Dragged to the Wedding by Andrew Grey

 

4*

Fake relationship, forced proximity gay romance that goes well beyond the typical tropes to highlight the process of coming out on your own terms. 

James is a Chicago-area cop who has spent the last 13 years of his life living as an out and proud gay man, except to his ultra-conservative, Christian family back in Montana. When his older sister announces her impending marriage, he is desperate to find a female beard rather than show up solo, having to fend off his mother’s matchmaking efforts. No one is more surprised than he when he enlists the help of drag queen Lala Traviata (aka Daniel) to play his fake girlfriend Daniella. During the week of pre-wedding events, Daniella saves the day more than once, all while the two of them are struggling to remain platonic while sharing a bed, investigating the creepy pastor who’s officiating the ceremony, fending off the scummy best man, and trying to avoid exposing James’s sexuality. The question is, is anyone being honest?

Although there’s plenty of lightheartedness and humor as well as kindness and caring between James, Daniel, and his sisters, there is also an exploration of the stages a gay man works through to fully come out, especially facing the fear and pain of rejection by those who are supposed to love him unconditionally. James’s overbearing mother, with her cross-stitched 10 commandments for how her children should behave hanging prominently on the wall, goes to extremes to force her concepts about what her grown kids need, going so far as to almost sabotage her daughter’s wedding. At times, it’s difficult to witness how misguided and blinded supposed good Christians can be, but author Grey does a great job of balancing the highs and lows of family expectations.

As a straight, older, agnostic white woman, I can’t speak on the authenticity of the portrayal, although I believe Andrew Grey is gay and knows what he writes. However, I can say that he has written a unique story that evokes a range of emotions and had me reading it in one sitting. Highly recommended.

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

The Impossible Promise (Providence Falls #2) by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets

4*

Spoilers

I don’t know how to feel about this because, just like in the first book, this one also ends with an unsatisfactory cliffhanger. The murder mystery aspect is compelling as is the ever evolving love triangle between Liam, Cora and Finn, but it’s so sad and frustrating that Liam has to suppress his feelings and go against his very nature in order to avoid the fiery pits of hell. While he is doing everything in his power, albeit begrudgingly, to get Cora and Finn together, Cora is starting to fall for him and won’t give up. It’s frustrating to know that readers will have to wait another year or so before they have a conclusion (assuming the authors conclude with the third book). 

As for the murder investigation, it’s anybody’s guess. Clearly, Magnus is guilty of theft, at the very least, but I think Boyd, the police captain and Liam’s friend from his earlier life, is corrupt as hell. Just as Cora and Liam have the same personalities as they had in their past life, Boyd must as well…and he was a scheming, deceitful criminal who wasn’t averse to using violence. My guess is that he needs money to keep up with his high-maintenance wife’s spending habits and has resorted to getting it illegally. That’s really the reason for his extreme anxiety and volatility and why he’s trying to misdirect Cora and Liam. 

So, although the writing is really good, it’s hard to judge the book when we don’t know how it’s going to wrap up. Will they discover that Boyd is a corrupt cop? Will Finn and Cora get together so that the mysterious future event will take place or will the angels somehow take pity on Liam, seeing that he’s a changed man, and let him return to earth and live out his love story with Cora? I’m Team Liam the whole way, but all signs are pointing to Finn and Cora. I recommend this story but warn readers that they’ll be frustrated when they face a long wait for the conclusion.

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

Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets

 

3*

If this book hadn’t ended with a cliffhanger, I would have given it 4*. However, it wasn’t billed as such (a big disappointment), so I’m giving it 3* (2* for cliffhanger and 4* for being a thoroughly engaging story). The story begins with Liam meeting 2 angels at the pearly gates who have assigned him the task of righting a wrong he caused in 1844 Ireland. Liam and his family are suffering because of the potato famine, so he has turned to theft to help them survive. When he sneaks into the local Squire’s home to steal some jewels, he encounters 17 yo Cora, the squire’s daughter. Instead of being scared of this stranger who climbs through her bedroom window, she’s intrigued and gives him a tour of the house. She tells him she’s engaged to her father’s solicitor, Finley, but has no desire to marry him. As time goes on, they contrive a way to see each other and fall in love. 

It’s the actions of the star-crossed lovers that lead the angels to give a Liam on chance to avoid eternity in hell. He must get 21st century Cora to fall in love with Finn, her father’s attorney, and get destiny back on track. The problem is that Liam still loves her and struggles to put his own feelings aside to do what he must to avoid eternal damnation. Unfortunately, due to the abrupt ending, we don’t know if he’ll succeed. We’re also left with an unsolved murder mystery, wondering if the angels have ulterior motives, and whether Cora will eventually realize that the dreams she’s having about Liam are actually memories. 

Deveraux and Sheets have masterfully combined magical realism, romance and a murder mystery that kept me thoroughly engaged, but the abrupt ending with multiple unresolved issues is beyond frustrating. This needs to be billed as part of a series (Providence Falls #1), not a standalone, if they don’t want to frustrate readers. At the very least, give a hint to when the second installment will be published. Recommended.

 

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

 

Tangled Up In You by Samantha Chase

4*

Fans of Chase’s Shaughnessy Brothers have waited a long time for Bobby Hannigan’s story and won’t be disappointed with this 7th (and probable last) book in the series. Bobby, a cop in the process of slowly recovering from a gunshot wound, has moved back home to heal with hopes of rejoining the force. Single mom Teagan Shaughnessy, cousin to the large brood immortalized in previous books, has also moved to the Carolina coast with her parents and young son, Lucas and runs into Bobby at a family gathering. Although both have plans for the future that don’t include romantic entanglements and Teagan wants to protect Lucas from growing too attached, the attraction can’t be denied and the bond between them grows. However, Teagan worries about getting involved with another man who puts himself in front of the line of fire after losing her fiancé in Afghanistan. Can these two people help each other through their grief and build a life together?

Chase excels at writing heart-warming, honest stories with complicated family dynamics, sexy scenes that aren’t too graphic, and the struggles romantic partners must overcome to be together. Many of the characters in previous books that readers came to love are featured in this book, especially Quinn and his wife Anna, Bobby’s sister. Although Bobby and Quinn have had a contentious relationship in the past, it’s Quinn who talks with Bobby about the extent of his injuries and the probability that his career is over. It’s very satisfying to see past hurts and animosities ease as the extended Shaughnessy clan celebrate family and protect and defend those they love.

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.