romance Archives - Page 7 of 15 - The Neverending TBR

REVIEW: Together, Apart

Posted on December 10, 2020September 25, 2021 by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

This is a collection of 9 romantic stories for young adults about love in the time of Covid and quarantine.

“Love, Delivered” by Erin A. Craig
A family’s move is accelerated due to the pandemic as Millie’s scientist parents are needed at their new jobs ASAP. Thanks to the pandemic, her folks have to report to work right away, but their groceries won’t be delivered for a few days. This leaves Millie ordering a lot of pizza from a local joint – and getting to know the delivery guy.

This was ADORABLE! So sweet. I thought it captured the early days of the pandemic well as people tried to adjust to new masking and distancing requirements. Loved this! ♥♥♥♥½

“The Socially Distant Dog-Walking Brigade” by Bill Konigsberg
After several awkward encounters with a group of dog walkers, a cute boy invites Kaz to join them.

This is a far more serious, angsty story than the first one. Kaz has been burned in relationships before. He’s introverted and shy to begin with, but now he’s also protective. But slowly Daxton gets him to warm up. This was good, although halfway through the book it became clear that the cozy, squishy stories were more my speed than the more serious ones in general. (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: Cutting) ♥♥♥

“One Day” by Sajni Patel
A girl in search of peace and quiet while in lockdown with her family in their apartment starts communicating with a boy playing guitar on his balcony, after she throws her shoe at him and he refuses to return it.

This was another cute, flirty story – right up my alley. I loved how all of these stories so far have taken a different angle on the lockdown, in this case, a small apartment with four people at home. ♥♥♥♥

“The Rules of Comedy” by Auriane Desombre
Harper gets her older sister’s help with a funny TikTok video to get her crush’s attention. But when it works, Harper thinks she’s not funny enough on her own to keep up with the conversation.

I enjoyed the relationship with the sisters here. For me that was the more interesting, and in the end, satisfying, relationship addressed in the story. Covid was the context for why Harper was connecting with Alyssa through devices rather than at school in person, but otherwise it wasn’t a big factor in this story. (LGBTQ+) ♥♥♥

“The New Boy Next Door” by Natasha Preston
Quinn’s new neighbor is gorgeous – and brooding. But she’s determined to break down his walls and get to know him – from a safe distance.

This was delightful! The flirty banter is exactly what I love in stories. I also enjoyed the glimpse at how the fictional neighborhood was dealing with Covid and staying connected. ♥♥♥♥½

“The Green Thumb War” by Brittney Morris
Two teens growing herbs on their balconies devise a contest to see who can do something amazing with them.

This starts with antagonists, not unlike “One Day,” although with a cat and dog fight as well as an injury instead of just a thrown shoe. But I enjoyed the awkward, quirky characters and their back-and-forth banter. The set up for this one was clever, as was the resolution. ♥♥♥♥½

“Stuck with Her” by Rachael Lippincott
Allie’s roommate, Mia, is making her crazy, eating all her food and playing loud music at 3am while they are stuck together in lockdown.

This may be the most relatable regarding Covid for me, reading this in December. This shows some of the wear and tear of constant togetherness, the question of whether things will ever get back to normal, etc. Allie’s coming out story is heartbreaking. The description of her panic attack felt realistic, and the way Mia cares for her and responds is endearing. The coming out story and panic attack could be triggering for some readers. (LGBTQ+) ♥♥♥♥½

“Masked” by Erin Hahn
When Covid cancels prom, Gray decides to use the material she bought to make her dream dress to make masks instead. She meets Jude on a neighborhood app when he reaches out to have her make masks for his uncle’s business.

This is my favorite story from the collection! Not a surprise because I already love the author. There’s a fun music component to this, like in a lot of her work. I was devastated for Gray to sacrifice her dress and her dreams for prom. I felt like the author did a great job demonstrating that piece of the early part of the pandemic. That she used her sewing skills and her precious material to do something to help others was endearing. And then she met Jude. *swoon* ♥♥♥♥♥

This whole collection is a delight. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Notorious by Minerva Spencer

Posted on December 2, 2020November 30, 2020 by Jaymie

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

Summary

Secretly, Drusilla Clare has been in love with her best friend’s step-brother, Gabriel Marlington, for years. He makes her pulse race – and her temper flare. He goads her, and before she knows it, they are bickering. She never expects him to end up challenged to a dual over her honor.

When Drusilla’s aunt fell sick at the party, Gabriel became the responsible chaperone for Drusilla and his step-sister Eva. When he went looking for the women after an absence, he found Drusilla alone with the foul Lord Visel. And he was NOT acting like a gentleman. Things only went down hill from there.

In the end, though, the only way to salvage the situation for Drusilla – besides the duel – was for Gabriel to marry her. But each of them bring burdens and expectations to this new marriage. Assumptions and Lord Visel piled on top could derail their relationship before it even has a chance.

Review

This is the first book in a new Rebels of the Ton series. (Book 2, Outrageous, is scheduled to release in the summer of 2021.)

This starts primarily with Eva, Drusilla, and Gabriel. The villain is more of an annoyance than a true threat until after Drusilla and Gabriel become engaged. I expected a bigger, larger story to start the novel, and then for that larger story to carry all the way through the book. The larger story eventually comes, but in the second half of the book.

I struggled to feel connected to the characters and the story early on. I didn’t have a good feel for Drusilla or Gabriel. And in some ways that made sense for the story. They had serious trust and communication issues. And as they slowly worked through those, I got a better sense of both of them. But that meant for the first 1/3 or so, I wondered why there wasn’t “more.” I loved Eva, but she shifted into the background (probably in part because of the set up for book 2), which left me with Gabriel, who I didn’t really like, especially early on, and Drusilla. It took longer than in some other books for me to get a good feel for them.

By the second half of the book things clicked into place. The larger story took center stage, and Drusilla and Gabriel started to thaw towards one another. And at that point I was engaged in seeing what would happen in the end.

If you enjoy historical romance with brooding heroes and an antagonists-to-lovers story line (They are never really “enemies.”), be sure to check this one out. There’s a nice teaser in the end for the next book! (Language, sex, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥=Good/Fine/Solid

BONUS REVIEW: The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

Posted on November 18, 2020November 16, 2020 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

Over 200 years ago, when Filomena’s boyfriend stole a kiss from her younger sister, Maria, an enraged and jealous Filomena cursed Maria and every second-born daughter the family would ever have to never find love.

Emilia is the second-born daughter in her family. She lives and works around her family – her widowed father, her married older sister, her perpetually disapproving grandmother, her beloved great-uncle, and tons of cousins.

Out of the blue, Emilia receives a note from her great-aunt Poppy, the second-born daughter of her generation. Poppy is the one family member Emilia is forbidden to contact. Poppy is headed to Italy for her 80th birthday, and she wants Emilia to go with her. But Nonna Rosa would never allow it, even though Emilia is an adult of almost 30.

But Poppy is a force to be reckoned with, too. She insists if Emilia – and her cousin, Lucy, who is also a second daughter – come with her to Italy, they will throw off the family curse once and for all.

Review

Wow, this was good! I loved the personal growth for Emilia and Lucy. And Poppy’s story, told through periodic flashback chapters, was captivating! I wanted more, in all the best ways – more chapters, more time in Italy, more time with these characters. And I can’t stop thinking about the twists and turns and the way things turned out for these women.

Emilia’s family is infuriating. I was incensed, grumbling and cursing on her behalf any time her sister or grandmother was on the page. The writing here is so good I wanted to defend Emilia right from the beginning, before I really even knew her. The evolution of the family stories and curse pieces was excellent. While everything didn’t work out perfectly, the resolution was supremely satisfying.

I loved that Lucy was part of this journey. While she isn’t a point-of-view character, I enjoyed her development over the trip to Italy. She has a different reaction to the curse from Emilia. That contrast was fascinating!

I assumed from the curse that this would be a romance. There are elements of that, but really this is a journey with these three women. It’s about their self-concepts and identities as well as their family relationships. And every bit of it was fantastic! Do not miss this one! (Language, references to sex, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: If the Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Posted on November 4, 2020November 2, 2020 by Jaymie

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

Summary

On the night he wins his first Oscar, Sam Pleasant hooks up with a beautiful woman. She doesn’t give him her name, and when he wakes up in the morning, she is gone.

Amanda Queen is assistant to an up and coming diva in Hollywood. She knows exactly who Sam is when they first meet. She also knows there is NO future for them together. So after a great night, she grabs her Oscars swag bag and leaves.

Except it’s Sam’s bag, not hers, and his Oscar is still inside it.

Amanda has the Oscar returned and expects to never see Sam again. But they keep crossing paths, first at a wedding on his family’s ranch. And then in a weak moment after a disaster with her boss. Next thing she knows, Sam has invited her back to the ranch to get away from the stress, even though he still has no idea what she does for a living or who she works for.

The ranch is beautiful and peaceful. Amanda adores every animal she meets. Sam’s family is lovely and welcoming. And the heat between Amanda and Sam is as scorching as that first night. But can this go any way other than towards disaster?

Review

This is book two in the Cowboys of California series, after A Cowboy to Remember (♥♥♥♥). And it’s a clever twist on the classic Cinderella story.

I love the Pleasant family! This was a terrific addition to the series. I liked Sam a lot, and Amanda is a delight. Her self-acceptance, the strength she shows in dealing with her horrendous boss, and her affinity for animals made her such a fun character to spend time with.

The other piece of this I especially loved is that the major conflict at the end wasn’t between Amanda and Sam (like you would find in most Hallmark movies and many standard romances), but focused against them. This allows them the opportunity to decide if they are going to stand together or let this push them to go their separate ways. The final scenes of the book were excellent.

This is a don’t miss/must read series for me. This book teases a lot at the third brother, Jesse’s story. I can’t wait to dig into it and find out what has been going on with him. And I am eager to see if the author has stories planned for other members of the Pleasant family.

Fans of the first book in the series should not miss this one! But if you are new to the Cowboys of California, I think you can start here, but you will want to pick up the first book as soon as you can. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Posted on November 4, 2020October 29, 2020 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

Alexis’s coffee shop, ToeBeans Cat Café, has become something of a safe haven for other survivors of sexual harassment and assault. And that’s why she thinks the new arrival at her shop has shown up. But Candi is actually there because she believes Alexis is her biological sister. And she has an unbelievable request. Her biological father is going to die unless he gets a kidney transplant.

Noah desperately wants to protect Alexis from whatever this business is with Candi. Either it’s all a scam, or it’s a gross imposition on Alexis for a man who never bothered to acknowledge her before now, a man who left Alexis and her mother to scrape by on their own.

But this crisis is tweaking Noah’s and Alexis’s feelings for one another. Out loud, they both insist they are only friends. Or that they can’t risk their friendship on something more. But maybe a chance at rich, true love is worth the risk.

Review

There’s a lovely emotional ebb and flow to this story. There are laugh-out-loud moments, especially when it comes to Lexa’s cat, Beefcake. There are also heart-tugging ones with the core romance as well as with the losses both characters have experienced. The ups and downs evolve naturally and made for a fun reading experience.

It was good to be with the Bromance Book Club crew again. The premise for this series – a group of men who read romance novels to help them in their romantic relationships – is outstanding. The men in the group are a hoot, and I enjoy the banter between them. Even more, I love their more touching, emotional moments with one another. The scenes with the Bromance guys were my favorites in the story.

While I was moved at times by Noah and Lexa’s story, I didn’t click with them like I have with other series characters. One of the issues for the couple is his seething resentment and anger and unresolved grief while she tends to gloss over her hard feelings in an attempt to take the high road and be “above” such things. It was perfect for the story being told, and the growth needed for the characters. But their situations should have made them furious, at least at some moments. But there wasn’t enough fury for me for the context. (Of course, this could just be my own 2020 rage looking for an outlet, too.)

I enjoyed this addition to this excellent series, and I cannot wait to get my hands on book 4, Isn’t It Bromantic, set for a summer 2021 release. If you are a fan of the series, you will want to pick this one up for yourself and check out Noah and Alexis’s story. (Language, sex, TW: grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½=Good+

BONUS REVIEW: The Switch by Beth O’Leary

Posted on October 21, 2020October 22, 2020 by Jaymie

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

Summary

Leena’s been trying to hang onto her “normal” life with both hands, but it’s not working. She’s still grieving the death of her sister. She’s not speaking to her mother after everything that happened. And then she has a panic attack in the middle of a huge pitch for work. In an act of compassion – instead of firing her for her declining work – her boss gives her an 8-week sabbatical to get herself together.

Leena’s grandmother, Eileen, is feeling lonely. In the months since her husband ran off with another woman, she’s been staying busy with community events and her “Neighborhood Watch” group. She’s tried to be a bridge between her daughter and her granddaughter, but they are still estranged. She still has years of life to live! The men her age in town, though, are not good candidates for romance.

When Leena comes to visit, she suggests the switch. She’ll stay in rural Yorkshire, work on her relationship with her mother, cover her grandmother’s responsibilities to the town, and try to find her equilibrium again. Her grandmother will head to London, stay in Leena’s flat with her flatmates, and see if she can find love in the big city.

Review

This was a delightful surprise! I thought the premise was clever, but the execution was so much more than I expected. It was fabulous!

I fell in love with Eileen’s story first. I loved her relationship with Leena’s flatmates and the difference she makes in their building. She’s a bridge builder, both at home and in London. And she has the wisdom of age and experience, so she’s willing to take risks and ask for what she wants in life. Her story is SO fun!

It takes Leena a lot longer to find her footing in the swap. And that makes sense. She’s there because she has repressed her grief. She is furious with her mother and flees from memories of her sister. She has a lot to work through. But when she finds her groove – in herself and with her grandmother’s friends – her story shines as much as her grandmother’s.

I loved all of the relationships here – the romances, sure, but even more, the family relationships, Eileen’s relationships with the folks in Leena’s building, and Leena’s relationship with the seniors from her grandmother’s home. I loved how the grief pieces are handled here and the growth Leena experiences over time.

Do not miss this rich, character-driven story. I adored it! (Language, LGBTQ+ secondary characters, TW: grief)