Tag Archives: Libby Hubscher

Play for Me by Libby Hubscher – Review & Giveway

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Play for Me by Libby Hubscher – Review & Giveway

 

 

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Description:
When her new job takes her to a New England boarding school, she’s surprised to find her roommates are all men – including a very handsome one who plays by his own rules.

Sophie Doyle has her dream job as the head athletic trainer for her favorite baseball team (go Red Sox!), a handsome boyfriend, and easy access to the finest cannoli in Boston. When she loses all three and the World Series to boot, she’s forced to apply for the open trainer position at an arts-focused boarding school in New Hampshire. The only available room is a glorified closet in an apartment with three guys: Jonas Voss, the aloof and attractive orchestra teacher, and his two rambunctious roommates.

Sophie knows that training a bunch of privileged high school kids whose idea of a play is A Chorus Line instead of a walk-off homer is going to be a big change from the pro athletes she’s used to. She wasn’t expecting that these students would have big-time talent and even bigger-time problems. Sophie has troubles of her own—Jonas is a full-fledged grump who clearly doesn’t want her near him or the precious piano he never plays.

With sunny optimism, Sophie sets out to win over Jonas and help the kids she’s growing attached to. But when her relationship with Jonas moves to the major leagues and plans change at the end of the season, they have to choose whether they are playing for keeps.

 

 

Review:

Play For Me by Libby Hubscher is a sweet fun romantic standalone novel. We meet Sophie Doyle, our heroine, at the start, when she is fired from her job as head trainer for the Boston Red Sox, after she made the decision to not allow the team’s star pitcher to play due to an injury.  The Red Sox lost the World Series, and Sophie, despite her making the correct decision lost her job, as well as her boyfriend.  Sophie, with help from her friend, Astrid, accepts a job at a school in New Hampshire, to be their sports therapist/trainer.

When she arrives at the school, the only room opening is an apartment with three guys, Andy, Ravi and Jonas.  Sophie is given a room, which is a bit small, but she is satisfied; until Jonas, who is the orchestra teacher, is nasty and tells her not to touch the piano. Andy and Ravi were wonderful, especially since they are a gay couple; they do tell Sophie to ignore Jonas’s behavior.

Jonas, our hero, is totally grumpy with Sophie, but in a short time, she begins to open the walls he has built around him. Sophie learns about his damaged hand, that does not allow him to play the piano, with doctors diagnosing his disability, and his unwilling to discuss it.  Sophie is very knowledgeable about all kinds of injuries, and is determined to find a way to fix Jonas’s issue.  They begin to work together, with Jonas doing everything Sophie shows him, and soon their relationship fully changes, with Jonas opening up his heart, falling in love with Sophie.  The chemistry between them was hot, and I loved them together.  It was great to watch Sophie work hard in helping Jonas, as well as a young violinist, who was also an amazing pitcher, with a future in both fields.

Play For Me was a wonderful enemy to lovers’ story, with a wonderful couple, fun secondary characters. Sophie was a fantastic heroine, who was always sweet, friendly, competitive, determined, and good at what she does. The banter between Sophie and Jonas was great, especially once their feelings escalated. Play for Me was a fun romantic story, so very well written by Libby Hubscher.  I fully recommend the you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Libby Hubscher’s publisher, Berkley, is offering a paper copy of Play For Me to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE LIBBY HUBSCHER on FACEBOOK.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from June 19th to 23rd, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher – a Review

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If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher – a Review

 

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Description:
Violet Covington pens Dear Sweetie, the most popular advice column in the state of North Carolina. She has an answer for how to politely handle any difficult situation…until she discovers her husband, Sam, has been cheating on her. Furious and out of sensible solutions, Violet leaves her filter at the door and turns to her column to air her own frustrations. The new, brutally honest Dear Sweetie goes viral, sending more shock waves through Violet’s life. When she burns Sam’s belongings in a front-yard, late-night bonfire, a smoking-hot firefighter named Dez shows up to douse the flames, and an unexpected fling quickly shows potential to become something longer lasting.

A lot of people want to see the old polished Violet return—including her boss, who finds her unpredictability hard to manage, and Sam, who’s begging for another chance. But Dez appreciates Violet just the way she is—in fact, he can’t get enough of her. The right answers don’t come easily when Violet finds herself at her own personal crossroads. But maybe, by getting real, Violet can write her own happy ending.

 

 

Review:

If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher is a standalone emotional romance novel. We meet our heroine, Violet Covington, who under the name, Dear Sweetie, is a very popular advice columnist; she gets an offer to write for a syndicate magazine, and rushes home early to tell her husband, Sam the good news.  Unfortunately, as she is early, Violet comes across her husband in bed with another woman, who happens to be a neighbor. Sam explains that he is happy with the girl next door, as he thinks he is in love with her.   An angry heartbroken Violet, throws him out, and gathers all his expensive clothes and prized Michael Jordan shirt and sets up her own bon fire in the backyard.

The firemen show up when someone complains about a fire, and Violet meets Dez, one of the firemen, who helps put out the fire; he is sweet guy, who listens as she explains her husband cheated on her.  A friendship begins, with Dez always being there for Violet if she needed help.  Violet, being angry and despondent, begins to write her column in a more severe way, not like Dear Sweetie; with her expressing her honest opinions on those written to her. 

Accidentally, someone reveals that Violet is Dear Sweetie, but though her harder responses to those in bad situations draws more fans, who are supportive of her change of heart.  She writes an article for a magazine which describes her finding her husband cheating on her, and how she has reacted, being angry and bitter.  The magazine is thrilled with Violet, and her popularity grows; but she is in a rough emotional period of her life.   It will be Dez, who begins to spend more time with Violet, being very caring, calm & dependable, always there for her, telling her to be herself, as she slowly begins to move on.  Dez was a gem, being such a wonderful and perfect person for Violet; but can Violet recognize that Dez is the one for her, or will she be afraid of trusting her feelings, and eventually walk away.

We watch Violet during this heart wrenching journey, as she tries to get past her anger and move on with her life; there were a number trigger warnings throughout; infidelity, anxiety, anger, grief, alcohol, just to name a few. I also really liked Violet friends, especially Kyra, Ashleigh, and others.  I did enjoy getting to see many of Dear Sweetie or Violet’s responses to those writing to her for help, and her responses.  Very Well done.

If You Ask Me is an emotional storyline, with some funny and heartbreaking moments.  Though it is considered somewhat of a romance, there is so many emotions going on. This was very well written by Libby Hubscher.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher – a Review

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Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher – a Review

 

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Description:
Marin Cole has never:
Seen the ocean
Climbed a mountain
Taken a risk on love
….But if her sister’s plan works, she just might do all three.

Ever since her journalist mother died on assignment, Marin has played it safe, refusing to set foot outside the state of Tennessee. Her wild-child younger sister, Sadie, has trotted the globe as a photographer, living off of art and adrenaline.

When Sadie returns from a tough assignment abroad and looks a little worse for wear, Marin reluctantly agrees to a sisters’ spa weekend on the tropical island of Saba. But her lifelong fear of travel is affirmed when Sadie misses the flight, Marin’s luggage gets mixed up with another passenger’s, and an episode of turbulence sends her hurtling into the lap of Lucas Tsai, the handsome stranger who stole her sister’s seat.

For the first time in a long time, Marin has to step outside of her comfort zone as she explores the island with Lucas and learns what she’s been missing out on. With each breathtaking new experience, Marin gets closer to her real self, the man she’s falling for, and the heart-wrenching truth about why she’s there in the first place.

 

 

Review:

Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher is a excellent standalone romance novel. We meet Marin Cole and her sister, Sadie; after their mother’s death, Marin stepped up to watch over her younger sister. As they get older, she constantly worries about Sadie’s wild adventures, as she does a lot of traveling, being a photographer and thinks nothing of doing fun and dangerous things.   When Sadie comes home after a time in China, she plans a sister getaway, forcing Marin to open up and go with her to a tropical island, Saba.  When Marin gets on the flight, Sadie was late and missed the flight, promising that she will take the next flight out.   A man who came in the last minute takes her sister’s seat, much to her chagrin.

Lucas Tsai is the handsome stranger, who ends up helping Marin during the flight, as she was a mess, being scared about the turbulence.  When they arrive in Saba, she learns that Lucas Tsai is a wealthy man, who is a hotel tycoon, and owning the resort in Saba.  Lucas goes out of his way to make Marin comfortable and to enjoy her stay; though he does notice that she is uptight about everything, since she has not really experienced a true vacation and time to learn to enjoy the things that her sister most certainly would have had. 

In a short time, Marin will learn that Sadie has no intention to coming to Saba, and wants her sister to enjoy the things she has never had the time to do.  Lucas will go out of his way to take her touring and taking chances to thing she was too afraid to try; such as going on trails, mountains, diving for pearls; not to mention having lost her luggage, etc.  Marin begins to open up, and allow herself to have fun, especially spending time with the gorgeous Lucas, as well as befriending many of the local people.  What follows is a slow build romance between Marin and Lucas, but will it last when she plans to return home?

Things will change when Marin learns the truth of why she is there, and why Sadie is doing everything to keep her on vacation.  What follows becomes an emotional rollercoaster for the last third of the book; as anxiety, grief, tears, sadness changes everything.  We spend a lot of time with Marin, Sadie, Felix, and Lucas during the emotional story line closer to the end. 

Meet me in Paradise was an excellent story, split into two parts; one the fun and escapades that Marin did with Lucas and local friends and the complete change when grief and sadness take control.  I do not want to give spoilers, since you need to read this book. I thought Libby Hubscher did a fabulous job in writing this wonderful novel.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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