fiction_and_friction's reviews
394 reviews

Hayes: Reformed playboy with golden retriever energy, loves his mom, his teammates, and his secret spicy side hustle.
Ava: Coach’s daughter, black cat vibes, Olympic-level figure skater with enough emotional baggage to rival an airport carousel.

This is your classic college romance: star hockey player falls for the mysterious new girl—who just happens to be his coach’s daughter. Sparks fly, tensions rise, and it takes Ava a hot minute (and a lot of convincing) to realize that Hayes might actually be her knight in shining hockey pads. Once she lets him in, though, the man shows up like it’s Game 7 of the finals.

Quick, fun read with good banter and decent spice. Is it groundbreaking literature? No. But sometimes you just need a cute college romcom with all the vibes to hit reset on your brain.

Ashley James has a way of writing MMCs with the most adorable, endearing qualities. Everett’s little pep talks to himself were the cutest!
The way he cared for and about Gemma and Sutton made him an instant add to my list of favorite book boyfriends. I loved the relationships between every single character. Gemma was such a strong woman whose single-mom independence was born out of necessity.
Everett just seemed so genuine in his initial interest towards Gemma. Which is refreshing after most romances that are over the top insta-lust “me man, want boobs”.
That said, the spice here was fantastic. Everett is the perfect sweet and spicy man, and I would let him lead me into a dark classroom any day

Wade, the grumpy cowboy first introduced to us in Holding the Reins, is the no-nonsense boss man of Silver Pines Ranch. He has a hard and fast rule against fraternizing with his employees, until Ivy Spencer, talented horse trainer, enters his world. Cue the stereotypical grumpy x sunshine “she breaks down his walls while he heals her wounds” storyline and things start to heat up. There was a lot of good, good spice in this book, but not much else develops between these Ivy and Wade. Their connection is largely based on passion, though there is a standout moment with Ivy's toxic ex-boyfriend that adds some emotional depth.
I had a strong inkling of how the story would end, especially with the heavy foreshadowing in earlier chapters. While this isn't my favorite trope, it still felt a bit predictable and ultimately fell flat for me. As for the next book in the series, featuring Cole and Ginger, I’m not sure I’m invested enough to continue.

ARC REVIEW

I was impatiently awaiting the release for TTWY and was thrilled when I got an ARC!

This final book in the Grace General series was well-paced, relatable, and a rollercoaster of emotions. Laughs, tears, pure adoration for Jim. Not to mention I love when the spice hits early!

I also love how this author writes female characters - strong and sassy yet still human and vulnerable. The golden retriever cinnamon roll men aren’t bad to envision either. I thought Daddy Emmett was my number one, but oh, Jim Charley-boy, the man that you are… *swoon*

I appreciate that the characters are older than most other novels and more relatable to me personally. It’s refreshing to have more mature characters (30-40s). It was a welcomed change of pace from my usual romance reads and made the story a little more believable.

Mid-read note: Some literal LoLs with Jim and his food poisoning. Poor guy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Red Room had the potential to be great if it had been developed into a full-length novel. As a shorter novella, much of the potential plot felt underdeveloped. I’m usually a laid-back mood reader, but there were things I just couldn’t overlook here. Did they really go from meeting to BD$M k!nk shmex within five minutes? The male lead claimed he wanted to get to know her better, but that only seemed to happen in the most literal, physical sense. The subplot involving her father also had the potential to add tension and depth but ultimately felt rushed and unresolved. While I managed to power through, this was not an enjoyable read for me.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY AT THE STORYTELLER’S COTTAGE was a delightful and quick holiday read. Packed with charmingly funny moments, both in the characters’ inner thoughts and their witty banter, it kept me smiling throughout. That said, I wish it had been longer—there’s so much more to explore! I would have loved a deeper dive into the romantic history of the cottage itself, and Becker? What’s his story? He’s intriguing enough to deserve more attention. This book feels like the perfect setup for a prequel to a full-length romance about Lenny and Sheriff Quinn.
While it wasn’t heavy on spice, the story didn’t need it. It wasn’t exactly “closed door” but more like “can hear your neighbors through the wall,” which worked perfectly for the tone of the book.

Ridley Sawyer, a popular true crime podcaster with a tragic past, arrives in Shady Cove to investigate a series of cold cases. Her presence immediately ruffles the feathers of Sheriff Colter Brooks, who is less than thrilled about her reasons for being there.
All the Missing Pieces is a stellar example of what a romantic suspense novel should be. Ridley is a smart, strong-willed heroine, while Colt embodies the protective AlphaRoll who can’t help but want to take care of her.
While I typically prefer a bit more spice in my romances, I felt that adding more here would have overshadowed the mystery. The balance between romance and suspense was, in my opinion, just right. The banter between Ridley and Colt was great, as was the timing and buildup to their relationship. The side characters were equally engaging and lovable - I’m hoping for more books in the series so we can get more of them.
As for the mystery, I was completely blindsided by the reveal. I had no idea where the story was headed and was genuinely shocked when everything came together. It was an unexpected, thrilling twist that left me stunned.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!