Romance Reviews: BUSINESS OR PLEASURE & IN THE WEEDS
Business or Pleasure Goodreads
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Publication Date: July 4, 2023
Publisher: Berkley
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I’m a huge fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s novels. She just never misses when it comes to delivering heartwarming romances filled with humor and relatable characters, and I knew within the first few pages of Business or Pleasure that I was going to love it.
Chandler is a celebrity ghostwriter. She would rather be writing her own books, but she’s not ready. When she attends a signing for one of the books she wrote and the celebrity she worked with doesn’t even recognize her, Chandler heads to the nearest bar to drink away her frustration. While there, she hooks up with a charming man named Finn, but what starts out as a sexy one-night stand, ends up being the worst sex Chandler has ever had.
Then as if things weren’t awkward enough, she learns the celebrity she’ll next be working with is none other than Finn, who is an actor on a cult classic werewolf TV show.
I adored watching Chandler and Finn as they are forced to be together for months while they work on Finn’s memoir. They try so hard to keep things professional even though there are clearly some feelings there, and I just loved watching them grow closer and closer in spite of themselves. There’s of course plenty of witty banter and fun moments that kept me thoroughly entertained.
One highlight for me was how Chandler addresses her previous sexual encounter with Finn. She decides she’s not doing women anywhere a favor by letting Finn think he’s doing a good job in bed and so she tells him the truth. Finn strikes a deal with Chandler to teach him some tips on how to help better satisfy his partners. I loved how Solomon writes these spicy scenes, with Chandler & Finn having very open discussions about sex & the art of pleasuring a woman. I loved how this new aspect of their relationship makes it even more challenging to keep things professional.
Other highlights included the wonderful Jewish rep, OCD rep, & the he falls first & forced proximity tropes.
Rachel Lynn Solomon definitely has another winner on her hands with Business or Pleasure! 5 STARS
In the Weeds (Lovelight) Goodreads
Author: B.K. Borison
Publication Date: July 4, 2023 (reissue)
Publisher: Berkley
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
In the Weeds is the second book in B.K. Borison’s Lovelight romance series and it is a sweet and steamy delight! The first book in the series, Lovelight Farms, was one of my favorite holiday reads this past Christmas. I just adored the small town setting, the family-owned Christmas tree farm, and all of the quirky townsfolk, so I couldn’t wait to return to this world and visit Lovelight Farms during a season other than Christmas.
In the Weeds follows Evie and Beckett. Evie is a popular, no nonsense social media influencer, while Beckett is a grumpy tattooed farmer. Don’t let his grumpy exterior fool you though because on the inside Beckett is the gooiest of cinnamon rolls and a kitten rescuer, to boot. We meet Evie and Beckett briefly in the first book and it’s clear there is major chemistry and also something unresolved between them. It turns out that the two of them had a steamy one night stand that was so good, they extended it to a several night stand.
Beckett has been pining for Evie ever since, which is adorable by the way, and when Evie unexpectedly shows up at Lovelight Farms, he’s really hoping there’s a second chance in the cards for them. Evie is there for other reasons though. She has become burnt out and unhappy with her career and is looking for a reset. She wants to “find her happy” and the last place she remembers being truly happy was when she visited the tiny town of Inglewild and Lovelight Farms.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Evie and Beckett together and found myself rooting for them to make the most of the second chance they’ve been given. Their scenes together are a mix of fun, sweet, and positively swoony moments and I was fully invested in every page of their slow burn journey.
In the Weeds is the perfect follow-up to Lovelight Farms. It was everything I hoped it would be and more! Highly recommended for fans of second chance and/or grumpy sunshine/opposites attract romances, small town vibes and close knit family vibes. 4.5 STARS
Historical Fiction Reviews: THE PARIS DAUGHTER & THE SPECTACULAR
The Paris Daughter Goodreads
Author: Kristin Harmel
Publication Date: June 6, 2023
Publisher: Gallery Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Every time I think Kristin Harmel can’t possibly top her last book, she proves me wrong and she has done it yet again with her latest WWII historical fiction novel, The Paris Daughter.
The story follows Juliette and Elise, two American women who are living on the outskirts of Paris in the late 1930s. Elise and Juliette are both pregnant at the same time, and when they meet, they immediately bond as expectant mothers and become great friends, each woman giving birth to a little girl. Juliette and her husband own a quiet but popular bookshop, while Elise is a sculptor and her husband is a famous painter. While they know war is lurking just beyond their country’s borders, neither Elise nor Juliette can fathom that their lives will soon be irrevocably changed, until the unthinkable happens and the Germans invade. When the Germans suspect that Elise’s husband is part of the French resistance, Elise knows she must flee or be captured as well and she leaves her young daughter in Juliette’s care, thinking she’ll be safer there than on the run with her. After Elise flees, however, tragedy strikes the little bookshop and when Elise finally returns at the end of the war, all she returns to find is a pile of rubble.
The Paris Daughter is told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of each mother. We follow them both through the war, get inside their heads as they both have to make seemingly impossible choices, and how they find a way to move forward after unfathomable loss. Both of their journeys are often heartbreaking, but I admired the strength and resilience each displayed. As a mom myself, I kept trying to put myself in their shoes and wondered if I would have the strength to make the hard choices they made.
The Paris Daughter is of course a well researched WWII historical fiction novel, but at its heart, it’s also a beautifully written, heartwrenching yet inspirational story about love and friendship, resilience and strength, and ultimately about the lengths a mother will go to in order to protect her children. This is the fifth novel of Kristin Harmel’s I’ve read and it might be my favorite yet, although I also very highly recommend The Book of Lost Names and The Forest of Vanishing Stars. 5 STARS
The Spectacular Goodreads
Author: Fiona Davis
Publication Date: June 13, 2023
Publisher: Dutton
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I’m a huge fan of Fiona Davis’ historical fiction. I love how she always centers her stories around New York City iconic buildings. Davis’ latest novel, The Spectacular, was especially appealing to me since this time, her iconic landmark of choice was Radio City Music Hall, the home of the world famous Rockettes.
Set in 1956, The Spectacular follows Marion, a young woman who wants nothing more than to become a Rockette. When Marion is invited to join the troupe, she is the only one in her family who considers it an honor. Her father is so appalled by her decision to dance instead of settling down to get married and start a family that he actually kicks her out of the house and ends all contact with her. We follow Marion as she sets out, determined to follow her own dream. Like many others, I’ve always been fascinated by this elite precision dance troupe. It’s truly mesmerizing to watch them perform, so I was very excited to get a behind the scenes look into the world of being a Rockette. It was very eye opening to witness their grueling rehearsals as well as all of the little details that go into creating that illusion of precision, such as the way they sew costumes for taller dancers vs. what they do for the shorter ones.
Marion loves what she does, but occasionally wonders if the cost of losing her family was too high of a price to pay. That cost grows even higher when the “Big Apple Bomber”, who has been terrorizing New York for over 15 years bombs Radio City Musical Hall. One of the victims of the bombing is Marion’s sister, who against their father’s wishes, had snuck out to see Marion perform. Fueled by her grief and the frustration that the police are no closer to catching the bomber after 15 years, Marion goes rogue and enlists the help of Peter, a psychological profiler, to try to find and catch the killer.
What I really loved about The Spectacular was that in addition to having a well researched strong historical fiction narrative, it also features this riveting murder mystery/thriller, a pretty substantial element of family drama, and even the slightest hint of a potential romance. All of these elements combine effortlessly into a riveting read that I could not put down. It’s a story that definitely has a little something for everyone. I highly recommend The Spectacular to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, New York iconic landmarks, suspenseful thrillers, domestic dramas, and especially to anyone who, like me, has always been fascinated by the Rockettes. 4.5 STARS
Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Lake House & The Senator’s Wife
It’s another edition of Thriller Thursday with Sharon! I hope everyone is doing well. This week I am happy to share my thoughts on Sarah Beth Durst’s YA thriller, The Lake House and Liv Constantine’s domestic thriller, The Senator’s Wife. Both of these books had me hooked from beginning to end.
The Lake House Goodreads Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publication Date: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Harperteen
I have only read one other book by Sarah Beth Durst, and it was just okay. When I read the synopsis for The Lake House it sounded good, but I still went into this book with low expectations. I am happy to report that this book totally exceeded those expectations.
Three high school teenagers, Claire, Reyva, and Mariana are the last to arrive at an off-the-grid summer camp in Maine. Their parents went to this camp and told them that it would be a great experience for them. Oh, how wrong they were! The only way to get to the camp is by boat and after the boat drops them off and leaves, Claire, Reyva and Mariana find the remains of the burnt down lodge. There is no one else on this island except them or so the girls think. There are no bodies in the lodge, so did the other campers and counselors survive and leave the island? They soon find a dead body in the woods, and then a man with a gun starts shooting at them and another mad man is chasing them. To survive Claire, Reyva and Mariana must work together to find a way off the island.
I loved getting to know all three girls. Claire suffers from high anxiety and her brain is always figuring out the worst-case scenarios to the point that she blacks out. Because of this she does not have friends and is pretty much a loner who would rather stay in her room and read. Mariana is very peppy, always loves to talk and she loves rebuilding old cars. Reyva hides her emotions and does not like to come across as weak. She always has to have a tough-girl persona. I loved how they got to know and open up to each other and formed a friendship. They all needed that friendship in their lives and I was so happy they could rely on each other. The friendship they formed made me smile and their banter back and forth had me chuckling many times.
I also loved how strong and resourceful they were. They each had strengths that could possibly help them survive the terrors of this island. And even though they did not believe in themselves, the others were there to cheer them on.
I was so invested in Claire, Reyva and Mariana and was rooting for them to make it out alive. There was quite a few times that I was very scared for their safety. As well as creating great characters, I think Sarah Beth Durst did a great job of creating a very creepy setting for this book as well. The whole island setting with the burnt out lake house and periods of rain just added to the eeriness of this book.
The Lake House is a YA thriller that kept me glued to the pages. 4 stars
The Senator's Wife Goodreads Author: Liv Constantine
Publication Date: May 23, 2023
Publisher: Bantam
I was very excited to read Liv Constantine’s (sister writing duo, Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine) newest book, The Senator’s Wife. I have loved all of their books and this newest book is no exception.
Two years ago, a chain of events led to the deaths of Robert Chase, who was the husband of D.C. philanthropist, Sloane Chase, and Peg Montgomery, who was the wife of Senator Whit Montgomery. Sloane and Whit knew each other and were close, as their spouses were cousins and their deaths brought Sloane and Whit even closer and they eventually got married. Things were going great for them, and when Sloane needed to have hip replacement surgery due to her lupus, they hired Athena Karras, a health aide, to help Sloane after the surgery. Athena was a godsend at first, helping Sloane with her charities, but then Sloane’s health started to deteriorate, and she started becoming very paranoid. Why is Athena asking so many questions about Sloane’s charity foundation and is it just Sloane’s paranoia or are Athena and Whit getting a bit too close. Sloane needs help before it is too late, but who can she trust?
The Senator’s Wife starts off with the events that lead to the deaths of Robert and Peg and then jumps two years ahead to the present with Sloane and Whit married. Even though it was for a short time, I liked getting to know Robert and Peg and see how their marriages to Sloane and Whit were. I think having seen that, it gave me more insight into the events that happen later in the book.
The book is told from multiple POV’s and with each POV we get hints of information of what is going on. I loved trying to piece everything together and thought I knew what was going on but then a twist at the end blew my theory up. LOL
I liked Sloane and sympathized with her, especially after she started getting sicker. I was rooting for her to figure out what was going on, or for someone else to step in and help her. I also liked that when the paranoia set in Sloane became an unreliable character.
My favorite character was Rosemary. Rosemary was Robert’s mother and she really loves Sloane. She does not believe for a minute that the event that happened to cause Robert’s death was an accident and she blames Whit. She has taken it upon herself to find out what really happened and as Sloane gets sicker, she is also trying to find out whatever she can about Athena. Rosemary is in her eighties, but she was one badass woman. I was cheering her on the whole time I was reading.
There is not much I can really say about what happens in this book without spoiling anything. I can say that The Senator’s Wife is a slow burn domestic thriller that had me turning the pages and by the end of the book I was on the edge of my seat. 4 Stars