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Welcome to my Adult Reviews!
Check out my recent reviews below. For specific categories, see my Categories section.

THE WOMAN FROM NOWHERE - Kristen Ashley

4/14/2026

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5 stars

KA strikes again—with her best recently published series! Mabel and Hutch's story had it all.


Mabel is our latest protagonist to enter the sleepy—yet murderous—town of Misted Pines in the wooded Pacific Northwest. She's reinvented herself after tragedy, and she's ready to heal in peace with her refurbished furniture work, her quiet rural rental, and her isolated lifestyle.

All that changes when she lays eyes on Hutch singing in the local bar.

She locks eyes on Hutch. He clocks her. Sparks, immediate. And they have a night of passion.

The next morning, however... Mabel's life flips.

It starts with a hastily written "thanks" note from Hutch—making it clear their night was one-night only—that ruins her afterglow. It continues when there's a hateful biblical pamphlet on her front porch, complete with a handwritten note about loose-moraled women sleeping out of wedlock.

Oh, did we mention Mabel lives on property adjacent to a weird religious compound??

Yeah. Stuff's about to go down now, because those religious guys have Mabel on their radar. And despite not wanting to enter Mabel's life for his own reasons, former SEAL Hutch has a few opinions about this situation.

Cue the lights, camera, action!!

As one of Kristen Ashley's lucky early reviewers, I get the privilege of reading all of her works early. I like a select few of them, I love many more, and a handful of them reach that Top Tier, forever-obsessed category. (We all have different tropes, tastes, etc. so it's a good sign of her variety that there are ups and downs.)

So trust me when I say this as a seasoned KA fan: the Misted Pines series is one of her absolute best. The town, the setting, the aura, the character dynamics... this one has IT, that extra factor to it. It's fantastic.

I highly recommend new KA readers start with this series. You can start with this one, The Girl From Nowhere, if you want—but it's more fun if you start with Delphine and Cade in The Girl in the Mist.

Can't wait for the next Misted Pines !!

Thank you to the author for my early copy in exchange for an honest review.
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RISE OF INK AND SMOKE - Pam Godwin

3/24/2026

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4.5 stars

Finally! Wolf gets his happy ending; a story. When I say we've been WAITING for this update since the Frozen Fate trilogy wrapped last year...

Wolfson Strakh has been through hell—literally.

He grew up in the Arctic Circle, tortured and tormented by a demon in human form. Alongside his brothers, he grew warped under conditions that very few people could survive.

But survive he did. Until he didn't, and he plunged into the icy waters below.

His story didn't end then. He then spent time with another twisted demon, enduring more pain and making an unthinkable devil's bargain to survive once more.

So when Wolf finally sees the sun, he deserves his happy ending. Rise of Ink and Smoke is that happy ending.

That happy ending comes from an unexpected—yet very Wolf—place. A runaway, blue-haired bride, running with dirty skirts and shotgun through the Sitka, Alaska, streets in pursuit of her stepbrother.

It's something out of a twisted fairytale. (And Wolf loves those most of all.)

Dove and Jag are stepsiblings who have also survived against all expectations—even each other. And now that they've entered Wolf's orbit, the trio have a journey ahead of them...

Y'all. Rise of Ink and Smoke was a trip in the best possible way. Sweeter than I expected it to be—yes, "sweet" is NEVER a word I thought I'd associate with the Frozen Fate universe, but here we are—and healing in a way we all needed it to be.

Wolf's journey toward healing was non-traditional. How could it be anything but? His problems and past were so singular that I was concerned about this novel and how any romance for Wolf would adequately treat him with care, healing, and also retain that Pam Godwin-level of angsty drama and pain that we've come to expect.

This nailed it, folks. It handled Wolf's romance arc perfectly.

Dove and Jag's addition to the Strakh family knot was perfect. Dove was fiery yet soft, able to provide space for Wolf's journey while also enduring one of her own. Jag's hardened, bloodthirsty form of protection-as-love was very much in line with the Strakh men of the previous trilogy, but this time done in a computer hacker font that was very fun to read.

If I had to pick a negative—which I don't, but sometimes it's worth pointing to the bits we didn't love the most--I would have to admit that this story was almost too soft and too quickly fixed for the Frozen Fate universe. Maybe I'm the problem there, honestly, because while this story healed a lot of pieces for the characters it did make me feel like we we closing up the wounds too quickly for all three of our tortured leads. I eventually just let it go out of sheer happiness that they were finding their happy, but after the long-drawn, realistically paced arc of Frankie's story I thought this was one quite fast. (As fast as 700+ pages can feel, anyway!)

Definitely pick this one up ASAP if you're read the Frozen Fate trilogy. It's the perfect ending to our characters, and witnessing Frankie & Co's happy ending in practice was also perfection.

Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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PERFECT IN EVERY WAY - Kristen Ashley

2/28/2026

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4.5 stars

Y'all sometimes the only happy you need is a new Kristen Ashley release. This latest installment in the Manors and Mysteries series—yes, you heard me, English manors and a compelling mystery!—was no exception.

Vivienne Dupree is an author on a mission: she's come to England to write her next novel. It's based loosely on the enduring mystery of her WWII veteran great-grandfather and his doomed love affair with a British member of the upper class, and Vivi's received exclusive access to the manor house where it all happened.

One of the manor's current residents is Vivi's pen-pal, Prudence (Prue) Talyn, who struck up a friendship with Vivi as they collaborated on the material and research for Vivi's writing project. Vivi's excited to spend time with her friend, meet Prue's family, and get to the bottom of her mystery.

But something stands in the way of her success: Battle Talyn, the Duke of Burleigh.

Battle doesn't want his family's secrets dragged through the public eye in the form of a lurid romance novel.

But he hasn't encountered Vivi's American stubborn will.

As the two "battle" their moral lines, they discover a dangerous chemistry that compels them both.

Add in some classic KA shenanigans such as some family antics, some dramatic friends, and a love story that spans every page (and decade).... Yeah. This was a good time.

Perfect in Every Way was just like its title. It hit the spot, and it was that—near-perfect in every way. (I say "near" perfect because... I must admit... I love a drama. I love a romantic angst. And Battle and Vivi?? They were a little too wholesome and emotionally stable for me. Yes, I know that reflects poorly on me. Oops.)

Battle and Vivi's love affair was the core of this story. Their heart, sense of family, and immediate chemistry worked for me on many levels. I enjoyed seeing them dance together and find their happily ever after.

Ugh, nobody writes an HEA like Kristen Ashley. Don't miss this one! It's a great entry point into the KA universe and a great standalone story.

Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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FINDING THE ONE - Kristen Ashley

9/10/2025

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4 stars

​I'm convinced Kristen Ashley has found a way to lace her words with addictive something or other's. There's no other explanation for the speed I read these books or the raw joy I get from them every. single. time. I love them all. And it's that time of year again--strap in with me and hear about this latest installment in the River Rain series!

Finding the One is the 7th book in the River Rain series, which starts with After the Climb. If you care about order and starting from the top, I recommend you check out that first one!

But, if you're a heathen like me who likes to jump into the middle of the fray, feel free to start right here with me at book 7. (I've read the last few River Rains, it's true, but I started with book 5 and I'm doing just fine 😉)

Blake Sharp is a woman trying to move on from her past. Raised under the thumb of her mean socialite mother and in the limelight of the wealthy, Blake spent most of her life trying to be her mother and then, recently, trying to change that fact and find her own way. It's been a rough journey. And it wasn't helped by her dramatic--and mean spirited--shunning of her fiance at their altar in reaction to his cheating. Her overnight social media viral fame from that incident also didn't help.

So, suffice to say, Blake's been THROUGH IT. And she's convinced that soft things, good things, romantic things, are not for her. Her previous mean-girl, messy-rich persona doesn't help.

But then there's Alisdair "Dair" Wallace, her childhood friend-slash-occasional nemesis.

Dair's been in Blake's orbit since they were in single digits. He's Scottish, he's a former rugby sports star, and he's always seen Blake for more than what she presents.

In traditional Kristen Ashley style, Dair's the kind of man who's going to move in on that action plan because there's no time like the present. Add in a heavy dash of KA's drama and flair, and we're in for a gooooood time.

I feel like a broken record when I write these Kristen Ashley reviews, but it's worth repeating each time: I just love her stories. I love them all, even when they're not for me and/or not the same level as other ones.

I'm pleased to report that Finding the One is, predictably, just as good as my other KAs. In fact, it had some unique, mature romance themes to it that I really appreciated! To call out one element of this River Rain series in particular--I love this blended family of blood relatives, friends, and found family. They might be richer than God (and with that aristocratic lifestyle to match) but wow do they love and support each other in a way that I just adore every time.

Come for the feels, stay for the feels. And pick up another KA the minute to you finish this one because it'll give you that bug like they all do...
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TENDERFOOT - Kristen Ashley

6/17/2025

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3.5 stars

This latest installment of the Avenging Angels' series shares the story of Harlow and Javier—a romance teased since the first book that we've all been dyingggg to explore!—and the usual Charlie's Angels-esque shenanigans. Strap in for another good time!

Romance: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★

Tenderfoot is the third book in Kristen Ashley's Avenging Angels series, which is in itself a spin-off of sorts from her wildly popular Rock Chicks series. I'm a huge Rock Chicks fan and highly recommend new readers start there, but if you want to jump right into the action with this spin-off series check out Avenging Angel here!

Harlow is a girl with iron-clad routines and a deep desire to be known and loved.

Javier is a man with a past raised on the streets and a deep desire for foundations and family.

When these two collided in Phoenix, Arizona, in some Angels' escapades through mutual friends involving stakeouts, hijinks, drama, and found family... sparks flew. And then they didn't. Javier backed up, and Harlow cracked in splinters.

But the Angels' drama waits for no one, not even Javier and Harlow's weird hang-ups, so when shit hits the fan and Harlow finds herself at the heart of the action, Javier is Right There. As in, interrupting-the-scene-and-laying-down-the-claim, Right There.

In typical KA fashion, things go from smoldering to blazing hot in the blink of an eye as this latest duo finds their feet in a tender romance amidst the fast-action plot.... Angels, action!

So I've got to start my feelings off with a small caveat: I'm a girl who loves her romantic angst, and I love a slower burn. This sometimes sets me off at cross-purposes with romance novels, because not everyone is here for those things. And that's valid! But given my personal tastes, when the romance kicks off too fast and too wholesome for me... I sometimes have a harder time engaging with the story.

I think that was the case with Harlow and Javier's romance.

Maybe it's because they were teased so heavily as a "will they, won't they" pairing. Maybe it's because I was hoping for more angst around Harlow's family dynamics and her internal dilemmas around that, not to mention Javier's intense backstory. I'm not quite sure, but the end result of my personal experience reading Tenderfoot was that, while I had a good time, I knew this particular journey was not fated to be an all-time favorite.

Again, this is a "me" thing. I'm still a KA mega fan, and I'm still enjoying this series. Sometimes, I find myself wishing for some of the more grounded plot lines of her Misted Pines series, I have to say—but I think that's also my personal preferences as I mature as a reader looking for more depth and plot to a lot of my stories. Not negatives, but I think worthwhile sidebars to this review as I know many of my fellow KA fans might need to understand where I'm coming from with this more lukewarm take on my usual hype train.

I think I also—for the first time—struggled more heavily with the sheer weight of how many characters, side characters, cameos, and additional people were constantly in the juggling pot to keep track of with reading their interjections and sidebars for so many of these scenes. This is likely due to the fact that I was not "in it" with Harlow and Javier to the level that I was for the other couples, so the other elements were more on the nose for me. But regardless, I found myself trying to catch a mental breather, trying to stay focused on the action when there were almost 15-20 people at any given time in a lot of the scenes, all saying dialogue bits and adding their personality flares.

However, all that to say, don't miss this latest installment in the series. Come for the OTT drama, stay for the OTT drama! And we'll get some more with what appears to be new romances on the horizon...

Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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THE WOMAN LEFT BEHIND - Kristen Ashley

4/15/2025

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5 stars

This is my favorite Kristen Ashley series of recent years. 
Something about the mysteries, the dual POVs, the compelling plots that don't rely on over-the-top dramas to deal the deck... I don't know. But whatever it is, I love it, and this latest installment is no exception.

Characters: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★★

The Woman Left Behind is the fourth book in the Misted Pines romance mystery series by Kristen Ashley. The first book, The Girl in the Mist, is the best place to start if you want to get the full experience. However, like most romance novels, this fourth book is a self-contained story so you can definitely jump in here if you'd like to do that.

This is the story of Misted Pines' beloved sheriff: Harry Moran.

We've gotten to know Harry in the previous novels as he went from the one straight-shooter investigator underneath the corrupt former sheriff to becoming the sheriff of Misted Pines' dreams. He's an honest, hardworking, law-abiding good guy with a sad past and a heart of gold. He's a widower in need of a bright spot amidst his dark job and his solitary lifestyle.

So it was time for him to find his happy ending... Enter Lillian Rainier.

Lillian's had a hard go at life as well. When she was 19 years old, her loving parents were implicated in a local robbery and they disappeared. They never came back home, despite being devoted to their daughter. Lillian knows what that means after 16 years of no contact, no letters, and no news.

But now there have been updates in her parents' long dead case. Harry Moran meets Lillian for the first time—and let's just say the sparks fly instantly.

With emotional journeys, small-town heart, a compelling series of mysteries, and lots of cameos from the previous books in the series, The Woman Left Behind was a treat!

I think one of this series' most compelling points is the focus on older-aged protagonists (and not even "old"!) and second chance romances. While that shouldn't be unique, in today's romance market it is. It's rare to see characters finding love in their late 30s, 40s, and beyond—the 20-somethings and early 30-somethings seem to have all of the fun in publishing. So it's refreshing that the entire series of Misted Pines focuses on the rest of us.

It's also one of my favorite combinations of high-stakes drama—in this case, the police procedurals—and yet real-life levels of cozy and slice of life. While I'm a huge KA fan and love all of her works to different degrees, I confess that sometimes the high-octane OTT drama levels of some of the other series get to me sometimes and I wish for something slower, softer, and more grounded in reality. Misted Pines is that series for me.

I loved the love story for Harry and Lillian. I found it sweet, well-plotted, and one of KA's best in recent years for writing style and overall emotional resonance. A slam dunk! Eagerly looking forward to more of the Misted Pines series.
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SMOOTH SAILING - Kristen Ashley

2/4/2025

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4 stars

It's always like a warm hug, returning to Chaos. Strap in for the story of Harlan ("Hugger") and Diana!


Smooth Sailing is the third book in the Wild West MC series, which is in itself a spin-off series from KA's older Chaos MC series. Why am I giving you this much context? Because let's be honest, with these longer romance series + romance series spin-offs in the indie romance scene is honestly hard to keep it all straight—especially if you're a new reader!

So, first things first: if you're brand new to KA's motorcycle club romances, I recommend you pause here and investigate the Chaos MC series, which starts with Own the Wind. I promise you won't regret it!

But, if you're a wild card who likes to play it fast and loose with series order (it's me, I'm that person too) then feel free to keep on reading here and see if you'd like to try out the Wild West MC series by itself.

From the blurb...

When the Chaos Motorcycle Club came to call, Harlan “Hugger” McCain wasn’t ready to be welcomed into the fold. They said he was a legacy. He felt like an outcast.

But he patched in anyway. And he was all in to be a part of their not-quite-outlaw missions.

This takes him down to Phoenix, right into the orbit of Diana Armitage, a beautiful, green-eyed woman with a heart of gold and a scarily honed tendency to sacrifice for pretty much everyone she cares about, and some people she barely knows.

Hugger has been existing. Life has never given him much, now, he expects even less. Diana lives life to its fullest. And she doesn’t keep it a secret she wants to drag Hugger right along with her.

But Hugger is certain he’s got bad blood. He’s got one foot in Chaos, one foot out. One foot in Diana’s life, one foot out. Diana and his brothers in Chaos have their work cut out to show Hugger who he is. That he belongs. And he’s worthy to be loved.


My thoughts:
First off, it's honestly a huge surprise that I'm standing here at all, reading this story and telling you about it. (And it's to my utter shock that I liked it—a LOT!) Because, in total honesty, I hated the first book in the Wild West MC spin-off series. It actually turned me away from the entire concept, and led to me not reading the second book. (I don't feel this book deserves to be overshadowed by that story, so let's leave it at the fact that the MMC of that first book crossed some lines that all other KA love interests never cross.) But I'm on KA's arc team and it'd been a while... and I love Chaos... and I love KA. So I knew it was time for me to give this series another try.

Hugger and Diana's story hits the spot. It's emotionally resonant, it has a core plot that carries through the entire story in a satisfying way, and it's filled with all of those KA-isms that hit me right in the feels. In short, I loved it.

If you're a KA stan, obviously you're going to read and love this one. If you're new to her work, like I said at the top—start with Chaos if you're into all things MC romance, or start with this one knowing that you're entering a boisterous family of bikers, their women, and their good times. Y'all are welcome here.

Thanks so much to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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LOVE, REKINDLED: A SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE COLLECTION

1/14/2025

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4 stars

Love, Rekindled: A Second-Chance Romance Collection by the 1001 Dark Nights is out now—and it's worth a read.

In this romance novella collection are five different stories from some of the best authors in the game, all dealing with one of my absolute FAVORITE tropes: second-chance romance. Most of them are with characters familiar to those authors' readers from their established worlds and etc., which is extra fun if you're interested in either revisiting your author's favorite worlds OR you'd like to try your hand at a new-to-you author.

(I know that stuff above is very market-y, but truly I think collections like this are a great soft sell for authors to meet new readers—it's how I get introduced to new series, because a novella is a lot less stakes than an entire novel!)

In this collection:

Slayed by Darkness by Alexandra Ivy
Evermore by Corinne Michaels
The Close-up by Kennedy Ryan
Rafe by Sawyer Bennett
Rough Rhythm by Tessa Bailey

I requested Love, Rekindled because I am a huge fan of both Kennedy Ryan and Tessa Bailey. So let's be real, most of my thoughts here are for those two novellas in particular because I DID run right to their stories first (listen, we all do it!).

Kennedy Ryan's second-chance romance with Takira and Naz had my heart, y'all, with its sweet high-school flame start and its steamy adult ending. These characters exist in a cross-section of Ryan's basketball players universe and her Reel universe, so I loved all of the references and to see these characters get their sweet happy ending.

Tessa Bailey's romance was, like all Bailey stories, SMOKIN' hot. I honestly don't want to talk about this one too much because I had the best time going into it blind, but here's a little teaser quote to get you interested... "If another man called you his plaything, Lita, I would gut him." (Tell me you don't want to read that!!)

As someone who hasn't read any of Alexandra Ivy, Corinne Michaels, or Sawyer Bennett before—and all of their worlds were new to me—I'll confess that I enjoyed them but don't have too much to say specifically about their individual stories. I did get intrigued though by their worlds, so those three authors have joined my growing TBR pile to try out their series soon!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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BACK IN THE SADDLE - Kristen Ashley

12/3/2024

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3.5 stars

I love visiting Kristen Ashley Land. It's a special place where the people have heart, good times are had, romance is king, and drama fuels the fun. This second romp in the Avenging Angels universe was no exception!

Please stop HERE if you have not read the first book in the series, Avenging Angel. This series of interconnected standalones is best read in order. My review of Avenging Angels here.

Back in the Saddle is the second story in this spinoff series from Kristen Ashley's popular Rock Chick books—which are some of my favorite romance books EVER, I highly recommend them if you're into highly dramatic, very over-the-top stories.

This series takes place in Phoenix, and the main narrative hook is a Charlie's Angels concept of younger women in their thirties who right the world's wrongs while having a good time and falling in love with hot men.

What's not to like??

Truly, the vibes of this series are fantastic. As someone who rereads at least two Rock Chick books every single year, my expectations for this second-generation spin-off series were through the roof. And they delivered! Avenging Angels was the romance of Raye and Cap, and it was precious. Drama, hijinks, the whole nine yards.

Now we're here, with Back in the Saddle, and it's Jessie and Eric's story.

Eric Turner had his introduction in the Rock Chick books—a former FBI agent who left the scene because his partner betrayed him by being a crook, Eric's had a rough go. Add in some personal life drama and he's been ready for his happily ever after for QUITE some time.

Enter Jessie Wylde, the Avenging Angel who is a mixologist by day, and worried older sister by night. She's looking for her brother as he struggles with his mental illness and is on the run, and she's desperate to find him.

Eric's been about Jessie since he saw her months ago, so when she needs the backup, he wades in and makes his intentions knownnnn.

It's time for another adventure in KA Land... Strap in!

Okay, so on to the good stuff:
This installment gave me all the warm fuzzy favorites that I associate with Kristen Ashley books. Namely, that we're here for a good time and not for a literary deep dive. I say "Kristen Ashley Land" when I talk about her books because it's like Disneyland—it has its own ecosystem with its own mannerisms, rules, sense of time/place, and culture. These books don't feel current or even grounded in our universe—they're grounded in location (here, it's Phoenix) but the time period feels like its own bubble of the past and present together and the characters all act in a very particular way that doesn't feel like Reality but isn't necessarily a fantasy. It's a vibe, and I know it's a very particular one that clashes with more people than it meshes with. I'm a mesher, but you reading this might be a clasher (and that's okay). KA isn't for everyone. That being said—being in the zone in a KA book is an endorphin high like little others I've experienced in books. So I was flying high on my drug of choice once more: these stories. Eric and Jessie were very emotionally stable and wonderful characters to follow and I enjoyed their sweet romance very much.

Maybe some less good stuff:
Okay. So it pains me to admit this, but Back in the Saddle was not my most favorite book in the KA universe. But hold up, because I know sometimes a 3.5 star rating is seen negatively by a lot of people and I don't mean to knock this book down at ALL. It's just, we wanted different things here. I'm a person who needsssss that angst. That drama. That I-don't-know-how-they'll-make-it-past-that-hang-up push and pull in romance. That oh-baby level of steam based on extenuating circumstances and tropes like forced proximity and instant attraction fueled with angsty vibes. And Jessie and Eric's story? Was all fluff. They didn't have drama, because they were reasonable adults who loved each other and communicated. Different strokes for different folks, I know, but for me? I wanted Eric and Jessie to go through it before their happily ever after and they didn't. Couple the lack of relationship drama with a serious lack in DRAMA drama (again, reasonable adults with reasonable boundaries means everyone was too on the same page for us to get TO the drama stage) means that I was craving a drama fix that I didn't necessarily get.

However, all of my quibbles here are because I'm a drama-loving, extremely over-the-top romance reader. So my fellow readers, if you like something softer and more emotionally balanced, take those signs as a positive!

Regardless, I am LOCKED IN to the concepts that were teased in this book for a future Harlow story and a future Luna story. Those seem... dramatic...!!!

Many thanks to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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EMBRACING THE CHANGE - Kristen Ashley

9/11/2024

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4 stars

It’s always a good day when I read a new KA book! 
Two friends who have orbited around each other for decades finally break the seal on the tension—will their friendship and romance remain, or will they burn up in the launch?

Characters: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
Writing style: It's a KA book, so keep this in mind as her writing style is Very Dramatic and you either love it or hate it. (I love it!)

Embracing the Change is the 6th book in the River Rain series, and unlike the 5th book, Fighting the Pull, this one is definitely a series continuation and should NOT be read as a standalone.

Nora Ellington is a New York socialite enjoying her life as a divorcee with her adult children orbiting around her and her wonderful friend/family group filling her life with fun and drama. Her life is full, and she is happy.

Part of the reason Nora's life is both of those things is Jamie Oakley.

Jamie Oakley is a billionaire who's been happily married twice before and had both of those marriages end in tragedy. He's comforted his pain with his adult children, their successes, and the fact that his friend/family group is rich in love. He's happy, his life is full, and he's comfortable.

Part of the reason Jamie's life is all of those things is Nora Ellington.

Everyone in the River Rain family/friends dynamic knows about Jamie and Nora. They've been best friends and dating-without-dating for years. Their lives orbit each other and they're happiest when they're together. But neither one of them will break that final seal—you can't put the jack back in the box, after all, and both of them are too scared of losing what they have to try for something more. So they wind and wind that jack in the box tighter. And tighter.

But then Jamie kisses Nora. PING, goes the jack in the box.

Now Jamie and Nora have to deal with decades of history, deep-seated love, and reconciling with both of their problems before their foundations crumble under the strain of the "will they, won't they" cascading down around them.

Ahhhhhh, it's ALWAYS good to be back in the saddle with a KA romance. These novels have something addictive in them, folks, and long-time mutuals of mine know that I can't be stopped—if it's KA, I'm there, and I'm not leaving until I've devoured it all (and likely more than once).

The River Rain series is one that I was late to the party for, which I know is shocking based on what I just said. But I missed it when it was first released—I'd been making my way through KA's backlist and knew I'd get to this series eventually. Now I'm here, albeit with half of the playbook as I started with Fighting the Pull, and I'm having such an emotional time. This series is different for her and yet exactly the same.

The main difference is the sheer depth of the family/friend dynamics—this isn't like the Rock Chicks with one continuous line of friends getting their moment in the sun. This series is an entire blended family of multiple generations, friends, family, and others all mushing together into each book for a myriad of different set ups. It's dense! Which makes it kind of complicated, if I'm honest, and very hard for a newer reader to get into it and have a good time without making a detailed map of the family/friend tree.

However, the core of this story is the same as all KA--the romance is top-tier, the love is strong, and the sense of community and family prevailing over all gives me the warm fuzzies, every time.

Nora and Jamie's story has some bumps in the road. But not too many, and it's not that hard of a journey. They're adults, after all, and they don't have time for each other's B.S.! (A take that I loved and hated, as a person who lovesss her angst but agrees that sometimes it's not needed.)

Don't miss this latest installment. And if you're new to River Rain, start at the beginning with After the Climb!
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    Amy Imogene Reads

    Just someone looking for her own door into Wonderland.

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