Book Review: Pickleballers

By Allyson Bales

Meg Bloomberg is in a pickle. When Meg’s ex turns out to be a total player, she and her bestie take off for a mood-lifting pickleball excursion to Bainbridge Island. It’s supposed to be an easy lob, a way to heal, not the opening serve to a new courtside romance that’s doomed to spin out.

No matter how Meg tries, she can’t shake her feelings for Ethan Fine. A charismatic environmental consultant and Bainbridge local, Ethan seems like the real dill. But when Meg discovers that Ethan is sabotaging her home court, she decides the match is over.

It’s time for Meg to take control of her own game. And maybe, just maybe…love will bounce back. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I haven’t gotten to play pickleball yet but after reading this story I COMPLETELY understand what all the fuss has been about! 

"Life's like pickleball," he said. "You gotta release the bad patterns and habits that are dragging you down before you can make any progress.”

This is a very sweet, enemies-to-lovers rom-com filled with punny pickleball jokes and facts, and a leading lady that you are really going to adore! 

As an art therapist, I was immediately drawn to Meg. When you meet her she’s getting dumped and smelling these cat collars but has a huge passion for painting that she’s let fall to the wayside. She’s also kind of shy and tagging along on her journey of self-discovery after divorce was really fun.  She gets into some pretty tricky situations that will sometimes make you blush and other times make you LOL. (I laughed out loud when she had a seatbelt malfunction.) The way she uses pickleball as an outlet was an entertaining storyline. You get to meet a sometimes fun, sometimes nurturing and supportive, and sometimes sassy cast of characters that really brings this story to life. 

I also enjoyed the setting of this book so much. Seattle is always a place I love to visit and Bainbridge Island is now on my bucket list. Long really makes you feel like you are there, and I loved that so much. 

The themes of hard things not defining us and taking charge of your own life really made this story for me. I found Pickleballers to be the perfectly lighthearted and thoughtful read I needed! 

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Hayleigh Sol is spicing up our autumn...plus a book giveaway

Today we are excited to introduce Hayleigh Sol! We featured the first book from her Season's Detour series a few months ago and now she is here to talk about the second book, Fall For You. She has two ebooks and a print copy to share with some lucky readers!

Hayleigh Sol’s first and most enduring love is reading. As an only child, books were her favorite form of entertainment and her earliest memories include laughing and crying over Charlotte’s Web.

Originally from Southern California, Hayleigh now lives in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. She is currently a working physician who writes whenever opportunity and inspiration strike. When not treating patients or writing, Hayleigh can be found reading (of course) or running/biking/swimming/strength training with her husband in a friendly rivalry they’ve enjoyed since their second date hike.

She loves strong female protagonists, animals and vanilla chai tea.

Visit Hayleigh online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

A fall wedding and the maid of honor determined to save the bride from making the biggest mistake of her life.

If the sexy-as-sin best man would quit being such a tempting distraction.

When it comes to marriage, my motto has always been, just say no. And for good reason. Plenty of them, in fact.

So how the hell did I wind up as the bride’s style consultant—and maid of honor, by the way—in Silicon Valley's biggest wedding of the season?

Underneath my Grumpy Gus mask, I’m just a sucker for a friend in need. But it doesn’t mean I’m going soft. I’m definitely not about to fall for the best man’s tousled, beachy hotness...or those ocean-blue eyes that look right past my prickly exterior to my marshmallow center.

With the bride refusing to see the signs of the groom’s all too familiar shady behavior, it’s up to me to save my friend from making the same mistake I nearly did. Even if it takes some of my trademark tough love.

That means a hard pass on sexy times with the best man. Right? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

If you could tell the debut novelist version of yourself one thing, what would it be?
It's advice I've read many times from other authors myself, but: write every day, even if it's just the "nifty 350" (350 words, which only takes 15-20 minutes) because it keeps the story and characters fresh in your mind. Admittedly, I don't always follow this advice, but it is so much harder getting back into the flow when I take several days off. 

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
Funny enough, it was a review for this book, Fall For You. When I wrote it, and even now, the grumpy-sunshine trope was/is wildly popular. But it seems that it's always the male lead who's grumpy. And I thought, jeez, we women have plenty of reasons to be cantankerous or untrusting, yet showing that side usually labels us as bitchy man-haters. I relished the challenge of writing a reverse-grump story and giving Bailey legitimate reasons for her view of the world, making her someone readers could identify with and love, despite her prickly bits. Reading this review from a reader who connected with a character (and story) like this was the ultimate compliment:  "I really felt close to Bailey. This book hit so many of my emotions because our lives are similar. I loved how Garrett loved her anyway. Really good book!"

If Fall For You was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Oof, that's a toughie, since I usually close my eyes and picture every character from scratch, building out their personalities, physical traits, gestures, habits, etc. as I write and revise. If I must, I'm going to say Carey Mulligan for Bailey, especially after seeing her incredibly complex character in Promising Young Woman. I'd go with Chris Evans for Garrett, mostly for what I perceive as his laid-back, "beachy" vibe and easy smile, which may hide his real depth.

What is your favorite season?
Summer! I'm a shorts-and-flip-flops gal from way back. 

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? (Like how John McEnroe narrated Devi's life on Never Have I Ever.)
I loved McEnroe as the narrator for Devi. Who thought that up?? I'd aim high and go for Emma Thompson. So talented, and with that fantastic dry wit, she'd strike the right tone of always being able to laugh at yourself.  

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
Bass Lake, California - the setting for the first book in this series, and a place that speaks to the young and not-so young versions of me. I'd also like to take us to Pitlochry, Scotland, the setting for the last book in the series, Spring Breaking. I haven't actually visited that particular part of Scotland, but feel like it's now in my blood from all the research. Plus, Highland hairy coos! 

Thanks to Hayleigh for chatting with us and for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends November 17th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Wives

 

By Sara Steven

When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is made. Rich, handsome and charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband. Even if she won’t make the perfect wife…

She is thrilled when Daniel suggests an all-expenses paid cruise for Natasha, her friends, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle, and their husbands. What better way to show everyone that Natasha has finally made it?

But as the ship sets sail, she learns that far from being the perfect husband, Daniel has terrible secrets that are about to be revealed. And each of the wives has their own reasons for wanting him dead.

This trip might cost more than any of them ever imagined… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

At first, the assumption is that no one is a big fan of Natasha’s husband, Daniel. And given Daniel’s personality, and the fact that Natasha has seemingly changed a lot of her prior goals and interests, her wants in life in exchange for what Daniel expects from Natasha, it isn’t a surprise that her friends feel that way. But as the chapters unfold and we’re given an inside look into various characters and their perspectives, it goes a lot deeper than Natasha. Much, much deeper.

No one is innocent, and each and every character has their own hidden secret, somehow tied to Daniel. The majority of the secrets were totally unexpected, too. It was interesting to see how everyone handles their own attempts at keeping things at bay or private, despite the growing unease that everyone feels. And no one trusts one another. For Natasha, that is the biggest surprise of all–how the close-knit group of people that she has come to call her closest friends, are the ones she trusts the least. 

Everything boils until it hits a fevered frenzy, and when the plot capsizes and everyone gets what they thought they ultimately wanted, the big question is, did they really? 

The Wives was a really neat suspenseful thriller, because the reader doesn’t really know what’s coming or who to point the finger at, or if there are multiple culprits in the midst. My one tiny, tiny gripe pertains to Daniel–I feel like I wasn’t completely satisfied with his arc and it seemed a little too neat and tidy, but ultimately it was nice to see it all come to fruition for both him and the women. The Wives is a great reminder that you never really know what’s going on behind closed doors, with the facade taking center stage for everyone involved within this story.

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links: 
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

Valerie Keogh is the best-selling author of The Nurse. She lives in Wiltshire with her husband and a huge black cat, Fatty Arbuckle. She grew up reading Agatha Christie and initially wrote crime novels - she now writes psychological thrillers.

The Little Lies was shortlisted for the Crime Fiction Lovers Award 2021.

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Book Review: The Temporary Roomie

By Melissa Smoot

No one said fair trade needed to be “fair.”

As the owner of Honeysuckle Salon, Jessie Barnes usually has everything managed and on track, but now in her third trimester of an unexpected pregnancy, she feels a bit lost and increasingly desperate after faulty plumbing floods her apartment. Unfortunately, her knight in shining armor is actually Dr. Drew Marshall, her best friend’s brother, and he’s also the man she chewed out not too long ago for being a chauvinistic dirtbag.

Every moment Drew’s had to prove her wrong since then has failed, so Jessie’s opinion of him hasn’t improved. That remains the case when he agrees to let her stay with him during renovations, under one condition: She pretends to be his girlfriend for upcoming work festivities. For the sake of her brother, Jessie is willing to make the tough situation work, and giving Drew a taste of his own medicine sounds . . . intriguing.

But when their rivalry sparks a deeper connection, Jessie’s future becomes even more unclear—and with a baby on the way, she’ll have to make a decision soon. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I have read several of Sarah Adams’ books now, and I have loved them all. This one really grabbed me and resounded with me, for some reason. I found myself getting pretty emotional when I was about three quarters of the way through it. I don’t know if it was the storyline or if it was the actual content, but it was fantastic. 

The tension between the two main characters, Jessie and Drew, was written so well and you could feel the frustration emanating off of them both throughout the story. I also love how Adams constantly makes me laugh out loud while reading her books. This one was a little different than the previous books I have read by the author, but not in a bad way at all. 

I was expecting to not relate to it as much, but I was so wrong. This is a fabulous read, and I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a good laugh, and maybe even a good cry. It was a sweet story, and the characters really grew and came to life.

Thanks to Random House for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase The Temporary Roomie here.

More by Sarah Adams:
The Off-Limits Rule (reviewed here)
The Cheat Sheet
The Enemy

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Light It Up

Now that Halloween is over, we can focus even more on the upcoming winter holidays. Today we have Evie Blum's Hanukkah romance, Light It Up. It sounds like a great way to warm up the winter months and is already receiving some great reviews. Evie has one copy to share with a lucky reader!

Some old flames just can’t be extinguished.

Gabby Feinman—artist, software engineer, overachiever extraordinaire—has studied hard, worked harder, and played just enough so she’ll have no regrets when she finds and marries her Nice Jewish Boy. The profile? Smart, sexy, and lovable, the standard first set by her brother’s best friend and her teenage crush, Ben Adler.

Ben has always been just out of Gabby’s reach—spinning into her orbit, lighting up her heart, then spinning right back out again. Despite the time and distance, Ben’s long-held attraction to Gabby hasn’t faded over the years. Unfortunately, his chosen path—a PhD in biology and proving himself to his father—means a relationship with Gabby just isn’t meant to be, especially since he doesn’t believe in the staying power of love.

But one steamy New York summer, years of attraction ignite. When Ben is forced to make a life-changing decision, though, they discover that love is a fire that can burn you like no other, and sometimes, you have to lose everything to understand what you just can’t live without. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Evie Blum grew up on the beautiful Florida Gulf Coast, and after finishing her bachelor’s degree, she decided to explore the world and move to Israel, where she lived for almost a decade. While there, she earned a master’s degree in political science, worked in academia, founded her own translation and editing business, and married a pretty awesome guy. 

Their path led them to the San Francisco Bay Area, and Evie found her way into the world of high-tech. She has helped found and grow a hardware startup, been part of a successful software startup exit, and participated in an IPO.

After reading approximately a million romance novels during the COVID-19 pandemic, she tried her hand at writing contemporary romance. She published the first novel of her Startup Love series, Ship It, in 2022 and followed it up with a sequel, Pitch It, in 2023.  

Pivoting a bit with Light It Up, she set out to write a fun and endearing Jewish romance novel that expressed the beauty and meaningfulness of the Jewish experience with the hope that both Jewish and non-Jewish readers could connect to and enjoy it. 

Evie’s a friendly, always-supporting-bookish-endeavors kind of gal, so make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok or visit her website.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends November 12th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Lost and Lassoed

 

By Allyson Bales

Teddy Andersen doesn’t have a plan. She’s never needed one before. She’s always been more of a go-with-the-flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn’t seem to be going her way this time.

Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it’s starting to change. Teddy is used to being a leader, but now she feels like she’s getting left behind, wondering if life in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore.

Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn’t know what’s harder: taking care of his family’s 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he has to admit that he can’t manage everything on his own. He needs help.

His little sister’s best friend, the woman he can’t stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy’s the only option he’s got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he’ll never find what he needs.

Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether they should act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Oh to be back in Rebel Blue again with this wonderful cast of characters!

Lost and Lassoed is the third book in the Blue Ranch Series and if you haven’t read the other two I highly, highly suggest you stop reading this review and go read them IMMEDIATELY!

Lyla was right.  The minute I met Teddy and Gus I wanted to read their story and boy did she deliver!  This is my favorite book of the series so far!

This cowboy romance is filled with an angsty yet tenderhearted enemies to lovers story set in a small town with spiky and funny banter with family dynamics that are going to melt your heart.  Also the spice is perfection!   Gus may be my favorite leading man.  He is a hard working cowboy who carries the weight of the needs of those he loves on his shoulders.  He and Teddy do not get along and I really, really loved her too.  Teddy is also always worrying and taking care of those she loves and is so spunky!  I love all the character development we get with these two and really, really love Teddy’s artist heart.  She has so many crafty ideas that I want to steal!  It was so fun to be along for their journey.  I love what they bring out in one another and the way they care for each other.

I love a good character return and you get to see how so many of the characters from previous books are doing!  I also really loved the exploration of the father daughter dynamic.  Lyla talks about how this transformed in the Author’s Note at the end and I really enjoyed finding that out.

I did not see that ending coming and I hope we get to return to Rebel Blue!  

Also, I did an immersive read with this one and if you can, I highly HIGHLY suggest the audio! The way Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor bring this story to life is something else.   

Thanks to Random House for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Lyla Sage:
Done and Dusted
Swift and Saddled (reviewed here)
Wild and Wrangled

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Book Review: Pony Confidential

By Allyson Bales

In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humor, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit.

Pony has been passed from owner to owner for longer than he can remember. Fed up, he busts out and goes on a cross-country mission to reunite with Penny, the little girl who he was separated from and hasn’t seen in years.

Penny, now an adult, is living an ordinary life when she gets a knock on her door and finds herself in handcuffs, accused of murder and whisked back to the place she grew up. Her only comfort when the past comes back to haunt her is the memory of her precious, rebellious pony.

Hearing of Penny’s fate, Pony knows that Penny is no murderer. So, as smart and devious as he is cute, the pony must use his hard-won knowledge of human weakness and cruelty to try to clear Penny’s name and find the real killer. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

What a unique story.   I work at a mental health facility where we have equine therapy.   We have two horses, two goats, and two donkeys and they participate with the patients in groups.  When I first started attending these groups I was a bit afraid. Horses are large animals and while I am a huge animal lover, I have only ever interacted with dogs and cats and pet some animals at the zoo. It is so fascinating to see these animals interact with people and one another and this story gave me a whole new perspective.  The patients often ask if the animals talk to one another or get along. I think I will think about this story every time I attend these groups or meet new animals and wonder those same things too. 

I binged this one and loved the short chapters told from alternating perspectives of Penny and Pony. I know that sounds a little weird but it really worked for me.  Think Homeward Bound or The Art of Racing in the Rain mixed with some crime and mystery.  I don’t want to spoil anything but know that Penny is in jail and Pony is on a quest to find her.  Pony and Penny have both gone through things that are surprisingly relatable.  There are themes of mental health struggles, grief, and finding your happiness. I loved the gruff spunkiness turned tender (at times) Pony and the loving Penny. 

Pony was by far my favorite. The adventure he goes on, the animals he meets along the way, and the growth he demonstrates really warmed my heart.  He starts out the story very angry and I loved how this evolves. He learns that some emotions, like anger, make us feel justified and lose sight of the bigger picture. I think so many humans struggle with that and how the Pony handles those feelings really resonated. Again, I know that sounds a little weird to be relating to a Pony but you’ll get it when you read the story.  

This is my first read by Lynch and she has some of the best one-liners I have ever read.  The dialogue between the animals will give you pause and make you think.  There is a nice blend of heartwarming and mysterious moments that will have you laughing out loud and also racing to see how it all turns out. 

I was not sure what to expect when I started this one. This isn’t just for animal lovers. I enjoyed it so much and I think you will too! 

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase Pony Confidential here.

More by Christina Lynch:
The Italian Party
Sally Brady's Italian Adventure

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