Audiobook Review: The Double Play by Annah Conwell

The Double Play by Annah Conwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hazel has the chance to work for another sports figure, but does she want to work for Emmett, a single dad, when all she's been used to is two parent families? Her former employer highly recommended Emmett, so she decided to give him a chance. But when she met June, his beautiful daughter, she was smitten and knew she had to have the job.

Little did she know that she'd fall head over heels for this grumpy baseball player. But fall she did, and hard. And not only for him, but for June as well.

Annah Conwell has provided us with an exceptional grumpy/sunshine, nanny, sports romance, rom-com. How she fit so much in such a little space is beyond me.

I loved the dynamic between Emmett and Hazel, and Hazel and June. And I want to go back and live in this world with them as my besties forever.

Tim Paige and Charlotte North did a wonderful job narrating this book and I would certainly give any book they were reading a chance.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

View all my reviews

Audiobook Review: The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation by Karen Grey

Title: The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation

Author: Karen Grey
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

He’s the big-city corporate VP slashing costs. She’s the sunny, small-town toddler-whisperer in his crosshairs. It should be easier for them to keep their hands off each other.

The new guy in town may be a hot single dad–we’re talking total, mouthwatering eye candy here–but that isn’t stopping him from shuttering my favorite program here at Climax Parks & Rec.

Nor does it stop me from being blinded by lust and tripping over my own feet every time I see him, even though we’re completely wrong for each other.

He’s all business; my job is to play.
He’s moved upstate from Manhattan; I’ve returned to my small town roots.
He’s overwhelmed by his two adorable kids; doctors told me I’ll never be a mother.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s his job to “re-org” (aka ruin) everything I love about my job?

Despite all this, he’s got me dreaming of something I told myself I’d given up on: a family of my own.

Warning! Do not read this book unless you love:

• ❤️Uptight heroes who are silly with their kids
• ❤️Sunshiny, Cinderelly heroines
• ❤️Nosy, interfering, small-town bureaucrats
• ❤️Possibly magical clock towers
• ❤️Parks and Recreation and Schitt’s Creek vibes

To the reader: my romance novels are all lighthearted and humorous and the main two characters are guaranteed to find a happy ending. However, they may run into a few obstacles along the way as well as need healing from incidents in their former lives. If you’d like content guidance regarding sex/nudity, death, mental health and/or reproductive health challenges, you can find them in detail at karengrey.com/contentguidance

Review:

Karen Grey is at it again. She's delivered a laugh out loud book with feels for miles.

Avery is fighting to save her mother's program at the Parks and Rec department. But when Josh comes in she's not sure if she should hate him, or jump him. It's not until she meets the real him (the one with kids and a life) instead of the work him that she realizes that she's craving for more, with him.

This book had me laughing, crying, and longing for more. When they are forced to go to a work retreat together and have to share one bed... (love that trope) that they both realize that this could be more.

Grayson Owens and Carly Robins did a good job narrating this audiobook.

I'd like to thank Karen Grey and BookFunnel for the opportunity to listen to this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Fighting by Jordana Blake

Title: Fighting

Author: Jordana Blake
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

She’s fighting her attraction. He’s fighting an old reputation.

Nessa Rabin always puts herself last on the list. She’s responsible. An Ivy League graduate. A successful sex therapist. But after her breakup with a man she calls ‘Satan’s Bikini Waxer’, the only relationships she wants to fix are her clients’. Pushed to unwind during their friend’s wedding, she doesn’t expect to fall into bed with the bride’s brother—a man she’s had claws out for since high school.

Mateo Santos-Manolo is always up for a good time. But the party stops when one nepo-baby costs him his job. Instead of sulking, this former playboy heads home to spend a few months in Peacock Springs. Determined to forget his big-city woes, Mateo’s looking to start his own firm—and reunite with the one-night stand that he can’t forget.

When they find themselves co-chairs of the upcoming Sunflower Fest, a little white lie pushes Nessa and Mateo to play the part of happy couple—or risk the gentrification of their beloved hometown. Soon, it’s clear they are a force to be reckoned with… so long as they can survive each other.

Fighting includes a M/F, antagonists-to-lovers, small-town romance full of quirky townies, found family, spice, and a guaranteed HEA. It is the second book in a series of interconnected romantic traum-com stories, exploring human stress response behavior. Set in Peacock Springs, NJ, they highlight healing through laughter and love.

Review:

Nessa is a sex therapist, so men seem to throw her into the roll of, "You have to know what you're talking about, so let's do it!" But the only person who takes the time to 'see' her is Mateo.

When they hooked up randomly, Nessa thought it was the end, but Mateo knew things would never be the same. But is he prepared for the baggage that Nessa carries around? Only time will tell.

I fell in love with Nessa's character and her framily so much. They are great at what they do, and that's being there for each other. But does Nessa have room for one more in her corner of the world, or is what she have enough?

If you are interested in a best friend's older brother, Fake Dating, Dislike-to-Love, Small Town Romantic Traum-Com, then this is for you. Jordana Blake is a master at the mental health rep and I thank her for seeing us. You are appreciated, Ms. Blake, you are appreciated.

I'd like to thank the author and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to review this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: Finding Mr. July by Anna E. Collins

Title: Finding Mr. July

Author: Anna E. Collins
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
She’s ready to do whatever it takes to get the job of her dreams, even if it means working with a pile of adorably unruly pups--and the office grump-- in this charming contemporary rom-com perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Sarah Adams.

Intern Holly King knows there are pros and cons to everything, including competing in her nonprofit’s big fundraising competition.
 
The Pros:

• Winning means a full-time job at the new office in Scotland
• Scotland is thousands of miles away from her toxic ex-boyfriend
• Her pitch includes PUPPIES! Lots of ‘em!

     The only con? Working with Jonathan Summers. But if Holly wants her calendar of hot, outdoorsy guys and their dogs to win against everyone else’s fundraising ideas, she’ll need Jonathan’s undeniable talent as a photographer…even if he is the office grump.

     When their collaboration accidentally gets off to a steamy start, Holly vows she won’t be distracted again. But as they scramble to shoot a year’s worth of hunks and pups in just a couple of weeks, the spark between Holly and Jonathan can’t be ignored.

     With Holly’s career dreams finally coming into focus, whatever’s developing with Jonathan makes her wonder—could she be missing the bigger picture?

Review:

Sunshine - Holly (check)
Grump - Jonathan (check)
Rom-Com (check)
Workplace Romance (check)
Animal - dogs (check)
Narration - Lauren Ezzo (check and check)

I loved this book and the vibes that Holly and Jonathan gave out. But no matter how good things got, there had to be a 3rd act break-up (which made me want to slap someone for not getting all the information first) and it resolved itself well. I didn't think that this person would pull their heads out of their... well, you know... long enough for there to be a HEA, but... it happened and I'll say, it was worth the wait.

This is the first (and not the last for sure) of the books I've read by Ms. Collins. I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to listen to the wonderful voice of Lauren Ezzo by NetGalley and the publisher.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday

Title: Manic Pixie Dream Earl

Author: Jenny Holiday 
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
An annual earls’ trip should provide an escape from a gentleman’s cares, but in this refreshingly modern Regency-era series, three handsome BFFs find that wherever they go, romantic complications follow . . .

When not writing, poet Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, spends his time fending off the young ladies of the
ton—and some of its young men—and avoiding his cruel father. As heir to the earldom, Edward knows he must marry someday. Alas, he is already hopelessly in love with someone. Hopeless because not only is Miss Julianna Evans not a member of the aristocracy, she is employed. She is a magazine editor—the only one to publish his work. Also, in all their years of increasingly personal correspondence, they’ve never met.

Also, she thinks he’s a woman. Named Euphemia.

Julianna is baffled. How can her soul mate not want to meet? Could it be that Euphemia is not the simple country girl she claims to be? Perhaps she’s wealthy. After all, she’s never cashed any of the bank drafts Julianna has sent. Perhaps Euphemia simply doesn’t want rank to come between them. Well, no more. Having extracted the details of a trip Euphemia is planning, Julianna squanders her meager savings and surprises her at the scene.

He is very, very surprised. As is she.

Now the two will have to decide what is true, what is not, and whether the truest thing of all—love—just might be worth an earldom . . .

Review:

While I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, I found the book Manic Pixie Dream Earl (still trying to figure out what the title has to do with anything) to be quite humorous in places, endearing in others, and full of enough spice to keep me reading.

I liked Edward's character with Julianna's character so much. But I found that their meeting would have been a little on the unbelievable side. Would they have known each other the second that they met without even opening their mouths? Hmmm.... I guess in this book they do, but I don't think I could have seen that happening in real life.

I loved the author's writing style, and the period language in their letter writing (I'm a pen pal, so anything with letter writing is awesome to me).

Harry Frost did an excellent job narrating the book, and I'd love to have him read to me again in the future. What do you mean he wasn't reading just to me? I beg to differ.

I'd love to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Happy Ever Afterlife by Melissa Whitney

Title: Happy Ever Afterlife

Author: Melissa Whitney
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
She doesn’t believe in ghosts—or love. He’s out to prove her wrong on both counts.
Nora Scott has no patience for the paranormal—or relationships. As a no-nonsense field producer for the Destination Network’s hit ghost-hunting show, she’s only sticking around long enough to climb the ladder to her real dream: producing a top-tier travel series. But when her latest assignment involves the notoriously haunted Putman House, things take an unexpected turn.
August Chandler has spent his life chasing spirits and spotlighting the supernatural. As the heartthrob host of Haunted Hideaway, he’s got fame, fans, and a relentless passion for uncovering the truth. Turns out the skeptic behind the camera, Nora, is the only thing he wants more than proof of the afterlife.
When Putman House reveals its tragic secret—a ghostly couple locked in a century-old feud—Nora and August trade ghost-hunting for matchmaking. But as sparks fly in the eerie halls of the inn, Nora starts to accept that love isn’t such a scary story after all.
Can a skeptic and a believer find their own happy ending? Or will the ghosts of their pasts haunt their future?
Happy Ever Afterlife is perfect for fans of opposites-attract romances, black cat-golden retriever dynamics, and the paranormal with a side of sizzling chemistry!

Review:

Everyone calls him Gus, but not Nora. She calls him by his given name, and he likes it. When he first met her in the elevator before her interview for his show, he was smitten. But the longer he knows her, the more he falls for her. When she tells him, there's no such things as ghosts (the thing that the show follows and searches for) he finds it endearing and vows to prove her wrong.

Nora was sure the smug guy from the elevator was vying for her potential position, but lo and behold he's not a candidate for hire, he's one of the Chandler brothers and her potential boss. And the longer she is around him, the more she falls for him. Did he just tell him there's no such things as ghosts? As long as she can prove him wrong she gets a free drink drink out of the bargain.

This adorable rom com shows what true talent and imagination can do for a book. Melissa Whitney is a master when it comes to witty banter and a steamy scene. (Wait until you see what happens with Derrick! Mwah ha ha! Not so button up now, are you?)

I'd like to thank the author, and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller

Title: One of the Boys

Author: Victoria Zeller
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Grace Woodhouse has left a lot behind. She used to have a great friend group, an amazing girlfriend, and a right foot set to earn her a Division I football scholarship—before she came out as trans. As senior year begins, Grace is struggling to find her place in early transition, new social circles, and a life without football. But when her skills as the best kicker in the state prove to be vital, her old teammates beg her to come out of retirement, dragging her back into a sport—into a way of life—she thought had turned its back on her forever. When a chance meeting cracks the door to college football back open, she has to decide how much of herself she's willing to give up for the game she loves.

Review:

Grace was not always Grace, to the outside world. But inside she always was. When she transistioned she decided that she was going to leave all the "boy" things behind and focus on who she is on the inside. But what she failed to realize is that she was a football player down to her very soul.

One of the Boys has got to be one of the most moving YA books I've read this year. Ms. Zeller brought to life the struggles that a young trans woman would need to deal with if she were a football player in today's world. The struggles that Grace goes through are real, raw, and well brought to page.

Jen Richards did an exceptional job reading this book and putting feeling behind the amazing words that Ms. Zeller put to page.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.