Book Review: "Cowboy Casual" by Holly Renee

I have to admit - I’ve been a huge fan of Holly Renee’s for a while. But when I heard she was writing a contemporary cowboy romance, I was more than a little skeptical. (She’s a romantasy queen!) But, as all die hard fans do, I decided to try it out.

Blaire Monroe’s life is a mess. She’s recently learned that her fiancé has been cheating on her. Her father, a politician with no Dad gene whatsoever, is an asshole; he tries to convince Blaire to stick around and move beyond the cheating - only concerned about how this scandal might reflect on his political career and upcoming campaign. Frustrated, angry, and with nowhere else to go, Blaire heads back to her small town roots and returns to her grandmother’s strawberry farm in hopes of finding herself again. Enter Cole - “THE guy” from her past, boy-next-door…the one who got away and broke her heart in the process. Tension, emotions, and yearning that’s palpable ensues. 

I approached this ARC with some hesitation since small-town, second-chance romances aren’t usually my thing. But Renee did several things right.

Renee creates a vivid small-town world full of warm, homey details and just the right amount of grit - from the strawberry farm setting to the town’s familiar feel. The setting adds richness to the story and gives the “return home” theme genuine emotion.

I also appreciated that Colt’s role as a single dad added so much depth to his character. He’s not just the rugged cowboy next door - he’s a devoted dad doing his best for his little girl, Ruby. His tenderness and patience balance perfectly with Blaire’s fiery independence, making their dynamic richer and more heartfelt.

And Ruby? She’s an absolute scene-stealer. Her innocence and charm soften Blaire’s edges in the best way. The bond that grows between them feels natural - never forced - and gives the story an emotional warmth that grounds the romance. Blaire’s moments with Ruby show how healing and love can take unexpected forms, even outside the central romance.

The secondary characters were just as awesome as Blaire and Colt. Grandma June reminded me so much of my meddling grandmother who was too wise for her own good but who had more intuition than most. I loved that she was behind the scenes, trying to play matchmaker for her granddaughter and the boy next door. 

Don’t let the “small town/second chance” tag scare you away - Holly Renee breathes fresh life into the trope, giving depth, heart, and heat. Blaire and Colt’s journey reminded me that sometimes running away doesn’t save you - going back and facing your past can. And in this case, it leads to something real.

Book Review: "Uncharted" by Ellie Pond

It was embarrassing how quickly I read Ellie Pond’s “Adrift” (book one in the Wrecked series). I mean, a why-choose romance reminiscent of Gilligan’s Island, complete with a five-man crew, a deserted island, and a treehouse that had the makings of a modern, steamy Swiss Family Robinson tale. So yeah…completely devoured that book in the course of a day. It’s no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to review its sequel, “Uncharted.” 

“Uncharted” picks up where book one left off. Haley and her small band of men are still stranded on the island, with a rescue looking bleaker by the day as weeks have now passed without so much as a possible rescue patrol in sight. The crew has tried to make the most of things and have started to fashion a more permanent dwelling further inland. Haley continues to worry about Captain Sam’s whereabouts.  The group continues to battle the elements, along with the natural dangers of the island, with the threat of pirates heavy in the air. Sam eventually makes his appearance and the crew eagerly reunites. Haley’s reluctance to pick up things with Sam are smothered with one steamy night with the entire crew aboard the Rock Candy. The rest of the book has Haley’s men making declarations of love up until the cliffhanger ending that finds Haley missing a couple of her men.

Although it was an easy, quick, and enjoyable read, I did feel that the “major” events were very anticlimactic. For example, the crew’s suspicions of sabotage are further validated in this book but there’s no real progress made at identifying the saboteur. Likewise, the threat of pirates is present throughout (as is the guys’ concern over what would happen to Haley should they be forced to face pirates)...but nothing really happens until the end of the book…and even then, that cliffhanger was more like a mild jump. 

I would really like to see things come to a head in the next installment!

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Book Review: "Off the Hook" by Julie Olivia

“Off the Hook” by Julie Olivia is a modern-day reimagining of the story of Peter Pan and Wendy. It follows Wendy Darling, a first grade teacher in Never Harbor, and the summer she has with new employer and long-time acquaintance, Jasper Davies. Wendy formerly dated Jasper’s younger brother, Peter, and has been assimilated into the Davies family, despite her broken-off engagement with Peter two years ago.

Desperate for a summer job to help with her rising rent costs, Wendy accepts employment as a nanny for Jasper’s six-year-old adopted son, Sam. As Wendy and Jasper spend more time together, sparks begin to fly between the Captain and his Wendy Bird.

I thought the characters were so wonderfully developed. Wendy is smart and kind, but also not afraid to fight for what she thinks is right. Jasper is quiet, emotional, and brooding half the time - but he’s a wonderful dad, full of imagination. I appreciated the fact that Jasper’s grief of losing his two best friends (and subsequently gaining his adoptive son) was also central in his development throughout the book.

Jasper and Wendy’s coupling was on fire from the start! They were both quietly drawn to each other and despite both acknowledging the fact that Peter was Jasper’s brother and Wendy’s ex-fiancee, it didn’t stop them from loving one another. The sneaking around, the stolen glances and touches, the forbidden aspect to their relationship was exciting - but I knew it would come to a head, and boy did it! The spice in the story was the perfect counterbalance to the engaging storyline - I mean, the scene at the swimming quarry where they sneak off?! 🔥🔥

I absolutely loved the Davies family dynamic and the idea that family isn’t always blood, as is the case with several of the Davies children - Wendy included. Despite having horrible biological parents, Wendy was accepted into the Davies family without judgment and loved unconditionally. Despite her dissolved engagement to Peter, Wendy remained friends with him and his crew of “Lost Boys,” his brothers and younger sister - even continuing to attend family dinner every Friday night.

I have read many Peter Pan retellings and I love this reimagined version of the classic tale! I cannot wait to see which Never Harbor pairing is next for the series!

Book Review: "The Good Part" by Sophie Cousens

In this contemporary romance by author Sophie Cousens, readers are introduced to Lucy Young, a twenty-six-year old junior researcher, working tirelessly in a role where she’s constantly under appreciated and undervalued and living in a flat outside of London with three roommates, broke and contemplating her life choices after poor dating app encounters.

After one such swipe and meet-up, Lucy finds herself stranded at a convenience store with an elderly Scottish lady who encourages her to “make a wish” on an old-time arcade game machine.

Reminiscent of 13 Going On 30, Lucy wakes up 16 years into the future, with a house, husband, and two young children in tow. Now working as a co-founder to a new independent production company, Lucy grapples with her new reality as she strives to make sense of what happened - did she time travel to the “good part” of her life? Or has she experienced a bout of amnesia that has her forgetting an entire chunk of her adult life?

Having no memories of the last sixteen years, Lucy struggles to find her place in her life as a forty-two year old career woman. Thrown into motherhood and marriage, Lucy discovers the joys and heartbreak in both as she begins to assume her role in this new reality. In scenes that reminded me of The Vow, Lucy begins to fall in love with her husband again and had me clutching my heart strings. Lucy’s interactions with her children were endearing and made me cheer for her, as she both struggled and succeeded in the feats of motherhood (something my mom heart could totally relate to). (The scene where she helps a fellow mom in need had me in tears because as a mother, I’ve been there - motherhood is HARD.)

In the end, Lucy has a choice - remain in the present and remember or get sent back to the past (to her 26-year-old self) and forget. Her choice is everything!

If you enjoyed movies like 13 Going On 30 or The Vow, you will definitely appreciate Sophie Cousens’ latest.

[Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of The Good Part by Sophie Cousens in exchange for my honest review.]