"I'll Stand By You" by Karen Grey serves as a bonus epilogue to the Boston Classics series as well as a prequel to the upcoming Carolina Classics seri"I'll Stand By You" by Karen Grey serves as a bonus epilogue to the Boston Classics series as well as a prequel to the upcoming Carolina Classics series. In 1991 North Carolina, recent college graduates and lifelong friends Violet, Whitney, Sully, Ford, and Danielle decide to spend one last summer working together at the Rumrunner Hotel on Wrightsford Beach before starting their "real" jobs and lives in the fall. I was intrigued by each of the characters and their relationships and can't wait to learn more about them in upcoming books of the series.
I recommend this fun, sweet story for all fans of beach romance, found families, and adorable baby turtles. ;-)
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
"I'll Stand By You" by Karen Grey serves as a bonus epilogue to the Boston Classics series as well as a prequel to the upcoming Carolina Classics series. In 1991 North Carolina, recent college graduates and lifelong friends Violet, Whitney, Sully, Ford, and Danielle decide to spend one last summer working together at the Rumrunner Hotel on Wrightsford Beach before starting their "real" jobs and lives in the fall. I was intrigued by each of the characters and their relationships and can't wait to learn more about them in upcoming books of the series.
I recommend this fun, sweet story for all fans of beach romance, found families, and adorable baby turtles. ;-)
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own....more
"L.O.V.E." by Krissy Daniels took me by surprise in the very best of ways and I loved it more than I ever could have anticipated. Based on the story's"L.O.V.E." by Krissy Daniels took me by surprise in the very best of ways and I loved it more than I ever could have anticipated. Based on the story's beginning, I was expecting it to be a cute, sweet, and fluffy read, but instead, it quickly turned into an angsty, engrossing rollercoaster that gave me all the feels. I read most of the book in one sitting, constantly on the edge of my seat, just waiting to see what would happen next.
I'm not a big believer in fate or love at first sight, but even I had to admit that it seemed like fate had a hand in bringing the main characters of this story, Natalie and Cole, together. They still had plenty of obstacles standing in the way of their relationship, and at times it seemed as if those obstacles just might be insurmountable. That said, both Cole and Natalie were very likeable, well-developed characters, and I appreciated how hard they both tried to do the right thing even when their hearts were pulling them in a different direction.
I highly recommend "L.O.V.E." for all fans of emotional contemporary romance and will be waiting with great anticipation to see what Krissy Daniels writes next.
*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
"L.O.V.E." by Krissy Daniels took me by surprise in the very best of ways and I loved it more than I ever could have anticipated. Based on the story's beginning, I was expecting it to be a cute, sweet, and fluffy read, but instead, it quickly turned into an angsty, engrossing rollercoaster that gave me all the feels. I read most of the book in one sitting, constantly on the edge of my seat, just waiting to see what would happen next.
I'm not a big believer in fate or love at first sight, but even I had to admit that it seemed like fate had a hand in bringing the main characters of this story, Natalie and Cole, together. They still had plenty of obstacles standing in the way of their relationship, and at times it seemed as if those obstacles just might be insurmountable. That said, both Cole and Natalie were very likeable, well-developed characters, and I appreciated how hard they both tried to do the right thing even when their hearts were pulling them in a different direction.
I highly recommend "L.O.V.E." for all fans of emotional contemporary romance and will be waiting with great anticipation to see what Krissy Daniels writes next.
*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own....more
"Side Hustle" by Marika Ray, the fourth and final book of the Jobs from Hell series, mostly works as a standalone, but my recommendation is to read th"Side Hustle" by Marika Ray, the fourth and final book of the Jobs from Hell series, mostly works as a standalone, but my recommendation is to read the series in order. There are several secrets and mysteries that have been unfolding over the course of the entire series, and the answers are revealed here in the final book. Besides that, each of the books is just so darn funny, and I loved them all!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story's well-crafted enemies-to-lovers romance between complete opposites Rip Bennett and Hazel Redding. Rip and Hazel were best friends and nearly became more as juniors in high school, but they had a mysterious falling out and ended up becoming enemies instead. Hazel and Rip did their best to avoid each other over the years in spite of having mutual friends, but when they accidentally stumbled onto a vein of gold, they decided to work together for the benefit of their small town, Auburn Hill (aka Hell).
As Rip and Hazel worked together, the old romantic feelings between them sparked back to life, and I loved their witty banter and the way they brought out the best in each other. For many reasons, Rip had always tried to remain in the background, while Hazel always wanted to be the life of the party. As they grew closer, ray of sunshine Hazel helped taciturn Rip gain the confidence he needed to finally confront his father, the evil town mayor, and fight for what he believed in. In return, Rip helped Hazel address her complex relationship with her mother, who had abandoned her as a child.
This story is laugh-out-loud funny in a lot of places, but also tugged at my heartstrings as it dealt with serious issues such as parental abuse and abandonment. Overall, the humor far outweighed the angst, and I loved this funny, sweet story. I highly recommend "Side Hustle" and look forward to Marika Ray's next release.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
"Side Hustle" by Marika Ray, the fourth and final book of the Jobs from Hell series, mostly works as a standalone, but my recommendation is to read the series in order. There are several secrets and mysteries that have been unfolding over the course of the entire series, and the answers are revealed here in the final book. Besides that, each of the books is just so darn funny, and I loved them all!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story's well-crafted enemies-to-lovers romance between complete opposites Rip Bennett and Hazel Redding. Rip and Hazel were best friends and nearly became more as juniors in high school, but they had a mysterious falling out and ended up becoming enemies instead. Hazel and Rip did their best to avoid each other over the years in spite of having mutual friends, but when they accidentally stumbled onto a vein of gold, they decided to work together for the benefit of their small town, Auburn Hill (aka Hell).
As Rip and Hazel worked together, the old romantic feelings between them sparked back to life, and I loved their witty banter and the way they brought out the best in each other. For many reasons, Rip had always tried to remain in the background, while Hazel always wanted to be the life of the party. As they grew closer, ray of sunshine Hazel helped taciturn Rip gain the confidence he needed to finally confront his father, the evil town mayor, and fight for what he believed in. In return, Rip helped Hazel address her complex relationship with her mother, who had abandoned her as a child.
This story is laugh-out-loud funny in a lot of places, but also tugged at my heartstrings as it dealt with serious issues such as parental abuse and abandonment. Overall, the humor far outweighed the angst, and I loved this funny, sweet story. I highly recommend "Side Hustle" and look forward to Marika Ray's next release.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own....more
"Between the Lines" by T. Gephart featured a well-crafted friends-to-lovers romance between NYPD officer Tessa Ricci and FDNY hottie Justin Tibbs. I'v"Between the Lines" by T. Gephart featured a well-crafted friends-to-lovers romance between NYPD officer Tessa Ricci and FDNY hottie Justin Tibbs. I've loved Tibbs since the beginning of the series and have been anxious for him to meet his match. He always seemed so charming and charismatic, but was also kind of a manwhore, so I knew it would take someone special to get and keep his attention. Tessa was absolutely the perfect match for him: funny, sarcastic, brave, and always up for a challenge. It didn't hurt that she could (and did) best him in a boxing match, which quite amused me. I think Tibbs needed to have some of the cockiness beaten out of him!
The chemistry between Tessa and Tibbs was smoking right from the start, and they were adorable together even if their relationship did move a bit faster than I would have liked. They started spending nearly all of their free time together after a single date and declared their love for each other shortly thereafter. However, I loved their flirty, teasing banter and the way that they dared each other to do things just to see who would back down first. I also loved the way that Tibbs matured over the course of the story. His relationship with Tessa as well as the unexpected challenge he faced from his past forced him to step up and proved how much integrity he had, despite his somewhat frivolous reputation.
Overall, "Between the Lines" was my favorite book of the series so far, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to whatever T. Gephart writes next! (I'm not-so-secretly hoping it might be a story for Tessa's partner, Grayson Miller.)
*Review copy provided by the author via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
"Between the Lines" by T. Gephart featured a well-crafted friends-to-lovers romance between NYPD officer Tessa Ricci and FDNY hottie Justin Tibbs. I've loved Tibbs since the beginning of the series and have been anxious for him to meet his match. He always seemed so charming and charismatic, but was also kind of a manwhore, so I knew it would take someone special to get and keep his attention. Tessa was absolutely the perfect match for him: funny, sarcastic, brave, and always up for a challenge. It didn't hurt that she could (and did) best him in a boxing match, which quite amused me. I think Tibbs needed to have some of the cockiness beaten out of him!
The chemistry between Tessa and Tibbs was smoking right from the start, and they were adorable together even if their relationship did move a bit faster than I would have liked. They started spending nearly all of their free time together after a single date and declared their love for each other shortly thereafter. However, I loved their flirty, teasing banter and the way that they dared each other to do things just to see who would back down first. I also loved the way that Tibbs matured over the course of the story. His relationship with Tessa as well as the unexpected challenge he faced from his past forced him to step up and proved how much integrity he had, despite his somewhat frivolous reputation.
Overall, "Between the Lines" was my favorite book of the series so far, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to whatever T. Gephart writes next! (I'm not-so-secretly hoping it might be a story for Tessa's partner, Grayson Miller.)
*Review copy provided by the author via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own....more
After a painful encounter with crime boss Terence the Accountant and his henchmen, con artist extraordinaire Arthur "Artie" Petrovitch stumbles into aAfter a painful encounter with crime boss Terence the Accountant and his henchmen, con artist extraordinaire Arthur "Artie" Petrovitch stumbles into a coffee shop to nurse his newly cracked ribs and black eye. Fellow patron Ellyn Wolcott immediately notices his injuries and strikes up a conversation with him. As a director of photography, she's fascinated by his black eye, but more importantly, she's in need of the help of a "scoundrel." Ellyn comes from a wealthy family whose money is tied up in a trust controlled by her widowed Aunt Cor, and $5 million is currently up for grabs. Aunt Cor has invited each of her four nieces to spend part of a 2-month long cruise with her, and the niece whose segment of the trip is the most fun for Cor will win the money. That's where Artie comes in: Ellyn needs him to seduce her aunt and ensure that she enjoys herself while Ellyn is aboard the ship. Artie agrees in exchange for a percentage of Ellyn's winnings, but Ellyn quickly learns that it won't be as easy to control Artie as she thought. Not only that, there's an unexpected spark between the two of them that becomes increasingly difficult to ignore as time goes by.
Artie and Ellyn were uneasy allies at first, which made sense for a lot of reasons and wasn't helped by the fact that Artie deviated from their plan the moment they boarded the ship. I kind of loved that about him, though; he didn't apologize for who he was or how he lived his life, just made the best of his particular set of skills. There was plenty of chemistry between him and Ellyn, and I loved their witty banter. They finally started to see each other in a different light about halfway through the book, and even though they knew it was a terrible idea, they couldn't help falling for each other.
In addition to Ellyn and Artie, I loved all of the book's quirky, endearing secondary characters, particularly Ellyn's Aunt Cor. I also loved that the plot kept me guessing until the very end, and I could never predict what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns in the schemes cooked up by Cor's nieces and the other, unaffiliated con artists aboard the cruise ship that it was sometimes tough to tell who was conning whom!
Overall, "Ellyn & the Would-Be Gigolo" was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author via Elle Woods PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
After a painful encounter with crime boss Terence the Accountant and his henchmen, con artist extraordinaire Arthur "Artie" Petrovitch stumbles into a coffee shop to nurse his newly cracked ribs and black eye. Fellow patron Ellyn Wolcott immediately notices his injuries and strikes up a conversation with him. As a director of photography, she's fascinated by his black eye, but more importantly, she's in need of the help of a "scoundrel." Ellyn comes from a wealthy family whose money is tied up in a trust controlled by her widowed Aunt Cor, and $5 million is currently up for grabs. Aunt Cor has invited each of her four nieces to spend part of a 2-month long cruise with her, and the niece whose segment of the trip is the most fun for Cor will win the money. That's where Artie comes in: Ellyn needs him to seduce her aunt and ensure that she enjoys herself while Ellyn is aboard the ship. Artie agrees in exchange for a percentage of Ellyn's winnings, but Ellyn quickly learns that it won't be as easy to control Artie as she thought. Not only that, there's an unexpected spark between the two of them that becomes increasingly difficult to ignore as time goes by.
Artie and Ellyn were uneasy allies at first, which made sense for a lot of reasons and wasn't helped by the fact that Artie deviated from their plan the moment they boarded the ship. I kind of loved that about him, though; he didn't apologize for who he was or how he lived his life, just made the best of his particular set of skills. There was plenty of chemistry between him and Ellyn, and I loved their witty banter. They finally started to see each other in a different light about halfway through the book, and even though they knew it was a terrible idea, they couldn't help falling for each other.
In addition to Ellyn and Artie, I loved all of the book's quirky, endearing secondary characters, particularly Ellyn's Aunt Cor. I also loved that the plot kept me guessing until the very end, and I could never predict what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns in the schemes cooked up by Cor's nieces and the other, unaffiliated con artists aboard the cruise ship that it was sometimes tough to tell who was conning whom!
Overall, "Ellyn & the Would-Be Gigolo" was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author via Elle Woods PR. All opinions expressed are my own....more
Jasinda Wilder's "Lizzy Goes Brains Over Braun" was a funny, passionate story that I would recommend for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comJasinda Wilder's "Lizzy Goes Brains Over Braun" was a funny, passionate story that I would recommend for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.
I loved the flirty, witty banter between main characters Lizzy Stephenson and Braun Bennet, and their phenomenal chemistry ensured that the book's steamy scenes were white-hot. Even though things between them happened quickly, I really liked the way their relationship developed; I could see the strength of their connection no matter how much Lizzy tried to deny it. Lizzy's reasons for avoiding a serious relationship with Braun were real and understandable and I could see how they led to her pushing him away, though I wish we had known more about them earlier in the book to provide context for some of her decisions. I also wish the story had been told in dual POV so that we could have learned more about what Braun was thinking. It was never clear to me why he was willing to consider the idea of giving up his parental rights if Lizzy succeeded in getting pregnant.
Lizzy's five best friends and employees were very entertaining secondary characters. I enjoyed their strong friendship and how they were always so supportive were of each other, as well as how independent they all were. That said, they all seemed kind of immature for their age. People say that 40 is the new 30, but even so, a lot of their behavior reminded me of things my friends and I might have done in our mid/late 20s, but not now that we're in our late 30s. (Not all of us are married or have kids, so I don't think that's the reason for the difference.) I don't know, maybe it's just me, but given how close we are in age, I expected to find it a bit easier to connect with these characters. While I liked them and several of their conversations made me giggle, I really didn't see myself in them at all.
There was one particular conversation in this book that did NOT make me giggle: Lizzy's friend Laurel told a "one time in college" story in which she described sexually assaulting a sleeping man. It definitely seemed like a double standard to me. If the same thing had happened to a woman, criminal charges probably would have been filed. Generally speaking, I loved how open Lizzy and her friends were about their exploits, but that particular story just wasn't OK with me.
While this story wasn't perfect, Lizzy and Braun's romance was sweet yet deliciously steamy, and her friends were an awful lot of fun. I look forward to picking up the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
Jasinda Wilder's "Lizzy Goes Brains Over Braun" was a funny, passionate story that I would recommend for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.
I loved the flirty, witty banter between main characters Lizzy Stephenson and Braun Bennet, and their phenomenal chemistry ensured that the book's steamy scenes were white-hot. Even though things between them happened quickly, I really liked the way their relationship developed; I could see the strength of their connection no matter how much Lizzy tried to deny it. Lizzy's reasons for avoiding a serious relationship with Braun were real and understandable and I could see how they led to her pushing him away, though I wish we had known more about them earlier in the book to provide context for some of her decisions. I also wish the story had been told in dual POV so that we could have learned more about what Braun was thinking. It was never clear to me why he was willing to consider the idea of giving up his parental rights if Lizzy succeeded in getting pregnant.
Lizzy's five best friends and employees were very entertaining secondary characters. I enjoyed their strong friendship and how they were always so supportive were of each other, as well as how independent they all were. That said, they all seemed kind of immature for their age. People say that 40 is the new 30, but even so, a lot of their behavior reminded me of things my friends and I might have done in our mid/late 20s, but not now that we're in our late 30s. (Not all of us are married or have kids, so I don't think that's the reason for the difference.) I don't know, maybe it's just me, but given how close we are in age, I expected to find it a bit easier to connect with these characters. While I liked them and several of their conversations made me giggle, I really didn't see myself in them at all.
There was one particular conversation in this book that did NOT make me giggle: Lizzy's friend Laurel told a "one time in college" story in which she described sexually assaulting a sleeping man. It definitely seemed like a double standard to me. If the same thing had happened to a woman, criminal charges probably would have been filed. Generally speaking, I loved how open Lizzy and her friends were about their exploits, but that particular story just wasn't OK with me.
While this story wasn't perfect, Lizzy and Braun's romance was sweet yet deliciously steamy, and her friends were an awful lot of fun. I look forward to picking up the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own....more
Since being publicly humiliated by her cheating ex-boyfriend, chef Val Navarro has focused on building her family's restaurant and the community organSince being publicly humiliated by her cheating ex-boyfriend, chef Val Navarro has focused on building her family's restaurant and the community organization she co-founded to protest the increasing gentrification of her neighborhood. A waterfront redevelopment project has caused a major increase in local rents, forcing out many of her longtime friends and neighbors, and Val fears that her family's building may be the next target. Her cousin Olivia thinks Val needs to take a break from her worries and get back out on the dating scene, so she convinces her to go out dancing with her one night. She's introduced to Philip Wagner through a mutual friend and they hit it off, spending most of the night talking. Even though Val isn't interested in a starting a relationship because of the trust issues caused by her ex-boyfriend's betrayal, she agrees to go on a date with Philip the following week. What she doesn't realize is that Philip's father is the property developer responsible for the redevelopment project in her neighborhood. When she finds out the truth, can Philip convince Val to trust him - and that it's worth taking a risk on love?
Philip and Val were super cute together, and I particularly enjoyed that they first connected over Star Wars. Despite their very different backgrounds and upbringings, they had a tremendous amount in common, and they just kept being drawn back together no matter how much they told themselves they should stay away. Val was incredibly passionate about her community, which really was an extension of her family. By contrast, Philip was an only child, and it seemed he often struggled for his father's love and approval. I think he was a genuinely good person and wanted to do the right thing, but he didn't have a reason to push back against his father until Val came along and made him realize that he needed to open his eyes to what was happening outside of his own little bubble.
Overall, "A Delicious Dilemma" was an excellent debut novel that I very much enjoyed. I recommend it for all contemporary romance fans and will definitely be keeping an eye out for Sera Taino's next book.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Meet Cute Creative. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
Since being publicly humiliated by her cheating ex-boyfriend, chef Val Navarro has focused on building her family's restaurant and the community organization she co-founded to protest the increasing gentrification of her neighborhood. A waterfront redevelopment project has caused a major increase in local rents, forcing out many of her longtime friends and neighbors, and Val fears that her family's building may be the next target. Her cousin Olivia thinks Val needs to take a break from her worries and get back out on the dating scene, so she convinces her to go out dancing with her one night. She's introduced to Philip Wagner through a mutual friend and they hit it off, spending most of the night talking. Even though Val isn't interested in a starting a relationship because of the trust issues caused by her ex-boyfriend's betrayal, she agrees to go on a date with Philip the following week. What she doesn't realize is that Philip's father is the property developer responsible for the redevelopment project in her neighborhood. When she finds out the truth, can Philip convince Val to trust him - and that it's worth taking a risk on love?
Philip and Val were super cute together, and I particularly enjoyed that they first connected over Star Wars. Despite their very different backgrounds and upbringings, they had a tremendous amount in common, and they just kept being drawn back together no matter how much they told themselves they should stay away. Val was incredibly passionate about her community, which really was an extension of her family. By contrast, Philip was an only child, and it seemed he often struggled for his father's love and approval. I think he was a genuinely good person and wanted to do the right thing, but he didn't have a reason to push back against his father until Val came along and made him realize that he needed to open his eyes to what was happening outside of his own little bubble.
Overall, "A Delicious Dilemma" was an excellent debut novel that I very much enjoyed. I recommend it for all contemporary romance fans and will definitely be keeping an eye out for Sera Taino's next book.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Meet Cute Creative. All opinions expressed are my own....more
Review for "Falling for a Friend" by Melonie Johnson
Children's librarian Mark Martin has been asking single mom Luna Ibarra out for a long time, bReview for "Falling for a Friend" by Melonie Johnson
Children's librarian Mark Martin has been asking single mom Luna Ibarra out for a long time, but she's always turned him down. Between running her farm and raising her 9-year-old son Toby, she has more than enough on her plate. Will a dare from her sister-in-law Sadie finally get her to take a chance and say yes to the handsome librarian?
This super cute, short, and sweet story was an absolute delight, filled with Johnson's signature blend of humor and heart. Readers familiar with the Sometimes in Love series may remember Luna as Bo's sister from the third book of the series ("Once Upon a Bad Boy"), but it works well as a standalone for those who are new to Johnson's work. I'd highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance fans and wouldn't mind seeing more of Luna and Mark in the future.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
Review for "Falling for a Friend" by Melonie Johnson
Children's librarian Mark Martin has been asking single mom Luna Ibarra out for a long time, but she's always turned him down. Between running her farm and raising her 9-year-old son Toby, she has more than enough on her plate. Will a dare from her sister-in-law Sadie finally get her to take a chance and say yes to the handsome librarian?
This super cute, short, and sweet story was an absolute delight, filled with Johnson's signature blend of humor and heart. Readers familiar with the Sometimes in Love series may remember Luna as Bo's sister from the third book of the series ("Once Upon a Bad Boy"), but it works well as a standalone for those who are new to Johnson's work. I'd highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance fans and wouldn't mind seeing more of Luna and Mark in the future.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own....more
"Kitty Valentine Dates a Rockstar" by Jillian Dodd was just as cute and laugh-out-loud funny as the previous installments of this series have been, an"Kitty Valentine Dates a Rockstar" by Jillian Dodd was just as cute and laugh-out-loud funny as the previous installments of this series have been, and I loved it. Kitty is a wonderful lead character: sweet, endearingly quirky, and a little clumsy at times, but so much braver than she thinks she is. She puts herself out there time and time again even though it's not easy for her to do, and she knows she might get hurt because casual relationships really aren't her thing. She seemed to do a bit better in terms of forming an emotional attachment to the subject of her dating research this time around, but unfortunately, she still managed to get hurt for different reasons.
Kitty's best friend, the snarky yet supportive Hayley, was just as much fun as usual, and I love that she's as much a sister to Kitty as a friend. I enjoyed seeing Hayley get a little flustered while meeting Kitty's romantic interest, former boy band member Dustin Grant. Hayley is normally so cool and collected, especially when compared to Kitty, but meeting Dustin turned her into a gushing, giggling fan girl, which made me laugh. It's nice to know that Hayley isn't quite as perfect as she sometimes seems! I find her to be a bit more human and relatable now, and I like her character even more than I did before.
Kitty's neighbor and frenemy Matt was also back in this installment, and I have to comment again on how much I love his and Kitty's banter. I really hope that the two of them end up together in the end. Watching them dance around each other through all of these books while Kitty dates other men for "research" is kind of like the ultimate slow burn relationship building, and I am here for it!
Overall, "Kitty Valentine Dates a Rockstar" was a tremendous amount of fun and I am very much looking forward to Kitty's next adventure. I highly recommend this series for all fans of chick lit and romantic comedy.
*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
"Kitty Valentine Dates a Rockstar" by Jillian Dodd was just as cute and laugh-out-loud funny as the previous installments of this series have been, and I loved it. Kitty is a wonderful lead character: sweet, endearingly quirky, and a little clumsy at times, but so much braver than she thinks she is. She puts herself out there time and time again even though it's not easy for her to do, and she knows she might get hurt because casual relationships really aren't her thing. She seemed to do a bit better in terms of forming an emotional attachment to the subject of her dating research this time around, but unfortunately, she still managed to get hurt for different reasons.
Kitty's best friend, the snarky yet supportive Hayley, was just as much fun as usual, and I love that she's as much a sister to Kitty as a friend. I enjoyed seeing Hayley get a little flustered while meeting Kitty's romantic interest, former boy band member Dustin Grant. Hayley is normally so cool and collected, especially when compared to Kitty, but meeting Dustin turned her into a gushing, giggling fan girl, which made me laugh. It's nice to know that Hayley isn't quite as perfect as she sometimes seems! I find her to be a bit more human and relatable now, and I like her character even more than I did before.
Kitty's neighbor and frenemy Matt was also back in this installment, and I have to comment again on how much I love his and Kitty's banter. I really hope that the two of them end up together in the end. Watching them dance around each other through all of these books while Kitty dates other men for "research" is kind of like the ultimate slow burn relationship building, and I am here for it!
Overall, "Kitty Valentine Dates a Rockstar" was a tremendous amount of fun and I am very much looking forward to Kitty's next adventure. I highly recommend this series for all fans of chick lit and romantic comedy.
*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own....more
I loved Jennifer Bernard's "Naughty All Night," book #5 of the Lost Harbor, Alaska series. While each book can easily be read as a standalone, I have I loved Jennifer Bernard's "Naughty All Night," book #5 of the Lost Harbor, Alaska series. While each book can easily be read as a standalone, I have enjoyed getting to know several secondary characters through their appearances across multiple stories. The male lead character of this story, Fire Chief Darius Boone, is one whose story I have been particularly anticipating. He seemed like such a great guy from the first time he was introduced, and I've always appreciated his protective nature and sense of humor. It was wonderful to see him finally meet his match in attorney Kate Robinson, whose desire to protect the ones she loved complemented Darius perfectly. Their banter as they got to know each other was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the slow burn between them as their relationship grew. They almost got together a few times, but circumstances kept getting in the way. I think I may have been nearly as frustrated as Darius and Kate by the time the stars finally aligned in their favor!
Just as in the previous books of the series, the secondary characters in this story were a tremendous amount of fun and added a lot of depth to the narrative. I enjoyed meeting Kate's grandmother, Emma, and was very happy to catch up with S.G., the teenage runaway featured in book #3. I've been wondering what happened to her ever since we last saw her.
Overall, "Naughty All Night" was a sweet, funny, and charming story that I highly recommend for all fans of contemporary romance. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series!
*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
I loved Jennifer Bernard's "Naughty All Night," book #5 of the Lost Harbor, Alaska series. While each book can easily be read as a standalone, I have enjoyed getting to know several secondary characters through their appearances across multiple stories. The male lead character of this story, Fire Chief Darius Boone, is one whose story I have been particularly anticipating. He seemed like such a great guy from the first time he was introduced, and I've always appreciated his protective nature and sense of humor. It was wonderful to see him finally meet his match in attorney Kate Robinson, whose desire to protect the ones she loved complemented Darius perfectly. Their banter as they got to know each other was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the slow burn between them as their relationship grew. They almost got together a few times, but circumstances kept getting in the way. I think I may have been nearly as frustrated as Darius and Kate by the time the stars finally aligned in their favor!
Just as in the previous books of the series, the secondary characters in this story were a tremendous amount of fun and added a lot of depth to the narrative. I enjoyed meeting Kate's grandmother, Emma, and was very happy to catch up with S.G., the teenage runaway featured in book #3. I've been wondering what happened to her ever since we last saw her.
Overall, "Naughty All Night" was a sweet, funny, and charming story that I highly recommend for all fans of contemporary romance. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series!
*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own....more
P. Dangelico's "Carried Away" gave me all the feels, and I loved it. This heartwarming, funny, and sweet story featured likeable, well-developed charaP. Dangelico's "Carried Away" gave me all the feels, and I loved it. This heartwarming, funny, and sweet story featured likeable, well-developed characters and an engaging plot that kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime. As an added bonus, the author threw in a few sly little 2020 and pandemic jokes that probably made me laugh harder than they should have, given the situation. (As they say, sometimes laughter is the best medicine, right?)
The book's female lead, Carrie, was funny and adorably quirky even as she faced serious problems like losing her job and having to move back home to a town she didn't particularly like. I especially loved that she so often wore her hair in Princess Leia buns! Carrie's love interest, Jake, was a delightfully grumpy hero who had completely valid reasons for being grouchy and withdrawn. My heart hurt for him for a lot of reasons, and I was glad that Carrie was eventually able to help him come out of his shell and find a path to happiness. Their enemies-to-lovers, slow burn relationship dynamic was a lot of fun, and their witty banter along the way made me laugh out loud more than once.
The secondary characters in this story were a lot of fun as well, particularly Carrie's family members and her friend Gina. Carrie's sister Jackie, with her pregnancy hormones and one-track mind, were often hilarious. I enjoyed Gina's maybe-relationship with Carrie's newspaper colleague, Gray, too.
Overall, "Carried Away" was a wonderful story and I am happy to recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to reading more of P. Dangelico's books in the future!
*ARC provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
P. Dangelico's "Carried Away" gave me all the feels, and I loved it. This heartwarming, funny, and sweet story featured likeable, well-developed characters and an engaging plot that kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime. As an added bonus, the author threw in a few sly little 2020 and pandemic jokes that probably made me laugh harder than they should have, given the situation. (As they say, sometimes laughter is the best medicine, right?)
The book's female lead, Carrie, was funny and adorably quirky even as she faced serious problems like losing her job and having to move back home to a town she didn't particularly like. I especially loved that she so often wore her hair in Princess Leia buns! Carrie's love interest, Jake, was a delightfully grumpy hero who had completely valid reasons for being grouchy and withdrawn. My heart hurt for him for a lot of reasons, and I was glad that Carrie was eventually able to help him come out of his shell and find a path to happiness. Their enemies-to-lovers, slow burn relationship dynamic was a lot of fun, and their witty banter along the way made me laugh out loud more than once.
The secondary characters in this story were a lot of fun as well, particularly Carrie's family members and her friend Gina. Carrie's sister Jackie, with her pregnancy hormones and one-track mind, were often hilarious. I enjoyed Gina's maybe-relationship with Carrie's newspaper colleague, Gray, too.
Overall, "Carried Away" was a wonderful story and I am happy to recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to reading more of P. Dangelico's books in the future!
*ARC provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own....more
Like the first book in the series, "Kitty Valentine Dates a Doctor" by Jillian Dodd was a super cute and laugh-out-loud funny story featuring endearinLike the first book in the series, "Kitty Valentine Dates a Doctor" by Jillian Dodd was a super cute and laugh-out-loud funny story featuring endearing characters and an engaging plot. Main character Kitty is delightfully quirky and sweet, and it's very easy to root for her to find a romantic partner who will appreciate how special she is along with the inspiration she's seeking for her stories through these dating adventures. Until then, Kitty has a great sidekick in snarky yet supportive BFF Hayley, who does a great job of helping Kitty get out of her comfort zone. (Sidenote: I hope there are plans for Hayley to find a partner of her own! Wouldn't it be funny if she ended up falling for one of Kitty's cast-off "research subjects" along the way?)
I've also enjoyed Kitty's relationship with her neighbor/frenemy Matt. I have to wonder if the two of them aren't secretly harboring romantic feelings for each other. Maybe Hayley should add "neighbor" to her trope wheel and see what happens! ;-)
Overall, "Kitty Valentine Dates a Doctor" was a tremendous amount of fun, and I highly recommend it for fans of chick lit and romantic comedy. I'm excited to see who Kitty will date next!
*ARC provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
Like the first book in the series, "Kitty Valentine Dates a Doctor" by Jillian Dodd was a super cute and laugh-out-loud funny story featuring endearing characters and an engaging plot. Main character Kitty is delightfully quirky and sweet, and it's very easy to root for her to find a romantic partner who will appreciate how special she is along with the inspiration she's seeking for her stories through these dating adventures. Until then, Kitty has a great sidekick in snarky yet supportive BFF Hayley, who does a great job of helping Kitty get out of her comfort zone. (Sidenote: I hope there are plans for Hayley to find a partner of her own! Wouldn't it be funny if she ended up falling for one of Kitty's cast-off "research subjects" along the way?)
I've also enjoyed Kitty's relationship with her neighbor/frenemy Matt. I have to wonder if the two of them aren't secretly harboring romantic feelings for each other. Maybe Hayley should add "neighbor" to her trope wheel and see what happens! ;-)
Overall, "Kitty Valentine Dates a Doctor" was a tremendous amount of fun, and I highly recommend it for fans of chick lit and romantic comedy. I'm excited to see who Kitty will date next!
*ARC provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own....more
Mechanic Everett Teal and ER nurse Hayden Scott have been best friends for years. Everett recently realized that he's gay and that his feelings for HaMechanic Everett Teal and ER nurse Hayden Scott have been best friends for years. Everett recently realized that he's gay and that his feelings for Hayden go beyond friendship, but the problem is that, as far as Hayden knows, Everett is straight. He's finally worked up the courage to make his move while they're away for the weekend attending a friend's wedding. When he realizes the truth, Hayden is understandably surprised and worried that he'll lose his best friend if their romantic relationship doesn't work out. Can Everett convince Hayden that their love is worth the risk?
Hayden and Everett were so cute together! After meeting them in earlier books of the series, I think it's safe to say that the only one who didn't know Everett was in love with Hayden was Hayden. They knew each other well after decades of friendship, but obviously they could still surprise each other. I loved how light and fun their story was, particularly the text message exchanges and Hayden's unlikely friendship with Sorren. (I can't believe they bonded over romance novels, of all things!)
I highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans and can't wait for the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Merged review:
Mechanic Everett Teal and ER nurse Hayden Scott have been best friends for years. Everett recently realized that he's gay and that his feelings for Hayden go beyond friendship, but the problem is that, as far as Hayden knows, Everett is straight. He's finally worked up the courage to make his move while they're away for the weekend attending a friend's wedding. When he realizes the truth, Hayden is understandably surprised and worried that he'll lose his best friend if their romantic relationship doesn't work out. Can Everett convince Hayden that their love is worth the risk?
Hayden and Everett were so cute together! After meeting them in earlier books of the series, I think it's safe to say that the only one who didn't know Everett was in love with Hayden was Hayden. They knew each other well after decades of friendship, but obviously they could still surprise each other. I loved how light and fun their story was, particularly the text message exchanges and Hayden's unlikely friendship with Sorren. (I can't believe they bonded over romance novels, of all things!)
I highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans and can't wait for the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own....more
After an ugly breakup, Trey Wilson swore off serious relationships and embraced the bachelor life. Despite his self-imposed rules, he can't help beingAfter an ugly breakup, Trey Wilson swore off serious relationships and embraced the bachelor life. Despite his self-imposed rules, he can't help being drawn to bartender Rylee Hart, though the feisty single mom continually shuts him down because he reminds her too much of her cheating ex-husband. She can't resist using him for a distraction after a bad day, however, and what starts off as a fling gradually evolves into a friends with benefits arrangement. But things between Trey and Rylee change again when she finds out that she's pregnant. He'll have to prove that she can count on him for the long haul...or lose her forever.
I've been looking forward to Trey's story ever since his friend Seth's book and it did not disappoint. I loved the flirty, witty banter between Trey and Rylee, as well as his sweet efforts to take care of her and her daughter, Abby. I also appreciated that, even though he sometimes got ahead of himself and tried to speed things up, he was willing to take their relationship at the pace that made Rylee comfortable. They made a great couple and I was rooting for them the whole way.
Overall, I very much enjoyed "Love Is Ale You Need" and highly recommend it for all fans of steamy contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the author's next release.
*Review copy provided by the author via Indie Pen PR. All opinions expressed are my own....more
After leaving her A-list actor fiance at the altar, pop star Laina Kelley desperately needs a place to hide. She's not sure where to go until her firsAfter leaving her A-list actor fiance at the altar, pop star Laina Kelley desperately needs a place to hide. She's not sure where to go until her first love, small town farrier Luke Marshall, suddenly springs to mind. A tiny bit of breaking and entering later, she's sitting on his couch and waiting for him to get home. Luckily for Laina, Luke's willing to let her stay until the media attention calms down, and all it will cost her is some manual labor. When she agrees to Luke's proposition, Laina expects her only challenge to be mucking out horse stalls; in reality, it will be far more difficult to stop herself from falling in love with him all over again.
In her author's note, Locke describes this story as a "hug in book form," and I completely agree with that assessment. From their very first interaction, it was clear that Luke and Laina belonged together. I appreciated that Laina remained so down-to-earth despite her level of success, as well as how conscious she was of the sacrifices she'd be asking Luke to make if he chose to be with her. There wasn't an easy answer for how to make their relationship work, but I was rooting for them the whole way.
Overall, I adored "This Much Is True" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own....more
Loading...
