Review: Shut Up and Drive: A Closed-Door, Road Trip Rom Com

Shut Up and Drive: A Closed-Door, Road Trip Rom Com by Noelle Davenport
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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📚 Shut Up and Drive (Wayfinder Series)

🖋 Noelle Davenport

📖 Format: eBook

💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Operation Bisquick, the reboot: Thane and Sera

🚘 Second Chance

🥞 Frenemies to Lovers

🚘 Forced Proximity

🥞 Brother’s Best Friend

Thane and Sera absolutely stole my heart❣️

Shut Up and Drive is a sweet, humorous, and sometimes disastrous second-chance romance, frenemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, brother’s best friend, ten days at a family lake house—and a whole lot of heavy baggage that neither Thane nor Sera has managed to leave in the past.

After getting out of a controlling relationship with her cheating ex-boyfriend Bradley, Serafine is headed to her family’s South Carolina lake house on Amethyst Lake. This trip is supposed to be about self-care, healing, and reclaiming a little piece of herself. 

💖 Sera ~ This “me-time” is like an Independence Day celebration for my soul.

Unfortunately, Sera just found out that Thane will be there too.

From the very beginning, I loved Sera’s internal dialogue and descriptions. Sera desperately wants to convince herself that she can simply ignore Thane for ten days. But underneath all that irritation is something much more complicated. She doesn't really hate him. She needs to hate Thane because the alternative is admitting she might still love him.

💖 Sera ~ It’s the only thing that keeps me from loving you again.

And that history is where this story really got me...

As Thane and Sera start wandering down memory lane on their impromptu road trip, we get glimpses of the two people they used to be—the Oreos and milk🥛 , Waffle House, Rules of the Road, Operation Bisquick 🥞 and even Operation Burrito Backfire 🚽. I loved that their memories weren't all picture-perfect moments. They were funny, awkward, sweet and sometimes painful. They felt like real memories between two people who had once known each other for most of their lives.

Then there is the accident...

When Thane admits that the night of the accident happened differently than he told the police, my imagination immediately went somewhere much darker. Early on, I was convinced someone had died or been horribly injured! That mystery added another layer to everything I was learning about their past.

But what really made this a five-star read for me was the fantastic blend of humor and emotion.

This story understands that life and love rarely happen in perfect little moments. Sometimes they're ridiculous. Sometimes they're painful. Sometimes the memories that mean the most involve pancakes, road trips, Oreos, old jokes and front porch dreams.

By the time Thane and Sera gasp onto their happily ever after 💍, Thane had the perfect romantic gesture. But what they got was so much better because it felt authentically them—sweet, funny, emotional and perfectly imperfect.

Thane and Sera weren't getting a chance to erase their past and start over. 🗺️ They were getting the chance to take all those messy, funny, painful, wonderful memories with them and finally figure out where their road will lead them next 🏡.

https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74

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Review: Tracked

Tracked by Rebecca Sharp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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📚 TRACKED (Off the Grid #1)

🖋 Dr. Rebecca Sharp

📚 Format: ebook

💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🌲 Sometimes survival isn't about knowing how to make it through the wilderness alone. Sometimes it's about knowing who you want beside you when you do. 🔥

🏕️ FIELD GUIDE TO SURVIVING TRACKED 🏕️

🧭 Always be prepared

🧭 Trust your instincts

🧭 Never lose the trail

🧭 Never fall for your ex-girlfriend’s sister

…Okay, maybe that last one was never actually written down. But Calder Stone has 40 Rules for Surviving, and Lara is the exception to every single one of them.

 

🩺 Lara Crane is a burned-out ER doctor whose sister has gone missing—and something about that last phone call tells her this isn't just another one of her sister's bad decisions. Determined to find her, Lara turns to the one man she knows will take her concerns seriously. 

🥾 Calder Stone is a Tracker. Survivalist. Rule follower. Professional retrievalist. And the man Lara has been trying very hard not to think about for the last twelve years.

Calder has spent his life learning how to survive. The lessons passed down from his ex-FBI father and murdered biochemist mother have made him exceptionally good at finding things others have lost. His rules have kept him and his family alive and safely off-grid. But Lara is the one variable he never planned for.

Lara comparing everything she desires about Calder to an anatomy class is so perfectly Lara, while Calder's unwavering rules reveal just how much he has relied on structure, control, and isolation to survive. But surviving isn't the same as living. And Lara may be the one person who can teach Calder the difference. 

These two have been a slow-burning wildfire for twelve years, and once they finally ignite, there is no containing the sparks 🔥 Together, they are a fantastic team. Calder is accustomed to working alone and taking the lead, while Lara is perfectly capable of holding her own. Put two strong personalities in the wilderness with forced proximity, old feelings, and danger…

I loved every adventurous outdoor moment of Lara and Calder finding their path through the wilderness—and, somewhere along the way, finding their way back to each other. Their evolution is just as wild, unpredictable, and beautiful as a Wyoming storm.

🧭 RULE 41: Love makes you vulnerable, but isolation makes you weak. Choose your attachments carefully, but don’t live without them.

https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74

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Review: Hawk's Hope

Hawk's Hope by Chelle Bliss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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📚Hawk's Hope (Hurricane Heat MC Book 4)

📚 Format: ebook

🎧 Audio featuring: Connor Crais, Kirsten Leigh 

🖋 Chelle Bliss

💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🏍️  Nico Greco, please report to the Principal’s office…IMMEDIATELY 💋 

Detention or Honor Roll?

🏍️ Tattooed biker? ✔️

💐 Strong, sexy principal? ✔️

🔥 Insane chemistry? ✔️

👠 Heels that Hawk definitely notices? ✔️

❤️ A love story that sneaks up on both of them? Absolutely!

Late again! ⏰  What will it take for Nico “Hawk” Greco to get his nieces to school on time? Apparently, a stern warning from the sexy Principal Veronica Hollifield—and maybe a little extra time in the principal’s office. 

Hawk and Veronica come together over their shared love of protecting what’s theirs and the loss of a parent, but they can’t deny the heat between them. In Hawk’s opinion, Veronica is the ultimate good girl with just a hint of trouble beneath those pencil skirts and button-up tops. And let’s not forget those incredible heels. 👠

🏍️ Hawk — This woman’s fingers laced through mine sends something strange firing through my chest. It’s not lust, although I’ve got that in spades. It’s not a feeling I can name exactly because it’s not something I let myself feel often. Guys like me don’t dabble in dreams. But this woman brings something to life inside me. Something that feels a lot like hope.

🦅 Homeroom: Get the kids to school on time

Hawk almost certainly ends up on the wrong side of detention when he squares off with the beautiful Principal of Palm High. Doing his best as temporary guardian for his MC President’s kids, Hawk is completely out of his comfort zone with all things girl. Honestly, a few tardies are probably the least of his concerns. He’s just thrilled he got the two teens out of the house with only one curling-iron burn on his arm and some spilled coffee.

💐 Hall Pass: Don’t mess with the principal

Veronica has put her heart into being the best principal at Palm High. She’s worked hard to reach this point in her career and is deeply dedicated to her students. So when Hawk’s truck comes barreling into the school parking lot late, Veronica has something to say about it. And Hawk quickly discovers that this principal isn’t intimidated by a big bad biker.

🔥 Study Hall: Chemistry cannot be contained in the classroom

The sparks fly and the heat intensifies between Hawk and Veronica, and I absolutely loved the energy between these two! In spite of their rough start—or maybe because of it—Hawk has something to prove. He’s more than just a tattooed biker. He’s a man worthy of love.

Underneath that rough exterior, Hawk protects his heart just as fiercely as he protects the people he loves. And when he starts hoping Veronica might become one of those people, he treats her like the queen she is, offering her his all. 👑

🌸 Honor Roll: Making the grade

Hawk’s Hope is full of sexy times and, even better, the times that matter most. Hawk and Veronica are my favorites so far in the Hurricane Heat series. Veronica shoulders so much responsibility as she pours herself into her students and her career, while Hawk carries the weight of his Club—his found family—on his shoulders.

I was completely invested in their story from the moment they clashed at that first meeting to the moment their relationship bloomed like the flowers Hawk gave Veronica. 🌸

Because really… who doesn’t deserve a man who will defend his woman against any threat, make her feel like his queen, and still be the man who truly sees her?

My final grade for Hawk’s Hope: A+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

And Hawk? Maybe he can be late for school as often as he wants if it keeps landing him in Veronica’s principal’s office. 💋

https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74

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Review: Desire

Desire by Chelle Bliss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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📚Desire (Men of Inked Sinners #5)

📚 Format: ebook

🖋 Chelle Bliss

💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🏡 Put the house on the market and call the movers 🚚

Desire by Chelle Bliss has moved into the neighborhood, and it's a treasure trove just waiting to be unpacked 📦 Entranced by the warmth and welcome of the Gallo, Lizzy dreams of unconditional love. But before she can change zip codes, Lizzy needs to reclaim her power and leave the past in her rearview mirror! 

👑 Mason ~ "I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that I wanted her, but after spending time with her... I knew I wanted more… I wanted everything with her."

Tropes to fall in love with:

❤️ Slow Burn Depth

👑 Friends to Lovers

🍕 Tavern-Style Pizza Dates

💔 Misunderstandings & Heartbreak

👑 Healing & Empowerment

❤️ Found Family 

👑 Mason ~ "Never settle for less than this, Lizzy. If someone isn’t going to be great to you, they don’t deserve your time."

Mason brings all the first-time love and romance to help heal and show Lizzy the meaning of being seen and valued. He is ready to give her the world, but they'll have to unbox and sort through Lizzy's lingering insecurities before she can take that final step. 

⚠️ Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction, but a horrible misunderstanding threatens their romance. I was literally shredded by what Lizzy witnessed 💔 Thankfully, the steadfast Gallo family is there with all their nosy, fiercely supportive love to ensure Lizzy has a perfect welcome into the family. This is where sisterhood bonds are unmatched, and the Gallo men always have each other's backs 🏡

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Review: A Deal with the Defender

A Deal with the Defender by Brenda Rothert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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📘 A Deal With the Defender by Brenda Rothert

(Love on the Line Book 4)

📚 Format: ebook

🖋 Brenda Rothert

💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🥂 RAISE A GLASS FOR THE VIRAL TOAST THAT PUTS BRIDZEILLA IN HER PLACE!

A Deal with the Defender is another absolute win for the Love on the Line series by Brenda Rothert. It delivers the perfect balance of sassy banter and deep emotions🏒 

💔 How is Talia supposed to trust her instincts, or her sister who has the audacity to insist Talia be a bridesmaid? Talia thinks she has hit rock bottom even before the big Hawaii destination wedding arrives.

🏒 Fast paced, with quick banter like hockey drills, I was cheering from the stands for Lucien and Talia!

While playing the arrogant flirt, Lucien gets his first bite of Talia’s sharp blades when she neatly puts him in his place over his cheesy pickup lines. Between that and discovering she’s the coach’s daughter, Lucien is skating a very dangerous blue line.

Score! This season is all about some intense family drama, betrayal, and a man who will give his all to prove Talia deserves all the good things. I absolutely loved the way Lucien encourages Talia with genuine care and humor, helping her rediscover her strength.

🏒 Hockey Romance

🏡 Forced Proximity

🔥 Sizzling tension

💔 Healing Heart

🥅 Coach’s Daughter

Lucien ~ “Make me work for you, Talia. I will. I want to.”

https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74

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Review: Sealed: The Wedding

Sealed: The Wedding by Lexxi James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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📘 Sealed: The Wedding

(Boys of Bishop Mountain Book 5)

📚 Format: ebook

🖋 Lexxi James

💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💐 Bride or Groom 💐 

I’ve officially rsvp’d to the event of the season with Sealed: The Wedding by Lexxi James, and the early consensus is that wedding bells are ringing 💍 

🥂 Raise a glass for the Boys of Bishop Mountain! Sealed is an excellent addition. Between the hilarious and heartfelt internal dialogues, I was invested in Harrison’s chaotic but determined pursuit of Ava. Harrison himself is a total standout with his grumpy, always patient, and completely endearing approach to the unpredictable world of single fatherhood. While the kids absolutely stole my heart, I left the book wishing nothing but the best for Ava, who constantly pours so much love into everyone around her even as she struggles to reconcile her need for family and her career.

💟 Single Dad

Brother's Best Friend

💟 Forced Proximity

Forbidden Romance

💟 Breathtaking emotional tension

🏡 Loving Pix was never the problem. The fear of losing her was. So either fear is my sinkhole, or love is my strength. 

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Review: Wicked Games

Wicked Games by V.M. Rheault
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Two broken hearts. One small Minnesota town. Too many secrets to count.

Avery and Seth. Witnessing their devastating losses in this shared grief, romantic suspense, clutched at my heart. Despite insurmountable secrets, together, they grasp at even the most inconsequential circumstances to uncover a deadly truth.

“Meeting Avery so soon after my divorce should have made me wary, but it only makes me thankful I can still feel something after all that’s happened.”

📚 Wicked Games 🖊 by V.M. Rheault

⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💼 Grieving Billionaire Hero

📚 Broken but determined Heroine

💔 Love After Loss

📚 Connected Pasts

💔 Small Town Romance

💼 Hidden Adversary

🧸 The Longest two days... of Seth’s life are not knowing. Not knowing where his son is...Not knowing who has kidnapped his son... Not knowing why this has happened to his family. For Avery, it is coming to understand that she’s not a broken baby machine but an independent woman who is still relevant even as she puts her life together in the face of her sister’s murder. Until she uncovers a single entry in a blog that may bring a killer out of the shadows.

🖊 V.M. Rheault drops clues like breadcrumbs, weaving a masterful romantic suspense. I’ve been an avid fan of VM’s since reading her King’s Crossing series. Wicked Games is a standalone of intricately woven events with an undercurrent of lies and half-revealed motivations. Coming together out of shared grief, it’s up to Avery and Seth to peel back alibi after alibi, discovering more than just a controversial piece of evidence that might lead them to the truth. 

⭐ A definite recommendation. Wicked Games drowned me in all the emotions. “Show me your scars, Seth, and I’ll show you mine.”

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/r/vm-rheault/

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