Reviews: JUST ANOTHER LOVE SONG & LONG STORY SHORT

August 1, 2022/25 Comments/by Suzanne

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a nice weekend. I took some vacation days to give myself a four-day weekend so I definitely can’t complain, well, aside from not wanting to sign in for work today, haha. Anyway, I’m back today with two new reviews for you, one is from a favorite author of mine, Kerry Winfrey, while the other is a debut from Serena Kaylor.

Reviews: JUST ANOTHER LOVE SONG & LONG STORY SHORT

Just Another Love Song Goodreads

Author: Kerry Winfrey

Publication Date: August 2, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I’m a huge fan of Kerry Winfrey’s books anyway, but when I saw that her latest novel, Just Another Love Song, is a second chance romance set in a small town, I couldn’t get my hands on a copy fast enough. I’m happy to report that this romance was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Fifteen years ago, Sandy Macintosh and Hank Tillman were high school sweethearts. They were in love and had big dreams – Sandy was a gifted artist, and Hank a talented musician, and they wanted to leave their small town in Ohio, go off to college together, and then start building their future. When Sandy’s scholarship falls through, her dreams of college and leaving home are shattered. Hank goes off to college anyway, and even though they promise they’ll stay together no matter what, after a while Sandy feels like she’s holding Hank back from pursuing a career in music, so she breaks up with him. When the story opens, they have just run into each other for the first time since that break up.

I can’t even express how much I loved Sandy and Hank. I was especially enamored with Sandy, who in spite of having her dreams crushed so long ago, has managed to make a pretty good life for herself. She’s now a successful businesswoman with a thriving greenhouse business and she is very active in the community. She definitely made the best of a bad situation, and I admired her resilience. I also adored Hank. He’s of course sexy as heck, but he also clearly has a good heart and when he returns to his hometown, he immediately pitches in and helps anyone in need, even though he’s now a successful musician. There’s no egotism there at all. When Sandy and Hank reunite for the first time, it’s of course super awkward, but you can tell the old attraction is still there. My absolute favorite part of Just Another Love Song are the flashbacks Winfrey gives us to when Sandy and Hank first fell in love. Those scenes were just so adorable and magical, and they had me all the more invested in them taking another chance on one another and revisiting what they had as teens in love.

The small town setting was also a big hit for me. I loved everything about this community and its fun and quirky characters. It kind of reminded me a bit of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls and I enjoyed all of the humorous moments the various townspeople provided and they also provided a nice balance to some of the more emotional scenes between Sandy and Hank.

With its beautiful second chance romance and its charming small town setting, Just Another Love Song is sure to please anyone who is looking for a heartwarming, engaging read. 4.5 STARS

Long Story Short Goodreads

Author: Serena Kaylor

Publication Date: July 26, 2022

Publisher: Wednesday Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Long Story Short, a new YA romcom by Serena Kaylor, was such a fun read for me! It follows Beatrice Quinn, a 16 year old, academically gifted homeschooled student, as she tries to prove to her parents that she is both socially and emotionally ready to head thousands of miles from home to attend Oxford University where she has been accepted.

Beatrice’s parents know their daughter is brilliant and will succeed academically at Oxford, but they also just want to know that if she goes to Oxford, that she’ll be happy, make friends, and have the full college experience. They know Beatrice better than anyone else, and what they know is that while Beatrice may be a genius when it comes to numbers and statistics, but people, specifically how to make friends, are a mystery to her. To put their own minds at ease, they decide to challenge Beatrice – if she can go away to a theater camp on the other side of the country and complete a list of tasks they consider to be “typical” teenage social activities, then they’ll let her go to Oxford.

I loved Beatrice from the moment we meet her and I have to admit that I was kind of angry on her behalf that she has to jump through these hoops to prove herself, but as a parent myself, I could understand why her parents were so worried about her going that far away. There were some characteristics of Beatrice’s personality that made me think she might possibly be on the autism spectrum, but that was never explicitly stated so I’m not sure. At minimum, she is most definitely an introvert and as a fellow introvert, I very much related to her social struggles and was really hoping for the best for her.

I don’t want to say much about the camp itself, so I’m just going to say that Beatrice’s journey is everything I wanted it to be for her and so much more. She basically gets adopted by Mia and Nolan, two other teens at the camp, and they become just as invested as she is in completing her parents’ checklist and giving her the full typical teenager experience. Beatrice learns about the bonds of friendship, how to read social cues, how to apologize if she accidentally offends or hurts someone, and she even learns a little about love.

Long Story Short is a wonderful coming of age story set against the backdrop of a Shakespearean theater camp. If you’re in the mood for a story about friendship, love, and learning to live your life to the fullest, I highly recommend it. 4 STARS

Reviews: THE LITTLEST LIBRARY and BET ON IT

July 29, 2022/20 Comments/by Suzanne

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week and that you all have exciting plans for the weekend. I’m sure mine will be filled with plenty of reading and getting caught up on my blog hopping. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on two of my recent reads, one of which was such a delightful surprise that I could easily see it making my “Best of” list at the end of the year.

Reviews: THE LITTLEST LIBRARY and BET ON IT

The Littlest Library Goodreads

Author: Poppy Alexander

Publication Date: July 19, 2022

Publisher: Avon Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I’m not even going to lie. I picked up The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander because of that adorable cover. Who can resist a charming little red phone booth converted into a library? I sure couldn’t! I went into this book expecting a story just as cute as the cover and got so much more. The Littlest Library is a heartwarming story about community, family, and finding your place in this world. Oh and of course, it’s also about books. 😊

When we meet the protagonist, Jess Metcalf, she is having a rough go. She has just lost her job as a librarian, her grandmother has recently died, and when Jess tries to take a drive to clear her head after dealing with her grandmother’s estate, she takes a wrong turn and her car breaks down right in the middle of a tiny town in the English countryside. What Jess doesn’t realize at the time is that her wrong turn and subsequent breakdown is about to change her life in ways she never could have imagined.

I really adored Jess. She’s just so sweet and it’s obvious how much she loves her grandmother, Mimi. When I learned that her grandmother had practically raised her, my heart just broke all the harder for Jess when Mimi died. I also found it incredibly moving that Mimi, who knew she was dying, had boxed up all the books that she and Jess had treasured over the years to make sure that Jess kept them all. I loved the bond between these two women so much and especially that their bond was made all the stronger by the books they shared. Mimi’s last wish is for Jess to go out and find herself a new adventure, rather than stay in their old house alone. When Jess’ car breaks down in this cute little town in the country, she decides it’s a sign to do just that and buys herself a little cottage that happens to have an old red telephone booth on its property.

As much as I loved Jess, I really think the star of the book is this red phone booth and all that it symbolized, both for Jess and for the people in her new community. When Jess decides to clean it up and turn it into a little library, using hers and Mimi’s books, it gives her both a renewed sense of purpose and a wonderful way to connect with the people in the town, who haven’t had a library of any kind in years. They are starved for books and Jess is their hero. It made me smile watching so many people come and check books out, chat with each other and with Jess. There’s also a bit of a slow burn romance involving Jess and a grumpy neighbor that was enjoyable to read about, but I have to admit that I was pretty tunnel visioned on the library and the magic its books worked on everyone. Who knew a little phone booth and some books could create such a renewed sense of community to a town and give a young woman the fresh start she’s looking for?

I love books about books so I fully expected to enjoy The Littlest Library, but let me tell you, it far exceeded my expectations and left me with the biggest smile on my face. An absolute gem of a book! 4.5 STARS

Bet on It Goodreads

Author: Jodie Slaughter

Publication Date: July 12, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter was a much deeper read than I was expecting based on that cute cover with the bingo card. While the novel does feature a fun and sexy romance, it also offers an in depth exploration of social anxiety and panic attacks.

When we meet the protagonist, Aja Owens, she is having a panic attack in the local grocery store. A young man named Walker sees her in distress and helps her through the attack. Aja is mortified that he has witnessed her anxiety getting the best of her, but at the same time, she can’t help but notice how hot Walker is. When she then heads to Bingo night, she runs into Walker again. It turns out he is the grandson of her favorite bingo partner and that he’s in town to help his grandmother who has recently taken a nasty fall and is still healing from her injuries. Aja, still embarrassed that Walker witnessed her having a panic attack, would love nothing more than to get up from the bingo table and run away, but Walker seems genuinely happy to see her so she lets down her guard and decides there’s no harm in getting to know him better.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Aja and Walker very much. It was so much fun to watch the two of them bond over bingo, surrounded mostly by the senior citizen crowd. Their banter was hilarious at times, and once it becomes clear they are physically attracted to one another, they even make a steamy bet based on which of them can get a bingo first. While they definitely had a lot of fun together, I appreciated that they also had real discussions about mental health and that Walker reveals to Aja that he recognized her panic attacks because he also occasionally has them. The author does a wonderful job of exploring panic attacks and social anxiety both realistically and with great sensitivity.

There’s some added drama in the story that revolves around Walker and his past. He can’t wait for his grandmother to get better because he wants to get out of town and away from bad memories as soon as possible. His attraction to Aja throws a kink into those plans and it was interesting to watch the two of them navigate through such a messy situation. While I felt bad for Walker as we learn more about his past, there were times when I didn’t like him as much as I liked Aja. I felt that some of his thoughts about Aja’s curvy body were a little cringeworthy at times, and I wanted to knock him upside the head. That’s probably just a “me” thing though so I wouldn’t let it put you off from reading the book.

Overall, Bet on It is an entertaining read that should appeal to anyone who enjoys not only a fun romance but also emotional and heartfelt exploration of mental illness. 3.5 STARS

Review: THE BODYGUARD by Katherine Center

July 25, 2022/21 Comments/by Suzanne

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Also by this author: Things You Save in a Fire, What You Wish For

Published by St. Martin's Press on July 19, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: Netgalley
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Goodreads

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 Katherine Center’s books and will read absolutely everything she writes. I love the emotional journeys she takes her characters on and even though she sometimes puts my emotions through the wringer, I’m always left with a smile on my face by the end of the book. The Bodyguard was a bit lighter of a read than I’ve come to expect from Center, with more of a romcom vibe at times, but let me tell you, I was here for it every step of the way and it’s my new favorite Katherine Center novel.

Hannah Brooks is a professional bodyguard and she’s at the top of her field. Lately though, she has been having a rough time. Her mother has recently passed away, and her boyfriend (who also happens to be her coworker) abruptly dumps her the day of her mom’s funeral. Hannah is dying for a change of scenery to get away from all the awkwardness and so her boss assigns her as the lead bodyguard for a huge new client who is coming to town, Hollywood mega star Jack Stapleton. Hannah is torn. She kind of wants to quit because she really wanted an assignment out of town, the farther away the better, but at the same time, she has had a crush on Jack Stapleton for ages so the opportunity to protect his rather stellar body definitely has its appeal.

Jack is back in Texas because his mother is sick. Coming home is painful for Jack because he is still reeling from a tragic accident that killed his younger brother. Because of this, he has been out of the spotlight for a while now and therefore doesn’t think he really needs a bodyguard. His agent feels otherwise though because he does have some stalkerish fans, and so Hannah shows up on his doorstep ready to protect him.

Once Jack and Hannah meet, I flew through the rest of this book. I loved that they were both such messy and complicated characters, each dealing with their own issues, but who also just really pushed each other’s buttons when they are first forced to start spending time together. Their banter is downright hilarious and had me laughing out loud more than once as I read. It was easy to see how good they could be together if they would both let their guard down a bit and let the other in and I was rooting for this to happen all the way.

As much as I adored the forced proximity trope in this story, I actually loved the use of the fake dating trope even more. Jack doesn’t want to worry his mom about stalkers and why he has a bodyguard following him everywhere, so he lies and tells his family that Hannah is his girlfriend. Jack’s parents are so adorable and I loved watching them bond with Hannah. They were so good to her that it had me all the more invested in Jack and Hannah hopefully becoming a real couple.

I don’t think what I’ve written has done justice to how wonderful The Bodyguard really is. It has a little something for everyone – romance, an emotional journey of personal growth for both Hannah and Jack, a found family, humor, and even a bit of action and suspense. The Bodyguard was everything I’ve come to expect from a Katherine Center novel and more.

About Katherine Center

Katherine Center is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away, the upcoming Things You Save in a Fire (August 2019), and five other bittersweet comic novels. Six Foot Pictures is currently adapting her fourth novel, The Lost Husband, into a feature film starring Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, and Nora Dunn. Katherine has been compared to both Nora Ephron and Jane Austen, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Katherine recently gave a TEDx talk on how stories teach us empathy, and her work has appeared in USA Today, InStyle, Redbook, People, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Real Simple, Southern Living, and InTouch, among others. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her fun husband, two sweet kids, and fluffy-but-fierce dog.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Housemaid & An Honest Lie

July 21, 2022/10 Comments/by Sharon

Hi everyone. It’s Sharon back with another Thriller Thursday. This week I am reviewing Freida McFadden’s, The Housemaid and Tarryn Fisher’s, An Honest Lie. I really enjoyed both of these books and I am happy to share my thoughts on them.

Thriller Thursday Reviews: The Housemaid & An Honest Lie

The Housemaid Goodreads

Author: Freida McFadden

Publication Date: April 26, 2022

Publisher: Bookouture

I could not resist the eerie cover of an eye peeking out of a keyhole, for Freida McFadden’s new book The Housemaid. From that cover and the synopsis, I knew this would be one twisted read and I was right.

Millie has had a tough life. She went to prison for 10 years when she was seventeen-years-old. She has been out on parole for a year when she applies for a live-in housekeeper job she knows once they do a background check, she will not get it, but to Millie’s surprise she does get the job. Unfortunately for Millie the job isn’t what she expected. When she interviewed for the job, the house was pristine and Nina Winchester, the owner, was such a nice person. When Millie showed up for her first day, the house was a mess and Nina was no longer the nice, caring person she was at the interview. Nina is doing everything she can to make Millie’s life a living hell, but Millie needs this job and she will not quit. And then Millie finds herself growing attracted to Nina’s husband, Andrew, and she dreams of what it would be like to be living Nina’s life. Be careful what you wish for, Millie!

This book is told in three parts. Part one is told from Millie’s POV. I liked Millie and sympathized with her as I got more information on her background. Millie is a strong person. When push comes to shove, she does not back down; she pushes back and pushes hard. From Millie’s perspective, we get to see how crazy Nina is. Oh, the things Nina would do! She accuses Millie of stealing her notes for the parent/teacher night and then after destroying the kitchen looking for them, yells at Millie for the mess. Nina has Millie get tickets to a play for a specific night and then accuses Millie of getting the tickets for the wrong night. Nina gives Millie some old clothes and then accuses her of stealing them. Everyday Nina seemed to be spiraling out of control more and more.

The second part of the book is told from Nina’s POV, and it is in this part we find out what is really going on. I didn’t like Nina very much in the first part of the book, but when I found out what was going on, I cut her some slack. Though I liked the outcome she was hoping for, I wasn’t fully on board with how she made it happen. Yes, vague I know, but if I tell you then you wouldn’t be surprised. LOL!

The third part of the book alternates between Millie and Nina and in this part, we see the outcome and aftermath of everything that happened in the book. And what an outcome it was!

The Housemaid was a very twisted and engrossing read. And even though I have read books that are similar in plot and sort of guessed how things were going to go, I still really enjoyed this book. There were lots of twists and turns at the end that did surprise me. 3 ½ stars

An Honest Lie Goodreads

Author: Tarryn Fisher

Publication Date: April 26, 2022

Publisher: Graydon House

I have enjoyed the two other books I have read by Tarryn Fisher, but while they didn’t knock my socks off, I was still excited to read her new book, An Honest Lie. And I am happy to report that this book surpassed the other two books I read.

Rainey Ives is an artist who relocated from New York to Tiger Mountain in Washington a year ago to live with her boyfriend Grant. Rainey is a private person and has never been that good at making friends, but to make Grant happy, she joins the Tiger Mountain Group. This group of women are part of Grant’s friend group that he has known for over twenty years. Rainey does her best to fit in, but she cannot get over the fact that a couple of women in the group do not like her. When the women plan a weekend away in Vegas, Rainey reluctantly goes. Vegas holds bad memories for Rainey. When she was a child her mother and her were part of a cult there. Rainey escaped, but she knows the cult leader, Taured, will do anything to get her back. So, when one of the women, Braithe, goes missing after a night of partying and Rainey receives threatening text messages from her phone, Rainey knows who has taken Braithe and that it is really Rainey they want. To save Braithe, Rainey has to face the past she has been running away from.

This book is told from the POV of Rainey but in two timelines, 1) present day and 2) when Rainey was fifteen years old and in the cult with her mother. Of the two timelines, my favorite was the past one. I really loved getting the back story on Rainey and what life was like for her in the cult. I had so much sympathy for everything she went through. At first, she bought into the whole cult thing, but as time passed and the more things she witnessed and discovered, she knew she had to get out of there. I loved how strong willed and determined she was.

That strong will and determination followed Rainey into adulthood, and while I thought the present-day chapters were a bit slow, once Braithe goes missing and Rainey sets her plan into motion to save her and face her past, the pace and tension picked up. I loved watching her take charge and plan everything out. Though some of her planning did not go as I thought it was supposed to, she had back-up plans as well, which just made me love her determination all the more. I was on the edge of my seat at the end of the book wondering how it was all going to play out.

If you like books that give you a look into the world of cults and that feature a strong protagonist then I recommend Tarryn Fisher’s An Honest Lie. 3 ½ stars

Reviews: A SHOE STORY and DREAM ON

July 15, 2022/10 Comments/by Suzanne

Happy Friday! Wow, what I wouldn’t give for a slow week. Between work, which never seems to slow down, and my son’s post-surgery physical therapy, I feel like there just aren’t enough hours in my days to do everything I want to do. I’ve been getting tons of reading done but am just ridiculously behind with reviews. I do have two reviews to share today though. Both are from new-to-me authors so I’m very excited to have finally gotten the chance to read something from each of them.

A Shoe Story Goodreads

Author: Jane Rosen

Publication Date: June 28, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A Shoe Story by Jane Rosen is another book I was drawn to initially because of its adorable and whimsical cover. I loved the shoes scattered across the page and as someone who loves stories set in New York City, just seeing the NYC skyline on the cover was enough to further entice me. I dove in and was immediately captivated by this beautiful story of second chances.

The story centers on Esme Nash, a young woman who dreamed of moving to New York as soon as she graduated from college and securing a job at a prestigious art gallery. Esme’s boyfriend Liam also shares her dream of moving to New York and so they make plans together, until tragedy strikes. Esme’s parents are involved in a car accident that kills her mother and leaves her father paralyzed. Esme knows she has to stay and take care of her dad but she doesn’t want to hold Liam back from his dreams, so she breaks up with him so that he will go on to New York without her. Seven years later, Esme’s dad dies and Esme decides it’s time to get her life back and so, after securing temporary employment as a live-in dog sitter, she heads to New York.

Esme had my heart right away, just seeing how much she was willing to sacrifice to take care of her father. I also loved the resilience she displays when she decides to head to New York to try to get her life back on track. She hopes to cross paths with Liam to see if there are still sparks between them, but she is also very focused on reentering the art world and securing her dream job. I really admired her sense of determination and was immediately hoping she would get all the second chances she was hoping for.

What Esme finds along the way though is what really made this such a special read for me. The first thing she discovers is that the dog owner she is sitting for has an enormous closet filled to the brim with designer shoes that just happen to be in Esme’s size. Esme, a shoe fiend herself, is entranced by this and decides to borrow a new pair of them every day to give her a much needed boost of confidence as she heads out into the city to reclaim her dreams and hopefully find her lost love. Esme’s journey ends up being a special one filled with new friends, new experiences, and she discovers sides to her personality that she never really knew existed. I really enjoyed watching her grow and embrace the second chances she has been given.

While most of the story focuses on Esme’s journey to find those second chances, what really struck me as I was reading was that every new friend she meets is also looking for a second chance of sorts. I enjoyed Esme’s interactions with each of these characters as they helped each other find their way.

A Shoe Story tackles some tough topics like alcoholism, loss and grief, but overall it’s just such a smart and delightful read about finding oneself. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more of Jane Rosen’s novels. 4.5 STARS

Dream On Goodreads

Author: Angie Hockman

Publication Date: July 5, 2022

Publisher: Gallery Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I have to confess that it was the gorgeous cover that first drew me to Angie Hockman’s new contemporary romance novel, Dream On. That said, the story itself is just as sweet and beautiful as that cover.

Dream On follows Cass Walker, a young woman who gets into an accident the day she passes the bar exam and winds up in a coma for nearly a week. When the story opens, Cass is just waking up, surrounded by her family and her best friend, but all she wants to know is why isn’t her boyfriend Devin there. Cass’ loved ones are confused because to their knowledge, Cass does not have a boyfriend. No one knows who Devin is and once Cass is out of the hospital, she realizes she doesn’t have any photos, contact information, or anything that pertains to Devin. All she has are these vivid memories of dating him for the past three months. It’s as if she dreamed him up. Nearly a year later, Cass finally runs into the real Devin and it begins a life changing journey for her.

I loved this unique storyline and found myself very invested with Cass’ journey to figure out how she has all these memories of Devin, especially since he has no idea who she is either. Was it purely a figment of her imagination or did she really meet him at some point? I also loved how brave Cass was the day she encounters him because she flat out tells him what she is experiencing and that she would like his assistance in helping her work through how she could possibly know so much about him. I don’t know if I would have had the guts to do that since he could have easily written her off as crazy. I also had a soft spot for Devin right away since he was game to help her, even as his overprotective brother, Perry, was desperately trying to get rid of Cass since he did think she was a crazy stalker. I wasn’t crazy about Perry at first just because he was so quick to judge Cass, but he did grow on me quickly since it was clear how much he cared about his brother.

It was fun watching Cass get to know both brothers and I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story, especially as it became clear that Cass and Perry were developing feelings for one another. I’m not usually big on love triangles but I have to admit that I was very interested in seeing if she would ultimately reject her mysterious connection to Devin in favor of Perry, or if she would choose neither brother and instead focus on getting her life and career back on track. No spoilers from me but I will say that I was very satisfied with the ending.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet romance about literally finding the man of your dreams, you’ll definitely want to check out Dream On. 4 STARS

Top Ten Tuesday – Book Covers That Feel Like Summer

July 12, 2022/52 Comments/by Suzanne

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Book Covers That Feel Like Summer. I love covers with summer vibes so this was an easy topic to do. The biggest challenge was to narrow it down to just ten of my favorites. To narrow it, I tried to focus mainly on new and recent releases.

Ten of My Favorite Books Covers That Feel Like Summer

1. OUR LAST DAYS IN BARCELONA by Chanel Cleeton

2. OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY by Kristan Higgins

3. EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune

4. WAIT FOR IT by Jenn McKinlay

5. FLOAT PLAN by Trish Doller

6. THE HOTEL NANTUCKET by Elin Hilderbrand

7. THE GUNCLE by Steven Rowley

8. ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle

9. THE FRIENDSHIP PACT by Jill Shalvis

10. THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner

* * * * * *

Question: Have you read any of these?

Reviews: THE DEAD ROMANTICS & HERE FOR THE DRAMA

July 8, 2022/26 Comments/by Suzanne

Happy Friday everyone! I’m back today to share my thoughts on a couple of romance novels that thoroughly delighted me over the long holiday weekend. Both of these are out in the world already so if you like what you read here, you can go right out and snag these for your reading pleasure. 🙂

Reviews: THE DEAD ROMANTICS & HERE FOR THE DRAMA

The Dead Romantics Goodreads

Author: Ashley Poston

Publication Date: June 28, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I first became a fan of Ashley Poston’s after loving her YA Once Upon a Con series, so I was thrilled to hear she has her adult debut, The Dead Romantics, coming out this year. I was so intrigued by the premise that the protagonist is a romance ghostwriter who no longer believes in love. I couldn’t wait to dive into this one and I’m pleased to report that I now have a new favorite Ashley Poston novel because The Dead Romantics is an absolute gem of a book!

The story follows Florence Day, a young woman who is the ghostwriter for a very popular and prolific romance author. Florence’s next deadline is looming but she just can’t seem to finish the book. Why the writer’s block? Because after a terrible breakup, in Florence’s mind, romance is now dead so every time she sits down to write a happy ending for the book, she instead ends up pouring out her heart and writing doom and gloom. After butting heads with her new and very sexy editor, who refuses to give her another extension on her deadline, a family emergency sends Florence back to the hometown she hasn’t visited in a decade. Although Florence is reluctant to go home, at the same time, she’s hoping for inspiration to finish this book before her career is dead.

I adored Florence. As we learn more about her, it’s clear she has been through a lot in her life and she’s an easy character to feel sympathetic toward. It also becomes clear why she hasn’t come back home even though she loves her family dearly and that returning home reopens some old wounds. Florence’s family runs the local funeral home and because of this, Florence realizes early on that she has the ability to see ghosts and to communicate with them, to help them finish up any unfinished business they still have. Florence’s ability to see ghosts is what drove her away from home, but when she comes face to face with her editor, who has apparently died since she last saw him in his office, it may also be just the thing she needs in order to restore her faith in love and romance and get her career back on track. Now I’ll freely admit that you’ll probably have to suspend disbelief a little to fully embrace Florence’s gift and how it plays out in the book, but if you let yourself just accept it and roll with it, you’re going to love the journey that Florence’s gift allows her to take.

I also loved how this story was a nice balance between Florence’s journey, her close relationship with her family as they came together to grieve the loss of a loved one, as well as a slow burn romance that surprised and delighted me. The Dead Romantics is one of those stories that both tugged at my heartstrings and made me laugh throughout as I was reading. I flew through the pages because I was just having such a wonderful time watching these characters interact and was so invested in how things would play out for Florence.

If you’re looking for a unique story that perfectly straddles the line between romance and women’s fiction, I highly recommend The Dead Romantics. 4.5 STARS

Here for the Drama Goodreads

Author: Kate Bromley

Publication Date: June 21, 2022

Publisher: Graydon House

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I was a big fan of Kate Bromley’s debut romance Talk Bookish to Me because of its relatable characters and witty banter, so I was eager to get my hands on her new novel, Here for the Drama. With its London setting, a female playwright as the protagonist, and the promise of an adorable but rambunctious rescue dog, Here for the Drama appealed to me on every level. Bromley really delivers too. As much as I enjoyed her debut, her sophomore effort really shines!

The story follows Winnie, a young woman who dreams of being a famous playwright. Even though she is actively writing her own plays and hoping to get them noticed, her day job is to serve as an assistant to a woman who actually already is a famous playwright, Juliette Brassard. Winnie is trying to get one of her plays in shape to enter it into a contest and keeps hoping Juliette will read it and give her feedback, but Winnie’s play gets put on the back burner when Juliette announces that they are going to London because one of her plays is being staged there. Winnie is reluctant to go, but the trip ends up being life changing for her in many ways.

I really liked Winnie. She’s a well-drawn and relatable character, especially when it comes to her insecurities about whether or not she has what it takes to make it as a playwright. Winnie is also quick witted and just a really enjoyable character to follow. In addition to rooting for her to have success with her writing, I was also rooting for Winnie on a personal level as well. While in London, she meets Juliette’s sexy nephew, Liam, and the two of them have both incredible chemistry and just some flat out hilarious conversations. From their earliest conversations, it felt like they had known each other forever. They’re clearly perfect for one another, but there’s just one huge obstacle – Juliette does not want Winnie and Liam to get involved with one another. I don’t often come across the secret dating trope, but I have to say I quite enjoyed it here and was cheering Liam and Winnie on.

Here for the Drama is just a delightful and heart-warming read. From Winnie and Liam to the adorable scene stealing rescue dog, I just loved every page of it. If you’re in the mood for a rom com that really delivers and that will leave you with a contented smile on your face, be sure to pick up a copy of Here for the Drama. 4 STARS

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Never Coming Home & Take Your Breath Away

July 7, 2022/9 Comments/by Sharon

Welcome back to Sharon’s edition of Thriller Thursday! This week I am reviewing Hannah Mary McKinnon’s, Never Coming Home and Linwood Barclay’s, Take Your Breath Away. I really enjoyed both of these books and they both had similar themes; husbands that are at the center of their wives disappearance/murder. LOL!

Thriller Thursday Reviews: Never Coming Home & Take Your Breath Away

Never Coming Home Goodreads

Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon

Publication Date: May 24, 2022

Publisher: MIRA

I have enjoyed every book I have read by Hannah Mary McKinnon and Never Coming Home is no exception. Lucas Forester didn’t really hate his wife, Michelle. She was beautiful, sophisticated, and very rich. It is because she is rich that Lucas married her. He had originally planned on divorcing her after a couple of years to get his millions, but thanks to his father-in-law and an airtight pre-nup, Lucas had to adjust his plans to get his hands on her money. For years Lucas planned Michelle’s death. He hired a hit man to kidnap and kill Michelle, and he made sure he left no trace that would lead police to him. Lucas has been playing the grieving husband for a month and patiently waiting to be able to cash-in on Michelle’s fortune. But when shocking photos of Michelle start showing up, with notes stating, “I know what you did,” Lucas starts to unravel. How could anyone know what he did? Lucas is determined to find out who is behind the photos and notes and shut them up for good.

McKinnon did a great job of creating a villain that I hated, but also liked and had sympathy for at times. Lucas was a great character. Yes, I know he put a hit out on his wife, but he also had me chuckling a few times and he was very devoted to his mother in-law, who has terminal cancer and does not have long to live. He was always going over and sitting with her and you could tell his feelings for her were genuine. He also loved his father, and it is because of his father he is doing all this. His father had a stroke years ago, which Lucas blames himself for, and he needs the money to be able to keep his father in the best care facility. And he rescued and adopted a stray dog. See, he is a good guy, well except for the killing his wife part. LOL!

The book was told from Lucas’ POV, and I really loved getting inside his head and learning all about him and what made him do what he did. I especially loved watching him unravel as the photos and notes started arriving. He went from this cool, collected, and calculated guy, to a nervous, always looking over his shoulder guy, who was starting to make many mistakes. It was really fun to watch.

I did figure a few things out early on who was behind everything, but I still enjoyed the ride while Lucas was trying to piece it all together. The last chapter had me cringing, and I kind of felt bad for Lucas. If you are looking for a psychological thriller that features a somewhat likable villain, then check out Hannah Mary McKinnon’s Never Coming Home. 3 ½ stars

Take Your Breath Away Goodreads

Author: Linwood Barclay

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

Publisher: William Morrow & Company

Take Your Breath Away is my second read by Linwood Barclay and while it did not knock my socks off like Find You First, I did enjoy it very much.

Andrew Mason’s wife, Brie, went missing six years ago while he was away on a fishing trip. Most everyone assumed he got away with murder but try as they might, the police could not build a case solid enough to arrest him. Andrew eventually sold his house, moved a couple of towns over and changed his last name. He has finally gotten his life back together and lives with his new girlfriend, Jayne, and her teenage brother, Tyler. Now six years after Brie went missing, a woman who looks just like her shows up at their old house, which has been torn down and rebuilt, screaming “Where’s my house? What’s happened to my house?” As quickly as she appeared, she disappeared again. The appearance of this woman has a ripple effect that puts a lot of people’s lives in danger. Who is this woman? If she is Brie, where has she been for six years? And if not, why is someone pretending to be her? And what did happen to Brie?

I really liked Andrew. Andrew’s life spiraled out of control after Brie disappeared, and it didn’t help that his sister-in-law, Isabel, was doing everything she could to make his life miserable. She was sure he was responsible and made it her mission to get the police to take action. I can totally relate to her on that aspect. If that had been my sister and I thought my brother-in-law was to blame, I would stop at nothing to make him pay. Now with the “Brie” sighting, Andrew’s life could come crashing down again and he is determined to figure out what is going on.

Detective Melissa Hardy was the original investigator on the case and she too made Andrew’s life hell. She had such tunnel vision that he was responsible for whatever happened to Brie, that she would not let up. And then when the mysterious woman appeared, Detective Hardy was back on Andrew’s case. I have to say I did not like her much. I thought she was too aggressive in her approach to things. She didn’t follow the true facts; she followed what she wanted to be facts.

Most of the characters in this book had secrets to hide, though some secrets were worse than others. And that just added to the mystery of who this mysterious woman was and what happened to Brie.

There is so much I cannot say about this book because I don’t want to spoil anything. There are so many twists and turns and I had no idea what the outcome was going to be. I was very surprised when everything was revealed at the end. 3 1/2 stars

Reviews: FOR THE LOVE OF THE BARD & A THOUSAND MILES

July 1, 2022/21 Comments/by Suzanne

Happy Friday everyone! I’ve had a crazy busy week but I’ll finally be catching up on my blog hopping today. Today I’m sharing two very entertaining second chance romances with you. One is a fabulous road trip read, while the other is an ode to the Bard himself.

Reviews: FOR THE LOVE OF THE BARD & A THOUSAND MILES

For the Love of the Bard Goodreads

Author: Jessica Martin

Publication Date: June 28, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I’m a huge Shakespeare fan, so Jessica Martin’s new contemporary romance For the Love of the Bard was a must-read for me. Aside from all of the Shakespeare love, the story also features a small town setting, a second chance romance, and a fabulous dog named Puck, all things that are basically catnip for me. For the Love of the Bard doesn’t disappoint either. I spent most of the book smiling and chuckling to myself and was ultimately bummed when I reached the last page because I wanted to spend more time in this setting with these characters.

The story follows Miranda Barnes, a literary agent and author, who returns to her hometown for the summer in hopes of finding some inspiration to finish her next novel. Miranda fully expects to hole up in the attic at her parent’s house and write all summer, but her mom has other ideas. Each year their town hosts a popular Shakespeare festival, and this year is the centennial year and Miranda’s mom is the event planner. She recruits Miranda to direct one of the plays they will be putting on as part of the celebration. Miranda reluctantly agrees but immediately finds herself face to face with someone she had hoped never to see again – Adam, the high school flame who ditched her on prom night. Will Miranda finally get to confront Adam and get some closure about what happened that night so many years ago?

I had so much fun reading this book! Miranda’s hometown of Bard’s Rest, in particular, delighted me. If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, imagine Stars Hollow but where every building, street, etc. is named using a Shakespearean reference and all the residents are Shakespeare enthusiasts who want to be part of the festival. It was so charming and quaint, and I just wanted it to be a real place so that I could visit it and geek out on all the Shakespearean references.

I was also a big fan of Miranda. Even though the book is advertised as a romance and there’s definitely plenty to keep readers entertained with respect to Miranda and Adam’s will they or won’t they vibe, it’s Miranda’s journey and her relationship with her family, especially her sisters, that captivated me. It was interesting to watch the different dynamics between Miranda and each of them as they try to navigate some personal drama regarding their mom’s health. In addition to the family drama, Miranda is also dealing with fan pressure. Her fans were very vocal about not liking the direction her last book went in, so she’s under tremendous pressure to write a new installment that will satisfy everyone. I was very engrossed by what turns out to be a very personal journey of self-discovery for Miranda as she discovers who she really wants to be as an author.

For the Love of the Bard is a charming story about love, family, community, and most of all, it’s about second chances and finding yourself. If you enjoy stories that features those elements and you’re a Shakespeare fan as well, I highly recommend this one. 4.5 STARS

A Thousand Miles Goodreads

Author: Bridget Morrisey

Publication Date: June 21, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Books

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I love a good second chance romance and I’m also a fan of books that feature road trips so when I saw that A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrisey featured both, I knew I had to read it. The story follows Dee and Ben, two former best friends who had a falling out and haven’t spoken to each other for ten years. One night Ben shows up unexpectedly on Dee’s doorstep simply stating “a promise is a promise.” The promise in question is to recreate the 1,000 mile road trip to Colorado that the two of them completed their senior year before their falling out. Even though she’s still angry and confused about what happened ten years ago, Dee agrees to take the trip, hoping for answers and to reconnect because as upset as she is, she has missed Ben more than she wants to admit.

I really enjoyed this book. Ben and Dee’s road trip was so entertaining, and I loved the whole nostalgic vibe that surrounded it as they went to all of the same places they went the first time around. I liked the contrast between the memories of when they were best friends versus experiencing the same things now but with so much awkwardness and tension between them. It’s a fun trip for them, but there is also a lot of angst as those memories of their fight are still hovering between them.

I also thought both Ben and Dee were fantastic characters. I loved their friendship, particularly as they slowly rekindled it, and was fully invested in learning what happened ten years ago and hoping they could move beyond it. It was also pretty clear that they have more than just friendly feelings toward one another, which gave me another reason to be invested in their future.

The entertainment factor doesn’t just come from Dee and Ben’s road trip though. Dee hosts a popular podcast called “Did I Forget to Tell You?” where she and her cohost share personal stories about their pasts, both the highs and especially the lows. Transcripts of some of the episodes where Dee discusses her troubled relationship with Ben (or Name Redacted as she refers to him) are sprinkled throughout the book. I loved the added in-depth look at Dee’s life and personality that those excerpts provided. You can tell just how much the falling out with Ben has dominated her thoughts over the years.

A Thousand Miles is a delightful and insightful story about love, friendship, and second chances. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun but angsty summer read and especially to those who are fans of road trip books. 4 STARS.

Reviews: FLYING SOLO and HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD

June 27, 2022/14 Comments/by Suzanne

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. I’m back today with more reviews. This time it’s a new book from the author of Evvie Drake Starts Over, followed by an exciting Hollywood-based debut from Ava Wilder.

Reviews: FLYING SOLO and HOW TO FAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD

Flying Solo Goodreads

Author: Linda Holmes

Publication Date: June 14, 2022

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Linda Holmes’ new novel Flying Solo follows Laurie Sassalyn, a soon to be 40-year-old woman, who has just called off her wedding and returned to her Maine hometown because her beloved great-aunt Dot has passed away. Laurie has been tasked with handling Dot’s estate and what starts out as a few weeks of sorting through boxes of photos and souvenirs from Dot’s travels over the years, unexpectedly turns into a journey of self-discovery and a second chance at love for Laurie. The catalyst for all of this? Surprisingly, a hand carved wooden duck decoy that Laurie finds wrapped in a blanket and stored in a trunk. Convinced that the duck has some significance, Laurie sets out to see if her hunch is correct. As she begins her research on the wooden duck, she ends up at the library and comes face to face with her former high school boyfriend, Nick Cooper, who is now the town librarian. It’s clear the two still have chemistry and some unfinished business, but is Laurie ready for love?

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I’m a sucker for a good second chance romance so I was excited as soon as Laurie and Nick reconnected and it was clear the feelings were still there. Both Laurie and Nick are such likeable characters, and I loved the banter between them. I also loved how realistic the dialogue between them felt as they grew closer and tried to navigate the logistics of a possible long-distance relationship since Laurie has no intention of staying in Maine. The conversations between them felt so authentic that I could easily imagine a real couple in a similar situation having the same conversations.

One area where the story fell a little flat for me, however, was the duck subplot. While on the one hand, it was fun to follow Laurie as she searched for what made the duck so important to Dot and to learn more about Dot’s life by extension, after a while, it felt like the duck mystery was in the way of Laurie and Nick’s story, which was what I was most invested in.

Flying Solo was still a very solid read for me though and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys second chance romances and journeys of self discovery. 3.5 STARS

How to Fake It in Hollywood Goodreads

Author: Ava Wilder

Publication Date: June 14, 2022

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Ava Wilder’s debut novel How to Fake it in Hollywood is one of those books that you definitely cannot judge by its cover. I went in expecting a light-hearted flirty romance, and instead, I found myself immersed in a moving, emotional and sometimes painful story that centers on grief and loss. I love a good angsty read, so even though I was surprised, I was not disappointed.

I was drawn to this story by the promise of the fake relationship trope, and again, I was not disappointed. Grey Brooks is an actress who, even though she had success as a teen in a long-running soap, is now struggling to really kick her career into high gear. Her publicist comes up with a scheme to put Grey in the spotlight – to fake a love affair with Ethan Atkins, a former but now disgraced Hollywood heartthrob who is looking to make a comeback. Both Grey and Ethan are desperate enough to agree to meet in person to discuss the idea, and after some initial head butting and trading of barbs, they both agree to give fake dating a try.

I loved both of these characters so much. Grey is feisty and scrappy and even though she’s a bit star struck by Ethan at first, she doesn’t hesitate to put him in his place when it’s warranted. Ethan is a little prickly at first, but as I got to know more about him and what he has been going through, particularly the death of his best friend and writing partner, my heart just broke for him. Ethan is struggling with grief, depression, addiction, and he just desperately wants to get his act together, especially so that he can spend more time with his daughter and secure more visitation with her than he has been allowed since he started spiraling.

The story was fun in terms of watching Grey and Ethan try to navigate the early stages of their fake relationship, especially when they were out in public. There are definitely some hiccups along the way for them, but I really loved it once they realize their chemistry with one another is way more than just acting. The real action takes place when they are together in private and they start to support and care about one another. I was really rooting for them to become a real couple and was glued to the pages each time their budding relationship was threatened, first by paparazzi invading their privacy and then again by the media, when a reporter tries to get a rise out of Ethan about the death of his friend.

How to Fake It in Hollywood does have some steamy, sexy, and fun moments, but overall it is a story filled with depth and emotion, and with richly developed characters that will tug at your heartstrings. 4 STARS