Tag Archive for: contemporary romance

Romance Reviews: JUST FOR THE SUMMER & THE RULE BOOK

March 29, 2024/7 Comments/by Suzanne

Hey everyone! Sorry for dipping out again. I think it’s safe to say that I’m in the midst of a blogging slump at the moment. I don’t know why but I think until I’m on the other side of it, that I’m just going to post when the mood hits me to do so. Today the mood did hit me though because I just finished two of my most anticipated 2024 reads and wanted to share my thoughts with you. Abby Jimenez was already an auto-read author for me, but with The Rule Book, Sarah Adams has also landed on my auto-read list. Both of these books come out next week, so if you like what you read, you can snag copies of these on Tuesday!

Just for the Summer Goodreads

Author: Abby Jimenez

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Abby Jimenez is truly one of the most gifted storytellers I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Each one of her books has left me with a full heart and a smile on my face, and her latest romance, Just for the Summer, has done that and more! It’s my new favorite from Jimenez and I can’t wait for you all to read it because I think you’re going to love it too!

I fell in love with this book from the moment Emma and Justin, the two main characters, meet online through a thread on Reddit that has gone viral. In the thread, Justin is explaining that he is cursed. Every woman he dates goes on to find her soulmate as soon as they break up. Emma is captivated by the Reddit thread and reaches out to Justin because she is similarly cursed. They hit it off right away and eventually come up with a plan to date each other in hopes that their curses will cancel each other out and they’ll finally be able to find their own soulmates.

I thought this was such a fun and unique way to have a meet cute and I was immediately rooting for this curse to bring Emma and Justin together since they clearly had such great chemistry. They do have to overcome one obstacle though – distance. Justin lives in Minnesota, while Emma and her best friend Maddy are traveling nurses who are next slated to go to Hawaii for several months. When Maddy sees how into Justin Emma is, she reluctantly agrees to change their plans and they head to Minnesota instead.

While plenty of fun romcom goodness ensues as Emma and Justin start dating, what really grabbed my heart in this story is Emma’s history — why she has chosen to be a traveling nurse rather than put down roots anywhere and start a family. It becomes clear why when Emma’s toxic mother shows up in Minnesota and threatens the fragile life that Emma has started to build for herself. My heart broke for Emma, but I was so grateful that Maddy and Justin were there for her. Maddy is the ultimate mama bear when it comes to Emma and as soon as she realizes that Justin truly cares about Emma, she educates him on how best to help Emma when her mom makes her feel small. Justin was already serious book boyfriend material, but these moments are what really put him over the top for me.

I also loved how Just for the Summer also brings back several characters from Jimenez’s other books, in particular, Part of Your World. I think this book is a fantastic read even if you haven’t read Part of Your World, but I would personally recommend reading it first because it really does make reading Just for the Summer even more special.

I really don’t have the words to do justice to how wonderful this book is, so all I’ll say is go pick up a copy. You won’t regret it! 5 STARS

The Rule Book Goodreads

Author: Sarah Adams

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Dell

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Adams is quickly becoming one of my favorite rom-com authors because I can always count on her to deliver cute swoony romances that are full of laughs. Adams does exactly that with The Rule Book, her latest sports romance, which also happens to be a companion novel to another of her books I love, The Cheat Sheet. You don’t need to read The Cheat Sheet to enjoy The Rule Book, but both are fabulous so I say go for it!

Nora Mackenzie has just been promoted to a full-time sports agent. She’s flying high until she learns her first big client is none other than famous NFL tight end, Derek Pender, who also happens to be her college ex-boyfriend. Their break-up was messy, and Derek is still clearly holding a grudge and vows to make Nora’s life hell by being as difficult and high maintenance as possible. He has clearly forgotten how stubborn and tenacious Nora can be though and she gradually starts to win him over.

I absolutely loved everything about this book! I’m a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers story but add in a marriage of convenience and a second chance romance, and I’m in heaven. Adams does a wonderful job getting me hooked on the idea of Nora and Derek rekindling their romance from their very first scene. Even though the tension between them is palpable, the chemistry between Nora and Derek is undeniable. Adams also writes some of the wittiest banter and had me laughing out loud throughout the book. It’s not all laughs though as Nora and Derek also share some moving and heartfelt moments on their journey to forgiveness. I also loved the layer of vulnerability Adams gives Derek by having him struggle with dyslexia. The rep is well done and really made Derek a more sympathetic character.

The Rule Book is the fourth book I’ve read from Sarah Adams and I think it’s my favorite yet. If you’re in the mood for a fun and heartwarming story about forgiveness and second chances, be sure to check this one out! 4.5 STARS

Pub Day Review: THE ROOMMATE PACT by Allison Ashley

August 1, 2023/8 Comments/by Suzanne

The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley

Published by MIRA on August 1, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: Netgalley
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Goodreads

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

I love a good friends to lovers story and Allison Ashley’s new novel The Roommate Pact, filled with lovable characters, flirty banter, and a heartwarming romance, was an absolute delight!

The story follows Claire, an ER nurse, and Graham, a firefighter. Claire and Graham are good friends, roommates, and they’re both also hesitant when it comes to love and relationships. They have a great time together though and one night make a slightly drunken pact that if they’re both still single with no prospects by the time they’re 40, they’ll become friends with benefits. When Graham is seriously injured in a rock climbing accident, Claire becomes his caretaker while he recovers, which puts their friendship and any other feelings they may have to the test.

I adored both of these characters and their relationship with one another. Even their chemistry as friends was just so much fun to read and you could tell they would be great together if they would take a chance. They are both held back by traumatic experiences from their past and I was fully invested in the two of them finding their way past that.

As much as I loved Claire though, Graham is the only who really stole my heart. This story becomes such a journey for him when his injuries sideline him from his usual active lifestyle. He’s going stir crazy and Claire suggests that he try journaling as a way to work through his feelings. At first he scoffs at the idea, but once he tries it, he realizes it’s actually very helpful and he ends up learning so much about himself and about his true feelings for Claire. I loved this journey for him and that layer of vulnerability it added to his character.

This was my first time reading one of Ashley’s books and I can’t wait to read more from her. I loved her writing style and these characters she has created. I also loved how she handled the more emotional topics and blended them seamlessly with the more traditional rom com elements. Just an all around delightful read!

Thanks so much to Grace from BookSparks for reaching out to me about reviewing this book!

About Allison Ashley

Allison Ashley is a music-loving, coffee-drinking mom of two who loves love stories. She’s an oncology pharmacist and spends her days focused on helping patients through the hardest thing life can throw at them. Her escape has always been books—specifically reading books about happiness, love, and laughter—and it was inevitable that she’d eventually write her own. She promises to always write stories with deep romance, intense connection, and humor…but most of all, that coveted happy ever after.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Reviews: TO HAVE AND TO HEIST, THE CHEAT SHEET, & THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE

July 31, 2023/11 Comments/by Suzanne

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Today I’m back to share my thoughts on some fun romance novels I read this past week. One is a brand new release from Sara Desai, while the other two are books I purchased when they came but hadn’t gotten around to yet. I’m still actively working on the goal to read more books from my own shelves so I was excited to actually read two of them back to back. Anyway on to the reviews!

To Have and to Heist Goodreads

Author: Sara Desai

Publication Date: July 18, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

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

Sara Desai is one of my favorite rom com authors. I always know I’m going to be in for a good time and lots of laughs when I pick up one of her novels and her latest release To Have and To Heist is no exception. I love a good heist story and this one is just full of shenanigans and such a fun time. Imagine a mashup between the Ocean’s 11 movies and the Finlay Donovan series and that’s the vibe of this book.

When we first meet the protagonist, Simi Chopra, her life is a mess. She has just been fired, is drowning in student loan debt, and has been forced to move back in with her parents because her apartment flooded. Worse than all of that combined though, her best friend Chloe has just been accused of stealing a multimillion dollar diamond necklace. I adored Simi. She’s smart and resourceful, and her messy life is all too relatable.

I also loved how much of a loyal friend she is. It’s her sense of loyalty that really drives the plot of this story, because as soon as Chloe calls Simi and tells her she’s trapped in a museum that someone else has broken into, Simi’s first instinct is to drop everything and try to rescue Chloe all by herself. When her attempts fail and she hears the police sirens, Simi refuses to give up and even tries to scale the outside of the museum with nothing but her bare hands. Who wouldn’t want a friend like that? Simi then makes it her mission in life to exonerate Chloe and with the guidance of Jack, the mysterious man who grabbed Simi before the police could spot her, Simi orchestrates a jewelry heist of her own to steal the necklace back from the thieves, all while serving as the wedding planner for the biggest wedding in town. What could possibly go wrong?

My absolute favorite part of the novel is the motley crew that Simi assembles for this heist. Aside from her bestie Chloe, Simi’s team consists of Rose, her octogenarian landlord; Jack the mystery man; Cristian, who works with her dad at his tailor shop but also has a side hustle as a male escort; Emma, the aggressive Uber driver who drove Simi to the museum to try to save Chloe; Anil, a tech nerd who still lives with her meddlesome matchmaker parents; and lastly, gun-toting, broody Gage, who Jack has brought in as the muscle. It was hilarious to watch this crew in action as they fumbled and bumbled their way through every aspect of the heist, and I just adored them all!

There’s a bit of a slow burn romance as well, and while I definitely enjoyed that aspect, it took a backseat in comparison to all of the action and comedy of the heist plot. I was fine with that though since the book was just such a fun time! If you’ve enjoyed books like the Finlay Donovan series, you’ll definitely want to check out To Have and To Heist. 4 STARS

The Cheat Sheet Goodreads

Author: Sarah Adams

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Publisher: Originally self-published, later re-released by Dell

I’ve really enjoyed Sarah Adam’s most recent romances, When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect, so I decided it was time to go back and read one of her earlier novels, The Cheat Sheet, which apparently was a huge hit on BookTok. As soon as I started reading it, I was hooked and wanted to kick myself for not picking it up sooner.

The Cheat Sheet features two of my favorite tropes, friends to lovers and fake dating, as well as two of the most adorable protagonists. Bree Camden has been in love with her best friend Nathan for as long as she can remember. Bree is sure that Nathan doesn’t feel the same way though so she keeps her feelings a secret so as not to make things awkward between them. Nathan also happens to be a huge NFL star so the paparazzi is always in his business. When a bitter ex girlfriend tries to embarrass Nathan by criticizing his skills in the bedroom, Bree defends his honor, albeit unwittingly to a tabloid reporter. When her video goes viral and the internet decides Bree and Nathan are perfect together (even though they aren’t actually together), Nathan’s publicist cooks up a fake dating scheme to capitalize on all of the media attention. Although reluctant, both Bree and Nathan agree to go along with it, mainly because they both know how much the money would help Bree who is struggling to keep her dance studio open.

I’m probably the last person on the planet to have read this book, so I’m sure I don’t have anything left to say about it that hasn’t already been said. Bottom line, I just loved both Bree and Nathan. They were so sweet together, even if I did occasionally want to knock their heads together for not realizing how they really felt about one another sooner. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the show they put on for the media give rise to the real feelings that had been hidden right in front of them for so long. If like me, you started your Sarah Adams journey with When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of The Cheat Sheet. You won’t regret it! 4 STARS

The Boyfriend Candidate Goodreads

Author: Ashley Winstead

Publication Date: May 9, 2023

Publisher: Graydon House

I’m a big fan of Ashley Winstead’s thrillers, but somehow had yet to read one of her romance novels. When I saw that both Lynn Painter and Abby Jimenez, two of my favorite romance authors had praised The Boyfriend Candidate, I knew I had to read it. I’m so glad I did too because it was an absolute delight!

I’m a sucker for a book that features bookish characters and the main character Alexis is a school librarian. When we meet Alexis, she is reeling from an embarrassing breakup where her ex has just dumped her for being too meek in the bedroom. She takes this as a sign that she needs to change and decides that her first step in that direction will be her very first one-night stand. She heads to a hotel bar and meets Logan, a handsome outspoken stranger who says whatever he’s thinking, without regard for who he might offend. Alexis is shy and retreating, the total opposite of Logan, but there is definitely some serious chemistry between them. Their imminent hookup is disrupted by an unexpected fire at the hotel, and Logan is caught on camera carrying Alexis out of the building. As soon as Logan sees the cameras, he abruptly abandons Alexis and flees the scene. Alexis is shocked until she gets home and sees herself on the news. Logan is apparently none other than up and coming politician, Logan Arthur, who is running to be the governor of Texas. When the rival campaign tries to seize on this opportunity to make Logan look like a womanizer, Logan’s campaign decides that Alexis and Logan should pretend to be a couple until after the election to save his image. The campaign promises Alexis anything she wants in exchange for her help on the campaign and to everyone’s surprise, even her own, Alexis declares that she wants her own political platform to push for more funding for education and specifically for her beloved libraries.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes so I was of course fully invested in their journey to discover that they have feelings for one another. I also just really loved both characters. Even though Logan is a politician, he’s the real deal in the sense that, just as in the bar when he and Alexis first meet, he says what he means and he means what he says. He is passionate about the issues that are important to him and he doesn’t just make promises that he has no intention of keeping. I admired that about him and I also loved that he was so obviously in love with Alexis from the beginning even though he was afraid to admit it. It added a layer of vulnerability to this otherwise bold and brash man that I really liked. As much as I loved Logan though, it was Alexis and her journey that made this such a special read for me. The way she grows as she starts to push her education platform is fantastic. I loved seeing her passionate side and it was truly wonderful to watch her shine on stage. I’m also not normally a fan of having any kind of politics in my romance reads, but I didn’t mind it here since the focus mostly stayed on the issue of education and library funding rather than something more divisive.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Boyfriend Candidate and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys bookish main characters and romances that features the opposites attract and fake dating tropes. 4.5 STARS

Reviews: MIXED SIGNALS & BRUTAL PRINCE

July 24, 2023/20 Comments/by Suzanne

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Apologies if you tried to visit my blog this past week and it was down. I’ve been dealing with some technical issues off and on this week and it’s always challenging to troubleshoot when you’re not super tech savvy. I finally reached out to my host provider yesterday and hope that the problem is now resolved. Anyway, back to the books. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on two very different romances, one sweet and one dark. The main thing these two books have in common is that they are both being reissued by new publishers.

Mixed Signals (Lovelight) Goodreads

Author: B.K. Borison

Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

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

Mixed Signals is the third installment in B.K. Borison’s Lovelight Farms series and it might just be my favorite yet.

Layla Dupree is the best baker in town, but while she may win when it comes to baked goods, she is having no luck whatsoever when it comes to her love life. When we meet her, her latest date is such a disaster that the jerk actually ghosts her at the restaurant and sticks her with the bill. Layla is an absolute sweetheart and all she really wants is a nice guy who treats her right and makes her heart flutter. What she doesn’t realize is that guy not only exists, but he has been coming to her bakery every day and ordering a single croissant just so that he has an excuse to interact with her as often as possible.

Caleb Alvarez has been in love with Layla forever but has never made his feelings known. He is also an absolute golden retriever of a book boyfriend. He’s currently working as a substitute teacher because he actually got fired from the police department for being too nice, haha. I really adored this guy and thought he was perfect for Layla from the moment we meet him. When this story opens, Caleb runs into Layla after her disastrous date. They chat, and after he shares with her that his love life is also a mess, the two of them come up with a plan to fake date for a month. Caleb’s goal is to renew Layla’s faith in men, and in exchange, Layla will rate Caleb’s dating game and give him pointers as needed.

Caleb and Layla’s time together is incredible. The entire time they’re going through with this platonic fake dating plan, it’s pretty clear they have amazing chemistry and that it gets harder and harder to fight that attraction. We already know Caleb doesn’t want to, but what about Layla? Isn’t Caleb exactly the kind of guy she has been dreaming of?

The perfect blend of sweet and spicy, Mixed Signals is a delightful small town, friends to lovers romance that will have you both swooning and smiling as you watch this sweetest of couples find their way to one another. I loved coming back to Inglewild and Lovelight Farms again, and Layla and Caleb’s story just captured my whole heart. I really hope we get more books in this heartwarming series. 4 STARS

Brutal Prince (Brutal Birthright, #1) Goodreads

Author: Sophie Lark

Publication Date: July 25, 2023

Publisher: Sourcebooks Bloom Books

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

Brutal Prince is the first book in Sophie Lark’s Brutal Birthright series. This was my first time reading a mafia romance so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I was not at all disappointed.

The story follows Aida Gallo and Callum Griffin. They are sworn enemies from rival mafia families, but when a mishap involving Aida sneaking into the Griffin home leads to an accidental fire and destruction of priceless property, the two families decide that the best way Aida can make amends for her mistakes is to enter into a fake marriage with Callum and thus build an alliance between the two families. Everyone seems thrilled with the idea, that is except for Aida and Callum, who would much rather kill each other.

It took me a while to warm up to Callum. He’s stiff, arrogant, and ruthless, and he’s downright abusive to Aida in their early scenes. I liked Aida right away though. She’s fierce, scrappy, and much smarter than her own family gives her credit for being. She also doesn’t put up with any of Callum’s abuse, dishing it back at him as fast as he can dole it out. Even though it’s a bit darker than what I’m used to reading when I read romance, it was a wild ride and I did love to watch the sparks fly between then and I loved it even more once their relationship started to change.

I was expecting violence since this is a mafia romance, and while there is some, it was milder than what I had braced myself for, which was good for me. What I wasn’t expecting though was for the story to be so fun, like I actually found myself laughing out loud at some of the hilarious pranks these two pulled on each other in the beginning of this forced relationship.

I’m not entirely convinced that mafia romance is for me since I’m a rom com girl at heart, but I cannot deny that Brutal Prince entertained me from start to finish and that I’m most definitely interested in continuing the series. 4 STARS

Reviews: THE DANE OF MY EXISTENCE & YOU, WITH A VIEW

July 17, 2023/18 Comments/by Suzanne

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I took a few days off from work and used the time to get caught up on my sleep and to dive into some wonderful reads. Today I’m back to share my thoughts on two of my favorite reads from this past week. As you can probably guess from the title and cover of the first one, it’s full of Shakespearean goodness, and the second one is a gem of a book that I still cannot believe is actually a debut.

The Dane of My Existence (A Bard's Rest Romance, #2) Goodreads

Author: Jessica Martin

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.

Jessica Martin’s For the Love of the Bard was one of my favorite summer reads last year so I was excited to get my hands on a copy of her latest novel, The Dane of My Existence. This latest novel takes us back to the charming, Shakespeare-obsessed town of Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire, and reunites us with the close-knit Barnes family. I adored this town and this family, so it was great to be back with them, although the focus this time is on oldest sister, Portia, who we briefly met in the first book.

Portia left Bard’s Rest years ago to pursue a career as a big shot corporate attorney. She has returned home because she’s currently taking a company-mandated sabbatical before she moves to Boston to manage one of her firm’s satellite offices. Portia considers herself an “ice queen” as she is career-driven and has little interest in relationships and/or dating. She’s also much less enthusiastic about Shakespeare than her family and most of the other residents of Bard’s Rest. I’ll admit that it took a few chapters for me to really warm up to her, but once I did, I loved her, especially when she realizes that there’s a real estate developer threatening Bard’s Rest and goes to the mat to try to save the town.

I also very much enjoyed Benjamin Dane, the hot shot commercial developer Portia goes toe to toe with. She fully expects to take him down with little trouble, but he surprises her by being equally skilled when it comes to strategizing and outmaneuvering the competition. At first I really wanted to hate him since he poses a threat to this charming little town, but it becomes clear early on that there’s a lot more to Ben Dane than meets the eye. I loved watching Portia and Ben verbally spar, but I also liked it when he catches her off guard because he isn’t the arrogant alpha-male she was expecting. Watching their relationship evolve from a rivalry to one of trust and openness really made this an enjoyable read for me and I was eager to see if they would get past being on opposite sides of this real estate drama.

Aside from enjoying getting to know Portia better and seeing her fall into a relationship she didn’t see coming, I also just really loved being back in Bard’s Rest. If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, imagine Stars Hollow but with quirky Shakespeare enthusiasts as residents, loads of fun Shakespearean references and puns sprinkled about, and a huge Shakespeare festival that takes place every year. I loved the town so much and was disappointed to learn that it didn’t really exist in real life because I totally would have visited there!

If you’re in the mood for a fun rivals to lovers romance filled with witty banter, Shakespearean references, and all the small town and close knit family vibes, I highly recommend both For the Love of the Bard and The Dane of My Existence. 4 STARS

You, with a View Goodreads

Author: Jessica Joyce

Publication Date: July 11, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

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

You, With a View by Jessica Joyce follows Noelle, who has recently lost her beloved grandmother, and is still struggling with her grief. When she moves back in with her parents after losing her job, Noelle comes across several decades-old photos of her grandmother and a man who was definitely not Noelle’s grandfather. Tucked in with the photos is a love letter. Noelle becomes obsessed with finding out who this mystery man is and uses the photos and the letter to create a TikTok video in hopes of someone recognizing him. To her shock and amazement, her video goes viral and the grandson of the man in the photos reaches out to her. Noelle is even more shocked when they meet up and the grandson turns out to be Theo, her old high school arch nemesis!

The story had my emotions all over the place because even though I was heartbroken for Noelle as she mourned the loss of her grandmother, I truly laughed out loud as soon as she and Theo reignited their old rivalry. It’s so obvious they have feelings for one another no matter how hard they try to pretend otherwise, so it was a lot of fun watching them finally realize it for themselves. I love a good enemies to lovers story and this one was fantastic!

As much as I loved watching Noelle and Theo and their evolving relationship though, it was Theo’s grandfather Paul who truly grabbed me by the heartstrings. He can see how much Noelle is hurting and offers to show her even more photos of her grandmother and tell her the story of their relationship and how they were planning to elope. When they find an old roadmap of a honeymoon trip Paul and Noelle’s grandmother had planned but never took, Noelle, Paul, and Theo all decide to go on the road trip together.

If you’ve followed my reviews for a while now, you know I love to read road trip stories and this is one of the best ones I’ve ever read. It has plenty of road trip shenanigans that kept me laughing my way through the pages, but it’s also just such a wonderful bonding experience for Noelle, Theo, and Paul. Paul continues to share the story of his relationship with Noelle’s grandmother, this time sharing letters that she had written him. I thought it was beautiful watching that relationship unfold at the same time that we’re watching Noelle and Theo realize their own feelings for one another. For those who like steam in their romance reads, there’s a bit of that as well.

You, With a View is one of the best debut novels I’ve read in a long time. I honestly selected it to read because I loved the cover, but I was truly blown away by the depth of the story inside. It’s one of those wonderful books that will make you laugh, make you cry, and will just wrap you up in a warm hug. I think this one is going to stick with me for a long time. 5 STARS

Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE CATCH by Amy Lea

July 12, 2023/24 Comments/by Suzanne

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about. It is a meme that I have loved participating in since I first started blogging, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

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My selection for this week is THE CATCH by Amy Lea. I loved the first two books in this series so I can’t wait to get my hands on this new one. I love that the setting is a small fishing village in Canada, and it sounds like the book features many of my favorite tropes like grumpy-sunshine and fake engagement.

THE CATCH by Amy Lea

Publication Date: February 13, 2024

by Berkley Romance

Goodreads:

A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.

In a last-ditch effort to rescue her brand from the brink of irrelevance, Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen finds herself in a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. The only thing scarier than nature itself? The burly and bearded bed-and-breakfast owner and fisherman, Evan Whaler—who single-handedly disproves the theory that Canadians are “nice.”

After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B&B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.

Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild?

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I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – My 10 Favorite Reads of the Year So Far

July 11, 2023/52 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 a Freebie, so I thought it would be fun to share my 10 Favorite Reads of the Year So Far. All of my favorite authors delivered big for me in the first half of the year, so these are all highly anticipated releases that met or exceeded my very high expectations.

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My 10 Favorite Reads of the Year So Far

1. HELLO STRANGER by Katherine Center

2. FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros

3. THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren

4. THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS by Kristy Woodson Harvey

5. YOURS TRULY by Abby Jimenez

6. HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry

7. THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel

8. THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP by Ashley Poston

9. BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Rachel Lynn Solomon

10. LOVE, THEORETICALLY by Ali Hazelwood

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Have you read or are you planning to read any of these?

Reviews: HELLO STRANGER & THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS

July 10, 2023/21 Comments/by Suzanne

Hello Stranger Goodreads

Author: Katherine Center

Publication Date: July 11, 2023

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio

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

Katherine Center has done it again! Her new novel Hello Stranger was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 and I’m thrilled to share that it not only met my very high expectations, but it actually exceeded them.

Hello Stranger follows the protagonist Sadie Montgomery. Sadie is a gifted portrait artist and when we meet her, she has just placed as a finalist in a prestigious portrait painting competition. She is beyond ecstatic until she is quite literally blindsided by a life changing event and finds herself in the hospital diagnosed with “face blindness.” The doctors hope her condition is temporary, but there’s no way of knowing how long it will last. If Sadie’s career involves painting faces for a living, how is she supposed to do her job and how is she supposed to paint her competition entries. Needless to say, Sadie is distraught.

What always draws me to Center’s books is how strong her heroines are in the face of adversity. No matter how big of an obstacle they face, there’s always a sense of perseverance and hopefulness and we see this with Sadie as she sets out to cope with her situation and try everything in her power to get those portraits painted. I’m not very familiar with face blindness, but I thought Center did a wonderful job of handling the condition with respect and sensitivity, while at the same time, infusing Sadie’s journey with her signature warmth and humor.

Another area where I really appreciated Center’s humor revolved around Sadie’s complicated relationship with her father, her stepmother and her evil stepsister, Parker. There’s a nice balance between dramatic moments and humorous ones as Sadie interacts with them, especially Parker, who loves to torment Sadie on a regular basis anyway, but being able to prank her without being recognized is just too irresistible for her.

While much of the story focuses on Sadie’s journey as she copes with face blindness, there is also a romantic element. Even though Sadie cannot see their faces, she finds herself attracted to two very different men she encounters while looking for distractions from her situation. One is her new neighbor, an obnoxious yet endearing guy named Joe, and the other is the veterinarian who saved her beloved dog, Peanut’s, life. The timing is of course terrible because she has more important things to worry about than her love life, but she cannot deny that she’s attracted to both men. I loved watching Sadie navigate her way through this love triangle she didn’t expect to find herself in and was more than satisfied with how this aspect of the story plays out.

Filled with relatable and realistic characters, witty dialogue and a storyline that is both heartwarming and humorous, Katherine Center has another winner on her hands with Hello Stranger. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far. 5 STARS

Note: I read an advancer’s reader’s copy and listened to an advanced listening copy. The audio was an absolute delight, and Patti Murin’s narration is *chef’s kiss*.

The Summer of Songbirds Goodreads

Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey

Publication Date: July 11, 2023

Publisher: Gallery Books

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

I probably say this every time Kristy Woodson Harvey has a new book published, but I think her latest, The Summer of Songbirds, is my new favorite from her.

The story follows four women who come together to try to save the summer camp that made them into the women they are today. June Moore owns Camp Holly Springs and has been welcoming girls there for over 30 years. While it was a fun summer haven for the girls, over the years it has also become a haven for June to hide away from the world and her troubles. June’s niece Daphne and her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, met at Camp Holly Springs. The bond that formed between these three during their summers at the camp has only strengthened over the years and they are now like sisters to one another. When they learn that the camp is in trouble, it’s all hands on deck and what starts as a mission to save their childhood happy place ends up becoming an adventure that will change their lives forever.

The bond of friendship between Lanier, Daphne and Mary Stuart was the major highlight of this book for me. From the time they were children, these women have been there for each other through thick and thin, and they truly take care of one another. Each of them is going through something throughout the course of the book and while the friendships are mostly beautiful and supportive, there’s also real talk when it’s needed, particularly when it comes to telling someone something they’d rather not hear. I really appreciated how authentically KWH portrays these friendships. It felt like I was reading about my own best friends and I just loved that!

The theme of second chances and forgiveness is also very prominent in The Summer of Songbirds. Daphne, Lanier and Mary Stuart value their friendship enough that they will always try to do what it takes to repair their friendship if things go wrong between them. Then there’s also the matter of second chances in love. Lanier met her first love through Camp Holly Springs, while Daphne met her first love through Lanier. Being back at the camp and seeing their first loves again makes both women realize that those feelings are still there and wonder if second chances are in the cards for them. I was fully invested in both of these romances as well and really enjoyed watching them reconnect while at the same time, revisiting the memories from their summers together at camp.

I don’t want to say anything else because you really have to experience it yourself, but it really is a beautiful story all around. Filled with nostalgic summer camp vibes, amazing female friendships, and more than one second chance romance, The Summer of Songbirds is the perfect beach read! 5 STARS

Reviews: STARRY-EYED LOVE & SEE YOU YESTERDAY

May 24, 2022/20 Comments/by Suzanne

Hey everyone! I know today is usually Top Ten Tuesday but I wasn’t feeling this week’s topic and I’m behind on reviews, so I decided to use this slot to play catch up. Today I’m sharing my thoughts to two new releases that I really enjoyed, one from a new-to-me author, Helena Hunting, and one from an auto-buy author, Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Reviews: STARRY-EYED LOVE & SEE YOU YESTERDAY

Starry-Eyed Love (Spark House, #2) Goodreads

Author: Helena Hunting

Publication Date: May 10, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

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

Starry-Eyed Love is the second book in Helena Hunting’s contemporary romance series, Spark House, a series that follows three sisters who run a small boutique hotel together.

London Spark is the focus of this second installment, and I loved her from the opening scene when we encounter her and her two sisters, Avery and Harley at a bar together. London has just broken up with her boyfriend and the sisters are celebrating her newly single status. London is ready to focus her attention on the family business and has no interest in dating right now, so when a handsome stranger at the bar flirts with her, she tells him she’s not available. Little does she know at the time, but that man, Jackson Holt, is about to change her life in more ways than one.

I really loved the chemistry between London and Jackson right from that first meeting and was actually disappointed when she blew him off. Color me tickled then when London is invited to a meeting to discuss bringing Spark House on board as a partner for a huge environmentally friendly initiative. If you guessed Jackson Holt is the founder of this initiative, you would be correct. This of course forces London in close proximity to Jackson, whether she likes it or not, and things take off from there. London and Jackson are a great match on pretty much every level and there are plenty of flirty sexy moments between them, but I’ll say now to prepare yourself for a slow burn since they do have a working relationship and there are some angsty moments as they try to figure out how to navigate the professional and the personal.

As much as I enjoyed London and Jackson’s story, I was also a big fan of the relationship between the sisters. They are experiencing some growing pains as the hotel expands and so even though they adore each other, there is still the occasional tension. London, in particular, is in an awkward position. She has somehow landed in the position of business administrator, so she is responsible for bringing in new clientele and planning events. This isn’t her wheelhouse at all, as she is more of a creative type, and as much as she wants to help her sisters with the business and doesn’t want to create drama, this particular job and the way Avery is pushing her and refusing to hire outside help, is running her ragged. I loved how realistically Hunting portrays these relationships, especially the angst and tension, as London comes to terms with the idea that the only way out involves confronting Avery. Hunting hits that perfect and very relatable balance of “I love you more than anything but something has got to give.”

Starry-Eyed Love was my first time reading something from Helena Hunting but it definitely won’t be my last because this book was just such a delight – equal parts charming, and funny, and with a delicious side of drama and angst to spice things up. 4 STARS

See You Yesterday Goodreads

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing

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

I love Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books and I love stories that feature time traveling or time loops, so you can imagine how excited I was to learn that Solomon’s latest YA novel See You Yesterday features a Groundhog’s Day style romance. I couldn’t hit that request button on Netgalley fast enough and I’m thrilled to share that this book was everything I hoped it would be and more!

The story follows Barrett Bloom, a college freshman who is really hoping this year will be a fresh start for her after a pretty rough senior year of high school. Instead of being a fresh start, however, her first day of classes is an absolute nightmare. She learns that she’s stuck rooming with an old friend she had a falling out with in high school. Then, an obnoxious know-it-all embarrasses her in Physics class, and she goes on to completely blow her interview to be on the school newspaper, and then as if all that isn’t bad enough, she goes to a frat party that night and accidentally sets the place on fire. All she wants to do is crawl in bed and pretend this day never happened. Instead, however, she wakes up and it’s the first day of classes all over again. Needless to say, Barrett is perplexed by this, especially when it keeps happening. After another encounter with Miles, the annoying guy from her Physics class, Barrett soon learns that Miles has also been similarly trapped and has been repeating the same day for over two months now. The two of them set out on an interesting quest to try to fix their timelines and free themselves from this endless loop.

I loved this story so much! Barrett and Miles are adorable together even when they’re plucking each other’s nerves. Their relationship also slowly transforms as they explore all avenues to freedom – researching at the library, trying to right wrongs from their pasts, trying to find closure from events where they’ve left loose ends, etc. While nothing they try works, what does happen is that the two of them get to know each other and grow close, first as friends but then as more than friends. I loved this so much for them because they’re both so lonely and out of sorts, even before being trapped in the loop. It was lovely to see them connect with each other and also so much fun to watch some of the antics they would come up with to pass the time while they’re stuck. There’s also tremendous growth for Barrett as she finally conquers some demons from her past and is able to move forward.

There’s also the huge question of what happens to Miles and Barrett if and when they finally come unstuck from time. Will they still be a couple, will they still know each other? Or will they go back to being alone? If you want to know the answer to those questions, you’ll have to check out See You Yesterday. You won’t regret it! 4.5 STARS

Review: SET ON YOU by Amy Lea

May 13, 2022/16 Comments/by Suzanne

Set on You by Amy Lea

Published by Berkley Books on May 10, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 384
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.

SET ON YOU is Amy Lea’s debut novel and it is a delight! It’s a contemporary romance that focuses on fitness, features a plus size heroine and her sexy gym rival, but that also shines a light on the unfair standards our society has when it comes to beauty and anyone who isn’t a size zero.

The protagonist Crystal Chen is a biracial curvy fitness influencer. The gym is her happy place and she doesn’t go there to lose weight. She goes there because she loves to lift weights. Being strong and healthy is her goal. Her social media channels are devoted to supporting others like her who aren’t a size zero but who are looking to improve their overall fitness. She posts workout tutorials and lots of support and encouragement. Crystal is such a fabulous character. I loved that she embraced her curves and that she worked so hard to inspire others and keep them motivated to achieve their goals. I also liked that even though she’s so inspirational, she also comes across as a realistic and relatable character, and sometimes she’s a downright hot mess.

The romantic element of the story is fresh and fun too, as it centers on Crystal and her gym nemesis. Crystal is meticulous and regimented when it comes to her gym workouts. For that reason, she doesn’t take too kindly to Scott, the new guy at the gym, a sexy firefighter who seems to be going out of his way to be annoying, even taking equipment that she is clearly about to use. Now I’ll admit that some of Scott’s antics were a little juvenile, but it was hilarious watching him get under her skin, especially when she starts referring to him as Squat Rack Thief. It’s pretty obvious that Scott is attracted to Crystal and trying to get her attention, and it’s equally obvious that no matter how mad Crystal gets at the Squat Rack Thief, she is pretty obsessed with him.

The evolution of their relationship is adorable too. Crystal and Scott are forced to relate to each other as something other than rivals when they realize that Crystal’s grandmother has been dating and wants to marry Scott’s grandfather. Getting to see each other outside of the competitive gym environment really helped take their relationship to the next level. Crystal begins to think of Scott in ways she never would have imagined, while Scott becomes one of Crystal’s biggest supporters when it comes to both her career and her fitness, working out with her and even helping her film workouts for her social media account. Both of their families are great too, and I especially enjoyed watching the grandparents embrace a second chance for love. They were so sweet together!

Aside from the fun rivals to lovers romance, Set On You also does a lot to tackle those unfair perceptions about size and beauty and it offers some interesting commentary on the body positivity movement and the effect internet trolls and haters can have on a person’s self esteem. As much as I enjoyed the romance between Crystal and Scott, Crystal’s work to inspire others and to honestly talk about her struggles with her own perception of her curvy body really made this a powerful read in addition to being a super fun one. If you’re looking for an entertaining and timely read to toss in your beach bag this summer, definitely check out Set On You!

About Amy Lea

Amy Lea is a Canadian bureaucrat by day and contemporary romance author by night (and weekends). She writes laugh out loud romantic comedies featuring strong heroines, witty banter, mid-2000s pop culture references, and happily ever afters.

When Amy is not writing, she can be found fan-girling over other romance books on Instagram (@amyleabooks), eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and goldendoodle.

Her Spring 2022 debut romantic comedy SET ON YOU from Berkley Romance at Penguin Random House is now available.

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