From New York Times Bestselling authors Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland comes a new, sexy standalone novel.
My planned trip for two unexpectedly turned into a trip for one. Rather than let my breakup get me down, I packed my bags and decided a week at a luxury resort was just what I needed.
But one calamity after the next, and suddenly I was stuck without a hotel room, along with a few hundred … room, along with a few hundred other people.
It looked like my fancy vacation was about to turn into me sleeping on the hotel lobby floor.
Until I overheard a gorgeous man pretending to be someone he wasn’t in order to steal a reservation from a guest who hadn’t shown up yet.
When I realized there were two rooms, instead of calling him out, I pretended to be his sister. That’s how the story of “Milo and Maddie Hooker” began.
We were the Hookers.
My depressing trip quickly made a U-turn into an adventure.
My fake brother spent the next few days showing me around his hometown. When it was time to leave, neither of us really wanted to go yet.
So, instead of flying back to our respective homes, we ventured on a road trip.
At every stop, we’d pick up souvenirs.
But as hot as our chemistry was, we never crossed the line.
Milo knew I’d just come out of a tough relationship and didn’t want to mess with a vulnerable woman.
So instead, at the end of our trip, we made a pact to meet again in three months.
It was always my intention to meet him.
But when I got back home, reality hit in a big way.
And I worried I may have lost my handsome stranger forever.
Was there a place for him in my future?
Or had the memory of him just become my favorite souvenir?
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Penelope Ward an Vi Keeland are an awesome writing pair.
Milo and Mattie Hooker, meet under strange circumstances.
Mattie is in Vale Colorado, because her fiance dumped her, and she didn’t want to waste the non-refundable stay, but when she checked out of her room early, she didn’t realize a storm was coming in and she couldn’t get home.
Milo Hooker, assumes this me, to get a room that he over hears the hotel trying to contact them, to see if they still want the reservation.
When Mattie, realizes what he is doing and that there is two rooms, she jumps in to claim the other and becomes Mattie Hooker, his sister.
As they spend time together, they realize they don’t want it to end, so they take a road trip together.
They discover that, they were supposed to meet. That life brought them together for a reason. “We’re here to help each other find our new paths.”
This is a beautiful romance, that is the slowest burn I’ve ever read, with twists and turns, that will make it hard to put the book down.
I cannot say how much I adored this book. All my heartstrings have been pulled or tugged on. This was a heartfelt, slow burn, touching, and fun adventure. I’m hooked on Hookers! Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward never ceases to amaze me. Loved it!
I love this book!! Hazel and Matteo won me over. I thoroughly enjoyed going on their adventure with them, and then real life hit and things got interesting. I enjoy stories that go back and forth between the two peoples point of view a lot, and this is one of those. Give this one a read, you won’t regret it!
“My Favorite Souvenir” has to be the most satisfying slow burn romance ever. The passion. The longing. The passionate longing. Milo and Maddie or Matteo and Hazel keeping themselves from doing it was every bit as sensual as them doing it.
But that’s not all that makes this an entertaining read. The story of the souvenirs was so clever. The twist in the plot when Maddie/Hazel returned to New York was heart stirring. I just loved everything about the book! Read it!
This book is funny, and sweet and all the things a good romance book should be. I really enjoyed it! This is the kind of book you want to go back and read again. It was really really good.
This book is nothing short of awesome! Such a great read. You will devour it. Once you start reading you are immediately sucked in and falling in love with the characters!
Strange twist of fate…
Someone described this book as a slow burn. That is a great description. It’s an instant connection but she’s not in a place for a relationship, having come in her honeymoon alone. Their chance meeting brings about a growing intensity, character building denial and a two week vacation together to learn so much about each other…except their real names.
A plan to meet up on Valentine’s Day if they were to follow their hearts.
But Fate steps in. You know the saying. She’s a fickle *itch. They will have to fight for every moment together but each is an unforgettable memory.
I really enjoyed the progression of the story from the chance encounter in the hotel lobby to the moment on Valentine’s Day and all the pages in between.
My planned trip for two unexpectedly turned into a trip for one. Rather than let my breakup get me down, I packed my bags and decided a week at a luxury resort was just what I needed. This was such a sweet and emotional story line with an unexpected twist and I loved it from start to finish. The characters were so lovable with so much chemistry you could feel the love and emotions oozing from the pages and the sex was pretty hot too. All over this was a page turner and a beautiful read.
Another great book by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland. Hazel and Matteo meet as they impersonate Milo and Maddie so they can obtain hotel rooms in the middle of a snow storm. This sparks off a great road trip adventure as they try to figure out where their lives are headed. When they have to go back to reality, they have to deal with an unexpected complication. From the beginning, I was engrossed in this book and didn’t want to stop until I finished it. Definitely worth the read.
What a fun book! Two strangers who take on new identities as brother and sister, The Hookers! They decide to explore the US for fun and try new things. The book was a great idea and well written…how could it not be with 2 amazing authors writing together! However, the book was slow throughout with a lot of words and not a lot happening between the characters. The build was slow, but too slow IMO. Still, a good read!
*I requested this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love the writing duo of Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward and dropped everything to read My Favorite Souvenir as soon as it released. This slow burn is all about taking chances, trusting your instincts, deep soul searching, and finding your one true love when you weren’t even looking. The authors tell this original love-triangle tale with grace and class, and NO cheating, and it truly captured my heart from the very beginning.
Hazel and Matteo meet under unusual circumstances as she decides to go on her would-be honeymoon to Vail alone, after her fiancée calls off the wedding. They use fake names and pretend to be siblings, Milo and Maddie Hooker, in order to score hotel rooms that are in short supply. There are so many funny moments in this book and their meet cute is just the beginning of their adventure. These two strangers connect on an emotional level and become fast friends as they go out of their comfort zone, pause their real life just for a little while, and embark on a road trip where they garner a souvenir at each of their destinations.
Matteo/Milo is sensitive to her recent heartbreak and ever the gentleman. He lets her know of his attraction without ever going over the line, and I just admired that so much about him. He was so humble and put her needs first which enabled these two to truly get to know one another. Well, they got to know everything about each other except their real names! This deliberate act was meant to give them both time to sort their feelings, and if they wanted to pursue an intimate relationship with each other, in three months time, they agreed to meet up again in one of their special places.
What I loved was how the author’s described how they were each feeling, whether it was internal or with actual words to each other. How they were vulnerable yet felt comfortable enough to open up about their past pain and their determination to move on was so beautiful and heartbreaking. They were both so relaxed and supportive of one another, could be their true selves, and only wanted the other to be happy.
I swear these two ladies together are powerhouses!! And can do no wrong with their writing. As soon as you start reading within the first paragraph you are hooked. And this one was no different I loved the way Matteo and Hazel came together. Or Mattew and Maddie and decided to do their adventures. It was exactly what both of them needed. And the feels that you got in this book from the laughter from the sparks you could practically feel jumping from the pages onto you,which was so hot, to the pain you felt from them was so beautiful. I never wanted this book to end. I wanted it to go on forever and ever. I can already tell you this will be one of my top books for 2020. This is a must 1 click book for sure!!! 5 stars is in no way shape form or fashion enough to give this book!!! – By Tina
This story in is ok/good, but not the attention grabbing emotional roller coaster I can’t put this book down kind of book. A love triangle, second chance romances, HEA with a twist.
Sometimes adventure comes when you need it most. So many adventure that begin with Hazel and the handsome stranger, Matteo, becoming Maddie and Milo Hooker. I loved these characters and everything they went through. There were so many hilarious moments and some incredible laughs. I highly recommend this bood. Some of my favorites are the collaborations by these two authors.
Hazel and Matteo’s story is divided into 2 parts. Part one is their road trip adventure. Part two is the next three months. This is written in first person with dual POV.
Pros: I really like the premise and the twists that come in the plot. I appreciate that this takes a new spin on the “ditched bride taking her honeymoon anyway” scenario. I found part one very enjoyable. There is some heat in part two after a slow burn friendship is created between them. The fortune teller/psychic scenes are witty and add to the story.
Cons: Some of the writing, especially some of the dialogue scenes, felt a little choppy. When Hazel’s ex is trying to win her back, there is a little bit of a love triangle feel that I did not enjoy. The ending felt a little abrupt; I would have liked more from Hazel in the last segment.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book because a lot of it felt original and some of the plot twists were a surprise.
The life one has is not always the one they’re destined to have, but that idea can never be learned unless changes are made, new perspectives gained. Which is exactly how the story of Milo and Maddie Hooker comes to be, but how it ends for Matteo and Hazel isn’t quite as simple for the fake names they created, let’s just hope that when everything is said and done, each of their favorite souvenirs will be each other.
But just like all adventures, theirs comes to an end and what that means for these two strangers, turned pretend siblings, who become travel partners remains unclear until their fake names become real and they somehow fuse their epic adventure with the reality of their actual circumstances.
This book can easily be divided into two parts – the soul searching adventure of a lifetime and the new reality of everyday living. Part one had a fun and flirty vibe and the sexual tension that surrounded Hazel and Matteo grew the farther their journey took them, and I loved how it felt like readers were in the backseat with them, experiencing this once in a lifetime opportunity to let go a bit, to be free of responsibilities and hold on with both hands, never forgetting who you are and what you want out of life.
As much as I adored every minute of the characters’ escape, admittedly, I struggled with the second half of the book a bit more than I usually do with this writing duos stories. And I’m not sure if it’s because it felt like their little bubble popped and they were left with trying to figure out where they go from there, especially due to logistics and interfering exes. Don’t get me wrong, I know that going back to reality can be a bit of a shock and there might still be internal conflicts and such to contend with, but going from that life changing road trip that seemed so easy and so perfect to unknowns and conflicted feelings felt a bit too separated from the first part of the story. I was frustrated with a number of the characters and things just felt disjointed more so than I would have liked.
Overall, I enjoyed the adventure that Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland took their characters and their readers on. And while I had a few issues with the latter half of the book, I still revel in the way this writing duo crafts their stories and creates intriguing and complex characters.
4 Poison Apples
I don’t even know where to start with this review. Whenever I hear that Penelope and Vi are writing another book together, I know it is going to be a one-click. No blurb. No cover. I know I will have to read it. I love their writing style together. It is absolutely seamless and they always seem to write some of my favorite characters.
This story was no different. I fell in love with these characters and this story. I love a road trip romance and this one was written so well. It is steamy. The chemistry is definitely present in this one. It is fun. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud. The banter is one of my favorite parts of this story. It is also so sweet and full of heart. It wouldn’t be a Penelope and Vi story without that emotion though as well. It had a little bit of everything.
I could not put this book down and I am dying to see what this duo has in store for us next. Whether it be solo work or them working together, I am looking forward to reading it.
What a great read.
This book is in two parts. The first part is awesome. It’s Hazel and Matteo, but they are Maddie and Milo. Their first meeting is funny.
I loved how honest Hazel was about everything going on in her life. She got Matteo to start actually living again. And he got her to get her adventurous side back. I also love how Matteo knew that they couldn’t take things further than friendship because of what happened to Hazel before the trip.
The second part is back to reality for both of them. And boy do they both get slapped in the face by it.
Don’t even get me started on Brady or Felecity! Felecity is supposed to be Hazel’s friend, but the things she said, and pushed at her, makes me wonder.
Brady is the ex-fiancee that wants her back. I think he’s a douche! I wish Matteo would have punched him.
There are so many surprises in this story. I loved it. I love Hazel and Matteo, and the entire story!
This was a fun and flirty story. I loved the friendship that bloomed between Milo and Mattie on their soul searching trip of adventures. The second part had a twist that I actually didn’t see coming. This is a feel good story that makes you want to follow your heart.
A perfect book for the world of today. Well for me it was like the authors were reading my mind. What would I give to pick up and go on a road trip to where ever the wind will blow me. A trip when being on the road is not an option with and amazing romance to boot! Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward have given me and exciting trip into The Hooker’s wild adventure! A friends to lovers, passionate romance that will bring you tears and joy. Another hit for the dynamic duo!