Audiobook Review: The Ex Effect by Dana Hawkins

Title: The Ex Effect

Author: Dana Hawkins
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

Morgan Rose has always been the girl with the plan. Color-coded calendars, backup plans for her backup plans, and a wedding business that’s her entire world. Only one woman ever managed to derail Morgan’s organized life and shatter her heart in the process. But Morgan doesn’t think about Frankie Lee anymore.

Until Morgan meets the photographer hand-picked by her latest clients and discovers that Frankie is not miles away in New York like she thought. She's back in Spring Harbors, looking infuriatingly good, and Morgan's carefully ordered world descends into chaos.

Morgan has just 87 days to pull off the wedding of her career and she’s not going to let Frankie derail this opportunity. She will not be distracted by Frankie’s new haircut or the shadowy dips between her shoulders and biceps. And she won’t care about Frankie’s unfairly salty attitude when she left Morgan.

But some sparks never die, and as the wedding approaches and the tension between Morgan and Frankie grows, can they face up to the mistakes that pulled them apart, or risk it happening all over again?

A perfectly spiced romance about learning that the best love stories are worth fighting for… twice. The next unputdownable read for fans of Ashley Herring Blake, Alexandria Bellefleur and Haley Cass.

Review:

Second-chance romances... step aside! Dana Hawkins has given us a winner.

Morgan is type A and slightly anal retentive, but she gets her job done. When a wedding comes along that has to be ready in 87 days, she panics. She's without a venue, but she has a plan. But first, she has to meet up with the photographer for the wedding, Frankie. But little does she know, Frankie's not who Morgan is assuming; she's her ex.

Frankie, the one who got away, the one who is the barrier to getting the venue for this wedding. The owners of the property give the go ahead to start renovations, but there's one stipulation... Frankie has to be there every step of the way to approve of what's going on. And with Frankie's help, Morgan thinks she's got a chance at pulling this off.

Katie Beudert did an exceptional job narrating this book and I can say I'd love to listen to more books she reads.

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.

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.

Audiobook Reivew: All Fired Up by M.K. England

All Fired Up by M.K. England
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

M.K. England NEVER fails! This book is no exception.

Nic is in love with Skylar - but Skylar is moving to Fiji and everyone seems to be okay with that... everyone except Nic and Kira, who vows to get to the bottom of this hairbrained scheme and stop it before Skylar gets hurt.

But neither Nic nor Kira see it coming when, while working together, they start to have feelings for each other. But, are either of them ready for finding something new when they are still trying to fix the problems that are going to befall Skylar?

The longer their scheming goes on, the more they wonder if it's even worth it.

I loved the characters in this book and fell a little bit for Skylar as well. Oh and maybe some for Kira. :D

The narrators Angel Pean and Kristen DiMercurio did exceptional jobs keeping me engaged and not allowing the story to be drug down.

I'd like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

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Review: Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez

Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unrequited love sucks! So when Anglea decieds that the crush she's had for years isn't going anywhere she enlists Krystal's help to have someone win her first kiss during a scavenger hunt. But when her library job catches wind of the idea... they're not too happy about it. So what can Angela do to salvage the hard work she's been putting into the scavenger hunt? Make it for charity.

Krystal doesn't believe that she's good enough for love. So no matter what feelings she may or may not have are void because she doesn't want to ruin what she has with Angela.

Angela identifies as ACE, which really tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel heard. It's not often that a book will make me feel seen, heard, and understood in ways that I didn't know I needed to feel heard. Kudos to Ms. Gamez for her excellent portrayal of the ACE community.

I really enjoyed Ruby Corazon's narration of this story. Even listening at 1.75% she sounded professional and well rounded all the characters out. Kudos!

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

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Audiobook Review: When Ivy Met Adam by Jennifer J. Coldwater

When Ivy Met Adam by Jennifer J. Coldwater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What do you do when true love leaves? You move on...
What do you do when love knocks again? You let it in...
But is everything as it seems? I guess you'll have to read to find out.

I'm going to struggle here today with this review. Not because I can't find good things to say, but because there is nothing that I can say that can do this book justice.

One of the hazards of reading so many books in a year is that you find you forget what happens in the book in favor of starting your next read, but I can tell that this will not be the case with this book.

While I was still reading this, I noted in my journal the following sentences that sum up how I feel about this book:

"The author is absolutely amazing!! She has touched so firmly on what it is to be bisexual, transgender, and pansexual! The emotion in this book is beyond raw and just has touched every fiber of my being."

"...this book is pure art at its finest. I love it because it allows every nuance of people to be respected and heard."

I'm not sure I can say anything today that will allow me to convey how I feel any more than the words above have. "When Ivy Met Adam" should be on everyone's TBR list. If you don't read this, you're missing out.

I'd like to thank the author profusely for the opportunity to read this book. And thanks also go out to Happily Booked PR.

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