Contemporary Romance Review: The Knockout Rule by Kelly Siskind

The Knockout Rule (Showmen #4) by Kelly Siskind

Published: February 24th, 2021

Publisher: CD Books

Genre: Contemporary romance

Tropes: Forced proximity, friends to lovers, sports romance, opposites attract

Heat level: 🔥🔥🔥

# of pages: 340

Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for honest consideration

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Growing up with an adoring father for a boxing legend isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It looks more like hospital visits, bloody noses, and cracked ribs.

Isla Slade now works as a physiotherapist, helping athletes heal their bodies. Except for boxers. She has no interest in reliving the stress of her teen years. Dating someone in the boxing world? She’d rather snort wasabi powder.

Until she meets Preston Church.

Preston manages heavyweight boxing darling Brick Kramarov. A brute who’s built tougher than his name, with a cocky attitude to boot. She wants nothing to do with either man, but her father begs her to help them prepare for a huge Vegas fight.

She doesn’t expect Preston to recite romantic poems and slowly break her resolve. His fascinating mind gets under her skin, even if his star athlete reminds her how much she hates boxing.

Too bad it’s Brick coaching Preston how to woo Isla, falling for her from the sidelines. Once she finds out, she’ll have to decide if she can risk loving another man who puts it all on the line for the knockout.

Kelly Siskind’s Showmen standalone series have quickly become favourites of mine. They feature unique characters, lots of heart and humour, and swoony romances. The Knockout Rule was quite different from the other three books - it was slower paced, more intense, and didn’t feature the quirkiness I’ve come to expect from Kelly’s characters - but it was a beautiful story about life, family, and love, and I know Isla and Eric will stick with me right along with all the other characters from this series.

Isla and Eric are such passionate characters who did things with their whole hearts. Their relationship started out with each of them assuming certain personas and making assumptions about each other. I loved that Eric was this big brute of a guy whose boxing persona was all brawn and no brains, but he was incredibly intelligent, sensitive, thoughtful, and loved his family more than anything. Everything he did was for them, and that made me love him so much. Isla was strong and resilient because she’d had to be; with a professional boxer for a father and a mother who found it too easy to walk away, she’d had to learn to take care of herself and do what was right for her. That meant not allowing boxers into her life because she knew how damaging the sport was and she refused to let herself get close to anyone who was willing to do that to themselves. And then Eric came along…their chemistry was undeniable (and so hot!), and I loved the connection and friendship they formed before they took things further.

There was just so much to love about this book. The characters were so deep and real, and we got to know them slowly and thoroughly. I knew next to nothing about professional boxing, so I found that interesting, along with the physiotherapy aspect from Isla’s job. The Vegas setting was fun, and I absolutely loved Eric’s dog, Whit. He had so much personality and by the end, I was as in love with him as I was with Eric and Isla. I also really appreciated the mental health rep; as someone with anxiety, I thought it was handled compassionately and realistically, and added even more depth to Isla’s character that made me connect to her on a deep level.

If you want to take a deep dive into a slow-burn romance with a ton of heart, The Knockout Rule is perfect for you. These characters are sure to leave an imprint on your heart.

Have you read The Knockout Rule or any of the other Showmen books? Do you enjoy sports romances? Have a favourite?

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Regency Romance Review: The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley

The Duke Heist (The Wild Wynchesters #1) by Erica Ridley

Published: February 9th, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency Romance)

Heat level: 🔥🔥

# of pages: 352 

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher in exchange for honest consideration

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Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable—a curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd. When the only father she's ever known makes a dying wish for his adopted family of orphans to recover a missing painting, she's the first one her siblings turn to for stealing it back. No one expects that in doing so, she'll also abduct a handsome duke.

Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is tortured by his father's mistakes. To repair his estate's ruined reputation, he must wed a highborn heiress. Yet when he finds himself in a carriage being driven hell-for-leather down the cobblestone streets of London by a beautiful woman who refuses to heed his commands, he fears his heart is hers. But how can he sacrifice his family's legacy to follow true love?

Continuing on with my new-found interest in regency romance, my second foray into the genre was The Duke Heist. In this book, we’re introduced to the eclectic and eccentric Wynchester siblings - a group of orphans who were adopted by a baron. I love stories about found families and strong bonds, and the Wynchesters quickly became one of my new favourite groups of siblings. This book was highly entertaining - it was laugh-out-loud funny, had a swoonworthy romance, and a lot of heart.

Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable - or at least that's what she thinks. This comes in handy when she needs to slip in and out of situations that require her to become a certain character - like while infiltrating a reading group to steal a painting that once belonged to her family. She’s used to being invisible and even prefers it because it means people can’t get close and she can’t get hurt. But when she accidentally kidnaps a duke, she soon finds herself in a situation she’s never been in before: Lawrence, the Duke of Faircliffe, sees her. Truly sees her. She’s no longer invisible and forgettable, and she finds herself falling for the man she once assumed was a stuck-up, pompous jerk.

This book was so much fun. I spent a good portion of it with a smile on my face and I laughed out loud often. I really felt for and identified with Chloe - feeling invisible and forgettable, longing for connection. It was so heartwarming seeing her with her siblings and watching as she learned just how much they loved, supported, and saw her in ways she never realized. Just like I love books about found families, I also love stories where people find a sense of belonging, and Chloe and Lawrence both found that from each other and from the people already in their lives. As for the romance, I loved Chloe and Lawrence’s chemistry and banter, and found it easy to root for them.

I did find the pacing of this book a bit off at times. What I assumed was the climax happened about three-quarters of the way through and wasn’t actually the climax. Also, for some reason I can’t quite pinpoint, this book often felt like a young adult novel. As I was reading, I’d frequently forget Chloe, her siblings, and Lawrence were in their twenties and thirties rather than in their teens. It’s not a bad thing, but it was a bit strange at times, especially as the romance heated up.

The Duke Heist was a delight. It was exactly the type of fun, entertaining, light-hearted yet pull-at-your-heart-strings romance I’m after these days. I can’t wait for more of the Wynchester siblings (I’m particularly excited for the second book), and I’d love to see this made into a TV series.

Have you read The Duke Heist? Do you have any recommendations for a regency romance newbie like me? Do you enjoy books about found families too and do you have any recs?

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Trusting the Magic of New Beginnings

*A shorter version of this post was originally shared on Instagram here

When I think about 2020, so much of it is a blur. I had high hopes at the beginning of the year - I wanted to take my writing career to the next level, travel, and so many other things. Then the pandemic hit and I spent most of the rest of the year in a really negative headspace. Between the news, doomscrolling on Twitter, seeing and reading stories about how people were suffering in so many ways, plus my own anxiety and depression, it felt like a never-ending rollercoaster. I knew I had a lot to be grateful for: a home and a job I could do from home, enough to eat, amazing friends who shopped for us, online friends who showed so much love and support, my health and the health of my family. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to get out of the muck and mire of negativity. And if I’m perfectly honest, I didn’t try all that hard.

Fast-forward to 2021. I knew not much would change with my circumstances for a while. I knew my mum and I would remain in isolation (she’s 80, so in the high-risk group), unable to see our family or do normal things. But I also knew if I wanted things to change, it had to start with me. So I started doing mindset work again - affirmations, meditation, journaling, redirecting negative thoughts. I started Kathrin Zenkina’s Manifestation Babe Academy from the beginning; I invested in the course in the spring of 2019, right before I ended up in the hospital for a week and a half, and then I never finished the course. Students are given lifetime access, so I figured when the time was right and I felt called to it again, I’d do the course in its entirety.

Well, I felt called to it around the middle of January this year, and I started the course from the beginning. Right around that time, Kathrin announced the new incarnation of MBA - a brand new, extensive, 16-week course that alumni could join for a tiny fraction of the full cost to new members. It felt like a massive sign I was finally back on the right path. Since I’d already recently started the original Manifestation Babe Academy, I decided to complete the four weeks anyway before the new version started. The last four weeks have been amazing and I know it’s only the beginning. I’m so excited and grateful to embark on a new 16-week transformational journey starting today.

The last four weeks have been a constant reminder that your mindset really is everything. If you want to see changes in your life, those changes start with you - your outlook, your actions, your responses and reactions.

Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!

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Young Adult Review: Hot British Boyfriend by Kristy Boyce

Hot British Boyfriend by Kristy Boyce

Published: February 9th, 2021

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

# of pages: 336

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for honest consideration

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After a horrifying public rejection by her crush, Ellie Nichols does what any girl would do: she flees the country. To be more precise, she joins her high school’s study abroad trip to England. While most of her classmates are there to take honors courses and pad their college applications, Ellie is on a quest to rebuild her reputation and self-confidence. And nothing is more of a confidence booster than getting a hot British boyfriend.

When Ellie meets Will, a gorgeous and charming Brit, she vows to avoid making the same mistakes as she did with the last guy she liked. Which is why she strikes up a bargain with Dev, an overachieving classmate who she’s never clicked with, but who does seem to know a lot about the things Will is interested in—if he helps her win over her crush, then she’ll help him win over his.

But even as Ellie embarks on a whirlwind romance, one that takes her on adventures to some of England’s most beautiful places, she still needs to figure out if this is actually the answer to all her problems…and whether the perfect boyfriend is actually the perfect boy for her.

I feel like I should preface my review by saying Hot British Boyfriend had so many of the things I love most about YA, but it also reminded me how far past my own YA days I am. I’m not the intended audience for books like this, and I’m fully aware of that, so I always try to also be aware that my thoughts and feelings could likely be very different from the book’s actual target audience. I see so many adults reading YA and getting mad that the teenagers in the book…*gasp!*...had the audacity to act like teenagers. Like, what did you expect? If you wanted to read about people making mature decisions or not being driven by hormones, maybe you should have picked up a different book. So I always know going into a young adult book that I will likely want to shake the characters at some point (or many points), as well as sit them down and talk to them, and probably hug them really tight. I wanted to do all those things with this book and there was a lot of internal ‘Ugh, come on, Ellie, do better!’, but honestly, I feel like that’s the sign of a good YA book that will likely really speak to its intended audience of teens.

Okay, that was a long preface, but I thought it should be said. I feel like Teenage Marie would have loved this book with her whole heart, so it’s Teen Me I tried to channel while reading.

Hot British Boyfriend was adorable and entertaining. I enjoyed the characters, plus the setting made me go all heart-eyes on multiple occasions. Ellie didn’t have many friends before going to England, and she was stinging from the rejection of the one person she thought was her friend. Between the very public humiliation that led her to leave DC, and the fact the program she was part of was meant for honour students - which she wasn’t - she felt she had a lot to prove, both to herself and to others. She was wary of people and their motives, but quickly befriended her roommate Sage, along with two other students from back home, Dev and Huan.

When I said this book had so many of the things I love most about YA, one of those things was the friend group. These four seemed like such unlikely friends, but they worked together. Their interactions were amusing and sometimes heartwarming, and I wanted to be part of their group. I also really appreciated Ellie’s growth and how she slowly found her way, figured things out, made mistakes, sorted her priorities, and learned to be herself and unashamedly love the things she loved. Teenage Marie would definitely have been friends with her and we would have rocked our matching unicorn hoodies and made some amazing faerie gardens together.

If you’re looking for a light, sweet, feel-good YA book, look no further (unless you’re an adult who hates when teens act like teens - if that’s the case, maybe give this one a pass and leave it to the actual teens). Pack your bags and prepare for a fun cross-Atlantic vacation with a group of friends you’ll wish you were part of.

Have you read Hot British Boyfriend? Have you done much armchair travel yet this year? 

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Regency Romance Review: Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid

Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid

Published: December 29th, 2020

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency Romance)

Heat level: 🔥🔥🔥

# of pages: 400

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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Miss Maryann Fitzwilliam is too witty and bookish for her own good. No gentleman of the ton will marry her, so her parents arrange for her to wed a man old enough to be her father. But Maryann is ready to use those wits to turn herself into a sinful wallflower.

When the scandal sheet reports a sighting of Nicolas St. Ives, the Marquess of Rothbury, climbing out the chamber windows of a house party, Maryann does the unthinkable. She anonymously claims that the bedchamber belonged to none other than Miss Fitzwilliam, tarnishing her own reputation—and chances of the dastardly union her family secured for her. Now she just needs to convince the marquess to keep his silence.

Turns out Nicolas allows for the scandal to perpetuate for his own reasons… But when Maryann’s parents hold fast to their arranged marriage plan, it’ll take a scandal of epic proportions for these two to get out of this together.

For the last few years, I’ve added countless historical romances to my TBR, mostly thanks to recommendations from fellow bookstagrammers, but despite that - and making a goal to branch out with my reading - I’ve mostly stuck with contemporary romance. I finally decided 2021 was the year to change that, and I chose Her Wicked Marquess to be my first foray into regency romance.

Nicolas St Ives, the Marquess of Rothbury, perpetuates his reputation as a rake because it serves his purpose: infiltrating the inner circle of a group of ‘gentlemen’ who brutally assaulted his first love. Retribution has been the only thing on Nicolas’s mind for the past decade, and he’s close to his final targets when Maryann Fitzwilliam inserts herself into his life and distracts him from his mission. Maryann - a wallflower who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, despite what others think - has a mission of her own: seeking public ruination to avoid marrying the odious man her parents have chosen for her.

This book was so entertaining. I loved how strong-minded, strong-willed, and feisty Maryann was. She refused to be one of those women who was seen and not heard, and she didn’t want to be tied down with a man she didn’t love. I loved the banter and chemistry between her and Nicolas, and watching their relationship grow was so much fun. Also, as a newbie to the genre, I wasn’t expecting such scorching hot sexytimes! Whew! That was an unexpected and welcome surprise. The revenge storyline was...interesting?...but it sometimes felt like there was too much focus on it. The overall feel of this book was lighthearted, romantic, and sexy, and the parts dealing with Nicolas’s need for revenge and the reasons behind it were so dark. The author did a good job of weaving it all together, but the romance was definitely my favourite part of the book.

Her Wicked Marquess was a fantastic introduction to regency romance. I need to go back and read My Darling Duke, and I’ll look forward to more books in the Sinful Wallflowers series.

Have you read Her Wicked Marquess? Do you have any recommendations for a regency romance newbie like me? 

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