Well, this month was sure faster than last month, but still a little slow. April showers are a real thing. We have been poured on by the heavens here and our backyard is looking like a pond! So many places around the area are flooded. Grateful there haven’t been major damages to homes and businesses and that no one has been swept away so far.

All that being said, got a lot of reading done (as usual) and really excited to share about what I read this past month!

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Off the Wall by Julie Christianson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I really enjoyed this one. Nori (Eleanor) was cute and relatable throughout. She was reluctant to use a dating app – same! And Cash made such an impression on her, LOL. They had some moments that were hilarious.

I think he fell first in this story. I loved how he supported her and didn’t make her feel inferior or that he just wanted to fix her problems. He wanted to walk through them with her and truly help her.

A few instances of innuendo and almost swearing.

This is the sixth book in the Only Magic in the Building multi-author series.

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The Retreat by Hailey Gardiner

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I love Hailey Gardiner’s writing 🫶🏻

This was such a fun and sweet read. I loved Luke and and Lainey’s neighborhood meet cute and their second meet cute at the office. The enemies to friends to lovers was perfect!

I think I failed to mention last month when that while there’s no actual swearing in the Gardiner’s books, she alludes to it or they almost say it in dialogue.

This is the first book in the Falling for Franklin series.

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The One Who Changed Everything by Tara Grace Ericson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Ah, yes, another one day read!

(Random note: the book I received was edited weird in the front with the capitalization and spacing. It was a bit weird at the beginning, like the first few chapters, but the rest of the book was fine.)

I love Tara Grace Ericson books. ❤️ This one was especially redeeming and a picture of faith. A child born out of a passionate week and then horrible circumstances that separated these two, coupled with some misunderstandings made for a story of second chances.

I closed my eyes, pressing my head back against the pillow. “I don’t deserve that kind of grace.”

She was quiet for a long moment before she whispered, “Neither do I. But that’s the thing about grace, Evan. It’s never been about what we deserve.”

Thinking this is the final book in this series now and I’m sad. It’s been real and good. ✌🏻🚒

Book five in the Second Chance Fire Station series.

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The Backpack Bride by Dulcie Dameron

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I didn’t love this one, but it was good. Our FMC, Roxy, has a troubled past and works through building a better life, while also fighting attraction to someone she thinks is too good to be true. Christian is not a fan of being forced to get married to get what he wants, but he’s drawn to Roxy anyway.

Favorite quote happens to fall under the “my wife” fangirl category.

“I’m not a charity case, Christian.”

A deep furrow mars his brow, but he doesn’t back down. “No, you’re not. But you are my wife. And like it or not, I take care of what’s mine. Even if you won’t be mine forever.”

Although not my favorite, I do look forward to more by Dulcie Dameron and the other books included in this series.

This is the first book in the Give a Bookish Girl a Biker multi-author series! I admit I am intrigued by bikers fictionally. In real life, not so much. Please use caution when riding in real life! (So in fictional world, I guess don’t, LOL)

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The Trauma Response by MJ Padgett

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Another book I didn’t love. I don’t know if it’s me and the mood I’m in (seeing as how I’ve been starting a million books at a time) or what!

This was insta-love to me that may or may not have worked for me. I’m on the fence. Two old friends reconnect and she’s 2 years older, WHICH ISN’T A BAD THING REALLY. But I’m not a fan, so that’s probably the main thing, LOL.

I enjoyed the banter between the biker friend group and how Caius (new name for me that I found out thanks to Google can be pronounced different ways so pick one 🙂 ) was there for his friends even though he hadn’t talked to them in like 10 years. He also provided God’s truth to their situations, not just empty platitudes.

Talullah (also a new name for me), aka Tulip, was dealing with depression and grief over her lost career after her accident. Caius swoops in and helps her easily because he’s charming and doesn’t know she also had a mutual crush on him back in the day.

This is book two in the Give a Bookish Girl a Biker multi-author series.

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Signed, Sealed, and Smitten by Melanie Jacobson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Oh man, another favorite from this series!!

I haven’t read much by Melanie Jacobson, but this makes me a fan.

Phoebe and Jay had such sizzling chemistry from their first interaction. The hilarious banter – Phoebes evasion of anything outside a professional work relationship and his determination to win her over and give him a chance – was everything.

I loved the flirting over history facts and the way they fed off each other’s interest in museums and facts.

This was a great, fun read that was squeaky clean. Cant recommend enough. Enjoyed more than I thought I would!

You’ll love the ladder moment. Belle, but no beast.

This is the 7th book in the Only Magic in the Building multi-author series. One more to go!!!

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The Make Up by Hailey Gardiner

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I enjoyed this one, but not a favorite. This is a best friends to lovers trope that I’m usually on the fence on when reading anyway.

I personally didn’t care for the plot and how this particularly played out for Chloe and Hunter. The beginning wasn’t my favorite, like maybe the first half? I didn’t like the dialogue or quite a bit of almost swearing. It was enough for me to notice. The second half I did enjoy more when I came back to this book after a little break.

Hunter was more annoying for that first half and very much a ladies man. Chloe deserved a lot more than that and I’m glad that over the course of the story he did step up and be someone I thought she deserved.

Seems like a lot of negative here, but I enjoyed the ending so I gave it 4 stars. 😂

This is book two in the Falling for Franklin series.

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Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

It’s a high 3 rounded up for me.

I enjoyed the overall story of older brother’s best friend who’s actually younger than her, but at the same time, I think maybe it was too much for me???

I’m conflicted. I don’t like the reverse age gap in general, but I give it a chance when it pops up. It just so happens that in like a week or so time I’ve finished two of these, LOL.

This book also had a lot more innuendo and language that I didn’t appreciate.

I stuck this one out because I really love Bruce. Who doesn’t love Bruce in this series? 😂

Farrah was okay, had a lot to work through and cope with including a divorce and infertility issues she was facing, which I think was handled really well. Following Leah Brunner on socials, I know she faces her own health struggles and could relate to what she wrote.

This one is a lot steamier than others, in my opinion, with the loads of kissing and the innuendo.

This is the final book in the DC Eagles series., but she’s going to having a spin-off series picking up with Noah (Andi’s little brother).

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Never With You by Kortney Keisel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious.

New favorite book.

Simple as that.

I’m in love with Nate. We would have zero chemistry, but I’m in love with him vicariously through this fictional world.

Carly hated Nate. Like I can’t believe I have to work with this lazy, arrogant, attractive, totally my type kind of hate. He fit all the vibes she was swearing off, plus he’s her coworker. All thanks to her ex she later tries to make jealous/prove she’s moved on.

Nate was not what she thought, that’s all I gotta say.

Told in only her POV, this story was unmatched. This love story has the absolute BEST ending. Oh my gosh. Imagine me kicking my feet with the book in my hands here. THE BEST ENDING.

Loved. It.

I loved the relationship growth and all the little details throughout that wove together and were brought out later, like wow, that was a bigger deal than I thought. Seriously so well thought out.

There may be like one crude word in this book, but this is so clean! Mild innuendo and some strained relationships.

Did I mention this book had my CRACKING UP so many times. Wow. Hilarious 😂

I want to copy and paste so many quotes here… like maybe the whole book. 😂

But fighting with you started to feel a lot like falling for you, so I didn’t mind our arguments. I thought they were kind of fun.

Sign up for Kortney’s newsletter and you should receive the bonus scenes from Nate’s POV. I ended up asking her directly for them on IG and she sent, haha, because I didn’t get themmmm and I was needing them. 🙂

Almost two weeks later? Still thinking about this one.

In other exciting news, this book kicks off a new “Always Say Never” series and I just don’t know how any other book can match this at this point but I’m looking forward to finding out.

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The Escape Plan by Katie Bailey

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was one of my favorites by Katie Bailey! Goodnesssss. I’ve read all her books to date now so I KNOW.

Who knew Irishmen were so swoony? 🥰

Keeley was hurt at the beginning of this story and immediately and literally walked into a friendship she didn’t know she needed with Beckett. The building’s antics with the windows and doors kept getting them together. It was super sweet. I loved the extra link of their family history, too.

All the romance of hang outs and fire escape dates and the swoony kiss scene, it brought all the feels. A must read for anyone that’s even half a Katie Bailey fan that I am.

This is the last book in the Only Magic in the Building multi-author series.

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The Grump’s Bodyguard by Latisha Sexton

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved this book. Latisha’s books have always drawn me in and though I don’t read enough of her, I always love her writing so I don’t know why I haven’t gone down a Latisha Sexton binge yet!!

Thor (cool name) and Clover (another cool name) had instant chemistry despite their decade plus age gap. His job is to protect her, but it runs deeper than that. I loved all the ways he supported her, helped her and most importantly, pointed her to God. There was also banter that I thoroughly enjoyed! Clover with her grumpiness toward Thor at the beginning had me cracking up.

“I need you to come inside while I call Daddy and have him fire you.”

“Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?”

“Pain is an unforgiving friend,” I say quietly.

“Yes, it can be.” Patting my hand gently, she says, “But God uses it to shape and mold us into something stronger, kinder, and braver. If we trust Him enough to release it to Him.”

This is book three in the Give a Bookish Girl a Biker multi-author series. The next two books release in June.

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Romance Isn’t a Fantasy Book by Madelyn Smith

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was such a cute novella!

Nicholas was clueless and Laurel was almost hopelessly in love with him. I loved their sweet relationship. I did think it was like a switch for him to suddenly realize he was in love with her but it comes with the novella territory I guess.

I think there will be a second novella after this one that’s not out yet and I look forward to reading it!

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Double or Nothing by Cindy Steel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Okay, I loved this mostly. Their history and banter were hilarious and embarrassing all at the same time. Logan being 4 years older than Tessa and he being her best friend’s older brother made for said history and antics. All the dates they went on and their conversations built up their fall. ❤️

A few cuss words and hand gestures.

One tent. Plenty of pranks and banter. Serious conversations. Awkward encounters.

This is the second full length novel in the Pride & Pranks series. I can’t wait for the next one though! I hear it’s Jake’s love story which is sure to be hilarious – he’s such a mess, LOL.

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Penalty of Love by Kristine W Joy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Due to OCD and my need to get to book two in this series, I read this one. 😂😂

This was cute! My favorite part was Cameron’s gentleness and how he appropriately responded to conflict by talking it out and his close relationship to his dad. His dad was funny. Nila irritated me at times, but I understood her situation and how it could have made making friends difficult.

Favorite quotes I remembered to grab.

“Refs, you suck! Refs, you suck!” The crowd’s chant echoes across the hockey stadium as I skate over to the penalty box for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”

Pift. These refs are soft.

“I didn’t do anything stupid,” I level with him.

“Yeah, because punching out a mouthy fan is the work of a saint,” Blaze quips back, shaking his head.

“I was defending you!” I scoff.

“I don’t need defending.” He pokes me in the chest.

“Why didn’t you answer what your perfect date is?”

I shrug, meeting her eyes. “Because it’s not the activity that makes the date perfect, it’s the person.”

“I fell for her in the most unconventional way, and it was all the little things about her that really got me.”

Dylan frowns. “That’s the sappiest thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth, and I can’t decide if I’m disgusted or grossly entranced by it.”

“T’ll always see you, Nila,” I murmur, pressing my forehead against hers. “We could be in a sea of a million people, but it’s always going to be you.”

“if I could go back and do life all over again, I somehow would’ve found you and made you mine sooner.”

In Chapter 17, it started as Nila’s POV and then 3 pages in switched to Cameron’s POV and then the next page we got back to Nila’s POV. It wasn’t broken up so it was just a formatting thing, I think, missed in editing.

No cursing at all which was so nice, but there were some definitely passionate kissing.

This is the first book in the Glaciers Hockey series.

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Feel free to comment what stood out to you and/or what you read in the month of April!

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Books read this month: 15

Books read this year: 60

Book goal for the year: 100

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You can check out my online bookstore here:

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/notyourseason

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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/131896341