Bombshells (Brooklyn Bruisers #8) [Anton & Sylvie] by Sarina Bowen

What a pleasure this one was! It's been too long since I immersed myself in a book like this. I simply don't have the time and energy these days so sitting down with this book felt like basically being ME again. It also made me wish I could have the time to re-visit ALL the books in the series, included the much loved Ivy Years. If you've read those, there's a sweet surprise with a reappearance of the MCs from "The Year We Hid Away".

Anton Bayer, or as he's often called "Baby Bayer" enjoyed himself a bit too much the previous year resulting in almost losing his career. After a break in which he made himself a few serious promises as well as a punishing regimen he is finally back (and in shape) with the Bruisers hoping to show his true skills. 

After losing her mother not so long ago Sylvie Hansen didn't expect to be playing this year so when she gets invited to play for a new team - The Brooklyn Bombshells - she is all for it! Especially considering the man she believes she is going to marry plays for the "brother" team - The Brooklyn Bruisers. Yet the first person she meets on the ice from the team is Anton Bayer and both of them have a feeling there is something significant and special about the encounter. The meeting with Bryce Campeau doesn't go as well.. 

Extra Credit: Three Ivy Years Novellas (The Ivy Years #6) by Sarina Bowen

This book is a compilation of 3 novellas from the Ivy Years series. The 1st has been available on it's own for a while now, but the 2nd was published for short period of time as a serial for Sarina's website subscribers. The 3rd is a total new addition I enjoyed delving into today :)

If you haven't read the Ivy Years series, seriously, what are you waiting for?! You can sample it through this one but only through the first two as they are totally stand alone (containing characters we've met but were only side characters at best), the 3rd one I suggest you read only after "The Understatement of the year" because it contains a continuation for their story (FYI, it's M/M, unlike the first two and the rest of the series which is M/F).

Studly Period (The Ivy Years #5.5) [Josephine & Pepe] by Sarina Bowen

This was the SWEETEST novella EVER. I LOVED IT! Granted, I had to wait till all the chpaters were out because waiting for a mere chapter each week just wasn't for me but actually reading it - ALL of it - was literally a doctor's subscription to my mental and physical health.

Josephine Allister is a sweet and nerdy introvert. Working at the tutoring center is helping her a little to interact with people she doesn't know but she is still quite closed off. When Pepe Gerault comes into her view she have a difficulty with more than her tongue. The French-Canadian Hockey player is just too much. He is fun and easy going and a total opposite of her. Yet through the essays he writes and she corrects they form an unlikely and endearing friendship.

The Fifteenth Minute (The Ivy Years #5) [Lianne & Daniel] by Sarina Bowen

Well, it's NO surprise this one was absolutely a JOY to read. I knew I'd love to hear Lianne's story and Daniel (DJ) was SUCH a sweet heart I just couldn't NOT fall in love with him myself. He had quite the challenge in this book, again I have to congratulate Sarina for bringing into her books unique subjectד that rarely being discussed. So it's more than just a fun New Adult Romance novel, Lianne's life and struggles as well as Daniel were so different (from one another) and special (on their own). 

COVER REVEAL - The Fifteenth Minute (The Ivy Years #5) by Sarina Bowen

OMG Can't believe it!!! 
The 5th book in the Ivy Years by Sarina Bowen is out in less than a month! 
Are you ready for Lianne's book? if not, GET ready! it's out on the 13th of October. 
You can already Pre-Order it on AMAZON. Click!
So let's sit back here for a minute and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL cover :)

Total YUM, right? Love everything about this cover as I'm sure I'll feel about the book ;)

I've read all of Sarina's books and with each one I get more obsessed with her writing. 

If you're here and besides enjoying the cover you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's a heads up! This is my Ivy Years Series page where you can find my reviews of the previous books. Each one of the books can be read as a "Stand Alone" though some of the characters DO appear in other installments.

The Fifteenth Minute (The Ivy Years #5) - BLURB:​
 

The Shameless Hour (The Ivy Years #4) [Bella Hall & Rafael Santiago] by Sarina Bowen

Brilliant! I swear everything Sarina writes is GOLD! As you can guess from this sentence, yep, another amazing installment in the Ivy Years Series. While I wasn't sure about Bella from the previous book (well, she seemed kinda shallow..) and Rafe was kinda too sweet in the first chapter, that's might be my only misgivings, since after 5 minutes of reading I was shamelessly hooked! Now I can say that I truly adore Bella, she is a strong fierce woman yet she is still human with her own insecurities (not that she has many of them..). Rafe sure is the nicest guy you have ever "met" / read of, but his sweetness - the security blanket he wraps around Bella without her even truly realizing it, was beautiful to watch. He is so much more than meets the eye (I mean, besides his hotness ;))

Bella if you remember, you might not remember, you might be new to the series, and if you are, no troubles, you don't NEED to read the other ones in the series, this one can truly be read as a stand alone (but do yourself a favor and grab them ALL) is the manager of the Hockey team which is great in her opinion since she loves Hockey especially the lickable Hockey players, and she is actually really good at her job! She also loves sex, casual sex, and with all those damn good looking hunks there's lots to be have! 

The Understatement of the Year (The Ivy Years #3) [Michael Graham & John Rikker] by Sarina Bowen

I'm floored, AGAIN, by Sarina. This book was just amazing! I loved every bit of it! I loved both Michael Graham and John Rikker even though and maybe because they are so different yet perfect for each other. I really enjoyed the plot line, how their relationship was building and I would have loved another short novella or how it all worked out in the end. I might be saying that because it was somehow missing but most likely it's more about me being reluctant to leave this couple behind! 

Just a side note for those who haven't read the other books in the series, first off, this book can be read as a standalone, secondly it shares the same time line as the second book in the series which still doesn't really matter since we didn't know either Graham or Rikker in the previous books and they are mentioned in about a sentence near the ending of the second book as Bridger (the MC in the second book) is mentioned briefly in this one. The main hero from the first book - Hartley - does appear quite a lot in this one but you don't have to read his book to understand him/this book. 
Another side note concerning this book - unlike the previous ones having a M/F relationships this one is a M/M one. 

Blonde Date (The Ivy Years #2.5) [Katie Vichery & Andrew Baschnagel] by Sarina Bowen

This is a really sweet novella of "Blonde Katie" - Katie Vickery - we met in the previous book (one of Scarlet's roommates) and Andy - Andrew Baschnagel- Bridger's neighbor. We even finished the previous book hearing the both of them enjoying each other's company from across the wall ;) This short novella is of their first date together.

In the beginning of the previous novel both "Katies" (Blonde and Ponytail) sounded really shallow and uninteresting yet as the book developed and as Scarlet opened up a little we got to see a bit more to the two of them and when Blonde Katie was looking for a date to a sorority thing it was only natural that Scarlet offer her to take Andy, maybe not a Hockey player - a Basketball player - meaning she could hang in his dorm room while Bridger's sister is sound asleep on his room.. 

That's was the background..

The Year We Hid Away (The Ivy Years #2) [Scarlet Crowley/Shannon Ellison & Bridger McCaulley] by Sarina Bowen

Another excellent read! What a joy this book was, well, not exactly a joy to the main characters but a joy to get to know the characters and deal somehow with them with their troubles and the both of them has PLENTY on their plate. The characters Sarina creates are simply heartbreaking and beautiful not just from the outside. There's positivism under the surface all the time even when it's hard someone is there, friends or family, ones they expect and maybe ones they don't. So even in the dark moments I feel like they just have to reach out and it's there. I guess I'm a lot like both Scarlet and Bridger - I don't like asking for help, I want to deal with everything on my own, but hearing both their POVs it's damn sad to see how they struggle on their own when they have each other (and others) to help.

The Year We Fell Down (The Ivy Years #1) [Corey Callahan & Adam Hartely] by Sarina Bowen

This was SUCH a joy to read, after a few "misses" recently this one was exactly what I needed. The only bad thing I could say about this book is that it ended.. but actually I loved the ending and how everything played out so I have no complaints what-so-ever. A beautiful story, great characters and I just feel like I want to delve into the next one and the next one.. already ordered them all including the third one which will be out on the 29th of September - SOON! YAY!