, but also because Henrik is demisexual. This is the first time I’ve read a romance with demisexuality, & I think Rath did a wonderful job handling it in such an authentic way.

Henrik is slow to open up to intimacy, but as his emotional connection with Teddy grows, his walls gradually come down. I loved how patient Teddy was with him, & I thought their journey was so beautiful and definitely worth the wait!

The found family/team vibes were also wonderful & had me immediately binging Pucking Around because I wanted to get to know the other characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

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