Hi everyone! I hope your January went well! This month I read six books! I read lots of romance books, including one re-read, and three books on my Winter TBR. I thoroughly enjoyed every book I read this month with every book having a 4 star and above rating! For my January Mini Review, I’m reviewing my two favorite romances, a thriller I really enjoyed, and one of the best books I’ve ever read!

Synopsis: “Gigi Graham has three goals: qualify for the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father’s shadow. So far, so good, except for two things. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder. Ryder is six-foot-five, opinionated, grumpy, rude…and sexy as hell. Briar’s new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men’s team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he’s angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst first impression on his hero. So, helping Gigi is a win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word with her dad. The only problem? This body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they’re trying to ignore. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing, but the risks just might be worth it.” (goodreads.com)

I love Elle Kennedy romances! Especially all of her hockey romance books! This book is almost like a sequel to her book, The Deal, as this is about the kid of the couple from The Deal. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters, but it’s a long book, almost 500 pages and I did feel like some parts dragged on. However, the romance made up for all of that! I would recommend reading the Off-Campus series, which includes The Deal, so you understand some of the characters, or at least reading just The Deal. But if you read this book without reading the series it’s easy enough to pick up on. If you’re looking for a hockey romance, this is a great one!

I didn’t end up listening to a playlist with this book.

Synopsis: “Rhett Eaton is the face of professional bull riding. The golden boy. Or at least he was, until it all blew up in my face after a public brawl. Now his agent says he has to clean up his image and sticks Rhett with his ball-busting daughter for the rest of the season as “full-time supervision.” But Rhett doesn’t need a goddamn babysitter, especially one with skin-tight jeans, a sexy smirk, and a mouth she can’t stop running. And he quickly learns that Summer Hamilton isn’t just another conquest. She sees the man behind the mask, and she doesn’t run—she pulls me closer, even when she shouldn’t. Summer says this means nothing. Rhett says this means everything. She says there are boundaries they shouldn’t cross. That Rhett’s reputation can’t take any more hits—and neither can her damaged heart. Rhett says he’s going to steal it anyway.” (barnesandnoble.com)

OMG I LOVE THIS BOOK! It was circulating on Bookstagram last year, so when I had Kindle Unlimited I gave it a read and thoroughly enjoyed it! The book was just released with new covers, so I thought it was a great opportunity to buy it and re-read it! And my re-read did not disappoint! If you’re looking for a romance with lots of spice, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and one-bed tropes, this is the one to read! Plus it’s set on a small-town ranch in the world of professional bull riding!

Playlist listened to on Spotify: flawless: summer and rhett

Synopsis: “Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there. The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question. Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.” (goodreads.com)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s the second book I’ve read by Lucy Foley and I realized I want to read more of her books. I really enjoyed the multiple points of view to convey the mystery. Although, I kept going back and forth between giving it a 4 or 4.5 star rating. I ultimately decided to give it 4/5 stars because I had a hard time getting into it and I did end up guessing a few of the twists. Overall though I did not expect the overarching mystery and was quite surprised at some points! If you’re looking for a mystery I’d definitely check this one out!

I didn’t end up listening to a playlist with this book.

Synopsis: “People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys. Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected. Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.” (goodreads.com)

Oh my gosh, this book! I have never felt such fury and angrily screamed into a pillow so many times while reading. I can only count a handful of books that have made me feel this much emotion and I think this one is now on top! Honestly, I think this is one of the best books I’ve ever read! The way this story and the characters just sucked me in and consumed me was incredible! It was a little confusing at first because the story is told from multiple different perspectives, but once I knew each character it was easy to catch on. I HIGHLY recommend it! Do check the trigger warnings first before reading though.

Playlist listened to on Spotify: beartown by fredrik backman

I hope you enjoyed my January Mini Review! Leave me a comment below if you’ve read any of these books! What did you read in January? Check out the Books category on my home page for more book reviews and recommendations. Please give me a follow on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated about when I post! As always, thank you for your continued support!

Take care and stay safe,

Renée