#elle kennedy author

[stargirlie25]

Yall read what you want.

I mean who literally cares if it has horrible writing and no plot? Or you learned nothing from it and it was cliche as hell.

So? You had fun and thats what matters.

Im an epic fantasy and dark romance girl but trust me i love stupid little rom coms. They are exactly what i need after an intense book.

Like yes the author might have used present tense when the statement requires past tense but idgaf. All that matters is that i had fun.

Im not like ´´well there were multiple grammatical errors in this novel and as a person who majors in English this is clearly unacceptable🤓 ´ ´

No i seriously do not care.

So yes i like the off campus/briar u series. Yes i like the American roommate experience. Yes i like the bellamy creek series. And yes they are all chessy as hell but i had fun

READ WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT

with that being said i will forever judge people who love credence by penelope douglas.

[nctsworld]

[noveljoys]

hit the 50k word mark on my work in progress!

a little over half-way there 💪🏼

[kaetrinsmusings]

Review at Dear Author

Review at Dear Author: The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy.

I’m over at Dear Author with a review of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. I made the happy book noise.

[djrusso-romance]

My year in reading

So let's recap thanks to Goodreads. I really only use GR these days to keep track of what I'm reading and for the shelving system but as a whole, not a fan of the site. Still, data and stats are fun!

I liked both of these books. I thought Her Soul to Take was better, but I loved the second one too. Headless was fun too. I like short fiction.

I loved The Deal even though I could SEE the problematic elements in it, but it was catnip for my soul. My university experience was similar (well, sorta. I didn't hook up with any hockey players), so I enjoyed this one more than I probably should have. I wish Elle would stop being shitty about queer women, though. Stop it, Elle. Stop. Kink the Halls LITERALLY just came out by my friend Ali and her writing shines best when she's writing sapphic romances.

Some of the books I read this year I can't even remember reading. Was that one book REALLY this year? Could've sworn I read it two years ago! Yikes. What is time, anyway? Wibbly wobbly nonsense? Anyway, if you want my full report, you can check it out on my goodreads.

And if you want to know what I liked best, well, you can see that on my Tik Tok.

[haveyoureadthispoll]

Gigi Graham has exactly three goals: qualify for the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father’s shadow. So far, so good, except for two little things. Fine–a little thing and a big, grumpy thing. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder. Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude…and sexy as hell. But he’s still the enemy. Briar’s new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men’s team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster where everyone hates one another’s guts. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he’s angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst possible first impression on his hero. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word with her dad. The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they’re trying to ignore. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing, but the risks just might be worth it.

[maepolzine]

Authors Who I Consider Auto-Buy (Read Everything That's Released)

Sharing all the authors I would auto-buy, meaning I would buy everything that's published from them.

There aren’t many authors who I would read everything they publish. Either because I’m not interested in all of their concepts or because I’m only interested in specific universes. Or they have way too many series, so I pick and choose which one I’m going to read. And then, there are other authors who I have read everything they have released, but because they just have one series or world that…

[fiapartridge]

𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐓 𝐗 𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐄𝐋 ˙ ✩°˖🎀 ⋆｡˚꩜

beckett sennecke x bookstore!girl au!

meet hazel becker 💖💌🎧🌸🧚‍♀️

☆ age: 18

☆ nicknames: haze, zelly

☆ education/hobbies: hazel is currently a first year at cal state fullerton. she's majoring in creative writing. she aspires to be a young adult author in the future. she loves reading, writing, & baking.

☆ family: she has one younger sister (9) and one older sister (21). she's very close with both of them and calls them regularly. she's also super close to her parents and they're very supportive of her career path and everything she's working towards. she's originally from seattle, washington but is at csuf for school!

☆ hazel's quirks: she's a hopeless romantic! she believes in love at first sight and wants a fairytale, romcom, book-ish type of love. she's never been in a serious relationship before (if you don't count justin ramirez during freshman year of hs - it was a month long and never went past handholding and quick pecks). she would much rather be with the guys she dreams about in books and writes in her own than the guys she meets in real life. she's also a huge swiftie. she's in every single playlist that she has (she's currently trying to make beckett a fan). her favorite colors are pink and yellow, and her fashion staple are baby pink converse <3 she couldn't live without them!

☆ comparable characters: lara jean covey (to all the boys i've loved before), liz buxbaum (better than the movies)

☆ spirit animal: orange tabby cat

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

meet beckett sennecke 🏒⭐️🦆🧡✨

☆ age: 18

☆ nicknames: beck, becky, beckster

☆ education/hobbies: beckett is currently (in the au) playing hockey for the anaheim ducks.

☆ beckett's quirks: he's also never been in a relationship! not because he has some ideal girl in his head (i mean, yes, but that's not what's been stopping him) but because he's literally pathetic. he cannot talk to girls. he gets flustered soo easily. he's also a little spoon. he also loves the off campus series by elle kennedy. and he has a teddy bear named captain fuzzington.

☆ comparable characters: peter kavinsky (to all the boys i've loved before), troy bolton (high school musical)

☆ spirit animal: golden retriever

moodboard!

playlist!

fics ->

☆ captain fuzzington

☆ does he know?

☆ 4th of july!

☆ robbers

blurbs/thoughts ->

☆ how they met pt.1 - how they met pt. 2 - how they met pt. 3 - how they met pt. 4

☆ beckett reading the deal

☆ their second date

☆ his voice lmfao

☆ finding out he's a hockey player...

☆ beckett's explanation

☆ her touch calms him down

☆ first sleepover

☆ their first cuddle

☆ her major!

☆ their first kiss

☆ making it official

☆ so high school coded

☆ one monthiversary gifts

☆ beckett buys hazel expensive jewelry

☆ hazel's family!

☆ "love" and "baby"

☆ beckett calls her hazelnut

☆ beckett + hazel are 18 by one direction coded

☆ beckett + hazel do a tiktok trend!

☆ hazel comforts beckett at a press conference

insta edits ->

☆ hazel’s life update

[goldierey]

guys i think elle kennedy is becoming my favorite author

[thousandfireworks]

Authors whose books you have to avoid because they are problematic.

Abigail Hing Wen.

Alex Aster.

Alice Hoffman.

Alice Oseman.

Alison Win Scotch. ‘Terrorism is never acceptable. Not in Israel.’

Allie Sarah.

Amber Kelly.

Amy Harmon.

Annabelle Monaghan.

Anna Akana.

Aurora Parker.

Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Brandon Sanderson. Islamophobic.

Carissa Broadbent. Said that hamas is doing violence against innocence.

Chloe Walsh. Siding with Israel in the name of humanity.

Christina Lauren. Believe that Israel is the victim. A racist, also Islamophobic.

Colleen Hoover.

Cora Reilly. Travel to Israel despite criticism.

Danielle Bernstein. Islamophobic.

Danielle Lori.

Deke Moulton. Said hamas is terrorist.

Dian Purnomo.

Eliza Chan.

Elle Kennedy.

Elyssa Friedland.

Emily Henry.

Emily Mclntire.

Emily St. J. Mandel. Admiring Israel.

Gabrielle Zevin. Wrote a book about anti-Palestine. Mentioned Israel multiple times without context on his book.

Gregory Carlos. Israeli author. A zionist.

Hannah Whitten.

Hazel Hayes. Reposted a post about October 7th.

Heidi Shertok.

Jamie McGuire.

Jay Shetty. ‘Violence is happening in Israel.’

Jean Meltzer.

Jeffery Archer. Wrote a book with a mc Israel operative (mossad) in a positive and anti terrorist light.

Jennifer Hartman. Liked a post about pro-Israel.

Jen Calonita.

Jessa Hastings.

Jill Santopolo. Said that Israel has right to exist and fight back.

John Green.

Jojo Moyes.

J. Elle.

J. K. Rowling. Support genocide. Racist. Islamophobic.

Kate Canterbery.

Kate Stewart.

Katherine Howe.

Katherine Locke.

Kristin Hannah. Support Israel. Shared a donation link.

Laini Taylor.

Laura Thalassa. Islamophobic.

Lauren Wise. Cussed that Palestinian supporters would be raped in front of children.

Lea Geller. Thanked people who supports Israel.

Leigh Dragoon. Islamaphobic and anti Asian racist rants on Twitter and threads

Leigh Stein.

Lilian Harris. A racist. Blocking people who educates about colonialism in Palestine and call them disgusting.

Lisa Barr. A daughter of Holocaust survivor. Support Israel.

Lisa Kennedy Montgomery.

Lisa Steinke.

Liz Fenton.

Lynn Painter. Afraid of getting cancelled as a pro-Palestine and posted a template afterwards.

L. J. Shen. Her husband joins idf (Israel army).

Mariana Zapata.

Marie Lu.

Marissa Meyer.

Melissa de la Cruz.

Michelle Cohen Corasanti.

Michelle Hodkin. Spread false rumors about arab-hamas. Islamophobic.

Mitch Albom. ‘We shouldn't blame Israel for surviving attacks or defending against them.’

Monica Murphy. Siding with Israel.

Naomi Klein.

Navah Wolfe.

Neil Gaiman. Suggested Palestinians unite with Israel and become citizens.

Nicholas Sparks.

Nic Stone. Talked nonsense that children in Palestinian refugee camp are training to be martyrs for Allah because they felt it was their call in life.

Nyla K.

Olivia Wildenstein. Blocking people who disagree with Israel wrongdoing.

Pamela Becker.

Penelope Douglas.

Pierce Brown.

Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Rebecca G. Martinez.

Rebecca Yarros. ‘I despise violence’ her opinion about what's happening in Gaza. Blocking people who calls her a zionist.

Rena Rossner.

Renee Ahdieh.

Rick Riordan.

Rina Kent.

Rivka (noctem.novelle).

Rochelle Weinstein.

Romina Garber. ‘These terrorist attacks do nothing to improve the lives of Palestinians people.’

Roshani Chokshi. Encourage people to donate to Israel.

Samantha Greene Woodruff.

Sarah J. Mass. Her book contained ideology of zionism.

Stephanie Garber. Promoting books by zionist author (Sarah J. Mass)

Skye Warren.

Sonali Dev.

Talia Carner.

Tarryn Fisher. Said ‘there was terrorist attack in Israel.’

Taylor Jenkins Reid. Posted a video about genocide.

Tere Liye. Rumoured to have ghoswriters to write his books and never give credit to them.

Tillie Cole.

Tracy Deon.

Trinity Traveler (Ade Perucha Hutagaol). Rumour to wrote book about handsome Israelis.

T. J. Klune.

Uri Kurlianchik.

Veronica Roth.

Victoria Aveyard. ‘Israel has the right to exist.’ quote from her about the issue.

V. E. Schwab. Shared a donation link and video about Israel.

Yuval Noah. ‘Israel has the right to do anything to defend themselves.’

Zibby Owens.

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Every week I will post various reviews I've written so far in 2024. You can check out my Goodreads for more up-to-date reviews HERE.

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts?

___

267. Body Check by Elle Kennedy--⭐️⭐️.5

You know it's bad when I can't even remember what this book was about LOL. Thank goodness for review notes.

Something about BODY CHECK just didn't immediately grab me like this author's other books. The mood just felt...off?

I've been spoiled by the newer Elle Kennedy books because this one barely had any prep time before the two MCs meant and went to bone town. Usually, Kennedy's characters have some alone time so we can get attached to them. I know this is her first book, so it definitely had some things that could have been done better. And then I start thinking about how this is a re-edited edition and I'm just kind of mind-blown.

Anyway, other than the fact that this very much felt like a Harlequin novel (not that this is a bad thing, it's just the kind of romance that happens very quickly and with some over-the-top situations), this was one of those quick books that entertains you in the moment and then immediately leaves your mind. I very much wish we'd gotten a bit more about these two before they got together. What we DID get was interesting.

The FMC had a Rachel & Ross situation going on at the beginning of the book and the poor guy was a goner that moment she had some good-good from the hockey player. The best part of this book was the scandal that was haunting the hockey players and the MC's dad. Even though I guessed the twist, it was still fun and entertaining.

If you want spicy spice, this will feed you. You will need milk. But if you want Kennedy's signature (sometimes slow burn) romance with characters who have to work to fall for each other, this one might not be for you. BUT if you're new to Kennedy, this might be a good place to start (only up from here).

I think this is one of those instances where this could have still as a backlist title, especially since most of Kennedy's more recent romance titles are a lot better. I'm not going to talk about her summer series because please.

___

268. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a unique take on Cinderella!

ELLA ENCHANTED was both enjoyable and heartbreaking, all because of poor Ella's curse (excuse me, fairy "gift"). It did make for interesting moments where she learned how to maneuver her curse, and moments where I wanted to protect her from the evil people in her life trying to control her.

What I liked about this one too is that the prince knew who she was before her life completely fell apart. I liked that they had a childhood together where they fell for each other genuinely, and not because Ella looked pretty at a ball.

There was so much adventure, fun, misery, and anger felt in these pages. I also really liked that there were magical limitations and consequences for magical troublemaking. It helped the story feel a bit more genuine and like Ella would have to fight more for her freedom (which made for an even better story).

The ending had me smiling like a sap. Man, I'm glad I've finally read some of these classic stories, but I do wish I'd read them when I was younger. I just know my imagination would have been going wild back then.

___

269. Alive & Wells by Bailey Hannah--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Still hung up on that awesome dedication: "For the city girls in their cowboy romance era. And for the country girls who know a fictional cowboy is always better than the real thing." LOL.

I bought this on a whim during one afternoon trip to a bookstore. I know ranchers and cowboys have been getting really popular in romance novels and I've been curious. I remember my co-worker mentioned that she's met cowboys up in Alberta and they aren't as charming as the ones in the books (which is another reason why I love that dedication so much). But you know, I'm the type of woman who lives vicariously through fiction and that's okay.

Western suspenseful romance is a genre I never thought I'd be into, but after Devney Perry I've been unconsciously looking for more books like INDIGO RIDGE and this was a close comparison. We immediately get that threat of a douche husband and the MC's escape sets off a chain of events. She grows a lot as a character as she takes back her identity and strength that she lost during her marriage.

I LOVED the tension between her and the MMC because he has a genuine reason for being so wary of her. I will always love the idea of one MC having the prove themself to the other. Assuming is the killer of so many first impressions and I love that journey to healing that immediate rift. It usually turns into some nice spicy moments and deep connections between the characters--the perfect pay-off.

I liked that Hannah doesn't shy away from showing the painful aftermath of living in an abusive relationship and how one heals from it both with the help of others, but also with their own self-strength.

Also, can't NOT include the amazing cast of side characters who offered such an incredible level of support and entertainment! I can't wait to read their stories if they're written.

I devoured this book in the only way in can be devoured piece by piece every night for a week. Such a great western romance. Highly recommend. Intense TW for DV, potential gun violence, PTSD, and verbal abuse.

___

270. Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this completely blind and a part of me is happy about it and another part is curious as to whether I would have picked this up after reading the synopsis. Sometimes I avoid books like this, either because the concept of it gives me anxiety or because I just side-eye it until it leaves my sight.

THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE was an alright read that honestly made me curious about whether I should DNF it or not. I found myself wanting to do anything but listen to an audiobook and that's usually a telling sign. I will admit though that when I forced myself to press play, I DID enjoy what I was reading. Of course, there were some moments where I rolled my eyes, but there were other moments where I genuinely laughed and rooted for the MC.

Her teen life was awful and I felt so bad for her. It's true that that shit stays with you into adulthood (she says, as she thinks of how her experiences as a bullied kid still haunts her to this day) and can even alter the way you view life and the people you let in. What I wasn't a big fan of was how the MC let out her meanness on her neighbour and the people around her. She lived in that lonely bubble for most of her life and kicked people back before they could enter that bubble. In a way, this was a cautionary tale that the prison others make for you becomes so comfortable that it's really hard to break out of it.

The love interest (we all know it's not that Ken doll she meets briefly. This can't be a spoiler because it's always the one who makes the MC the angriest in the most sexually-tense way) was one of the best parts of this book. I loved that we got to know him alongside the MC and that maybe, he wasn't the jerk she thought he was. Their romance was adorable and saved a chunk of the book.

My major issues were her attitude, her obsession with that dude (to the point where it was just creepy), and some reviewers pointed out some inconsistencies that an editor would have caught.

Do I think this could easily be someone's favourite book? Hell yeah, I do. Look at that overall rating! I'm glad others liked it way more than I did. If you like romances with deadlines, a bit of paranormal action, and a grumpy neighbour who is secretly a cinnamon roll, then you might like this one!

___

271. The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unpopular opinion, but save for the conflict resolution in this one, I think I liked the first book more. BUT this was still really cute!!!

I think the problem with me and this book was that everyone hyped it up for me. I had already loved Joyce's previous book, so I was doubly excited for THE EX VOWS. AND don't get me wrong, this one was super enjoyable. I had fun and I loved the characters and how they found themselves back in each others' orbits. I love a solid redemption arc.

But.

Something about this one didn't immediately grab me like the other book. I think it was the main trope. I'm not as big of a fan of second chance romances and I think that's honestly a very me problem. The other was an enemies to lovers romance and that is my bread and butter, second chance takes a while to capture me. I do love when a romance is rekindled and it's proven that the MC and her love interest have shared a love all along, but there's no tension like that of enemies LOL.

Anyway, THE EX VOWS was cute! I liked that we get thrown immediately into this uncomfortable situation where the MC is forced to face the one who got away (let their love sizzle down?). As the story progresses, we learn that both characters dropped the ball either from anxiety and a fear of failure, and a lack of self-love and self-importance. In other words, neither communicated (which I will ALWAYS say is a relationship killer). And now, they have a second chance.

I think what makes this story so successful with so many readers is how palpable the connection is between these two characters, and how much they love their friends. But also, the representation of what getting help and putting yourself first looks like. Also, the friendships are so sweet and portray what sometimes happens in life as we grow and change and adapt to what life throws at us.

Also, that conflict resolution. Because please, that was some A+ level writing and I wish more romance novels employed that level of communication and understand during the climax of a story.

Read this book. It's popular for a reason--it's very well written and I am SO excited to see what else Jessica Joyce writes!

___

272. Stay Dead by April Henry--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

STAY DEAD was not at all what I was anticipating. For some reason, that cover made me think that this was going to be a zombie apocalypse book (the truth behind entering a book without reading the synopsis). Thankfully, I'm still a sucker for these kinds of books. Survival and running away from someone hunting the MC down? Sign me up!

While I do wish there was more of a survival aspect after the plane crash, I was completely pulled in by the MC's intelligent approach to surviving the people who wanted her dead. There were some moments where I thought it would all end, but she somehow would get out safe. Also, as I've mentioned many times in past reviews, I love when a villain underestimates the MC because it makes the story more exciting.

I also liked that this was a realistic situation because of the reason behind WHY the MC and the previous people involved were hurt or hunted. I won't say it here, but I thought it was very timely. It was also well supported by that surprising third perspective that gives us more of an explanation of what was happening, why it was happening, and the real-life consequences.

And while I did like the hint of a romance there with the childhood best friend, I do appreciate that Henry stayed true to the story and focused more on the MC's journey than the potential romance. It was also left open-ended enough that there is either a what-if aspect to it, or a sequel cooking somewhere.

Overall, this was fun and was non-stop action. Really ended up enjoying this one, even if it wasn't about zombies.

___

273. The Switch by Lynsay Sands--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved the bi-panic in this LOL gave me a great laugh. But impressed that it was happening in a book published when it was (late 90s).

I'll be honest, I'm always wary whenever I start a historical romance. I don't know if it'll be a story that immediately hooks me, or if it'll be one that has so much exposition that I'll be dragging my eyelids open. Thankfully, THE SWITCH was fun from the very beginning.

These twin sisters were smart and hilarious as they fell into their new roles, even if one twin was slightly more selfish than the other. And to be fair, that was part of the character growth--the one MC learning to stand up for herself and that being a little selfish sometimes is healthy.

I thought that the star of the book was the MMC and his constant confusion. It brought back memories of MULAN and how Li Shang must have felt when he found himself attracted to Mulan when she was dressed as a man. Watching this man trying to figure out his confusing feelings was pure entertainment--especially when this story is set in a world where queerness wasn't something done out in the open. Of course, there were moments that were indicative of the time this book was written (like trying to force someone to sleep with a woman at a brothel to make him "manlier"), but I'll be honest and say I was incredibly surprised with how progressive this novel felt.

THE SWITCH was just pure fun and I enjoyed every moment of it, even if these sisters have a really bad habit of jumping into danger feet first and without looking.

___

274. The Hookup Mix-Up by Riley Hart--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

These marshmallow characters were the sweetest LOL. Loved this, but I know I read this series out of order. Oops.

THE HOOKUP MIX-UP was such a fun and adorable time. I love that this couple started with a friendship because the one MC's self-esteem needed to be brought up before he could feel loved and love in return. The way they meet was adorable and the mix-up had me cackling. I just kept thinking "So adorably dumb."

This was definitely one of those books that is meant to be devoured in the summer. The spicy elements were great and their chemistry was jumping off the page. I loved their dynamic and how each offered the other something that they were both missing.

The side characters were hilarious and added so much personality to the book. I do wish I had read their book first. I liked that they side-eyed the MCs whenever they tried to play down what they were doing together.

I DO wish we had gotten more of a conclusion regarding the one MC's ex. I would have loved to see her be more aware of what she lost because she was BRUTAL. This book could have definitely been a little bit longer.

But this was still a fun time and like the past books I've read by Riley Hart, I really enjoyed this one!

___

Happy reading!

[theemporium]

i wanted to gatekeep but honestly a lot of hockey books suck to us hockey fans because the authors just don't get it but here's some with opinions:

vancouver storm series by stepanie archer (2 books so far) - readable, not super believable but not off putting

sidelined love by emery paige - would not recommend if you're looking for anything beside brainless filler, very surface level everything

vancouver agitators series by meghan quinn (4 books so far) - started okay but got worse, was looking forward to the 4th book so well and it ended up being so bad

jacksonville rays by emily rath (2 books, 3 novellas so far) - this series could have been so much shorter, can be summed up with "there was an attempt", i don't like saying this word but jesus there was so much cringe

playing for keeps by becka mack (3 books so far) - probably the highest rated series so far which is to say something because this wasn't a good series, so many pages yet so forgettable

mile high by liz tomforde (3 books in the series so far, only one hockey book) - solid reads but not must reads iykwim, like you probably won't regret it if you read it but the folks saying you have to are exaggerating, wait now that i think about it most hockey books are worse so yeah go for it it's good

elle kennedy (problematic author but honestly sometimes you just gotta)

off campus (5 books) - the OGs, read the first 4 books twice, their iconic-ness makes up for the flaws which there are but yolo, book 5 the legacy was a cute idea that could have been better executed

briar u (4 books) - not as good as off campus but i just checked and i rated them higher? why? eh whatever, no matter what people say you have to read this before the legacy to understand all the cameos and jokes

campus diaries (1 or 2 books so far) - a worthy continuation so far that hopefully won't disappoint because i just want more hockey books

brother puckers series by kayla grosse (2 novellas so far) - skip, skip, skip, can this even count the first one has no real hockey just a hockey agent twin brother of a player, could have been a wonderfully kinky book if it hadn't done literally everything wrong

totally pucked series by maren moore (6 books so far + 2 standalones) - they're all connected but there was no info on when the standalones fit in and overall it's just a mess and not a a fun mess just like messy all around, very heavy on calling women puckbunnies for no reason i think this author needs to talk to somebody about her biases tbh

off the ice series by bal khabra (1 book so far) - starts out eerily similiar to icebreaker but like... if it was good, very good alternative

d.c. eagles hockey series by leah brunner (2 or 3 books so far, 1 novella) - not super terrible but also just one of those books that you pick up because you can't find anything else and you don't feel anything about them afterwards like okay moving on

maple hills series by hannah grace (2 books so far) - i did not hate it, did i like it? uhm... next question

same time next year by tessa bailey - tessa bailey saw everybody on booktok thirsting over hockey players and thought "oh i can make some money with this", i don't think she googled even a singular thing for this, inaccurate as fuck

mendell hawks series by deanna grey (2 books so far) - very underrated series that deserves more love, good quick reads with likable characters and great friendships

ooooh thank you for sharing!!

[kaetrinsmusings]

Review at Dear Author

Review at Dear Author: Body Check by Elle Kennedy.

I’m over at Dear Author with a review of Body Check by Elle Kennedy. Not my favourite Kennedy. This book was originally written in 2009 and it shows.

[hannasbookshelf]

𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬

The Enemy Trap - Maren Moore (same world as The Newspaper Nanny but standalone)

The Newspaper Nanny - Maren Moore (same world as The Enemy Trap but standalone)

Totally Pucked - Maren Moore :

Change on the Fly

Sincerely, The Puckbunny

The Scorecard (duet with The Final Score)

The Final Score (duet with The Scorecard)

The Penalty Shot

Playboy Playmaker

D.C. Eagles Hockey - Leah Brunner :

Passion or Penalty (Novella)

Desire or Defense

Flirtation or Faceoff

The Vancouver Agitators - Meghan Quinn :

Kiss and Don't Tell

Those Three Little Words

Right Man, Right Time

Playing for Keeps - Becka Mack :

Consider Me

Play With Me

Unravel Me

Maple Hills - Hannah Grace :

Icebreaker

Wildfire

Mendell Hawks - Deanna Grey :

Sunny Disposition

Team Players

Off-Campus - Elle Kennedy (problematic author) :

The Deal

The Mistake

The Score

The Goal

The Legacy

Briar U - Elle Kennedy (problematic author) :

The Chase

The Risk

The Play

The Dare

Pucking Wrong - C.R.Jane :

The Pucking Wrong Number

The Pucking Wrong Guy

Pucked - Helena Hunting :

Pucked

Pucked Up

Pucked Over

Forever Pucked

Pucked Off

Pucked Love

All In - Helena Hunting :

A Lie for a Lie

A Favor for a Favor

A Secret for a Secret

A Kiss for a Kiss

Rules of the Game - Avery Keelan

Offside

Shutout

Jacksonville Rays - Emily Rath :

That One Night (prequel-Novella to Pucking Around)

Pucking Around

Pucking Wild

Pucking Sweet

Time to Shine - Rachel Reid

Game Changers - Rachel Reid :

Game Changer

Heated Rivalry

Tough Guy

Common Goal

Role Model

The Long Game

Gravity - Tal Bauer

Vancouver Wolves Hockey - Odette Stone :

Puck Me Secretly

Home Game

The Penalty Box

High Risk Rookie

Vancouver Storm - Stephanie Archer :

Behind the Net

Ice Knights - Avery Flynn :

Parental Guidance

Awk-Weird

Loud Mouth

𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔:

Isn't It Bromantic - Lyssa Kay Adams (book 4 in the Bromance Book Club Series)

Powerless- Elsie Silver (book 3 in the Chestnut Springs Series)

Final Offer - Lauren Asher (book 3 in the Dreamland Billionaires Series, male main character used to be a hockey player)

Mile High - Liz Tomforde (book 1 in the Windy City Series)

Breakaway - Grace Reilly (book 2 in the Beyond the Play Series)

[libertyreads]

April TBR 2024--

This next month is set to be full of rereads, hockey romances, and new to me books. It is also the month I'm starting a certification program so it will probably be a bit of a struggle to get through this month's TBR. I don't even remember the last time I've thought that about a month's TBR. I really hope I have as much fun with this TBR as I'm expecting to. I've really been in the mood for these rereads and these hockey romance so I'm excited to finally get to it.

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken-- This is just one of a few rereads this month. Book two in the series comes out next month. I originally read this one as an ARC so I definitely need a refresher first. Tamsin Lark is a mortal with no magical talent who was never meant to break into ancient crypts or compete with sorceresses and Cunning folk for the treasures inside. But treasure hunting is the only way she could keep herself and her brother Cabell alive following her thieving foster father's disappearance. Ten years later she's looking for a ring that is supposed to save her brother from a curse. It's based in Arthurian legend.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo-- Another reread before a new book in the series. I remember enjoying this one slightly less than Raven's book, but I still enjoyed meeting a new character and getting their origin story. I also felt like it addressed an issue that isn't brought up a lot: male body image issues. We see it addressed a lot in fiction for girls, but there are boys who also go through this growing up. Plus it's beast boy and lots of green animals.

The Score by Elle Kennedy-- A hockey romance! I've been so in the mood for hockey romances this year. I don't know if it's because I found a few new to me authors and bought some kindle books for Christmas or what. In this one we follow Allie Hayes who is in crisis mode. Graduation is looming and she's dealing with a broken heart thanks to the end to her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just one though because even if her future is uncertain it sure as heck doesn't include Dean. It seems like he's going to pursue her after she puts him in the friend zone following their one night stand. I love it when the guy falls first or the guy is pursuing the girl so I'm looking forward to this one.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu-- The last of the rereads for this month. I'm so excited for the next book too. In this one we follow an international pop sensation named Winter Young who is brought into the world of spies when a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday. Sydney Cossette is a member of the elite covert ops group who is forced to work alongside Winter to infiltrate the crime organization's inner circle. This was such a fun and quick read for me last year and I can't wait to go back into this world of glitz, glam, and spies.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen (NetGalley)-- This one just sounded so good when I saw it on NetGalley. It's unhinged women at its finest. Saffy Huntley-Oliver is an intelligent and glamorous socialite; she also happens to be a proficient serial killer. Over the course of fifteen years, she's dispatched bad men--rapist, murderers, domestic abusers. But leading a double life has left her lonely. Dating's rough when your boyfriend might turn out to be your next victim. Saffy thinks she's finally found a truly good man in Jonathan Desrosiers, a true crime podcaster. This is a feminist thriller that asks if even a serial killer can have a happily ever after. My hopes for this one? Rich people drama and some mad women.

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah F. Whitten (New Release)-- The second book in the series is finally coming out. This series starts with Lore, who has a dark power and a hidden past, as we follow her into the intrigue of the Sainted King's royal court. The king and his priest manipulate Lore and have her spy on the prince in order to determine just who is killing the villages at the edge of the kingdom. We follow on from the events of the first book in this new one.

My Lucky #13 by Piper Rayne (Kindle)-- A hockey player who is going through a scoring draught is worried he's going to get traded before the deadline if he doesn't turn it around. Following a New Year's Eve with a woman, he has a waterfall of goals and knows he has to see her again. She wants nothing to do with him and he feels his has to change her mind. A hero falls first sounding story that I'm so looking forward to. I will say that there's a very obvious hockey error in the synopsis of this one and we all know I'm a little picky about hockey details. But I'll try to keep an open mind on this one.

Just Do This One Thing For Me by Laura Zimmerman (Library)-- I'm going to pull the synopsis straight from GoodReads since it's a Mystery/Thriller and those are hard to explain at the best of times: "'Just do this one thing for me.' Drew's mother says it more often than good morning. Heidi Hill has been juggling shady side hustles for all of Drew's seventeen years, and Drew knows that 'one thing' really means all the necessary things her mother thinks are boring, including taking care of her fifteen-year-old sister and eight-year-old brother. In fact, Drew is the closest thing to a responsible adult they've ever known. When their mother disappears on the way to a New Year's Eve concert in Mexico and her schemes start unraveling, Drew is faced with a choice: Follow the rules, do the responsible thing, and walk away--alone--from her mother's mess. Or hope the weather stays cold, keep the cons going, and just maybe hold her family together."

[beaconfeels]

Hey guess who started writing a new WIP instead of working on an old one? But I’m excited for Stargent week at the end of the month, so this one WILL get finished!~~

Stiles plopped himself down on the chair next to Chris, setting his backpack down next to Chris’s leather messenger bag. “Whatcha reading?”

Chris actually startled. That made Stiles’s eyes go wide with surprise. He’d never surprised Chris in his life, the other man was too hyper vigilant for that.

Chris settled rapidly though, once he realized who it was. He still looked a little shifty though. “A book,” he said, uncharacteristically unhelpful.

Stiles narrowed his eyes. “What book?”

Chris paused.

“C’mon, tell me,” Stiles begged. He turned his best puppy dog eyes at Chris. He was as shocked as anyone when he had realized they actually worked on Chris. He used it to his advantage probably a little too often.

Chris sighed. “It’s called ‘Top Secret’.”

He didn’t offer anymore information, so Stiles pulled up his phone and typed the title into Amazon.

He frowned. He’d expected a spy novel of some sort, but the first option didn’t look like a spy novel. It was a picture of a man, his face not visible, but he seemed to be shirtless, showing off a muscular physique.

The second option was a kid’s book. Stiles kept scrolling. Further down there was one that definitely looked like a spy book. That was probably the one, but why would Chris be acting so shady about a spy novel?

“Who’s it by?” He asked.

Chris shifted in his seat. He looked like he was considering lying. Finally he answered, sounding extremely reluctant to do so. “Sarina Bowen, with some other author. I can’t remember the name.”

Stiles’s eyebrows rose, scrolling back up to the first option. “Elle Kennedy?”

Chris nodded, eyeing Stiles warily.

Stiles clicked on the book. The description was confusing, but it definitely wasn’t a spy novel. Stiles’s mouth dropped open as he read the end, and he pointed at Chris. “You! Oh my god. Oh my gooood. You’re reading a gay romance novel!”