It’s time to share what I’ve read this past month. My reading seems to be slowing down some but I’m still enjoying what I’ve read.
One to Watch by Kate Stayman London
Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers—and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?
Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition—under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.
But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, wickedly observant debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men—and herself—for a chance to live happily ever after.
Even though I don’t enjoy reality tv shows in general, I did find this book enjoyable. This was mainly due to the main character. I do enjoy a strong female lead who though flawed is not afraid to speak up for herself. Kate does go on a journey of self growth that is sometimes painful to be party to. Those who are into reality shows and Bachorlette type shows in particular will definitely enjoy the behind the scenes action.
Intercepted (book #1) by Alex Martin
Marlee Harper is the perfect girlfriend. She’s definitely had enough practice by dating her NFL-star boyfriend for the last ten years. But when she discovers he has been tackling other women on the sly, she vows to never date an athlete again. There’s just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past, has Marlee in his sights.
Gavin fights to show Marlee he’s nothing like her ex. Unfortunately, not everyone is ready to let her escape her past. The team’s wives, who never led the welcome wagon, are not happy with Marlee’s return. They have only one thing on their minds: taking her down. But when the gossip makes Marlee public enemy number one, she worries about more than just her reputation.
Between their own fumbles and the wicked wives, it will take a Hail Mary for Marlee and Gavin’s relationship to survive the season.
This book is tons of fun for a football fan like me. There is nothing that will surprise in this book. You know very well for the most part who will end up with whom. What’s fun are the behind the scenes of an NFL team through the eyes of the wives and girlfriends. It was fun enough that I’ve already read book 2 and am currently reading book 3. I do enjoy books where the characters continue through out though the main character changes. There are 4 books in the series.
Fumbled (book #2) by Alexa Martin
Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she’s built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it’s all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.
T.K. Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he’s moved on.
When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they’ve suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they’ll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship.
Though TK Moore was introduced in the first book, he was not a main character at all. This story is completely different from book 1 with some overlap of characters and situations. Again, it was fun enough that I’m reading book #3.
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks
Looking to earn some easy cash, Jessica Farris agrees to be a test subject in a psychological study about ethics and morality. But as the study moves from the exam room to the real world, the line between what is real and what is one of Dr. Shields’s experiments blurs.
Dr. Shields seems to know what Jess is thinking… and what she’s hiding.
Jessica’s behavior will not only be monitored, but manipulated.
Caught in a web of attraction, deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
I listened to this book and finished it in a day and a half. This book fits the definition of a thriller. After reading the romance series, I needed the charge of a thriller. I don’t want to talk too much about this one because there are tons of twists. The authors definitely keep you guessing and on your toes.
The Look Alike by Erica Spindler
Sienna Scott grew up in the dark shadow of her mother’s paranoid delusions. Now, she’s returned home to confront her past and the unsolved murder that altered the course of her life.
In her mother’s shuttered house, an old fear that has haunted Sienna for years rears its ugly head—that it was she who had been the killer’s target that night. And now, with it, a new fear—that the killer not only intended to remedy his past mistake—he’s already begun. But are these fears any different from the ones that torment her mother?
As the walls close in, the line between truth and lie, reality and delusion disintegrate. Has Sienna’s worst nightmare come true? Or will she unmask a killer and finally prove she may be her mother’s look-alike, but she’s not her clone?
This one did not disappoint. There are tons of twists and turns some that you see coming but many others that you don’t. I was pretty sure that I knew who the killer was but I kept getting thrown off the scent! The main character is not as strong as other protagonists that I like but it’s understandable. She’s been through a lot and then she’s not sure exactly what is true and what isn’t. Definitely worth the read.
Another month of successful reading. I am really not only enjoying reading but also enjoying reading books that I wouldn’t normally. Because the pandemic forced me to slow down in some ways, reading “lighter” books doesn’t feel like a waste-they feel like a real escape.
Please share any book recommendations in the comments.
Happy Reading!!
