Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame

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When sixteen-year-old Eden Munro agrees to spend the summer with her estranged father in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. Eden's parents are divorced and have gone their separate ways, and now her father has a brand new family. For Eden, this means she's about to meet three new step-brothers. The eldest of the three is Tyler Bruce, a troubled teenager with a short temper and a huge ego. Complete polar opposites, Eden quickly finds herself thrust into a world full of new experiences as Tyler's group of friends take her under their wing. But the one thing she just can't understand is Tyler, and the more she presses to figure out the truth about him, the more she finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't – her step-brother.

Throw in Tyler's clingy girlfriend and a guy who has his eyes set on Eden, and there's secrets, lies and a whole lot of drama. But how can Eden keep her feelings under control? And can she ever work out the truth about Tyler?

Did I Mention I Love You is the first book in the phenomenal DIMILY trilogy, following the lives of Eden Munro and Tyler Bruce as they try to find their way in an increasingly confusing world.

Here’s the thing: I’ve been in a reading slump of sorts, the kind where it’s hard to get into a book so it takes me two or three times as long to get through one rather than my normal day or two. Thanks to Did I Mention I Love You? the is slump over! 

Eden is every bit the bitter daughter who’s so angry at her father for walking out on her and her mother years ago. Now he invites her to stay with him and his new family in LA for the summer to possibly reconnect. She's not yet at that point where she can forgive him. I got why she was upset and had every right to be but I also thought she was being a brat at times. I mean, come on. She's there for the summer, give the guy a chance before completely shutting him out. When she meets Tyler, the oldest of her three step-siblings, he’s not welcoming or civil. He’s downright nasty and hostile towards her. If I thought Eden was bitter, Tyler is 10 times worse. He has attitude, gets in trouble with the law, he’s into illegal things and he’s in a dysfunctional relationship with his girlfriend.

Poor Eden is stuck in this mess having to make the most of the less than ideal situation. Thankfully, she’s making some friends even if this circle of friends includes Tyler. Their constant partying is different from what she’s used to at home, however, she’d rather be goaded into doing that than having to stay home and make nice with her dad. The time with them provides ample opportunity for her to study Tyler’s idiosyncratic behavior and abrasive personality. She studies his relationship with his brothers, his mother and his girlfriend. She knows there’s something that’s fueling his need for the hard partying and reckless conduct. The harder she looks, the more she finds herself falling for someone that she absolutely, most definitely should not fall in love with.

DIMILY pushed my wiggy button many times. It’s not just the fact that they’re step-siblings so any kind of attraction between them is both hopeless and impractical. It’s also that Tyler is a mess and for Eden to even remotely consider anything with him is simply bad judgment. The guy needs an intervention, not a distraction as Tyler likes to label Eden. For him, a distraction is a welcome relief from what’s ailing him but it’s unfair to put that kind of expectation on her. I think it’s a testament to Maskame’s writing that despite their imperfections and at-times deplorable actions, I care about these two and want so many things for them. I want Tyler to get better, I want Eden and her father to mend their relationship, and yes, I even want Tyler and Eden to find happiness together.

Without realizing it, I was sucked into DIMYILY. I was genuinely surprised to discover that I'd become so emotionally invested in Eden and Tyler. I have no idea when it happened, just that I am. I do like that Maskame doesn’t give them a clean resolution and that they may still be screwing up but they’re doing the best they can under the circumstances. These are flawed, complicated and troubled young people for whom I want better futures. I hadn't realized this was a trilogy until I'd finished it and now I'm beside myself waiting for the sequel!

~ Bel

When The Stars Align by Jeanette Grey

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Their passion burned hotter than the stars . . .

For Josephine "Jo" Kramer, nothing has ever been easy. When she earns a summer internship in Puerto Rico, working at one of the world's preeminent scientific facilities, she'll let nothing distract her. Not her own insecurities, not the arrogant scientists, and definitely not her tall, chiseled research partner, Adam.

For Adam McCay, physics is simple-it's women who are complicated. Especially brilliant, beautiful ones like Jo. From the moment they meet, he can feel the heat smoldering deep beneath her icy exterior. And Adam knows just what it will take to make Jo melt . . .

Under the endless stars of a tropical sky, Jo and Adam indulge their every desire. But as their internship comes to an end, their perfect island paradise is threatened. Was their time together a summer fling? Or is their passion hot enough to last the long winter nights?

A young, ambitious woman with a large chip on her shoulder versus an equally ambitious young man who’s figuring out the complicated mess that has become of the relationship he has left behind. They arrive in Puerto Rico to participate in a prestigious undergraduate research program and are soon partnered up.

Jo has a hard time with people in general. She’s aloof, she doesn’t trust easily and she’d much rather be left alone. Adam is the opposite. He enjoys company, is outgoing and inclusive. Jo is unimpressed when they first meet and he is baffled by this haughty, mysterious person. But just because she’s built a perimeter around herself, doesn’t mean that Jo doesn’t notice Adam’s physical attributes or personality. Despite herself, she would just rather be all business and focus on her work. They have a rocky start but Adam is able to chisel away at her rough exterior to make her feel more comfortable and relaxed around him, eventually becoming more social with her research team.

I liked the gender-reversal in this. Jo has more sexual experience and is perfectly fine with a one-night stand every once in a while. Adam is a relationship guy. When he’s in love, he’s committed. This is too much for Jo who is used to keeping herself emotionally detached. Adam has to be patient as she works through her issues, and there are many such as her very strained relationship with her father.

That being said, I also had a difficult time clicking with Jo. Initially, it was because she came off as a “glass half empty” person to me. Her negative attitude reminded me of someone I knew so that personal reference made it difficult for me to connect with her. As her background came to light, I began to empathize with where she was coming from even if I still didn't get her completely.

Jo and Adam have their battle of wills as to how and where their relationship should go. It’s a dramatic learning curve for Jo who has never let anyone get close before. As for Adam, he’s learning that there’s a difference between settling for something and fighting for something heart and soul. Where they end up after their time in Puerto Rico is over is the far greater unknown than the stars they've been studying all along.  

~ Bel

Reckless by Priscilla West

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Everything about him warned me to stay away.

I’d seen bad boys before, but he had it all and more. The rippling muscles covered in tatts, the piercing eyes hiding dark secrets, the silky voice that could make a girl come with just a whisper . . .

He was exactly the type of guy that would get me in trouble, but when he jumped off the stage, inked skin glistening with sweat and breathed his seductive words into my ear, I couldn’t resist the temptation.

It was supposed to be the best one-night stand of my life, but fate didn’t let it play out that way. Things happened. I got upset. I got hasty. And worst of all, I got reckless.

After that disaster, I thought it was the last I’d see of him. But what I didn’t know was that I’d started something.

Something that could shatter the very thing I had worked so hard to protect.

I should have known back then that the most seductive things in life are also the most dangerous.

You know, I really can’t resist those bad boys especially those with the hair and the tattoos and who happen to be rockers.  Yeah, I’m a goner for those so naturally I’d gravitate towards Reckless.

Let me tell you, when Riley and Jax encounter each other for the first time – she’s front row at his show and he spots her as he’s scanning the crowd – it is lust as first sight. When the show is over, he seeks her out and directs her to meet him backstage in 15 minutes. Romantic, right? (Please read the sarcasm.) Their backstage rendez-vous doesn’t go very well and for all they know, that’s it.

Turns out Riley, who’s an accountant, is hired by Jax’s record label to go on tour with the band and contain their expenses. Oh this is awkward! There’s definitely some chemistry there and Jax makes it known that he’s interested in her for one thing. She is too but is reluctant to mix business with pleasure.  Oh if only she’d follow through.

I was getting into the story but I have to say, Riley threw me off.  For someone who is so concerned about her career and the importance of maintaining professionalism, she ends up making some questionable choices when she’s around Jax.  And he does his best to bait her while she goads him just as much.  

There’s plenty going on behind Jax’s somber, lone-wolf demeanor. Getting past that takes a lot of patience and a willingness to endure his mood swings. Jax has definitely met his match in Riley. There’s a lot of intensity between them and while I liked that, I also wished that Riley had been able to maintain her composure around him a bit better. She is on the job after all!

Reckless has some fun and heated moments. The hot moments are great though some are over the top ridiculous because Riley and Jax are trying so hard to one up each other. The ending was surprising and happened rather abruptly but don’t worry, the second book in the series will be out in the Fall! 

~ Bel

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

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Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

Despite the rather unbelievable premise, Being Sloane Jacobs was quite fun and I couldn't help but fall for it while reading it during the Winter Olympics.

It took a little bit to buy into them trading places and adapting easily to each other’s lives. They're from opposite backgrounds with contrary dispositions, there was no telling which way this would go. I think I spent half the time convincing myself to go with it and the other half worried about how and when their ruse would be discovered. At some point, I ended up being more concerned with what the two Sloanes were mentally working through than all the other stuff.

Essentially, they’re both overwhelmed and exhausted by their own lives. They’re expected to behave a certain way, deliver certain results and follow a pre-destined path towards glory. Seems impressive on paper but when real life intrudes and shakes their faith in themselves and their respective families, suddenly all that they’ve been working towards has become unbearable. So trading spots isn’t such a bad idea after all. It’s a mental vacation from their lives and a chance for some breathing space. This break is exactly what they need to get their heads sorted out. As the weeks go by, they meet new friends (and enemies), learn challenging new repertoires, engage in some out-of-character high jinx and of course, there are boys involved. They eventually have to return to reality but by then they come to terms with what they have and face head on their fears and anxieties over their futures.

All in all, Being Sloane Jacobs is cute with a side of mischief – just enough to sweeten your day!

~ Bel