Beyond the Limit by Cindy Dees (arc)

This was the GI Jane story I didn’t know I needed. I knew that I was going to like it, but not how much (which is always a good kind of surprise) and I think it is a great addition to the women in military category.

We follow two main protagonists. First being Skylar who gets selected together with two other women to become the first ever female Navy SEALs and their grueling training in the hands of the Reaper SEAL platoon and their leader Griffin. To prepare both the military and the rest of the world for female SEALs they train in secret to ascertain that the women that that’s been selected have what it takes before they take on the real SEAL training that have a very high failure rate in general.

Skylar knows all about being a media officer for the Navy, but she wants to go out on real missions in the field. She knows that she has what it takes, but the question is if she can convince others, especially the arrogant and obnoxious platoon leader that is determined to fail her.

As the Reaper platoon leader, Griffin can’t foresee anything but trouble if women joined the SEAL teams and it’s not only about gender aptitudes. Now this pageant beauty queen think she’s got what it takes?

Then one mission goes haywire and drags them both into it’s maw. Will they overcome their differences in time and trust each other enough to survive the coming troubles?

I loved the chemistry between everyone, not only between the main characters. There’s also a charming bonding between the three women and a cheeky camaraderie between the Reapers. I loved that everything between characters (feelings, concessions and actions) plus responses to situations felt believable within the premises of the story.

This was a great start on a series and I hope we get to know the other women and Reapers in the coming installments.

Published: June 25th

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Adorable, quirky and fun, this may be one of my favorite rom coms of 2019. As you may know by now, or maybe not, I’m a sucker for expertly written quirky main characters. Make Me Bad is another favorite of this year and surprise, it also has a quirky female lead. It’s my fave personality trait when reading a book. It doesn’t have to be romance either. Quirky characters in whatever genre and gender, and I’m sold. Hook, line and sinker.

The MC in Waiting for Tom Hanks is obsessed with rom com culture and is looking for her soulmate. In her mind Tom Hanks stars in some of the best rom coms out there (yeah, he kind of does) and thus is the epitome of how a soulmate should be. This leads to many obsessive moments, good reflections and emotional scenes. My favorite part was the endearing cast of characters and the relationships between them. I absolutely loved all the interactions, which felt very small town (at least the fiction/movie version of one) and I’m so happy that there will be a second companion book in the series so I can visit these characters again. Especially Gary from the diner, he was absolutely hilarious!

Rating: 4,5 stars

Release date: 2019-06-11

Publisher: Berkley