A Wine Lovers Book Blog / Books n Wine

***5 Stars*** I was excited to head back to Hawthorn U and see how everyone was doing, but whoa…things got intense in this one. Not that it was unexpected considering all that happened in Z and Sugar’s book, but still…stuff happens…but outside that stuff, Eric and Julia definitely kept me on my toes and kept me turning the pages until the very end. Oh Julia and Eric. These two were definitely a pair. Both have the weight of the world on their shoulders and are trying to keep their heads above water in their own ways, but IMHO, one is doing a little bit better job on the inside than the other, even if the outside doesn’t always look like it. There was quite a bit of push/pull going on in their evolving relationship, but it was clear that they gave each other what they were lacking in their lives just by being who they were at their cores. The chemistry was obvious from the start and when they just went with the flow, they were a lot of fun to be around, but of course things can’t be tha...

***5 ‘Glow’ Stars*** I have to admit that the start of this book had me going “Uuugmmm…” not in a bad way, I promise, but it was definitely an interesting start to things. And did have it’s eyebrow raising, eye rolling, heavy sigh moments, but…and this is the important one BUT it also had a bunch of heartwarming and hilarious moments and was filled with such great characters ~ with a few exceptions ~ that I ended up absolutely loving it and hoping that we get more from this crew in the future. Nova and Ronan. I loved them. I did. Nova is a force and an enigma. One minute she is all kinds of confidant and fearless and the next she’s struggling with her own insecurities. I loved how she owned all that she was, even the things that others may look down on, she owned herself in every way. Ronan. This man. He’s got walls built up around him a country mile wide, but even with his standoffish-ness (though in one situation I totally agree with how he uses it) he has a good soul and it shines t...

***5 ‘You Are the Best Person in All My Universes’ Stars*** Have you ever been all kinds of excited to get your hands on a book and yet are kinda scared to dive in because maybe you kinda sorta had a tinsy bit of a problem with one of the main characters in the previous book and while you totally trust in the author’s ability to at least make you like them, if not love them in the end?? Well, that was me (if you’ve read Not My Romeo you’ll know why) but I can honestly say that I should not have allowed myself to worry because I freakin’ ADORED this book. From start to finish ADORED it ~ even the frustrating I want to Gibbs smack you while I hug you moments and really just want to spend a lot more time with Devon and Giselle and the rest of the crew. Devon and Giselle. I adored these two. Devon is a sweetheart and there is seriously so much more going beneath the surface that is all kinds of goodness than anyone knows. Giselle. This woman didn’t grow on me, she slammed into me and I bas...

***5 ‘I’ll Wait’ Stars*** This baby surprised me.  In the best of ways, but still. It was kinda what I expected it to be and yet, I was nothing like I thought it would be and that was a full on pleasant surprise as I got totally caught up in Anastasia and River and can honestly say that I hated it when there were no more words to read because I didn’t want to say good-bye. I adored Anastasia and River. Ana has had an interesting and unique upbringing that has made her comfortable in her own skin. She is sassy, snarky and has a compassionate soul. River was a surprise. I found that I wanted to Gibbs smack him as much as I wanted to hug the guy ~ sometimes at the same time ~ because he was simply that sweet and infuriating, and couldn’t help but fall in love with his golden heart.  The journey to their HEA wasn’t an easy one. It was all kinds of bumpy and frustrating, but it was also sweet and swoon worthy. The chemistry between them was hard to miss ~ even when they were baitin...

***5 Stars*** This baby was all kinds of awkward, swoon worthy and yet frustrating goodness...and that’s just what Dillion and Serena put me through. Add in their friends and family and you get a lot more laughs and whole lot of heart. I adored Serena and Dillion. Serena has been put through the wringer, but she put on her shitkickers and is that person who, once she decides you are her person, will do all that she can to help you out. She’s sassy, snarky and upfront about what she wants. Dillion...I loved the guy and he definitely kept me on my toes because one never knew just which Dillion would come out to play, but all sides of him were kind of amazing.  As for their journey to their HEA, it was a lot of fun. Their bantering, from the start, was so much fun and the chemistry was intense. They had a flow that was easy to get lost in and I was rooting for them from the start. I loved how persistent Dillion was without being too pushy and I loved how Serena stood her ground, but k...

***4 ‘I’m Basically a Teenage Girl’ Stars*** This was a great start to a new series.  It’s a fun, cute, awkward kinda read with a lot of heart and filled with a bunch of characters I’m crossing my toes we’ll see lots and lots more of as the series progresses ~ both of the two legged and four legged variety. I loved Elena and Jack, they put me and themselves through the ringer, but I still loved them. Elena is that mix of awkward and confident that makes her extremely likeable and relatable. She’s sweet, sassy and though she has her insecurities, she also has this sense of self that I really liked. Jack is all kinds of sweet and charming, he really is, but his past has left some pretty deep wounds and it causes him to erect walls that makes it hard for others to get close, but also blinds him to quite a lot going on around him. Their journey to their HEA was a lot of fun. They both had me growling at various times throughout the book for some of their choices, b...

***5 Stars*** After reading the, what we will now call, “The Teaser” version of Dear Ava in the Team Player 2 anthology (Not available anymore) I NEEDED more. I need more of Ava, her friends, her enemies, her frenemies...everyone! ALL. OF. IT. So to say I was squealing like a teenager who has just seen one of their idols for the first time in the flesh is an understatement (Though, please note it was all done in my head...but still) and Ms. Madden Mills abso-fucking-lutely delivered! I laughed, I growled, I got all kinds of swoony and twitterpatted and everything in between and I wasn’t a happy camper when there were no more words to read. I ADORED Ava. This girl went through something horrific and yet came out swinging. Seeing her put on her shitkickers and take hold of her future, knowing how hard it would end up being emotionally and mentally, was all kinds of awesome. I loved her snark, how she held her own against all odds and her heart is truly golden. And Knox...thi...

I want you . . . even when I hate you. I Hate You, an all-new enemies to lovers sports romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills, is available now! Blaze Townsend : I hate you. Charisma Rossi : I hate you more. She’s been expecting this ever since their latest showdown. She had good reason. Hottest guy she’s ever seen. Former fling. Dumped her in front of her friends. At her own party. So no, she’s not about to forgive and forget just because he sits next to her in class. He thinks all he has to do is turn on those baby blues, and she’ll melt right back into his arms. Please. She’d be crazy to let this cocky player affect her again. (Tell that to her body.) Charisma Rossi. Nerd girl with a dash of bad. The one who got under his skin. The one he cut loose. Blaze knows she’s the riskiest prospect at Waylon University, but none of the interchangeable girls he hooks up with have ever made him feel the way she di...

I want you . . . even when I hate you. I Hate You, an all-new enemies to lovers sports romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills, is available now! Blaze Townsend : I hate you. Charisma Rossi : I hate you more. She’s been expecting this ever since their latest showdown. She had good reason. Hottest guy she’s ever seen. Former fling. Dumped her in front of her friends. At her own party. So no, she’s not about to forgive and forget just because he sits next to her in class. He thinks all he has to do is turn on those baby blues, and she’ll melt right back into his arms. Please. She’d be crazy to let this cocky player affect her again. (Tell that to her body.) Charisma Rossi. Nerd girl with a dash of bad. The one who got under his skin. The one he cut loose. Blaze knows she’s the riskiest prospect at Waylon University, but none of the interchangeable girls he hooks up with have ever made him feel the way she di...

***5 ‘Fire In My Hands’ Stars*** Oh my heart. And my head. I don’t know which one got worked over hard as Blaze and Charisma played one hell of a ping pong game with my emotions and sanity as they stumbled away, around and towards each other, but it was so worth it and I really wish there had been more words to read because I really wanted to see where the future would take them because it promised to be amazing. Blaze and Charisma. These two drove me batshit crazy throughout most of the book, no lie, but even when I wanted to Gibbs smack them (which happened A LOT) I still adored them. Charisma is sassy and strong and though she does have a strong sense of self, she’s also quite insecure on a level what made it so easy to connect with her. Blaze. My heart hurt for him. There were many times I wanted to Gibbs smack him, but he really is a good, sweet man who does care deeply, even though he hides it very well. As for their journey to their HEA. I’ll admit that I was to...