The Pocket Pair - Emma St. Clair

The Pocket Pair by Emma St. Clair
3.5 Stars 

Book 3 in The Sheet Cake Texas Series

Read if you enjoy:

- Clean rom-coms

- Best Friend's Brother

- Friends to More

- Sister's Best Friend

- Forced Proximity

- Duel POV

- Slow Burn

- Friendships

The Pocket Pair was a fun continuation in Emma's Sheet Cake Texas series. We have the best-friend's-brother meets friends-to-more trope. I was catching up in this series with my friend Melissa as a buddy read and enjoyed chatting with a friend on it! 

We follow Val and Chevy in this one, they have loved each other forever and kept their feelings quiet....Chevy finds out his sister's best friend is leaving for Costa Rica and it rocks his world. She needs somewhere to stay until her flight so he offers his guest bedroom. They keep things cordial but as usual, feelings get in the way.

I liked this one for the friends, family and laughs. SO MANY LAUGHS. I cracked up so many times and that's what I always want in an Emma St. Clair. 

The romance did feel not as in depth for me personally as some of the bits were surface level, attraction based and there was the "not communicating feelings" thing probably more than I would have liked, but the ending was super cute! 

Glad to have read it either way!

*Content/Trigger Warnings: loss of a parent, parental abandonment, physical injuries, romance was kisses only, but I feel like it was a bit more than I usually like in their romantic thoughts of attraction and how they technically were living under the same roof for a time. No explicit content though.

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores):
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781039441590-the-pocket-pair
Sign up for Libro.fm here, I love it:
https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PRB4gB
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

The Bluff by Emma St. Clair

The Bluff by Emma St. Clair
3 Stars 

First, this was such a fun, quick rom-com read. The banter was strong, small town setting is always entertaining in Sheet Cake, TX, and I genuinely laughed out loud several times, as I always do in Emma's books. 

Our main couple is James and Winnie. They work together and he is her grumpy boss. It's giving a little enemies to lovers in a way, lots of banter, grumpy sunshine type stuff. It was nice to see Pat and Lindy again from the first book and the family stuff I always enjoy. 

That said, I did struggle a little with the romance pacing I guess. Their relationship just felt more surface level - attraction based versus emotional connection. They both had big emotional baggage they needed to deal with from loss, grief and other things. But I feel like I never really knew them and I feel like they never really got to know each other before their first kiss/make outs.

I also think I wanted to see more details about why James was so grumpy and behind his walls a bit. We did see a little about that in the end but Winnie really never knew more about him before it felt like more desire / attraction based romance that they keep fighting. 

That said, I think many readers will enjoy this. It's a good closed-door romance (no explicit scenes), just more heavier make outs/one bed trope then I normally prefer. 

Content: one bed trope, no fade to black moments but make outs shown, past loss of a parent shown, social drinking, anxiety, grief.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8337209799
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tpiSdH

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

The Wild Card by Emma St. Clair

 

The Wild Card by Emma St. Clair - 4 Stars 

Book #4 in the Sheet Cake Texas Series 

A Charming Fake-Dating Rom-Com with Heart and Humor

Another great read from Emma! Sheet Cake, Texas is one of my favorite fictional places!  Molly is ready for a fresh start and runs to Texas to outrun her problems....only to run right into a bigger one....she needs a fake boyfriend for her job circumstances! Here comes Collin and she ropes him into her scheme, but unfortunately, it's the one guy she didn't realize who he truly was....leading to some family shenanigans. 

Honestly, this whole series is a perfectly fun rom-com mishap that keeps you rooting for the characters from page one. 

Their “fake” relationship is full of spark, awkward charm, and emotions neither of them is prepared for.

The neighborly app was so fun too with all the chats!

The town gives such a cozy feel and while the book worked as a standalone, I need to read books 2&3 ASAP to get some of the connections I missed for other characters!

If you enjoy fake dating, forced proximity, complicated family connections, small towns, found family, good friends, stories with depth, rom-coms with lots of laughs...read this! 

Thank you to Emma for sending me a complimentary e-book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content: no language, kisses only

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8053587096
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4prEfYT

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

 

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
5 Stars 

Let's start this review out with....I LAUGHED SO MUCH IN THIS BOOK! I read this with my friends Oceana and Lindsay and we both really enjoyed it! So many laughs and just an overall great rom-com!

This is Emma's first traditionally published book with Thomas Nelson and I HIGHLY recommend! I have loved all of Emma's books I've read, she just has such a way with writing funny, clean rom-coms and this did not disappoint!

Tied to the Appies Hockey series, we have Wyatt, Josie's brother's best friend and Hockey Player, who spend the summer together. What happens when the "enemies" spend a summer together including sailing, forced proximity situations and a sweet dog accompanies them? FEELINGS! 

Our characters spend time together, feelings come to the forefront....their walls come down as they get to know each other more deeply and we really get to know them. Emma always tells stories that are filled with depth and I love that because they are REAL people with REAL issues - more than just your average rom-com.

I loved seeing Josie open up to Wyatt about what she had been through and how much Wyatt grew from his grumpy self in the beginning to the end.

Another great read from Emma I highly recommend for a clean romance!

*content warning for mention of attempted sexual assault recounted. no spice, kisses only, no language

Thank you to Emma, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for complimentary copies of the ebook and audiobook to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7688713722
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4l4DgLV
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/619936

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

As You Ice It by Emma St. Clair

 

As You Ice It by Emma St. Clair

4 Stars 

Book #7 in the Appies Series

The FINAL book in the Appies series is HERE and it's bittersweet my friends! Emma brings emotional depth and lots of laughs to book #7, as always! We have Naomi and Camden's romance!

✨ Read if you love:

🏒 Hockey romance
👩‍👦 Single mom
💕Second chance romance
🏡 Small town
🧸 Cinnamon roll hero
🫶 Found family
📱HILARIOUS Group Texts
🎯 Emotional depth with a clean romance
🗣️💬❤️ A Couple that actually COMMUNICATES!

We follow Naomi who is a relatable, fiercely protective single mom. Her world is built around her son, Liam. She crosses paths again with Camden after their summer romance and they have a second chance at love. She isn't prepared though for how deeply her and Liam come to care for him so her instinct is to protect their hearts. Naomi's job brought her back to Harvest Hollow though and we see how everything they try to avoid....ultimately cannot be avoided! (PLUS, their friends ain't gonna let their relationship go down without a fight! Lots of "matchmaking" if you will from the friend's encouragement!)

I love a good single parent trope and Emma told such a great one here! Camden is a great cinnamon roll hero -- he loves Liam and you really see he wants things to work out. 

I love that there wasn't a third act breakup too, and they really communicated! One of my favorite things in a good rom-com.

The guys and girls chats also CRACKED ME UP! So many laughs! The guys specifically really made me laugh!

Highly recommend this series for a sweet rom-com!

Thank you to the author for a copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Content: kisses only, clean romance, 2 mentions of h*ll

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7548067522
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jWGqld

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair

 

The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair - 4 Stars 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 1 in the Only Magic in the Building Series 

What a GREAT time this book was y'all! I had so much fun reading this one! 

This is ✨ENCHANTING✨ and such a ✨COZY✨ rom-com! I highly recommend. 

Read if you love:
✨Grumpy/Sunshine

✨Forced Proximity

✨Clean Rom-Coms

✨Billionaire MMC

✨Baker FMC

✨Boss/Employee 

✨Whimsical Books - just a ✨HINT✨ of Magic

✨Fun Match Making Portal Closets

✨Anxiety Rep/Agoraphobia 

Archer is our MMC and he is all business, no nonsense, and not very interested in the ✨magic✨ that surrounds The Serendipity, his newest purchase. He plans to flip this historic building into luxury condos but the building may have other matchmaking plans :) Willa is a baker who doesn't want her home or baking business to be destroyed. She is in her closet one day when the "portal" closet transports her to Archer's randomly! They meet with lots of tension, humor and undeniable chemistry. Things go on from here...

I thought this had such charming small town vibes, great banter and just an overall great blend of cozy and swoon! Archer goes through quite the journey from being a cynical businessman to a truly good guy who sees what he needs to see. Willa doesn't let up and makes her stance known! I also LOVED Bellamy's character, He added such a great layer of charm to the story.

Excited to read more in this series to come. Yall have to check this out.

Thanks to Emma St. Clair for a copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7334920039
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DjQrsz

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Buy-In By Emma St. Clair

 

The Buy-In By Emma St. Clair
(Book 1 in the Love Stories in Sheet Cake Series)
5 Stars 

WHAT A FUN ROM-COM! Truly a 5 star rom-com! I loved this one so much. Pat is an new fav MMC! Excited to read more in the series. 

Pat is such a great guy - a true cinnamon roll but also strong MMC. As someone who has ADHD herself, I appreciated that he talked about his struggles with that too. He really put his feelings out there to Lindy, which was AWESOME! You just don't see that enough in books and I loved it. The marriage of convenience aspect was so great in this book too because they get married to help her custody case for her sister's 5 year old daughter she has raised. Loved the little girl too in this story, I am a big fan of children in books like this!

In this book, Pat's father purchased the town of Sheet Cake, Texas, and Pat tries to win back Lindy, who is the woman who got away many years ago. Seeing him pursue her was chef's kiss! 

In true Emma fashion, there were so many funny moments in this book! I laughed out loud so many times!

Highly recommend yall check this one out! A cute clean romance! Thank you to Emma for sending me a copy of this to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7073461657
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3X4IWfK

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

*Amao

The Twelve Holidates by Emma St. Clair

 

The Twelve Holidates by Emma St. Clair - 4 Stars
(Love Cliches Series #3.5 but can be read as a Standalone)

WELL THAT WAS ADORABLE!! I am already loving the Christmas reads you guys! Emma just always does such a great job with her characters and romance storylines! In this one, we have a friends to lovers story that was chef's kiss!  You have banter, 12 dates between best friends to more and a swoony MMC! Pacing was great for a novella too!

We follow Taylor who from the first introduction catches her boyfriend Chad cheating on her. She is so upset and her best friend Weston jumps in to save the day by working through the 12 Dates list she had planned for her and Chad. Weston hopes the dates will help him confess how much he has always loved her and Taylor isn't sure how she feels or how Weston feels just yet....but the dates give much needed closeness between them with lots of laughs and emotions along the way. 

SUPER CUTE. Highly recommend!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7048593171
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eFYpc7

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair

 Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair - 5 Stars 

In The Appies Series but can be read as a Standalone

WHAT A GREAT BOOK YALL! I loved this one so much. The way Emma writes her sweet rom-coms is CHEF'S KISS. The characters have depth and you really grow to love them. I could NOT put this book down, it's one of my fav rom-coms now!

In this one we have Van, who is the bad boy image guy on the Appies hockey team. Amelia is getting married when Van finds her fiancé cheating on her. The wedding is broke off, but Amelia is going to go on her honeymoon trip anyway.... Van is driving her to the airport when her Dad asks him to go with her on the trip to keep her safe. The one rule? Don't get any romantic ideas....but Van can't help but fall for the Coach's daughter.....

This book has the BANTER, friendships, sweet romance and laugh out loud moments you want in a rom-com! Seeing Van and Amelia really get to know one another and fall in love was so great! The side texts with the guys and Van's sisters showing up was hilarious! LOVED those moments with them!

ALSO...CHAPTER 17!! TOOK ME OUT. I did not see how that way going to go and LOVE how Emma brought so much to this story from that! 

Highly recommend!

Read if you love:

🏒Hockey Sports Romance (APPIES!)

🏒Clean, Closed Door Rom-Coms

🏒Bad Boy MMC and Rule Following FMC

🏒BANTER!

🏒Opposites Attract

🏒Nicknames for Each Other

🏒Runaway Bride Trope

🏒Funny Side Characters and Sisters

It's official to say, if Emma writes it, I will read it! Thank you to the author for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6790335766
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dHGhyI

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

A Groom of One's Own by Emma St. Clair

 

A Groom of One's Own by Emma St. Clair (4 Stars)

Narrators: Emily Ellet & Rock Engle

(Book 3 in the Appies Series but can be read as a Standalone)

This was super cute ya'll! I love Emma's Rom-Coms, they just have this fun humor, banter and cute, sweet romance stories you love! Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite romance tropes and this did not disappoint! We have Eli, who is about to be deported back to Canada because of his expired Visa, unless he can find a way around that issue by marrying someone.....and who better to marry than the girl he has an instant connection with, Bailey, who works at the animal shelter and dreams of becoming a Veterinarian. Eli really needs to stay with his family because his mother is chronically ill and they have finally found good treatment for her where they live. 

Bailey is a bit shy, but has also been through a lot. Her parents passed away and she is left to take care of her grandmother who needs more long term care. The proposal of marriage from Eli would help her financially and he's a super cute hockey player, sooo why not?! Right?! 

The marriage of convenience trope plays out and I absolutely adored it! I loved how they were really getting to know one another before things started to happen and the way Emma wrote it was chef's kiss! Eli was just this great cinnamon roll type guy that you just loved and he wanted to be there for Bailey no matter what. 

Their banter made me giggle so many times and I love all the animal references, and adopted dogs. :) ALSO -- great found family in this with the side characters --- the wedding scene with the guys was my favorite! Plus, who couldn't LOVE Eli's Mom and Sister?! They were the best!

Let's talk about the narration: I LOVED the narrators! Honestly, you all know I am always listening to an audiobook because life is BUSY, and I am somewhat picky on my narrators now --- the narrators did a really awesome job of keeping you engaged so I highly recommend them! I will be on the lookout for any that they produce in the future for sure.

Overall, if you love cute, sweet, sports rom-coms, check this out! Thank you to the author for a copy of the audiobook to listen to and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content: Clean with kisses only, close proximity, no language.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6577082534
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zQ8Qeh

*Audio releases 7.23.2024. Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links. 

Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair

 Just Don't Fall - Emma St. Clair - 4 Stars - A fun, closed door hockey fake-dating fall rom-com! 

This book was super fun and my first Emma St. Clair read! This is book 1 in the Sweater Weather Fall Rom-Com series but all the books in this series can be read as a standalone. 

The tropes:

🍂Fake Dating

🍂Slow Burn

🍂Brother's Best Friend

🍂Childhood Crush

🍂Never Been Kissed FMC

🍂Closed Door Hockey Rom-Com

🍂Great Chemistry, NO Spice! 

🍂GREAT Fall Vibes!

We have Logan Barnes - the pro-hockey player who left town many years ago to go pro, is now back in town playing for the local minor league team now. In comes Parker - the team's social media manager and the girl he ghosted when left many year's ago.....He was her brother's best friend and her first crush. What's she to do now when Logan is on the team now? Things happen and Logan is now Parker's "fake boyfriend" -- UH OH -- what's going to happen now?! The story takes off from here as we see these two reconnect and realize there's more to this "fake relationship" than they thought. :)

If you love a good clean sports rom-com, this is for you! It has all the chemistry between the characters you want with NO spice! I really liked Logan and Parker together and the GALA dance was PERFECTION! My favorite part.

I love a good fake dating story so I was here for this. There were times I wish they would just talk to each other vs playing into the fake dating trope as much and there was a scene they filmed for a Tik-Tok I didn't 100% love, but I overall had so much fun with this. Love the town, the fall elements, the characters! 

Excited to read more in this series when I can!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5786154239
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Li7mfA
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrJBzCMbGUw&t=2s