Review: Girls Just Wanna Have Sun

Girls Just Wanna Have Sun by Rachel Lacey
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Morgan had her bisexual awakening after a kiss 8 years ago.  She sees Juliet again on a beach trip with friends.  Juliet takes a moment and remembers her.  They spend some time together on the lake; Juliet teachers her how to paddle board.  

Both Morgan and Juliet are mostly opposites (an example is Juliet love the outdoors and everything with it; Morgan isn't).  My low rating comes from a disbelief of seeing them together.  Juliet spends a bit of time annoyed with Morgan.  I couldn't see them together.  I also had trouble believing they couldn't have seen each other in 8 years since (it appeared) they were part of the same friend group.  Color me a bit confused about that one.  

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Review: Hard Ride

Hard Ride by A.M. Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Slater has found a home at Clean Slate.  He has a history like just about everyone at Clean Slate.  He is private and only the ranch owner Arthur (and I think Jud?) know his history.  He is also a bit of a loner.  Derrick is outgoing and has a loving, supportive family.  They also want to see him in a relationship.  Which Derrick shys away from since he has been hurt in the past (cheating x 2).  One sleepless night, while at the ranch for a double wedding, he and Slater have a hot one night stand.  And both think about it after.

Slater falls off a cliff while saving a boy's life.  This leds to needing time off to rehab.  Derrick offers a deal; he stays with him and they fake a relationship.  Slater gets a place to stay to be closer to physical therapy (and privacy) and Derrick get s a fake boyfriend to take on 5 (yes 5) weddings over the summer.  

I enjoyed this so much.  Both compliment each other so well.  I liked seeing the relationship flow from a one night stand to friendship to love.  It was so sweet.  Of course they have to get out of their own heads towards the end.  

We do see previous characters appear in this one (Mack, Reyes, Robin, Wes, Sophie, Colt, Conrad).  And new characters:  Morgan & Dez, George and Orry.  I've enjoyed this series!

Ripped Bodice Bingo:  friends with benefits.

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Review: One Hot Summer Wedding

One Hot Summer Wedding by Falon Ballard
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had to suspend some disbelief with this one.  Lucy hasn't seen her friend Sara in a decade and gets invited to her wedding.  I get that it's a destination wedding, but really?  Someone you considered a friend goes 10 years without seeing them and you decide to go to wedding?  Lucy also had a thing for Beckett, Sara's brother.  But someone tells a lie because they were worried how a Lucy/Beckett romance would effect them.  I thought the lie and reason (it was stupid) were brushed over and forgiven/forgotten too easily.   

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Review: The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance

The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance by Jamie Leigh Hansen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The "Mammoth Book" series of anthologies has been a bit hit and miss for me. This one is no different. I think my tastes have changed over the last several years, I didn't like this (overall) as much as I thought I would. I am a LInnea Sinclair fan and did initially buy this for her stories (there are 2!). Her stories didn't disappoint.
Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo- Futuristic/Dystopian Romance

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Review: Save a Horse, Keep the Cowboy

Save a Horse, Keep the Cowboy by Jessica Peterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Josie left her small town to pursue a music career.  She is now a successful artist and is back home to officiate her brother and best friend's wedding.  Weston was Josie's first love and chose his family's ranch over her (they were to go to Nashville together).  He has 2 brothers that work the ranch and lots of hired hands, so ranch it is, gotta support my family.  (I would have been more understanding if he was an only child or the family was in danger of losing their home)

2nd chance aren't my favorite and I didn't care for this one.  I couldn't get into the romance and thought Josie was an idiot.  Sure, he loves her now that she's got money.  A song (yes, one song) does not a proper grovel make.  This may have better if it had been a little longer.  

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Review: Role Model

Role Model by Rachel Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is Troy's story (he was Dallas Kent's friend from the previous books, with hints in the last book that he may really not be a bad person at heart).  Troy gets traded to Ottawa, the worst team in the league, after he calls out Dallas over sexual assault allegations.  The league, of course, took Dallas's side.  Needless the say, their friendship (thank the goddess) is DEAD.  And to add another shitty thing, his boyfriend of 2 years broke up with him (and is now out and engaged).

Harris is the team's social media manager.  He is loved by everyone on the team.  He's out, proud, and usually always quick to laugh/have a smile on his face.  He is super close to his family (they have an apple orchard) and they love him just as he is.

Troy is a bit of an asshole at the beginning this is.  I do understand why he was unhappy, but it sucked that he took it out on the people around him.  Eventually he does thaw and Harris provides a person he can confide in and share some history (shocker, Troy's dad is an asshole).  Ilya is also a supportive person and he is one of the first people that Troy comes out to.  We get to see characters from the previous books; Scott, Kip, Ilya, Shane, Ryan, Fabian, Eric, and Kyle all make appearances.  Shane is a blink and miss, Ilya has much more.    

Does cover homophobia, sexaul assault.

Smart Bitches Summer Bingo:  Animal on cover 

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Review: S'more of You

S'more of You by Tessa Bailey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Margot and Dean have known each other for the last 8 years having started out spending their summers at camp as campers at 13 to now counselors. Margot has had a crush on Dean for 8 years and this the the year she does something about it. The only problem? He doesn't believe her. Apparently she liked to prank him.
Short, summer themed. Nicely paced and this works because of their shared history. Told in alternating points of view, we knew where each character's minds were. I think that one of the main characters being a virgin was a bit tired (not a big fan of this trope; especially in comtempary romances).

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