FUNNY STORY by Author Emily Henry is a sweet, poignant fake dating and opposites attract romance with a super interesting premise. On one hand, you haFUNNY STORY by Author Emily Henry is a sweet, poignant fake dating and opposites attract romance with a super interesting premise. On one hand, you have Daphne, a librarian and neat freak who's highly structured and organized and then you have Miles - an adorable but sloppy man working at a winery who doesn't mind living in chaos. And it’s a really 'funny story' how these two became roommates and eventually more. Daphne's ex-finance is now engaged to Miles ex-fiancé leading to Daphne moving in with Miles. Confused yet?
Daphne's wedding to Peter is nigh when Peter goes out to a bar for his bachelor party. Peter's best friend is childhood friend, Petra, and she's at his bachelor party when she professes her undying love to Peter and he to her. Back at their house, Peter tells Daphne she has one week to move out and then he and Petra leave for a week's vacation. Miles shows up in hopes of stopping Petra from leaving him only to discover she's already gone, and a devastated Daphne is in tears trying to figure out where she'll live. The answer seems obvious - she'll move in with Miles who just happens to now have a vacancy. For weeks, they co-exist in the same space - just two ships passing in the night as they both deal with their grief. But when Daphne speaks to Peter again, she lets it drop that she and Miles are now a happy couple. She has no idea why she did that, but when she confesses to Miles he quickly gets on board with the idea of 'fake dating' to make their exes jealous. As the story unfolds, Daphne and Miles begin to realize they have real feelings for one another, but the baggage and insecurities suffered by both keep them from revealing their real feelings. Sparks fly and a 'fake kiss' feels anything but fake. This is just a rebound thing, right? It's not possible that they're really falling in love, or is it?
Author Emily Henry has a gift for rendering heartfelt stories with incredibly real characters. While the trope of fake dating has been done a million times, Henry adds a unique twist to the story and then fleshes it out with characters readers can't help but love. The support cast is outstanding with most having intriguing backstories of their own. Themes of friendship, family or the lack thereof, and finding oneself are prominent. The small-town setting where everyone knows everyone is perfect for this story. I love that Henry develops these characters over time, letting them deal with their personal issues before writing them a happy ever after ending. The chemistry sizzles, and the warm fuzzies are plentiful. I read FUNNY STORY in one setting because I simply couldn't put it down. Highly recommended to fans of fake dating, opposites attract and friends to lovers' tropes. And to fans of heartwarming romance. It doesn't get any better than this! Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. #berkleypartner #berkleyinfluencer #berkleybookstagram This review is available at Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
LOVE, NATURALLY by Author Sophie Sullivan is a heartwarming opposites attract, insta-love romance rendered through dual points of view. There's a longLOVE, NATURALLY by Author Sophie Sullivan is a heartwarming opposites attract, insta-love romance rendered through dual points of view. There's a long list of reasons why these two characters will never work as a couple, and yet the chemistry sparking between them could set the forest on fire. Does anything else really matter?
Presley surprises her boyfriend with a ten-day getaway at the Get Lost Lodge, a place where fishing, hiking and roughing it is the name of the game. While it isn't her thing, she wants to prove her commitment to their relationship and her willingness to do things he likes to do. Imagine her surprise when he says he'll invite a buddy to go with him, not her. Apparently, they're not on the same page when it comes to moving forward with their relationship, so Presley takes the reservations back and proceeds to go on the trip by herself. It'll be a good time to assess her life and figure out which direction to go in the future. Getting sick on the boat crossing to the island is not a good sign, but she steps out of her comfort zone and tries new activities with Beckett, a hunky, willing teacher and the lodge guide, who's helping his brother get the lodge up and running. Readers quickly learn Beckett has issues of his own. He's set aside his own dreams to commit to helping family. Presley and Beckett couldn't be more different. She's a city girl who loves shopping, champagne and caviar and he's a country boy who catches, cleans and cooks his own dinner. There're too many miles, differences and entanglements for them to consider a future together . . . even though the sexual tension between them is off the charts. They'll enjoy each other's company and at the end of ten days, both go their separate ways. Right?
LOVE, NATURALLY is a sweet, opposites attract romance with great secondary characters helping carry the story. The rustic setting and evolving relationship between these two characters is intriguing and fun to watch as they both grow into their own and make life altering decisions. While the couple go from zero to sixty in ten days, the narrative is a bit slow in spite of the sizzling chemistry. The audio narrated by Julie Rogers brought the story to life and added to my enjoyment, engaging my senses. I highly recommend it if you enjoy audiobooks. LOVE, NATURALLY is a great choice for fans of insta-love, opposites attract and characters willing to step out of their comfort zone to find happy ever after. 3.5 Stars Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the are of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
A new-to-me author and a new favorite in the rom-com/romance genre! I enjoyed book one so much that I couldn't wait to read this one. The writing, ploA new-to-me author and a new favorite in the rom-com/romance genre! I enjoyed book one so much that I couldn't wait to read this one. The writing, plot line and banter between characters is refreshing and delightful. I'll be looking for more from this author. Highly recommended....more
This is one of the better friends to lover's stories I've read, and I enjoyed it greatly! The plot line is just unique enough to keep it interesting. This is one of the better friends to lover's stories I've read, and I enjoyed it greatly! The plot line is just unique enough to keep it interesting. The characters are fully fleshed out with some good chemistry...even if it takes them a long time to realize it. Overall, a fantastic romance from a new to me author that I intend to read more from. Looking forward to grabbing the next book in this series, Snowed In, asap!...more
Author Elle Cosimano has granted fans of the Finlay Donovan series their wish by gifting them a short story that spills the beans on everyone's favoriAuthor Elle Cosimano has granted fans of the Finlay Donovan series their wish by gifting them a short story that spills the beans on everyone's favorite nanny Vero Ruiz. If you've been wondering how Vero came to be Finlay's nanny, it's all revealed in this rip snorting, high action, comedy of errors short story with a side dose of sizzle in the form of the gorgeous hunk Javier. Cosimano bears all and fans of the series will not want to miss out.
Even though VEROINCA RUIZ BREAKS THE BANK is a short story, it's not short on the hilarious, fast paced action fans have come to expect from the Finlay Donovan books. The author's signature style is evident with larger-than-life characters fighting their way out of impossible situations to save the day in the nick of time. Vero, like Finlay, appears to be a magnet for trouble, but has a knack for turning dire situations into hilarious scenes that keep readers rolling in the aisle.
If you get the chance to listen to the audio, I highly recommend it. Narrator Stacy Gonzalez kills it, nailing Vero's voice and setting the tone for this fun filled tell all story on nanny Vero Ruiz. Highly recommended to fans of the series and readers who love a good rom-com style mystery. Special thanks to MacMillan Audio for an audio version of this arc. Release is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2023. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available at Cross My Heart Reviews. ...more
Finlay Donovan and crew are back in the most outrageously funny, sexy, fast paced story yet in FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE. Author Elle Cosimano doeFinlay Donovan and crew are back in the most outrageously funny, sexy, fast paced story yet in FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE. Author Elle Cosimano doesn’t miss a beat or trick in giving fans of the series all they’ve been clamoring for and then some in book four of the Finlay Donovan series. Get ready to repeatedly laugh out loud while holding your breath in anticipation of the next fine mess these two hard luck ladies will inadvertently land in. It’s never a matter of “if” but rather “when” another dead body will surface as Finlay and Vero entertain readers in another adventure of a lifetime. They’re in Atlantic City, baby! Let the good times and dice roll!
Under the guise of a girl’s weekend away, Finlay and Vero plan to slip away in a desperate search for Vero’s guy Javi who’s been kidnapped by a loan shark willing to exchange him for the money Vero owes him. Simple, right? Not with these two self-appointed sleuths! Before they can skip town, an entourage including Finlay’s mother and kids plus her annoying ex Steven pile into their rental to join their getaway. It’s only a matter of hours after their arrival at a rundown hotel until Finlay and Vero break into the loan shark’s room and discover him and an accomplice dead. They do what any responsible citizen would do . . . put the bodies on ice in the bathtub and start covering their tracks, of course! Complicating an already stressful situation, they return to their seedy hotel to discover that Finlay’s crush hunky cop Nick and dirty partner Charlie plus Finlay’s sister and her cop lady friend have checked into rooms across the hall under the ruse of protecting Finlay and family from Russian mobster Feliks Zhirov. In a matter of hours, a bad situation hits rock bottom with conflicting personalities, desires and motives clashing and more dead bodies surfacing. The story that unfolds is a hysterical runaway train of impossible situations careening off the tracks as the twists and turns keep coming page after page. Plan on reading straight through as there’s no more chance of you pausing reading than there is a prayer of stopping the train wreck happening on page.
From start to finish, FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE is pure reading entertainment with fast-paced action, over the top suspense and slapstick style comedy reminiscent of the age-old antics of Lucy and Ethel fame. If that’s not enough, it’s also sensuously sexy and steamy as affairs between Finlay and Nick heat up much to the delight of fans, but the despair of Steven who’s delusional in clinging to hope of a reconciliation with Finlay. Cosimano excels at rendering visual scenes that draw readers into the story while charging them with figuring out how in the world these two seemingly doomed characters will worm their way out of another catastrophe resulting from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Highly entertaining, hilarious and heartwarming, FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE pushes all the right buttons for fans of the series. While each book stands alone, I recommend beginning with book 1 and enjoy each subsequent title in turn. You won’t regret getting to know these characters firsthand as the overall story arc unfolds from book to book. This reader’s already looking forward to the next addition to the series and the convoluted adventures this duo will undoubtedly find themselves in. Highly recommended to fans of the series and readers who enjoy a hardy laugh along with their suspense. Special thanks to Minotaur Books for an advanced readers' copy of this title. It's scheduled for release on March 5, 2024 and available for preorder on Amazon. This review is published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. All opinions expressed are my own. ...more
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