[58] Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner
Fiction / Southern, heard about from Knox at The Popcast, audio

Synopsis: Colton Gentry is a second-rate country music singer who drunkenly spoke out about gun control at a concert and got himself canceled. Now he’s out of rehab, freshly divorced, and back in his hometown, trying to get his life on the right track.

Review: This is such a wonderfully earnest redemption story. I really enjoyed it. It’s hard NOT to root for Colton because he accepts all his faults and is trying so hard to do what’s right. The story goes back and forth from present day to his time growing up in his hometown (in… I already forgot [insert small southern town here]), and some of the characters from his youth make a reappearance. I’m usually not a “second chance” romance fan, but so much of the backstory was built up that I really wanted them to reunite. This book takes addiction and the struggle with it very seriously, but will leave you feeling good. And bonus, how can you not love a book that has only two footnotes and they are to tell you that the super senior dog Colton adopts will NOT die in this book?

Recommend? Definitely yes

[59] Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Fiction / Romance / New Adult, Anita told me it was overrated and I should read it and tell her what I think, audio

Synopsis: Two serial killers fall in love over years of playing a “who can kill the bad guy” first game.

Review: I was worried this would be too graphic and torture-y, and thankfully it wasn’t. There were very clear trigger warnings (if you can call them that? more like warnings) in the beginning. This is basically a romance, but the two main characters are killers. You still have them being unsure if the other likes them, taking way too long to get together, a dark moment, etc. I think the sex was supposed to come off as extra kinky? I liked listening to it because the main male character is Irish and had a lovely accent, and the female did a great job too. However… it was a bit slow moving, and kind of boring at times. And there wasn’t enough background (for me anyway) that explained why these two kill bad people for fun on the side. I think that concept just generally doesn’t do it for me.

Recommend? Nah

[60] Powerless by Elsie Silver
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, third in series, Kindle

Synopsis: Jasper and Sloane have been friends since childhood, with her always have a very obvious (seemingly unreciprocated) crush on him. Now, Sloane is about to marry someone else but leaves that dirtbag behind in the church after an anonymous video is texted to her. Jasper gets her out of there, and now they have a chance to be together… if they’ll take it.

Review: This was not my favorite from the series, but I still enjoyed it. I didn’t like these characters as much as those in the first two books, but there’s nothing wrong or unlikable about them, I just enjoyed the chemistry in the first two better. The “I haven’t liked you your whole life but now I do that you’re about to get married and aren’t anymore and are available” is a bit sus but it’s addressed by Sloane, who calls Jasper out on her bullshit. The sex seems were pretty steamy, so there’s that!

Recommend? Sure