Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid: Usually, I read the book first and then watch the series. I think this must set a precedent, as I watched the series last year. Season one is based on books one and two, but the lion’s share goes to book two. And with good reason, as Heated Rivalry is such a great and tender story. Although there is a lot of spice right from the get go, it is part of the story and propels Shane and Ilya closer together. It also makes them realize that maybe they do have something special. I liked how they both change and adapt to their feelings and the situation. What an amazing book!
Into the Blue by Emma Brodie: This book broke me in the best way. AJ and Noah meet when AJ is seventeen, but the timing for them is off. Their love for improv and acting brings them back into each other’s orbit seven years later, and from then on, more frequently. Even though their love for each other is apparent to the reader as well as to them, Noah is holding back. This weaving dance around his reasons is hard to read as ‘bystander’, and even harder for AJ to accept. I loved the look behind the acting curtain, at what it takes to immerse yourself in a character and learn improv! But it was the love story that kept me reading until the wee hours of the night.
Woman of a certain rage by Georgie Hall: I think this was my first book about a menopausal woman, which is kind of weird, as this is something every woman lives through eventually. Eliza is an actress who records more audiobooks and has a side hussle as a real estate agent, than she actually acts. Meanwhile her husband Paddy tinkers around on his former barge, which now belongs to his in-laws. With three kids and going through menopause, Eliza feels invisible to everyone and more like the “mad bitch” the road ragers are calling her. It takes a while for her to find herself again, and the journey there is not smooth. I enjoyed reading this book about Eliza, as I could relate to some of her grievances.
Tough Guy by Rachel Reid: So far, this is my least favorite book in the Heated Rivalry series. While the first book was bland and the second one great, the third one is again rather boring. Or maybe I just could not identify with the problems of the main characters? Ryan’s almost debilitating fear of flying and his hate for fighting as an enforcer on his team were not problems I could relate to. Fabian, at least, is a musician and appears to have great friends, something that Ryan also lacks. I was happy when I finished the book, which doesn’t change the fact that I have already started the next one in the Heated Rivalry series.
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