Tag Archives: Christina Hovland

Going Down on One Knee by Christina Hovland

April 26, 2025Book ReviewCelebrity romance, Christina Hovland, Contemporary romance, Mile High Matchedskyebjenner

Title: Going Down on One Knee
Author: Christina Hovland
Series: Mile High Matched #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Celebrity romance, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Brek and Velma have an interesting meeting, one filled with assumptions and innuendos. I love that for Velma, she is still hooked into her past assumptions of what she wants in life. Dealing with the curveballs that are thrown at her, and wondering what her five year plan should look like now. For Brek, he’s absolutely smitten at first sight, and actually shows a whole lot of patience with Velma’s issues. From the very beginning Brek and Velma are the very typical opposites attract couple. But I love that their “opposites” manage to balance each other out and make them both stronger as individuals, as well as a couple.

I read this when I was having a particularly bad night, and honestly, this was the perfect antidote for that – it was sweet, light and a really pleasant read. Whilst there was a lot of conflict throughout, it was all enough to keep me engaged and not want to put this story down. I love that this ended in the happily ever after I so needed, and it gave me all of the warm fuzzies that I truly needed. I wanted a departure from the annoyances and difficulties of real life for a little while, and Going Down on One Knee did that perfectly.

Most of the romances I read involve a man making a silly assumption that tends to derail the relationship for a little while. I love that, in the case of Going Down on One Knee, the one making the silly assumption is the woman. Velma’s assumptions about what makes a good life, what makes a good partner lead her down a silly road that almost derails her life. And I love that its her mistakes and silliness that gets in the way of the happily ever after. But, I also love how quickly she realises this and manages to turn it all around.

The whole cast of Going Down on One Knee was absolutely beautiful and I love how all of Brek’s friends rally around the couple. Also the different ways in which Dean and Claire respond to Velma’s crush when it all comes out. Then, there’s the fact that Velma and Brek are falling for one another in amongst weddings, bridal chaos and all sorts of nonsense. My personal favourite being Sophia and Troy’s side story – they might not get the ending that they planned on, but the definitely get the one that they need.

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Rock Hard Cowboy ->

Image source: Barnes & Noble

Rock Hard Cowboy by Christina Hovland

March 5, 2025Book ReviewCelebrity romance, Christina Hovland, Christmas, Contemporary romance, Mile High Matchedskyebjenner

Title: Rock Hard Cowboy
Author: Christina Hovland
Series: Mile High Matched #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Celebrity romance, Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2019

Tuck and Kenzie are the ultimate, dream power couple. But, aside from that fact, they are also just too damn cute. They have a great meeting that makes them think there might be more beyond the pomp of Hollywood. Then the media twists things around. Then the media twists things around again. Then they do the whole fake dating trope that ultimately leads to their happily ever after. Honestly, the whole thing was just a cute read, and when you add in that Rock Hard Cowboy takes place at Christmas… it was an absolutely adorable and just outright fun story.

I’ve read a lot of humorous starts to a romance, and whilst this start wasn’t exactly a Meet Cute. I love that they start this fake relationship story with Kenzie tripping and landing face first into Tuck’s lap. And being photographed. I can’t imagine living my life under a microscope, but I do love how much that wreaks havoc on their lives. The way that a simple mishap explodes into so much more left me smiling and laughing as I just inhaled page after page of this gorgeous little Christmas romance.

I’ve read plenty of romances which feature a couple who are part of the celebrity “A-List” world. But I haven’t read all that many about someone on the cusp of retiring from such a life. Although Tuck has it all perfectly planned out, I love that he chooses to replan and rethink his future just because Kenzie crash lands into his lap, I mean life. His ability to be flexible and truly think about what he wants out of life is really admirable, and I love that he doesn’t get bogged down in his own plans. Rather, he is willing to change what he wants to get the ultimate happily ever after. Plus, he does such a gorgeous grand gesture at the end of the story. One that I thought was just a bit too cute.

Kenzie being invited home to join Tucker’s family for Christmas and how well she fits in was just adorable. Particularly when she just… jumps in and rides along with all of the insanity that is his mother. I have a highly involved mother and I know how difficult my partner found that when he first joined the family. So the ease with which Kenzie is able to forge a relationship and deal with the overeager love is seriously enviable. Honestly, Tucker’s parents absolutely stole the show for me. And, as much as I loved his mother, it was his father that I absolutely adored. And kind of want more of if I’m being honest.

<- Going Down on One Knee

Blow Me Away ->

Image source: Amazon

Ruff Day for the Rockstar by Christina Hovland

March 22, 2024Book ReviewChasing Holiday Tail, Christina Hovland, Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Mile High Rockedskyebjenner

Title: Ruff Day for the Rockstar
Author: Christina Hovland
Series: Mile High Rocked #3.5
In: Chasing Holiday Tail (miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2023

I like that this is a short story that features a rockstar and an actress in a happy marriage – the drama within this is more external than internal, something that is refreshing every now and then. I did get the idea that this is almost a little bit of an epilogue, so that kind of helped with the joy and contentment of the characters. And I love that they figure that adopting a dog is a really lovely next step. It’s incredibly cute and sweet.

I love that there is that moment of serendipity in this story – Knox always wanted a dog named Waffles, so Irina finds one. It’s an incredibly cute and sweet moment of fate. And I absolutely loved that they find a way to complete their little family at an adoption drive – without quite planning to.

Irina and Knox are both really fun characters. I look forward to reading more about their love story and discovering how they got to this happy place. It might not have been a very Christmassy short story, but it was definitely a sweet one.

<- Snaps with Santa

Too Nice to be Naughty ->

Image source: Goodreads

Chasing Holiday Tail by miscellaneous

February 3, 2024Book ReviewAmy Award, Arell Rivers, Brenda St John Brown, Chasing Holiday Tail, Christina Hovland, Christmas, Contemporary romance, Dylann Crush, Hope Ellis, Kameron Claire, Kilby Blades, Melonie Johnson, MK Meredith, Serena Bell, Short Story Collections, Stina Lindenblatt, Sylvie Stewart, Tawdra Kandle, Tracey Pedersenskyebjenner

Title: Chasing Holiday Tail
Author: Amy Award, Serena Bell, Kilby Blades, Kameron Claire, Dylann Crush, Hope Ellis, Christina Hovland, Melonie Johnson, Tawdra Kandle, Stina Lindenblatt, MK Meredith, Tracey Pedersen, Arell Rivers, Brenda St John Brown & Sylvie Stewart
In: Chasing Holiday Tail (miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2023

This might not have been my absolute favourite anthology, but it was still one that I enjoyed. I think most of my lack of serious love came from the fact that I loved the idea of a Christmas, animal anthology. But it wasn’t all that Christmassy. One of those moments, that expectations destroyed some of the enjoyment, because I just didn’t get the Christmas feel from these stories. But, they were still enjoyable.

The main theme that threads through every single one of these short stories is the idea of adoption and charity drives. Which makes sense since this is a charity anthology. All of the fifteen stories take place at Christmas, but they are heavily focused around the animal charities that are talked about. And, often, the animal adoption drives that are being organised. They are actually a lot of fun and reminded me to look at adopting when I next add a fur baby to the family.

I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection, although I did find some just a little bit forgettable. My favourite aspect of this anthology though was all of the very many dogs. I mean, they completely steal the show and are just too damn cute throughout. It still might not be an anthology that I will read again in the future, but it was one that was well worth the money I spent.

<- In Rover My Head

Bear Naked with the Bearded Baller ->