Tag: romance

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Rory and her older sister, Merrilee, got into Hero High, it was supposed to be this “great opportunity.” Their oldest sister, Lilly, was marrying into a senator’s family, and the senator used her influence to get the girls into Reginald R. Hero High. Nevermind that her influence led to some resentment by some students and administrators about the girls skirting the rules and procedures. While Merrilee had negotiated a lot of that, and emerged triumphant, Rory was dealing with her own struggles.

Rory’s early weeks at Hero were not filled with a lot of academic success. It’s hard to be the little sister to someone as brilliant – and as personable – as Merri. And the one place that should have been a safe haven for Rory – the art room – was a bigger minefield than any of her academic classes. In Advanced Art, the freshman and “new girl” stuck out. And the resentment of the older students meant her easel was always under “accidental” assault. Her projects were “lost” or “destroyed” constantly. School was one disaster after another for Rory.

Even her life outside school was filled with complications. Her forever-crush, Toby, was her next door neighbor. There was no avoiding him. That meant she also couldn’t avoid seeing how he looked at Merri. Toby’s affection for Merri was at war with his hurt at seeing her fall for someone else. It was painful for Rory to watch while her own feelings of longing were obviously never going to be returned.

Two reading assignments for the mysterious Ms. Gregoire stir up a lot of questions and feelings for Rory as she considers her school woes, her family relationships, and her crush. She’s embarking on a life and literature adventure she won’t ever forget.

Review

When book 1, Bookish Boyfriends: A Date with Darcy released last year, there was no way I wasn’t going to read it. Books, romance and a possibly magical teacher pulling strings to use literature to instruct her students on life? SIGN ME UP! And book one was a DELIGHT in all ways – characters, story, heart. And I re-read it before starting this one so all the story details would be fresh for me.

That re-read actually made me a little nervous about reading this book. I loved Merri in book 1.  Her voice is a huge part of why I enjoyed that first story. Since this is Rory’s story, I was concerned I wouldn’t connect with her like I did with Merri.

Rory’s voice and story is EVEN BETTER!

I almost don’t have words for how much I adored this book. I think chapter 3 was when I started crying and fell in love with Rory. All the sharp, snarky attitude and behavior in book 1 suddenly made complete sense. I could see all the ways Rory developed to protect herself – from feeling “not enough” or left out or “settled for.” And this is a young woman who should never feel like she is second fiddle to anyone – no one should. I bookmarked more than 40 spots that were just magical for me in this story. Actually, I wasn’t even 1/4 through the review copy when I set it aside to pre-order my own copy. I am a fanatic for this story!

Just like with Merri’s story, Rory works through two books with Ms. Gregoire – The Great Gatsby and Little Women. As with book 1, I’ve only read one of those books, but I was completely able to follow the action here anyway. I almost felt like I was reading two whole books because of the depth of Rory’s story related to both of these classic novels. The author does not skimp through the arc of the first to get to the second. Both were important – to the story and to Rory’s growth.

I gushed at the author on social media because I just could not contain how much I was adoring this story. (It was too early to talk about it online because it wasn’t going to release for another month or two.) She told me book three will be Talk Nerdy to Me (2020), and she’s already at work on book 4. This series is now firmly on my “must buy” list. The richness in the characters and the stories are not to be missed. At every page turn, my heart sang, “I LOVE this book!” I could not have asked for a more perfect book for me.

I feel like there’s a lot for readers to learn here from Rory – what happens for her when she speaks her truth, how her feelings have driven her behavior, what role she should play when she’s unhappy in a relationships, etc. You do NOT want to miss this book – be sure to check out A Date with Darcy and then scoop up The Boy Next Story too. Perfect for summer reading. I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: Fumbled by Alexa Martin

REVIEW: Fumbled by Alexa Martin

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Poppy was a teenager, she got pregnant. When she told her boyfriend TK, his mom gave her money and told her to end the pregnancy. Keeping the baby cost her everything – TK, her parents, her home, and her life in DC.

Thankfully, Aunt Maya welcomed her into her home in Denver. Now it’s just Poppy and her son, Ace, but they are living a contented life together. He has always been the light of her life. They don’t have much money, but they get by. Sure, she has a crappy job as a waitress at the Emerald Cabaret. She has to wear a corset and ridiculously high heels every day. And occasionally she has to deal with sleazy customers who think they can touch as well as look. But Ace is worth any amount of hassle.

Poppy has always felt pretty lucky that the club doesn’t cater to a professional football clientele. Because TK is on the Denver Mustangs football team these days. And she does NOT need him stumbling back into her life. He has no idea Ace even exists. And Poppy is happy to keep it that way.

And then one night, the Mustangs show up at the Emerald Cabaret.

Review

This was so fun! I loved the first book in this series, Interception. The intersection of real life, romance and football is a great fit for me as a reader. In the first book, the main character needed to find her voice and her agency  over her own life (a theme I love in books). In this one, Poppy already knows who she is and what’s most important to her. The story in this one focuses on Poppy figuring out if TK belongs in her life at all.

This story is terrific! Poppy finds a fantastic circle in this book – football wives and other friends who care about her and about Ace first – before the Mustangs or TK or anything else. I also was thrilled at the honesty of the story – no secrets (other than Ace early on), no lies. Poppy speaks her mind and holds firm to her boundaries as a mom. She tells herself she can walk away from TK if he is not on board with what she has to say. The story also deals with contemporary issues in football, including concussion protocols and CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).

This is a must-read series for me – I love the sass and strength of the female characters and the happy endings in this series so far. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 3, Blitzed, due out before the end of the year! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala

REVIEW: Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Twenty years ago the world came crashing down for Phoebe and Aidan. A fire at Aidan’s father’s garage led to the death of Phoebe’s father at the bakery next door. The rumor was that Aidan’s father set the fire to get the insurance money because his wife’s cancer had wiped them out. It wasn’t true, but Phoebe’s family kept stoking the flames of the story. While Aidan had thought they were in love, Phoebe didn’t stand up for his family. When his mother died from her illness, Aidan and his father left town, ready to shake off the dust of Blessing’s accusations and mistrust. And when Phoebe showed up as they were leaving town to tell Aidan she believed them and still loved him, it was too little too late.

At the time, neither of them knew Phoebe was pregnant. She vowed not to tell Aidan until he chose to come back for her. When he didn’t, she raised their son on her own.

But Aidan is back in Blessings to handle some old family business. It won’t be long before someone tells him about his son. The question is what Aidan will do when he finds out.

Review

This is book 6 in the Blessings, Georgia series. I hadn’t read anything in the series before this, but it wasn’t an issue. The story stands completely on its own, although there are hints at some possible stories from previous books with some of the other town’s people. The author also seemed to be setting up a couple of characters for a future story in this book.

I loved every minute of this one. The three main characters – Phoebe, Aidan, and their son, Lee – are fantastic! And the road to reconciliation, while not easy, was not filled with needless angst and lies or hidden motives or misunderstandings to thwart them at every turn. That gets old for me after awhile. But this story just… unfolded. And I was able to sit back and enjoy watching it all happen.

Now I absolutely have to track down the rest of the series – including book seven, because the story I think is coming up next is shaping up to be excellent. [Some language.]

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik

REVIEW: Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ada Von Hasenberg has been on the run for two years from her father and an arranged marriage. As one of the younger kids in one of the High Houses, Ada would be most useful to her family in a political match. Then she could broker deals between the families – and spy on her in-laws. Once she ran, though, her father put a bounty on her head. She’s been captured and thrown into a cell to catch a transport home.

Marcus Loch is the prisoner sharing Ada’s cell. He’s also known as the Devil of Fornax Zero. He’s wanted for killing his superior officers and fellow soldiers. His bounty is almost as high as Ada’s. He’s a dangerous man – but he just might be exactly what Ada needs to escape.

As Ada is developing and discarding possible escape scenarios, her not-quite-fiancé, Richard Rockhurst, shows up, saying Ada’s father sent him to pick her up. Now, Ada’s been in hiding for two years, but she keeps up with the news and is in touch with her siblings. So she knows nothing has changed that would make that story remotely true. If Richard gets his hands on her, Ada and her family could be in trouble. If she takes her chances on Loch to help her escape, she could be aligning with a murderer. But she already knows she can’t go with Richard if she wants any sort of life on her own terms.

Review

This was spectacular! In my search for another series like Gini Koch’s Alien books, I have finally been successful. This has a similar combination of a science fiction story with a kick-butt protagonist and a romance with terrific chemistry. And I loved it. This could end up being my favorite book of 2019. It certainly is my favorite so far this year.

The plot is pretty simple. Ada and Loch go from capture to escape to capture to escape – one or both of them – with some regularity. In this way it is significantly different from Koch’s intricate, twisty plotting. But I enjoyed Ada so much, I was willing to follow her anywhere, even into captivity once again.

The political pieces of this world were fascinating. Three rival houses control the system, and their distrust and competition with one another usually helps keep everyone in check. But something threatens that tenuous balance. And no matter what has happened before, Ada is still committed to protecting her family (mostly for the sake of her siblings).

I have lots of questions moving forward. I want to know more about Ada’s siblings. I’m curious to see where things go after the closing events of this book. One character who drove some of Ada’s choices at one point completely disappeared in the later portions of this book – will he be a factor later? Thankfully, book 2 is scheduled to arrive in October of this year, so I don’t have to wait long. (Aurora Blazing – told from the perspective of one of Ada’s sisters! I have already pre-ordered this one.)

If you enjoy your science fiction with a strong female protagonist, be sure to check out Polaris Rising. I originally read this one from the library, but the minute I finished the book, I ordered my own copy. This is a re-read for me for sure! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: One Thing I Know by Kara Isaac

BONUS REVIEW: One Thing I Know by Kara Isaac

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lucas Grant has a sports radio show in Madison , Wisconsin. And while he’d love to spend the show talking Badgers, Brewers and Packers, his listeners have other plans. Lucas is single and straight-talking. And he is plagued by women calling his show to ask for relationship advice.

Rachel Somers is the personal assistant to relationship guru, Dr. Donna Somerville, at least on paper. In reality, though, Rachel writes the best-selling books, and her aunt Donna is the face of “Dr. Donna.” Most of the time. But every once in a while, if there’s a scheduling issue, Rachel will fill in for Donna on radio programs. Like Lucas’.

When Lucas joins Dr. Donna for a book tour titled Feelings and Football, it’s a chance for his career to grow. In fact, he gets a job offer that would really help out Lucas’ whole family. But the catch is that he has to dig into Dr. Donna’s history and expose any secrets he finds. Lucas has no patience for lies and deception, so he’s okay with the idea of digging for the truth. Plus everything with Donna seems on the up and up. But Rachel is growing more uncomfortable with all the deception about her role in the brand. And she’s not sure how people will feel when the truth finally comes out, especially how Lucas will feel.

Review

The plot for this book reads like a typical Hallmark movie. The reader knows going in that it’s all going to fall apart about ¾ of the way through. It’s just a matter of how it falls apart and what pieces are irreparably damaged in the end.

One Thing I Know delivered everything I expected and one thing I didn’t. The main characters were terrific. I completely understood how each of them got to where they did in the whole Dr. Donna situation.  The romance built up at just the right pace, and then it all came crashing down about the time I was expecting as well. I was not expecting the faith elements to the story, but they were handled so nicely. I struggle sometimes with books that try to wedge faith into places where it doesn’t fit or where the “message” might as well have neon lights around it. But this has a nice, light touch. It fits. It raises real questions. Characters who initially aren’t interested give faith a try when they’ve run out of options. And there’s no fake, miraculous resolution or conversion. It all just fits the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it to romance fans as well as fans of “women’s fiction” or Christian fiction.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Good Ones by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: The Good Ones by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Maisy inherited her great-aunt Eloise’s lovely – but old – Victorian home and her overwhelmingly large collection of romance novels. In fact, the books are piled precariously throughout the house – stacked on steps, piled in rooms, and heaped in the living spaces. And Maisy’s dream is to turn the house into a romance bookstore and share her great-aunt’s favorite stories with her customers. As a literature professor with two Master’s degrees, Maisy is definitely qualified to run the store. And since her ex just snaked a promotion out from under her, it’s time to throw caution to the wind and follow her dream.

The first step in the process is to have an expert in to assess the work the house will need to update it and convert it into a book store. Enter Ryder Copeland. He’s far too good looking for Maisy’s own good. With his cowboy hat and rugged good looks, he looks exactly like the guy on the cover of her favorite romance novel.

No matter how much chemistry Maisy feels with Ryder, it doesn’t matter. The wedding ring on his left hand means he is off limits. But Ryder only wears the ring to discourage relationships. He’s been divorced for 3 years, but he’s not ready to tread into a relationship again. Right now, he has set a course for himself and his teenage daughter that will be taking them out of Fairdale. And that course has no space for the petite bookseller whose smile could break down his resolve.

Review

I have enjoyed Jenn McKinlay‘s mysteries for years, but after reading her Bluff Point books last year and this first book in her new Happily Ever After series, I think her romance books are even better than the mysteries! After finishing this book, I wanted to go re-read the Bluff Point books. That series is a lot of fun. I think I caught a sentence that ties this book to that series, as well.

I was hooked at the start when I realized this was a book book. The main character is a reader and a literature professor. The house at the center of the story is stuffed to overflowing with books. The goal is to turn it into a bookstore. I was sold on the story at that point!

And then I got to know the characters. After that, there was no putting this one down until I finished. Maisy and Ryder are fantastic together, but the supporting cast – including Ryder’s daughter Perry, and King George the cat – round out the story so well. There are some fun hints at potential future stories – including the relationship at the center of book 2, The Christmas Keeper, out in the fall of 2019. And I am absolutely here for those future stories! I highly recommend this funny, endearing romance. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

REVIEW: Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Imogene Chively knew her father had invited Ernest Steeple and his brother Ben for a visit. Mr. Chively was eager to set Imogene and Ernest together, and Imogene was willing to give the match a try. But she wasn’t at all prepared for their next meeting to occur right after her dog, Jasper, jumped off a high crumbling wall as Ben dove to save the reckless canine. And almost immediately after that, Jasper was trapped in a dreadful, life threatening situation. Once again, Ben to the rescue! It was good fortune to have him around.

As Imogene and Ernest tested the waters of a possible match, and Imogene’s best friend Emily spent time with Ben, it soon became clear that Ben was in trouble. Either he was the unluckiest man alive, or someone had it out for him!

It’s hard enough to entertain a new suitor and wait for feelings to warm. But it’s doubly hard when his brother’s frequent peril leads Imogene and Ben to spend more time together than they probably should. Her feelings are starting to warm, but maybe for the wrong brother.

Review

I picked this up because I so enjoyed another book by this author, Duels and Deception. This one was a little slow for my taste. Historical fiction is a stretch for me as a reader in the first place. I gravitate more to fantasy and science fiction instead. Readers who enjoy historical fiction (this takes place in 1817) and the customs and intricacies of the times might have a stronger connection to this than I did. The mystery element – who was targeting Ben and why – propelled me to keep reading until the end.  I was thrilled to discover I was right about the mystery elements in the end.

I enjoyed the characters in this, although I didn’t really have a favorite. The four main characters were good, and by the end I had a great appreciation for Emily and her family.

The author works hard to cover the relationship pieces of the story with the four main characters while also spacing out the mystery sections. Early on the spacing lent to questions of whether the incidents were bad luck or deliberate. Then she also filled in details about the supporting cast, a thread about art, and some architecture and travels for the characters. For me, this moved the story slowly along where I tend to prefer a faster pace. Readers who enjoy the time period or a slower pace in their reading material may be a better audience for this than I was.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

 

REVIEW: Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet

REVIEW: Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Tess and the crew of the Endeavor thought they were stealing vaccines. They were like Robin Hood in the fight against the Overseer. And if all they had were vaccines, they probably would have gotten them to the orphanage at Starway 8 without too much trouble. But the lab they took was full of something far more dangerous. The Overseer was desperate to get his hands on Tess – and that lab and its contents.

Shade thought Tess was just a naive visitor to Albion 5. She was sexy and interesting. And he could easily do the repair work she needed for her ship. But then he saw the bounty for finding her – 200 million in universal currency. And that was if she was dead. The bounty doubled for finding whatever she stole, with a bonus for bringing her in alive.

Shade could use that money to get his whole life back, the way it used to be. Tess was essentially a stranger. Would he give up the chance to regain his inheritance for a woman he just met?

Review

I have mixed feelings on this one. I am always on the lookout for a series like Gini Koch’s Alien series – sassy science fiction romance with awesome characters. This definitely hit the science fiction pieces, and there’s a romantic thread. But I didn’t love the characters. We get to know Tess and Shade to some degree. There’s less development of the rest of the cast – companions or historians for the rest of the story. And this felt more foul than sassy to me. Not much sarcasm, but a lot of the f-word.

There’s a big chunk of the story that takes place on Albion 5 that doesn’t move the plot forward very much. There’s a lot of action at the beginning and the last third of the book. But in between, the focus is on pulling Tess and Shade together and waiting for Shade to decide what he’s going to do about the bounty.

The last third of the book redeemed things. The action kicked up a lot, and the character interactions were more interesting. I was set to give this 3 stars until I got caught up in the engaging ending. I’m still undecided on giving a sequel a try after the mixed feelings on this one. Now that the characters are established, maybe book 2 will live up to the ending of this one. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Hot Pursuit by Rebecca Freeborn

REVIEW: Hot Pursuit by Rebecca Freeborn

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Sarah Burrowes is a former beautician with a degree in journalism looking for her big break. She has a column with a gossip magazine in Melbourne, but she can’t get her boss to give her a real story. If her career woes weren’t bad enough, her boyfriend left her with no explanation and a mortgage she can’t cover alone.

While at a club with friends, Sarah meets a musician who seems as down on his luck as she is. She heads to his hotel with him, but thoughts of her ex get in the way of her one night stand. Then the musician, Chris, gets a phone call that sends him fleeing from the hotel.

“Chris” is actually Chris Ford, the front man for The Fords. And the police think he may have killed the band’s bass player. Sarah manipulates her way into the story of her fledgling career. Soon she is off to Europe with an agency photographer – who’s also her ex’s best friend and a former one night stand. But Nick can be as nasty to her as he wants as long as she gets this story!

Review

This was a wild ride! I enjoyed the story but it got a little slow in the middle. The will-they-or-won’t-they with Nick the photographer was tiring at times. He was hot and cold with Sarah – volatile and cutting one moment and almost tender in another. Maybe if this was told from both perspectives, it would have softened his character into someone more appealing or sympathetic. Instead he was grating.

I enjoyed the mystery and adventure as well as Sarah’s determination to get this story no matter what. Overall this was fine, and I might read another book about Sarah in the future. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Love à la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm

REVIEW: Love à la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Henry and Rosie first meet on their Chicago to Paris flight. They are both on their way to the École Denis Laurent, an exclusive cooking school. They are both excited about the opportunity, nervous about wanting to do well, and happy to have met someone who understands their love of cooking.

But things are a little more complicated than they seem at first blush. Henry’s mom wants him to go to a traditional college. She knows how hard it is to run a restaurant. She and Henry’s dad have done it for years. His mom meddles, convincing his academic teachers that he wants to do extra, more advanced work when he really just wants to cook. And if he doesn’t keep his grades up, she says he will have to come home.

Rosie’s true love is baking. But the École is all about cooking – tasks like breaking down a whole chicken and the uniform cutting of vegetables in fussy, precise ways. She’s the only student there who doesn’t have her own knife kit, and she starts to wonder if she even belongs there. If she can’t find a way to shine in the traditional areas of cooking, she may be sent home at Christmas.

The sparks between Henry and Rosie are undeniable, but their personal struggles might pull them apart before they even get a chance to see what they might be together.

Review

This was so sweet! (Pardon the pun.) I loved Henry and Rosie right from the start. They have terrific chemistry. As is often the case in romance stories, they have to learn to communicate if they’re going to have any chance at a future.

I didn’t understand a lot of the fancy cooking terms, but the love each of the kids has for his/her craft was obvious. I loved the scenes when Henry and Rosie – and the other characters – got to just enjoy and savor food together, either around Paris or at school. It was pure joy for them. They were in their element.

While Henry and Rosie are great characters, the ensemble around them is also terrific. The other kids come from a variety of backgrounds. There are the catty girls you would expect, some good friends, and a possible rival for Rosie’s affections.

This is a fun celebration of Paris, food and friendship – as well as friendship that could become something more. I’ve come to expect fun stories with endearing characters from Stephanie Kate Strohm (Prince in Disguise, It’s Not Me It’s You). And her latest book does not disappoint!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥