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Book Review: Superfan by Sarina Bowen

Jun 30, 2019

Superfan (Brooklyn #3) by Sarina Bowen

Pages: 312
Publish date: June 25th 2019
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
ISBN: 9781942444763
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Sometimes lady luck shakes your hand, and sometimes she smacks your face. Sometimes she does both on the same day.

Three years ago I met the most amazing girl in the world. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.

But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.

While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.

But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.

She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart.

Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.

Book name:

I received an earc of Superfan by Sarina Bowne from the author in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I’m a massive Sarina Bowen fan. So much so that I’ve read all but one of her books, and that’s just because I haven’t gotten around to it. Then I saw that it was about Silas and couldn’t keep my excitement down. But then I heard it involved a celebrity and I wasn’t so sure. However, I can say that I did really enjoy Superfan. And while it isn’t my favourite Sarina Bowen book, I did love reading about Silas.

Superfan follows Silas as one ice hockey seasons comes to an end and another one begins. Three years ago, he thought he meet a girl that would change his life – and she did. But he has to leave. Now he is a professional hockey play and she is a celebrity rocking the charts. When Silas and Delilah have a fiery interaction over social media everything from their past comes back. And let’s just say Delilah still might be the girl of Silas dreams.

BRUNO CERVERA

I didn’t know what to expect going into Superfan, Sarina Bowen had done many ‘celebrity’ romances – but she had done a few. However, I felt that Superfan was different. Delilah was very much an established celebrity in the series and the reader knew how much Silas loved her as an artist. But what we didn’t know was that it went much deeper than that. We didn’t know that he knew her before she becomes a hit. I also find celebrity romance novels a hit or miss for me – sometimes I love them, and then sometimes I just can’t feel it. And after reading Superfan, I’m still not sure how I feel.

I loved Silas – I mean I loved him even before he has his own book. One of the things that made me fall more in love with him – was getting to know his story. I loved finding out who Silas was. Before he was like the awesome – but he really shone in this one. The reader is able to finally understand why he loved Diliah so much throughout Superfan. And gosh was it interesting. I loved the banter that Silas has with basically everyone. He is one of those characters that I was able to easily connect with. And that to me makes a book immediately so much easier to read. I also really enjoyed Silas character arc, throughout the story not only is he, building as a character but also growing as a person.

Arthur Edelman

Delilah was a really interesting character in Superfan. Like Silas, we know even little about her, the reader just knows her as his famous singer that Silas loves. But as the novel goes on the reader gets to Deliah for her and not for the celebrity that she is. Delilah story is pretty harsh and there were times that I just couldn’t get on board with her character. I am not even sure what it was, I just felt a lack of connection. I liked Delilah don’t get me wrong, but there was something keeping me from loving her. In saying that I think Sarina did a fantastic job in Delilah’s character arc. The reader is really able to see her grow throughout the novel and really find who she is.

While I loved Silas and liked Deliah, there was something with the romance that didn’t click for me. I just felt like there lacked a spark. I really enjoyed seeing the start of Silas and Delilah, the flashbacks to before. To people that were both lost and found each other in such strange times of their lives. One of the things with the romance in the current time that didn’t mesh with me was that I felt that it moved fast, without moving fast. I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense, but the book is set over a good deal of time. But I didn’t feel that we got to see enough of Silas and Delilah in that time frame.

Elizabeth Tsung

One of the things I love about Sarina Bowen is her writing. It’s so easy to fall into her books. I just start reading and keep on going till I finish. She has such easy writing to read. And not in the sense of ‘simple’ words or ‘lack of substance.’ But in the sense that the books just flow. There isn’t a time where I need to step back and really think about anything, the characters, plot and everything in between do all the talking. And she does that again in Superfan.

We get to see some very familiar faces throughout the whole of Superfan. And gosh did I love seeing the gang again. There were so many times that I just smiled because I loved everything that was going on around Silas and Delilah. I don’t want to talk too much about why we see nearly everyone again – but yes! It’s something that the readers have been waiting for so long. And gosh was it great. I do wish that there was more connection between Delilah and the other females from previous novels, I just wanted to see an awesome girl gang of strong women.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Superfan by Sarina Bowen. And while it isn’t my favourite Sarina Bowne book out there, I really enjoyed getting to know both Silas and Delilah. I felt that were fantastic characters, I do wish that I felt more of a spark between them. In saying that I loved watching Silas fall in love – I’ve loved seeing him in other books and now it was his time to shine. He alone just put a smile on my face. If you love celebrity romance – then this is for you. It’s fun, intense and still has that classic Sarina Bowen romance that just works so well for her.

Have you read Superfan by Sarina Bowen? What did you think of it? Have you read any of the Brooklyn Bruisers series? Are you planning to? Let’s Chat!

Book Review : Covering All the Bases by Jody Holford

Jun 23, 2019

Covering All the Bases (For the Love of the Game #1) by Jody Holford

Pages: 200
Publish date: June 10th 2019
Publisher: Entangled: Bliss
ISBN: 9781640638037
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Talk about a wild day… As if being summoned to the deathbed of a grandfather she didn’t know existed wasn’t enough––Isla Bennett meets the man of her dreams. Spends an amazing day playing tourist around Nashville with him. And then finds out she’s inherited the Nashville Slammers major league baseball team. Oh, and her new dream man? He’s the Slammers’ star power hitter. Isla just went from amazing first date to holy heck I’m your boss in the span of a day.

Liam Cruz can’t believe how refreshing it was to spend a day with someone who didn’t know his batting average, the size of his last contract, or heck, even that he’s a baseball player. Now Isla’s thrust into the spotlight, and though she’s more than capable of handling herself professionally, he takes it upon himself to teach her everything he can about the game that is his whole life. But they’ll have to keep it on the DL.

Because doing what’s best for the team means they can never be together––and that might be the toughest play of all.

Book name:

I received an e-arc of Covering All The Bases by Jody Holford from Entangled: Bliss in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. I wasn’t expecting much from this book honestly.

I hadn’t really heard anything about Covering All The Bases before I picked it up. But the synopsis sounded really interesting. I love sports romance, it’s one of my romance weakness so I couldn’t really say no to it. And while I didn’t fall in love with the book, I did really enjoy it and will most likely read more in the series when they come out.

Covering All The Bases follows Isla Bennett as she embarks on a journey she never imagined. When a grandfather that she never knew existed wishes to see her before he dies, Isla rushes to a Nashville. Then she has an amazing day being shown around Nashville, by the man of her dreams Liam Cruz. Then everything changes because Isla inherited the Nashville Slammers major league baseball team. And Liam just so happens to be their star player. It was just another night for Liam Cruz, but then he meets Isla and something changes. It’s been a long time since someone didn’t know who he was – and he likes that. But now Isla is his boss and everything changes.

Lesly Juarez

I really enjoyed the concept of this book. The plot was so intriguing and grabbed me from the get-go. Not only was it about women in power, but about women in power in sport. I also loved the concept that Isla inherited the team from her grandfather, meets the man of her dream and now she is her boss. It’s so ridiculous but also so perfect.

I really enjoyed Isla as a protagonist. She was really easy to get along with from the start and I wanted to keep knowing more about her. Isla didn’t have a great way of growing up and her father really isn’t the best person out there. But I think Isla did pretty well for herself. The reader gets to really know Isla throughout Covering All The Bases. And as Isla finds out more about herself and grows, the reader grows with her. One of the things that really made me like Isla was that she felt honest. It’s a strange thing to say, but she felt real. I also loved that she had no clue about baseball – made everything that little more interesting.

Liam was also a really easy character to get along in Covering All The Bases. He was charming and just a really nice male protagonist. I loved that he was this big baseball start, but also seemed really down to earth. I liked that the reader got to know more about Liam as the novel goes on and as Isla gets to know him.

Moss

The romance in Covering All The Bases was very sweet. It was one of those romance that is easy to read and isn’t filled with angst. While Isla and Liam have a lot holding them back from being together. It wasn’t anything to do with communication or issues that would easily be resolved. The banter between Isla and Liam was really spot on and I loved reading it. It was really cool seeing women in power and Liam understanding why Isla had her worries. I loved that there was a little tension between the two. In saying all that I didn’t like how quick their relationship did move. I am a slow burn romance kind of girl and everything moved far too quickly for my liking. While Liam and Isla did know a good amount about each other, something just didn’t sit right with me, regarding time.

There are some crazy things that go on over the course of Covering All The Bases. Isla relationship with her father for one. Some of the things that happened between the two were really hard to read. He just made me so angry. And it wasn’t just him. I really hate how Isla was treated by some of the male figures throughout the novel.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Covering All The Bases by Jodi Holford. It’s a great easy, quick, romance read that put a smile on my face. I loved that it explored female empowerment and being a powerhouse boss. Isla and Liam were really cute together and I liked getting to know them. While I didn’t love Covering All The Bases, it was a great, simple read and I do want to read more books in this series. If you are looking for a sports romance that is a little different, then this is for you.

Have you read Covering All The Bases by Jodi Holford? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: No Heartbreaker Required by JoAnn Sky

Jun 13, 2019

No Heartbreaker Required by JoAnn Sky
Pages: 200
Publish date: June 10th 2019
Publisher: Entangled: Bliss
ASIN: B07RKLY65D
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

When an avalanche crushes her world, Olympic hopeful Starr Taylor loses her job, her boyfriend, and worst of all, her confidence. She’s working on getting her life back together and moving forward, and it certainly won’t be with Spencer Kensington, the far-too-attractive playboy lawyer she’s forced to play nice with at their friends’ wedding.

Unfortunately, Spencer’s trip to Reno gets extended unexpectedly, and Starr suddenly finds herself way too close for comfort with the man she’s quickly realizing is more than he appears. Spencer is a tough, no-nonsense New York businessman with a no-commitment rule in the bedroom. But a few days of living with Starr, feeding goats and helping her save troubled teens, has him feeling something he can’t identify. In fact, the more Spencer gets to know the surprisingly vulnerable and tempting woman, the duller his superficial life in the city starts to seem. But everything he’s worked for is waiting for him, and as Spencer’s flight back home grows closer, he’s left wondering if the life he has is really the life he wants.

No Heartbreaker Required:

I received an e-arc of No Heartbreaker Required by JoAnn Sky from Entangled: Bliss in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. I wasn’t expecting much from this book honestly.

I just wanted a quick read that I could delve into. And you know what? I was pleasantly surprised. It’s one of those books that you can read in one sitting and just enjoy reading. And while I didn’t get too much from it, it was a good read.

No Heartbreaker Required follows Starr who is trying to get her life back on track after a freak accident. To do that she helps plain her brothers wedding. But when that is all over and Starr has to go back to ‘normal’ life, how will she fare? But trouble isn’t far away in the form of Spencer. When Starr and Spencer first meet it didn’t go too well, but they need to play friendly for the bride and groom. But then plans change all around them and Starr and Spencer are about to see a lot more of each other.

Wladislaw Sokolowskij

This was an easy book to get into. It jumped right into and didn’t really play around – which I really enjoyed. I find that sometimes, there is too much explanation given where there doesn’t need to be. But this was a great combination of letting the readers know about the characters and the story moving along. And that really stuck throughout the novel.

I really enjoyed the pace of No Heartbreaker Required. It was a good combination of being fast-paced but also slowed down when needed. In saying that I did feel at parts I was hanging for a little more and it was all just brushed over.

Starr was a pretty easy protagonist to get along with. But I also didn’t feel any real connection with her. I think that is one of the things that No Heartbreaker Required did lack. I felt that there wasn’t much character building. Starr just didn’t feel fully real at times. In saying that I liked how she did grow, the reader is able to see Starr at her worse and then build up from that.

Like Starr, Spencer was easy to read, but I again I felt that he lacked substance. I really wanted more from him, but I felt that the reader doesn’t even get to know him until right at the end. I also wanted to like Spencer more, but because of the lack of connection, I felt that he was boring. While I didn’t fall in love with the protagonist, I did like the storyline. I felt that it was engaging and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Tim Mossholder

I also liked how the author included diversity. Starr is suffering from a form of PTSD at the start of the book from a skiing accident. And while I wish she delved into it a little more. I did like that she included and the reader was able to see Starr try and overcome her fears.

Overall, No Heartbreaker Required by JoAnn Sky was a nice read. It’s one of those books that you might pick up when you have no idea what to read. It’s an easy read that when you finish, you just smile. No Heartbreaker Required has a great combination of romance, family and surviving. While this isn’t my favourite romance out there, I really enjoyed reading it and will most likely read more books by the author. Have you read No Heartbreaker Required by JoAnn Sky? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!