Category: ARC Review

Wish You Were Here | Jess K. Hardy

Posted 03/28/2025 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments

Wish You Were Here | Jess K. HardyWish You Were Here by Jess K. Hardy
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 4 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Bluebird Basin #3
Also in this series: Come As You Are, Lips Like Sugar
Published by Pinkity Publishing on 04/22/2025
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance
Format: DRC (408 Pages)
Source: BookFunnel
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She thought she could forget him. He’ll never stop trying to prove she shouldn’t.

Davis Thompson had never been so happy or so in love as she was with Kevin Lowes. Until his relapse shattered their world. After finding him at his lowest, in a moment that will haunt her forever, she’s convinced he’d not only chosen drugs over her. But he’d chosen another woman too. Now she’s trying to rebuild her life, wanting desperately to move on and figure out who she is and what she wants without him. There’s only one problem: Kev is returning to Bluebird Basin.

After a brutal rebab stay, Kev is determined to recommit to his recovery and win back the only woman he’s ever loved. But when he realizes the depth of the pain he caused and the secrets Davis has kept to protect him from himself, he wonders if it’s too late. More broken than he’s ever been, Kev finds unexpected healing while working with a wild mustang whose invisible scars match his.

But Bluebird Basin is a small ski hill, and as Kev and Davis continually cross paths, old wounds reopen and sparks reignite. Davis doesn’t know if she can trust Kev again. And Kev must confront his darkest fears and deepest regrets if he wants to prove to her that a second chance with him is worth fighting for.



✨ Thank you to Pinkity Publishing, BookFunnel, and of course, Jess K. Hardy for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. ✨




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Those Two Words | Ronnie Mathews

Posted 09/30/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Those Two Words | Ronnie Mathews
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Level: 4 Flames
All-Time Favorite
Series: Sutton Bay #1
Published by Independent Publisher on 08/22/2024
Format: DRC (363 Pages)
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This book was TOO. GOOD. Now, I’m sure you’re wondering, ‘Hilarye, is that even possible?’ Oh yes, my friend, it is. This book is meeting your soulmate and feeling seen for the first time good. It’s slipping into a pair of jeans that makes your ass look fantastic and taking a sip of a perfectly made iced coffee good. It’s drinking wine, eating cheese, and laughing until you cry with your best friend good. And it’s even (wait for it) snuggling a pile of kittens good. Yup, kittens—this book is THAT good.  The story begins with Patrick and Johanna, childhood best friends who […]

The Hunted Heir | Holly Renee

Posted 09/27/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
The Hunted Heir | Holly Renee
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Spice Level: 4 Flames
Series: The Veiled Kingdom #2
Published by Independent Publisher on 08/20/2024
Format: DRC (364 Pages)
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The Hunted Heir dives straight into the action, picking up where the jaw-dropping cliffhanger ending of The Veiled Kingdom left off—damn you, Dacre. The pulse-pounding adventure and sizzling romance will leave you breathless, furiously turning pages, and staying up way past your bedtime. And speaking of romance—buckle up, baby, because you are in for one hell of a ride. Verena is on the run once more. Barely escaping the hidden city and Dacre’s stunning betrayal—which still lingers like an open wound—she must alone navigate Marmoris’ treacherous landscape. Her true identity as the princess is no longer a secret; the […]

Mistakes We Never Made | Hannah Brown

Posted 06/07/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Mistakes We Never Made | Hannah Brown
Star Rating: 2.5 Stars
Spice Level: 3.5 Flames
Published by Forever on 05/07/2024
Format: DRC (329 Pages)
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This review was tough to write. I didn’t hate Mistakes We Never Made, but I can’t say I enjoyed it either. It was just thoroughly…meh. On paper, this rom-com had all the ingredients of a story I would normally love. A forced proximity road trip, high school friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, and a second chance romance. There were flashes of brilliance here and there, but when all was said and done, the story fell flat. The worst part was the ending—more on that later. The story centers on Emma and Finn, high school friends and debate partners whose relationship slowly blossomed […]

Casket Case | Lauren Evans

Posted 05/31/2024 by Hilarye in ARC Review, Book Reviews / 0 Comments
Casket Case | Lauren Evans
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Spice Level: 3 Flames
Published by Dell on 09/10/2024
Format: DRC (400 Pages)
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Casket Case is one part exploration of grief, two parts romantic comedy, a dash of self-discovery, and a heavy helping of magical realism. Its unique and intriguing premise captures your attention, but its execution falls short, preventing it from being a higher rated read. Despite its flaws, it has a certain charm that keeps you invested in the story and curious about what comes next. After her parents’ death, Nora reluctantly returns to her teeny tiny hometown of Rabbittown, Alabama, to run Rabbittown Casket Company, her family’s casket business. It’s not an easy or glamorous job, but somebody’s got […]