New Release & ARC Review: Make Your Play (Aston Archers Hockey #2) by Cali Melle

 

Title: Make Your Play
Series: Aston Archers Hockey #2
Author: Cali Melle
Release Date: January 24, 2025

Publisher: Cali Melle

Pages: 236

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports Romance

Source: ARC/Ebook via author's ARC team

Falling for my best friend’s brother was not a part of my plan… especially while I was pregnant with someone else’s child. 

In my defense, I got pregnant by a guy who wants absolutely nothing to do with me or the baby. And, just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, my health insurance drops me, claiming I lied about a pre-existing condition.

Being in this alone is scary enough, but trying to figure out how I’m going to pay for my medical care? That’s a whole new level of terrifying. 

When Nash Simmons—my best friend’s brother, and Aston Archers star hockey player—finds out about the predicament I’m in, he steps in to save me from a financial disaster with an offer I can’t possibly refuse. 

His proposal: I marry him for his insurance and we get it annulled after the baby is born. It seems like the perfect solution, but as our arrangement unfolds and we continue to grow closer, it becomes even harder to ignore the electricity sizzling between us. 

The lines between real and fake are starting to blur, and I can’t help but wonder if there’s room for my son and I in his future. 

Or am I only fooling myself by thinking this could ever be more than what it was supposed to be?

AMAZON

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Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher/author. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own. 

I loved the first book in this series and knew that I was going to dive into this book immediately. I was absolutely ravenous to read their story after reading about Nash and Riley in Make Your Move. 

I have been so impressed with Cali Melle's writing style. She knows how to draw me in and keep me entertained. Her narration is smooth and easy to read. I love it when I connect with an author's writing so passionately. 

The characters in this series are incredible. There is a found family vibe that I can feel down to my bones with these characters. It is so easy to love them because they are so relatable. The characters are distinct and make an impression on the reader. 

I was on cloud nine with the romance in this book! I am a sucker for the "pregnant but it's not his" trope big time. There was so much emotion and the feels just kept coming. I loved the genuine chemistry that Riley and Nash shared. 

Overall, this was a stellar hockey romance chock-full of some incredible tropes. If you love a sports romance with the best friend's brother trope or the marriage of convenience trope then this book is your golden ticket. If a love story where he falls first is your jam then this book will fill that hole on your TBR. Memorable characters, a riveting plot, and a romance that will pull at your heartstrings are the backbone of this fantastic read. 

Cali Melle is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes sports romance that will pull at your heartstrings. You can always expect her stories to come fully equipped with heartthrobs and a happy ending, along with some steamy scenes.

In her free time, Cali can usually be found living in a magical, fantasy world with the newest book or fanfic she's reading or freezing at the ice rink while she watches her kids play hockey.

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ARC Review: Chase Lovett Wants Me by Helena Hunting

TITLE: Chase Lovett Wants Me

AUTHOR: Helena Hunting

PUBLISHER: Ink & Cupcakes Inc

PUBLISHED: January 10, 2025

PAGES: 228

GENRES: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports Romance, College Romance

SOURCE: ARC

GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH | AMAZON

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

A brand new standalone, opposites attract, college hockey romance.

Chase Lovett.

Star of my (unrequited) fantasies.

Hottest guy on campus.

Hockey god.

Too bad he has no idea who I am. Literally, I’m so invisible to him that he once sat on me in class.

No thanks to a fire in the dorms, he just became my accidental roommate.

Did I mention the hotel room our university moved us to has only one bed?

Not ideal.

Worse, I accidentally left “My Precious” fantasy fandom underwear hanging to dry in our shower.

My actual nightmare.

My name is Cammie Lovelock and this might just be the worst, best thing that’s ever happened to me.

Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own. 

Helena Hunting hockey romance is like my own brand of designer drug. I am perpetually ravenous for her hockey stories and this one gave me such an incredible high. 

Only a few authors can write a hockey romance that I go gaga for, but Helena Hunting is at the top of that short list. Most people know her for her hockey romance stories specifically and there is a good reason why. This book showcases that to a T. Hunting is a hockey romance prodigy and you know that you are always going to have a good time with her books. Her writing style is relatable and easy to read. The plot of this book sucked me right in and held me hostage from start to finish. This story was addicting! I seriously couldn't get enough of this couple. The world-building was wonderful. I was transported into this college setting with ease. The imagery was vivid and complete. 

My one and only hang-up with this book was the length and pacing. It was way too fast-paced for my liking and I felt that it should have been longer. The believability of character and relationship growth is diminished when the pace is too quick and/or there isn't enough time to satisfactorily build those relationships. Everything else was *chef's kiss*.

I cannot express the utter joy I experienced at the start of the book when I realized that this book was in the same world as her Toronto Terror series. There are so many overlapping characters and I was on cloud nine the entire time. There were so many cameos as well and I lived for them! I loved seeing characters that I have already loved in her other books and how they connected with the new ones in this book. I hope with all of my being that this standalone turns into a series and we get more stories from more characters. I could see some of the setups for other potential couples in this world and I was so dazzled by it all! Bring on the hockey boys and the girls that bring them to their knees, please!

Okay, now that my fangirling is (momentarily) done, let's get into the brand-new characters. I truly enjoyed all of them. Each character was distinct and had a unique personality that I couldn't help but gravitate toward. I was so intrigued by each of the secondary characters and, again, I am so hoping they all get their own stories. I loved the depth that all of the secondary characters lent to the story. This was a very character-motivated story and the side characters really worked their magic to make the reading experience superb. Hunting writes excellent relationships in her stories, especially friendships. I was so on board with and ecstatic about the strong female friendships in this book. I also loved how Cammie was a strong female lead. She was a wallflower but knew how to stand up for herself when the occasion arose which made me so happy. Chase was the epitome of a boy-obsessed. He was such an adorable golden retriever hero. I adored him. He had it bad for Cammie and pulled out all the stops for her. He also wasn't afraid of his feelings for her and went all in. 

The romance in this book was literally all the things, okay? I was just smitten with this couple. I loved the jock/wallflower dynamic. Cammie and Chase had incredible chemistry from the get-go. Their attraction was out of this world. I loved that their romance breached so many levels in this book. The spice was scorching and the building of the relationship was so organic. It was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The heartfelt moments were impactful and made some of the spicy scenes feel even more intense because of it. Cammie and Chase were truly a pair that was meant to be and it shows in the pages of the story so expertly. 

Overall, this is a college sports romance with memorable characters, an unputdownable plot, and so much spice! I would strongly recommend reading the Toronto Terror series before diving into this one, though I will add that this book is marketed as a standalone and could definitely be read as one. However, it will be a better experience if you already know some of the side characters coming into this story. Take a hit of this story and you'll soon realize that Helena Hunting books are habit-forming. You won't be able to stop reading her masterful stories. I'm on this train for the long haul and can't wait for the next stop!

NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her adorable, emotional cat, who thinks the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from emotional contemporary romance to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

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The Toronto Terror Series

*Images link to my reviews either here on the blog or on Goodreads.

Helena Hunting is one of my unicorn authors. You know the ones I'm talking about. The authors who are on your auto-buy list and write the perfect story every single time. What are some of your unicorn authors? Give me all your best recs!

 

Release Blitz & Review: Pretty Drunk (Pine Village #3) by Lacey Black (plus a review for the first book in the series!)

Title: Pretty Drunk
Series: Pine Village #3
Author: Lacey Black
Release Date: March 19, 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Small Town/Surprise Pregnancy

Forced Proximity/Enemies to Lovers

Hallie

No one pushes my buttons the way Logan Johnson does. I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to ignore him, which isn’t easy when you live in a small town and share the same friends.

So, when I have a little too much to drink and need a place to crash after our friends’ wedding, it would figure I find myself at Logan’s house. What I’m not expecting is ending up in his bed. With him. Naked. More so, I wasn’t anticipating enjoying myself as much as I did, anxious for a repeat, which is why I’m not surprised when it happens again.

The problem is those drunken nights have resulted in something unplanned. Something monumental. Something that will change our lives forever.

Logan

Being attracted to someone who drives you completely crazy is its own form of hell. Hallie Rhodes is entirely infuriating, yet so damn beautiful it makes me ache. 

There’s a fine line between love and hate, and we’ve been blurring it for as long as I can remember. So, when a late, drunken night turns into something it shouldn’t, all bets are off. Plans change and futures are cemented, despite having no idea what really comes next. All I know is the more time we spend together, the more I realize having her in my life is paramount.

Now my biggest challenge of all presents itself. Proving to Hallie we’re better together than we ever were apart.

US: https://amzn.to/3GzoDhy
UK: https://amzn.to/46Oxcjk
CA: https://amzn.to/3t2RzLR
AU: https://amzn.to/3RvTu5f

Free in Kindle Unlimited

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Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own. 

This series is small-town romance at its finest! Lacey Black can grab your attention easily with her outstanding characters and intriguing plots.

Black has a very fluent writing style that is easy to get lost in. The plot was very engaging and I was glued to the pages of this story from start to finish. 

All of the characters in this series are great. They all have distinct individual personalities. It's so easy to fall in love with all of them. Hallie and Logan were so relatable with excellent character development. Their characters were fleshed out really well. 

The romance in this book is a tale as old as time. A surprise pregnancy stemming from a one-night stand. There is also a frenemies-to-lovers vibe going on that is quite tantalizing. Hallie and Logan slowly fall in love and he is very supportive after finding out about the pregnancy. Their banter is amusing and their chemistry is so natural and organic. 

Overall, this was a beautiful love story that was entertaining and heartfelt. This series is full of incredible characters that really stand out and capture your heart. This book is perfect for you if you love the surprise pregnancy and enemies-to-lovers tropes with a small-town vibe. I am so eager for the next book in this series!

Pretty Remarkable – a FREE prequel

US: https://amzn.to/3R3d3Pw
UK: https://amzn.to/3q3SEOC
CA: https://amzn.to/3q1saNv
AU: https://amzn.to/3B6dao8
B&N: https://bit.ly/3wOMCFb
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3erKqNA
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3Qje2de
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3D4FU1Z 

#1 Pretty Incredible

US: https://amzn.to/3cx7rOI
UK: https://amzn.to/3TJekNA
CA: https://amzn.to/3Q394RH
AU: https://amzn.to/3R97yPd

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own. 

This book was the perfect start to a new series! 

Lacy Black has an expressive writing style that is perfect for this type of story. I really connected with it. This book was entertaining and kept my interest from start to finish. The plot was very intriguing. I loved the small-town vibes throughout. 

The characters were fleshed out nicely. It was easy to relate to them and step into their shoes. The characters had excellent character growth. Blair's character really had to evolve a lot. Each character was well-developed with individuality. The secondary characters added something special to the story. 

Blair and Gabe have undeniable chemistry. They have a history together so it adds to the intensity of their dynamic. This book has a he-falls-first-and-hard situation. Gabe was trying to prove to Blair that they belonged together. He was so swoon-worthy. 

Overall, this is a small-town romance with an organic story about family and forgiveness. The journey for Blair and Gabe was so heartwarming and full of emotion. This is the story for you if you are a fan of raw stories and memorable characters. I am such a fan of this series and can't wait for the next book!

#2 Pretty Dependable 

US: https://amzn.to/47icxVM
UK: https://amzn.to/3u4FANT
CA: https://amzn.to/3sgGXsn
AU: https://amzn.to/3FHADgF

Free in Kindle Unlimited

See my review for Pretty Dependable here.

COMING SOON 

#4 Pretty Relentless – Releasing September 17

US: https://amzn.to/48JpcRD
UK: https://amzn.to/4ccy1Gz
CA: https://amzn.to/3vbkQVG
AU: https://amzn.to/48NuUBZ

Only available at the following retailers for a limited time

B&N: https://bit.ly/3PCJcir
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3uWAS5Y
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3wKfhxT

USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.

Website: http://www.laceyblackbooks.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaceyblack 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceyblackwrites 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlack 

Newsletter: http://www.laceyblackbooks.com/newsletter