Unromance by Erin Connor

 

4*

Author Erin Connor has given us a delightful romance where life imitates art…or vice versa. Each chapter begins with the name and description of a romantic trope or element, such as “Meet-Cute,” “Just Once, To Get It Out of Our Systems,” “Miscommunication,” and “The Grand Gesture,” which then plays out on the page. Sawyer is a romance writer with a severe creative block and Mason is an actor who is also a hopeful romantic who falls in love too fast, only to see it fall apart after the wrap party. In a bit of serendipity (which is actually one movie that ISN'T mentioned in this story that borrows from several classic romances), they meet up and agree to help each other. He’ll provide inspiration to help her get over her writer’s block and she’ll “unromance” his notions about love by having a series of stereotypical dates gone wrong. However, in the best romantic traditions, those pesky feelings get in the way.

Although I’m not a fan of third person narration or third act break-ups, I still thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. Mason is the perfect cinnamon roll boyfriend (in a gorgeous package), Sawyer writes my favorite genre, and there’s loads of laughter, friendship, and steamy scenes. The secondary characters aren’t very fleshed out, but there’s so much to enjoy in the central romance that there’s really no need for a supporting cast. I look forward to reading Connor’s future books. Recommended.

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.

The Christmas Tree Farm (Dream Harbor #3) by Laurie Gilmore

 

4*

As author Gilmore says in her dedication, “For anyone who ever wished Hallmark Christmas movies were steamier, this one might do the trick,” and how right she is. Like the movies, it’s a small town Christmas romance between a pseudo-local guy (his sister now lives in the town where they both frequently visited as kids) and a former Georgia debutante who buys a farm sight unseen because she’s running away from her oppressive, uber wealthy, socially-conscious parents after her twin and best friend “abandoned” her to follow her new husband to Denmark. Turns out the farm grows and sells Christmas trees, and Kira doesn’t know the first thing about the business (other than what she’s gleaned from homesteading influencers), and, ironically, doesn’t even like the holiday. Bennett’s love language is acts of service, but his compulsive need to fix things has made him a human doormat. He’s a gorgeous, kind, cinnamon roll book boyfriend and she’s the grumpy to his sunshine. However, at some point, she’s going to have to begin believing in herself and making new friends and he’s going to have to realize that not all women just want to use him.

Gilmore makes good on her promise to make this steamier than the traditional made-for-TV movies by giving us a male lead who is the good kind of alpha in the sheets and a female lead who matches his enthusiasm. Their chemistry is hot, but the spicy scenes are also full of laughter and strong feelings. Mix in a trio of friendly mutts, a low-key treasure hunt, a plethora of Christmas activities, and busybody friends and neighbors, and it’s a winning recipe. Recommended!

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

Business Casual (Lovelight #4) by B.K. Borison

 

4*

Minor spoilers

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I’ve enjoyed reading all the books in the Lovelight series, but this is definitely my favorite of the four. I’m a huge fan of the frenemies-to-lovers trope, and the relationship between Stella’s (Book 1) half-brother Charlie and Beckett’s (Book 2) youngest sister Nova is wonderful. Charlie is such a sweet cinnamon roll of a boyfriend, and his insecurities make him even more endearing. On the surface, it seems like opposites attract, but there’s just something about these two together that defies the stereotype. I really appreciate the dual POV because it gives readers the opportunity to really see into Charlie’s huge heart, very much in evidence with the relationships he builds with people like Caleb (Book 3) and Alex’s abuela, assorted townspeople, the owners of the farm ad and their significant others, and, most importantly, Nova’s family. He is so starved for affection, acceptance, and the embrace of a family he never had that it just really warmed my heart to see it come to fruition, providing a balance to his narcissist, hypocritical, and cruel father.

The couples from the first three books are very much present in this one, and the opening scene is of Luka and Stella’s (Book 1) wedding on the farm. It’s also where Charlie lures Nova to the dance floor where the spark between them catches fire. What starts as a one-night-stand ends up becoming a friends with benefits arrangement that they dub “business casual,” both of them knowing that New York-based Charlie, a frequent visitor to the small town of Inglewood, MD who is helping out at the farm while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon, will be returning home after a month.

It's very obvious, even before Charlie confirms it, that he has ADHD and that his father’s disdain during his childhood helped foster the low opinion he has of himself and drives his need to be the positive person who just wants to make everyone happy. However, Nova, who may also be autistic like Beckett and can be prickly, provides a figurative soft place for Charlie to land, so that he can be vulnerable and honest about his feelings. It’s not all heaviness between them, though, because Borison does a great job of balancing strong emotions with snarky banter and very sexy scenes.

Nova has her own insecurities as well. In previous books, we learned how protective and supportive Beckett is of his sister, but it’s very interesting to see how much his belief in her drives her need for perfection. The difficult but illuminating conversation the two eventually have is heart-wrenching but cathartic.

Although this can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the other books in the series so that you have the back stories of the couples who feature so prominently in this one. Recommended.

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