REVIEW: "A Thousand Moments" by Kelly Moran (Contemporary Romance)

A THOUSAND MOMENTS by Kelly Moran
	Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: June 7th, 2022 Series: A Heart of Vallantine, #1 Standalone: Yes
Categories/Tropes:
Nerdy, Small Town, Secret Crush, Matchmaker
Description from Publisher:
FIRST NOVELLA IN A NEW SERIES BY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER KELLY MORAN! Wallflower Rosemary Fillmore has never endeavored anything more than a good book, a cool glass of sweet tea, and a cat to curl up in her lap after a long day of teaching teenagers how to dissect literary masterpieces. Dowdy and shy, hardly anyone in her quaint southern town of Vallantine, Georgia, knows she exists, and the only time she has an ounce of confidence is if the world is a fictional one. So, when three of her star students suddenly start to show an interest in her personal life, or lack thereof, she wonders what on earth the girls are after. Or why. And how it involves a certain town librarian. Because she hasn't exactly agreed with how he's been running the beautiful landmark into the ground since taking over, and frankly, she's been more than a little upset about it. Besides, he is probably the sole person more awkward than herself, despite how kind or understatedly handsome he may be. As the only living descendant of the original town founders, saving the Vallantine Library from destitution falls on Sheldon Brown's shoulders. And he's failing. Miserably. The one-hundred and forty-year-old historical building, erected by his ancestors, has been in near ruins for a decade, and the state of the library system is declining. What he doesn't need adding to his burden is giggling teenage girls hanging out between the stacks, spying on him, and asking silly questions about their teacher. Even if the woman in question is Rosemary. Pretty, sweet, and utterly endearing Rosemary, who he's been attempting to ask on a date since forever. Except he's chronically gotten the impression she doesn't approve of him or his attempts to save the library. But then a mishap one night and a strange challenge from an unlikely source changes everything, and he wonders if perhaps two introverted bookworms can get a happy ending, after all. Fans of Sweet Magnolias by Sherryl Woods and Virgin River by Robyn Carr will enjoy Heart of Vallantine.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This book has me so excited for the rest of the series! It was sweet, and sexy, and funny, with some characters I absolutely cannot wait to deep dive into. Most of this novella is backstory of a centurion library in a small Southern town. Three teenage girls play matchmaker for a teacher and the librarian, and sparks fly. The chemistry between Rosemary and Sheldon was immediately strong, and I loved them together. Both a bit awkward, but Rosemary was straightforward and sweetly supportive, making Sheldon able to relax. Each of the girls, Savannah, Dorothy and Rebecca had distinct personalities of their own, and I look forward to, I assume, read about them finding their own matches while working on the Vallantine library.
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran is a bestselling romance author of enchanting ever-afters. She is a Catherine Award-Winner, Readers' Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, and a 2014 Award of Excellence Finalist through RWA, plus she's landed on the 10 Best Reads & Must Read lists by USA TODAY's HEA. Kelly's been known to say that she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. Her interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well. Visit her website for up-to-date book news and where to follow.

REVIEW: "Exposure" by Kelly Moran (Contemporary Romance)

EXPOSURE by Kelly Moran
	Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica Publication Date: January 17th, 2016 Standalone: Yes
Categories/Tropes:
Best Friends to Lovers, High Heat
Other Books By This Author:
Description from Publisher:
His best friend...His muse...His fantasy... Billionaire photographer Noah Caldwell has spent ten years biding his time for the chance to tell his best friend Raven Crowne the truth. He wants her. With the threat that brought him to her in the first place finally behind him, they begin a hot affair he's only dreamed about. And reality is far better than fantasy. Yet beautiful Raven has her own dark history, one he's trying desperately to release from her. But as their passion deepens and turns into more, his past rises up from the shadows to claim one last victim…and Noah could lose the only person he can't live without.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
I wanted so badly to love this. Kelly Moran is such an amazing author, and I have loved everything else I have read by her. Her talent to breath life into characters and weave the most tactile worlds together has brought me to tears, of happiness, sadness, and laughter. This was a departure from everything else I have read, though her mark is still very much there. This is more erotic, and really shines a light on lust and kink. From just pages in, the lust between Noah and Raven is palpable. Unfortunately, it never really ventures past just a lot of fcking, much as the words try to fill in more emotion. Almost every single interaction between these two is highly erotic, escalating more and more as the story continues. These are darker characters, with more visceral desires, than usual. Raven has some hangups with sex, and Noah is pretty alpha. The histories don't feel very fleshed out, though, and her hangup is moved passed almost too quickly. If erotic and a bit of suspense is your thing, especially if you like reading moderate kink/anal play, this would be an excellent read, I think. I like a good amount of heat, but really need more emotion and romance (which Kelly Moran is otherwise stellar at!!). For me, personally, this was a 3 star read. I just never really could care about the characters, and it took me much longer than usual to finish. That said, it was easily 4 star erotica!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran is a bestselling romance author of enchanting ever-afters. She is a Catherine Award-Winner, Readers' Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, and a 2014 Award of Excellence Finalist through RWA, plus she's landed on the 10 Best Reads & Must Read lists by USA TODAY's HEA. Kelly's been known to say that she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. Her interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well. Visit her website for up-to-date book news and where to follow.

REVIEW: "Twice Shy" by Sarah Hogle (Contemporary Romance)

TWICE SHY by Sarah Hogle
	Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: April 6th, 2021 Standalone: Yes
Description from Publisher:
Can you find real love when you've always got your head in the clouds? Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start. Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn't the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who's as grouchy as he is gorgeous—and it turns out he has very different vision for the property's future. Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley's scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one's comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
Are there words for the wonderfulness of Wesley?? I wasn't entirely sure what to think of him for awhile, but then about 30% in, he came out of his shell and showed that he is sweet, funny, considerate, and charming. His awkwardness and honesty are incredibly endearing, and refreshing even, in a world where too often the alpha male is worshipped. Maybell was quite likeable, too. I had to actually laugh at how she left things with her employer, as I actually left an equally awful job in an eerily similar way (right down to the "friend" assuming I was leaving on a break!). She was a dreamer, with quite the active imagination, and I could also understand her escapism quite well. This is a slow burn, sweet romance with a bit of spice (just enough to showcase their chemistry without pulling you out of the story). Maybell and Wesley are stuck together, as co-inheritors of a large, run-down estate in the middle of nowhere. For awhile, they don't appear to get along especially well, until they start to open up and get to know one another. I adore more realistic (and awkward) romances. Nice guys are my kryptonite. If both are true of you, as well, you will love this one!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author:
Sarah Hogle is a mom of three who enjoys trashy TV and provoking her husband for attention. Her dream is to live in a falling-apart castle in a forest that is probably cursed. Her novels are You Deserve Each Other, Twice Shy, Just Like Magic, and Old Flames and New Fortunes.