Book Review: It Happened One Summer

You know I'm an outrageously enthusiastic, probably more than normal, fan of Tessa Bailey. I will buy and read anything with her name on it, I don't care what it even is. I know I'm going to enjoy it and this did not disappoint. 

It Happened One Summer

Tessa Bailey

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar... in Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.

Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart. 

Right out the gate, this was advertised as  "Schitt's Creek inspired.." and I am all in. I absolutely love that show and watch it over and over again, it's so underappreciated. Anyways. We have Piper, a spoiled rich kid who gets into trouble and as her punishment she's banished to a tiny fishing town on the coast of Washington. Because her sister is ride or die, she also agrees to go with her and she is a damn good sister. 

Piper quickly meets Brendan, who is clearly not welcoming, and her accomodations are.... they are straight up awful. No amount of Clorox is going to make this place alright, I don't care what anyone says. Piper and Hannah soon learn about their father who died tragically on a fishing trip when they were very young, and they start meeting the colorful characters of Westport, Washington and already, I am in love with all of it. 

Of course this is Piper and Brendan's story and I love, love, LOVE how their story is rolled out. Both of them have similar humor/sarcasm but in very different ways that compliment each other, which is what each other need. Piper has zero long term relationship experience and Brendan was married but his wife actually died a few years prior, so they are different in that area too, which leads to a little difficulty as the story goes on. Piper and Hannah decide to revamp and revive the bar their father was so proud of, so they are trying to do this all on their own with a very limited budget, Piper is trying to connect with the community and finds that she's quickly finding her niche, and of course, things are getting hot and heavy with Brendan. Tessa Bailey is known for writing great steamy scenes and she doesn't disappoint here. 

(Side note: I actually listened to the audiobook version of this and loved it! I will say, it's a different vibe having someone read these scenes to you versus reading them yourself. *ahem*)

Overall, I really loved this one. I didn't want it to end at all and I am ridiculously excited the next book is Hannah's book, I can't wait to start it. I loved the characters so much, I loved the plot, I loved how the little town is set up so you feel like you're walking through it with Piper and totally get the feel for it. I loved Brendan so much, he's a solidly great guy, and I was so excited that him and Piper are the focus in this one. 

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Book Review: This Time Tomorrow

While this one is listed as a stand alone, it kind of is, but if you read book one it kind of comes together more. Book one is called Reborn Yesterday and I absolutely loved it. Would you believe me if I told you I loved this one even more? I'd give it ten stars if I could. Also the covers for this series? Stunning. I loved the cover for Reborn Yesterday and I absolutely love this one. 

This Time Tomorrow - Tessa Bailey

Roksana, heiress to the vampire slayer throne, has performance anxiety.

She’s supposed to kill Elias, but so far she’s only succeeded in maxing out his credit card. Now her failure to stake the brooding vampire has sent her back to Moscow in disgrace to face her mother’s wrath. Expecting punishment by death, she’s given a rare reprieve. She now has three tasks to complete, the last of which is to finally kill Elias. She will not fail this time.

If only the memories of one magical evening—back when Elias was human, would stop holding her back. He claims to have forgotten that night. Why can’t she? Three years ago, Elias was a SWAT team member on a guy’s weekend in Vegas. Playing poker and minding his own business, his life changed forever when a captivating blonde strolled past his table in a light-up bra. He followed Roksana as if compelled, his very bones demanding he do so, his soul resonating with the belief she would be important to him. Always. That turned out to be a vast understatement—and nothing has changed.

Roksana embarks on her mission, determined to win back her mother’s approval, but when an astonishing truth emerges in the eleventh hour, will her stake pierce the very heart that beats in her honor? Or will love triumph over duty?

You guys..... Roksana and Elias were so much better than I could have imagined. I'm not kidding. I loved Roksana in book one and all of the tension/drama brewing between those two in book one was absolutely worth it. In this book we get more of Roksana's back story and we find out how she became a slayer and why, which actually involves Elias and the day he became Silenced (which is when he became a vampire). 

Elias spent years in love with her since becoming Silenced and he knows that Roksana hates him for what she believes he did but he is convinced if she would just kill him she will feel better after exacting her revenge. She just isn't able to do it and doesn't know why. 

Well, turns out they are mates. (Just like Jonas and Ginny from book one.)

I just... I absolutely loved this story and I wanted them to succeed so badly. While Jonas and Ginny were all sweet, romantic, and gentle in book one.... Elias and Roksana are the absolute opposite. They are rough sex, dirty talking, emotional together and I loved it. 

I always try to give you what I loved about a book and what I didn't love... I can't give you anything that I wish was better. The plot line of vampires vs. slayers continues on except now we have the fae thrown in. Roksana is a hard character and I ended up seeing her in a totally different way, Elias is exactly what I expected but more. I loved the dramatic ending and I loved, loved, LOVED Tucker and who I am 99% sure is his mate. I cannot wait for book three! I love this world Tessa Bailey is crafting and I see exactly where she is going and I'm here for it. I cannot wait for this. 

A massive thank you to Social Butterfly PR and Tessa Bailey for having me on this tour! I said it before and I say it again, if I could give this ten stars I absolutely would. 

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Book Review: Reborn Yesterday

I've been reading off and on when I've got time and I'm behind in my reviews. Which is terrible. I know. I'm starting to get back on track though, so I'm bringing this to you today because you HAVE to read this one if you like romance. Seriously.

Reborn Yesterday - Tessa Bailey

A timeless love story with bite.

It was a night like any other for funeral home director Ginny Lynn, until the exceptionally handsome—and unfortunately deceased—young man on her embalming table sat up, opened his emerald eyes and changed the course of her life forever, making her feel quite fluttery while he was at it.

Humans aren't supposed to know Jonas Cantrell, or any vampire, exists. It's kind of a major rule. Despite his instantaneous bond with perfectly peculiar Ginny, he has no choice but to erase her memories of their one and only meeting.

That was the plan. Before a reluctant Jonas can wipe Ginny's mind clean, she reveals a secret that brings their worlds crashing together. Human and vampire. Past and present. Darkness and light. And while their love is strictly forbidden, it might be the only thing that can save them…

I jumped onto this tour because I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan anyways and I had no idea that this was going to be a romantic comedic suspense with a paranormal twist.

She's literally going for every genre and she NAILED IT.

I absolutely loved Ginny and her quirkiness. She's an awkward dork in all of the best ways. Then we have Jonas, a vampire who shouldn't fraternize with humans who suddenly finds himself obsessed with little oddball Ginny. I want so badly to explain how much I loved this, how often I found myself laughing out loud during this but it ruins it all. It would ruin the entire thing and you just need to go in knowing you are going to love this from page one to done.

The overview of this Ginny, a  mortician, has a body to deal with in her morgue but she can't quite bring herself to start because something isn't quite right. She's right because he pops up and instead of freaking out she seems oddly relieved. Jonas knows he needs to get out of there quickly but he can't really decide why, and knowing this, Ginny decides to stall to buy a little more time with him. It quickly becomes apparent that it isn't going to be enough and soon they find themselves inseparable.

Quite unfortunate really, because there are three real rules in vampire world and Jonas finds himself breaking all three with Ginny. Just when he is about to really say goodbye and erase her memory of him, he realizes she's in actual danger. Her life has almost ended a few times and nobody really knows why someone has it out for her, he knows if she died it would gut him.

He just doesn't know why. Yet.

I was absolutely glued to this book and could not put it down. I found myself laughing throughout while at the same time at the edge of my seat wanting to know who was trying to kill Ginny. I wanted Jonas and Ginny to make it and I got SO WORRIED that I would be left with a cliffhanger considering this is book on in the Phenomenal Fate series but rest assured, this is a stand alone. Not that you'll want to stop there, because Tessa Bailey gives us a fantastic cast of characters that we want to know more about and I can't wait to read their stories!

   

An incredibly HUGE thanks to Social Butterfly PR and Tessa Bailey

Book Review: Getaway Girl

I hope you have fun plans for this weekend- my niece just turned five so the plan is to visit with her for awhile. I'm still debating on stopping at a few stores to do some Christmas shopping and I found a new, drive-thru Christmas light display that I kind of want to go to. It's like $25 a car so I'm trying to convince Matt this would be a fun thing to do. We'll see on Monday if we did or not.

Getaway Girl - Tessa Bailey

This unlikely getaway driver never expected to help the mayor escape…

After a six-year absence, Addison Potts is back in Charleston to stir things up. And what better place to make her villainous return than her estranged cousin’s wedding? Only, the nuptials hit a snag when the bride doesn’t show, leaving Addison to play getaway driver for the jilted groom. A groom whose heartbreaking smile and deep, southern drawl she should not be noticing…

Elijah Montgomery Du Pont is the future mayor of Charleston. From his military career to city hall, every detail of his life has been meticulously planned. Until now. His only respite from life’s sudden upheaval is Addison, his new, improbable best friend. She makes him happy. Grounds him. And public disapproval be damned, he’s not willing to give her up. But with an election on the line and public pressure rising, Addison—and the cruel hand of fate—might not give him a choice.

I have now read two other books from Tessa Bailey that I loved, so naturally I picked up another one and it does NOT disappoint! I couldn't put this one down and ended up finishing it in one sitting, and I am clamoring to get the next one. Tessa Bailey is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors because she develops characters who you can actually see yourself liking. The dynamics between them are realistic, the dialogue between them is normal, and the drama between characters (particularly Addison and Elijah) is maybe not normal but how they handle it is.

In this book we have Addison, back in town since leaving years ago, to handle her recently deceased grandmother's things. Her family were the black sheep of the town after a rather scandalous affair involving the towns "it" family. Elijah is part of that family and he finds himself left at the altar by Naomi, who is Addison's cousin. Traumatic, awkward, and embarrassing as that is, he finds himself outside contemplating his next move, when he encounters Addison, idling in her car. He makes the split second decision to get in her car and essentially hang out at her house to ride the hysteria out. Over that short time they form an awkward, endearing friendship.

Eventually, he's running for Mayor and she's still the black sheep by association but their friendship transcends that, eventually turning into a friends with benefits and then... more?

I loved this book, I loved that Addison is awkward but always thinking of what is in Elijah's best interests. I love that Elijah is the perfect southern gentleman but is always trying to do right by Addison. Neither one of them actually knows what love is or if what they've got going on is love, and them working through that is really great. Not to mention the steamy scenes? So good. Tessa Bailey can write a dang good scene.

Overall? I have to give this one a 4.5 only because I wish there was a little.. something at the end. I feel like we're missing something but I can't tell you what it just didn't hit the spot for me all the way. I wanted a little more, but honestly, I'm rounding this up to 5 for Goodreads because I'd recommend this one anytime.

   

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Book Review: Mouth to Mouth

We're half way through this week and I don't know about you but I feel like I'm limping through it. It's awful. If you are on Instagram, I'm having a giveaway that ends Friday. Or Saturday. I can't remember. But go there and enter! If you're in need for a short book with a little steam, here you go.

Mouth to Mouth - Tessa Bailey

A man with a prison record has no place around a fresh faced college student. Tell that to Rory Prince. He should stay the hell away from Olive Cunningham. There’s one small problem, though. She won’t stop almost getting killed—and with this too-smart, too-sweet girl holding his heart in her hands, Rory is powerless to do anything but keep saving her.

Homeschooled from a young age, Olive is now out on her own and discovering the world, one milkshake flavor at a time. Until recently, she has experienced life through books. She’s walked in a million sets of shoes while flipping pages—enough to know that Rory gives her once-in-a-lifetime feelings. If only he would stop trying to protect her…from himself.

If you're around here often (thanks!), you'll have seen me review the latest from Tessa Bailey, Fix Her Up, which I really enjoyed. Because that was my first book by her and I really liked it, I thought I would pick up a couple more from her and this was one of the ones I got. It is right around 200 pages and I got through it in one day easily and it would have been a good summer book, even more so when I realized it's the first in a trilogy, so I have books two and three on order.

In this one we have Olive, who grew up in a YouTube family and as she got older she was not so subtly butted out because she basically aged out of doing cutesy things with them. With a bank account full of cash she picks up and moves- she's going to go to college and start a new life in a cute beach town. Unexpectedly, she meets Rory, who is incredibly good looking and full of tattoos and an ex-con. She doesn't know that of course, but it's clear immediately that sparks are flying and whatever it is that clicks for soul mates very much happens to them both.

Over the course of a few months he saves her (again!), we have a steamy shower scene, and this couple makes some real rookie movies with miscommunication and/or noncommunication. When they are together it's hot, and they crave each other when they aren't, but the entire book is them trying to get this worked out so they are on the same page.

I really enjoyed this one. If you're a fan of books where you have to fix the guy? This is a good one. I'm giving this one 4 stars and really, the only thing keeping me back from a 5 is some of the dialogue what on its way to Cheese Town. The way Rory talks in the midst of sex is just.... let's just say I'm that person who would start laughing because it's just too much. Also, Olive is almost too naive and while we do get a kind of resolution to Rory's past, I don't know that we really get one for Olive. I guess in a way, yes.. but I think I expected/wanted more.

Overall, a good book if you're looking for a quick romance with a beach vibe and a guy in real need of saving. I'll let you know how the rest are.

   

This post contains affiliate links- happy shopping! 

Book Review: Fix Her Up

It's a good thing I have some books sitting here that I've already read and just haven't typed up for you because the post I was supposed to do today is delayed a bit but that's OK! I've been dying to tell you about this book and here we are.

Fix Her Up - Tessa Bailey

Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World... whatever that means.

Phase one: new framework for her business (a website from this decade, perhaps?)

Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe (fyi, leggings are pants.)

Phase three: updates to her exterior (do people still wax?)

Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!)

Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since, well, ever. Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite?

Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there's Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme—that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job—he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her... 

If you're on Instagram at all and follow some #bookstagram stuff, you would have seen this book EVERYWHERE all spring and summer, and with good reason- it is great! I was a little hesitant at first and I wasn't sure I was going to even get into this but Tessa Bailey can develop a great character and it turns out that I loved Georgie and I loved Travis just as much and I found myself rooting for them the entire time!

We have Georgie, who is a professional clown, and the baby of the family. Her entire family are successful and running the family business (real estate, house flipping, etc.) and they kind of blow her off as the baby, and she hates it. She just wants to be taken seriously. We also have Travis, back home after suffering a devastating injury effectively ending his professional baseball career, and he's a friend of Georgie's family.

Georgie has also been in love with him since she was much younger and thinks people aren't giving Travis enough credit and encouragement to be the best version of himself that Georgie sees. Of course, Travis has no idea that Georgie is in love with him, so when he comes up with this idea of them fake dating to show that he has matured and can be a good announcer/role model, he doesn't think twice. Georgie wants her family to look at her like an adult and what better way to do that than a complete make over and adult relationship?

All is swell until Georgie and Travis have sex once the attraction gets to be too much. They start developing feelings and while Georgie is doing a great job at distancing herself knowing this will all end soon, Travis isn't sure if HE wants it to end.

This book has some great steamy scenes, I loved the absurdity of the trope but Tessa Bailey does such a great job with it that I had a great time reading this and really didn't want it to end. I'm excited to see there is a follow up (but with Rosie and Dominic's story) and I'm going to tell you I really don't care about Kristin and Steven. I didn't like either one of their characters at all so I don't know if I'd be all in on that one. But this one was an absolute gem and you're going to enjoy it.

   

I am so, so glad I bought this one versus borrowed from the library because this is one I'm going to re-read for sure! This post does contain affiliate links, so help a gal out (at no cost to you!)

Happy reading, lambs!