Thursday, February 3, 2022

Review & Giveaway - - Bold Love

Bold Love
by Lauren Accardo
Forever Adirondacks - Book 3
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 25, 2022
Reviewed by PJ



Playing house in the mountains was supposed to be temporary, but a woman would have to be made of stone to resist the most eligible bachelor in Pine Ridge and all his small-town charm.…


Denny Torres needs a break. After a series of embarrassments on and off the field, the Adirondacks provide the perfect hideout for his new, quiet, post-football life. The fresh mountain air is a welcome balm for his soul, but what’s even more soothing? The sexy, sweet touch of fellow Pine Ridge newcomer Bethany Jones. If only she planned to stay....
 
Bee does not have time for a hunky former athlete—no matter how good he looks shirtless. Her artistic ambitions are in ruins, her brother is a disaster, and while Pine Ridge has its charms, the small town is nothing more than a pit stop on her way to getting back on track. Bee’s just going to ignore the fact that when Denny offers her the chance to channel her creative energy into redesigning his house, she finds herself building the home—and the life—of her dreams.
 
With their time together coming to an end, Denny will have to move quickly to prove he can be the man Bee needs. Who better than a defensive back to knock down those walls?


PJ's Thoughts:

I've been looking forward to this book since the moment Denny Torres hit the page earlier in the series. Happy to say he lived up to all of my expectations. I adored him. 

I enjoy complex, multi-layered characters at a crossroads in their lives. Accardo gives readers that with both Denny and Bee. While on the surface Denny appears to have everything, he is actually a roiling ocean of emotion and uncertainty, dealing with familial expectations and unsure of his next steps. Bee knows exactly what her next steps will be...until a call from her brother changes everything. Now she's in Pine Ridge, decorating Denny's new home, re-earning the money she needs to take those next steps, and maybe building a new version of herself along the way. Neither of them expected love to enter the equation.

Accardo has once again created a story, and characters, who reeled me in and kept me invested from start to finish. I love the small community so vividly depicted in this series and the characters who float in and out of all three books, adding to the richness of the stories without detracting from the main couple. I enjoyed the extra layers incorporated into the book, such as the teen book club that causes push back from some parents, the lessons Denny learns - and teaches - during his interactions with the high school football team, and the growth Bee experiences in finally confronting long-held fears. These two challenge each other, open one another's eyes to new possibilities, help each other heal emotionally, and let's not forget their chemistry. So good. 

Bold Love is my favorite book in a really good series. I highly recommend it. This book can be enjoyed on its own but because of intersecting characters and storylines, I think the series is best enjoyed by reading the three books in order. 


Have you read any of the books in the Forever Adirondacks series?

Are you a football fan? Who's your pick in the Super Bowl?

Denny and Bee have some interesting encounters on their hikes around Pine Ridge. Are you a hiker? What's your favorite outdoor activity?

One person who posts a comment on this post before 11:00 PM, February 5 will receive a print copy of Bold Love

*U.S. only
*Must be 18
*Void where prohibited






 

19 comments:

  1. I have not read any in this series and I am not a big football fan during the regular season, but do enjoy watching the playoffs and especially the superbowl.

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    1. This year's playoffs have been amazing. Some very exciting games!

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  2. I do like to watch the superbowl with my family. I have not any of these books.

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    1. I'm a huge football fan so I watch the Super Bowl for the game but also for the commercials. I'm so happy the Budweiser dog and horse combo will be back this year!

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  3. Thanks PJ! This sounds like another great series previously unknown to me. I'll have to add book one to my close-at-hand TBR pile :) My team unfortunately lost in the play-offs, so if I watch at all, it will be for the commercials. And as to outdoor activities: endless dog walks!

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    1. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in this trilogy. I'll be following to see what Accardo writes next.

      I hear you on the dog walks!

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  4. I have not read this series yet. Not much of a sports fan, although I do watch some college football.

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    1. While Denny is a retired professional football player and his career is a significant factor in his evolution, this book takes place away from the league. It's sports adjacent but not what I would classify as a "sports-themed" book.

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  5. This series sounds wonderful. I have been to the Adirondacks and enjoy exploring the area. It is amazing, special and beautiful especially all summer. I am not a football fan but my sons watch when it is super bowl time.

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  6. Forever Adirondacks series is lovely and interests me greatly. I hike in my area and enjoy it very much all season since it is a perfect climate where I live. Mountains and canyons. The Adirondacks are a favorite place where I used to visit which I enjoyed. The lakes and setting is perfect. I am not into sports but will keep up with the super bowl.

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  7. Thanks for this terrific review. This is a new to me author and this book and the series sounds like fun. I used to hike, no longer able to do that. I would like the 1995 Dallas Cowboys to be in the Super Bowl....but that does not seem likely this year. I am a sports fan and I like football among others, baseball and hockey - track is OK too.

    I hope everyone is well and safe and happy.

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  8. No I haven't read this series yet. I am a big football fan. The underdog this whole season has been the Bengals. That's my choice. It has been an exciting post season.

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  9. l like to walk inside and outside.
    Cathie P.

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  10. I haven’t read any books in this series. And I am not a football fan. I enjoy going on walks on forest trails so I like hiking. My favorite activity outside is gardening.

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  11. This book sounds lovely! I do love to hike, particularly in the Adirondacks if I can get over to that region in the summer. My favorite outdoor activity is reading in hammock, though :)

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  12. I don't know how I have missed this series. I grew up in the Adirondacks and would enjoy books set in an area I am familiar with. I will have to look for these books.
    We have long enjoyed hiking, camping, and canoeing. Age and health issues have reduced how much we can do but not stopped us. We just have to take the easier hikes and are now camping in a small RV. We would still be canoeing if our son hadn't wrapped our canoe around a rock.

    We enjoy football, but are now watching mostly college games. There have been some good pro games lately. We might watch the Super Bowl, but I am more of a fan than my husband is. No pick for the Super Bowl. No matter how good a team is, it is never a given who will win.

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  13. I love football, but honestly don't have a Super Bowl pick. The playoff games got really intense and fun to watch. I hope the SB is as well. My hubby and I do enjoy hiking - but only day hikes. This summer will be interesting because we will try to bring our puppy along with us on many of our hikes. Wish us luck!

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  14. I have not yet read any of Lauren’s books. I am an avid hiker. My goal is to visit as many National Parks as I can.
    I love football. I grew up 35 miles from GreenBay so I will always be a GB Packer fan.
    My favorite outdoor activity is swimming.
    I don’t care who wins the Super Bowl as I don’t know anything about either team.

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