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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Another amazing book from Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland!
This book was so fun and adventurous, but then there was also so much angst and my heart felt torn in so many directions!
Hazel had just separated from her fiancé, and still went on her honeymoon to clear her head. When she decides to go home early and the airport gets closed because of snow, she now has to find a hotel room, and they’re all booked.
When she catches Mateo, assuming the name of someone who hadn’t shown up for their reservation, she decides to assume the other name, and other room. And that is when Hazel and Mateo become Milo and Maddie Hooker.
When she and Mateo decide to travel a bit and have an adventure, they keep their assumed names, and keep it platonic. Their journey was a lot of fun and carefree.
But everything isn’t hearts and roses, and they have their own share of trouble and trials.
Watching their joy and sorrow is amazing, and I totally enjoyed this story!
One of my favorite books this year. And I really needed a good book right about now. Milo and Maddie meet in Vail during a blizzard. Maddie is nursing a broken heart after her fiance called off the wedding. Milo is on a sabbatical from teaching trying to pull his life together after a tragedy.
The pair bond during the blizzard and decide they are not ready to go their separate ways once the roads clear. So, they embark on an epic road trip. Their adventures are so much fun–my favorite being the taxidermy and the baggie full of Maddie’s hair.
Unfortunately, the road to their HEA is not going to be a smooth one. There is a lot of angst and plot turns. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
My Favorite Souvenir is the perfect escape read for this moment. It’s funny, sexy, endearing, and interesting, and demonstrates the prowess that Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland exhibit in their co-writing projects.
After being dumped a couple of months before her wedding, Hazel decides to go on her honeymoon solo. And when she gets stuck in Vail, Colorado without a hotel room, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Enter Matteo, the attractive man she noticed eavesdropping at the reservation desk. When he decides to pretend to be someone else to secure a reservation, and said reservation is actually for two rooms? Hazel decides to pretend to be his sister, and they become Milo and Maddie Hooker, respectively. And all of the hijinks then ensure.
I thought that Ward and Keeland navigated the insta-connection quite well in this story. You have Hazel and Matteo thrown together in this really unique way, but it feels plausible, and their connection feels genuine and palpable. The slow unraveling of their attractions is an absolute delight to read, and the chemistry between Matteo and Hazel is off the charts. This novel took me in directions that I didn’t expect, and I loved every minute of it. And I have to say that the epilogue is one of the best epilogues I’ve ever read.
Do yourself a favor and read this immediately. It’ll make you laugh, blush, and feel all the feels.
4.5 stars
Would you go on an adventure trip with a stranger?
I had to read this book as many of my friends have and recommended it.
I enjoyed it much more than the last book by this duet and it has nothing to do with my moody reader thing. It’s all because I got attached to both Maddie/Hazel and Milo/Matteo. The whole premise of the first half of the book was quite interesting and I loved their attempt to stay true to their wishes and deny themselves that chemistry between them.
The second part is another story now. Everything is revealed and there are decisions to make, decisions that can hurt people they care about and like in real life, it’s never easy.
It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey along the way…
As the saying goes, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey along the way and for this book it’s both – where the journey and the destination are magical with every page turn. The journey between Milo/Matteo and Maddie/Hazel is emotional, uplifting, at times gut-wrenching, but just like life, filled with tears and pain, joy and laughter where the reader comes along on their journey witnessing every twist and turn that they encounter. The what-ifs, the what could have been, and the what can be… Believe me, there are many! The last few chapters were my absolute favorite and will leave you at the edge of your seat in anticipation to see what happens.
Individually, Penelope and Vi are such amazing authors in their own right, and when they collaborate, it is absolutely pure magic! If you are looking for a fun, unpredictable, completely addictive sweet and sexy read – look no further. My Favorite Souvenir will be your favorite too.
This is a wonderful read.
This is the story of Matteo & Hazel. Matteo is in Vail, CO where his family lives, but is trying to get in the same hotel as Hazel is. Hazel is on her honeymoon alone, since her fiancé called the wedding off. They end up in adjoining rooms, claiming they are brother and sister. They had adventures together. They prolonged their flights home. They had a grand time. Then it was time to go home. Hazel definitely had some thinking to do. Such indecisions. Who would she choose? Her ex-fiance, who wanted to get back with her? or Matteo who she kept thinking about? You have to read to find that out. There is a happy ending, for sure, but with who? This is a love triangle like I’ve never read before. Kudos to Penelope and Vi. Such a great story, and very well written.
I absolutely adored this 5 stars story! The read was filled with adventure and finding oneself again on a personal level and reevaluating life. Finding someone who unexpectedly having you seeing things in a new perspective and living in the moment. Get ready for some sighing and some swooning because Milo and Maddie’s (a.k.a. Matteo and Hazel’s) story will have your heart beating again.
The fantastic writing duo is back and with a new, original story. I absolutely adored it!
Hazel decides to take her honey moon, alone, since her now ex-fiance broke things off. A storm prevents her from getting home and now there are no rooms available.
After waiting in a hotel lobby she stumbles across a man (Matteo) pretending to be someone who has a room booked, they haven’t checked in due to the storm. Snatching up this opportunity, because it was two rooms, Hazel inserts herself and together they end up becoming Milo and Maddie Hooker.
With everything shut down, they spend time together and once the weather clears up, they decide they aren’t quite ready to leave each other . Instead they opt to take a road trip adventure together and slowly make their way home. They continue using the names Maddie and Milo. They make a pact to meet back up on Valentines Day (3mo later) and see if the feelings are truly there. Not to mention Hazel needs to wrap everything up back at home.
But Matteo and Hazel have more in common than they know. So whats happens once they are done with their adventure? And will they meet back up on Valentines Day? Definitely one-click this endearing, funny ride.
My favourite souvenir was what the book that I really needed in my life right now.
#TeamHooker for life!!
Matteo and Hazel’s story was so endearing and real.
This is a true romance! Every time Maddie got a smile out of Milo, I fell just a bit more in love with this couple.
I loved the care he showed for her even before they became friends…. When they were siblings!! The story is really heart-warming and romantic in the little things they do for each other and it’s clear M feels protective of H. The Karaoke, the ski lessons… everything was meant to be.
They took the leap of faith and decided to embark in this unknown adventure together. Was it worth it? Will their past follow them and ruin everything?
The relationship suits the characters and story beautifully . I highly recommend it!
This is my new favorite read of the year.. once again the story pulls all the right heartstrings…Vi and Penelope have the knack of developing the most awesome characters and plots and Hazel and Matteo are no exception. A heartbroken Hazel who was dumped by her fiancé a month before the wedding decides to take the non refundable honeymoon alone. After a few days at Vail she misses home and forfeits her room and heads back to Connecticut when the airport and all flights are cancelled due to a blizzard and she is left stranded. She then bums a ride to hotel who has a few rooms but doesn’t get there in time… while setting alone in the lobby with others she notices a handsome young man looking suspicious as he eavesdropping at the front desk of the hotel were the clerks are calling quests who haven’t arrived to see if they were still going to use their reservations. When she notices the stranger is writing something on his hand. She hears the front desk calling the Hookers Mattie and Milo who have two rooms reserved and leaving them a message. A few minutes later the young man approaches the front desk and states he is Milo Hooker and gives the Hookers information… the clerk checks him in and the fake Milo states he needs only one room when Hazel approaches and pretends to be Mattie. It’s here the story begins and these two fake to be brother and sister and the adventure of a lifetime ensues as these two take a trip of a lifetime and find they have more than the love of adventure in common as they heal each other…. definitely a hot spicy love story with twists and turns, laughs, heart and sole… a five star plus read…
*4.5 stars*
Favorite road trip…
This duo author’s stories are an auto must have, with their characters and stories never failing to bring it all to the table. “Milo” and “Maddie”, from their first crazy moments, brought that and more…
Their meeting was a whacky scenario that really shouldn’t have worked but, you know what? They were crazy and reckless, having me smiling from their first encounter. And that was just the beginning… They maneuvered their way into a situation that they both didn’t want to leave and I enjoyed the ride right along with them! They were funny and sweet while their friendship grew one jaunt, another and another outing at a time…
All of it was fun and breezy with smiles that mirrored my own… They hit bumps, of course, which meant emotional highs and lows that complemented the chemistry that fueled it all. Another great addition to a long list of favorites!
*I happily reviewed this story
Laughter, adventures, love and fan yourself sexiness! This story was phenomenal. I don’t want to give anything away, you really have to read this book! I read when I should have been sleeping, I read while eating, I read while I was working. I finished it within 24hrs and I’m going to read it again. Yes, it IS that good!!
What else could a reader want?… oh that’s right…happily ever after.
Enjoy the ride!
Sweet, cute and his it’s funny moments!
I liked this one, i liked the adventures they had, the banter and flirting they had with each other.
I already called i wasn’t going to like a certain character so it wasn’t surprising that i didn’t like him.
Matteo was hot af and sweet and so easy to love.
Hazel was great too, i loved her inner monologue and how she was with Matteo.
I absolutely adored this story !!!! This authors never dissapioned me – when I want to read amazing story, I’m sure Mrs. Keeland and Mrs.Ward can guarantee good time !!!!
As always from the first paiges this duo sucked me into their breathtaking story immediately . From one paige to another one I couldn’t put this book down… I needed to read untill ‘the end’ would show up in front of my eyes. My Favorite Soveneir was an amazing journey, and I enjoyed every moment of this adventure !!!
Hazel and Matteo were so much fun. Their story suprised me, but also I love to watch how their feelings were growing up.into something more. AND… THE BANTER gahhh I love it !!! Vi and Penelope always use it perfectly and also this time it was soooo delicious !!!! It made chemistry between Matteo and Hazel even more amazing tgat it was already !!!!
I highly recomend this book – it is funny, steamy and emotional !!!! It was fantastic ride !!!
I just love Milo and Maddie. Their characters are very refreshing. While both have their own issues, they’re able to overcome them through each other. Definitely a five star read.
My Favorite Souvenir is a standalone story. I read this book in 1 go! This writing duo write superbly together.
Hazel decided she was going to go and stay at the honeymoon spot since it was paid for. Even though she got dumped by her fiancé .
She decided she was going to go home and checked out of the hotel only to find that she was stranded in a snow storm. When she overheard Matteo trying to get a room and saw how he was going about it since there wasn’t a room to be had and there was a waiting list since others were also stranded. She joined in trying to get herself a room too. Thus they were now Milo (Matteo) and Maddie (Hazel) Hooker, brother and sister. And a great story continues on from there.
BTW, I would like to make Milo aka Matteo my “Favorite Souvenir”!
Makes me want to be a Hooker!
A must read for 2020! I fell in love with these characters from the very beginning. It makes me want to go a road trip! But, avoid any pineapples 😉 I may never look at them the same again.
“Milo” and “Maddie” go on an amazing adventure that had me hooked from the beginning. Under a pseudo-name of Mr. and Mrs. Hooker, it was funny, sexy and had witty banter. Add a swoony hero and an up-for-any-adventure heroine, and you’ve got yourself a 5 star read.
It was emotional and full of lessons to be learned along the way. Every place they stopped had a unique story to follow. I definitely didn’t want this one to end. Well done Vi and Penelope.
ULTIMATE MAGIC! Love these two writing together! You gotta love the chemistry from the first page of the book… to the very last word! LOVED the book… LOVED the story line… one of the many many books from these two that will be on my reread list!
Really, what can I say. These two authors separate are some of the best out there, but together!! Together, they are magical. I have loved every single one of their joined books, but My Favorite Souvenir, yeah that just became my favorite. ” Milo and Maddie ” have moved to my top favorite characters ever!!
From the start I was hooked on the plot, the characters and the pace. Everything seems to flow so smoothly. Everything just felt right. From Hazel and Matteo, oh sorry Milo and Maddie, how they met, their road trip to their love story. Just left me with a smile on my face.
This is one of those stories that is what you envision romance to be. I know that you will fall in love with them and their story just like I did.
These authors are two of my absolute favourites. I love almost everything they put out, either separately or together. Somehow, for me, this was that exception to the rule. The story in itself is ok/good, but the thing I usually love – the attention grabbing emotional roller coaster of can’t-put-it-down-I-really-don’t-need-sleep – didn’t happen this time. I never got into the story the way I usually do. It felt a bit detached to me. This has only happened once before with any of their joint books and that was only a small part of a story, so this was very unexpected.