Would You Rather by Allison Ashley

5*

Beautiful friends-to-lovers romance between childhood friends who first fell in love in college, though tragic circumstances kept them in the friend zone for almost 10 years.

At age 21, just as they’re about to admit their feelings for each other, Mia falls ill while Noah is on a mountain climbing trip with his brother. The events of that tragic weekend led to both of them lying to themselves and each other, saying they want to remain just friends. It isn’t until Mia wins a scholarship to return to school at age 30 (which she is ready to turn down because she needs health insurance through her job) that Noah proposes they get married so she can quit and fulfill her dream of becoming a dietician. It’s inevitable that what starts as a marriage of convenience with a side of insurance fraud will lead to more, especially since they’re sharing a home. The question is, will Mia allow Noah to sacrifice his own dreams to take care of her as her kidney disease worsens and will Noah be able to give up his fear of losing her if it means he can start living life fully again?

The love between Mia and Noah is intense and oh so beautiful. There’s definitely sexual tension, but the love scenes are all fade to black. The emotional baggage these two share is totally understandable, but the willing, albeit misguided, sacrifices they both make are frustrating to read, which is a tribute to author Ashley. There’s a true villain who gets his comeuppance, enviable friendships, role models in their parents’ long marriages, and some insight into what it means to live with a chronic disease. There are definitely tear-jerker moments, but this beautiful love story is worth the tissues. Highly recommended.

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

Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer

 

5*

Dara Rabinowitz, age 34, is a third-generation matchmaker who brought the family tradition into the 21st century when she created J-Mate, an online dating platform that uses an algorithm based on her Bubbe Miriam’s methods for successful marriages. She’s struggled with Generalized Anxiety Disorder since her teens, and, following the death of her mother 10 years prior, has become a near hermit other than her professional obligations and frequent visits with her grandmother. Ironically, as the CEO of the multimillion-dollar business, she’s rarely dated.

This all changes when she and her Bubbe Miriam appear on the Good News show with host Christopher Steadfast (who Dara has secretly crushed on for 2 years) and her grandmother goes off-script, sharing Dara’s list of qualities of the perfect Jewish husband. Despite her extreme embarrassment, the episode goes viral and presents an opportunity for J-Mate to get more business and Good News to survive cancellation due to flagging viewership. Dara just has to agree to date men Chris finds who are candidates for Mr. Perfect on Paper. What can possibly go wrong? When Dara finally meets Mr. Perfect, will she ignore her growing feelings for Chris and settle for a man who checks all the boxes? After all, in Dara’s words, love “doesn’t conquer all.” Will Chris be able to move beyond his grief over the death of his wife, especially if he refuses to process it?

This is a verrrry slow burn romance, but the sexual tension is there in the subtle touches, longing glances and near-kisses. There’s also the fact that Chris’s mere presence calms Dara’s anxiety and their growing, unspoken feelings for each other force them out of hiding. For Gentiles, it’s a lesson in the laws and customs of Judaism with a very liberal sprinkling of Yiddish words and phrases and a peek into the conflict between religious adherence to the prohibition against interfaith marriage and forbidden love. Meltzer deftly manages to strike a balance between the ravages of grief and the humor in everyday situations (and disastrous dates), keeping the story from getting bogged down with emotional baggage. The antics of Bubbe Miriam and her geriatric girl squad, The ChallahBack Girls, are both hilarious and endearing, and Chris’s preteen daughter Lacey brings surprisingly wisdom and insight that aid in the plot development. Highly recommended.

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

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

 

5*

After having sat in on a panel discussion last spring with author Hazelwood, I now understand why she and several more of our best contemporary romance authors (including Diana Gabaldon and Lauren Billings of the writing duo Christina Lauren) went from careers in STEM to writing romance. At the very least, they are finally getting the recognition (and, hopefully, financial rewards) they deserve. 

In Love on the Brain, neuroscientist Dr. Bee Konigswasser has been fighting her entire career against the unfair treatment women in STEM (especially academia) face from a field full of predominantly white men. Using “trademarked” phrases like Cockcluster and Wurstfest, in describing this seemingly impenetrable brick wall, is the least she can do to release some of the tension and anger she feels when she and her fellow women in STEM are confronted with this misogynistic reality. As a way to fight back anonymously, Bee started a Twitter account as an homage to her hero, Marie Curie, called @WhatWouldMarieDo and has been evading potential career-destroying detection for 4 years. However, other than providing support and encouragement to other female scientists, she’s also developed an open online friendship with Shmac, one of the few male scientists who truly champion and support their female colleagues.

After a bad betrayal and break-up, following by a depressive slump two years before, she’s finally been tapped to lead a joint NASA-NIH project. Unfortunately, even before flying to Houston, she finds out the co-lead is her arch nemesis Levi Ward, a man whose utter disdain for her during grad school was the stuff of legend. Will having to work with him lead to another career dead-end, especially if he goes so far as to sabotage her work? Or will she find that her perception of him has been wrong all along?

Hazelwood’s follow-up to The Love Hypothesis is equally as charming and sexy, with subtly-coded neurodivergent characters who struggle to communicate their feelings but who connect on a cerebral and sometimes nerdy level. Whether it’s bonding over Star Wars, comparing Levi’s rescue cat to Bee’s “imaginary” one, competing over hummingbird sightings, or surprisingly supporting and defending each others’ work in the lab, their journey to love is a joy to behold. Highly recommended!

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

Luck and Last Resorts (Love, Lists and Fancy Ships #2) by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

3*

Possible spoilers


Nina Lejeune, former champion gymnast, has been stewardess on the charter yacht Serendipity for 9 years. It’s where she met both Ollie, her long-time love interest (otherwise undefinable, as you’ll see if you read this story) and her best friend Jo (heroine of Book 1) and is the figurative lifeboat that saved her from drowning in debt and despair after the worst sort of betrayal by her parents, the people who should have loved her most. Irishman Ollie, at times surly and other times charming, is the yacht’s chef and has been in love with Nina for years. However, her inability to commit to a future with him has driven him to despair. With both of them carrying some pretty heavy baggage from the past, will Nina be able to give Ollie what he wants before it’s too late?

I was so excited for this sequel after absolutely loving Love, Lists and Fancy Ships. So I can’t help but feel let down by Nina and Ollie’s story for so many reasons. I found it exceedingly difficult to have any sympathy for Nina given how long she treated Ollie with such disregard and flippancy. I’d say that Ollie is a saint for having put up with her, but, by the end of the book, I understand his (for lack of a better word) co-dependency. Nina seemed unwilling to make any changes in her life, still deluding herself that her two rules were in effect: always have fun and don’t rely on anyone. As a result, her near-constant deflections from anything serious and her lies (even to herself) concerning her real feelings had her coming off as exceedingly selfish, immature, and cruel. If I hadn’t cared so much for Ollie, I would have preferred that this not end with a happily-ever-after.

Ultimately, this just dragged on too long, shifting back and forth from present day to chapters showing their relationship’s development and stagnation over the years. I felt like I was reading a version of Groundhog Day, with the same scenario on repeat with no forward progress. It’s very telling, for a fast reader, that I was shocked to see that it was only 335 pages. It’s such a huge disappointment when the sequel to one of my favorite romances is one that stressed me out rather than uplifted me.

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

The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson

 4*

In The Accidental Pinup, author Daniellle Jackson tackles misogyny, toxic masculinity, the patriarchy and systemic racism in both the fashion industry and the business community as a whole. Cass Harris is an educated, talented, successful photographer (and voluptuous, beautiful black woman) who has consistently been passed over for jobs in favor of Reid Montgomery, a white male competitor who is known for his vintage pinup-inspired style. While her Buxom Boudoir business (started with her supermodel, social media influencer, and emerging lingerie designer best friend Dana) is booming, she wants the recognition and prestige that would come with directing and shooting a major national advertising campaign. When Dana collaborates with Luscious Lingerie to produce her body-positive, edgy Dreamland line, it’s with the understanding that Cass, her muse, will be in charge. However, when Dana is forced to go on bed rest early in her pregnancy and the executives at Luscious express their discomfort working with a relatively unknown photographer, she is once again passed over for the job in favor of Reid. The compromise is for Cass to replace Dana as the primary model as well as serve as Art Director, but will the greedy capitalists on the board be able to step outside their comfort zone and back up their performative support for the body-confidence movement by entrusting a major campaign to a plus-size black woman?

 

When Reid and Cass start working together, sparks start to fly almost immediately despite their professional relationship. It’s a pleasure to see how they treat each other with mutual respect and share their love of both photography and their city of Chicago. However, will the pressures of family and finances destroy everything they’ve been building?

 

As someone who has more than a little knowledge of how shamefully the fashion industry treats curvy women and black models in particular, it is frustrating and stressful to read about Cass’s experiences since they accurately reflect the real struggles black women face in the business world. However, it’s a testament to Jackson that she makes readers uncomfortable. I also appreciate that she has a male protagonist who can admit when he’s wrong and who is attracted to a curvy woman without qualifiers. This story will appeal to readers who are looking for strong, successful heroines and have a passing interest in the fashion industry. Highly recommended.

 

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

 

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken

 

4*

A gender-swapping nod to the movie Life As We Know It, The Godparent Trap is all about seeing and seizing the opportunity for love that’s right in front of you if you’re willing to let go of your fears and the need to control everything around you. Like the movie, two frenemies and polar opposites, Rip and Colby, are forced to co-parent after their best friends (and, in this case, Rip’s younger sister) are killed in a car accident. 

Initially, Rip, a Type A accountant, is a real misogynistic jerk, being unintentionally cruel to Colby, a travel blogger, by pointing out her insecurities and threatening her with full custody if she doesn’t start acting responsibly. He demands that she be realistic (e.g., by not telling the kids that their parents are angels looking over them) and keep the house and herself neat and clean. In his mind, following rules keeps people safe. Conversely, Colby wears her heart on her sleeve, openly grieving and caring less about keeping everything in order and more about being present and tuned into the emotional needs of the children.  It’s only with the help of an interfering friend/co-worker and some divine intervention that Rip finally begins to acknowledge that his anger is masking his fear, that life and love are inherently messy, and that, by ceding control, he’ll find comfort and joy.

Although the story is endearing (especially the interactions with 3-year-old Viera and 5-year-old Ben), the character development is lacking and the pacing is a bit scattered. The book begins with a prologue (or glimpse of the future) that is repeated word-for-word where it fits chronologically in the narrative and the transitions between scenes are choppy. Despite this, it’s a worthwhile read for those who like enemies-to-lovers romance and some emotional heaviness as well.

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

 

Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay #2) by Elle Kennedy

 

3*

This second book in the Avalon Bay series is the love story between Evan, identical twin of Cooper from Good Girl Complex, and his on again-off again girlfriend Genevieve. It is all about second chances…and not just the romantic variety. 

 

The main problem with this story is the dynamic between Evan and Cooper which is really off-putting. Their angry, violent reactions to perceived and actual slights (often rooted in jealousy) are not only unattractive but, in my opinion, raise red flags about how they’ll treat the women and children in their lives if they don’t get their behavior under control. It’s hard to imagine how the immature, reckless Evan can redeem himself by the end of the book, but he manages it because he knows he’ll never win Genevieve if he doesn’t clean up his act. One has to wonder if, once the story ends, this very young couple will have the happily-ever-after romance fans expect. 

 

Overall, it’s a good book in terms of writing and character development, but the male protagonists are not easy to like. Fans of the first book are apt to be disappointed. 

 

Trigger warning: bad cops 

 

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

 

 

Dream On by Angie Hockman

 5*

What happens when the man IN your dreams turns out to be real?

In Dream On, author Angie Hockman explores the idea of whether fantasy can live up to reality in this romance with a twist. Cassidy Walker slowly wakes up from yet another delicious dream featuring her perfect boyfriend, Devin Bloom. So, she’s shocked to learn that she’s in the hospital after a 6-day coma and that Devin doesn’t exist. Despite the detailed conversations and clear vision she has of him (which she fills up a sketchbook with during her year-long recovery), she finally acknowledges the truth and turns her focus to resuming her fledgling law career. However, fate has other plans when she runs into Devin in the flesh at his brother Perry’s florist shop, and he doesn’t recognize her.

Intrigued, he agrees to help her solve the mystery despite Perry’s suspicion of her motives. As they spend more time together, she begins to wonder if the memories are a sign they were meant to meet, if fate brought them together, or if dreams should be left in the realm of fantasy. With the thoughtful and sensitive observations Perry shares with her, she also begins to question if a career in a high-powered law firm will bring her fulfillment and the life she wants.

Although this is a slow-burn, only slightly steamy romance, it also deals with traumatic brain injury, parental interference, sibling rivalry, and betrayal. In a departure from the normal trope, Hockman also ingeniously uses government corruption and the evils of capitalism as vehicles to drive the plot. Add in a twist that observant readers will pick up on early in the books, and you have a delightful summer read which will appeal to fans of Kate Clayborn, Christina Lauren, and Abby Jimenez. Highly recommended.

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.

For You and No One Else by Roni Loren

 

5*

Loren really knocked it out of the park with the 3rd (and presumably final) book in her Say Everything series.  Eliza is a marriage therapist and YouTube wellness guru at WorkAround, the shared office space where we first met her in Book 1. She’s best friends with Hollyn and Andi from the first two books, but it’s her budding relationship with Beckham, the hot, nerdy computer wizard in the office next door, that is the focus of For You and No One Else.

On the surface, they’re an odd pairing. She created her life plan at age 10 (including a husband and 2.5 kids) and is still mourning the loss of her parents who died in a car accident 2 years prior. Beckham, 7 years her junior, dresses in vintage t-shirts, is covered in tattoos, and is a hacker (usually on the legal side). However, after running into each other in the office on Christmas Day and him recognizing that she needs company more than he needs to work, they begin to see in each other a kindred spirit. Since he’s anti-marriage and kids, they both know their relationship will never go anywhere, but they agree to a friends with benefits arrangement after she has one last disastrous date arranged through an app. Of course, this trope plays out as you’d expect, but the emotional gut punch sets it apart from other similar scenarios. 

In addition to her grief and unwavering commitment to stick to her plan, they’re also (mis)handling his baggage which includes childhood trauma that he thought he’d escaped. Ultimately, the question comes down how well you can know a person when they’re hiding a big part of themselves. 

Loren writes romance laced with some heavy real-life challenges, but her characters are so warm and open that you can’t help but root for a happy ending. Although the themes in this book are heavy, there’s plenty of humor, a couple of really adorable pets, and the female friendship between the heroines of all three books that keep it from sinking into despair. I highly recommend the entire series.

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

5*

Unique premise from Ashley Poston, the author of the highly successful YA series Once Upon a Con. With a nod to the movie, Just Like Heaven, Poston deftly weaves a nearly tragic love story between grieving ghostwriter  (and begrudging ghost whisperer) Florence and her spectral editor, Ben. Between romantic betrayals, the tragic death of a loved one, and the pressure to finish a long-overdue romance novel (the last in a 4 book deal made by the author Florence ghost writes for), we are left to wonder if the ghosts of the past can be exorcised to make room for a forever kind of love. 

It’s so refreshing to read about a heroine who, with the help of loved ones, is able to see that her nasty betrayal and breakup is in no way her fault and a hero who is the epitome of the charming and sensitive book boyfriend. It’s a very slow burn with no steamy sex scenes, but you won’t miss them because the trajectory of their relationship is something you’ve never seen the likes of. Add in an off-beat, loving, misunderstood family of undertakers, and you have a winning ghost/love story for the ages. Highly recommend.

Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander

5*

This story is ground-breaking! At a time when trans people (especially youth) are being attacked by power-hungry, inhumane politicians and church leaders playing on the fears of white, “Christian” homophobes, it’s so important to have representation in literature. This isn’t an easy book to read because it highlights the struggles, discrimination, rejection, and hatred non-binary people face in the workplace, their families of origin, and the community at large. However, it’s encouraging that Ray finds a chosen family who loves, supports and champions them.

Fear is often due to ignorance, and it’s not the job of members of marginalized groups to educate people. In order to be allies to the LGBTQ community, we must seek out information, and one of the easiest ways to do this is by reading both non-fiction books and fictional stories that discuss the use of pronouns and define terminology (e.g., dead-naming). Chef’s Kiss is an excellent vehicle for learning about this and for building empathy. It would also be a great choice for bibliotherapy for trans teens and young adults who rarely see themselves portrayed in books.

Beyond the afore-mentioned, this is also a sweetly awkward, slow-burn, workplace romance between kitchen manager Ray and pastry chef Simone. Together, they demonstrate how, even with the best intentions, mistakes can be made and feelings hurt, but that sincere apologies and forgiveness can lead to happiness. Add to this a literary feast for foodies and author Alexander has cooked up a winning romance that deserves a place in every library. Highly recommended.

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

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

5*

Nora, a literary agent in NYC, has a savior complex, sacrificing her own dreams and happiness because of a compulsive need to take care of her sister, her authors, and the memory of her mother. She took on a mothering role while still a child herself because her own cared more about her acting career than she did her daughters. Unfortunately, Nora never gave up parenting her younger sister Libby, a codependent relationship that’s kept her from living her own life and her sister from growing into a capable, independent adult. So when Libby asks her to take a month-long vacation in Sunrise Falls, NC, the setting of her favorite book, Nora can’t say no, despite the fact that her entire life’s focus is her work.

So, imagine her surprise, when morose book editor Charlie, with whom she’s had a contentious relationship for years, keeps turning up. As they get to know each other and the walls they’ve both built up begin to crumble and sexual tension becomes incendiary, they must decide if they’re willing to take the risk and make the sacrifice to be together. In a reflection of the romantic literary trope of big city person who has business in a small town, meeting their soulmate, and deciding to give up their life to start a new one, Nora has been the loser in this scenario 4 times. However, when the tables are turned and Nora is the one who needs to choose between the city she loves or the chance to build a relationship with Charlie in a small town, will she be willing to give up her job and NYC to be with the man she loves or will Charlie find a way to be with her despite family obligations keeping him in NC?

Ultimately, this enemies-to-lovers romance is about the meaning of home…is it a place or people? Can a person be happy anywhere if they’re with those they love or can a place be an all-consuming love? Henry has written another wonderful, intelligent story that strikes a perfect balance between snarky, witty banter and serious issues. She’s quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Fans of Christina Lauren will love this one!

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

In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

 

4*

Strangers on a train! In one of the best meet-cutes ever, Hayes Montgomery literally offers Franny Doyle the coat off his back when her dress is ripped apart after getting caught in a subway train door. Thanks to a series of Instagram posts that go viral and serendipitous run-ins, they slowly get to know each other and like what they see. This is a case of opposites attract, but, like all good romances, the protagonists bring out the best in each other. Franny has just been laid off from her job at a design firm and is thinking of starting her own company. Hayes and his business partner Eleanor are moving offices and are in need of an interior designer. Working together is a win-win situation, but will the budding relationship last once the job is done?

Franny’s character is well-developed, including her relationship with her family and friends and life circumstances that help explain her personality , but Hayes is a bit of a mystery. It would help if Spencer had given us some sense of his background beyond his short-lived marriage, why he’s so awkward, and whether he has any friends beyond Eleanor and his cousin Perrine. This is relatively low angst, communication between the two is easy and honest, and sex scenes are mild. There are both queer and BIPOC characters, and the New York City locales are used to good advantage. Overall, this is a very fun, sweet romance that would appeal to fans of Kate Clayborn, Katherine Center, Christina Lauren, and Lauren Layne.

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

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

5*

Christina Lauren have taken a huge departure from their usual style by enfolding this second-chance romance in an action-adventure mystery set in the desert southwest. Ten years prior, Lily Wilder had just taken over her family’s Wyoming ranch with plans to run it with her new love, New Yorker Leo Grady. Her father Duke is a famous treasure hunter whose main focus has been to find outlaw Butch Cassidy’s hidden loot. This obsession led to Lily’s mother’s abandonment and her father’s casual neglect. So, no one is more surprised than Lily when, years later, she is running a wilderness adventure camp that offers horseback riding through the Utah Canyonlands with the added lure of finding (fake) treasure.

When Leo joins a group of friends on their annual trip, he finds himself face-to-face with Lily for the first time since disappearing from her life with no explanation a decade earlier. It’s obvious that they’ve both suffered heartbreak, and know that bitter truths will need to be revealed if they have any hope of forgiving each other and perhaps giving into the attraction that still simmers between them. However, when the trip takes a sinister turn, the two find themselves fighting for survival while following a series of clues left by her father that will either lead to the actual treasure or cost them their lives.

It’s clear that the authors have done their research by how accurately they depict the barren, beautiful but dangerous desert landscape and offer a glimpse of the criminal element of the Wild West during and following the Gold Rush. As usual, they’ve done a masterful job of building tension in the couple’s relationship, in this case with the added element of terror. If you like your romances full of intrigue and heart-pounding thrills, you can’t go wrong with Something Wilder. Highly recommended.

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.

Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

4*

Lovely new adult romance between star-crossed lovers…the townie bad boy and the rich girl. The relationship between Mac and Cooper starts with a lie, an act of revenge that puts Mac in the middle. Her long-time boyfriend, Preston, is the stereotypical rich asshole who uses his daddy’s money to threaten and try to destroy people he feels are trash (which is everyone outside his wealthy circle). Like the real-life rapist Brock Turner, he tries to force himself on a friend of Cooper’s and when Coop defends her, Preston has him fired. The best and only way to get back at him is through the girlfriend. No surprise that what starts out as a revenge plot turns into much more. Of course, as these things go, he’s bound to get caught in his lies. The question is whether or not Mac is the forgiving kind.

Although it’s a familiar trope, the complexities of their lives, including a negligent childhood lacking in love, and their drive to prove themselves despite their parenting elevate this book. Kennedy has written a story that plumbs emotional depths and gets to the heart of what it means for two young people to break from the constraints imposed by falling in line with the expectations society has formed based on their parents’ selfish choices. In the case of Mac and Cooper, they really see each other and, with each other’s support and encouragement, gain the clarity and courage to break from these restraints to pursue their goals and dreams. Highly recommended.

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

Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker

 

4*

With a nod to P.S. I Love You and with parallels to Christina Lauren’s Roomies, Walker has written a movie-worthy rom-com about an American woman, Cara Kennedy who, while nursing a broken heart, decides to take an already planned 3-day holiday to Dublin without the ex-boyfriend. Serendipitously, her Uber driver from the airport is Finn McGuire, a charming, handsome bloke with a killer Irish accent with whom she feels an instant attraction.

On Leap Day in Ireland (once every four years), tradition dictates that women can ask men to marry them, Thanks to copious amounts of Irish whiskey, Cara’s evening in the pub where she meets up with Finn on her last night ends with a proposal followed by a return to her beachfront bungalow in Malibu where they spend days getting to know each other, all while planning an annulment. Given the obvious attraction and easy friendship, it’s no surprise that they keep putting it off.

Cara is an aspiring screenwriter who has been paying her dues at a top talent agency working for Hollywood’s version of Amanda Priestley. Finn shows up at her office on a whim and, in the blink of an eye, finds himself auditioning for the lead in a highly-coveted blockbuster movie. Shortly after, Cara begins questioning if Finn’s affection is real or if she’s just been a pawn in his quest for stardom.

There is so much to love in this story: swoon-worthy book boyfriend who helps buttoned-up Cara learn to be spontaneous, Hollywood boss from hell who unwittingly drives her to finally write a winning screenplay, former starlet and sassy landlady Penelope who provides color, wit, and wisdom, feisty best friend and co-worker Julia who provides an endless supply of homemade Italian treats, tequila shots and a shoulder to cry on, and Oscar, devoted canine sidekick who voices the epilogue.

Highly recommended to readers who can’t resist a man with a panty-melting accent and sparkle in his eye.

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

 

 

Lease On Love by Falon Ballard

 

4*

Spoilers ahead.

This debut novel is a good effort in need of better editing. The premise is solid and the slow burn romance between Jack and Sadie isn’t bothersome because they were clearly into each other, the sexual tension was off the charts, and their reasons for taking it slow were thoughtful and mature. Unfortunately, from the time that they finally shared their 1st kiss to the end of the book, the story dragged and Sadie’s near-constant self-flagellation became tiresome.

Jack definitely had secrets, but he shared painful memories and feelings with Sadie, making it crystal clear that her presence in his life brought him out of seven years of emptiness and grief. Sadie was also selective in what she shared about her abusive upbringing, but it was pretty obvious from the beginning that her low self-esteem was going to be the vehicle that drives their relationship. When someone has been hurt as deeply as she has, they’ll look for any excuse to avoid pain and loss, even if it means walking away before someone else can reject them.

The highlights of this book are the friendships Sadie cultivated during college and the way this loving group embraced Jack and helped him become whole again. I also really admired the way Jack and Sadie were able to grow their own emotional connection without sex muddying the waters. However, it was obvious from the outset that their relationship was going to hit a snag once it was tested. Despite Sadie’s talent as a florist, her business acumen, and the people who love her and try to convince her that she’s not the selfish failure she was raised to believe, she can’t get past it. So, as readers, we spend a good part of the book waiting for her to destroy the best thing she’s ever had.

Ultimately, this story is about friendship, love, grief, and forgiveness. Despite the uneven pacing and the frustration of listening to Sadie constantly criticize herself, it’s still a beautiful love story and Jack is a wonderful book boyfriend.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Family You Make (Sunrise Cove, #1) by Jill Shalvis

4*

Two damaged women, one due to parental abandonment and the other due to a traumatic event in her teens, have shut themselves off from love. Their friendship has been the one relationship where they’ve both opened up and found (platonic) love, but they can’t see that this is proof that they’re capable of romantic love. Luckily for them, they’ve both found men who are kind, loving, patient, and understanding. They both just need to believe that they’re worthy of love.

I really appreciated the terrifying meet-cute between Levi and Jane, when a near-death experience bonds them in a way nothing less could. In that short time in the swinging gondola, they expose their true selves. When they embark on a fake relationship, it’s inevitable that strong feelings will grow and that Jane will have to make a choice.

As for Charlotte and Mateo, theirs is an enemies-to-lovers tale but Mateo never saw her as the enemy. It was more like a Taming of the Shrew scenario where Charlotte is trying to protect herself from further emotional damage from a man. So, it doesn’t make sense when she uses the excuse that people you love leave when this was Jane’s reality, not hers. In fact, she has family that love and miss her.

Overall, this was a beautiful dual love story in which female friends who choose each other as family agree to support each other in overcoming trauma and opening to the possibility of life. It’s also about chosen family and forgiveness. These women are fortunate to find men who come from loving families, so that when they and their partners eventually choose each other, the familial embrace is expansive and hugely heartwarming.

Shalvis proves, once again, why she is one of the reining queens of contemporary romance. This is the first in her new series Sunrise Cove, set in the Lake Tahoe area, so her fans have much to look forward to.

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

Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson

4*

Spoilers!

Nora Hughes is in a rut, working as an editorial assistant for a floundering publishing company. After five years, she’s no closer to her dream of being an editor, and ongoing austerity measures have resulted in her being severely overworked and underpaid, especially after her salary is reduced beyond a sustainable level. In desperation, she agrees to freelance for a rival publisher and hides that fact from both employers. It’s inevitable that it’ll crash and burn. Meeting and beginning to fall for prized author Andrew Santos while, at the same time, using him to achieve her career goals is bound to end badly. If this story followed the predictable romantic tropes, readers would be assured of a HEA. However, Nora’s spiraling mental health raises the stakes and leaves the ending ambiguous but optimistic.

Andrew, who ranks himself at 10 of 10 on the happiness scale, is an absolute delight. He is thoughtful, protective (in a good way), and full of good humor, so it’s difficult knowing that his relationship with Nora is less than honest and bound to end with heartbreak. Nora is a complex character whose struggle with mental illness and misguided selfishness (motivated by survival) make it challenging to root for her, so readers need to be sympathetic rather than critical. The chemistry between them is tepid, especially with the total absence of any sexy scenes (other than a few kisses). Despite this, the hope is that Nora will eventually get the therapy she desperately needs, find a career path that’s enriching and fulfilling, and be able to reconcile with Andrew. They both deserve nothing less.

I thought this story had promise based on the summary, and I gravitate to books about books. However, I was somewhat disappointed not only by the slow pace, but by how dark it went with Nora’s depression and suicidal ideation. I don’t think it’s unusual, especially in today’s economy, for college graduates to take a “dream” job only to find that their expectations far exceed their reality. However, it’s the decisions they make (or fail to) about the next step in their career path that determine whether or not they’ll be happy pursuing something that takes up most of their waking hours.

Bottom line, it’s a good effort for this debut novelist, but expect women’s fiction rather than full-on romance.

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

Josh and Gemma Make a Baby by Sarah Ready

5*

What a wonderful surprise this book is! The cartoonish cover and cutesy title give the false impression that it’s just another light-hearted romance, but there’s so much more depth than that. Yes, it’s a mash-up of several tropes including brother’s best friend, second chance, and love triangle, but it’s also a thoughtful portrayal of infertility and the way in which fellow sufferers bond over their struggles to conceive and give birth and a scathing indictment of the self-help, inspirational charlatans who prey on people at their weakest moments. In this case, Ian Fortune, Gemma’s boss and long-time crush, is nothing more than a snake oil salesman whose stock in trade are meme-worthy quotations. One minor criticism of the story is the heavy sprinkling of these trite sayings throughout, both as chapter headings and as a way for Gemma to engage with friends and family without being open and honest about who she is and how she feels.

Josh is a charming, somewhat nerdy book boyfriend who, as far as Gemma knows, writes comics, lives in his dad’s basement, and collects panties as sexual trophies. In other words, he’s not boyfriend-worthy, but as former high school valedictorian, football captain, and homecoming king as well as her brother’s best friend who’s spent countless hours with her family, he’s the perfect candidate for a sperm donor once Gemma decides she’s not going to miss the chance to have a baby while waiting for “The One.” However, as Josh fully commits to making a baby with Gemma, she slowly realizes that she knows very little about him and the life he’s led in the 14 years since he went off to college. His reason for agreeing to be her baby daddy is very touching, and his love and care for his terminally ill father is heartwarming.

Ready does a wonderful job of developing her romantic leads and creating scenarios that allow secondary characters to shine, whether it’s the seemingly mismatched support group or Gemma’s mother with her well-meaning yet misguided and casually cruel attempts to find a man who will deign to marry her barren, divorced and “chubby” daughter. This thoughtful and entertaining romance is highly recommended for romance fans, anime cosplayers, and anyone looking for a delightful distraction from our troubling times.

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

Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman

4*

Fans of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill will be thrilled to revisit L.A’s Larchmont Village neighborhood and become reacquainted with that titular heroine and her bookstore co-workers in this new book of women’s fiction. Yes, there’s a very slow-burn love story (actually two), but it’s more about found family and friendship.

Laura Costello leaves her home and ex-fiancé in New York City to attend grad school for physical therapy in L.A. Her family of hardcore science academicians has never hidden their disappointment over her decision to forge a new path, and are convinced that she is too fragile due to her PTSD following a serious car accident and long recovery. However, her mother’s heavy-handedness and her controlling ex-fiancé’s unwillingness to accept her rejection and his insulting infantilization of her only serve to strengthen her resolve.

Following a fire in her new apartment building, she find herself in Knight’s bookstore (co-owned by Nina Hill). Serendipitously, sales clerk Polly hooks her up with a room rental in the house where she lives and, as time goes on, she grows to care about Maggie, her landlord and house mom, and Bob, her handsome housemate. Over the course of the summer, while waiting for her classes to begin, she cultivates friendships with Nina and Polly, joins Nina’s trivia team, and with Bob’s encouragement, kindness, and patience, slowly begins to overcome her trauma-induced panic over driving and her reticence about entering a new relationship. Will either of these two awkward friends ever find the courage to acknowledge the attraction that everyone else sees?

The biggest lesson Laura learns is that everyone has fears and personal issues that can hold them back from falling in love, forging new career paths, mending relationships with close family members, and more. However, her new chosen family helps her see that her inner strength not only aids her recovery but also provides the support her friends need to heal their own hurts, chase their dreams, and take a chance on love.

The only disappointment is the lack of any sexual tension between Laura and Bob. Their friendship is enviable, but aside from a couple of kisses and countless longing glances, there’s no heat. It would have been much more satisfying had Waxman used her epilogue to give readers the satisfaction of seeing the relationship ignite. Despite this, it’s a delightful story with very likable characters, satisfying subplots, glorious gardens, a plethora of books, and the unique idiosyncrasies of Los Angeles. Highly recommended.

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