It’s Friday, aka my favorite day of the work week. I’m heading up to Philly later today to see Lauryn Hill in concert for the 20th anniversary of the MisEducation of Lauryn Hill. Please send all the positive thoughts you can that she isn’t too late.
Thirsty by Mia Hopkins has been sitting in my Kindle for months. I finally picked it up. I had some hesitation due to the fact that we don’t see many Latinx heroes in romance and I didn’t know if this would be a harmful depiction of an ex-con gang member. It didn’t appear to be harmful and I felt that Sal was nuanced and complex, all the things I was hoping for.
The book is told solely from his POV. Although I would have liked to have seen Vanessa’s POV at least a few times. Sal is fresh out of jail and trying to be a better person, although he doesn’t really have a lot of examples on how to do that. Through work and Vanessa he is learning to strive for more. I did enjoy the story and his journey. I don’t want to forget to mention there is a LOT of oral sex in this book. Sal is really up for going down. So if that is a thing you are looking for in a romance hero, you’ll get it here.
My biggest gripe is that the blurb makes it seem like the brewery aspect is a bigger part of the story. It comes in late and some of it develops off page. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
The Tycoon by Molly O’Keefe. I am continuously bitching how I don’t like to read billionaire romances and then Molly O’Keefe writes one and I have to read it. This is the first in what will be a 4 book series. 1-3 are out now, each written by a different author. Anyway, I started The Tycoon and was not disappointed. I absolutely adore Molly’s writing.
The Tycoon is a relationship gone bad, then 5 years later the heroine and hero are reunited when her father dies, leaves everything to the hero, yet the heroine’s sisters need that money. Naturally, they must marry to fix everything. I was here for every single moment. As is typical for Molly, she rips your heart out and then puts it back.
She gives us quotes like this-
“This was the difference between no lies and truth. No lies was going to protect me. Truth would destroy me.”
And then this-
“This is me,” he said. “You knew what you were getting into.”
“And this is me,” I said, clear as a bell. “I am not the girl you knew. I am a woman who will fight you when you need to be fought.” Not that I’d done much fighting tonight. He stepped forward so fast I couldn’t do anything. I was trapped again between his body and the counter. His hands cupped my face, but instead of kissing me all he did was look at me. So hard I couldn’t look away. I was pinned by his gaze. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” he breathed.
I have the other two books and looking forward to reading them. I learned today that Bea’s book will be out later this fall.
Started TYCOON last night—so good, all the feels! Interesting that in the beginning the hero isn’t very “heroic”, willing to marry for money not love, etc. I like the heroine’s sisters too (especially the reality star) so will probably read the other books in the series, even though they’re not written by O’Keefe. (One of the books is about their illegitimate half-brother.)
For your sake, I just hope Lauryn Hill eventually shows up—regardless of time!
I also enjoyed Thirsty. More Latinx heroes, please! I loved it but like you I thunk Vanessa’s POV would have added so much to the story.
I pulled an all-nighter with Tycoon. I loved every word. It pulled me out of a horrible slump.
*think…lol
I just bought The Tycoon, so I’m so excited you liked it. And it was only $2.99! She puts my emotions through the wringer, in the best possible way!
20 years anniversary?! Damn, I’m old! :D