One Week 'Til Christmas by Belinda Missen

5*

In one of the best meet-cutes, the handsomest man literally knocks Isobel Bennett down and almost into a bus’s path when he slips and falls on an icy sidewalk. Despite some bruises, she regrets not having gotten his name and number. She’s a travel writer based in Australia and on vacation in London through Christmas. However, her boss, who is concerned about falling readership, hounds her to do an interview with an actor whose star is on the rise. Tom Bracken, famous for his TV character, is rehearsing for a play and preparing for a big movie role. However, Isobel doesn’t watch TV and has no idea who he is until she shows up at the National Theater and finds he’s the man from the sidewalk. Those two fateful meetings turn into a week of togetherness that leads to a very promising relationship. However, with her returning to Australia and a text from her boss that spells betrayal to Tom, will they ever have a chance for a happily-ever-after?

Humble, naturally charming and intelligent Tom cares for his friends and has the same insecurities as any normal person. Isobel, who’s tiring of her boss and career, wants to write more in-depth serious stories and perhaps turn her amateur photography into something full-time. After 10 years travelling the world, Tom very quickly becomes her vision of home and normalcy. The attraction between them is instantaneous, but they take their time before even kissing, simply enjoying each other’s company and sharing intimate conversations while shopping at Liberty’s, eating at market halls, and skating at one of the temporary ice rinks that pop up in London at the holidays. This delightful book, set in one of the most ideal cities to celebrate Christmas, is the perfect present. Treat yourself!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from HQ Digital through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Beside Herself by Elizabeth LaBan

4*

Hannah is shocked and angered to learn that her loving husband Joel had a brief affair while away on business. Despite marriage counseling, advice from a well-meaning friend to fight for her marriage, and Joel’s own sincere remorse and declarations of love, she doesn’t know if she can get beyond her rage and hurt. Rather than rushing a decision, she flippantly tells Joel that she might have an affair to even the stakes. When he agrees, she’s reluctantly thrown into the murky and unsatisfying dating pool. As she tries to find a willing partner, she is still visiting Joel’s famous news anchor father in the nursing home, trying to keep the news from her young children, and evaluating her relationship with Joel through the lens of their history and the love that persists. Will she be able to forgive and move on or will an affair lead to a different future?

Both Hannah and Joel are complex, caring individuals which makes it hard to take sides. Given the depths of Joel’s guilt and heartache, it’s difficult to do anything but root for them to reconcile, but Hannah’s sense of betrayal and hurt are a strong counterbalance. Ultimately, this heartfelt story deftly handles the evolution of a marriage and the wide range of emotions felt by the couple. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

4*

This is a sweet and very steamy enemies-to-lovers romance with only a little angst. Chloe is a very curvy black woman suffering with debilitating and painful fibromyalgia (contracted after a bout of pneumonia years prior). As a result of her pain, she was abandoned by her fiancé and chose to shut out all of her friends. She couldn’t handle both emotional and physical pain, so decided to avoid anything and anyone that might cause it. As the story begins, she is almost hit by a car which makes her realize that she hasn’t really been living, so she makes a list of ways to “get a life.” First step was moving out of her parents’ house and into her own apartment. There, she begins a testy relationship with her gorgeous super, Red. Despite their initial negative reaction to each other, Chloe checks off #7 on her list, “Do something bad,” when she spies on Red painting shirtless. She doesn’t know if he’s seen her, but eventually asks him to help her check off additional items on her list (for example, go camping, ride a motorbike). What ensues is a transformation from sarcastic, witty banter to passionate love. Red is one of the most caring and genuine heroes you’ll ever meet as well as a gifted painter, and, despite a painful past thanks to an abusive ex-girlfriend, he still cares deeply about people. Chloe, despite her fear of exposing herself to pain through relationships, is confident with her body (no awkwardness about getting naked) and acknowledges that she’s “gorgeous.” It is such a treat to read about a hunky hero who lusts after a woman’s “thick thighs” and “rounded belly.” We all need more of this celebration of diversity and body-positivity. Although cartoonish covers are all the rage right now, this one seems so misrepresentative of Chloe’s beauty. They could do much better. Fun, satisfying chick lit!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Last Word by Samantha Hastings

3*

This YA version of a Victorian romance features a progressive young woman, Lucinda, who refuses to be constrained by society’s limitations on women (in both her work and personal life). She has to also fight against the classism that prevents her from being accepted by the aristocracy because her parents were lowborn, even if her father did rise from street sweeper to wealthy financier. David, the son of her father’s business partner, took his father’s place after his death. As he and Lucinda become reacquainted after she leaves finishing school, their mutual respect and affection grow, and he gives her the opportunity to be part of the company without her father’s knowledge (since he holds traditional views of young women). The strengths and weaknesses in this book balance each other out, leaving us with a just so-so read. Given the interests of today’s teens, I think this would struggle to find an audience.

Pros: feminism; Lucinda’s friendship with the American Persephone Merritt; the equal partnership (both personal and professional) with David; Lucinda’s refusal to be metaphorically caged by society and the literal burns inflicted on her by the crinoline case, a fashion she later discards in favor of bloomers. “You think I should wear bloomers?” “I thought you no longer wished to be caged.” “I don’t.” “Then stop caring what other people think. That’s the greatest cage of all,” Persephone said.”

Cons: surface treatment of classism that seems almost disingenuous; Persephone’s ignorance of the peerage (which would have been drilled into her before arriving in London); comment about David regretting risking his life to rescue the papers from the fire when it was that action that saved Lucinda and her father (“he felt bitter regret that he had nearly risked his life for a few signatures that had not even been at his countinghouse to begin with”); repetitive mention of Mrs. Patton’s narcolepsy; misuse of me, myself, and I at least twice (may be corrected in final publication); historical inaccuracy about a dinner party (there is a strict order of entry based on rank and choosing your dinner companion wasn’t done).

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Swoon Reads through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

3.5*

You get three romances for the price of one in this latest offering from Sarah Morgan. Rosie is getting married…to a man she’s only known for about 12 weeks. Her mother Maggie, home in England, is upset to learn that the wedding will be in Colorado at Dan’s family lodge and that his mother Catherine is handing all of the arrangements, including dress shopping. When older sister Maggie, a workaholic ER doctor, hears that her impulsive baby sister (who she’s mothered her entire life thanks to Rosie’s asthma) is getting married to someone she’s never even met, she makes it her mission to stop the wedding. Unbeknownst to both girls, their parents have separated and are heading for divorce, and they’re going to pretend they’re still a perfect, loving couple until after the ceremony. As they all converge on the resort in Aspen, sparks start to fly…both angry and passionate ones! Thanks to Katie’s warnings, Rosie’s starting to doubt her relationship, Katie is sparring with Dan’s best friend Jordan, and Maggie and Nick are discovering that the passion they used to share may just be dormant, not dead. Will Katie succeed or will distracting Jordan teach her a thing or two about love?

There is much to be frustrated about in this story: Katie’s smothering interference, Rosie’s disregard for her mother’s feelings by allowing Catherine to take over, and the pacing of Katie and Jordan’s relationship. The highlight is the romance between the middle-aged parents. It’s so refreshing to feature a mature relationship imbued with passion, and Morgan gets to the heart of what it takes to save a marriage. Fans of Morgan and light-hearted romance will enjoy this one.


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from HQN through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

4*

Contrary to what the publisher’s blurb and cartoonish cover lead you to believe, this is not a light-hearted piece of chick lit. Yes, there are many humorous moments and the wonderful banter between the main couple, but there’s also heartbreak and baggage galore. Kristen and Josh meet when he rear-ends her car. She’s snarky from the start and he loves it. He has 6 older sisters, so he’s well-trained in how to deal with women’s moods. When they meet up at the fire station where Josh has just begun working (after a break-up and subsequent move from S. Dakota to LA), they realize that they’re best man and maid of honor at their best friends’ upcoming wedding. Although there’s an immediate attraction, Kristen is awaiting the arrival of her long-distance Marine boyfriend Tyler who is leaving the military and moving in with her. When she hires Josh to build doggy steps for her (working out of her garage), the close proximity makes her begin to wonder why she’s settling for Tyler. However, she’s aware that Josh wants a baseball team worth of kids and, due to uterine fibroid tumors, she’s scheduled a hysterectomy for just after the wedding. So, she friend zones him (with benefits) but refuses to tell him why, even as their feelings for each other intensify. Is there any chance for a happily-ever-after if she’s not willing to share her secret believing that he’ll resent her for giving up his dreams?

There’s so much more to this story than just a run-of-the-mill romance with conflict and misunderstandings. Yes, there are LOL moments, but there are tear-inducing plot twists as well. The issue of infertility is handled well, although the ending is a bit of a cop-out, and the anguish the couple feels is visceral. Jimenez’s writing is compelling, and she does a wonderful job of balancing all of the emotional elements, even if Kristen’s stubbornness gets frustrating at times. If you’re a fan of Christina Lauren, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne

4*

On the day of Brayden Hayes’ funeral, three women who knew him intimately meet in Central Park: the wife, the mistress, and the girlfriend. They didn’t know of each other before his death, but form a strong bond post-mortem. The result? A pact that they will protect each other from any more womanizers. In Book Two of the Central Park Pact series, we get to know Claire Hayes, the widow. A year after her husband’s death, she takes a hard look at her life and realizes that it’s boring vanilla. So, the first step towards adding color and vitality is to renovate her dated brownstone and purge it of every reminder of her late husband. Scott Turner, a sexy, gruff, ill-mannered contractor, is doing his friend a favor, agreeing to meet with Claire. When he sees the challenge in front of him and a woman who intrigues him, he takes the job. It’s a refreshing change from his typical corporate and high-end hotels jobs, even if he has to tolerate a spoiled, damaged debutante. As he transforms the house and she makes over herself, their skittishness and sniping morph into respect and then undeniable chemistry laced with a healthy dose of witty, snarky banter. Layne is a queen of contemporary, sexy, steamy romances set in New York City. She injects just enough conflict and tension to keep us guessing, but the bumpy road to HEA is so worth the trip. Stay tuned for Book Three in which Audrey, “the girlfriend”, may finally realize that her Prince Charming is right under her nose.



I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.