ARC Review Round Up

It's that time again for me to catch up on reviews. This time it's all review copies for books released in the last week or two. ENJOY!

Hooked On You by Kate Meader

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review Copy Provided by Publisher Via Net Galley

I honestly think Violet has been one of my favorite characters from the very beginning of the Chicago Rebels series.
Ms Meader did a fantastic job of peeling back the layers that protected Violet to let us know the real woman inside. Getting to know her better made me root for her even more!
Bren has been present in the previous books as well, but more in the background. His emotional evolution was rewarding to see.
These two complimented each other well, especially once their defenses were down and I loved seeing it sweeter side of them both.
Hooked on you is Violet and Bren’s story, but it also highlights the fact that family comes in many forms and brings the Rebels story to a strong conclusion.
While this is technically a standalone, there is so much backstory in the previous books that it really makes sense to read them in order.
I’m sad to see the Rebels go, but am looking forward to what is next for Ms. Meader.

Amazon

 Destiny Shines by Leslie Pike

3.5 Stars - Worth a Reader's Time

Review Copy Provided by Author

This is a fun addition to the Santini family of stories from the St. Helena Vineyward Kindle world.
Nikos is the youngest of the Santini siblings and comes home to help when the patriarch is injured. His connection with physical therapist, Jenny is instant and fun.
One word of caution - this is a novella. Meaning that by nature it is short and while Nikos and Jenny are interesting and entertaining, there is no deep dive into their personalities or emotional development.
Having read the previous Santini books, I was interested in Nikos' story and wasn't disappointed in where Ms. Pike took us. My only complaint was that I really wanted more of the story.

Amazon

Someone to Care by Mary Balogh

3.5 Stars - Worth a Reader's Time

Review Copy Provided by Publisher via Net Galley

Ms. Balogh is an author that I always enjoy when I get a chance to read her work.
Someone to Care focuses on an "older" couple (they are 40 and 42) and both have a bit of a reputation to contend with. While the story gets off to a bit of a slow start, it ends up being really very sweet.
I enjoyed watching Marc slowly reveal himself to be a better man that he appeared to be. Viola is a much easier character to like from the get go, but my respect for her grew as the story went along.
There is a large secondary cast that could have easily overwhelmed the story, but careful crafting kept them in their place to make the story that much more robust.
If you enjoy historical romance that may not follow the exact formula, then this is definitely a book to read.

Amazon

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