Showing posts with label Emma St. Clair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emma St. Clair. Show all posts

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Review: If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair


My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

 

About the Book

In this enemies-to-lovers romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend--hockey player Wyatt Jacobs--are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.

When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy.

Oh--and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.

Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing--or kissing?--each other.

And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.


My Review

Emma St. Clair is one of my top must-read authors because of the humor and depth she brings to her stories! She skillfully writes the perfect balance of entertaining scenes with characters that allow us to connect to their emotions and invest in not only the romance of their relationship but also they way they grow through their experiences. I loved Wyatt and Josie's yin yang personalities. They complement each other so well! The banter was on point during both the rocky waves and smooth sailing of their frenemies to more relationship. They became confidants, and supported each other through healing both physical and emotional. Such great chemistry too! The sailing adventure got them out of the "murder cottage" and blew fresh air through the story, bringing a new dynamic and partnership. Loved this story and plan to read it again!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Friday, June 21, 2024

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



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing



Synopsis

He always dreamed of getting married--but for love, not to avoid deportation.

Eli Hopkins has it all--almost. A hockey career with the wildly popular Appies. Teammates who are like brothers. The only thing he's missing is someone to share it all with. Oh--and correctly filed visa paperwork. Due to administrative error, Eli is about to lose everything. Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days. And he might have the perfect woman in mind. The only problem? He'd like to marry her for real, not simply for legal purposes. Now Eli faces the challenge of winning over a wife who thinks the marriage is in name only ...

A Groom of One's Own is a closed door marriage of convenience hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but NO spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat. This book connects to Just Don't Fall & Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books can be read as standalones.


My Review

Hockey romance + modern day marriage of convenience? Yes please! Eli needs a quick fix to be able to stay in the country and continue his hockey season, and Bailey is animal shelter worker who is alone in the world except for her grandmother suffering from dementia who needs better care. I really feel like they would have ended up together anyway but the unusual circumstances accelerated their relationship. Nothing like proximity, sacrifice, and commitment mixed with complicated dynamics for amazing chemistry and romantic tension! Eli is such a light in Bailey's world, and I love how they care for each other and show it in their actions. Such a great falling-in-love story with a perfect balance of depth and humor! I'm loving the Appies players and hope the authors keep writing their stories.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the other books featuring the Appies . . .
 
(there is a print version of the Sweater Weather books that matches the cover design theme for the Appies series)