The Rivals by Vi Keeland

This review is for The Rivals by Vi Keeland

This is a contemporary stand alone romance story. Its main characters are Sophia Sterling and Weston Lockwood, both members of two big families that own competing big hotel corporations. And it is set in New York.

Book description:

The feud between Weston Lockwood and me started at the altar.

Only neither of us attended the wedding, and the nuptials happened decades before either of us was born.

Our grandfathers had been best friends and business partners, at least up until my grandfather’s wedding day—when his bride-to-be blurted out she couldn’t marry him because she was also in love with Weston‘s grandfather.

The two men spent years fighting over Grace Copeland, who also happened to be their third business partner.  But in the end, neither man could steal half of her heart away from the other.

Eventually, they all went their separate ways. Our grandfathers married other women, and the two men became one of the biggest business rivals in history.

Our fathers continued the family tradition of feuding. And then Weston and I did, too.

For the most part, we kept as much distance as possible.

Until the day the woman who started the feud died—and unexpectedly left one of the most valuable hotels in the world to our grandfathers to share.

Now I’m stuck in a hotel with the man I was born to hate, trying to unravel the mess our families inherited.

As usual, it didn’t take long for us to be at each other’s throats.

Weston Lockwood was everything I hated: tall, smart, cocky, and too gorgeous for his own good.  We were fire and ice. 

But that shouldn’t be an issue. Our families were used to being at war. There was just one minor problem, though. Every time Weston and I fought, we somehow wound up in bed.

My summary and thoughts: 

The Rivals starts with Sophia getting on a flight to New York and discovering her arch enemy Weston sitting in her seat and things don’t get better when she realises he is going to be working with her on the hotel that has been left jointly to their families. Sabotage starts straight away and they both try to best each other and yet somehow share a passionate, heated encounter. But they still hate each other. Working together doesn't work so well, Weston disappears during some important meetings leaving Sophia to deal with it herself, he also has business meetings without her. Her father comes to town demanding she does the business another way, causing more stress for Sophia. Weston and Sophia try hard to keep things professional, well Sophia tries to but the chemistry is strong between them and they keep clashing and falling into each other’s arms. But issues with the hotel and family demanding they spy on each other causes trouble and tension and it comes to a head where one of them has to do the right thing to save their relationship.

Wow the heat and passion between this pair is intense. Hate and sex are a really explosive match. 

Sophia seems to be angry quite a lot, she is underestimated by her father who is trying to push her half brother to do the job instead, then Weston seems to be playing games with her and she is dealing with finding out how much of a prick her ex-boyfriend was. But she manages to hold her own, she sets boundaries with Weston to keep herself from having feelings for him. She is tough and works hard to prove herself. Sophia tries to be nice and control her temper with Weston to stop the heated attraction between but Weston has a way of getting to her and making her lose control. You see another side to her when her friend comes to visit, she becomes more relaxed, letting her guard down. 

Weston is dealing with personal issues after spending his life feeling like a spare part and trying to prove himself to his family. When he discovers Sophia is working with him old feelings come out, he can’t work out why he is after Sophia and why he helped her in the past. As the story progresses he is dealing with guilt and repercussions of his past actions. He shows a caring side as he sees to Sophia’s comfort but also shows a dominant side and pushes Sophia’s buttons. He is also possessive over Sophia and he struggles with his jealousy a few times during the story. He is charming and flawed, he spends the story working out his issues and fighting his urges.  

This was intense, amusing, intriguing and hot read. I loved the couple as they bicker which is amusing, it is intense and hot when they come together as Sophia and Weston push each other’s buttons and discover new parts of their sexual needs. It’s intriguing as they are both working hard for their families to win a 2 per cent share to become majority shareholder in the new hotel and you don’t know who is going to win. You feel for the pair as both have terrible families and it does affect how they see themselves and how they work. They also have the issue that they are not meant to be together in a relationship as they should hate each other because their grandfather’s fell out years before they were born.

The story kept me entertained throughout and simply loved it. 

My rating is 5 out of 5

Luca by Brenda Rothert

This review is for Luca by Brenda Rothert

This is a contemporary sports romance and book two of the Chicago Blaze series. Book one Anton was reviewed here.

In this story the main characters are Luca Campbell, one of the players on the Chicago Blaze team and then we have Abby Daniels, owner of a successful home furnishings company. It is based between Chicago and New York as the characters travel between the two cities.

Book description:

Abby
I only have one love now—the home furnishings business I’m building into an empire. Maybe money and success can’t love me back, but they keep what’s left of my heart safe. One-night stands are my way of scratching the occasional itch I get for something more. And no one’s better for that than a sexy as sin hockey player I’ll never see again after one very hot night together.

Luca
I used to love two things: hockey and women. But now my nieces and nephew are my top priority, because I’m raising them after tragedy stole their parents. Somehow I balance single parenthood and my career as a forward for the Chicago Blaze. There’s no time for women, until I get knocked on my ass by Abby Daniels. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, but her devastating past may end us before we even get started.

My summary and thoughts:

Abby and Luca meet in a hotel bar, where Abby is staying during her work visit to Chicago and Luca is there for drinks with his friends. They share a passionate night before going their separate ways in the morning. But they can’t seem to forget each other and Abby takes the plunge in contacting Luca for another night of passion and soon they are in a friends with benefits relationship until Luca finds out more about Abby and their relationship develops, meeting each other’s families, growing their relationship. They try to work through all past issues and find a future together.

Abby is a very busy woman as she has spent years building up her home furnishings company on her own and has made it a success to the point where she is opening stores in Chicago after the success of her New York stores and this is why she is in Chicago and where she meets Luca. She only wants one night, doesn’t want commitment or know anything personal about him. But she can’t forget him. He has managed to do something that she thought would never happen again and that is to feel. A heartbreaking history is pushing her to be successful, pushing her to work hard to forget about what happened and it is her weakness as she hasn’t faced her past. She needs to face it so she can have a happier future. But in a way it also makes her stronger as she has had to create a new life for herself and has only relied on herself to make a success of her business. As the story progresses she starts to deal with her heartbreaking past and it is with the help of Luca she can do this.

Luca is struggling with his time and life as his brother and sister in law have died and he is the guardian of his two nieces and nephew, he is trying to be there for them, while juggling his hockey career and his own grief at losing his family members. He is having a rare night out with his fellow teammates and friends when he meets Abby and indulges in a passionate night with her. After their night Luca thinks of Abby and wants her to get in touch and is perfectly happy when she suggests another night of passion as he doesn’t have the time for a relationship but after spending more time with Abby he wants her more, he wants to know her. He is there for her when she finally opens up to him and helps her and shares his own heartbreak. He is the type of man that would do anything for the people he loves, as he drops everything when the kids need him or other family members. He takes charge when he needs to. He remains strong emotionally in front of the children to help them find their new normal while letting out his grief privately.

I loved this story, it has passion, has your emotions go up and down as the story develops and secrets are revealed and has you smiling at the children's antics and the hockey players' antics and teasing. I loved how Luca stepped up and is doing his best at being what the children need, making sure they know they are important and willing to drop everything for them, even when it affects his growing relationship with Abby. Loved how he was there for Abby and understands why her past affects her so. Loved how Abby started to face her past and realise that she can have a happy future and have a man that understands her and is there for Luca in return when he needs it. Absolutely loved the ending, I couldn’t stop smiling and wanted more of Luca and Abby.

An emotional, angsty read and sucked me right in.

My rating is 5 out of 5

Uncontrollable by Shannon Richard

This review is for Uncontrollable by Shannon Richard

This is a contemporary romance story and book six of the Country Roads series, book one Undone was reviewed here, book two Undeniable was reviewed here, book three Unstoppable was reviewed here, book four Unforgettable was reviewed here, book four point five was reviewed here and book five Unsung was reviewed here. 

Uncontrollable is based around Beth Boone who has moved back to Mirabelle to become parent to her orphaned nieces and nephew and then Tripp Black, Mirabelle’s fire chief and Beth’s neighbour. 

Book Description:

THE THIN LINE BETWEEN LOATHING . . . AND LUST 

It's been a tough year for Beth Boone. She's lost the person she cared about the most: her big sister. But Beth isn't grieving alone. She's now guardian to her sister's three children and though she loves them fiercely, so far she's not exactly winning at parenting. In this noisy, peanut-butter-everywhere chaos, there is no calm. None. So Beth has zero patience with the infuriating guy next door-not to mention his destruct-o "puppy"-wreaking more havoc in her life. 

Except that Tripp Black is all muscles, deep brown eyes, and lips that promise way-too-delicious things. Every time Tripp and Beth confront each other, there's an undercurrent of red-hot sexual tension, one that threatens to break down all her carefully constructed walls. She's been burned before, and Tripp is a self-proclaimed bachelor for life. There's no way that Beth's too-hot-neighbor-from-hell could ever be the man for her-until their uncontrollable attraction becomes so much more . . . 

My summary and thoughts: 

Tripp’s dog Duke likes to get himself into trouble which causes Tripp to have issues with his neighbour Beth and the story starts with them having an argument over the dog getting into Beth’s garden and flowerbeds. Later Tripp helps Beth with a family crisis and they apologise to each other. Soon the tension between them turns into lust and they can’t keep their hands off each other and slowly their lives become intertwined before another crisis happens and it gets all too much for Beth and she needs to decide what she wants.

Beth is struggling with a lot, she is still grieving for her sister and brother in law, trying to be parent to her nieces and nephew, trying to keep a full time job and fight her attraction to her neighbour. It doesn’t help that she was burned by her last relationship and worried that starting a relationship with Tripp will hurt her again because she comes with three kids. When she gets over her fears she shows Tripp how much she really likes him and takes control and allows him into her life. She is caring and tries to do the right thing for everyone, even though it could hurt her. 

Tripp is working hard as the fire chief in Mirabelle, enjoying his single life until Beth and her nieces and nephew disrupt that life. He thought he knew what he wanted until Beth shows him what he has been missing. He is a good guy as he doesn’t shy away from the kids, helping Beth when she needs it. He also has a dog that likes to get into trouble and is amusing as the dog does bring Beth and Tripp together. When he realises what he wants he goes after it and is not scared to fight for it. He is brave and in control when there are a couple of incidents he needs to use his firefighting skills for. 

Amusing, heart-warming, emotional read as you feel for the kids as they have lost their parents and are still grieving in their own ways. Although there is a big age gap between the kids they are close and there are a few cute moments during the story as they interact. 

The interactions between the woman characters from all the books is funny as there is no filter, especially when booze is involved. The male characters are just as bad with their male version of gossiping and teasing. 

When the relationship between Beth and Tripp gets started it is passionate quickly and they can’t seem to get enough of each other and soon they are spending all the time they can together and ripping each other's clothes off as soon as they are alone. Tripp is also there for her when she needs him, calming her down and giving her comfort when she needs it. 

Really enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the final story in the series.

My rating is 4 out of 5

On The Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

This review is for On The Way To The Wedding by Julia Quinn

This is the final book in the Bridgerton historical series, and all the previous books were reviewed as follows, book one The Duke and I was reviewed here, book two The Viscount Who Loved Me was reviewed here, book three An Offer from a Gentleman was reviewed here, book four Romancing Mister Bridgerton was reviewed here, book five To Sir Phillip, With Love was reviewed here, book six When He Was Wicked was reviewed here and book seven It’s In His Kiss was reviewed here. 

This story is Gregory Bridgerton’s story, he is the last sibling in the series to find his life partner and Lucy Abernathy, a young lady who is about to make her debut into society. It is based in Regency London. 

Book Description:

A funny thing happened...

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except...

She wasn't the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar...

My summary and thoughts: 

The first chapter starts with a tease leaving you gasping as Gregory is running to the church and interrupting a wedding and leaves on a cliff-hanger before the story goes back a few months. Gregory is attending a house party at the Bridgerton main country estate when he sees a lady that entices him straight away and he believes he has found the one. But she loves another and is not interested. Her best friend Lucy comes to his rescue, helping him try to engage Hermione’s attention, giving him advice which doesn’t work. However, a masked ball changes the lives of the characters forever. The events of the ball makes Gregory realise he was wrong and soon discovers who he truly has feelings for and a chance encounter back in London makes him get his family involved to help him. But mysterious circumstances and promises doesn’t make it an easy affair for Gregory to secure his love. 

Gregory is the final sibling to find his happiness and he believes in love, after witnessing his siblings marrying for love and being happy, he wants the same thing. He is unsettled until he does, he doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, and when Anthony questions him he gives him an answer but until he finds his partner he can’t commit to that life. When he first sees Hermione he believes himself to be in love with her and knows that he needs to ensure Lucy is on his side to secure Hermione. But it’s not easy for him as Hermione isn’t interested and this frustrates him as he tries to get to know Hermione but throughout this he is talking and spending time with Lucy and without realising that she is affecting him. It confuses him as he was so sure about his feelings for Hermione and doesn’t trust his feelings for Lucy straight away until he can’t refute them, she is everything to him. He hasn’t needed to put too much effort into anything before but during the story he has to step up and work hard to resolve the circumstances that are thwarting his plans for his future. 

Lucy has always felt second best to her friend Hermione as when Hermione is around no one notices Lucy but she is loyal to her friend. So it’s no surprise to her when Gregory sets his sights on Hermione and Lucy is witness to his attempts and tries to help him. However during this time her orderly life changes and discovers that mysterious love emotion can happen to her when she doesn't want it. She is to marry another man and can’t fall in love with Gregory especially when he wants Hermione and she can’t escape her arranged marriage. She is a bit naïve as she can’t see some of the things that are happening around her until it’s too late. She is also too loyal as she puts her own happiness to the side to ensure her family’s happiness and it breaks her heart to do this. She has a bit of OCD as things have to be in order and ends up putting things back in order when they are in disarray.

This story has you sucked in from the beginning with the cliff-hanger of the first chapter, making you want to know what is going to happen, and then it has you smiling in amusement as Gregory meets Hermione and you can sense Lucy rolling her eyes as they meet and Gregory tries to charm Hermione. There is heartbreak when things don’t go the right way and they have many obstacles to overcome. Of course there is the amusement as various family members feature and interfere like they do. 

It was an engaging, entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

My rating is 4 out of 5

Series Summary: 

I have absolutely loved this series, this maddening, crazy, loving family has made me want to be part of it. It has been an emotional rollercoaster reading each sibling finding their forever love, laughter as they have interfered in each other’s lives, heart-warming as they have loved and supported each other and the one amazing constant throughout it all is Violet, the mother, the one that has been there for all the siblings, encouraged and helped them as they navigated their way in the world. 

It is difficult to put them in the order of preference but here is it. My favourite is book four Romancing Mister Bridgerton, followed closely by book two The Viscount Who Loved Me, then book 6 When He Was Wicked, then book three An Offer from a Gentleman, then book one The Duke and I, then book seven It’s In His Kiss, then book eight On The Way to the Wedding and finally book five To Sir Phillip, with Love. 

I cannot wait until the TV series begins on Netflix and I am hoping it's on soon as I have been waiting a long time for this series and I so want to see characters and stories come to life.