Insta Connection

About the Book:

Insta Connection: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (The Insta Series Book 2)

Title: Insta Connection
Series: The Insta Series #2
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: April 12th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Butterflies have invaded my body. They’ve been dormant for years and now suddenly they are attacking my stomach, my heart, and quite possibly my ovaries. All for a man I’ve never met.

Ebony McCoy is already married to her job… which means she doesn’t have time for a man. However, a little playful banter online never hurt anyone—especially when it’s a man she doesn’t know and never plans to meet. And seeing how he is more than two thousand miles across the country, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Yep. It’s all fun and games, and totally innocent… until that darn organ inside of Ebony’s chest decides to betray her. Ebony is falling—fast and hard. For someone she can’t have.

Jet Jacobson has never been afraid of a challenge—so he’s still healing from a knee injury, so he’s working on making it into the MLS, so he’s got teammates and siblings who all want his attention. So what? He can add a girl into the mix. This is more than the fun, playful, long distance thing that Ebony keeps saying it is. This, boys and girls, is the real deal. Jet will stop at nothing to make Ebony a believer. This will work—even 2,634 miles apart.

So it may not be the right time or the right place—but one thing’s for sure, she is the right person.

A long-distance, quick connection, sweet romance.

Book Review:

I thought this was a super sweet romcom! Jet and Ebony had a lot of chemistry, and their romance was fast but adorable.

I really liked Ebony’s character! She was so strong and determined, and she was extremely good at what she did. I think sometimes her strength could come off a little harsh, but at the same time, she was trying to succeed in a very male dominated world of sports. I admired her willingness to persevere and how she knew her worth. While Ebony was trying to keep her heart in check, she ended up falling for Jet even though they were far away from each other. Her romance with Jet was out of character and adorable! I love how Beth supported and pushed her!

The side characters in this one really made the book for me! I really loved Jet’s teammates and every scene at the diner cracked me up. They were the perfect foil for Jet as he fell head over heels for Ebony. Jet was so cute! I loved how much he cared for Ebony, and the little ways that he showed up for her even though he was far away. He and Ebony fit well together, and there were some fun twists in their HEA. I feel like those twists made a lot of sense for both of the characters.

While at times it took me a little bit to get into this story, I ended up really enjoying it. It was fun to get to see some characters from other books too like Iris and Dean! I would totally recommend this book. It is a part of a series but it can be read standalone.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Ocean of Ink

About the Book:

Ocean of Ink (The Obsidian Academy Duet Book 1)

Title: Ocean of Ink
Series: The Obsidian Academy Duet #1
Author: A. R. Conwell
Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Genre: Fantasy

She can sense emotions.
He’s trained to be emotionless.

Wren’s quiet life is upended when her brother’s body is delivered to her family’s estate by the elite academy he was attending. Consumed by grief and bound by a past debt, she goes to the Obsidian Academy to uncover the mystery behind his death and avenge the only person she’s ever trusted.

A deadly forest surrounds the dark halls of the exclusive university, but the competitive, bloodthirsty students might be more vicious than the nightmarish creatures that haunt the woods. The most conniving of them all being Castien Valengard, the only one whose emotions Wren can’t sense. And a man she believes is connected to the secret society her brother was a part of.

Wren devises a plan to uncover Castien’s role in her brother’s death, and in the meantime, works to balance her studies and her secrets. Then: another student is killed.

Stuck on the island with no way out, Wren must find her brother’s killer before she turns into the next victim.

Ocean of Ink is book one of a slow burn romantasy duology set in a dark academy surrounded by magical, deadly waters. If you love mystery, letters, and men who yearn, this series is for you!

Book Review:

Oh my word! What an absorbing story! This is Ms. Conwell’s debut fantasy and I so enjoyed reading it!

The world that was created was so intriguing and I appreciated how the worldbuilding was slowly unfolded. It felt natural to learn about the world through Wren and Castian’s eyes. It was interesting to learn about the magic of the world and all the secrecy of the inner politics of the academy.

Oh, I felt for Wren! Her ability to sense emotions and the deep tragedies of her past left her wary and burdened. Her brother’s death weighed heavily on her and so many of her decisions were influenced by discovering the truth about his death. I admired her courage and determination. She was facing so many fears in coming to Obsidian Academy and her mission forced her to learn new skills. Castian was really interesting. I really enjoyed getting into his head too. He was so strategic and evaluated everything. It made him such an interesting character to follow.

Wren and Castian had such an interesting relationship! I loved how they pushed each other and intrigued one another. From the start, there was such an interest in each other. Neither could quite figure the other out and all of the secrets they were searching for seemed to circle around the other. There were so many mysteries around Heron’s death and the implications for the Academy. I liked getting to know the other students and the staff, it really filled out the world. They also were really interesting characters in their own right.

I am so excited to read the next book. Fair warning, this does end on a cliffhanger. It is a darker fantasy with no language or explicit scenes, but heavy themes of trauma, depression, and anxiety. Full list of content warnings are found on A.R. Conwell’s website as it includes spoilers.

I received an ARC.

Moment of Truth

About the Book:

Title: Moment of Truth
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 27th, 2021
Genre: YA

Beloved author Kasie West once again delivers a witty, lighthearted romance that will charm her legions of fans and is perfect for readers of Jenny Han and Huntley Fitzpatrick.

At sixteen, Hadley Moore knows exactly who she is—a swimmer who will earn a scholarship to college. Totally worth all the hard work, even if her aching shoulders don’t agree.

So when a guy dressed as Hollywood’s latest action hero, Heath Hall, crashes her swim meet, she isn’t amused. Instead, she’s determined to make sure he doesn’t bother her again. Only she’s not sure exactly who he is.

The swim meet isn’t the first event the imposter has interrupted, but a little digging turns up a surprising number of people who could be Heath Hall, including Hadley’s ex-boyfriend and her best friend’s crush. She soon finds herself getting caught up in the mysterious world of the fake Heath Hall.

As Hadley gets closer to uncovering the masked boy’s identity, she also discovers some uncomfortable truths about herself—like she might resent the long shadow her late brother has cast over her family, that she isn’t as happy as she pretends to be with her life choices…and that she’s falling for the last guy she ever thought she would like.

Book Review:

The first book that I have read written by Kasie West was On the Fence and I really enjoyed it. After reading that one book, I was hooked and I immediately started to read her other books. But I have to say this is one of my favorites! It had such an interesting concept and I loved reading it. One of my favorite things about this book was that the main character, Hadley, was a swimmer. I am also a swimmer and I have not found many swimming books so I am so glad that I found this one.

I really related to Hadley, she was the type of person to see a problem and find a solution. She was so determined to swim well and to make her parents proud.

Moment of Truth, really lives up to its title. This book made me think and consider life and my fears.

Jackson was the type of person who would get on my nerves at first glance too, but as I read more about him I really started to like him. He was kind and he made Hadley laugh. He made me want to relax and enjoy life.

I loved reading about Jackson and Hadley together. They had great interactions and even though they didn’t always get along they still made the other a better person. Hadley had to learn to let go of the past and let people in. Jackson had to learn how to hope for the future and make commitments. Hadley’s friend Amelia was so much fun, she was a great friend. It was also so cool to see Cooper and Abby again. I love seeing old characters in new books, cameos are amazing! Overall this was a great book and I would definitely recommend it! Like all of Kasie’s books it deals with real problems but still gives you the happiness ever after you are looking for. If you have read any of Kasie’s other books, you definitely need to read Moment of Truth!

(Insta) Boyfriend

About the Book:

{Insta} Boyfriend: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (The Insta Series: RomCom Book 1)

Title: (Insta)Boyfriend
Series: The Insta Series #1
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: January 28th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Dear Universe,
If this man will follow my lead and pretend to be my boyfriend, even for five minutes, I promise to never eat Oreos in the bathtub again…

Iris McCoy has a problem. Her cousin is about to marry her pig headed ex and Iris just happened to mention that she maybe, sort of, for sure… has a boyfriend.

Which she doesn’t.
In any way.
Shape.
Or form.

Dean Cooper Hale has a solution. Sure, Iris may not remember him, but he remembers her and he would love to help out the girl who made the tenth grade survivable. He’ll be her boyfriend—her fake boyfriend, that is. And being a social media influencer, he has all sorts of ideas on how to make this lie one-hundred percent believable.

Only who is Dean trying to convince of their perfect couple standing? Iris’s family? Or Iris herself?

Book Review:

This was so cute! I thought Iris and Dean were adorable together, I loved getting to see them fall deeper and deeper in love. Their romance was adorable, and they were so funny separately and with each other.

I thought Iris was a great character! She didn’t have great self esteem after things ended with her boyfriend, but she was also so quirky and fun. I love how Dean supported her and helped her feel more comfortable in her own skin. She made me laugh constantly, and her awkwardness was so cute.

Dean was the best book boyfriend! The way he took care of Iris was so cute. He loved every little thing about her, and I love how he supported her with her family and in her business. He truly fell hard for her, and while it was fast, I feel like it made sense for their characters. Also it was so cute to see him with Hazel, Iris’ dog. He fit well into the life that Iris had made for herself.

The side characters in this one were so much fun! I cannot wait for Ebony’s book, and Gramgram was so funny. I really enjoyed this clean romance, and I’m excited to read the rest of the books in the series!

I received an ARC.

Book and Ladder

About the Book:

Book and Ladder (The Firemen of Waterford TN 2)

Title: Book and Ladder
Series: The Firemen of Waterford #2
Author: Savannah Scott
Release Date: October 28th, 2025
Genre: Rom-Com

My nemesis is about to ruin my life.

Is Patrick O’Connell gorgeous? Unfortunately, yes. Jet-black hair, smoldering eyes, and those muscles I accidentally saw when my friends dragged me to spy on the fireman calendar photo shoot.

Is Patrick O’Connell also the bane of my existence? Absolutely. He wrecked my dream years ago, and I’ll never forget what he—and his family—took from me.

Now the O’Connells want to dump a big-box store right next to my cozy bookshop. Over my dead body.

Thankfully, I have a distraction: the anonymous podcast host of Burning Through the Pages. His voice is pure comfort—like a warm blanket by a crackling fire. He’s clever, kind, funny. With each late-night message, I want more. So much more that I’m almost tempted to ask him to meet face-to-face.

The future of my bookshop is uncertain—but the fate of my heart feels even more fragile.Book and Ladder is a sweet, closed-door, hidden-identity, enemies-to-lovers romcom—a slow burn with kisses hot enough to need a fire extinguisher. A standalone in The Firemen of Waterford, TN series.

Book Review:

What a fun story! Ms. Scott’s books are always so sweet and fun.. I am really enjoying getting to know the firefighters and greater community of Waterford!

Oh Daisy! She was struggling a bit with her business and was overwhelmed by the O’connells’ building plan. I felt for her as she looked for a way to survive. The anonymous podcast host was a comforting place to find a connection. I will admit, I was frustrated at times with Daisy. She could hold a grudge! Her passion and conviction led her to continue to be wary of Patrick even years later.

Patrick was really sweet! Although he was outwardly confident, he was trying to guard himself just as much as Daisy was. Patrick cared so deeply about his family’s view of him and it really impacted his decisions. He had to learn a new facet of courage for himself and what it would mean for his future.

Daisy and Patrick had to look to the future and what they really wanted from it, rather than focusing on what had happened in the past and the response of people then I loved seeing them connect in a new light throughout the book and realize how they could support each other and make the other better.

Overall, this was a sweet closed-door romance with only kissing. It is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

I received an ARC.

Chess Not Checkers

About the Book:

Chess Not Checkers: a sweet college romance (RomCom University Book 1)

Title: Chess Not Checkers
Series: Rom Com University #1
Author: Annah Conwell
Release Date: November 13th, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

She thinks he’s an arrogant jerk.

All Jasmine Chamberlain wants is to make her family proud. She owes them everything and intends to pay them back by being the best student, cheerleader, and chess player the university has ever seen.

Unfortunately for her, on her first day of chess club, she gets paired with an arrogant, flirty, hotshot quarterback with an affinity for pushing her buttons. Even worse? He’s better than her at chess.

He thinks she’s gorgeous.

Shepherd Kingsley is on a mission to escape his brother’s shadow. At every press conference and on every sports network, Shepherd is being compared to his undefeated brother. Determined to be known for his name and not his brother’s, he decides to beat every record Jason set.

It’s all going according to plan until Jasmine shows up on campus. Shepherd is drawn to her fire immediately, but dating cheerleaders is forbidden, and he can’t risk being benched.

Chess Not Checkers is a rivals-to-lovers college romance with all the sizzle, none of the spice. If you love sports, found family, and academia, you’ll love the first book in the RomCom University series.

Book Review:

I was beyond excited for this book especially because it marks the start of a new series! Chess Not Checkers is the first book in Annah Conwell’s RomCom University series. Jasmine and Shepherd were the perfect ones to start off this new series!

Jasmine and Shepherd were both chasing after their dreams. But the weight of the world weighed heavy on them both. I loved how real they both felt, they were both just trying to figure out life. They had such good chemistry together and were constantly pushing each others’ buttons. Although they both had their past and traumas to work through, I liked how they weren’t toxic.

The romance was so cute. I loved the connection that Jasmine and Shepherd fostered. I liked getting to know them both more, there was so much to both of them. I was cheering for them as they figured out that maybe they were more friends than enemies. It was fun to be in a college setting and meet the new characters. I already know that I am going to love this series.

I loved seeing some old characters, especially the Carter family. I loved this book and I would totally recommend it. Chess not Checkers is a closed door romantic comedy.

I received a complimentary copy

Alice Taylor is More Than a Princess

About the Book:

Alice Taylor Is More Than A Princess: A Closed Door Secret Billionaire RomCom (Another Bailey Brother Book 5)

Title: Alice Taylor is More Than a Princess
Series: Another Bailey Brother #5
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

He’s a man with a secret. She’s honest to a fault—and about to blow his cover.

Alice Taylor is ready to leave her small-town life behind and start fresh. When the opportunity to work for billionaire Billy Baxter—who’s launching a professional soccer team—lands in her lap, she jumps at the chance.

Adventure, a new city, and a career? Yes, please.

Only Alice didn’t plan on Will.

Ridiculously sexy, effortlessly charming, and annoyingly professional, Will is her supervisor—the gatekeeper between Alice and her elusive boss. Trying to keep her focus on the job is hard enough, but resisting Will? Nearly impossible.

Sparks fly, office boundaries blur, and Alice finds herself head over heels in a relationship she’s not allowed to be in. What Alice doesn’t know is that behind Will’s witty smile and irresistible charm is a secret—one he’s guarded for years.

One Alice is about to expose.Alice Taylor Is More Than A Princess is a closed door, laugh out loud romcom. In this book expect off-page death of parents and a neglectful parent. Also expect swoony kisses, moments that will make you giggle, and a lovely happy ending–without any explicit scenes.

Book Review:

I have loved Alice in every single Bailey brothers book, so I was so excited to see that she had gotten her own book. This was so cute! Will is the perfect fit for Alice, and she livens up his life.

Alice’s POV made me laugh so much! In the other books, we don’t really get to see her thought process, and in her mind, everything she’s doing is so logical. It’s funny to see her interactions with other characters as well. I really liked how she was more fleshed out though. She’s no longer a child, but she’s grown into a young woman who’s willing to sacrifice for her family. I really enjoyed seeing her learn how to love her family in a healthy way. In some ways, her own journey mirrored Jude’s which was fun.

Oh my gosh poor Will! He definitely was going through a lot as he navigated his own insecurities and the changes that were happening in his life. He did not expect Alice to upend his world. I loved his kindness though in all of the little and big ways he took care of Alice.

The Bailey brothers are back but they are now grown up with kids of their own. I love time jumps because we get a little sneak peek into the future, and this one was so fun. The more I read about them the more I wanted to reread the whole series. I would definitely recommend this book! It is best read after all of the other books, so you can see the whole Bailey family fall in love.

I received a complimentary copy

The Hope in the Dust

About the Book:

Title: The Hope in the Dust
Series: Fairy Tales Rewoven #2
Author: Nikki Crown
Release Date: September 10th, 2025
Genre: Fairytale Retelling

When a trip to the seaside ends in tragedy, young Jamison flees from the one person meant to protect him. Finding refuge with a crew of forgotten children, he struggles to figure out if their leader is someone to follow or a pirate lord to be feared.

Ten years later, present-day Jamison is a single father trying to give his daughter a better life as the town apothecary. In a town scourged by the red rash, Jamison fights to keep hope alive against the ticking of the clock. Weaving tales and offering healing powders, Jamison inspires the children of Ermenya to believe they might yet outlive the plague that stole his young wife.

The unexpected appearance of a long-lost friend reveals a series of threats tracing back to his fractured past. Jamison would do anything to keep his little Moira safe from them all—but pirates have a way of carrying grudges, and not all mothers are good.

Book Review:

Oh my goodness! What a story! I was so excited for the continuation of the Fairytales Rewoeven series and it was so good. Full disclosure, this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger and probably should not be read without reading the first book.

I really liked Jamison! He was constantly doing what he could to protect and care for people. I admired his dedication to caring for people and how he was willing to sacrifice for them.

The split time of the story was a really interesting way of both seeing the story, but also learning about Jamison and understanding him. His past not only set the stage for his present, but still influenced his choices. It was interesting to see more of his perspective especially in the past. He created a life for himself and his daughter. It was so sweet to see how he cared for her. Jamison was a really sweet character and I loved meeting the other Frogs.

I had so many questions after the first book and I enjoyed seeing the story continue to unfold. I loved the Peter Pan elements and how it was incorporated into the story. The majority of the story was on Jamison’s experience and it was cool to see some of the other characters come in later in the book. I am really excited to see how the stories come together and how all the threads will come together. This fairytale inspired fantasy has some light violence and only a kiss or two.

I received an ARC.

The Wild Card

About the Book:

The Wild Card: A Sweet Small-Town Romantic Comedy (Love Stories in Sheet Cake Sweet Rom Com Series Book 4)

Title: The Pocket Pair
Series: Love Stories in Sheet Cake #4
Author: Emma St. Clair
Release Date: November 6th, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Is twenty-three too old for running away? I sure hope not. Because, right now, that’s my current and only life plan.

Desperate to escape the dome of control my father has dropped over my life, I visit my brother in Texas–with no plans to use my return ticket home.

But after spending every cent of my savings to pay off my student loans, I need a job. Stat. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to ask my brother for help and admit how bad things have gotten at home.

So, when the production company I’m interviewing with in Sheet Cake, Texas wants proof that I’ve got long-term roots here, I invent a fake local boyfriend.

Which would have been fine had they not asked to meet him. Today.

I do what any woman in a desperate situation would do: I grab a man who’s giving off boyfriend vibes and ask to borrow him for an hour.

Too bad I didn’t recognize that man as Collin Graham, who just so happens to be the brother of my brother’s wife. (Confusing, I know–but the important part is that we are NOT related.)

When I finally realize who he is, two things are very clear: he knew it was me the whole time, and this fake boyfriend thing is going to be a lot more complicated now that I actually got the job.

On the plus side, fake dating serves Collin’s purposes as well. We’re both a little lost, both deep in life transition–and apparently both struggling with the fake part of the relationship.

I hadn’t planned on coming to Texas and falling in love, especially not when the name of the game is playing pretend. But would dating Collin for real be such a bad thing?

That depends–on how long it takes the reasons we started faking to begin with finally catch up to us both.

Book Review:

Cooper Bailey Is a Cinnamon Roll

About the Book:

Cooper Bailey Is A Cinnamon Roll: A Closed Door Enemies to Lovers RomCom (Another Bailey Brother Book 4)

Title: Cooper Bailey is a Cinnamon Roll
Series: Another Bailey Brother #4
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: October 11th, 2025
Genre: Romantic Comedy

I’ve hated Cooper Bailey since high school. So why would a few years, a set of swoon-worthy forearms, and one shiny new law degree change anything?

Leah Bradford’s never been a fan of the spotlight—not years ago at her high school prom and definitely not now with the drama her ex-boyfriend is causing. Running her cinnamon roll shop is all she needs, thank you very much.

Cooper Bailey’s had it all—looks, brains, an ideal life. But one career-defining case gone wrong and that favored life is spiraling. He’s back home and determined to do better. He’ll be a helpful son, a dependable brother, and the best uncle ever, all while clawing his way back to a respectful place in his career.

Enter Leah. She’d rather run a marathon in high heels than be in the same room as Cooper Bailey. One problem–she’s broke with an idiot ex who happens to be suing her. Cooper is willing to take payment in sweet rolls–that is if he can convince her to take a chance on him.

Is Cooper still that cocky jock from high school or will he be Leah’s cinnamon roll hero?

Cooper Bailey is a Cinnamon Roll is a laugh out loud, kissing only, enemies to lovers romcom. It’s perfect for anyone who ever had a cute high school nemesis or anyone who secretly wanted one.

Book Review:

I love the Bailey brothers! As the baby of the family, Cooper needed his own book, and this did not disappoint.

I thought Leah was a really fun character! She had built up this fantasy of Cooper that she hated for years, and it was hard to get over that grudge. While I was sometimes frustrated with her because Cooper is such a great guy now, I could understand her perspective. She had been badly hurt, and she wasn’t ready to let go. I thought her fiery personality was a nice complement to Cooper’s confidence.

Cooper was the sweetest! I feel like throughout the series you really get to see him grow. While he is the baby of the family and can be very confident at times, he’s also a sweetheart who would do anything for his family. I loved seeing his interaction with his brothers, and their willingness to let him help them in this series. The way he took care of Leah was adorable! Their interactions were the cutest, and I love how he was always patiently there for her.

As always the Bailey family is the best! Since Cooper is the youngest brother, it’s really fun to get to see everyone interact together. The FMCs from the other books all make at least a cameo, and the love that the family has for each other is adorable. Plus, Alice is awesome! She is so wise in her childlike ways. I love her honesty, and it was so cute that we get to see the rest of her siblings.

I loved this storyline! I couldn’t wait to find out what was next, but I also was smiling the entire time. I would totally recommend this book! While it can be read standalone, I would recommend reading it in order.

I received a complimentary copy