nikkisbooknook's reviews
4946 reviews

 This world was a fantastic draw in.  It's not perfect and it could use some work in places but I loved the story and the MC's.  Time-travel-ish through a portal to an almost medieval-like realm but whose inhabitants are semi-current on Earthisms and technology!  

Mevlida (I'd go by Mev too!) has returned to the scene of her mothers lost time.  She's trying to root out what happened to her mother, who her father may be and what caused her mum's memory blackout.  Along for the ride is her bestie and fellow history lover, Clara.  They make a huge discovery but before Mev can think about what she's doing she finds herself sucked through a portal!

Ah Kael.  He's the playboy bad boy of Elydor.  He's had centuries under the authority of his father and he now sees the error of his ways.  Now if he can just smuggle this human refugee to safety, he thinks he'' be making a dent in the karma overhaul he needs to undertake!

These two are slow-burn, intense enemies to lovers.  The MC's and the secondary characters are relatable and friendly.  The banter is witty and paced well.  And shock horror - these characters actually have to go to the loo!  I hate it when characters never need to go to the loo, brush their teeth, etc.

There is spice but it's infrequent and not over the top. It was a tad cheesy in places and could be more telling than showing but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have added book 2 to the TBR!

PS I may be not so subtly hoping for a MM romance between Adren and Rowan, just saying! 

 Another fun and mysterious outing with Charley and the gang from Crimson, Ga.  This time around it appears Beau is in a bit of a ...metamorphosis and someone is out to get Charley!

Poor Charley thought she finally knew all the secrets and lies her mum and friends were keeping from her but they just kept multiplying.  I really enjoy meeting the gang, they have banter like a family and aren't afraid to dish out some tough love.  And Beau, good grief that man needs to lay off the Saturday Night Fever re-runs, lol.

The laughs are as plentiful and I really enjoyed trying to unmask the bad guy.  The bond between Samuel and Charley continues to strengthen.

The smexy times may be off page/fade to black but they are still having an "adult" relationship and this is inferred and referred to. 

Callum has more than a bit of a grump on his shoulder.  The former military man may have lost part of his sight but his business is growing and he's getting frustrated with clients.  Then in breezes Parker.  She has some secrets of her own to hide, and fresh from ditching her bodyguard, she's ready to spread her wings and try to live independently.

Quinn, Alex and Finn are great bosses in my opinion and they realise the worth of Parker as their office manager.  Callum's trauma and PTSF is relieved by being in the outdoors and his grumpiness lowers fractionally. The beautiful Scottish countryside is depicted so well (and I should know being a born and bred Scot!)

These two are the perfect depiction of Grumpy-Sunshine and while at first glance they may appear as opposites, they are actually more similar than disparate. I really enjoyed the suspense element in the story and it just show that once a protector, always a protector.

A fitting conclusion to a well-loved story.  A family dealing with grief, in a myriad of ways but each managing to find solace and happiness eventually.

Parker needed to give into the grief, accept it and not run from it.  Anya was the perfect foil for him as she wasn't scared to face those hard feelings with him.  Even when the relationship is "fake", the friendship and empathy is real. Parker is complex, flawed and stewed in guilt and grief. Anya was empathetic, loving and a ray of sunshine. Each was a major supportive force to the other.

 Michael and Fallon were on the cusp of having everything they wanted.  Then Michael threw it all away, worse he let the entire town believe that Fallon was the one who ruined the wedding. He went off to be a Ranger and she became a tech entrepreneur but fate has decided these two have unresolved business!  Fallon has returned to town to take care of her ailing parents but will she stay long when the entire town treats her like a pariah and her own parents are less than warm?

I love a second chance romance and I like them even more when the MMC has to grovel - majorly. Michael has always been the town golden boy and he let them think Fallon was the girl who broke his heart.  Thankfully the Avery girls have always been on Fallon's side and they are still prepared to help her hide a body if need be!  Thankfully Michael is well aware of what a major d*ck he was and is willing to put in all the work needed to get back into Fallon's heart.

These books are slower paced than the author's SEAL series and you get to absorb all the feelings, the angst and the banter that much more.  I love small town romances - but only those that make everyone feel welcome and included - Jasper Creek is definitely one of those.  There are some cameos from recurring characters and once again Little Mama just about steals the show!

There are some strong themes covered in the book and some may be triggering: Adoption, murder of a parent, incarceration of a parent, revenge, assumed cheating. 

An injured athlete, a pregnant sommelier, a ting dog with a BIG personality and a workplace romance that's destined to get them both into hot water!

Ziggy never intended to get pregnant but things happen and she wants this little bean.  She just has to find a job that's pregnancy friendly and somewhere to crash whilst she finds a house she likes enough to buy.  Holt is ready to take to the spotlight in European Rugby circles.  After the loss of his brother, he needs a fresh start.  However, he feels guilty when he inadvertently gets Ziggy fired and offers her a job dog and house sitting.  But an injury forces him back to Copper Valley early and now he and Ziggy have to navigate a new close-quarters friendship.

Holt and Ziggy are #relationshipgoals.  He's the kind, affable, respectful guy every girl dreams of but he's also intense and passionate in bed.  He feels he always needs to look after everyone else and hates asking for help for himself.  Ziggy is smart, sassy, independent and never wants people to think she freeloads from her step-father.  She also hates taking handouts but she'll do anything to avoid #NakedTuesdays!

Copper Valley is the home of some of my favourite characters and even as a zero-sporty person, I love the sports romance set here.  The mascots and pets are always scene stealers and they just seem to grow a next level of awesome MC. The Pounders show awesome loyalty to their captain in face of everything and the bromance is strong with this lot.  They really take Ziggy, Miranda and Jessica under their wings and they'll protect them with everything they have.

This is slower burn romance but there are some major flames and chemistry along the way.  It just goes to show that nice guys always DO finish last hehehehhe!

Another fabulous new-to-me author with a kickass fantasy romance!

Wren and has never denied the attraction to Torj...to herself at least.  But to everyone else they're prickly allies at best.  But Wren feels incapable of letting down her defences to let anyone in and refuses to be anything other thana ONS.  That will never be enough for Torj and they part ways after the war is won.

A few years later and Wren has finally been given the one thing she wanted, admittance to the Alchemical College of her dreams.  One slight fly in the ointment, Torj is now her bodyguard!  Can Torj keep his never diminished attraction to wren on the back burner whilst he protects her?  Can Wren rid herself of the ghosts of her past to allow love to enger her heart?

Warswords, Alchemists, secret royal heirs, a gut wrenching trial to claim status as an adept - Wren is going to have to put all her knowledge and bravery on the line.  The small group of friends she has made at the college become a new family to Wren and I couldn't help but enjoy the way they test and annoy each other but still have each others backs.  The camaraderie between the Warswords is also very bromancy and Kipp and Cal are a hoot (even though they nearly come to blows a time or two!)

Wren is a really great FMC.  She is smart, loyal - sometimes to her own disadvantage, and passionate. She may not be as much of a physical soldier as the warswords but she is deadly with her potions and new that she has some delf-defence under belt she'll be fearless! Torj is the epitome of a fantasy MMC, tall, grumpy, protective and very THAD! My heart did break for Wren and Torj during the gauntlet - that was a torment I'd never survive.

I did enjoy the ending, leading us nicely to the steps of book 2 but I did want to scream a little that Torj and Wren only had that fleeting moment of peace and then they were torn apart once again.

 I love meeting new authors and watching them grow!  I "met" the author at a RARE convention and started to stalk her one I realised she was a newbie writer.  Then she bravely asked for people to read her book baby I leapt at the chance.  Charlotte and Aiden will make you laugh, cry, groan and swear at them!

Charlotte wants to be a go-getter lawyer, but is that her goal or her late mothers?  She has anxiety that can lead to a crisis of confidence and she tries to evade rather than confront the office sleaze.

Aiden meets the lovely Charlotte when he is fresh out of a relationship. It ended in adultery, recriminations and a refusal to believe that it was over.  His grump has been turned up to 11 but even he agrees that he was a complete ass to Charlotte at their first meeting. However, our neighbours find themselves in a predicament and need to work together to pretend to be in a relationship to get them out of a jam.  But can these opposites really gel?  Will Aiden insert his foot into his mouth one too many times?

Charlotte and Aiden are the cutest couple ever!  Charlotte is smart but a tad anxious and her self-esteem is occasionally in the dungeon!  Aiden loves his company but it has taken over his life since the break up and he knows his friends mean well but he just wants them to back off!  But we all know a fake anything isn't going to stay fake and these two!  OML these two make a contract to ensure that everything stays...uncomplicated.

I see so much of myself in Charlotte.  She may be younger, taller and thinner than me but the anxiety, social awkwardness and non-confrontational attitude is all me.  I really loved watching her come into her own and really start to show those inner strengths and the big Christmas Showdown with sleazebag was amazing!  I'm so proud of her!  Aiden slowly comes out of his fug and I loved seeing the relationship he had with his parents, but the one with his sister was so strong.  I loved the way they bantered and nit-picked at each other but were still each other's biggest supporters.

The spice was intense and really well crafted.  It was "real-feel", it didn't go over the top and was in keeping with the characters too.  It didn't take over the plot of the book and just enhanced the already burgeoning relationship between Aiden and Charlotte.

I really enjoyed meeting the secondary characters too and I have an eye on a few of them to become leads in their own books!  Claire especially really has a story to tell, I'm sure of it!

Fantastic debut novel and thoroughly enjoyed my visit. 

Gabi only left the island to go to University but her plan was always to return.  Now working at the clinic she has to batten down the hatches when a hurricane is predicted.

Daniel was serving in the Coastguard when he and Gabi were together but his career was taking him away from her and he chose to leave her! He quickly realised just what he had given up and wants to get Gabi back in his life.  Helping to organise for the impending Hurricane will make them spend time together.  He also hopes it will get Gabi's attitude to thaw a little!

Daniel, Daniel, Daniel - you continue to put your huge foot in your even bigger mouth!  Communication is the key to success, you dolt!  I mean he finally gets a clue but good grief, I was tearing my hair out with him.  This is a shorter length novella so you don't get the depth of story as you would get in a full length book but I thought it was well formed and well paced.

I'm delighted that we finally resolved the will-they-won't-they between these two but now to wait for the next book!