Rookie Move - Sarina Bowen

" I loved you when I was sixteen, I told you when I was seventeen. When I was eighteen you cut me loose. But I never stopped."

Pages: 338

Published: September 6, 2016 by Rennie Road Books

Kindle: 3, 99 €

Paperback: 7, 15 €

Available on Audible

Plot

Georgia Worthington and Leo Trevi were the golden couple of their high school. He was the hockey team captain, she was a tennis star. Until graduation, when tragedy pulled them apart.

Five years later, everything's coming together for Leo. His dreams of playing professional hockey seem to be coming true as he's called up from the minors to play for the NHL's newest team. The only problem? The team's publicist is the woman who broke his heart.

As she tries to prove herself as the senior PR specialist for a major NHL franchise, the last thing Georgia needs is the distraction of her former flame. But when Leo arrives at the press conference that can make or break her career, Georgia realizes that the man she put her on ice might still be able to melt her heart.

Conclusion

*TW: Rape*

'Rookie Movie' is the perfect read for in between. The characters are down-to-earth, with a few exceptions for douches in the hockey team. Leo and Georgia had great chemistry and I loved the fact that they were high school sweethearts. Leo was a great character. He never pushed Georgia to do omething she would've been uncomfortable with, not in high school and not when they meet again. 

This book had just the right amount of drama, not too little but also not too much. I'm glad that everything worked out for them in the end.

I'm usually not a fan of the third POV but Sarina Bowen's writing was so good that I was able to ignore that. 

I'm super excited to get my hands on book two because apparently it's about O'Doul.

If you like sports romance, hockey in this case, second chances and good guys instead of bad boys I would recommend 'Rookie Movie' to you.

5 out of 5 stars

Dirty - Kylie Scott

Pages: 290

Published: April 19, 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin

Kindle: 2, 67 €

Available on Audible

Plot

Love—on the rocks….

The last thing Vaughan Hewson expects to find when he returns to his childhood home is a broken hearted bride in his shower, let alone the drama and chaos that come with her.

Lydia Green doesn't know whether to scream or cry in a corner. Discovering the love of your life is having an affair on your wedding day is bad enough. Finding out it's with his best man is another thing all together. 

Just when this runaway bride has nowhere left to turn, a handsome stranger offers her a broad, muscular shoulder to cry on. Vaughan is the exact opposite of the picture perfect, respected businessmen she's normally drawn to. This former musician-turned-bartender is rough around the edges and is facing his own crossroads. But Lydia's already tried Mr. Right and discovered he's all wrong--maybe it's time to give Mr. Right Now a chance.

After all, what's wrong with getting dirty?

Conclusion

Kylie Scott is one of my favorite authors of all time. From my own experience I can say that she hasn't written a single bad book. This was another amazing book of hers.

Lydia, the heroine, is so entertaining because of her humor and her insecurities made her even more relateable for me. 

Vaughn, the hero, is super charming and I loved how protective and caring he is when it comes to Lydia.

The prologue had me hooked immediately. Everything from the first to the last page was absolutely perfect.

This book gets some extra points for having Stage Dive character cameos ;). 

There really isn't much to say except that it was really really good. I have re read this every single year for the past four years I think and everytime I read it again it reminds me why it is one of my favorite books.

If you need a fast paced book with great main and side characters, sizzling chemistry, funny dialogues and a HEA or if you are just a fan of Kylie Scott I would recommend this to you.

5 out of 5 stars

Girl at Heart - Kelly Oram

Pages: 264

Published: November 4, 2019 by Bluefields

Kindle: 4, 67 €

Paperback: 8, 66 €

Available on KU and Audible

Plot

As the daughter of a successful Major League pitcher, Charlie Hastings has baseball in her blood. Unfortunately, being the only girl on her high school baseball team, Charlie has always been just one of the guys.

When her best friend, and secret love of her life, asks another girl to the prom, Charlie is devastated. She’s tired of being overlooked by boys because she’s not like other girls. Suffering a massive identity crisis, she decides to hang up her cleats and finally learn how to be a girl.

But with only two weeks until the state championships, the Roosevelt High Ravens can’t afford to lose their star catcher. Team captain Jace King makes her a deal: Don’t quit the team, and he’ll help her become the girl she’s so desperate to be. After all, he’s got four sisters, one of whom happens to be a cheerleader. He knows a thing or two about girls. (And if he can win her heart in the process, all the better.)

Conclusion

'Girl At Heart' was such a good book and I'm really mad at muself for waiting so long to read it. I'm glad I finally did because it is now another book that is going on my 2021 book highlights list. I read it in one sitting and I enjoyed every single second of reading it. 

I loved Charlie so much. I don't get why some people think it's impossible to be an athlete and girly at the same time. I'm glad that Oram showed that eventhough Charlie started to wear dresses and skirts and she started to wear make up she was still able to win the championship. Her dad and the way he supported her thorigh everything was great too.

Something else I liked is how Leila wasn't depicted as the typical cheerleader. She wasn't mean and bitchy at all but rather she was shown as helpful, nice and really sweet. 

Jace was amazing too. I loved that he liked Charlie just the way she was, whether it was as an athlete or when she started wearing skirts, etc. He supported her no matter what her decision was. The whole time I was scared that Charlie would chose the wrong guy.

The worst part about this book were Charlie's "best friends". They kept making fun of her trying to do more girl stuff or the fact that she wanted to go to prom too. Eric's comments about Charlie being a teammate and not seeing her as a girl but rather one of the boys pissed me off so much. It's obvious that she is a girl and if they would've really seen her as a friend they would've asked her if she wanted to go with them.

If you like a sweet young adult romance and need a new light / feel-good read I would definitely recommend 'Girl At Heart'. 

5 out of 5 stars

Dear Ava - Ilsa Madden-Mills

" You can't go because I won't get over you! I won't ever find someone like you. I won't ever kiss a girl like you. I love you!"

Pages: 376

Published: February 1st, 2020

Kindle: 4, 99 €

Paperback: 17, 11 €

Available on KU and Audible

Plot

The rich and popular Sharks rule at prestigious, ivy-covered Camden Prep. Once upon a time, I wanted to be part of their world—until one of them destroyed me. The last thing I expected was an anonymous love letter from one of them.Please. I hate every one of those rich jerks for what they did to me. The question is, which Shark is my secret admirer? Knox, the scarred quarterback. Dane, his twin brother. Or Chance, the ex who dumped me. . . Dear Ava,Your eyes are the color of the Caribbean Sea.That’s stupid. What I really mean is, you look at me and I feel something REAL. It’s been ten months since you were here, but I can’t forget you. I’ve missed seeing you walk down the hall. I’ve missed you cheering at my football games. I’ve missed the smell of your hair.The truth is, I wanted you back then—but you had him.And then everything fell apart that night.Don’t hate me because I’m a Shark. I just want to make you mine. Still.

Conclusion

*TW:Rape, Slutshaming, Bullying*

Dear Ava is one of the few books that have made me cry and it is definitely a highlight of 2021.

Eventhough Knox is a pretty popular and a quarterback he isn't depicted as cocky and mean as they are usually. I loved that he believed Ava and even helped to get her the justice she deserved. I loved the fact that he likes Star Wars and that he was so nice to Ava's little brother. He was way sweeter than I was expecting him to be. Knox was a great book boyfriend.

Ava has been through a lot. I probably couldn't go through what she did. I would've given up and although this is pure fiction I'm proud of her for staying strong. One of the best parts of the story was that, unlike in real life where many boys and girls don't get the justice they deserve, Ava got hers.

Their chemistry was off the charts. The humor in 'Dear Ava' was great and the scenes with Ava's little brother were so wholesome. 

If you don't have triggers and want to read a wholesome story with a strong female character and a nerdy quarterback I would definitely recommend 'Dear Ava' to you.

5 out of 5 stars

Dangerous Silence - Audrey Rush

Pages: 217

Published: March 2rd, 2021

Kindle: 3,99 €

Paperback: 11,76 €

Available on KU

Plot

My father’s dying wish was for me to marry a monster.
Axe Adler. A brutal killer. An emotionless mafia enforcer.
A man who chooses silence over the sounds of life. 

When I look at him, I don't see my future husband.
I see a criminal. A murderer. A man with no soul.

With a callousness I’ve never known, he exposes my reality. It should be frightening. 
Instead, the truth is alluring. Everything changes.

So what happens when you finally realize that everything you believed in, is a lie? 
When the man who shows you the truth is an irresistible killer?

Suddenly, I can’t tell right from wrong,
pain from pleasure, 
hatred from desire.

His dark gaze leaves no doubt:
Axe would rather kill me than love me.
But he’ll never let me out of his cage. 

Conclusion

*TW for book: violence and abuse*

'Dangerous Silence' might be one of the most intense books that I have ever read. It was way darker than I was expecting it to be.

Demi (18), the heroine of the stroy, was very sweet and innocent. After her dad dies she is basically thrown into a world that is nothing like she is used to. Axel (33), the hero, made a promise to Demi's dad to take care of her after his death. He was a brutal charcter with a twisted mind.

'Dangerous Silence' had it all. The characters were well written. The pace of the story was good. Audrey Rush's writing style was phenomenal. It made it easy to dive into the story and it had me hooked. This might've been the first book ive read by her but it is not going to the the last. I'm excited to read her other books.

I would recommend 'Dangerous Silence' to you if you are a fan of age-gap, twisted stories and dark mafia romances.

5 out of 5 stars

*ARC provided in exchange for a honest review*

Mafia Prince - Vi Carter

Pages: 481

Published: December 18th, 2020

Kindle: 3, 26 €

Paperback: 14, 82 € 

Available on KU

Plot

Jack

I’m the son of Liam O’Reagan, next in line to wear the crown.
And when I prove myself worthy, I will RULE over the Irish Mafia.
I don’t have time for distractions—much less time for a woman who has always been the bane of my existence.
When Maeve comes back into my life, I fight like hell to resist the pull she has on me.
An attraction that has only grown stronger with time.
But, when trouble lands her at my feet, I take the opportunity to have what I truly want.
I offer her a deal. I’ll help her, but the cost will be one night in my bed.
One night of submission.
One night to have her completely at my mercy.
If only I had known my battle with Maeve would start a war.

Maeve

Jack is the only one who can help me.
Too bad, he hates me.
But I have no choice but to go to him.
It turns out, hate is a powerful motivator, and I just handed him a way to punish me.
He offers me his help—for a price. Everything in his world has a price.
One night in his bed.
He’s everything a woman would want, so this should be easy. Only, I’m a virgin, and he terrifies me.
I should run, but I won’t.
I can’t.
I just pray this one night doesn’t destroy us both. 

Conclusion

First of all, the cover looks amazing! 

Mafia Prince by Vi Carter is an irish mafia/ dark romance / enemies-to-lovers book.

The plot was amazing. I really enjoyed the whole debt paying part of the story. Jack and Maeve really made the sparks fly in this book. 

I won't say too much because I don't want to risk writing any spoilers in here but the characters and their developement thorughout the story was amzing,the plot was great, there were some surprises and all in all it was an amazing book.

This might have been my first book by Vi Carter but it's not going to be my last. Her writing style got me hooked immediatly. 

If you like enemies-to-lovers and dark/mafia romance I'd recommend it to you.

5 out of 5 stars

*ARC in exchange for an honest review*