Review: In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde

In Her Own League had a lot of elements that worked well and some that didn’t quite land for me. Reese and Emmett’s relationship mostly worked for me. They had a truly engaging and enjoyable dynamic. Great chemistry, fun banter.

Emmet had spent much of his life focused on providing his daughter with a stable, loving life. And then once she moved out, he gave everything to the team. When Reese enters his life, it feels meaningful for him to finally have someone who supports him in return. One of the book's strongest aspects is Emmet’s relationship with his daughter, Miller. Their father–daughter bond is truly the heart of the story and adds warmth and emotional depth throughout the novel.

Reese was portrayed as intelligent, determined, and deeply committed to her new role within the team. As the first female owner, she faces a lot of pressure, and every decision she makes is scrutinized by the public and even her employees. The tension created an interesting backdrop for her character, and I wish Tomforde had done it a bit more justice. At times, it felt too in the background, and I would have liked a stronger arc for Reese.

As much as I loved Reese and Emmet’s relationship, the pacing was something I struggled with. One moment, they seem to dislike each other, and the next, they are flirting heavily and moving toward instant attraction. Their romance would have benefited from a slower burn and more conflict or tension between them before things progressed.

Final Thoughts

In Her Own League has enjoyable moments, strong banter, and an amazingly heartfelt father-daughter relationship. However, the rushed pacing and underdeveloped potential in Reese’s storyline make it a weaker entry compared to other books in Liz’s catalog.

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Review: Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Two Can Play was an okay read overall. There was something about the characters, and the romance didn’t quite click for me. I also wouldn’t call this enemies-to-lovers, as the conflict is rooted more in miscommunication than genuine hatred. Viola believed that Jesse disliked her for years. That felt underdeveloped and never fully convincing.

Jesse felt like the stereotypical, tall, dark-haired, broody, mysterious lead. There wasn’t enough depth or insight into his character to make him memorable. There also wasn’t much of a clear arc for either of the main characters. However, I really appreciated Viola’s connection to video games and her relationship with her dad. That was sweet and added an emotional warmth to the story. Also, I enjoyed the video game developer setting, especially the team-building retreat and game discussions. Both were fun and engaging and felt like the book's strongest parts.

Final Thoughts

Two Can Play’s plot felt rushed. There wasn’t enough time spent fully fleshing out the characters or the romance. While the concept had a lot of potential, the execution left me wanting more depth and development.

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Review: And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

And Now, Back to You, unfortunately, ended up being a disappointing read for me. Mostly because the romance is the weakest element. On paper, Jackson and Delilah seem like the perfect opposites-attract pairing. Whereas Jackson strives for structure and routine, Delilah is chaos personified, even being described as a hurricane wrapped in delusion and mismatched pastels by Jackson. The two have had a disastrous series of run-ins over the years and are forced to work together to cover a major winter storm.

Their contrasting personalities should have created a fun, dynamic romance full of tension and growth. However, instead, their relationship felt flat and surprisingly boring. While the romance was disappointing, the non-romantic relationships did work. I will even say they were the strongest parts of the book. Especially, Jackson’s relationship with his sisters. His dedication to them was one of the most moving aspects of the story. Knowing his mother was unable to care for them properly, Jackson spent months carefully planning how to gain custody, and the depth of his love and responsibility as an older brother really stood out to me. These moments added emotional weight and made his character far more intriguing than the romantic plotline.

Delilah’s character arc was another highlight. A producer at her news station has a personal vendetta against her and is doing everything in his power to keep her from reporting the weather. That conflict and her unwillingness to give up were nicely done. Her grandfather was at the center of it all, including her motivation for becoming a meteorologist. It really provided her with a sense of ambition and emotional grounding, which made her journey feel meaningful. Watching both characters grow individually was far more satisfying than watching them fall in love.

Final Thoughts

While reading, And Now, Back to You, I found myself less engaged during the romance and more interested in the heartfelt family relationships and individual character development. The romance felt underwhelming. I wanted more spark from the central relationship, especially given how promising their dynamic initially seemed.

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Review: Fabulously Flawed by Lynne Hancock Pearson

Rather than asking the predictable “Will they fall in love?”, Fabulously Flawless explores a deeper question: “What if love changes everything you thought you wanted?” This heartfelt small-town story concludes book three in the Keeney Build series. 

Carl is the sort of the character that is typical but relatable. He is ambitious and has a professional goal plan in the works of accomplishment. When his grandmother needs him, he returns to Keeney, a town he’s already outgrown… or so he thinks. While this is temporary, caring for his grandmother pulls him back for a needed distraction. As he swaps his suit for work boots he’s absolutely determined not to get attached to the town, to the job, or to the woman he once walked away from. While his mind remains on achieving corporate success, an opportunity arises that begins to blur his temporary plans. 

And then there’s the lovely, Sylvie. She is the kind of character you instantly want to root for. With her dreams of being a house flipper crushed by her fraud ex boyfriend, her spark may have dimmed but not gone out. As Carl arrives just in time with his calming presence, encouragement and friendship, their chemistry renews with a slow simmering feel that is paced as it’s supposed to be rather than rushed.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but what makes this story shine is how gentle their reconnection is. He is set on leaving, she is rebuilding. Layered by their attraction, the tug between ambition and belonging, independence and partnership but their timing and pride get in the way. Grounding the story with their slow burn workplace romance, their conflicts and collaborations, makes them real and relatable behind that small town setting. It’s not insta love but something earned that makes you want to keep reading another chapter. 

This novel captures the beauty of choosing love when it complicates your plans. If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping your hometown and secretly wondered what might happen if you stayed, this is for you. It’s for anyone who’s ever thought they were just passing through only to discover that sometimes where you are trying to run from is where your heart feels at home. 

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Review: Hard Feelings by Jennifer Millikin

It could be too early to tell, but Hard Feelings might be my favorite read of the year. It has a satisfying mix of romance, humor, and emotional depth. Not to mention the sizzling chemistry and heartfelt character growth. Loathe-to-lovers trope paired with accidental marriage works especially well here, with Dom and Cecily proving to be a genuinely well-matched pair. Their banter is sharp and fun, their connection feels earned, and once the central misunderstanding is resolved, their relationship truly excels. A slight downside was the original cause of the miscommunication. That didn’t exactly land for me; thankfully, the conflict was resolved quickly.

Both Dom and Cecily have a complicated relationship with their families. For Cecily, she’s always felt like the “difficult” child. Hard to love and harder to understand. She had every intention of telling her family the truth about her marriage to Dom; however, when her father demanded that she annul the marriage, she felt defiant and took her back to her childhood.

Her grandma stands out as a powerful and loving presence. She is one person who has always been firmly in her corner. Cecily’s world shatters when she learns that  Grandma is dying and has orchestrated one last family road trip as a way for them heal old wounds and resolve long-standing conflicts. Although there are moments of confrontation, the resolution with her parents felt less satisfying than the arc involving her older brother, Duke. His reconciliation with Cecily was more emotionally complete and rewarding.

Both Dom and Cecily are actively working through their pasts and repairing old wounds as they build something new together. Dom understood that parents can love their children and still cause deep harm. He sees his parents as flawed people and carries resentment over the instability in his childhood. However, Cecily’s arc does feel more fully resolved.

Final Thoughts

Hard Feelings is a highlight of the year. It delivers a tender, emotionally rich romance that shines in its character work. The book has a few small flaws; however, the story more than makes up for them with heartfelt growth, healing, and a love story that feels both passionate and genuine.

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Review: The Wild Card by Stephanie Archer

The Wild Card is a satisfying and well-executed conclusion to the Vancouver Storm series. It ties the series together nicely by allowing the beloved couples a moment to shine; however, without overshadowing Tate and Jordan.

Tate and Jordan were great characters to end the series with. Both have spent so much of their lives taking care of others. Jordan is the daughter of the Vancouver Storm owner, whose complicated relationship with her father has led her to distance herself from him and the team. Tate is the team's head coach, and he loves and supports his players with everything he has. When Jordan’s dad announces he wants to sell the team, the two of them must work together to save the team and the players they consider their family. They were perfectly matched, and their relationship developed in a natural, believable way. Not to mention that their chemistry was absolutely off the charts.

The story strikes a great balance between humor and heart. The fun and witty banter never diminishes the emotional depth. Additionally, the characters’ individual journeys add real weight to their connection.

Final Thoughts

The Wild Card is the perfect blend of humor, emotion, and romance. It feels earned and true to the series. Tate and Jordan’s story is the perfect note to end on. Their conclusion is both memorable and deeply rewarding for longtime readers.

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