An Ocean of Time by Kennedy Kerr

4*

I would have given this book 5 stars for the compelling, suspenseful, romantic story. However, without warning, it ended on a cliffhanger. If I’d known, I would have waited until the 2nd (and perhaps successive) book had come out because I’m just not patient enough to wait.

If, however, you don’t mind cliffhangers, I definitely recommend this intriguing time slip novel set in Cornwall, UK in 1755. There’s forbidden romance, villainous treachery, and deep, dark secrets that keep you at the edge of your seat. Recommended. 

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

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

 

4*

I’ve now met the Newmans, and I’m richer for it. Set in 1964 (with flashbacks to earlier years), it tells the story of a “real” family who have played themselves on television for over 10 years (the earliest scripted reality TV). In addition to learning more about father Del, mother Dinah, and sons Guy and Shep, it also focuses on a changing society, especially as it concerns women’s rights. When Del is in an accident and put in an induced coma, Dinah is forced to deal with the fallout. Their “out-of-touch” show is nearing the end of its long run, but Del (writer, producer, director, and star) isn’t awake to write the finale. So, despite pressure from the studio execs and their agent, Dinah, along with young LA Times journalist Juliet (who is facing chauvinism and misogyny in her workplace), decides to take on the task herself. In the weeks leading up to the live finale, Dinah struggles with keeping Del’s condition a secret, realizes that she has subjugated who she is in deference to Del and the other men in her life, and begins to open her eyes to the fledgling fight for women’s rights at a very volatile time in U.S. history.

Although the Newman family is loosely based on the real Nelson TV family, Niven gives us a solid look into the impact being in the public eye has on not just Dinah  and Del but also their sons who had to grow up in front of the cameras. Guy is the “good” son who follows the rules and remains clean-cut and scandal-free (although he has a huge secret he’s keeping) and Shep is the “bad boy” musician who constantly pushes the boundaries and rebels against the constraints put on him by his parents’ choices.

This is very much a slow burn narrative, but Niven gives her readers plenty of juicy tidbits to keep the book flowing. Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid will love this story which has some similar themes as Daisy Jones and the Six. Recommended.

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

Honey Bee Mine by Sarah T. Dubb

 

5*

In a very worthy follow-up to her debut novel, Birding with Benefits, Dubb takes her readers from birdwatching to beekeeping with the same heart, humor, and steam that gained her fans in the first place. In Honey Bee Mine, she introduces us to Penny and Zander, two thirty-somethings who knew each other peripherally as teens but are now actually connecting as adults who are carrying loads of baggage from absent parents. This small town romance includes the requisite festival (the Honey Festival) and a quirky cast of secondary characters including Zander’s ex- wife Mallory, best friend Quinn (a trans woman), Penny’s best friend RJ (an asexual man), her mother and grandmother, Zander’s son Winter, and the painful memories he has of his late grandfather whose bequest of a house brought Zander back to Sullivan’s Glen after nearly two decades.


Dubb avoids the third act break-up thanks to the maturity, vulnerability and honesty between Penny and Zander. Told in third person, the story is laden with eloquent prose and thoughtful, careful dialogue. Fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Katherine Center, Kate Clayborn, and Christina Lauren will love this compelling, endearing romance. 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.

Under Gorse and Stone by Lily Morton

 

5*

I’ve never been a fan of fantasies involving made up lands or mystical creatures. So it’s a real testament to Lily Morton and her gifted storytelling and world-building how much I loved this sweet Christmas romantasy set in Cornwall, UK. The way she describes the settings is magical in itself.

Like her previous Christmas romantasy, On a Midnight Clear, there is a gorgeous, otherworldly male protagonist who takes a human form and a kind, lonely human who finds love when he least expects it. in this story, Sigurd is an immortal dragon who has spent centuries in search of his soulmate and Cary is newly dumped by the latest in a long string up men who find him emotionally cold and only surface deep. When Sig and Cary finally find each other, it’s so heartwarming. It’s also fascinating to be introduced, right along with Cary, to a host of magical creatures from mer people to giants and more who run the gamut from mischievous to mildly threatening while also being incorrectly portrayed in the books of myths Cary grew up reading and discussing with his father.

On a final note, I love how beautifully the cover illustrator captured Sig’s human form. If you’re looking for a steamy, spooky, and magical gay romance to read over the holidays, I highly recommend this delightful novel.

Yours For the Season by Emily Stone

 

4*

This lovely second chance romance is what I’ve come to expect from Emily Stone. My only complaint is that the entire plot is based around a huge case of miscommunication and false assumptions. Being that’s one of my romance pet peeves, I had to focus on other aspects of this emotionally-charged story, which was easy given how well Stone writes about family dynamics, creates characters who are full of complexities and goodness, and describes locations so well that you can easily be transported there. If I take any lessons from this story, it’s that we should focus on the love we share, have honesty and transparency in relationships, and be willing to grant forgiveness. If you are looking for a Christmas romance that tugs at your heartstrings but leaves you hopeful, I highly recommend Yours for the Season.

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

Big Nick Energy by Kristen Bailey

 

5*

Bailey has become one of my absolute go-to favorites for charming Christmas romances with a bit of spice. Her latest offering, Big Nick Energy, which takes place in and celebrates my favorite city, London, is a combo of love triangle, second chance romance, and grumpy/sunshine with a kind, thoughtful and hot tree farmer (New Nick) and a former college love (Old Nick) who broke Kay’s heart. When she runs into him 10 years later, she wonders if fate has a hand in it. Yet, there’s also this handsome grump who doesn’t get her jokes and seems to be lacking in holiday spirit. However, the more time she spends with him, she realizes that first impressions are misleading. Lucky for her, she has guidance and encouragement from her beloved Nana, who is in the early stages of dementia, her zany friend Lucy, and her colleagues at the library where she works to help her see things clearly.

If you love closed door romances with a load of humor (cue the Christmas tree netting fiasco meet-cute), set in the most magical city during the winter holidays, and you haven’t yet discovered Bailey’s books, now’s your chance. You won’t be disappointed.

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

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

 

5*

Once again, Lynn Painter has written a swoonworthy young adult romance that grabs you from the first chapter and holds your attention right until the end. I think it’s my new favorite Painter novel. Childhood friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, so I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Dani and Alec as they cautiously, sometimes painfully, navigate their second chance at a romantic relationship when they reconnect as seniors in high school. They both believe that they were ghosted after Dani stopped visiting Minnesota each summer and their weekly coded postcards also stopped coming. So, they’re understandably angry and very cautious about resuming their friendship, let alone a romance. In the intervening 5 years, nerdy Alec has had a major glow-up and has every appearance of being one of the obnoxious jocks Dani has learned to steer clear of. However, when they accidently fall into a fake relationship, it gives them the closeness and time to discover how much they’ve both changed but, more importantly, how they’re still the same at heart.

If you’re looking for a young adult novel that isn’t too angsty, has some steamy kisses, and features main characters who act their age, you can’t go wrong with Fake Skating. If you’re a fan of hockey romance, this YA version of the trope won’t disappoint. Highly recommended.

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

Christmas Wishes and Irish Kisses by Debbie Johnson

 

5*

I always look forward to Debbie Johnson’s books, and this one didn’t disappoint. Life has been pretty rough for me these past few years, and this delightful second chance, childhood friends to lovers, small town romance was the pick-me-up I desperately needed. Liam and Ellie are both lovely people who never got the opportunity to turn their friendship into something more, letting 20+ years pass before they were reunited at Christmas in the small Cornish town where they grew up. Ellie is dealing with baggage she’s carried with her since she was uprooted from Cornwall and moved to the U.S., believing that her father didn’t want her. Liam, despite dealing with profound grief, has been busy raising his children and growing a profitable business empire. During the Christmas season, they’re thrown together on numerous occasions, and the spark that never fully ignited in their teens, roars to life with a couple of steamy kisses, but will they both be able to move beyond their pain and insecurities to acknowledge their feelings for each other? Read this charming Christmas tale to find out. Highly recommended.

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

A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky

 

4*

Since Mannequin is one of my favorite movies, I was eager to read Janovsky’s gay version of the awkward window dresser whose wish for the perfect man comes true. Janovsky’s story does not disappoint. Henry is lonely, disillusioned from past relationships gone bad, suffering from social anxiety, and desperately trying to save his Great Aunt Isla’s vintage store. Aidan, with his charm, naïveté, and sense of wonder, is the perfect foil for Henry. Set in a small New Jersey beach town at Christmas, it has all the earmarks of a Hallmark movie (a theme that runs throughout the book) with a little bit of spice. It’s low angst, full of humor, and a perfect gift for readers to give themselves during the holidays. 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.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver

 

3*

It takes something special to hold my attention, and although I’m a fan of Silver’s previous books, I struggled to get through this one. Yes, the title is Slow Burn Summer, but it seemed more about lack of forward momentum that would keep me engaged than about the buildup of a tepid romance. The chemistry between Kate and Charlie was the opposite of explosive, so much so that I didn’t remember the one s#x scene between them that came late in the book. I also didn’t care for Silver’s choice of third person narration because it created a sense of unnecessary distance between this reader and the main characters. There are other aspects of the story that disappointed me, but are hard to describe without spoilers. So, I’ll just leave it that it wasn’t the book for me, but I think it’ll find its audience.

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