Tag: laugh out loud books

REVIEW: The Blast from the Past by Lucy Score

REVIEW: The Blast from the Past by Lucy Score

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

At the end of their last adventure, Riley, Nick, and Kellen found out that Kellen’s missing and presumed-dead sister is actually alive. And this has Nick ignoring Riley, turning down paid work, and obsessing over finding Beth.

But Beth surprises everyone by coming home on her own – with a story straight out of a decades-old movie – to explain her 6 year absence. And Riley ends up burning out her psychic gifts when she tries to use them to discover the truth.

So Riley and her friends will have to use more traditional means to figure out Beth’s real story as well as solve several small but important cases for Nick’s business before Riley loses everything she holds dear.

Review

This series makes me deliriously happy. I suffered at the end of this because I couldn’t immediately start another one. Book 4 didn’t exist at that point! By the time this posts, though, the book will be out, and I will have finished it. So stay tuned for another Riley Thorn review in the coming months.

This series is like the Bakeshop mysteries or the Meg Langslow series in that the core cast is what makes the series so appealing. I love these characters so much! I would forego the mystery and still be just as happy with these books. Thankfully, though, Score keeps serving up fascinating, twisty crimes for readers to enjoy alongside the antics of the series regulars.

The main mystery here is a bit thin – we know Beth is lying and it takes a while for the truth to come out. But the side cases Riley and her friends are working are enjoyable and wacky and keep the reader thoroughly entertained.

I can’t get enough of the series. Each book brings me true joy. It’s not often a “rom-com” truly can make me laugh, but these books deliver every time. The author left a note in this one explaining how she planned a trilogy, but the series ideas keep growing. And I couldn’t be happier. More Riley! More Nick! More Burt! More Wander! More Gabe! Well, you get the idea. Series fans should not miss this one. Newcomers should start with book one, The Dead Guy Next Door. (Language, sex, TW: Bullying, paranormal: tarot, clairvoyance)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

REVIEW: Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

In a life full of embarrassing mishaps and disasters, the latest – she burned down her apartment building while burning love letters from her ex – has left Olivia living with her older brother and his gorgeous yet annoying roommate. She literally has only the clothes on her back after the fire. She needs a job; she needs a break.

The one bright spot in the whole thing is a misdialed text that turns into a funny, flirty, banter-filled relationship with a stranger. But when the “stranger” discovers Olivia’s identity, he knows it can’t go any farther. Olivia is super off-limits. No matter how much he is captivated by her.

Review

This was so fun! The story is, of course, familiar – You’ve Got Mail, Shop Around the Corner. And it’s familiar because it works. And while a familiar plot could feel done or over-done, the execution here is great. The characters are endearing and funny, with great chemistry! I cared about this relationship from the start and was rooting for it until the end. The secondary characters were fun as well. I especially enjoyed the sibling relationships. The various parents were the worst, but they were relegated to something for the characters to push against, so we only had them in thankfully small doses.

If you love romantic comedies that make you literally laugh out loud, and you are intrigued by the set up here, be sure to pick this one up! I loved both the story and the characters in this one. Such a fun read! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.