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.