Tag: five-potatoes

Ruthless Knight (Royal Hearts Academy #2) by Ashley Jade

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Welcome to their kingdom…

Cole Covington is the most popular heartbreaker at school.
Every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to screw him.
Except me.
His devastatingly good looks, golden arm, and flirty smiles don’t do it for me anymore…because I know what’s lurking underneath the star quarterback’s gorgeous armor.

At least I thought I did.
Sometimes the most beautiful people…hide the ugliest truths.
And sometimes the only way to save someone…
is to walk beside them through hell.

Sawyer Church is the bible-thumping nerd of Royal Hearts Academy.
Girls pick on her and guys don’t notice her.
Except me.
Sweet, curvy, and sarcastic, she’s impossible to ignore.
No matter how much I try.
Everyone at school has her pegged as the chubby, Jesus loving geek, but unlike them—Sawyer’s real and never pretends to be someone she’s not.

Until I ask her to be my fake girlfriend.

Sometimes the most beautiful souls…hide the greatest pain.
And sometimes the only way to save someone…
is to fight for them.

Book: Ruthless Knight (Royal Hearts Academy #2) by Ashley Jade
Published: January 20, 2020
Pages: 608
Genres: Romance, Athlete, Curvy Heroine, High School, New Adult
Format: Kindle
Date Read: March 10-11, 2023
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

Where do I even begin with this book?

This is the first book I have ever read of Ashley Jade’s but I am officially a fan! I have had the first book in this series in my to-buy pile for a while but never got around to it and then saw the reviews for this one and decided to jump right into the middle of this series. I’m so glad I did!

I want to know what it’s like to feel like I’m enough.

Sawyer Church as not had it easy – she has been bullied all her life and always made to feel like she wasn’t beautiful simply because she is overweight. She is a size 14 though to me I would consider that thick or curvy but that’s just me. She has had a crush on Cole since she came to California and always wants to believe in the good in him, even when he is acting like a jerk.

“You ended with a positive. You can tell a lot about how someone feels about a person by the way they end a statement, especially when they’re feeling conflicted about them.”

Cole Covington has had a thing for Sawyer for a while but due to having a reputation to uphold wont admit it to anyone, least of all her and treats her horribly in public.

“You think love is perfect? Like one of those fairytales?” He shakes his head. “Hell no. Love is hard…difficult. It’s dealing with someone’s shit day in and day out but never giving up on them because your heart won’t let you. It’s having a million reasons to leave them…but always having one good reason to stay.”

Sawyer and Cole’s journey was definitely not an easy one and had a lot of ups and downs but what I loved the most about them was that they truly loved each other and saw who they were as a person underneath it all. Cole was not always the easiest person to love but Sawyer loved him anyway and wasn’t afraid to call him on his crap. And Sawyer got what she needed most from Cole – someone who loved her for her, despite what her body did or didn’t look like.

I loved how much the characters grew as the book progressed. The Sawyer and Cole at the end of the book were so much more sure of themselves and were actually happy! It was so amazing to watch Cole grow as a human and be so in love with Sawyer that he didn’t care about anything else except making her happy and being with her. I loved his character so much, even when he was being a complete jerk.

The author does such a great job of developing these complex characters with real fears and issues. I can’t wait to read more of her work! I highly recommend this book!

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

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When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

Book: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Published: August 5, 2014
Pages: 337
Genres: Romance
Format: Kindle
Date Read: January 22-25, 2021
Rating: 5 Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

This book is a must read. Go, go now- find it!

I have read a handful of Colleen Hoover’s books and I am never disappointed when I select them. They drag you in and take you on a roller coaster of emotions; this book was no different.

I loved the evolution of Miles and Tate’s relationship. It wasn’t instant love or even instant like since they pretty much just tolerated each other at first.

Miles back story just broke my heart a little bit more every time we got a peak at it. I knew it could only end badly as more and more was shared and I was right- it was devastating. Poor Miles has been to hell and back and I completely understand his reluctance to be in any kind of relationship.

I loved the character of Tate- she truly cared about people, especially Miles. And I love how her strength shined through when it was needed.

My favorite character in the book was Cap! I loved his advice and his random thoughts and sayings. I loved his relationship with everyone in the building. It makes me wish I had a Cap in my life!

The ending of this book had me crying legit tears of joy. I was so happy for everyone! It’s not surprising to me since this author always does a fabulous job of wrapping up her books. Brava Colleen Hoover, you have done it again!!

Now, what do we need to do to for a sequel to this book, even if its about the other characters in the book? I need more glimpses of the future!

The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) by Julia Quinn

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In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule…

Book: The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) by Julia Quinn
Published: June 27th, 2006
Pages: 384
Genres: Historical, Romance, Rom-Com
Format: Kindle
Date Read: April 4, 2011
Rating: Five Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

“There were rules among friends, commandments, really, and the most important one was Thou Shalt Not Lust After Thy Friend’s Sister.”

I read quite a few books in this series many years ago but with the show airing I find myself wanting to re-read them and enjoy these amazing characters again and again.

I love Julia’s writing style and the chemistry between her hero and heroine. I loved this book, plain and simple. Such a great, fun read!

Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Grave

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When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.

Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.

But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.

Book: Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Graves
Published: August 25th, 2015
Pages: 340
Genres: Romance, New Adult
Format: Kindle
Date Read: July 3-6, 2018
Rating: 5 Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

I am a huge fan of this author to begin with, I LOVED On The Island, so its no surprise that I was immediately pulled into this book from the first page. I love this authors writing style – it flows so nicely that you are always able to “see” everything happeneing in the book, just as she meant it to.
From the first time Ian and Kate met I was rooting for them – I loved their interactions and the way they just went back and forth so effortlessly. I love how Ian is flawed but makes no apologies for it – he is who he is and he’s not going to change. I love how Kate just wants to do something to help people – so sweet and courageous of her. I just love these characters so much.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something you will not want to put down. This author’s writing style just makes it so hard to stop reading because she weaves such wonderful tales that suck you in.

I’m off to go get book 2 in this series!

Happily Ever After (Cinder & Ella #2) by Kelly Oram

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This is the sequel to the #1 Bestselling novel Cinder & Ella from Kelly Oram.

The end of one story is often the beginning of another. Hollywood heartthrob Brian Oliver and his Cinderella princess Ellamara Rodriguez have finally found love outside the digital world. But leaving their anonymity behind creates a whole new set of obstacles for the nation’s new favorite sweethearts. With the stress of Brian’s fame, Ella’s disapproving family, and the pressures of a new relationship weighing down on them, the It Couple quickly begins to wonder if they can hold on to their newfound joy, or if maybe happily ever after is only a fairy tale.

Book: Happily Ever After (Cinder & Ella #2) by Kelly Oram
Published: April 11, 2017
Pages: 342
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Famous Hero or Heroine
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 25th-26th, 2018
Rating: 5 Potatoes! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

“You’re more than my pride and joy,” he said, softly stroking my hair with one hand. “You are my life, Ellamara. My heart. My soul. My everything.”

I love it when books have just enough drama and angst to not be boring but not so much that you are overwhelmed with it. This book fits that in spades! Once again this author has pulled me into this world that I didn’t want to leave.

Brian and Ella certainly haven’t had it easy, by any means, but I love seeing them be there for one another while growing as individuals and a couple. Its so refreshing to read about a couple that truly loves one another and is willing to do whatever it takes to support each other while not losing faith in their love. I can’t say enough about this couple – I just adore them so much.

There is also a lot to be said for a book that wraps up all of the loose ends and doesn’t leave you wondering what happened with certain things. This book was all wrapped up neatly in a bow at the end – and sometimes that is just perfect. It worked so well for this series.

I hope there will be a third book because I would definitely love to read more about these two!

Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella #1) by Kelly Oram

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Cinder458: Your blogaversary is coming up, right?
EllaTheRealHero: Do all those Hollywood friends of yours know you use words like blogaversary?
Cinder458: Of course not. I need your address. Got you a blogaversary present.

Cinder got me a gift?
My heart flipped.
Not that I was in love with my Internet best friend or anything. That would be utterly ridiculous. The boy was cocky and stubborn and argued with everything I said just to be infuriating. He also had lots of money, dated models—which meant he had to be hot—and was a closet book nerd.
Funny, rich, hot, confident, book lover. Definitely not my type. Nope. Not at all.
Yeah, okay, fine, so he wasn’t my type by default because he lived in California and I live in Massachusetts. Whatever.

Cinder458: Hello? Ella?? Address??
EllaTheRealHero: I don’t give out my address to creepy Internet stalkers.
Cinder458: I guess you don’t want this autographed first-edition hardback of The Druid Prince, then. Shame. I had it signed it to Ellamara when I met L.P. Morgan at FantasyCon last week, so I can’t try to impress any other girls with it.

Not my type.
Not. My. Type.

What would you do if your anonymous Internet best friend turned out to be Hollywood’s hottest celebrity?

It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.

Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.

Book: Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella #1) by Kelly Oram
Published: October 1st, 2014
Pages: 322
Genres: Romance, New Adult, Famous Hero or Heroine
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 25th, 2018
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

“A great character needs trials to overcome—experiences to give them depth, to make them vulnerable, relatable, and likable. Good characters need hardships to make them strong. The idea makes sense, but it still sucks if you’re the heroine.”

From the first page this book had me so completely hooked! First of all – who doesn’t love the classic cyber friends fall in love and meet in real life? Like, seriously. We’ve all thought about it!

I loved Ella and Brian so much – their characters were so flawed, yet so perfect for each other. The way the author wrote them made them seem so real. Their situations could easily happen to anyway, and have! I have to give Brian major kudos for sticking to his guns in the end and making things right with his girl. Yes, in the beginning, he went along with what society and his management team demanded of him to get publicity and make himself look good, but there’s just something so yummy about a guy who is willing to risk losing everything because they love you.

I truly can’t say enough about this book – I loved everything about it and will defintiely be checking out the next one in the series. Kelly Oram has just landed herself on my list of favorite authors to read everything they have ever written immediately!

Kulti by Mariana Zapata

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“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.”

When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.

It didn’t take a week for twenty-seven-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she’d seen in the international soccer icon—why she’d ever had his posters on her wall, or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.

Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man that hadn’t known she’d existed. So she isn’t prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team’s season: a quiet, reclusive, shadow of the explosive, passionate man he’d once been.

Nothing could have prepared her for the man she got to know.

Or the murderous urges he brought out in her.

“Sal, please don’t make me visit you in jail. Orange isn’t your color.”

This was going to be the longest season of her life.

Book: Kulti by Mariana Zapata
Published: March 20, 2015
Pages: 570
Genres: Romance, Athlete
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 15-25, 2017
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

I was sucked in from the first chapter of this book and I knew I was going to enjoy this read. I love the way the author tells the story and I so enjoy the main character, Sal’s commentary and sense of humor.

“It was the worst non-break-up ever in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who didn’t even know I existed.”

I love the character of Sal, she was so much fun to read about. And Kulti. Oh, how I love Kulti. This book was definitely a slow burn, super slow, but so worth it. The main characters had such chemistry and I enjoyed their banter so much.

“The German tilted his head up and cursed something low and long in German. “You were brought to this planet to give me an ulcer, weren’t you?””

I also loved Jenny and Harlow – its always nice to see TRUE friends are out there. And I loved any of the squad members that we’re backstabbing fakers.

“The second [voicemail} was from one of the defenders on the team that I wasn’t particularly close to, who laughed so hard she sounded like she was dying. “German Chocolate Cake! Oh my god, I thought I pissed my pants.””

I think everyone should live by the motto below, its so true.

“Once you reluctantly accepted that people were always going to judge you no matter what, it got a little easier to deal with having people dislike you.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and highly recommend it to everyone, even readers that aren’t huge fans of sports book. Read this book, you wont regret it!

Taste for Trouble (Blake Brothers Trilogy #1) by Susan Sey

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On the field, soccer star James Blake is pure poetry. Off the field? He’s pure trouble. When his fondness for fast women and bar brawls lands him a suspension from the game, he’s prepared to take his punishment like a man. But since when does a suspension come with a live-in nanny?

TV baking maven Belinda West is the epitome of home-made hospitality, on-screen and off. The personal is the professional when you’re selling the good life, after all. But when her wedding day implodes in front of a live studio audience, Bel’s career goes into a death spiral. She’ll do anything to save it, even take charge of soccer’s most famous bad boy.

To hell with the morals clause in his contract; James isn’t about to shape up for some knock-off Mary Poppins. But since when does Mary Poppins laugh like a naughty angel and smell like sugar cookies? He’s not looking for love but that kiss of hers is practically perfect in every way. And James has a powerful taste for trouble.

Book: Taste for Trouble (Blake Brothers Trilogy #1) by Susan Sey
Published: January 29th, 2013
Pages: 335
Genres: Romance, Athlete, Freebie On Amazon
Format: Kindle
Date Read: September 12-13, 2017
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

This book gets 5 glorious potato stars. Haha.

Where to begin with this review?

“You don’t have problems,” Drew said.
James considered the condition of his career and his unexpected predicament with Bel. “I don’t?”
“Yes,” Will said. “You do.” He glared at Drew. “He does.”
“He doesn’t,” Drew said to Will. He turned to James. “It’s not a problem,” he said, grinning. “It’s love.”
James stared at him while the ring of truth reverberated through his entire body. “Oh, Christ.”
Drew laughed. “This is awesome.”
Will smiled grimly. “Awesome. Right.”

I LOVED JAMES AND HIS BROTHERS! Yes, they could be annoying and self centered and sometimes made me want to reach into the book to slap them (more so Will than James and Drew) but I adored each one and I cannot wait to read their stories.

“It’s perfect.” He took that last step and caught her hands up in his. “You’re perfect.”
She laughed, his approval seeping into her bones like summer sunshine. “I’m hardly perfect.”
“Any more perfect and I’ll have to dig up a set of dueling pistols to defend your honor after some jerk tries to take liberties at that damn fountain.”

James and Bel were so perfect for each other that I was rooting for them as soon as she showed up at his house with her butter and eggs. This book was definitely a slow burn and I truly enjoyed reading it. It was refreshing to read about a couple that didn’t fall into insta-love and live happily every after within a hundred pages.

Brava to Susan Say for writing such a riveting book that I absolutely did not want to put down. I’m off to explore the rest of this series!

Tangled (Tangled 1) by Emma Chase

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Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant, he makes multimillion dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed?

He’ll tell you he has the flu.

But we all know that’s not really true.

Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful and ambitious. She refuses to let anything – or anyone – derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating.

Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life?

Can Drew Evans win at love?

Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing he never wanted in life, is the only thing he can’t live without.

Book: Tangled (Tangled 1) by Emma Chase
Published: August 2nd, 2013
Pages: 254
Genres: Romantic Comedy, Erotica
Format: Kindle
Date Read: June 01 to 02, 2013
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

Loved this! It was refreshing to read a book completely from the males POV. Drew definitely had some interesting pearls of wisdom to share with us! I’m glad he never gave up on Kate and once her realized he loved her he continued to fight – he didn’t give up a screw a bunch of girls like most guys do. Five stars!!

Suddenly Royal (Suddenly #) by Nichole Chase

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Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Book: Suddenly Royal (Suddenly #) by Nichole Chase
Published: April 23rd, 2013
Pages: 464
Genres: Romance, Famous Hero or Heroine, Swoony Males
Format: Kindle
Date Read: May 12 to 14, 2013
Rating: 5 Potatoes 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

FIVE STARS! I absolutely loved this book! Alex… Prince Yummy indeed!!! Even if I didn’t love everything about this book it would get five stars just for him alone ❤