Jenny Proctor (1)

Give me all the Appies stories! For not being much of a sports romance fan, this series has hooked me completely. I can’t get enough of these genuine, caring guys who play hard yet turn to softies whenever their teammates, family, or wives/girlfriends need them. Romancing the Grump is no different. I love the grumpy/sunshine trope and Nathan is the epitome of a grump. From his monosyllabic answers to his often gruff responses, he’d scare away most women except they can’t get enough of show more him. So much so, that he even has his own hashtag.

Summer is the strong, vibrant woman who’s come to Harvest Hollow to be a new attorney for the Appies. Though she’s attracted to Nathan, she won’t let him get away with that grumpy facade. Deep down, as she gets to know him, she understands there’s a cinnamon roll underneath whose past has affected his relationships. But, can she crack through that tough outer shell all while agreeing to a fake relationship to end his rabid fans’ obsession with him?

I loved these two! There were so many great moments between them and I loved their slow burn romance. It developed in such a natural, gratifying way. There were so many swoony moments like Nate defending Summer, the bus ride, defending Nate, ice skating, the one bed trope, waking the dead, the sick bed, and that kiss! I also loved seeing all the Appies again.

This is definitely a must read series! I’m desperately hoping for more because I can’t get enough of these guys. Even though Romancing the Grump is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone, but then you’ll definitely want to go back and read the previous Appies books by Emma St. Clair & Jenny Proctor. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given. show less

The Appies series from Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair is, overall, amazing. Romancing the Grump is the fourth, and newest, book from these authors featuring one of the Appies minor league hockey players. It was beautifully done. I loved seeing how the Appies have progressed as a team, catching up with my favorite couples from the previous books (they all had pretty prominent roles, including a "couples" night at Eli and Bailey's house playing Settlers of Catan). The comedy was there in show more Nathan and Summer's story, but there was also a poignant emotional undertone that elevated the whole novel. Additionally, Jenny wrote the fake dating trope in this book in a fresh way in that Summer goes into the agreement with her eyes wide open. She knows that if she pretends to date Nathan, she'll fall for him, and she gives her friends updates throughout - "I'm 65% in love with him". This really fit Summer's bold personality. She's not afraid to ask hard questions, admit hard things, or talk about things many characters would sweep under the rug. Seeing Nathan finally be honest with himself and open himself up was beautiful. Bonus: all four Hawthorne brothers make an appearance in a super amusing way. show less

I wanted to savor reading Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire knowing it was the last book in the series. I was happy to find some tie-ins to future and currents series (Appies, I’m looking at you), so I’m hopeful that his might not be the last we see of these characters.

Sadie and Ben are a couple I’ve been highly anticipating. Their quick, witty banter in the previous two books and the enemies to lovers vibe was even more prevalent in this book. And wow! Those kisses were extra show more powerful.

Sadie’s always been the mysterious one out of the three sisters. She’s very closed off and doesn’t let anyone in. One of the most poignant moments for me was when she’d arrived on Oakley Island, standing in front of her grandma’s home feeling all sorts of emotions and reluctant to go in. It’s kinda a metaphor for her. She’s scared to open herself up even to her sisters. Ben comes in like a knight in shining armor with a ready arm to put around her shoulders and help her go in. I loved his caring, thoughtful, patient personality. I also loved why he pretended to be the “bad boy billionaire” when he’s really a good, down to earth guy at heart.

I loved the bit of suspense in this book. The reason Sadie’s on Oakley Island isn’t for the bed and breakfast grand opening, but because she got a little too close to the shady dealings of a criminal organization she hacked into. Put in a sort of witness protection program, she’s kidnapped by Ben and the SUCS organization (yep, SUCS hee, hee) and put on his yacht to keep her safe. But, close proximity to Ben doesn’t make it easy for her to dismiss him. With her troubled childhood and a bad prior relationship, Sadie tries hard to keep herself closed off from Ben. It’s hard to ignore the guy though who’s there to comfort her when she needs it. He definitely fall first, but Sadie isn’t far behind. And, when push comes to shove, she’s there to claim her man.

This is a witty, romantic, sweet romcom with a touch of suspense. I loved the cameos from Eloise, Merritt, Jake, Hunter & even Steve the Pelican. Don’t miss the two epilogues at the end that wrap this series up in a beautiful bow. A fantastic end to a fabulous series. Though it can be read as a standalone, it’s better if you’ve read the previous two books in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the authors but also purchased in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. show less

Oh my heart! What a fabulous end to a fantastic standalone series! This book had so many layers and while it’s a clean hockey romance, it was so much more. I loved Felix and Gracie! When we first got a glimpse of them in Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair, I couldn’t wait to read their story. It was even better than I imagined.

Felix is a big, strong, handsome hockey player. Gracie is a professional cellist, his neighbor, & hates hockey. He falls for her, but can he convince her to fall show more for him? When a pipe bursts and Gracie has no where to go, she stays in Felix’s guest room until it’s fixed. That’s when the sparks fly and Gracie learns there’s a lot more to Felix than hockey.

I loved Felix! You just want to wrap him up in a big hug. Suffering from social anxiety, I loved how he dealt with the pressures of being a hockey player. I loved his love for books and classical music! He scoots his chair over to the wall so he can hear Gracie practice! *sigh* While he falls hard for Gracie, he never pushes. He just dangles that carrot in front of the rabbit waiting for a bite.

Gracie is just as amazing. As the story progresses you find out why she hates hockey. While she tries hard to resist Felix, once she gets to know the sweet teddy bear underneath, her walls quickly crumble. Her grand gesture near the end is *chef’s kiss!*

It’s a heartfelt, funny, darling romance that’ll have you swooning, laughing, and even shedding a tear or two. Other favorite moments: Ivy, Felix’s relationship with his grandma, text messages, several grand gestures, the bonus epilogue (don’t miss it!). I also loved all the cameos from the Sweater Weather series and hope there are more books in store for the Appies & Harvest Hollow gang!

This book can definitely be read as a standalone, but it’s even better if you’ve read Just Don’t Fall where Felix & Gracie first appear and the other books in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author but also purchased through KU. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided. show less