Tag: romance

REVIEW: Falling for You by Becky Wade

REVIEW: Falling for You by Becky Wade

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Willow is a world renown super model on sabbatical, working at her family’s inn. It’s a temporary gig while a new manager makes the transition into the job, but it’s perfectly timed. Willow is feeling burned out from her fast paced life. She’s looking forward to quiet time with her sisters and time out of the spotlight.

Corbin was a stud on the football field – before his injury. But his career is over, so he’s going to kick off his retirement with a lot of physical therapy and some remodeling therapy by fixing up an old house with his dad. Corbin needs a project to occupy his time, and it will help him keep an eye on his dad who has cancer.

Four years ago, a series of choices led Willow and Corbin to break up. Willow is still heart broken when she thinks of the choices she made, and angry when she thinks of the choices Corbin made. She’d prefer to never see Corbin again. But Corbin’s niece, Charlotte, is a huge fan. And she is convinced that Willow is the person who can help her solve a 40-year-old family mystery. So when Charlotte asks Willow to help her, Willow can’t help but say yes. She has no idea, though, that Charlotte has made Corbin part of the team as well. This means Willow is now stuck in regular contact with the man who broke her heart.

Review

I struggled to figure out if this story wanted to be a romance or a mystery. While I think it was stronger on the romance side, I feel like the story suffered from a minor identity crisis. It tried to be both at once, and it wasn’t all I hoped for on either side.  The mystery was interesting. I love cold case stories. It was odd to have a football player and a model trying to dig into it, though. The characters acknowledged that oddity, which helped. But they uncovered a lot of big things pretty easily. As a seasoned mystery reader, it felt all too simple. And the mystery pieces at times got in the way of the flow of the romance, interfering with my enjoyment of the story just on that level.

The sign of a great Christian fiction book for me is that reading it becomes a spiritual experience. If it connects me to God or it prompts me to examine my own spiritual life, I feel like the story works from a faith perspective. This book just did not click for me on that spiritual level. The spiritual pieces were okay – I just didn’t feel like the integration was as smooth as I have found in some other stories. This aspect of the story wasn’t “bad,” but wasn’t all it could have been for me as a reader.

I liked the characters. This is a second book in a series about Willow and her sisters. I haven’t read book one, but that didn’t impact my understanding of this story. I am intrigued by the story line for book one and might consider giving it a try. The chemistry between Willow and Corbin, and the situation with Corbin’s dad saved the story for me and kept me engaged to the end. I cared about how they were going to deal with their history, and I found the ending satisfying.

Thanks to the folks at Netgalley and Bethany House for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

REVIEW: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Tenley’s first book was a best-seller. An award winner. But she can’t get one word written for a follow up. With a famous father and great-great-grandfather who were authors, shouldn’t this be easier? Is she destined to be a one hit wonder?

In 1902, Birdie longs to throw off the expectations of her station. She wants to have her stories published and marry the man she loves. But the publisher she approached turned her down, and she never got her manuscript back. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her that will solidify her status in society for the rest of her life. But what about what she wants?

When Tenley heads to Florida to care for her estranged mother while she goes through chemo, she’s supposed to be writing her next book. Instead she takes steps that will draw her story and Birdie’s together across more than 100 years.

Review

This was terrific! First and foremost it’s a story of writers, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I adored Birdie. She showed great strength and determination as she made every effort to fight the destiny laid out for her. Her story was my favorite.

I empathized with Tenley. She’s lost. She doesn’t really know who she is. But she does the right thing in going to take care of her mom. And while they still had prickly moments, I loved watching them try to sort things out.

This is also a set of love stories (Jonas and his family are fantastic!! There are several laugh-out-loud moments of banter between Tenley and Jonas). And it is also a story of God who sings over both of these women, encouraging them to not be dismayed. This was absolutely lovely!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Frat Girl by Kiley Roache

REVIEW: Frat Girl by Kiley Roache

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When it’s time for Cassie to apply for college, the only place she wants to go is Warren University. So that’s the only place she applies.  They promise tons of financial aid for everyone. Unfortunately for Cassie, the school’s definition of “financial need” and her real life do not line up. So if she’s going to attend her dream school, she’s going to need a miracle.

Enter The Stevenson Scholarship. With the right project, Cassie can win the money she needs to go to Warren. And in a sea of IT proposals, a gender studies project could really grab the committee’s attention.

Warren University was in the news recently when they placed the Delta Tau Chi fraternity on probation for “creating a hostile environment for women.” So Cassie’s project is to rush the fraternity and write a first-hand account of the experience as a woman. Sure enough, Cassie wins the scholarship.

Armed with a Project Coordinator from the scholarship board, a faculty adviser Cassie has idolized for years, and more than a few pre-conceived ideas about Greek life at a university, Cassie is ready to take on the men of DTC and make history that will help her fund college for the next four years.

Review

I almost gave up on this book a few times early on. I found Cassie to be abrasive and crass at times and entrenched in her own ideas of men and women and feminism and fraternities. For a student hoping to be a social researcher, her biases were startling.

But as the story evolved, and Cassie was challenged in some of her assumptions, I started to like her a little more. But to be honest, I liked several of the frat guys even more in the end. As Cassie got to know some of these young men, it changed how she thought about her project, which was great. (She still could use some growth in how she looked at the women around her, though.)

No matter what enlightenment Cassie or the “brothers” might achieve through the story, it was still working toward the inevitable moment when her research would be published and her secret agenda would be exposed. It was painful to wait for that unavoidable calamity (but in a good way). In the end, I was glad I stuck with the story all the way through.

In some ways, this is an abrasive and crass story – it’s not just Cassie. This hits all the stereotypes about fraternities. There’s a ridiculous amount of drinking considering most of the characters are college freshmen. There’s drugs and foul language and a lot of conversation about sexual double standards and sexual conduct. But there are also these fantastic character moments. And challenging conversations about what feminism is and what equality should look like for many minority groups. These sections made me think, which I liked.

If the feminism angle appeals to you, and you are comfortable with the details mentioned above, I recommend this as a thought-provoking story about equality and feminism and the relationships between men and women – and what all of those things might look like on a college campus.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions about this book are my own.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Aliens Abroad by Gini Koch

REVIEW: Aliens Abroad by Gini Koch

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Distant Voyager is the first manned long-range spacecraft for Earth. And it’s about to leave on its first mission. Kitty and the gang are there for a tour and Jeff’s big speech before the launch.

Unexpectedly (although, par for the course in Kitty’s life), the ship takes off early with Jeff, half of the Presidential Cabinet, Kitty, their kids, and a good portion of their extended family on board. The ship’s AI is uncooperative at best, there are signs of sabotage, and no one on board seems to be able to control their course – or change it.

Whoever is controlling things knows Kitty – the “Warrior Queen” – is a protector. If she can help a person – or a planet – in need, she will. And there are several races in dire need of rescuing. So while she might have been a reluctant participant at first, Kitty is on board for saving the day. Because if Kitty can’t help, the whole galaxy might not survive.

Review

Wow! This was so fun! First of all, this is my favorite book series for adults. So any addition to the series, any book with these characters, is going to be one I am eagerly anticipating. Second, most of the book takes place in previously unknown parts of the galaxy. There are tons of new alien species and planets and galactic politics to explore. Third, there are at least four major events in the book. Reading this felt like binge watching a favorite show or binge reading a favorite book series all in one sitting. I got through the first event and still had hundreds of pages to go! I waited for this book for a long time. The wait was completely worthwhile.

Most of my favorite characters were along for the ride on this trip, so I enjoyed the little tidbits added to their stories. Continuing one of my favorite things from Alien Education, the kids play an important role in this book. In fact, the chapters where their role is really expanded I read twice. There’s a nice balance between the expected interplay and relationships from the series and all the new characters. In fact, to me the book felt weighted toward the new characters and events which gave this a fresh feel. I feel like this book and the next (Aliens Like Us) are going to have the same “interlude” feel that Universal Alien and Alien Separation did earlier in the series. It will advance the characters and the big picture, but it will keep the series from feeling like it is following a pattern.

Kudos to Gini Koch for this fast, fun, and fresh addition to the series. It’s everything I have come to expect from her in the last 6 years since I discovered the series. Many thanks to Netgalley and the folks at DAW (Penguin/Random House) for the opportunity to review an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My personal copy will be arriving any time now so I can start a re-read right away. Goodreads shows at least 4 more books coming in the series; I have all of them on my wish list and have pre-ordered Aliens Like Us so I don’t miss a moment of the action. If you love science fiction (with a little steamy romance thrown in ), I think you should follow my lead. If this is a new series to you, start with book one, Touched by an Alien, and carve out some serious reading time. This is a series you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Searching for Billy Shakespeare by Crista McHugh

REVIEW: Searching for Billy Shakespeare by Crista McHugh

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Kate is a graduate student, studying Shakespeare and writing the dissertation for her PhD. When she catches her fiancé with another woman, her world is turned completely upside down.

Her friends come to her rescue, and she finds an amazing, rent-controlled apartment with “Princess Barbie,” Ari. In exchange for some cooking and cleaning, Kate gets a great apartment and a rent she can swing while she nurses the wounds of her broken relationship and finish her degree.

Kate was not counting on Ari’s brother, Gabe, to be part of her new life. At first, his middle of the night phone calls for his absent sister are an annoyance. But over time, Kate looks forward to talking to Gabe. His voice is sexy, and he truly seems to listen to her. He takes her work on Shakespeare seriously. As an actor, Gabe can use Kate’s help preparing an audition monologue. Gabe quickly becomes a bigger part of Kate’s life than she ever imagined.

Review

This was so fun! It’s a quick, romantic story of Kate’s evolution with a backdrop of Shakespearean references. Readers don’t have to know the references to enjoy the story.

Kate’s transformation is my favorite part of the story. She’s so unsure of herself at the start of the book that she’s in a long term relationship she doesn’t even enjoy. While she is devastated by her fiancé’s unfaithfulness, it is exactly what she needs to course-correct her own life. Throughout the book, people try to change Kate, usually for her own good. But Kate has to find her own way, her own style, and her own voice if she is going to feel confident in her own life.

We don’t get a lot from the other characters in this except Gabe. The rest generally serve to move Kate and Gabe forward. And I was satisfied with that. I really enjoyed this and would read other things from this author (some language, trigger warning for suicide).

Thanks to Netgalley and Season Publishing for an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Every Dog Has His Day by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: Every Dog Has His Day by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Zachary Caine was content with his bachelor life. He had Rufus, the dog he was fostering for a friend, his “Maine crew” to hang out with, and his work.

But a yowl changed all that. The adorable daughters of his neighbor knocked on his door, begging for help. Their kitten was stranded on Zach’s roof. Of course Zach had to help them!

The last time Zach had talked to the girls’ mother, Jessie, he’d called her “sweetheart,” and she had told him off in no uncertain terms. This interaction was at least civil. And Zach got a kick out of the girls. The kitten on his roof opened up a more neighborly relationship between Zach and Jessie. And that comes in handy when a blizzard hits and they lose power. They pool their resources to wait out the storm together. And while they wait, things begin to thaw between them even more.

Review

In many ways, this series is very different from the Jenn McKinlay cozy mysteries I have enjoyed for years. There’s more language, inuendo, and other mature content in this romance series than you find in the mysteries. But no matter the series, McKinlay writes fantastic characters!

I have loved this whole “Maine crew” from the beginning. I’ve enjoyed the individual stories about the various couples. But I also love how the group operates – the way they show up for one another, the way they care for each other, and their protectiveness for anyone in their circle. As well as those who join the circle along the way.

The little group of Zach, Jessie, and her girls are magic. Zach treats the girls as individuals of value even before he starts to fall for their mother. They are never a means to something else or a hinderance in his mind. He is intentional with them, he responds to their different personalities, and they respond to his love and respect. The loneliness Zach and Jessie have experienced makes them a good fit with potential to “get” one another in ways others can’t. And with the exception of a couple of (reasonable) conflicts and misunderstandings, I loved how honest they were with one another. This is not a plot based on lies and secrets or anything like that where you find yourself thinking, “Just tell them already!” Things are out in the open and mature between them.

This is a great romance series, and I highly recommend it for adults who enjoy the genre! Book 2 is probably my favorite of the three in the series, but this is a close second! Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm

REVIEW: Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It’s hard for Dylan to live in her sister, Dusty’s, shadow. Dusty is tall and gorgeous and popular and confident. She was Miss Mississippi. And now she is marrying Ronan, a Scottish lord-to-be that she met on the Bachelor-style reality show Prince in Disguise. Next to Dusty, Dylan feels geeky and awkward and out of place.

This is especially true when she finds herself at Ronan’s Scottish castle for their Christmas Eve wedding. First, the best man leaves her standing in the cold for almost an hour, waiting for a ride to the castle. She’s rescued by another groomsman, Jamie. At least he’s her age, smart and funny. But at the castle, she feels the cameras all around her. Dusty may be fine with all the TV attention, but Dylan wants no part of it.

The wedding-prep days include a lot of surprises for Dylan – things she’d like to keep off camera and to herself. Not the least of which are her feelings about Jamie. But she may find there are more important things than protecting her own privacy.

Review

I’m not sure I have words big enough for how much I loved this book! It was outstanding! I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book like I did this one. It’s SO funny! It’s romantic. Sweet and fun and fiesty! I wanted it to go on and on. I loved the characters and wanted to spend even more time with them. This will definitely be a re-read for me! If the author decides to write a sequel, I will be the first in line to buy it!

Everything worked for me in this. The reality TV plot was terrific. It forced characters to decide what was for public consumption and what wasn’t. And how they would handle the difference. The family relationships changed and developed in the story in great, realistic ways. The chemistry between Dylan and Jamie was endearing. I loved them together. There were some fun surprises and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. This could easily be my favorite book of 2017.

Many, many thanks to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this spectacular book in exchange for an honest review. I honestly adored it. I read another book by Stephanie Kate Strohm earlier this year – It’s Not Me, It’s You– and I loved it too. That book made it onto my Holiday Hint List for 2017 – and if I had read this before I published the list, Prince in Disguise would have been on there, too.  Hand both of these books to the teens in your life – especially the ones who might not want books with the language and mature content found in some other books for teens and young adults.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: The Sisters of Sugarcreek by Cathy Liggett

REVIEW: The Sisters of Sugarcreek by Cathy Liggett

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Lydia lost her husband, a volunteer firefighter, in the fire at Faith Community Church. But even more, she lost her anchor to everything. Henry was a private man. He did everything around the house himself except cook and garden, which Lydia did. They didn’t have neighbors over often, and they never lingered after church. They lived a quiet life, and Lydia was often alone. Without Henry, she’s adrift and feeling out of her depth.

Jessica lost her Aunt Rose in the fire. Rose had raised her as a child when she lost her parents. She welcomed her back as a young pregnant woman when her marriage fell apart. Now Jessica owns Rose’s craft store, Rose’s Knit One Quilt Two Cottage. But Jessica doesn’t knit or quilt. She’s not prepared to run a store like this. She’s definitely in over her head.

Liz is grieving Rose’s death, too. Her best friend and partner in “crime.” Rose and Liz had started a secret encouragement ministry, leaving food and handcrafted items for folks in need of a little hope. She talks Jessica into helping her keep it going. And Lydia is going to be their first recipient.

Review

This was delightful. Each of the three main characters was strong and interesting in her own right. There wasn’t a part of the trio that sagged. The pieces of their stories wove into each other’s well. The romantic pairings were obvious from the outset, but I enjoyed the story so much I didn’t care if that was predictable.

I have not had a lot of luck with finding Christian fiction I love. I have a few “go to” books that I read over and over, but otherwise I find the stories or characters can be flat or the message feels heavy-handed. This was NOT the case here. The faith pieces made sense where they entered the story. It felt natural. I didn’t feel like the author was trying to make a point. She just told a great story about people of faith.

This was excellent. I will be adding it to my small collection of Christian Fiction mainstays and telling others about this great story!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

REVIEW: Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Alice buys a lottery ticket for her best friend, Teddy, for his 18th birthday. And it’s a winner. Over 140 million dollars!

Suddenly everything changes. Teddy’s spending money left and right. He’s on talk shows. Kids at school are hanging all over him – or jeering jealously behind his back.

And when Teddy tries to give half to Alice since she bought the ticket and picked the numbers, she turns him down, leading to their biggest fight in 9 years of friendship.

Alice’s life is upside down. Her best friend is living the high life, and she’s afraid he is headed for a big fall. Her aunt and uncle are encouraging her to consider other colleges when they know it is her dream to go to Stanford. And her cousin has broken up with his boyfriend even though they are obviously in love. A cute guy is asking her out but she can’t get past the feelings she has for Teddy. Through it all, she wonders if the choices she’s making for her life are really hers, or if she’s trying to do what she thinks her parents would have wanted.

Review

While this is a lottery story, it is so much more. It’s about friends and family, money and charity, and the past and the future. All three of the main characters – Alice, Teddy and Leo – are driven by their past or fear of the future. Teddy goes overboard with the money because of how hard things were after his dad lost all the family’s money and ran off. Alice is trying to recapture a sense of home from before her parents died. And Leo is afraid of losing Max when they are both in college, maybe in different places. He’s seen Teddy and Alice face such hardships in life, and he’s afraid he is due for a personal disaster.

The money situation from the lottery win shines a light on the choices the teens are making. It also raises great questions about what to do with such a windfall. What’s fun and what’s practical? What’s responsible? How do you know whose motives to trust?

I liked that there were bigger issues addressed outside of the money. I liked the main characters and their families. The final money solution was great. It seemed reasonable for the situation. I’m not 100% sold on the romantic outcome. I liked Alice’s other option better. Overall this was a good story.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Seven years ago, Mackenzie was jilted at the altar. Then she slept with her best friend’s brother. Before anyone else found out, she left town, planning to never return.

But now her best friend, Emma, is getting married and Mackenzie has to return to Bluff Point. She and her boyfriend are “taking a break,” so she’s going to the wedding alone. Emma’s perfect solution is for Mackenzie to hang out with her brother! Gaven was recently dumped, and Emma reasons it will be good for both of them to have someone to hang out with for the wedding festivities.

Mackenzie is determined to forget that night with Gaven from so long ago. But Gaven thinks there are still sparks between them, and he’s confident he can rekindle things if he can get Mackenzie to give them a chance.

A sweet dog named Tulip helps pull the two together. But she may not be enough to keep them together.

Review

Jenn McKinlay is one of my favorite mystery authors. This is a very different kind of story than I’m used to from her – sexier, more language, and some juvenile humor and innuendo at times – but still a thoroughly enjoyable story.

The will-they-or-won’t-they tension is well-played with reasonable road blocks. Of course, most stories like this would be simply sorted out if everyone would just tell the whole truth from the beginning. But where’s the fun in that?!

The chemistry between the two main characters is great. The whole bridal party is a hoot, even if they can be crass at times. And the dog is an adorable part of the story. This is a fun, romantic romp with great characters.

Book 2, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, will be out in September and will focus on one of the other bridesmaids in Emma’s wedding. I’m looking forward to reading it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥