THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

But Happy April Fool’s Day and welcome to my blog!

Well, I read more in March than I did in February at least. Not that each month has a competition or anything, right?

I read a mix of fiction books this past month.

I’ve slowly gotten more into reading again, but I still feel a bit distracted and not always ready to just sit still and read. I’m proud of myself for finishing all that I did with everything else I had going on. I didn’t have as much hockey to go see as I had before, so that helped this month. Another month and I may not have any hockey at all. 🥲 The changing of the seasons…

Let’s get to happier topics and look at what I read though. 🙂

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My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I LOVED THIS.

Loved My Phony Valentine last year and I loved this one. The grumpy/sunshine trope 😍 can we talk about how adorbs it all was? Because it was. It so was.

There was a twist I didn’t see coming close to halfway in and I was like 😳😳😳 but it was so good. I loved how Gray was sweet in that role (you’ll just have to read it!).

There’s so much to love about this book and Courtney Walsh’s writing.

I can’t wait for the next book!!! I’m assuming it’s about Raya and Finn, but we’ll see. 😂

Book two of the Holiday with Hart romance series.

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A Groom of One’s Own by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I LOVED this. Loved the marriage of convenience and the sweetest characters ever. Good gravy. Seriously!!

My only complaint was like one chapter that had like innuendos, but considering the situation… idk. It’s fine. I loved the rest of the book so much and the characters. Just beautiful.

Can’t wait for the next books to come!! This is like book three of the Appies series written by Jenny Proctor and Emma St Clair. The next book will be by Jenny Proctor and it comes out later this month!!

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Healing the Hero by Elle E Kay

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Tbh, felt like this one was formatted weird.

The story itself was good. It was a bit mysterious!!

It was at times oddly paced to me. I liked that over the course of the story, Dan came back to God and it really changed his outlook on things and impacted his life in obvious ways.

Book three in the multi-author, Heroes of Freedom Ridge series.

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Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I knew from the synopsis that I would love this. I knew that I would love the romance and the build up. Ahhhh, it did not disappoint.

This story is just what I needed this month!! I’ve been really deep into all things hockey and winter it seems, but with the beautiful slightly warmer weather, this would qualify as a great beach read – even though I live in a landlocked state, LOL.

Chloe and Liam were so, so cute. I loved their romance. Instant chemistry even though they both had reasons to push the feels down. I enjoyed how their situations were handled at the end and obviously, the ending itself. 🙂

Liam was 7 years older than Chloe and I thought that it wasn’t noticeable because she was so mature yet still figuring life out. She was successful restuarant owner with her protective brother.

I’m not giving anything else away!! A must read though. This a stand-alone novel.

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Calling in the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I wanted to rate this 5 stars, but I wasn’t sure… so maybe this is like 4.75.

I loved the matchmaking aspect of this. I loved the character that both of the MCs had.

Finola was always getting herself into compromising situations which were hilarious at times but sometimes I was just like stahhhhppp. I thought that Riley was a character we could see past growth in and from talk of his past we could see how he had changed and he wanted to be worthy of Finola, who we saw grow throughout the story.

Overall, a good read and I do look forward to the next one!

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Falling For Your Best Friend by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Raying explained:

Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I loved, LOVED, how Chase was patient for years with Harper – being best friends even though he wanted more, even after she rejected him years ago. Eventually it does become too much. I mean how can someone put their life on hold and keep waiting forever? Basically.

It was a shoot your shot moment I guess.

The discoveries made and the build up to the end was cute.

There were a few things here and there like innuendos and some talk between friends that I’m iffy on because it’s not my thing. 🙂

Book four in the Love Cliches series.

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Head Over Skates by Gigi Blume

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Even though this was 350 pages, it was rather short. I could have finished this in a day, but life.

Not my favorite. I did kind of like the characters, but did I enjoy the story? Debatable.

There’s some cussing and some talk of certain things. Nothing happened, but there was talk of it. Not a fan and I think that might have been what did it, but also I thought they were younger than what they were up until the end. So there’s that.

I liked the idea behind the book. Just didn’t quite deliver for me.

This shall not be one I keep on my bookshelf.

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But He’s My Fake Fiancé by Annah Conwell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Okay. I feel like I say this every time. 1) Annah Conwell is a beautiful writer of words that weave together to create perfect stories that aren’t just light and fluffy, but show heart and depth. 2) Definitely another favorite book.

Yep. This is up there as a favorite book for the year and possibly ever.

This is the book all of us (those who follow Annah Conwell’s work very closely) have waited for since we first read Grayson’s name way back in the Sweet Peach series when we read MJ’s story.

Annah delivered. Grayson is everything and more that we knew he would be. He’s not all happy and cheery, he has struggles too. I loved the way he was there for Sloane even when she pushed back and was trying to keep him at a safe distance from her heart. Sloane let him in and ended up being there for him too when he needed someone.

I don’t normally reread books, but after finishing this one (which I could have devoured in a day, but I got this book on a Monday instead of like a Friday or Saturday when I can binge read in peace without interruption of things like work) I want to reread it.

I so recommend this book. You don’t have to read these in order I don’t think… but to get the full effect of the sibling banter and dynamics, I think it’s helpful.

This is book three in the But He’s a Carter Brother series.

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Stranded with the Hero by Hannah Jo Abbott

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This one was well done I thought! It was just a sweet story with very low angst. If that’s what you’re looking for, I think this one delivers well because, while low angst, you get some spiritual growth sprinkled in with the romance story of the girl and her hero. 🥰

Book four in the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series. Can be read in any order.

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Book reading goal for 2024: 75

Books reads this month: 9

Books read this year so far: 29