12/7/2021 Heir Restored: The Heir Chronicles (Emma's Story - Book 3) by Kayla Eshbaugh - Book ReviewRead NowGenres: YA Fantasy, YA Fiction, YA Romance, YA Contemporary, Fantasy Romance, Clean Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Contemporary Fantasy Blurb: “Let’s save your soul.” Shad is alive. When Emma split her soul in two, giving one half to Shad and keeping the other, she had no idea of the pain and the ache it would cause within herself. There was only one hope to restore Shad’s soul so that Emma and Shad could be together, and that hope was on Terra. Stepping into another world full of strange stories, beautiful castles, haunting forest, unexplained magic, broken people, rampant soullessness, and beings with the ability to see the future, Emma soon discovers there is more that needs saving than just her and Shad, and their melodies. As Emma starts to discover just exactly what it means to be an ancient Heir of the first kingdom, she realizes that the power to save Shad rests inside of her, only she has no idea how to use it--and how to access her ability has been kept a secret for hundreds of years. Deciding to leave the boy she loves in order to find a way to save him may just be one of the hardest things she has ever done. But even if Emma learns how to use her gift to save Shad, is it too late for them to be together? Is her fate really tied to Ryker in a way that can't be changed? And as Tarick sends soulless to murder and corrupt the people of the blessed lands, and as an army grows in the second kingdom to defeat the corrupt, Emma learns that, maybe, what she personally desires isn’t what matters most. Maybe defeating Tarick once and for all is her duty. Maybe Emma was never supposed to get her happily ever after, afterall. Maybe, claiming the first kingdom’s throne and taking back what was stolen from her family was more important than being with the man she loves. One thing was for sure, Emma wasn't going to let Tarick ruin any more lives than he already had if she could do something about it. Even if she couldn't get her happy ending, she would make sure everyone else got theirs. “Together we rise, or together we fall.” “Only you, Emma,” he whispered, low, pulling me tighter against him and lifting my chin. “Only you,” I whispered back as his lips hovered in front of mine, closer and closer. I need to start my review by saying that this series as a whole was an emotional roller coaster and definitely different from what I usually read...but I found SO much worth in the deeper themes. I know Kayla poured her everything into this series and that really shines through, which made my reading experience even richer. Seriously, these beautiful books are about SO much more than just a girl falling in love with a boy from another world. Y'all. I had almost 350 highlights. That's INSANE. it's been a minute since i've seen this movie, but the gif is PERFECT H I G H L I G H T S“I don’t care about your past. I am sorry if it has hurt you, but I love you for who you are now, at this very moment.” I whispered my last plea to help comfort him. GAHHHHHH 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Em, why did you do that?” He leaned his forehead against mine. “You are so like your father.” Note: MY. HEART. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Emma can restore.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 More light bugs woke up from their sleep in the grass as we walked. The bugs sparkled like specks of glittering gold. The setting sun behind them was the perfect orange and yellow backdrop. For a single moment, the entire land was dipped in sparkling gold as the sun kissed the edge of the world. Their melodies, while only a few simple notes, played on, as their small bodies swayed, unbothered by us, simply moving to the beat in the air and to the rhythm of the grass and to the harmony of the setting sun's rays. This was their land, their home—and it sang to them, for them, and with them. THIS DESCRIPTION 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Ryker touched my arm, and his warmth radiated to me. I leaned into him and felt his soft lips find the top of my head. Heat rushed over me, and I jumped back as the bowl crashed to the ground. Turning, we both saw Cade standing, glaring at Ryker. Ryker’s touch suddenly turned cold. I'm not obsessed...YOU ARE. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I don't think I have ever seen anything more glorious than you,” he whispered, his face an inch away from mine. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Emma should choose.” Note: Another reason to love Ryker 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “So—you like me in a suit and tie, huh?” He walked closer to me. His proximity made my body warm up with anticipation. I hadn't noticed that I was holding my water bottle in front of me as if I was frozen. He took it. My heart raced, pulsed faster as his lips kissed the edge of my water bottle. I then wanted to be that water bottle. I tried to remain calm, but I couldn’t. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I turned to look at Ryker, who’d spoken, his arms crossed over his chest, and his grey-blue eyes focused on me, as if searching my soul for what I desired. I was grateful to have a say, but I didn’t know if I wanted the burden of choosing, and possibly choosing wrong. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I feel like we keep having the same conversation, and yet, it will continue until you grasp one little fact.” He paused and sat up straighter, well as straight as one could when tied to a chair. “I have his soul. It is mine—the connection is ours, not with you and him. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Shad sat behind me and held my shoulders. His touch felt so good. The previous three days felt like a lifetime. I wanted to lean into his embrace and have him wrap me up with his warmth, but I didn't want to push my luck. I had no idea how he would respond to me, and I hated that. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “It is your moment to shine, darling.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I can make you happy, Emma. I know it.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 The light was more powerful than the darkness. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I turned as the door opened even wider. I knew it was Ryker as his melody blasted to me as soon as he entered the small, confined space. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 He touched my arm, noticing the golden bracelet Ryker had given me. He touched the little knight charm, dangling from the chain. “Ryker gave that to me for my birthday,” I said, wondering what he was thinking. “It is nice,” he said, dropping his hand, but I could tell he wasn’t super excited about the bracelet from my knight. Note: DEAL WITH IT, SHAD 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “If not, Emma, if there is no way to restore my soul back, I want you to—” “Don’t,” I said, “don't you ever say that.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I know, I am proud of you, you know. Ryker does care so much for you. You, two, have a special connection.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I am so sorry,” he whispered. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Ancients above, you are beautiful,” he said to me, caressing my cheek. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I assured them I was okay—and while I was in constant pain, I was okay as long as Shad’s golden eyes still existed; that’s what mattered. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I mean it, Emma. I will be right here beside you. Together we rise, or together we fall.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “You alright, Emma?” Ryker asked, stopping in front of me. “I am fine—tired, but fine,” I said, giving him a smile. “Good, then I can tell you that what you did was the stupidest thing—” “What I did saved Shad,” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “Maybe, but what has it done to you?” he asked, stepping closer. “It has done nothing,” I answered, glaring at him. “Right,” he said, and I could tell he did not believe me in the slightest. Note: I missed seeing him being protective of her As far as content goes: No language. There were some definite intimate/passionate moments, along with some lengthy/intense kisses...but nothing explicit. Hickeys/being "marked" were talked about and ended up occurring. Grief, anxiety, depression, bitterness, and anger are some of the major feelings that are experienced and talked about. Also, I won't go into specifics (because I don't want to spoil the book), but there were some intense darker themes and violence (nothing too gory). Don't worry, though! The book still had LOTS of romance and happiness to balance out the more serious stuff!! Nothing I've listed above was triggering for me, but it could be for other readers. If you have any concerns before reading...please feel free to contact me! 😊 Time for some IMPORTANT notes! 1: I can’t believe this is the last book ohmygoshhhh 2: Her mother’s letter 3: I just can’t hate Cade lol 4: Ash and Glassonnnnnn 5: Gahhhhhh, I’m Team Ryker but I feel bad about this whole Shad thing... 6: EVERYTHING IS SO INTENSE AND COMPLICATED 7: Ryker and Emma still have my heart 8: I love when he calls her “princess” 9: Crystal fish 10: This is so weird reading about them in a different world lol 11: STOP SHIELDING YOUR MELODY, RYKER 12: I honestly feel so bad for Cade 13: “When do you plan to tell her?” 14: Okay, SO SHARED IMAGININGS ARE A THING?! 15: The wholeeeeee convo between her and Shad 16: SO MUCH IS HAPPENING AND SECRETS ARE BEING REVEALED 17: All this soul-song business is so interesting and I just want to know EVERYTHING 18: Freaky Friday vibes lollll 19: “Emma should choose.” 20: OH MY GOSH, RYKER’S SECRET IS OUT 21: Her and him on the deck 22: WHAT JUST HAPPENED WITH KARA?! 23: I’m loving the dual meanings and lessons for real life! 24: Ryker. Rykerrrrrr. 25: It’s breaking my heart that she’s so determined to not love Ryker romantically 26: I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT. FOR HER TO HEAR IT. 27: The bird whistle scene 28: Awwwwww, their family is so sweet 29: “Then give this a chance” 30: (I got so wrapped up in reading that I forgot my list of notes lolllll) 31: Her training with Ryker 32: Dang it, Shad! How are you so freaking romantic!! (His love note to her) 33: Her gift is honestly so cool 34: GAHHHHHH. My heart always hearts when Ryker and Emma talk to each other 35: I hate it here 36: RYKER YOU DO NOT RUIN THINGS 37: (I got so distracted again with reading, that I forgot my list) Sooooo many feelings though! 38: I WAS RIGHT...AND I’M HAPPY BUT ALSO A LITTLE SAD...it’s bittersweet...I can’t decide how I feel 39: They’re adorable together lol 40: “You are the sun” 41: I want them to just be happy...but I also like the layers of conflict that are happening 42: (I keep getting distracted lol!) 43: Hava’s over here speaking TRUTH 44: WAIT. WHAT THE CRAP?! 44.5: I refuse to believe this is actually happening... 45: Even through everything, Shad never loses hope—faith—and it’s truly beautiful 46: This is all so poetic and devastating at the same time 47: OK. I think what’s happening is actually a good thing...well...parts of it. I NEED THE ENDING TO BE WHAT I’M HOPING FOR 48: Dang. So many intense emotions. 49: Shad is honestly such an inspiration 50: “I would never give up on you” 51: The ending is too precious for words 52: I love how epilogue provides the setup for other characters’ series without taking away from the main characters This book had so many twists and turns, that I honestly kept second-guessing myself...because I wasn’t sure what to expect even though I had my assumptions, lol. I was right about a few things (which was bittersweet), but other things definitely took me by surprise!! Kayla promised that everyone (somehow) would get a HEA...and despite my worries and doubts...SHE FULFILLED HER PROMISE. Gahhhh, this is hard to do without spoiling anything!!! 😭😂 Clearly, you just need to read the books so WE CAN TALK FREELY ABOUT THEM. If you enjoy series with dual meanings and fantasy/royal/contemporary-ish vibes, emotional tension and discovered secrets, TONS of swoony romance, and self-growth...then you should definitely check this one out! 💙💙💙 ~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~ About the Author:
My name is Kayla Eshbaugh, I am obsessed with anything sparkly, vintage, or fairy-tale-like. I love writing about first love, true love, and sweet swoon-worthy kisses! I enjoy writing romance that sweeps you off your feet across multiple genres. I currently live in my castle, with two adventurous knights, who call me a princess and a husband who calls me queen. I also have a deep appreciation and love for peanut butter and dark chocolate.
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Genres: Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance, Romantic Comedy, Inspirational Romance, Holiday Romance Blurb: True Love should never be put to a family vote. Elle: All I wanted was a nice, relaxing Christmas vacation at home with my family. But no, the lot of them had to ruin it by inviting my childhood crush, Oliver Moore, and throwing us together at every possible moment. Heaven, help me. Now, instead of sipping hot cocoa by the fire, I’m dodging matchmaking attempts and trying to pretend I’m not attracted to Oliver’s adorably perfect smile. I will not become another one of my family’s projects. Oliver: I mean, am I upset Elle’s family swindled us into this Christmas vacation together? No. Will I ever admit that aloud? Also, no. I’ve long ago come to terms with the friend zone Elle placed me in back around ninth grade. But there’s something different about her this week. Something that’s bringing up feelings I really should ignore. Too bad ignoring has never been my strong suit. For not the first time in my life, I think that I want a relationship like my parents’ one day. A relationship filled with love and respect and an equal concern for the other person. I love Christmas. I love Summer Dowell's books. SO, I'M OBVIOUSLY BEYOND HAPPY THAT I GOT TO READ THIS FUN AND FESTIVE HOLIDAY ROMANCE! Gahhhhh. It was honestly just really cute. And there were soooooo many great lines!!! I highlighted like crazy lol (which is always a good sign). 💚💖 *live footage of me* H I G H L I G H T SHe smiles, and those stupid dimples that I love more than anything in the world are popping out of his cheeks. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I look down and realize he's holding both my hands. I don't even know when he grabbed the other one, but his thumbs are rubbing soft circles in my palms. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Five minutes later, I'm settling into one of the oversized armchairs in our living room, facing the glowing Christmas tree. Note: I LOVE THOSE COZY CHRISTMAS VIBES 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 You'd think walking back over to my neighbor's house—the same house I've been hanging out at all afternoon—would be rather stress-free. But the minute I turn up the Carters’ driveway, I am hit with a wall of nerves that makes me wonder if I need to sit down for a second. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 What I need is a cup of hot chocolate. Nothing soothes troubles like a dose of sugar. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "Chestnuts roasting on an open..." I jam my finger against the radio dial. Nat King Cole can take his roasting chestnuts and shove them down his own throat this frigid morning. Clearly, he's never had to scrape ice off his windshield with a credit card or drive a car so old its heater only works at about fifty-percent capacity. Note: This opening is goldddd lollll 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I've always heard that description where a situation makes someone freeze up, but this is the first time I've ever experienced the sensation in real life. My body can't move. Every nerve, every muscle is in this limbo state of indecision. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 It's just…this is the first time Elle has ever seemed to reciprocate anything. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 He shifts, and I decide right then that rippling muscles are most definitely my love language. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 A second later, Brett is behind him, shoving his twin out of the way. "Just so everyone knows, I counted them, and I have the most." He glances at me with sad eyes that I know are fake. "Sorry, Elle, you're on the low end of the totem pole. Apparently, someone hasn't been a very good girl this year." I chuck a pillow at him, which he uses to cushion his head as he sprawls out on the floor. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Gosh, he smells good. Why does he have to smell so good? My breathing feels irregular, and my palms are sweating. "Just wrapping up some toys for the homeless shelter. Want to help?" Why did I invite him to help me? "Of course." He pulls a chair close to me. "What can I do?" A few non-family-friendly suggestions come to mind, but thanks to my boss, I've had a lot of practice ignoring bad ideas. OH. MY. WORD. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I think back to that dazed look on her face, the way she chewed her bottom lip—a nervous tick she's had since she was little. Maybe that flame of ours doesn't need to be put out. Maybe it just needs a little more fuel. Note: AMEN!!! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Even in its chaos, it looks perfect. This family, these bonds are ones I know I want to have forever. I just wish Elle felt the same way about me. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I hate life-changing decisions. Where's the lie, lol? 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Don't mind me, Elle, just the boy next door who apparently makes it his life goal to say embarrassing things in your presence. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 To keep my nerves at bay—and because I secretly love the sound of Oliver's voice—I ask about his day. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "I was just wondering why you kept it." "Kept what?" Maybe if I play dumb, he'll give up. "Kept the ring. You know, the one we're discussing." Note: KEEP NUDGINGGGG, OLIVER 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 He leans against the door frame and folds his arms, which I think is a power play, because it makes his biceps appear even bigger and more intimidating. I'm here for it. As far as content goes: Any suggestive material/innuendos were pretty minor, so no worries there. I truly can't think of anything that would really need to be listed as a warning. 🤔 Time to share some IMPORTANT points! 1: I haven’t even seen them interact with each other yet, and I already ship it so hard!! 2: Packing for any kind of trip is always a struggle lolllll 3: THANK YOU, BUZZ FOR CREATING AN AWKWARD/ADORABLE RE-MEETCUTE 4: Their mothers...are too much lol 5: Okay, I’m loving the friendship between Oliver and her brothers. 6: “Not that I’ve been keeping tabs on her” 7: I’m loving all these LOL thoughts 8: Sophie is great 9: The phone convo with her “boyfriend” 10: OH NO HE’S GOOD WITH KIDSSSS 11: That blurted confession in his car lollll 12: My heartttttt. Their internal descriptions of each other are adorableeee 13: SUCH A SOLID ALMOST KISSSSS 14: Everything about the “promise ring” 15: I want to thank burnt caramel sauce for helping these two PUSH BOUNDARIES and I want to throw her phone into the closest ocean 16: JUST LET HER TALK, OLIVER 17: I love her friendship with Sophie 18: Okay, her dad is super wholesome 19: “Since it’s been almost ten years” 20: Oh my gosh, her mom never stops lollll 21: YEAHHHHH, OLIVER 22: Her family is crazy for sure, but I honestly love them lol 23: That ending was adorably perfect 25: {SPOILER, MAYBE?} AND RHETT BETTER GET THEIR OWN BOOK, I HOPE THAT’S WHAT WAS IMPLIED I try not to say toooooo much in my reviews of novellas (because I'm always worried about spoiling the books since they're shorter) but I could RAVE on this one for sureeeeeee. Elle had such a great sense of humor...and Oliver was goldddd, y'all!! The best combo of sweet and a little sassy. 😏 Ugh, it was just super cute. Lots of great side-characters. All the holiday vibes. I was greedy and wanted more lol (we did get an epilogue!), but it honestly had the right amount of everything for a novella. So, if you love Christmas and cheerful/wacky books...I think you'll really enjoy this one! 🎄📖 ~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~ About the Author:
Meet Summer. Your best-reading-buddy-that-you’ve-never-actually-met who's obsessed with writing romance books. She’s a stay home mom to 6 and has a slight need to escape the laundry and diaper chaos. Summer turned her ability to see the humor in anything into a lineup of books that get readers to laugh and smile at the embarrassing situations she puts characters in. Her superpower? Besides writing book dedications that purposely call out her husband, she is really good at giving people an escape from their everyday lives in the form of a story. Follow me on instagram: https://instagram.com/summers_pen Get book updates from my newsletter: https://www.summerdowell.com/join.html Genres: Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance, Romantic Comedy, Inspirational Romance, Closed Door RomCom Blurb: Sometimes love is war. Clay... My best friend has held a grudge against his half-sister, Lauren, forever. It’s unjustified and ridiculous, but I have to take his side. Also ridiculous? How bad I have it for her. My Lauren radar goes off the second she steps in the building. Did I mention we work together and her dad’s the boss? Yeah, she’s so off-limits I might as well start running now and never come back. Except, her family is like family to me. So, I’ll do whatever it takes to stick around, even if she hates my guts. Lauren... I date guys nothing like Clay on purpose. I will not let my old crush on him get the best of me. It’s going on the list of things I’ve outgrown and will deny ever having, like the Justin Bieber poster I used to keep on the back of my door. It doesn’t matter that I’ve caught Clay looking at me like he’s a jewel thief and I’m a precious gem encased in glass. He’d never choose me over my brother, or his job, or his enjoyment in teasing me. Avoiding Clay is easy, until the day I realize my dad’s asked for Clay’s help in checking up on my dates. No stinking way. "“Well, yeah. But where do you see the two of us in a year?” I inched closer to Clay, which added to his nervousness about where I was going with this. “The two of us?” Clay’s voice cracked a little, making me want to dig harder. “Yeah, the two of us.” “I see us happy. Don’t you?” I smiled. “I do.” This review was supposed to be done foreverrrrrr ago, but...LIFE. Sighs. Anyway, I really enjoyed the book!! (My 100+ highlights are proof of that lollll) It was cute, funny, and I loveddddd all the tropes! 😍😍 seriously. I think it's so much fun mixing and matching different tropes!! H I G H L I G H T STalking would be faster than text, and yeah, I also wanted to hear her surprise at hearing from me because I’m whipped like that. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “All I want to do is rearrange all the single people I know like Barbies and Kens, and none of you will let me.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Did he really tell you he wanted separate tabs? Because I’m paying for my date, and he can look like a cheapo while I pay for your dinner too.” “Clay, you can’t.” “Watch me.” A thrill ran through me when she got up and stalked over to me, grabbing the front of my Kiss the Cook apron in her fist. “You’ll have your own date on Friday, and I’ll have mine. No shenanigans.” “I like shenanigans.” “I know you do. That’s what I’m worried about.” Note: Ohhhhh danggggg 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I was a horrible speller anyway. Autocorrect and I were tight. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Parker ducked his head. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I promise.” I bit my lip. Parker meant it. For all his faults, he didn’t make empty promises. Usually he didn’t make promises at all. Or apologies, for that matter. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “You’re part of us.” “I’m not. I have to go.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 My heart wasn’t free to give. It already belonged to this spitfire who didn’t want it. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I picked up the hand loose at his side and rested it on my knee, and then began tracing letters into his palm before each of his turns. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 He was afraid of rejection. Wow. My throat closed off and I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I covered his hands with mine and traced the lines across his wrists with my thumbs. “Say something,” he whispered. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 And I noticed her lips. I always noticed her lips. She’d recently applied lip gloss. Strawberry scented if I wasn’t mistaken. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I plopped into the chair next to her and stole a grape from her bowl only to put it back, earning me a glare. I had very high grape standards. No squishiness whatsoever. Note: YES. She gets meeeeee!! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Their yard looked perfectly trimmed, just the way it always had. I wondered if Clay was responsible for it now. He’d worked in that yard every Saturday growing up. I could still picture him making rows with the lawnmower, occasionally lifting his shirt and wiping his forehead. On the really hot days, he’d been shirtless. He’d always tanned well. Aaand cut. Those memories would not be tap dancing through my thoughts anymore today. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Lauren,” I whispered. “Are we friends?” “Yes,” she whispered back. Her heartbeat fluttered like a little bird’s. I could see it pulsing on her neck. “Are we more than friends?” “I don’t know.” She paused the TV and dropped the remote on the blanket where it slid to the floor. Note: YOU DO KNOW 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Clay Olsen, I will end you right now.” Her bluster had always made me laugh, and even though I felt terrible about it, I couldn’t help finding it funny now. “Oh, yeah? You’re going to kill me through the phone, darling?” Ooooofff, that “darling.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Chemistry was a funny thing. I truly believed you could create chemistry with a person if you both wanted it. You could choose love. You could build it. None of this falling out of love business. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Clay Olsen. It always seemed to come back to him. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 How could flirting and fighting walk such a thin line? Sometimes I just wanted to see how far I could push things to get a reaction out of Clay, like he triggered my competitive nature or something. As far as content goes: No language. Suggestive material/innuendos. Clay and Lauren's secret relationship is obviously part of the plot. Lauren's dad and brother were...a lot at times lol, but they meant well for the most part. Clay was raised by his grandparents because his mother died from leukemia when he was a baby, and he never knew who his father was. I honestly can't think of anything else. I would describe the book as a mild "PG-13 romance movie." *A quick note for my fellow epilogue-lovers: the book has one, but it was partially to set up for Jenny's book.* Time to share some IMPORTANT points! 1: Dudeeeeee, their flirting is so cute!! 2: Okay, but Denver is actually a decent guy 3: Special spot 4: The cookiesssss 5: I want to slap Parker 6: “Crying and cramps” 7: Her comforter 8: “Are we friends?” 9: THAT FIRST KISS 10: I liked how casual but sweet it was when he watching her get ready for the day 11: BOYFRIEND MATERIAL 12: Alllllll the kisses 13: The Scrabble game! 14: “Now go to bed, sweetheart” 15: I can’t with this Noble guy lollll 16: I want Parker to have his own book SO bad 17: YOU TELL THEM, LAUREN 18: “You don’t hate me?” 19: Gahhhh, they’re adorable. 20: And the last lunch date? Sooooo cute Y'all, Clay was charming beyond words (definitely boyfriend material). Lauren was perfectly sassy, and I related to her overthinking sooooo much. I’m glad they tried to eventually have open communication between them...even when it was hard. And I liked how the family business added another layer of conflict for their relationship. Also, I can’t wait to read Jenny’s book (Carpool Crush)! And the novella featuring Melissa and Chase’s story (Worst Neighbor Ever)! And again, I reallyyyy hope Parker gets his own book as well...because SWOON. If you love romcoms with great flirty banter and crazy family antics, definitely add this one to your TBR!! 👏👏 About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author Rachel John loves to read anything with romance or humor, and thinks the best books should combine the two. She's found that writing is the best way to burn dinner. When not writing, she's reading, drawing, driving kids to various locations, or attempting to revive her exercise habit. Come visit Rachel on her Facebook page or Instagram. She'd love to hear from you! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racheljohnauthor Instagram: instagram.com/racheljohnwrites/ Genres: Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance, Romantic Comedy, Inspirational Romance, Closed Door RomCom Blurb: There WILL be a royal wedding. The only question--who will be my groom? An arranged marriage isn’t the worst fate for a princess like me. Especially because I’ve been in love with my intended groom since we were children. But when my prince shows up with an American girlfriend instead of an engagement ring, all arrangements are off. The clock is nearing midnight--I won’t turn into a pumpkin, but if I’m not wed by summer’s end, I’ll forfeit my kingdom. Just your typical royal dilemma. Out of sheer desperation, I make a deal with a devilish duke. Rafe de Silva is the prince’s rival and has a plan so ridiculous it just might work. One moment, Rafe seems to relish making the prince jealous. And the next… he’s making me question everything with his words, his touch, and his ability to melt my Ice Princess persona. I’m not always given the luxury of choice, but now I have a huge one to make. I only hope I don't lose my crown, my heart, or myself in the process… “How I feel doesn’t matter. I have a duty to do.” Rafe’s fingers curl around my hand and squeeze. “It matters how you feel.” I loveeeee the royalty trope!! I haven't read a lot of contemporary romances that feature it, but I've seen quite a few romance movies that do. I know other readers got The Princess Diaries 2/The Prince & Me vibes from this book, and I definitely agree with them! Y'all, I can't even begin to describe how much GOODNESS Serafina and Rafe's story had. Insane chemistry? Check. Hate-to-love/fake relationship/unrequited love tropes? Check. Emma St Clair's usual wonderfulllll humor/banter? Check. SWOONY AND HOTTTTTT KISSES THAT DIDN'T LEAVE ME FEELING ICKY/UNCOMFORTABLE? CHECK. CHECK. CHECKKKKK. Seriously, I can't tell you how many passages I highlighted. I highlighted SO much. Like, I'm pretty sure my total was almost 300 HIGHLIGHTS. I honestly think that fact alone could speak for itself. me, snapping at myself...because the highlights will do allll the talking H I G H L I G H T SCallum’s fingertips begin to slide along my hip, the slightest movement, but it has the subtlety of a blowtorch. I’m hot all over, and not in the good way. It’s panic, or maybe I’m on the verge of heatstroke in this completely unbreathable fabric. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Rafe wipes his mouth, hiding his smile behind the napkin. “I think you mean Legolas,” he suggests. “Played by Orlando Bloom.” The queen mother beams at Rafe. “That’s the one. He makes an ugly pirate though.” “Can’t argue with you there,” Rafe says. Note: THAT IS SO OFFENSIVE 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "You can trust me. It’s why my hair is so big,” Rafe continues with a cheeky grin, giving his dark head of hair a toss. “It’s full of secrets.” I study his hair. I won’t tell him I think it’s rather lovely—such a nice, glossy black. Is he sensitive about his hair? “Your hair isn’t so big.” Rafe’s mouth drops open, and he snaps it closed again, studying me. “You … don’t know what that’s from?” “What what’s from?” Note: MEAN GIRLS 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Callum’s thumb grazes my cheek, and our eyes lock. My heart thuds in my chest, but it’s as much with dread as it is anticipation. This just feels … wrong. I shiver as his thumb continues to coast along my skin, over the apple of my cheek and landing near the edge of my jaw. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “You heard that two years ago, I was discharged from the royal guard,” Rafe says. “Right. For medical reasons. Are you … okay now?” “I am, thank you.” His thumb changes from making little lines on my hand to small circles, and my skin prickles with awareness. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Rafe and I have never been alone in a room, I realize. Especially never a bedroom. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Tell me your objections,” he demands when his laughter has faded. His eyes still sparkle with amusement. “I’m too handsome. Is that it? You don’t think you could possibly resist me if we pretended to date?” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Though I’m totally trying to avoid Rafe, I can’t keep my mind off him. His warm chocolate and caramel eyes, his wicked smile, his surprising kindness. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Callum hangs back, serious and subdued. Rafe wasn’t wrong about the jealousy. It’s painted in broad strokes from the tightness in his jaw to the stubborn set of his shoulders. I want this to mean something to me, but I can’t find it in me to hope for it to be significant. I want someone to love me for me, I remind myself. Not simply because he’s jealous. Yet the sight of Callum’s jealousy does spark something in me. It’s a satisfying feeling. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I’m not a beast like you,” I snap, keeping my chin tucked to hide my red cheeks. “That’s quite true, Princess. You’re the picture of perfection.” There’s something different in his tone. It forces me to glance up, and I’m unnerved to find his gaze trained on me, a soft smile on his face. I clear my throat and go back to my plate. Note: Gahhhh, his crush on her is SO cuteeeee 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I guess I’m starting to see you in a new way. I’m not sure who you are.” Rafe leans closer, and for just this moment, his breath on my cheek makes me forget all about my pain, my undergarments, and Callum. “I’ll be anyone you want me to be, Angel.” Excuseeeeeee me while I fan myself 😱😱 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Are you ever not hungry, Angel?” “It’s a theme with you,” I say, and then blush when his grin turns flirtatious. “I make you hungry?” “For food.” I shove him lightly, and he dramatically flops back against the brick wall, tugging me by our still-joined hands. Giggling, I stumble forward into him. This brings us chest to chest, and as I meet his eyes, I realize we are intimately close. I should step back, but I don’t. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “You’re quite impressive, Princess,” Rafe says, and Callum glares. “She is.” Callum puts an arm over the back of my chair, and I find myself stiffening and wanting to lean away. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Can’t have you going around with your bum unprotected,” Rafe says. “It’s precious cargo.” My blush is instant, and if I’m not mistaken, The Dane gives a low growl. “Shut up about my cargo.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 She looks beautiful tonight, but then I’ve never seen her look anything less than. If only she knew the way seeing her makes my whole torso practically vibrate with nerves. She probably would never believe it. I’m not sure if that’s because she still sees me as the playboy I admittedly was, or because no one has assured her of her beauty. If only this were real, I wouldn’t stop telling her. Might as well start now. “Princess, you look radiant. As always.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. You deserve better, Seraf. Callum, as always, is being an idiot.” Rafe’s pity makes me feel filthy, as though his words landed on my skin like a layer of dust, cloying and thick. “He’s not the only idiot,” I snap. “I agree, Princess. He isn’t. But at least I’m aware of what I am, and what I’m not.” Rafe gives me a tight smile, then like a shadow, he slips away. This is definitely one of my favorite parts 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I start to let go of Rafe’s hand, but he squeezes, trapping my hand in his. His smirking smile returns. “Not so fast,” he says. “I rather like this new development. It’s nice holding your hand.” Cuteeeeee 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 When I look like I’m going to argue, Rafe adds, “Don’t make me beg.” He leans closer, until his warm breath is a spring breeze moving over me. “Though I’m not above begging when it’s something—or someone—I really want.” Under normal circumstances, I would shove him off and tell him to go find someone else to charm. But I am tilting like a three-legged chair and desperately need steadying. Rafe’s body is a solid presence against mine, his hand on my waist somehow reassuring. I find myself relaxing against him, batting my eyes up at him in my best attempt at flirty eyes. “We can’t have the Duke of Weldon stoop to begging, now can we?” Rafe looks delighted by my response and wastes no time twirling me away. One glimpse at Callum’s face shows a look which, if I didn’t know better, resembles jealousy. Note: Danggggggg 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I’m pretty sure Rafe de Silva never does anything he doesn’t want to do. Newsflash: he wants you. It’s time Note: THIS. As far as content goes: Suggestive material/innuendos. Drinking/being drunk occurred. Literally one curse word? There was a scene where Serafina's dress ends up ripping, so she was left wearing the one-piece shapewear she had on underneath. Oh! A "bare bum" moment happens in the epilogue. There was no on-page sex, but it was talked about/implied between different characters. Rafe lost his parents as a teenager and dealt with abuse from his uncle, which resulted in him having mental health issues while he was serving in the royal guard. He ended up getting the help he needed, even though he still had struggles with his uncle. Both Rafe and Serafina dealt with different insecurities. I don't think there was anything else? None of this was triggering for me...however, others might feel differently. Rafe's uncle was a horrible person, seriously, he made me so freaking angry. I would describe the book as a "PG-13 romance movie." Time to share some IMPORTANT points! 1: Gahhhh, poor Serafina!! 2: Brit is sooooo annoying lol and I feel bad for Callum but like, DUDE 3: WHEN RAFE GOES THROUGH HER WARDROBE 4: If the girl you like is hungry, YOU FEED HER 5: The garden talk and flashback are making me saddddd 6: Claudius and Kat??? (I SHIP THEM SOOOOO MUCH!) 7: Tiramisu. 8: Callum and Rafe BOTH getting jealous... 9: Her dance with Callum 10: Her dance with RAFE. (I highlighted almost all of the scene lollll) 10.5: The whole situation after their dance 11: “Just go along with it” 12: That convo between Rafe and Callum 13: Glasses and picnic 14: Whyyyy are “back zipper” moments always so satisfying?! 15: I hate his uncle. 16: Holding handsssss 17: That announcement at dinner though 18: CALL HER “DARLING” AGAIN! 19: “I won’t tolerate this disrespect again” (Rafe is too sexy for his own good) 20: Everythinggggg about their talk before the ball. 21: That second danceeeee 22: “I have a question for the princess” (SWOON. SWOON. SWOON.) 23: OH MY GOSH, HE CALLED HER “DARLING” AGAIN! (This made me so freaking happy lol) The book was so, so very sweet and charmingggg! I loved the fairytale story vibes at the beginning and end...it was totally precious. Also, I would LOVE to see some of the side characters get their own books. I know Emma hinted at the possibility, so I'll be hoping/waiting impatiently. 👀💗 All this to say, I am VERY glad I went royal with Emma. ☺👑 About the Author:
Emma St. Clair is a USA Today Bestselling Author who loves sassy heroines, witty banter, and love stories with heart and humor. She lives in Katy, Texas with her hubby, five children, and Great Dane. Her favorite place to write is tapping on her phone while on the elliptical machine. No Emmas have been hurt in the writing of these novels. (Yet.) Follow me on insta: https://instagram.com/kikimojo Join the Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/emmastclair/ Genres: YA Romance, Contemporary Romance, YA Fiction, YA Contemporary, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance Blurb: I knew Asher Thompson was trouble the moment he stepped into my grandmother’s cafe. 1. He hates donuts. 2. He hates chocolate. 3. He hates me. Ash may be East Beach High’s valedictorian and captain of the water polo team, but to me, he’s always been a grade-A jerk. Now, I'm taking on a project to help a local preschool, and guess who shows up to plan the fundraiser? Yup. Him. It doesn't make any sense. Why would Ash help someone he hates so much? And why does my heart race every time he’s near? "Before you came into my life, I was frozen by my past. You were like the sun, you freed me with your smiles and chocolate donuts." I've had my eye on this book for a few months now, because its cute cover (and blurb) TOTALLY caught my attention. Donuts and hate-to-love vibes? AND they have to work together? YESSSSSS! i love gif so much lollll H I G H L I G H T S“I’ve also got a bunch of aliens donating time machines and human brains. I think that will be a big draw too.” “Uh-huh… Wait. What did you say?” I dragged my eyes from my phone. “Aliens?” Wesley laughed. “Dude, who are you talking to?” Without waiting for a response, he tore the phone from my grasp. “Come on,” I protested. “Give it back.” Dodging my attempts, Wes pushed my hand away. “You’re flirting with Piper?” He stared at me with the biggest grin on his face, and I braced myself for the inevitable ribbing. “I called it! I knew it from the moment I saw you two at Space Donuts. That’s why I pushed you to make a move. Admit it, I’m the relationship whisperer.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Asher flashed him a wide smile, and it transformed his face. Blooming Beethoven! Sullen Asher was good looking. But smiling Asher was gorgeous. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "You are made of grit and stardust." 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Piper might be funny and cute, but I’ve no interest in dating anyone.” Sureeeeee, Asher. SUREEEEEE. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I crossed my arms and glared at Asher. Why was he being so… nice? Was this some sort of game to him? “What are you doing, Ash?” His gaze skimmed my face, and he took a step closer. Tingles moved up my spine and I wished that I wasn’t so attuned to his presence. Flustered by the constant pull between us, I took one step in reverse. The corners of his lips curved upward. “I told you I’d help organize a fundraiser, and that’s what I’m doing.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Asher stared out into the living room. “Tell me, Piper. Do you believe people can change?” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 My gaze lowered to her mouth. Her lips seemed shinier than usual. Was she one of those girls who wore fruit-flavored lip gloss? Perhaps watermelon? Or some sort of berry? “Asher?” My face warmed. “I… um you look really pretty.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 She and Bas walked through the open gate, and it felt like she was walking away from me forever. The possibility had me tied up in knots. I had to say something, anything, to make her understand. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Micah frowned. “Don’t sell yourself short. You never see yourself for what you truly are.” She lifted her chin with a look of defiance. “And what should I see?” He looked like he was about to say something but changed his mind. “You’re a gifted musician,” he growled. “You should know that.” I ship him and Olivia soooooo much, I can't wait for their book!! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Here, let me help.” Violet leaned over and, with great concentration, wiped the jam from his face and hair. With their faces mere inches apart, Wesley watched her the entire time, an unreadable expression on his face. “Thanks,” he murmured. Violet’s cheeks reddened, and she yanked her hands away. “I’ve gotta go. I have some things to take care of before practice.” I ship them tooooooo!! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 But I had a plan. Berkeley came first. Always. No girl was worth jeopardizing my future. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “One more thing.” Asher took my hand and lifted it out of the water. Raising it to his lips, he gently kissed it. Cue the drum roll again, conductor. It wasn’t a kiss on the lips, but my brain still short-circuited right there. “Thanks for swimming with me today, Piper.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “No, never mind,” Wes said. “Have your private meeting with Piper. I’m crushed, man. Crushed. I can’t even be near you right now.” He shot me a wink before heading back to his lunch table. Note: I love him 😍 Some points that NEED to be shared... 1: I already love the bromance 2: Dudeeee I want some donuts 3: Piper holds her own and I approve 4: Ughhhh, Taylor whyyyy?? 5: Olivia is so sweet 6: The main office with Asher 7: I’m loving Wes’ personality 8: Chocolate donuts 9: The texts 10: Jealous Asher... 11: “You’re not getting it” 😭 12: The talk (during Wes’ Halloween party) 13: Micahhhhh 14: Grams is so sweet. 15: I love donut puns lolllll 16: The “because I’m all in” speech. As far as content goes: No language that I can remember. And any suggestive content was veryyy mild. Asher's biological dad left him and his mom, and he was an alcoholic (in the past). Side-characters dealt with cancer. Grief, anger, fear, and stress were some elements that were present in the book. Piper struggled with the aftermath of an accident. Her dad was absent/controlling/unsupportive. None of this was triggering for me, but could be for other readers. This was a really sweet YA romance that touched on some deeper themes, which definitely pulled on the heartstrings. Piper and Asher had their struggles (individually and with each other) but they really did belong together. And I loved how they helped each other become the best versions of themselves. Oh, and that epilogue was the cutesttttt!! GAH. So good! Also, all the donut talk makes me want donuts now lol. (When do I not want donuts though??) Go get yourself a donut, and go read this book! 🍩💗 About the Author:
Ginger loves the color yellow, baked goods, and all things Halloween. When she’s not busy playing with kids, she enjoys reading, listening to sappy pop music, and dreaming up love stories featuring brave heroines, a touch of magic, and hopeful endings. Ginger lives with her husband and two Pokemon-loving boys in sunny California. She has yet to see a soot sprite, but always keeps her eyes open just in case! To find out more about Ginger and her books, or to sign up for her newsletter, visit https://linktr.ee/GingerLiWrites |