BOOK REVIEW: The Only One Left by Riley Sager

 

5 Stars

Taking care of the town’s very own Lizzie Bordan is the last job Kit McDeere wants, but since her last home care giver position ended in her being the accused, she doesn’t have a whole lot of job prospects. So to the site of a triple murder she reluctantly goes to fill the shoes of the previous caregiver who disappeared into the night. Kit can certainly understand why her predecessor might have abandoned her post in a house where fifty-four-year-old blood stains still reside on the carpet. But the personal belongings that still occupy her room is puzzling and a bit unsettling, though not nearly as much as the strange noises and unexplained motion coming from a mute invalid’s room in the middle of the night.

Hand taps and a typewriter are Kit and Miss Hope’s only means of communication so when the elderly and disabled ostracized socialite offers to confide in Kit the decades old mystery that still haunts her and the town, Kit quickly gets drawn in and so did I.

To me, this is one of those mystery gems. It captures the elements of gothic and offers an intriguing collection of curious characters who might also be suspects in the creepy going-ons at Hope’s End in an engaging suspense story that’s well paced with many twists and reveals that keep you guessing and reevaluating what exactly is going on both in 1929 when the origional murders took places as well as in the novel’s 1983 present when Kit arrives.

The setting is done well, both the subtle cultural references to 1983 sprinkled in the descriptions, never forced or shoved down the reader’s throat, and the dilapidated cliff-side mansion tilting into the Maine coastline and crumbling from the weight of its secrets, a symbolic manifestation of its occupants of outcasts whose broken lives of repressed traumas have them tilted on their own axis. Meanwhile, Miss Hope’s 1929 typings provide a story within the story as she relates the house’s sordid history, a gothic gilded age soap opera.

Both decades emit vibes of Poe and Hitchcock and if Netflix hasn’t scooped up the rights to this one for Halloween, then they’re sorely missing out because it would come to life even more on screen.

This was an easy five stars. I didn’t even have to think about what to rate it as I enjoyed it right down to the final page. It’s one of those books where you savor the whole journey even as you are drawn into the mystery that has you turning pages to gather more clues and try to solve the who-done-it. 

GOODREADS

*Title purchased from Barnes & Noble. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.

~Also by the Author~

Book Review

BOOK REVIEW: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

 3.5 Stars

Widow and actress Casey Fletcher has taken refuge, though she’s also kind of been banished, to the family lake house after her career tanks.  While I get why her family and friends feel she needs to be out of the public’s eye for a while, I kept scratching my head why they’d leave a woman with a drinking problem basically secluded with access to alcohol. Because her drinking is really out of hand. And one can only read about the protagonist taking another drink so many times before it starts to feel like the book has a drinking game built in for the reader.

If you’re not getting drunk alongside Casey, you’ll probably notice the slow build. And the fact that Casey’s inebriated state is the main thing helping some of the suspension of disbelief with this story.

The premise isn’t original, so it doesn’t have that going for it.  Bored and drunk most of the time, Casey finds entertainment spying on the new neighbors after acquiring a savior complex for the wife.  

The initial mystery had promise, but I’ve got a beef about bait and switch marketing. A book with paranormal elements should be indicated in the description or genre listing. And while I didn’t hate the supernatural elements of the plot, I would have much preferred a fully real-world suspense. While the story is entertaining and has a positive ending which I enjoyed, it would be a much better mystery without the paranormal. Not only did it open the door to another realm so to speak, it also opened the door to some plot holes, if not silliness.

Luckily, I inadvertently bought two books by this author only a few days apart. This was my first read and it was okay, but the next one (see below) was the real prize. 

GOODREADS

*Title purchased from Marshalls. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.

~Also by the Author~

Book Review

BOOK REVIEW: Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

3 ‘Meh’ Stars

On the heels of reading You Shouldn’t Have Come Here, I decided to check out other titles by the author. I couldn’t resist the cool VHS tape cover of Home Is Where the Bodies Are and the premise sounded promising.  But, as the saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Instead of a suspense-thriller like the cover suggests, this story is bogged down by dysfunctional family drama as three thirty-something siblings gather following the passing of their mother only to discover that their family mementos include home videos of a dead body, a scene which their parents appear complicit in.  The opening chapters of the mother dying are depressing, and the rest is a lot of sibling resentment and squabbles.  The adult children do not solve the mystery; they just stumble through it. There are flawed characters and then there’s just face in your palm characters and these fall in the latter category—especially the parents. By the end, they were reprehensible.

Speaking of the recently departed mother, her chapters were particularly cringey to get through. The attempts to paint a picture of 1999 was not only blatantly forced but led to awkward narration that didn’t resemble how a person would talk or think in the moment. Not to mention some of the cultural references were off. It was painfully clear this was not written by a Gen Xer who knew the decade firsthand, but by someone younger trying to pretend like they did.

For the record, people weren’t walking around in 1999 describing what other people were wearing while also pointing out technology (by brand name to boot) that coincidentally was going to be obsolete in twenty years. And moms sure weren’t standing around taking selfies with their bestie neighbor because they would have known those doubles they were promising to get would be a waste of film processing since cameras of that decade were not designed to be used that way and thus, aside from a lucky shot, it didn’t turn out. Oh and teenagers weren’t knocking on doors asking for someone to come out and play. (Not ‘hang out’ or ‘go do something’, or even ‘play [insert sport]’ but plain old childlike “play” as if they were six.)

To say the book could be researched better is a bit of an understatement especially when you also factor in the inaccuracies with everything from safety deposit boxes to the inheritance process.

All in all, while the plot had potential, it fails in execution.  The mood lacks suspense and thrill. The characters don't exactly come across as people you can really root for. And the ending message of forgiveness felt like it belonged more in a hokey but misogynist Sunday church sermon than a supposed thriller novel with a broken and bloody VHS tape cover.

It would be like seeking forgiveness for Jason Voorhees. 😱 

GOODREADS 

*Title borrowed from library. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.

~Also by the Author~

Book Review

BOOK REVIEW: You Shouldn't Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose

    It sure has been a while 

    (*dusts off the cobwebs* surveys the clean-up needed*) 

    Well one thing at a time. 

    Speaking of time, I don't really have enough to vet a new romance read so I walked into a bookstore, headed for the mystery section, read a few back covers, and otherwise (aside from checking POV—gotta be 1^st for me) went in blind, something I can’t do with romance. 

    Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I’ve picked up a novel for leisure, yet alone a mystery/suspense, but this one wasn’t like how I remembered them. The formula was different. Or maybe times have finally changed. Regardless, I had no intent to start writing reviews again. I got into that [reviews and blogging] for fun, but it became more like work, and a time suck which ate into more important priorities. Women have enough unpaid labor in the world, so I took a break. (*glances at the time stamp on the last post*) Okay a long break. But here I am again. I finished the book and my fingers were itching on the laptop keys. Some girls just have itches we gotta scratch. Mine is words. So here goes.  With this long of an introduction, I’ll try to make it quick. (But that’s probably a lie.)

4.5 Stars

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here was on a table in between the mystery section and the romance section. Was it a romantic suspense? I pondered even as I neared the last quarter of the novel.

Or was it gonna be a suspense thriller? 

It’s suspense for sure with a theme of things are not as they seem.

The mystery is in the genre, and it’s a slow build mystery, one that simmers longer than Grace’s brussels sprouts or Calvin’s hotdogs and beans. There are hints of menace in the background as our dual first-person narrators explore their push and pull relationship that has an expiration date, always front and center in their minds as well as the readers as the book sections count down the days of her stay.

Do they overcome their obstacles and ride off into the metaphorical sunset? Only the final pages would tell so I’ll dance around this a little more. Besides, I was getting ahead of myself.

Grace Evans threw a dart at a map and booked her yearly vacation at an Airbnb ranch in Wyoming. Before she even gets there, the creepy encounters begin. And they only continue to pile up once she’s settled in. Are they coincidences? Or simply Grace’s nagging paranoia? She is a fish out of water, a NYC banker in the remote west where wild animals outnumber the people in population. But the locals aren’t short on problems. There’s Calvin’s brother who has as many hang-ups and resentments as he has had drinks. As well as Calvin’s pseudo mother and wanna-be girlfriend, both of which aren’t subtle with their opinion that an outsider like Grace doesn’t belong.

Grace certainly experiences some culture shock as her host’s friends, family, and nature begin crawling out of the woodwork. As does a lot of new vacation experiences that aren’t exactly Instagram worthy.  But she mostly takes it in stride, projecting her cool city confidence with this insular crew.

I gotta admit, I’m not sure if the author intended for some of the drama that ensues to be humorous or not, but I got a kick out of it while I played armchair detective and psychologist, analyzing which characters might be psychos and which might only be small town crazy.  As a result, it kept me turning pages.  I was also torn between wanting to see Grace and Calvin emerge unscathed and get together (the romantic in me) and wanting a good twisted thriller (the horror movie fan in me).

There’s, of course, the business with the missing girl, which makes the Sheriff a frequent guest even if he’s not booking a reservation.  And what skeletons are lurking in everybody’s guarded past?

All I’m gonna say is that the novel delivers the promised twists. And while I considered most possibilities, I was still surprised at the ultimate reveals.  I want to praise not just the execution of the ending, but also the way it broke the mold. There are enough helpless heroines in literature, and thankfully Grace isn’t one of them. A one-time feminist literary theory student, I closed the book with a sense of satisfaction. Though I’ll admit, I craved a bonus chapter with Dubois’s reaction. This would make a good limited-episode binge-watch Netflix kind of movie.

 Romance Safety:  

In the end, it is a suspense thriller.  But because there is a relationship between Grace and Calvin, romance safety readers will consider this mostly not safe. Feel free to message me for more specifics if you aren’t worried about spoilers

. 

GOODREADS

*Title purchased from Barnes & Noble. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.

BOOK REVIEW: Frisky Business by Kim Linwood

 

4.35 Stars

Axton Graves is the oldest brother in the Graves family and funeral home business.  He has a reputation as a workaholic, which he lives up to until he’s had enough.  Josie Garcia is a small-town florist and a good friend of Axton’s sister-in-laws.  With a new greenhouse business and a surly neighbor, Josie has a lot on her plate, but the two are able to give each other a hand.

I think I need a vacation as much as Axton, and this little reading sojourn hit the spot to escape for a short while.  It’s lighthearted, fun, and sexy.

“‘If we’re going to get frisky I want to make sure I’m not going to accidentally poke a stab wound you forgot to tell me about.’”

With action, danger, and suspense too.

The story moved along well. Maybe a little too fast; the end arrived sooner than I expected.  I would have liked a little more of an epilogue rather than a sample of the first book. Hints at the next story would have been welcome too as I’m anxious to see other Grave family members get their special someone.

A highly recommended, cute, steamy, and romantic series, I enjoyed Axton and Josie’s story just as much as the previous ones. Axton is a smart and swoonworthy guy. He’s not a manwhore or a chauvinist, something the romance world tends to have too many of.  We need more sweet, sexy, and respectful men like Axton.

Told via Axton and Josie’s alternating first person POV, it’s a story of a city boy and a country girl.  Couples from the previous books have supporting roles as we see their happily ever afters play out. Carter even has a cameo chapter.  Readers meet a few new characters too, including a lively introduction to Blossom who was a fun addition.

Safety Recap: 

No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. No OW/OM drama. No appearances of OW/OM at all. h is not a virgin/H is not a manwhore. No rape or sexual abuse. HEA

*I volunteered to review this ARC from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

GOODREADS        BOOKBUB

~Also in the Series~

#1

Book Review 

#2

Book Review

REVIEW & INTERVIEW: Sacrifice by Charisse Moritz

~Book Review~

4.5 Stars 

Daisy Goodwill is a recent high school graduate on her own, lonely, and getting by with a job, apartment, and skimpy wardrobe all courtesy of The Choosy Beggar’s bassist’s generosity and wheeling & dealing. 

Meanwhile, Choosy Beggar’s drummer Shae Kristakakos is an almost nineteen-year-old single dad, also barely getting by. The last thing he thinks he needs or wants is a girl or a neighbor. But he’s coming face to face with both. 

 Told via their dual alternating POV, the characters engaged me right from the start. Like the previous book in this series, Shatter, the character development is strong. You really get a sense of what weighs Shea and Daisy down and what lifts them up. And while they pull you into the ups and downs of their lives, the supporting characters, toddler included, also add to the fullness of the story—creating an admirable group of friends— as well as entertaining. 

For example, Minnie was a hoot: 

“‘You could pull the zipper down now and then. Let loose. Pound the duck….This is me watching my language.’” 

And Mutt…You can’t muzzle him, and I certainly wouldn’t want to. 

“‘We won’t be coming out until Satin’s skank has been exorcised….And Shae, either handle this right or start a go-fund-me page so you can afford a working set of balls.’” 

Oh Mutt made me want more from him, his own story up next. And I was happy to see Tia from the previous. 

“‘Who wants easy?...Take exhibit A. You don’t think that took some patience and work?’” 

But back to our hero and heroine, Shae bowed me over with how amazing he was as a dad. Despite his rough and sometimes grouchy exterior, he was such a sweetie underneath, so devoted and so selfless. Even though he was reluctant at first, I liked how once he got to know Daisy, he never doubted her. They complimented each other well. 

 “He blinks and the tides rush in. He moans with pleasure and this daisy blooms.” 

Shae was definitely a keeper and rocked the romantic hero role. He will make reader’s hearts, ovaries, and panties melt. 

 This is a largely a new adult tale with a nice balance of heartwarming, heartstring-pulling, adventure, sweetness, and sexy. There’s fun banter and reveals I did not see coming that kept me on my toes and turning pages. And while the characters have their struggles and heartaches, the angst was kept in check nicely keeping the tone and mood positive. 

 “I don’t think there’s any way it could get any better, but we should practice…a lot…just in case. Maybe, probably even again tonight. At least once more…” 

At this point, I’m definitely invested in the Choosy Beggar bunch. I kinda didn’t want it to end. They have a great little crew of misfit friends and I look forward to reading more of their stories. 

 Safety Recap:

No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. H is not a manwhore; has been celibate for about a year or so. h is not a virgin. OW/OM drama: H’s ex/mother of his son is a real piece of work who has made H’s life difficult and threatens to cause problems. h’s ex is a drug dealer/dangerous who she’s ran away from. No rape (but threat of) or sexual abuse. Brief references to past dubious consent. HEA.

GOOODREADS    BOOKBUB    

*I was gifted a copy from the author to review. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. This title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

~Character Interview~

Book Boyfriend Data Sheet

Name: Shae Kristakakos

Age: 19

Birthday: 🎂 August 25 ♍

Birthplace:🌎 Upstate NY

Measurements:📏
Height 6'4"
Weight: 260 lbs.
Length: That’s personal 
Girth: What the hell is girth?

Turn-ons:👍 Daisy in a yellow dress 

Turn-offs:👎 Mutt in a yellow dress

Guilty Pleasures: Sometimes, late at night, I google Sabian Artisan cymbals. I put the 13” Artisan Hi-Hats in my cart and let them sit in there for a while. 

Idea of a perfect date: I skipped this question, answered the others and came back to it. I thought about all the fancy places I could take my girl, but I’d really just like to sleep with her. Actually sleep. Literally sleep. Raising a two-year-old is exhausting. Getting time alone isn’t easy. Give me a king size bed so my feet don’t hang off the end. Let me spoon my gal, sleep in without setting an alarm … I’m a happy man. 

Favorite song to sing: 🎵 My bandmates came up with a really aggravating song called Gravy Toad that’s catching on with our fans. Now I’m adding lines about a dirty dog and a yardbug. Payback is sweet.  

My next tattoo will be:  A daisy. Right under the word Amo over my heart.

You're stuck in an endless line at the DMV, and Patrick is squirming. When you reach into your backpack, you realize there's only one book, which you'll be reading on repeat. You're thankful it's not one of Daisy's, but which title do you hope is there— Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Go Dog Go, or The Monster at the End of this Book? 📘 I would never be caught at the DMV without a backpack full of toys, books and snacks for my boy. But I’ll play along and choose Go Dog Go. Colors, rhyming, counting, up and down concepts … it’s got everything.

Mutt pulls some epic strings and gets a celebrity drummer to perform alongside you at the next Choosy Beggar gig. Who is it

 —Ringo Starr, Tommy Lee, or Dave Grohl? 🥁 I hate to miss out on Tommy Lee and the chance to play the Dr. Feelgood drum part … it’s iconic, but I’d probably pick Dave Grohl, just so I could ask him about his time in Nirvana. I’d avoid the topic of Foo Fighters and just keep asking about what it was like to write with Kurt Cobain. 

Daisy is wearing her Lick Me tee and holding a pint of ice-cream🍨 in her right hand and a container of cupcake frosting 🧁 in her left. Your choice, which one are you tasting off her? Sounds sticky. Do you have any idea how hard it is to clean up melted ice cream? And frosting is pure sugar and fat. No thank you. All I need is pure Daisy. 

A big thanks to Charisse for making Shae available! 💜

Emily Award Finalist and Melody Of Love Award Finalist, Charisse Moritz divides her life between upstate NY and northern Florida. When not barricaded inside her writing cave or enjoying every possible minute with her husband and three kids, you’ll find her listening to 60’s music, singing off key and looking for new reads.

~Also in the Series~

Shatter (The Choosy Beggars #1)

BOOK RELEASE/REVIEW: The Good Guys Box set by Jamie Schlosser

 ~Now Available~

This box set includes the last three novels from The Good Guys series (Outcast, Magic Man, and Loner) as well as a bonus novella. 

The first three novels of the series (Trucker, Dancer, and Dropout) are in a separate box set.)  

This is a great series and one I’d recommend. You can find my reviews of the first five novels by clicking on the titles above. The sixth book is in my TBR pile. I’m more than a bit behind so review to come once I have more romance reading time.

The bonus novella, The Last Bachelor in Tolson, is available exclusively in this box set. Sadly, it’s not one I can say I’d recommend. 

~Review~

The Last Bachelor in Tolson is the romance of Hank (Colton’s dad from Dancer) and Karen (Travis’s mom from Trucker) who are both widowed and have known each other for years but have held back getting involved.

Set on Christmas Eve and during the wedding of Beverly (Jimmy and Ezra’s grandmother) and Ernie, I opened this expecting a sweet and light-hearted Christmas read. And if you are looking for a feel-good, leave you with a smile on your face quick story, you're going to want to skip the epilogue.  I can't tell you how much I wish I would have stopped before it (or that I wish it would have just ended up on the editing room floor.) It is somber and depressing and not the ending I was expecting. While it technically gives the hero and heroine of this tale their HEA, I’m not sure I can say it does the same for the series as a whole. If anything, it takes away from it. I don’t know I could re-read Dropout now and enjoy what is some of the funniest parts without feeling sad.

I think this is a situation where the epilogue went too far in the future (it can happen), and it wasn’t needed. It didn’t add anything to the story or the series. In fact, I would have much preferred the time and pages to have been spent on the Christmas story at hand, adding more development between Hank and Karen (I can’t quite say I felt as warm and fuzzy about them as I have the previous couples) and more holiday good times. There was definitely missed opportunities for some holiday humor (Sweatpea is mentioned but never gets a real cameo).

I’ve always been a romance reader for a little escape. I can read other things for life’s realities.  We’re living in a real-world pandemic where loved ones (especially elderly and vulnerable loved ones) are lost every day. I was frankly kinda shocked to have to read about the deaths of beloved fictional characters too, in a holiday novella. It’s much more fun to just imagine them going on with their lives.

This is still a good bundle as the bonus story is only the last 5%.  Just be aware that if this is a trigger or reading hard pass for you, to bow out before the end. 

Safety Recap:

No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. No OW/OM drama. H is not a manwhore/h is not a virgin. No rape or sexual abuse. Triggers: Death of significant supporting character(s). HEA? For the H and h— yes. For the series as a whole—debatable.

 

 HEA? For the H&h— yes. For the series as a whole—debatable.

No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. No OW/OM drama. H is not a manwhore/h is not a virgin. No rape or sexual abuse. Triggers: Death of significant supporting character.

GOODREAD         

*Title purchased from Amazon. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. 

BOOK REVIEW: IOU by Kristy Marie

4.35 Stars

Rumors run rampant at Havemeyer college, but it’s no lie that Ainsley James has been blacklisted from college living complexes after earning an unfair arsonist reputation.  

Maverick Lexington’s reputation keeps people at bay, and he gets by feeding off that mystique. He definitely doesn’t want a roommate, but when his “favor” business encounters a challenge he can’t meet, his solo reputation gets a test. 

“What I wanted was ice-cream and dick with a side of mac and cheese. So here we are.”

Ainsley is beyond quirky, but Mav definitely intrigued me from the start. He has that cool, aloof bad boy aura, but a genuineness to him as well. He’s not exactly your ordinary college student, and I related with him, sharing a similar health issue. Despite his surface surliness, you could tell he was a good guy underneath.

“Confused. Pissed. Happy. I’m like a hormonal teenage girl.”

Much like Mav’s initial response to Ainsley, she had to grow on me as well. In some of the earlier chapters, her monologues drug on and I did some skimming.  I also wanted her to get over her douchey ex as much as Mav.

I think the story could have benefited from some pacing adjustments. For example, it takes several chapters till they even meet in the beginning, while at the end, there’s a bit of an abrupt jump to the epilogue. Also it’s a slow burn romance. The smexy times don’t arrive till about the last quarter of the book, and there’s only one or two sex scenes. I would have liked more steam.

However, there is palpable sexual tension long before that and the first kiss….oh that was one of the best I’ve ever read. Major points for originality and if this was a movie—definite Best Kiss winner.

I like romances where the hero and heroine complement each other and provide something the other one needs or is missing. And that’s how Ainsley and Mav ultimately operated as Ainsley learned to live for herself, and Mav learned to lean on someone and not take on all his problems by himself.  I adored the complete absence of OW drama from Mav’s side (he’s wonderfully celibate and most definitely not a manwhore).

Told via Mav and Ainsley’s first person POV, it’s a cute, safe, and light-hearted feel-good story, which I always enjoy. The genie/IOU theme also had a sweet and original touch.

“I had to grant a favor. #genielife”

  Lawrence was endearing as well.

Some side characters appear to have their own books now so I might have to check them out.  This story is a stand-alone with connections to a Rumors series and other series. 

 Safety Recap:

No cheating. No sex scenes with OP. H is not a manwhore/h is not a virgin. No OW drama. Some OM drama from h’s ex. No rape or sexual abuse. Possible triggers: medical issues. HEA.

 

GOODREADS     BOOKBUB 

*Title purchased from Amazon during a .99 cents sale. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.

BOOK REVIEW: Driven Wild by Kim Linwood

4.35 Stars

Race car driver Brandon Graves was Zoe Chandler’s celebrity crush till her best friend fell in love with his brother and she got to met him. Then he became a real-life annoyance. Still, that doesn’t stop the trouble-making pair from getting drunk and married in Vegas.

“'Because if you’re looking to get this annulled, we consummated the fuck out of this marriage.’”

But to avoid steeling the spotlight during Carter and Sadie’s wedding preparations, Brandon and Zoe agree to keep things quiet—well about the marriage anyways. Everything else they do isn’t so silent.

“G-spots or G-forces, who cares when it feels this amazing?”

This is the second book in the Graves Brothers series, but it can be read as a standalone. Brandon’s brother Carter was adorable in the previous title so I was a little worried that Brandon could live up, but it turns out he’s just as entertaining and hot too. Though a no-strings-attached guy, Brandon’s head, hard-on, and soon heart are all in for Zoe as the pair trade snarky barbs, sexy innuendos, and stir up mischief that proves just how well suited they are for each other.

"I gasp as her fingers circle my shaft like a cock ring made of ice.”

I honestly thought they were closer to two peas in a pod than opposites attract when it came right down to it.

“‘I won’t crush what make him him, but I won’t let it drag him down, either.’”

And I didn’t think Brandon was the screw-up his family pegged him as. That award had to go to Sadie’s parents, who kept things on the edge as to what mishap these retirees would land themselves in next. Meanwhile, I side-eyed Cousin Ethan a few times. I think Grandma Gladys better keep an eye on him.

 Told via Brandon and Zoe’s alternating first person POV, this is a funny and steamy tale. I had several laugh out loud moments.

“‘On a horror scale from Saw to The Great Pumpkin, we’re solidly in Charlie Brown territory,’”

 Oldest brother and workaholic Axton is next in the series. I can’t wait to read Frisky Business, while also keeping my fingers crossed that there’s a book for Dani to come.

Safety Recap: 

No cheating. No sex scenes with OP. Not really any OW/OM drama—there’s a minor scene where girls are heard in the background while the H is at a bar and on the phone with the h, but the H appears to blow them off. This is where I think cousin Ethan is to blame. Otherwise, no presence of any OW/OM.  h is not a virgin/h was a ONS kind of guy in the past till he hooks up with the h. My impression was that he was a bit of a player, but not necessary a manwhore. He has a line where he said he sleeps alone more than people think.  No rape or sexual abuse. HEA.

*I volunteered to review this ARC from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

GOODREADS     BOOKBUB

~Also in the Series~

#1

Book Review

BOOK REVIEW: Stiff Competition by Kim Linwood

4.35 Stars

If this casket is rocking, don’t come a knocking!

Sadie Williams, 23, is left in charge of her family run funeral home and deciding the fate of the business when her parents take an early retirement vacation.

Carter Graves, 26, is also looking to the future of his family’s funeral home chain, and top on his priority list is sealing the deal—professionally and personally. He wants the business and the girl too. But till he gets Sadie to trust him, he won’t be scoring either.

“Carter’s smooth on the surface, rough around the edges and drives me crazy and wild in equal measure, but he’s also kind, useful in a pinch, and not nearly as superficial as his blustery negotiator act might lead people to believe.”

Carter was cute, playful, and likable.  He was a full of himself at times but still a total good guy.  There’s plenty of banter between them as well as the supporting characters to keep things interesting. The setting was unique while largely still feeling upbeat.

Told via their dual alternating first person POV, it’s a pleasing blend of sweet and lighthearted with a moment of touchingly sad, while never sacrificing those all import steamy scenes.

“‘Whatever you want and as many ways as you want it. Standing up or on all fours. You can be on top. Really, I’m open to anything, so long as it involves you, me and as much dirty, filthy, time as you’ll give me.’”

Fans, like myself, of low angst, sexy, safe reads will enjoy this one.

There’s also an unexpected cameo from One Flight Stand, which almost derailed me as I flipped back to one of my favorite reads for a quick refresh that made me want to read it again. But next up is Driven Wild, Carter’s brother Brandon’s book with resident embalmer Zoe. I’m definitely intrigued by all of the Graves brothers and sister so looking forward to all of their stories as well as hopefully more appearances from Grandma Graves.

Safety Recap:

No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. No OW/OM drama. No appearances of OW/OM at all. h is not a virgin/H is not a manwhore. No rape or sexual abuse. HEA.

*Title purchased from Amazon. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions.

GOODREADS      BOOKBUB

~Also in the Series~

#2

BOOK REVIEW

2021 Update

(*Dusts off blogger*) Hi Everyone! (*dust continues to fly*) Wow, it’s been a long time. Specifically, it’s been nine months since my last review. (*counts on fingers just to be sure*) Yep, tomorrow it will be exactly nine months since my last post.

You may ask, where did you go? (*song pops into head* It's a good song so let's take a moment to enjoy it....) 

First, I apologize for not getting back to a number of email inquiries and requests for review.  It's not that I'm not reading; I'm just not reading much romance. Those blocks on the old calendar have been slim to none in the past few months.  And so time flies as I’ve been busy in other aspects of my life. I do miss leisure reading, but priorities and all that. Today though I’m taking a little break from nineteenth century British literature where orphans and monsters have been occupying my summer to creep back into Romancelandia momentarily. Thanks to the great invention of author newsletters, I’m not completely out of the loop when it comes to my favorite steamy reads... I think. (*ponders what else is new that I might have missed*)

Anyways, here’s what I now know I missed and what new is on the horizon:

Kim Linwood is back with a new release in her Graves Brothers series. Driven Wild hits Kindle screens on August 10th, and pre-order for .99 cents is available now.

If you missed the first book, like me, (*hides in shame*) well maybe we can buddy read. Stiff Competition is at the top of my TBR pile. 

Also coming this month, the latest and possibly final(??? Jamie, say it isn’t so!) book in The Good Guys series by Jamie Schlosser. Loner drives into town August 12^th.  Check out the cover:

And if you haven’t read the previous stand-alone titles in this enjoyable series of sweet and sexy good guys, you can get acquainted with them from their earlier centerfold appearances on the blog: HERE!

And finally, Annika Martin teased a few months back a new installment in her Kinky Bank Robbers serial.  If you haven't one-clicked the freebie first installment, definitely give it a try. That's how I got hooked! Learn more: HERE!

In the meantime, read a book you've never read and stay tuned....😜