Tag: romance

REVIEW: The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

REVIEW: The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

After a string of bad dates, Cassie is giving up on her dating app and the blind date scene. Her best friend is convinced the string of bad luck is because her dating profile says she doesn’t want kids. She actually does, but she physically can’t have them. And that has caused enough heartache all on its own. She can’t get attached to a guy and then find out it’s a deal breaker.

Jett can’t believe he found Cassie on that dating app. He had such a huge crush on her when she was a senior in high school. As a lowly freshman, she didn’t know he even existed. But now he has a chance to try again.

And they hit it off. They have a great first date. They exchange some flirty texts. And then, in a moment, everything changes. Each of them becomes the caretaker of three kids. And neither wants to tell the other and risk ruining the tender new relationship they had just started to explore. But the girls in Cassie’s care are in desperate need of love and stability. And Jett’s niece and nephews are traumatized after being abandoned. They have to prioritize the kids. But how long can they keep up the charade of being the same single people they were on their first date?

Review

This was great! I loved watching how these two single people were transformed when they became instant parents to three kids each. It was hard, but they also determined it was worth every struggle.

The end was a little abrupt, at least on Cassie’s side. We get no explanation of how things wrap up like they do. But I enjoyed the wrap up and the epilogue.

I expected more Christian content since this is published by Thomas Nelson, but other than an extended scene at church, there aren’t really any faith pieces to this.

Expectations are a BIG deal when it comes to this book. The publicity materials sell this as a “romantic comedy.” I did not find that to be true at all. Jett and Cassie barely spend any time together before the arrival of the kids, and even less after. It’s almost like the romantic relationship is based on imagination and potential rather than reality. Thankfully the epilogue takes place a year later so I could tell myself they had a real foundation by then. But there’s not a lot of romance happening in the story. I also didn’t find it especially funny. I thought of it as a Christmas story, and in that regard, I was satisfied. This situation is fascinating. I would have liked more obvious treatment for the girls in Cassie’s care and more discipline and boundaries for Jett’s three. But I enjoyed the story for what it was – a story of two adults who let the unexpected upend their lives for the sake of kids who need them.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

BONUS REVIEW: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Nina Hill is quite content with her bookish life, thank you very much. She works at a bookstore, and runs their kids’ book clubs. She attends her own book club and store author events. She is very attached to her planner and her quiet routines. Add in her trivia team – Book ‘Em, Danno – and what more could she possibly need?

Certainly not the good looking guy from her rival quiz team You’re a Quizzard, Harry. He might be handsome and all, but he seems to only know useless sports trivia. Sure, that horse racing fact came in handy for the Quizzards, but if she was going to date a guy, he had to be a reader.

Nina also does NOT need the drama of discovering her birth father. She’s lived almost thirty years without him, and now that he’s dead, what more could he provide?

But the man had a family – and money. Nina’s new siblings and extended family want to meet her, and some want to keep her from any part of the estate. An estate she couldn’t care less about.

Life was so much simpler when it was just Nina, her cat and her quiet bookish life!

Review

I’m sure my husband was tired of me reading passages to him every couple pages, but the writing here is clever and snappy. I adored it! This falls into a narrow category of the “perfect” book for me. I loved the characters. The writing is sharp. I laughed often; the book and pop culture references were fantastic! I didn’t want to put the book down, but at the same time I didn’t want it to end.

Nina is a hoot! She’s crazy smart, witty and quirky. I clicked with her book love – of course – and her organized approach to life. She’s a cat person. She has made the best out of a non-traditional upbringing. I adored her. Add in two awesome kid characters – Clare and Millie – and a couple of Nina’s new relatives, and I was in awesome-character heaven. Even the most abrasive character was a favorite by the end.

I expected Nina’s anxiety over this new family to make that part of the story awkward and angsty, but it was actually my favorite part of the book.  The romantic storyline was good, but the family piece was outstanding! I read this from the library, but this is now a must-buy for me. And I loved the writing in this from the first sentence, so I’ll be checking out the author’s other work asap. (Mostly off-page sex. Includes discussion questions for book groups.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

REVIEW: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Olive has known Ethan for a couple years now, since her twin Ami started dating his brother, Dane. She’s never particularly liked Ethan. There’s usually a simmering hostility between them.

When Ami and Dane plan their wedding, Olive and Ethan are right there, maid of honor and best man. And while Olive considers herself a bad luck magnet, Ami is the opposite. She loves entering sweepstakes and contests, and she often wins. In fact, most of the wedding – and the 10 day honeymoon in Maui – are things Ami has won.

Olive and Ethan are the only two people at the wedding who don’t partake of the seafood buffet at the reception. Therefore, they are the only two who do NOT get food poisoning. Since the honeymoon trip is a contest prize, there is no way for Ami to postpone the trip. So she begs Olive to take her place and enjoy the vacation. And Ethan is going, too. Now Olive has to pretend to be married to her nemesis in romantic Hawaii. How is she going to pull that off?

Review

This is laugh-out-loud hilarious, at least for the first half of the book. It’s an absolute delight. Olive completely cracked me up – so brash and honest. It’s fantastic. I love a story that makes me laugh.

This would be perfect as a Hallmark movie. You’ve got the enemies-to-lovers situation as well as a fake relationship, two of my favorite romance tropes. And if you have a story where people have to hide who they really are, there’s always a moment where things fall apart. When that happens, the humor of the story pulls back and leaves room for other emotions. And this book hits those emotions just right.

Through everything – the snarky, hilarious beginning, the blossoming romance, and the dumpster fire when everything falls apart – Olive shines. I loved her. She tries to learn from her mistakes. She’s honest to the point of almost blowing their cover multiple times. And she evaluates and stands by her instincts, even when they cost her almost everything. While the whole story is a treat, I stayed with this one because of Olive. Don’t miss her story! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: It Started with Goodbye by Christina June

REVIEW: It Started with Goodbye by Christina June

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It starts when Tatum’s best friend asks for a ride. Before Tatum really knows what’s happening, she’s being arrested because her best friend’s boyfriend decided committing grand larceny was a terrific idea. While Tatum was only there to keep an eye on her friend because she didn’t trust the boyfriend, she now has a record, a fine and community service. And she’s completely lost the trust of her dad and step-mother.

At home, Tatum’s punishment is a loss of most of her freedom. Her step-mother checks her mileage before and after she drives to work. She also denies Tatum any chance to socialize outside of her community service hours. Her step-mom even called her own mother to stay with them for the summer to help watch Tatum while she works and manages her daughter’s dance career. And Tatum’s father leaves the country for work right after everything falls apart, leaving her at the mercy of her critical, demanding, helicopter “step-monster.”

Tatum has a lot of time this summer for contemplation. And she has a lot to consider – her relationship with the people in her house, her friendship with the “best friend” who got her into this mess, and questions of who she even wants to be. One saving factor for her summer is the graphic design business she starts. Not only is the work a nice, creative distraction that will help her pay off her fine, but it also puts her in touch with a talented, flirty musician in need of a website. His emails definitely make her summer more enjoyable!

Review

This was so sweet! I loved it. The family and friendship pieces of this Cinderella-esque tale are terrific. The dynamics between Tatum and her step-mother and step-sister are fascinating. There’s a lot to overcome here, but also some things that maybe Tatum isn’t seeing or reading correctly. There are issues with Tatum’s dad, too, frankly, but those are more in the background since he’s gone for most of the book. Tatum’s step-grandmother, though, is a breath of fresh air in a tension-filled home where control, authority and propriety are the name of the game.

But the romance is what delighted me. It’s warm and sweet and builds perfectly. I loved every moment of it! I would have read five more chapters of just the happy couple together – along with the two other potential couples from the story. They were adorable.

I have really enjoyed the books published by Blink YA in the past. I read this author’s book No Place Like Here earlier this year and loved it. But it wasn’t until I finished this that I realized No Place stars Tatum’s best friend from this book and is the third book in a collection. Now I’m going to have to read that book again to put it in its proper context. And I have to track down the second book, Everywhere You Want to Be, that stars Tatum’s step-sister. I need to get the full story on these young women!

So far, this is my favorite of the two Christina June books I have read. But I recommend both of them for readers who love contemporary YA with some romance. Obviously the books stand alone, which is good for clueless readers like me. But I am eager to read them in order to get the full picture of the teens and their lives as things develop for all three of them.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

REVIEW: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

On a random Tuesday, on her usual mid-day walk, Chloe Brown almost died. If she had been just a couple feet in the other direction, the drunk driver would have hit her instead of that coffee shop. She was unhurt, but in shock. The whole thing sent her chronically ill body into a tailspin. But it wasn’t only physically jarring. She also realized her life is bland, and she has nothing to show for her years on this earth. Maybe it’s time for Chloe to get a life!

Step one is moving out of the family home and getting her own place. Done! The other six items on her “get a life” list are taking longer. Well, actually, the last one – Do Something Bad – she has technically already completed, too.

Redford Morgan is the supervisor for Chloe’s apartment building. And every time she runs into him there’s some drama going on, and she ends up at the center of it, looking like a fool or a shrew. She tries to avoid him whenever possible. But in the evenings, he often paints in his living room with the curtains open. And his shirt off. His apartment is right across from her’s. She couldn’t help but see him. She knew it was a serious invasion of his privacy to keep watching, hiding behind her own curtains, but she was drawn to the sight of him, lost in his work.

When Red finds Chloe stuck in a tree after trying to rescue a cat, they actually have a couple moments of civility with one another. And Chloe starts to wonder if maybe Red could help her check off a couple other items on her Get a Life list.

Review

It took me awhile to warm up to these two characters, especially Red. They were both abrasive to each other early on, and Red was crass even in his own thoughts and perspectives on things. But as the characters warmed up to one another, I started to like them more, both as individuals and as a potential couple.

While Chloe’s bucket list/Get a Life list launches her journey towards Red and helps move the relationship along, I never felt she was really attached to it. She even admits this over time. So it was a plot device that didn’t ever click for me.

But in the end, I loved Chloe and Red together. I appreciated that they recognized they might need therapeutic help with their individual baggage. I loved how attentive Red was to Chloe, almost intuiting at times how her illness was impacting her. It felt like he was the first, maybe ever, to care about her enough to pay that level of attention. It was awesome. I especially liked that this book honestly and thoroughly (at least as much as I could tell as an “outsider”) dealt with Chloe’s chronic illness.  There were several factors in the story that were a lovely departure from a standard, stereotypical romance novel couple (interracial couple, Chloe’s illness, Chloe’s weight, etc.).

This is going to be the first in the Brown Sisters series, so the subsequent books will address Chloe’s sisters. I was happy to see this because I found myself wanting more interaction with the two women as this novel progressed. I think that would have been a great addition to this story, but it will be good for each of them to tell her own story, too. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

REVIEW: Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Tate was 18, she and her grandmother left their small town behind for a couple weeks and flew to London. While she was there, Tate met Sam who was there with his grandfather. Every evening, Tate and Sam would hang out in the hotel garden, talking. After a few nights, Tate shared her biggest secret.

Tate’s parents had been actors in LA. Her father was especially well known. When her mother had had enough of his infidelity, they left town. It was national news – Ian Bishop’s wife and daughter “disappeared.” Where did they go? What were they doing now? Tate kept the news mostly to herself and never pursued a relationship with her father. Her mom and grandmother told her to never tell another person.

As Tate and Sam spent more time together in London they grew closer. Their friendship became more and more romantic, and their relationship turned physical. Then suddenly, one morning, Sam was gone. In his place were crowds of reporters who suddenly knew her true identity. And all the secrets she shared with Sam were in every tabloid and newspaper.

Fourteen years later, as Tate is getting read to star in her seventh feature film, the first she is making with her father, Sam unexpectedly comes back into her life.

Review

I enjoyed this. I was surprised – and pleased – with how much time was devoted to the first part of the story. Expecting something much shorter, I found the extended focus really gave me a lot of time to get to know the characters. The London betrayal had a bigger emotional punch because I was invested in both characters.

I would have loved to know more of what Tate did in the 14 year gap, but I was happy with how the authors conveyed an older, more mature Tate. The reunion was obviously coming, but Tate’s shock was perfect. I was drawn into all the emotions Tate was working through on the set of the movie – with Sam, with her father, with her acting career, with the character she was playing, etc. Not only does she have the anger and hurt from Sam’s betrayal and the shock of his appearance, but she is also self-conscious about her career. Is she ready for this kind of role? And her relationship with her father is easily as complex as the one with Sam. All of these pieces kept me turning pages.

This is a solid romance with fascinating characters in an interesting situation. If you are a fan of contemporary romance or the authors’ other work, be sure to check this one out. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½

 

BONUS REVIEW: Puppy Christmas by Lucy Gilmore

BONUS REVIEW: Puppy Christmas by Lucy Gilmore

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lila Vasquez and her sisters run a puppy training business for service dogs. And that’s why she’s wearing the pink poofy dress that makes her look like Glenda the Good Witch. “It’s a costume party,” her sisters said. But it was a classy black tie affair instead. One where Lily’s business, Puppy Promise, was partnering with the Auditory Guild to give a service puppy to a kid.

While Lila was trying to hide her embarrassing dress, she caught the attention of Emily Ford, a little girl at the party who thought Lila was a princess. After an awkward exchange with Emily’s dad – one that included a waltz to no music – Lila was happy to send the pair on their way so she could hide her humiliation and never have to see them again. But it turns out, Emily is the recipient of the puppy from Puppy Promise.

Lila’s work training Emily and her new service puppy means she is at the Ford’s house a lot. And Emily’s father has a way of making Lila feel things she has never felt in a relationship – or about herself – before. But when it looks like the Fords will be moving away, all of the progress made – for Emily and her dad, for the puppy, and for Lila – may turn out to be for nothing.

Review

This was darling! I am a sucker for stories with endearing kid and animal characters, and this has both. The adult characters are great, too. I loved Ford and his fascinating neighbors. Lila and her sisters are terrific, too. As soon as I finished this, I grabbed book one, Puppy Love, off my TBR shelves – it was also delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed both stories (so far) about these sisters and their puppy training business.

The premise for this is pretty typical – a Hallmark-esque meet cute and relationship disaster with a lovely Happily Ever After sort of ending. What sets this apart for me are the characters. Emily’s hearing loss and need for a puppy was fully integrated into the story, even though the main focus was the adult romance. The adults in the story – mainly Lila and Ford – are enchanting and flawed. And those flaws impact their individual decisions as well as the chemistry between them. The puppies throughout the book were adorable. And their impact on Emily and another kid in the story was terrific.

This was a delightful start-to-finish read for me, and the rest of the series is on my must-read list. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Coming Home for Christmas by Rae Anne Thayne

REVIEW: Coming Home for Christmas by Rae Anne Thayne

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Seven years ago, consumed by unresolved grief and deep postpartum depression, Elizabeth fled from her home and her family, convinced it was the only way to protect them. She didn’t intend to disappear. In fact, within hours, her head had cleared enough that she wanted to go home and find real help. But a patch of ice on a quiet road changed everything.

Luke had mostly convinced himself that Elizabeth was dead. As depressed as she was, she likely took her own life. But he still held onto a shred of hope that some day she would come back home.

Luke endured years of whispers and outright accusations that he murdered Elizabeth. And the new town DA had decided to make her job permanent by filing charges against him. But Luke’s sister’s fiancé has found her. And Luke can’t afford to let her stay in hiding when his life is on the line. So he’s going to get Elizabeth, bring her home to clear his name, and send her back so he can finally move on with his life.

Review

This is a warm holiday story – Book 10 in the Haven Point series – to help you get in the mood for Christmas.

The dynamics between Luke and Elizabeth are complicated. It’s been 7 years – that’s a long time to wonder where she’s been. People in town have been cruel, assuming Luke must have hurt her. She left without a word or a note. He has every right to be angry. I found his part of the story completely believable.

I’m not sure the book made a convincing argument for why Elizabeth stayed gone after her memory returned. She snuck back into town to see the kids, so she obviously wanted a connection. (The book also didn’t satisfy my questions about how she would know WHEN exactly to come back to see the kids in their events. She lived in another state and had no contact with anyone from her old life.) Readers are expected to settle for the idea that she felt too much had happened for her to go back. I wasn’t convinced.

I thought the kids reactions were pretty realistic. And the depictions of Elizabeth’s condition after the accident were also handled well. I didn’t fall in love with any of these characters, though, so I never fell under the magic of the holiday or romantic parts of the story. It’s a solid Christmas tale with an interesting premise and a Happy For Now ending that many readers will enjoy. (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne

REVIEW: Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Claire, Naomi, and Audrey met the day of Claire’s husband’s funeral. It was also the day of Naomi’s lover’s funeral. And Audrey’s boyfriend’s funeral. All three funerals were for the same man. That was the day the Central Park Pact was set. The three women would help each other watch out for manipulative, cheating men.

A year later, and Naomi’s fallen in love with a great guy (Passion on Park Avenue – ♥♥♥♥½). But Claire is still trying to figure out this weird new life. It’s hard to be a grieving wife when you are best friends with your husband’s mistresses – and you know he died on a “date” with someone else. But that’s still what she is – a grieving widow. How does she move forward after such betrayal?

One way is a complete overhaul of the brownstone where she and her husband lived. Scott Turner is an in-demand builder. He usually does multi-million dollar office buildings and skyscrapers. But he’s back in the city for a little while and itching to do a project that lets him work in a different sort of space. He’s pretty sure Claire’s brownstone is NOT it, though. He plans to meet his buddy’s friend, look at her project, and turn her down. Scott refuses to work with stuffy socialites. But Claire is nothing like he expects.

Review

This series has been a delightful surprise! I picked up Passion on Park Avenue from the library so I could read it before reading this one, just so I would have the characters and context in my head. I read it in a day and loved it. I jumped this one ahead in my review schedule because I enjoyed the first book so much. I was not disappointed! I read this in one sitting as well.

I love these characters! They’re complicated and compelling. The cheating jerk has impacted each of these women in different ways. Add to that their personal stories and emotional baggage, and you’ve got characters I wanted to spend time with. They’re fascinating! Then add to that some interesting guys and excellent chemistry, and you’ve got a romance series I would happily read again and again.

If you enjoy contemporary romance, don’t miss this series! Book 3, Marriage on Madison Avenue, releases in January. That will be a must-read for me. And I’ll be checking out the author’s other work because I have adored the two books in this series so far. Highly recommend! (language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Sidelined by Suzanne Baltsar

REVIEW: Sidelined by Suzanne Baltsar

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Charlie Gibb has been working in recruitment at Georgia Tech for five years. But no matter what she does – playing professional women’s football, assistant coaching special teams, or recruitment – she knows this is the best she will get at Georgia Tech. Too many people think she only has the job she does because her dad is the football coach. So she goes looking for another job. And she ends up head coach at Douglass High School in Minneapolis.

Connor McGuire has been with the Douglass team for eight years. When the coach retired, everyone assumed Connor, the offensive coordinator, would get the job. But Charlie got it instead. Connor knows the players and the parents. He’s put in the time. Who is this woman they chose over him?!

There’s a lot of push and pull between Connor and Charlie as Charlie develops her team and Connor discovers she might actually know what she’s talking about. Charlie’s own past causes her to keep impossibly high standards for herself both professionally and personally, making it hard to feel like she has found a home in Minneapolis.  Add to that the forces at work that want to push her off the team. When push comes to shove, will Connor stand with her or against her?

Review

This was great! I loved the football pieces and the character development in this. The feminist story line had some familiar themes, but they felt fresh in the context of this football story. It was great.

I liked Charlie and Connor as a couple, although it was often more antagonistic than warm between them. The larger circle of their friends, and Connor’s family, had a fun dynamic, too. I haven’t read the first book, Trouble Brewing, which includes some of these same characters, but that didn’t impact my enjoyment of this story on its own.

I enjoyed the wrap up of the conflicts central to the story. I especially enjoyed some encouragement Charlie gets in one part of the book to keep a bigger/wider perspective on her skills and experience. I thought it was a good reminder for anyone in a tough work situation.

Fans of The Playbook series or romance stories in general (and the enemies to lovers trope in specific) should check this one out! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥