Book Review: When The Time Is Right

If you can remember back in June I read and reviewed the book called When The Walls Come Down, which is by the same author and it was great. I loved it so much. When I saw that this was available for review I literally ran to my computer to sign up for it because I had to read more and I was not disappointed. 

When The Time Is Right - Aly Martinez

Hudson Bradley is the cockiest, most stubborn, hard-headed man I’ve ever known. And for fifteen years, he’s been my brother's best friend.

But lately, what I’m feeling for him isn’t friendship at all.

Why is my heart racing every time his blue eyes lock on mine?

Why does every word he rumbles in my ear make my body come alive?

And worst of all, why did I bet him that I could find a woman he and his son would both love?

If I hadn’t given up on love altogether, Hudson would have been perfect for me. After all, he was there the day my world fell apart. He’s spent the last six years piecing me back together.

There are a million reasons why we could never work, but after a single kiss, I can’t remember any of them.

Now that the time is right, I have to make him mine—before I lose him forever.

I'm going to say this right from the gate because I honestly don't think my review is going to give enough justice to this book: this is my FAVORITE romance book in the friends-to-lovers group. Ever. 

I know, that is a bold statement but with books like this you have to be bold. 

Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors for a reason: her books are fun. You get everything you need from a romance book: humor that keeps you turning the pages, angst, big emotions, great sexy scenes, and that big sigh at the end of the book because she hit the mark yet again. 

I got allllll of that with this book. 

In this one we have Hudson, the best friend to Alexis's brother, he's known her forever basically. Alexis and her family is Hudson's family (basically) and so they have a bond that kind of goes beyond friendship. Alexis had some pretty awful things happen to her that basically shattered her world and she is only put together because Hudson spent the time doing it. I really struggle with a friends-to-lovers trope with some books because it either happens way too fast or it is so painfully slow that I lose interest all together. Once again, the pacing in this book is spot on. I felt all of the butterflies with Alexis and I could feel all of Hudson's nerves and it feels like the best slow motion train crash turning into the prettiest explosion you could hope for. The author does such a great job with the emotions that we don't need crazy ass drama all over the place, the only thing we have are big feelings and Alexis's sass. Which is PERFECT. When I tell you there is not a more perfect couple, I am not joking. I am in love with this book, I cannot wait for the next one they put out. I cannot get enough of these and if the sentiment of third time's a charm is any indication? We are going to need to sit all the way down for it. I'm freaking out already. 

If Goodreads let me give this one more than 5 stars, I would. I loved it. I am telling you right now, if your week was crap and you need something fun to unwind with this weekend, pick this one up. Trust me. 

A HUGE thank you to Social Butterfly PR for having me on this tour and sending me an ARC for review, they always have the latest and greatest of books so if you need ideas, check them out. Or stay here because I always have something from them popping up. If you pick this one up, let me know and we can chat about it. I have to know what you think about it. 

This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: When the Walls Come Down

I think this might be the only book review this week for you guys. As of right this second I don't have anything lined up but you know, things could happen. 

If you're a long time reader you'll recognize Aly Martinez because I'm a big fan of hers so when I saw she was attached to this book I had to get on board and I'm so glad I did!

When The Walls Come Down  

M. Mabie & Aly Martinez

Did you ever hear the joke about the guy whose wife cheated on him with his best friend? So he quit his job, moved into his parents’ basement, and gained fifty pounds?

No? Because that wasn’t a joke. It was my life.

Four years later, I'm back with a dream job, a killer apartment, and a set of abs that are better than ever.

So, when Maggie Light, a stunning, snarky blonde moves in next door, and we spend the hottest weekend of our lives together, I think this could be the greatest comeback story ever.

That is until I realize Maggie has moved to town to do one thing—steal my job.

Maybe this isn't a comeback story after all. Maybe this is war—one I intend to win.

What I never anticipated was that maybe I’d rather win her.

Perhaps, if I’m lucky, the universe has finally run out of jokes and I can somehow win both.

You guys. I can't remember the last time I have had great sarcastic banter in a book, a romance one, and this book DELIVERED. I also have to tell you that I flew through this one in just a few hours and loved it so ridiculously much. 

In this one we have Maggie, a 20 something from Atlanta, the youngest of five children. All of her siblings are settled and have their own families but she always thinks about the mom she never knew (died when she was four). She always thought that her mom must not have had a fulfilled life since she had her children starting at age 19 and by 31 she had five of them. She died not long after and so whatever dreams and goals she had, she likely never got to them. Maggie is determined to not follow her lead so she decided to take a job all the way in California, she's leaving all alone to take the world by storm. 

Once she gets there, she quickly realizes it isn't what it's cracked up to be. As it turns out, the world doesn't come to you, you actually have to go to it. Her sister convinces her to go out one nice and see what happens. 

Enter Shane. Divorced but alone. He works as a marketing director for his brother-in-law's company, or he did until he was effectively fired in the nicest way possible. Their intent was for him to get out on his own and take the world by storm. He's wallowing in self pity when.... 

.... in walks Maggie into the Two Ships restaurant. Instead of walking out and going home, he takes his totally awkward self over to her and so starts the story of Maggie and Shane. 

They end up being neighbors in the apartment complex. It turns out she was hired to replace Shane, and they find this out after a relationship is basically started. It all gets dicey and they start to learn what they each want out of life, what is the most important, and how to navigate life with someone else. 

OK, the sarcastic banter throughout this book is so perfect and it reminds me so much of myself and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also really loved Shane and it is long overdue that we have a male character in a romance who isn't oozing with masculine confidence. We have a guy who has self confidence dips from time to time and is honest and vocal about it, he used to be overweight and has lost the weight over time and he doesn't let it define him, and he's a romantic, good guy. I'm never going to turn down a character that is sexy and confident and you know is going to rock your world, but in real life the majority of guys are not that way. They are worried they aren't going to make it past a few minutes, they want to rock her world and just isn't sure, etc. 

Secondly- when it got to a part where they were sending each other gifts that are sarcastically the best, I have to know, what showerhead did he order?! Does such a thing exist?! I mean, for research purposes, I'd like to just... check it out. Ha! 

If you are looking for a romantic book with some sexy times thrown in, this is the one you need to grab! I loved every second of it and this is definitely one I'm going to pull out again and again. 

I am so glad I was able to be on this tour, a huge thank you to Social Butterfly PR for sending me an ARC. Please read this one and we can all search for the magical showerhead together and maybe if we buy in bulk we can get a deal, OK? 

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B08818CK1S&asins=B08818CK1S&linkId=6c35657f2bf9186242de0272d3967cfc&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>   <iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=strandedincha-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B089D33HMF&asins=B089D33HMF&linkId=f066cea66ad6aad82e6a399793068331&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

This post contains affiliate links.