Thursday, January 3, 2019

Isn't It Romantic?: The Chicago Edition

It was a such a pleasure reading these two books back to back, because they made me laugh so much and smile incessantly, but it was also fun spending so much time in Chicago. My daughter is now a resident of that city, and I keep hoping some of the places featured in these books are real, because I really want to visit them.

Ilegally Yours
Kate Meader
Series: Laws of Attraction, #2
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Rule #1: Never fall for your client.
Rule #2: Never fall for your client’s fiercely protective, smoking hot sister-in-law.


I’m the kind of guy who believes that everyone deserves the best legal representation money can buy—which just so happens to be me, Lucas Wright. Give me your henpecked, your cuckolded, your irreconcilable differences yearning to break free! And if you’re the bad guy in your marriage, that’s cool too. Your green is as good as anyone’s.

Tell that to Trinity Jones. It’s my job to destroy her sister—the soon-to-be ex-wife of my a-hole of a client—and Trinity’s “big sis” instincts are dialed up to the max. I admire that. I admire her. But she won’t stop me from representing my client to the best of my ability.

Not even if my chemistry with Trinity is undeniable. Not even if we can’t keep our hands off each other. Not even if she injects life into a heart assumed to be long dead.

Because when faced with a choice between love and duty, the job will always win—or at least that’s what I thought before I met Trinity . . . and suddenly conflict of interest never felt so right.
This is my fifth Meader book, and I think it's my favorite.

Who?
  • Trinity - The fiercely independent whiskey sommelier, who played caretaker for everyone except herself. 
  • Lucas - The life of the party, all around fun guy, and the shark, who represented Trinity's ex-brother-in-law in her sister's divorce. 
What?

Because of Lucas' professional association with Trinity's ex-brother-in-law, it would have been unethical for him to pursue a relationship with Trinity. However, circumstances kept bringing them into each other's orbits, and the more they got to know each other, the harder it was for them to resist the attraction.

Why?

I have enjoyed all of Meader's books, but there was just something that put this book on the next level for me. It was a perfect combination of fun, drama, and romance, which had me flipping the pages.

First of all, I fully embraced and loved both Trinity and Lucas. They seemed so confident and ready to take on the world, but they were both victims of poor parenting, rejection, and in Lucas' case, some serious guilt and grief. They slowly shared these pieces of themselves with each other, and us, and each little bit made me see Trinity and Lucas clearer, and made me love them even more.

But, it wasn't all heartache and pain, in fact, there were a ton a rom-com and heartwarming moments that had me laughing and smiling my face off. Lucas was pretty hilarious. He was witty and snarky and don't worry, Trinity was able to rise to his level, which resulted in some phenomenal banter. There was no absence of some kind of feels any time these two were on page together. And there were antics! Some really fun antics actually, which had me giggling, and there were also some sweet and swoony moments too.

It was the characters, that really drove this story, and really made me want to keep reading. Seeing these two people shed their armor, and reveal hidden pieces of themselves or seeing them show some vulnerability to each other was a beautiful thing. Lucas hid behind his fun guy persona, while Trinity wore her strong woman mask, but both had depth and needs, and it warmed my heart to see them find comfort in each other.

I also love the circle of friends Meader has put together. We got to know them a little in book 1, and we get to know them even more in this book. They are a fantastic group! I love their dynamic and the way they care about each other.

Overall: An utterly delightful and heartwarming romance, which made me laugh a lot, and smile often.

Game On
Kelly Jamieson
Series: Aces Hockey, #8
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
When the stakes are this high, it’s game on. . . .

Cam Brickley and his pro hockey teammates bet on everything: who can win five faceoffs in a row, who can do forty pushups in less than a minute, who can eat a ghost pepper without puking. But when his buddies bet him he can’t date the same woman—like, say, the hot blonde over at the bar—for two months and not fall in love, he’ll take that bet all day. Then he’ll laugh all the way to the hockey arena, where they’ll be washing his jock straps for the rest of the season, because Cam’s never giving up his bachelor lifestyle.

Olivia Lockwood, heiress to the Lockwood Industries fortune, is used to people using her for her money and family connections. When Cam Brickley hits on her in a club, Olivia’s first instinct is to brush him off. But he couldn’t be using her for her money, since he has more than enough of his own. Cam’s gorgeous and built, and it would be no hardship to go out with him . . . besides, he’d be the perfect spokesperson for the children’s charity she works with. Maybe it’s time for her to start using people.

Cam and Olivia are both in it for something. What they don’t know yet is that they’re playing for keeps.
This was a bittersweet read for me, because I love the Aces so much. I actually just discovered them last year, and then binged the rest of the series in 2018. I am really happy I did, because I enjoyed getting to know this team, and also, being a part of the the final chapter with them.

It's sort of fitting, that Jamieson chose Cam as her last Aces hero. Being a commitment-phobe, he was the last player we expected to see becoming a one-woman-man. He didn't do commitment. He didn't like taking chances on things he wasn't sure he could ace, but once he opened the door to Olivia, it was game on. And, all it took was a bet.

I wasn't sure about Cam, after having met him in previous books, but with him the central focus in Game On, I got to see that there was a lot more to Cam than met the eye. I saw his sweet and considerate side, his dedication to his family, and his big heart. There were all these little things he did, that made me, as well as Olivia, love him more and more.

Olivia was great too. Growing up the daughter of a very powerful family, she had been used and misled one too many times, and was now hesitant to trust her heart. That coupled with some self-confidence issues created by her past and the way her family treated her, made watching the evolution of her relationship with Cam very satisfying.

The combination of Olivia and Cam was fabulous. There was the attraction and heat, that I always like to see crackling between my hero and heroine, but I also loved how fun Jamieson made their interactions. Their first few dates bordered on rom-com, and I absolutely loved it! But, I also adored seeing them get beneath the surface and expose so much to each other.

It was not just the romance, which won my heart in the book, it was the wonderful farewell Jamieson gave to this group of guys. It was a fond farewell to all the couples we saw get their HEAs. Everyone was in attendance, and the finish was big and very, very satisfying.

I will miss the Aces, but look forward to what Jamieson has in store for us next.

Overall: Another fabulous Aces book, that was about taking chances, and the rewards you can gain when you open yourself and your heart.

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

Have you ever been to Chicago?
Let us know in the comments!

40 comments:

  1. I just love when there are characters who have my name :D Why am I thinking about reading Game On based on that fact alone? :P I love books which are just cute enough to make me smile and laugh, and both of these ones sound like they achieve that. But it sounds like the first one manages to get quite deep and serious as points too, while still being light-hearted too. So impressive!

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    1. I did a whole TTT listing books where the MC shared my name (Sam or Samantha). My name was very uncommon when I was born, but gained popularity when I was in my 20s. I prefer my romances to be on the lighter side. Reading is my entertainment, and I want more laughter, less crying.

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  2. Chicago sounds like such an exciting place to live! I love it when books can evoke memories or spark interest in new places to visit. These do sound like they are a fun escape and I am glad that you enjoyed them so much. ;)

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    1. I grew up in a city, so Chicago wasn't a huge difference for me, but the city does have a lot of the same draws as NYC for me.

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  3. I don't read a ton of romance, but these sound fun! And the Chicago setting is awesome, I love reading books with settings I've actually been to, to see how accurate it is.

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    1. I have been to Chicago three times, but I was never really there as a tourist. I am hoping to do a long weekend, and let my daughter take me on a proper tour.

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  4. Contemporary romance has taken a backseat to PNR and UF for me in the last year so these sound really fun! Glad you enjoyed them :)

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    1. I was on a PNR thing years ago, but lately, I am all about the contemporaries.

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  5. I need to try that Kelly Jamieson series. I enjoy a good sports romance and hers sound up my alley.
    That whole fiasco with Meader left a bad taste with me, so I honestly don't think I can ever read her books anymore, but I'm glad you had fun with this one! :)

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    1. I love hockey romances, and the Aces remind me of Sawyer Bennett's series, which I love too. Every time I see the cover I think of you and all that drama, but in the end, I think you had an impact.

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  6. I haven't heard of either of these, but they both sound adorable! Illegally Yours especially! I'll have to add that series to my TBR! Thanks for sharing :D

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    1. I really enjoyed them both, but they are totally what I look for when I read contemporary romances.

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  7. Well Sam I do hope they existe these places but if they do and you visit them I expect a day by day retelling LOL Sophie @bewareofthereader

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    1. I googled the pizza pot pie, and it looks amazing!

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  8. I’ve yet to read anyhting by Meader or Jamieson yet. These both sound fun, though. The Aces series, especially, catches my eye. Ever since Bowen’s Him duet and the WAGs books... I’m totally up for some more hockey hotties. :) In fact, I recently told the husband that I want to go see our minor league team play soon. He knew immediately what was up. He told me, “You do realize Jamie and Wes won’t be there, right?” LOL

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    1. Meader's hockey series was excellent. That was my intro to her work. Bowen's Brooklyn Bruisers series is fabulous too. For some reason, I am all about hockey romances - Sawyer Bennett, Victoria Denault, Elle Kennedy -- all have great hockey books. I think it's precious that your husband knows who Wesmie are.

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    2. He's well aware of Wesmie. LOL When I read the books the first time I would talk about them. And I re-listen on audio quite a bit so he listens when he's in the car with me. He even knows that Blake fears sheep. Haha!

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    3. He listens to your romances with you. That's adorable.

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  9. I haven't read either of these authors yet but these both sound like books I would enjoy. You would think that I would have tried the Jamieson series by now with as much as I like hockey romances.

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    1. The Aces reminds me a lot of the Cold Fury books. I think you would like them.

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  10. I love there was a new cover done for Kate Meader's book but after hearing the whole drama from Nick it put me off reading it a touch. I am so glad you enjoyed it though because I know I have enjoyed some of Meader's books before. She has always managed to write characters I connect to.

    And I've seen Kelly Jamieson's books about, and who doesn't appreciate those covers with the shirtless men? But I've not actually read any and the fact you've enjoyed the series so much definitely makes me think maybe I should check this series out. Especially if it's over because who doesn't enjoy a binge read?

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    1. I have a thing for sports romances, and I love when the authors can make the series go on forever.

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  11. I went into Illegally Yours not knowing that it was set in Chicago. I had to research and I'm happy that Kate lives here, but I will point out that no one calls it Chi-Town (looking at you Lucas). Great review! This one took a while to grow on me, but I really liked the rom-com feeling!

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    1. But remember, Lucas was from England. Technically, not a native Chicago resident. So, we can forgive him for that.

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  12. I've seen Illegally Yours floating a little, but all of which were meh reviews. I'm glad to see that one is a heartwarming romance in addition to a little pain, though!

    I never grew up in Chicago, but I DO live near Chicago about 6 hours away to drive in St. Louis. My mom and I do have plans to eventually move to Chicago or NYC, but that's a long way in the future, lol.

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    1. I know some people weren't feeling the first book in the Meader series either, but I really enjoyed both, this one more than the previous one. It was Lucas and his story that really pulled me in. I have yet to really visit Chicago as a tourist. I went one year for BEA and another for Lollapalloza and last summer to move my daughter there, but I really didn't see much. I hope to one day visit the kid and make her take me around properly.

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  13. I grew up in Michigan and visited Chicago. It was a long time ago. After living in a small coastal town for over 30 years, I forget how to act when I visited a large, bustling city. LOL Both of these sound fun. And I do that often. Read books with the same setting. Doing that now but it's Antarctica.

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    1. I grew up in Brooklyn, but have no desire to live in a city any longer. I like to visit NYC, though, and it's only 30 mins away. The Chicago thing was not planned, but then I realized they were connected that way, and decided to go with it.

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  14. I've loved Kate Meader's work in the past, but I didn't request this one because I was trying to catch up/cut back on ARCs. I'll have to make a library request since you enjoyed it so.

    I do love hockey romances, but I've never heard of this series. Must make a note of it. Great review, Sam!

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    1. I thought Lucas was fabulous and his backstory hit me in the feels. I adore sports romances, and for some reason, really, really like hockey romances. I read one Aces book last year, and then circled back and read the rest of the series. It's very reminiscent of the Cold Fury books, which I adore. I like the family-feel of the team and the bromances.

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  15. I usually love Meader but then I hot a book that I hated and haven't given another one a shot but this sounds like a good one.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. My intro to Meader was her Chicago Rebels series, which I really enjoyed, and so far, this series has been good for me too.

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  16. Glad this hit the spot for you. I love a book that has a location I am interested in, whether I have already been there or not. It's fun to walk down familiar streets and eat at familiar restaurants.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. I am a fan of when authors incorporate the setting into their story. I see it a lot more, when the authors set books where they actually lived, like Meader does.

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  17. I haven't heard of either of these authors! I'm definitely hopping over to Scribd to see what they have. :) I just read a hockey romance and really liked it! I had no idea there were so many hockey romances before, haha! Have a great weekend Sam!

    Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

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    1. Which hockey romance? I am always looking for more.

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  18. I know I'm not supposed to comment on reviews but this just tickled me so much, seeing these books reviewed together! Kate and I are friends. She lives in Chicago; I don't, but I've been there many times to visit and do research. Fun story - last year I wanted to do a winter research trip and go to a hockey game at the United Center so Kate and I met up for dinner and went to the game (My Jets vs her Hawks) and I spent a few days wandering around Chicago doing the research that is in this very book! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

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    1. Now I love that I reviewed these books together. Can't wait to see what you write next!

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  19. These sounds like amazing reads! I already wanted to read Illegally Yours so this makes it a big plus on my list to read. I am glad your new year is starting off right with the books! Have a great week Sam!

    Mary

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    1. I became of fan of Meader's via her hockey books, but have been really happy with the new series, and well, hockey books always seem to win with me.

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