fritz42's reviews
2870 reviews

Christmas Wish List by N.R. Walker

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Free From Falling by E.L. Massey

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Trade Deadline by A.L. Heard

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 I truly wish I could give this more than 5 stars. This is not only going down on my favorites list but my all-time favorites list.

I loved watching Ryan and Lars connect and then reconnect years later. Both of them had difficulties - Ryan with his confidence, stemming from being traded so much and Lars with his difficulties with his brother. I loved how Ryan's background with a strong and loving family gave him the insight to help Lars with his troubles, and how Lars worked to get Ryan, the team, and the hockey world to see Ryan's true potential. I'm not a huge hockey fan and I still struggle to understand it in RL, but I loved all the "hockey parts" too.

But I think what I loved the most was the gentle ride we get, watching their reconnection and how that grew into love.

I had read about this book on Reddit. I'm going to go back there and thank the poster because this one is going to stay with me for a long time. 
Playing at Home Bonus Epilogue by Jax Calder

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Playing at Home by Jax Calder

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funny hopeful lighthearted tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Playing Offside by Jax Calder

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Hired by the Enemy by Jax Calder

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 Matthew was a nerd throughout his elementary and high school years. When he was 8 years old, a new kid moved next door by the name of Liam. Almost from the moment they met, they hated each other. That hatred morphed into the most epic prank war, something the whole town became quite aware of. Each of them used their various pranks to ridicule the other. Liam, the gorgeous jock, constantly berated Matthew for being an uncoordinated geek. Matthew never missed a chance to point out how Liam was unintelligent.

We find out about this after their unexpected reunion at the beginning of the book. Matthew needs a fake boyfriend for his company retreat that he is having for his management team. Liam does an emergency fill in for another member of Elite Connections, a company that provides dates to functions for its exclusive customers. To say that they are shocked to see each other at the airport is an understatement. They decide to go through with it, thinking they can fake their way through the week.

This book is going down as one of my favorites. What really got to me was the memories of the pranks they pulled on each other. We are familiar with the effects that those horrible pranks had on the "nerdy" MC, but this book brings out how Liam was also hurt by the ones Matthew pulled on him. Watching the two of them acknowledge the pain they caused each other brought depths to this book that I haven't gotten in others. I loved seeing how that healed something in each them.

I'm seriously thinking Jax Calder can't write a book that I won't love. I'm on a mission to read her entire backlist of stories. 
Being Setup by Jax Calder

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't know Jax Calder does it, but within a short story, she got me to love these two MCs.  I loved how they felt almost immediately the connection that their friends and family thought they would have.  It was a feel good story for me.  
Cupcakes and Confessions by Jax Calder

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A wonderful roommates/friends to lovers story. 
Valentine's Day by Jax Calder

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love a clueless friend who finally realizes his true love is right in front of his face story.