ARC Review: Flipcup by Kim Hartfield

Title: Flipcup 
Series: Vinos & Veritas #7 
Author: Kim Hartfield
Publisher: Hearts Eye Press 
Release Date: April 5, 2021 

Could swearing off men lead Chelsea to the perfect woman?

After being rejected one too many times, Chelsea makes a bold vow: No more men. Her friends doubt a boy-crazy party girl can handle not dating for a year, but that only makes Chelsea more determined.

Tara has made a vow, too. After growing up in foster care and suppressing herself to please others, she's going to live her truth. When she sees a beautiful woman, she'll make her attraction known.

Chelsea appreciates Tara's flirtatious compliments, not to mention her androgynous beauty. There's a loophole in Chelsea's vow, and it's more tempting every day...

The first FF installment in the V&V series and I did enjoy it but not as much as I was hoping to. The overall story was good and got me into it but where part of my big issue lies is with the one main character.

Chelsea is where most of my problems with this title was. She did grow as a person throughout the story but I couldn't get past some of it; it was said that she would be self absorbed and she was and the way she treated Tara at times made me frustrated on her behalf. Tara on the other hand I loved and wanted to see more for her and to live her life. During the climax things were said and I just felt that the resolution was just way to simple and neatly wrapped for what occurred. The side characters were a great supporting cast and important to Chelsea growing as an individual which were major points to what I enjoyed. My only other big issue with the story is how it was all wrapped up. It was progressing nicely and then it just sort of ended out of nowhere on me. I felt that there should have been more and not just end of book. 

Overall I'm giving Flipcup: 

3/5 Stars

ARC Review: Hideaway by Rachel Lacey

Title: Hideaway

Series: Vinos and Veritas #8
Author: Rachel Lacey 
Publisher: Heart Eyes Press
Release Date: April 5, 2021

One woman’s hiding place is another woman’s home.

After becoming an inadvertent viral sensation—and losing her job and her girlfriend as a result— Phoebe Shaw retreats to Vermont. Renovating her late grandmother’s cabin into a vacation rental seems like the perfect way to lie low for a while. But the last person she expects to encounter on the property is the woman whose kiss was her teenage sexual awakening . . . and whom she’s never quite forgotten.

Taylor Donovan has been hiking on the trails behind the Shaw family’s cabin her whole life. As children, Taylor and Phoebe were best friends before sharing a secret summer romance when they were sixteen, which left Taylor brokenhearted when Phoebe fled at the end of the summer. Now the property has become Taylor’s home away from home, and she wants nothing more than to convince the Shaws to sell it to her. But Phoebe’s return puts a crimp in those plans--and brings back old feelings she thought she’d overcome.

Of all the things Phoebe regrets, leaving Taylor is at the top of the list, but Taylor is determined to protect her heart. Yet the pull between them is stronger than ever. This time around, will love stay hidden . . . or finally see the light of day?

Second chance romance and cute dogs, I was so excited for this but it fell flat for me. I've said it before but this one I truly believe was just not the right time for me to read it.  The story was very well written and put together, I just couldn't find myself enjoying it. 

Phoebe and Taylor I enjoyed. I was rooting for Taylor from the start and the work that she does with the dogs and wanted her to be happy. I could tell that Phoebe was what made her happy and that was great. I was actually more interested in the dogs that were part of the story than seeing their relationship progress because in the past they were already so in love and I knew that they would overcome the past and be together again which made so sense. 

What I did love though was how low angst it was, how sweet and how much heart went into it. All of which is why I know this one was one me and I will be giving this one a second chance.  Rachel Lacey did such a wonderful job crafting such a beautiful story and I do encourage others to go read this book because it is such a great FF. 

3/5 Stars