The Echoes Of Us by Emma Steele | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: The Echoes Of Us by Emma Steele

My rating: 5/5

Publisher: Mountain Leopard Press

Publication date: 6th June 2024

Blurb:

Robbie and Jenn are meant to be. They've finally reconciled after eight months spent apart and both know that, this time, it's forever.

But forever might not be as long as they think.

As a truck hurtles towards their car on their way home, Robbie is thrown back into Jenn's past and he finds himself spectator in the most important moments of her life: golden moments from her childhood and heart-breaking ones from her teenage years; her exhausting time at med school and just where she's been for the last eight months. But he may find more than he bargained for...

Can Robbie right the wrongs in their past? Can he get to the bottom of what drove Jenn away eight months ago? Most importantly, can he change their present in order to save their future?

Review:

This book is absolutely stunning.

Robbie and Jenn have recently reconciled after a while apart. Whilst in a car journey, a truck hurtling towards them forces Robbie to visit some of Jenn's memories. Understandably he is very confused at the beginning as he can't understand why he sees Jenn as a child with her parents on a beach then moves through other timelines such as the night they meet, Jenn in school, their first fight, and so on. He wasnt a part of all of these memories but they must mean something when put together. He soon realises that Jenn has a secret and he needs to find out what it is.

This story is beautiful. Robbie and Jenn's characters are wonderfully developed and it is a fantastic take on the fragility of love and also self-reflection and realisation. Robbie and Jenn are human, they have made mistakes, they have flaws and the story feels so real.

The trials and tribulations they experience are emotional and I couldn't help but feel for both of them at separate times in the book. If you are looking for a novel with depth that will move you, this is for you. I usually am quite a fast reader but I really had to take my time with The Echoes Of Us and savour it. Beautiful.

Face Off by Chelsea Curto | Book Review

[AD/Gifted - I received an eBook copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Author & Title: Face Off by Chelsea Curto

My rating: 5/5

Publication date: 30th May 2024

Blurb:

Emerson (Emmy) Hartwell has waited for a spot on an NHL roster since she became a professional hockey player, and this season, she’ll finally get a chance to showcase her talents with the struggling D.C. Stars.

Maverick Miller is the best player in the league, but he’s never had a winning record. Team captain and desperate to turn things around, he agrees to play nice with the fiery new left-winger even though they’re total opposites.

After a night where the tension between them reaches a tipping point and they fall in bed together, Emmy and Maverick vow it was only one time. Just once to get it out of their systems so they can play better and help their team. It doesn’t mean anything. She doesn’t date hockey players. He’s a notorious playboy who doesn’t date. Period.

Except… what should’ve been just once happens again, then again. They tell each other their friends with benefits arrangement is only for the season, but despite facing off on the ice, behind closed doors, the pair is nothing but fire.

Review:

This book is everything. If you are looking for a spicy ice hockey romance where she is an athlete too, this is for you.

Thirty-year-old Emerson Hartwell is transferring to DC Stars and she will be the first female player on the team. Team Captain Maverick Miller, also thirty, spends his evenings with a different woman every night so is far too busy to check out videos of the Stars' latest signing. Imagine his surprise when he flirts with Emerson outside of their meeting not realising that new winger Emerson Hartwell is in fact, not a man.

Emerson knows of Maverick and her guard is already up being a female in a male-dominated industry. She tells Maverick under no uncertain terms that she is going to kick his ass on the ice.

I absolutely adored this book and literally could not put it down. The backstories of every character made me fall in love with them and I am so excited to hear that there will be more in the DC Stars series. One thing that I find a lot of romance novels get wrong is not letting me feel the emotions build but Face Off does it perfectly. Maverick Miller - wow.

This novel is so gorgeous with so much depth and I would highly recommend it if hockey romance, enemies to lovers and forced proximity are your thing!