The Shippers by Katherine Center

5*

 

It’s a slam dunk when one of my favorite romance authors writes my favorite trope: childhood friends to lovers. In a nod to The Runaway Bride, Center weaves a story about Jojo, a woman who thinks she’s cursed to love only men who won’t love her back. As a result, she dumps them before they can dump her, including leaving the last one at the altar. In the hopes of breaking the curse, her sister Ashley concocts a scheme based on the idea that Jojo just needs to get the guy who gave her her first kiss, blindfolded, to fall in love with her while on Ashley’s weeklong wedding cruise. So why is Jojo more invested in renewing her friendship with Cooper than capturing Finn’s heart?

 

In Center’s author’s note, she talks about spoilers and argues that romance books always have a happily-ever-after but it’s the journey to love that’s there for readers to discover. So, enjoy the ride as mathematician Jojo applies her life’s work to the theory of love and tying up loose ends. Highly recommended.

 

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

 

The Love Wager (Mr. Wrong Number #2) by Lynn Painter

 

4*

I’m not usually an audiobook reader, but I chose that format for this book to fulfill a prompt in a reading challenge. I didn’t love the male narrator Zachary Webber’s voice (and liked it even less when I saw a hateful TikTok video he posted last fall). This is definitely better than Mr. Wrong Number, which featured MMC Jack Marshall’s younger sister Olivia and best friend Colin. I found Olivia very immature and whiney, and she was just as bad in this book. FMC Hallie and Jack meet at Olivia and Colin’s wedding in a meet (not so) cute when Jack’s girlfriend gets jealous thinking Jack is flirting with bartender Hallie and tosses a glass of chardonnay at her. Jack goes from almost proposing to dumping her, then ends up sleeping with Hallie. They don’t exchange contact information, but then discover each other on a dating app and decide they’ll be each other’s wingman while navigating the minefield that is online dating. To make it more interesting, they make a wager over who will find love first. However, when Hallie’s fledgling boyfriend breaks up with her just before her sister’s wedding, Jack offers to be her date and fake a relationship. Given the close friendship they’ve formed and the intense chemistry they have, it’s no surprise that things get complicated with just one bed.

There’s nothing unique about this romance, but it’s a fun read with witty banter and both friends-to-lovers and fake dating tropes. 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.

Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe

 

4*

On the way to her brother’s bachelor/bachelorette weekend at a resort a few hours north of Chicago, Charlotte Calhoun is pushed into a deep snowbank by a skidding 18-wheeler during a snowstorm. The last person she wants to rescue her is Hayden Porter, her brother’s best friend and her long-time crush who broke her heart three years before after she drunkenly kissed him and proclaimed her love. Yet, with mistletoe in abundance and being paired off to compete in crazy Christmas games, it is soon obvious that the attraction is not one-sided. As a single dad and busy college coach, Hayden is in no place for a relationship, but the sexual tension between the two is potent, and he’s tired of fighting his attraction. Now they just need to make sure her brother doesn’t find out because the Christmas-obsessed Calhoun family is too important to him to lose if things don’t work out between them.

Although it’s not technically a second chance romance, it plays out like one. For most of the book, Hayden is the perfect book boyfriend. However, I get really frustrated when guys put on the brakes, whether for legitimate reasons or not, without consulting their love interest. It’s insulting to the woman and implies a lack of trust when it’s really just their fears and insecurities winning out.

Other than the afore-mentioned frustration, I enjoyed this story with plenty of sexy banter, a smoking hot single dad, and a plethora of Christmas cheer. If you’re in the mood for a very steamy Christmas on steroids romance, check this one out.

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 Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

5*

Possible spoilers ahead.

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I’m a sucker for second chance romances and childhood friends to lovers, so I wasn’t surprised that, when I finished this beautiful romance, my first thought was “Such a beautiful love story!” Having said that, after finishing the book, I decided to read some reviews and was very surprised to see how polarized they were. The vast majority of readers loved it, but those that awarded it either 1* or DNFed it made some valid points. I just don’t agree with them. I do get the comparisons to Henry’s Happy Place and People We Meet on Vacation and Lauren’s Love and Other Words, but I don’t see that as a detriment.

Harriet and Eli met at age 15 and the attraction was instantaneous although they didn’t act on it until their junior year in college when Eli transferred to Cal Poly and they shared their first kiss on her 21st birthday. After graduation, Eli convinced her to join him in New York when, fast forwarding two years, they broke up because he was a workaholic and, in her loneliness, she felt her only option was to move back home to San Francisco where her friends lived, especially their mutual best friend Adam. The story opens five years later when Adam, a hyper Type A worrier, is freaking out, convinced that his and Grace’s wedding is cursed, with the DJ out of commission, the wedding venue burnt to the ground, and more. As his best man and best woman, Eli and Harriet, who have barely spoken since their breakup (by mutual agreement, they’ve hidden their emotional distance from Adam), are pressed into service to work miracles in just over a week by finding alternative arrangements. So, against their better judgment, they drive up to Napa to Adam’s family’s vineyard and use the time they’re forced together to finally talk about what went wrong, why they didn’t fight for each other, and perhaps find a way forward.

Let me tell you, this dispassionate summary doesn’t begin to do this amazing love story justice. Author Joyce’s storytelling is beautifully poetic, complete with necessary angst when needed and a depth of emotion that made me alternate between laughter and tears more than once. In my opinion, Eli and Harriet were just too young and emotionally vulnerable to navigate a relationship when they both had quite a bit of baggage and lacked the proper communication skills needed to express their feelings. Yes, five years is a lot of time to let pass without having had proper closure, but it doesn’t take too long for readers to realize that they never stopped loving each other, even if they couldn’t see or admit it. The question is, will the combination of much-needed and long overdue therapy for Eli and the willingness on Harriet’s part to let go of the lists she lives by and to finally communicate her needs be enough for them to risk another try?

I’m not a fan of a single POV from the female MC but, for some reason, it wasn’t as noticeable in this story, perhaps because Joyce allowed Eli to express himself in the dialogue. As the story nears its end, there’s also an unveiling of sorts that is one of the most romantic things I’ve ever read. Yes, I cried! So, if you’re a fan of second chances and soulmates, you won’t want to miss this one. Highly 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.

 

What's In a Kiss? by Lauren Kate

 

4*

Alternate reality romance with a “what if “scenario which poses the question of whether or not true love transcends space and time.

Can a moment in time (or a missed opportunity) profoundly change your life’s trajectory? If you had the chance to live your life in two different dimensions but had to sacrifice one or more loving relationships, which life would you choose? Equipped with this knowledge, would you be able to make the necessary changes and take the risk of rejection to have an epic love in either dimension? These are the questions Olivia Dusk faces when she suddenly finds herself in an alternate reality. In her Real Life, she’s a recently furloughed middle school drama teacher in Los Angeles, busy planning her best friend Masha’s wedding, hosting a fledging podcast with her mother, and dreading the arrival of best man Jake Glasswell, former high school crush and nemesis who wouldn’t kiss her at prom, but went on to New York City for college and a very successful career as a talk show host. In high school, they competed in sports, on stage, and in the classroom, both being voted Most Likely to Succeed, However, when Olivia’s father died right after prom, she gave up her dreams of attending Juilliard and becoming a successful actress to support her grieving mother. When Jake arrives for the wedding, their sniping picks up right where they left off 10 years before, but there’s a fine line between love and hate. When Olivia finds herself in the other dimension (her High Life), she experiences the life she would have had if the prom kiss had actually happened. With no memory of the intervening years, however, she can’t live genuinely and honestly, nor can she repair the relationships she damaged along the way.

This is the first book I’ve read of Lauren Kate’s, but it definitely won’t be the last. I really enjoyed this fantastical romance reminiscent of the movie 13 Going on 30. Whatever dimension, the chemistry between Jake and Olivia is palpable and the love they have for each other in the High Life is relationship goals! The friendship between Liv and Masha and her relationship with her mother in her Real Life are a wonderful depiction of female empowerment. Living in LA, it was also fun for me to read about places I enjoy just like the characters. If you’re looking for a fun summer read, check this one out. Highly recommended.

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.

Finding Hope in Starshine Cove (Starshine Cove #3) by Debbie Johnson

5*

Reading any book in Debbie Johnson’s Starshine Cove series is like being wrapped up in a warm hug. It’s a magical place by the sea full of handmade, decorative fairies and a group of kind-hearted villagers who are like real fairy godmothers, coming together to support and protect the people they care about, even if they’re only visiting.

Possible Spoilers:

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In this third installment, we are introduced to Lucy when she serendipitously meets Josh at the Dublin airport on her way to her college friend Ella’s wedding. (Ella and Jake are the couple from Book 1, Escape to Starshine Cove.) One of the things she loves to do while waiting for her flight is imagine scenarios for the people around her, so it’s little surprise that, when she meets the handsome Josh, she pretends to be the worldly, put-together security consultant Amelia on her way to New York, not plain old Lucy heading to Dorset by way of London. What she doesn’t expect is that Josh will be attending the same wedding. After an initial embarrassing and angry encounter (Josh hates liars), she apologizes, and they start to get to know each other.

Although just about everybody approaching their forties carries baggage, Lucy’s first marriage to the verbally and emotionally abusive Robert has left her with lingering trauma and insecurities a decade later. However, Starshine Cove has a way of casting a spell on the people who visit and are in need of a do-over. Will Lucy, with the support of her 16-year-old daughter Rose (who wants to move there permanently) and her old and newfound friends, be able to leave the safety of her isolated Irish home and find the courage to start over, especially after his 2nd wife reaches out to her on the day of the wedding, asking for her help in escaping with her children, thus putting her in Robert’s sights again?

Finding Hope in Starshine Cove can be read as a standalone, but there are many characters from the first two books who feature prominently, and knowing their back stories enhances the experience of reading this one. Although there is a closed-door, slow burn romance between Lucy and Josh, much of the focus is also on both Lucy’s friendship with her 3 college friends she lost touch with (thanks to Robert’s narcissistic abusive tactics), and the effects of that abuse on both Lucy and Lyssa, the second wife. Just reading about it caused my heart to start racing, so it’s definitely a trigger warning for those who’ve been in abusive relationships. Despite this, there is much humor, light-heartedness and hope for the future. 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.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

 

5*

I absolutely loved this book! Lynn Painter has such a talent for infusing her characters’ dialogue with humor. As a result, her books are all feel-good romances that we need with so much wrong going on in the world. In Happily Never After, she employs the fake relationship trope…that isn’t.

Sophie meets Max, a architect/engineer, when he is hired by her best friend and maid of honor to object to her wedding to Stuart on the grounds that he’s cheating. (It’s a side gig he fell into by accident.) Since she didn’t actually love him, she’s able to work out her aggressions by lobbing Twinkies at his car from the balcony of the bridal suite. When Max comes to collect payment, they end up spending hours drinking and talking. A couple of weeks later, he calls out of the blue to remind her of her offer to be the Objectress to his Objector, thus starting a beautiful friendship fueled by “halting a lifetime of misery, one wedding at a time.” When her boss tells her she needs a better work-life balance if she’s going to recommend her for promotion and his father says he can’t retire until his mother is convinced he’s “taken care of” (i.e., in a committed relationship), they play up the “friendship” with cosy photos posted on social media and conveniently-timed FaceTime calls in front of witnesses that hint at a deeper relationship, while stressing they’re just friends. With Max believing in love but avoiding it after a painful break-up (figuring the risk is greater than the reward) and Sophie convinced it doesn’t exist at all (especially after being cheated on in every relationship she’s had), a friends with benefits scenario is awfully tempting. Will they be the exception to the rule and manage to not fall in love?

The chemistry between these two delightful characters is scorching, in large part because of the respect they have for each other, their honest communication, and the laughter and lightness they share. Max is the perfect book boyfriend, and Sophie is a smart, successful businesswoman who actually does manage to find time for a social life. To add even more levity to this delightful story, Painter introduces Larry and Rose, Sophie’s meddling, irreverent, geriatric roommates who move in to help with rent after she kicks Stuart out. They’re like cool, protective grandparents who live to embarrass her but who also dole out sage advice on her love life.

If you’re looking for a convincing, witty, light-hearted romance that doesn’t rely on tired tropes, you’ll love this book. Highly 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.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

 

4*

Even though Liam and Anna entered into a marriage of convenience in order for them to qualify for graduate family housing at UCLA, they lived together as strangers for only a year until he completed his PhD. So, it’s a surprise when Liam shows up on her doorstep, telling her they’re still married (she really should have read the documents she signed, thinking they were divorce papers) and that he needs her to accompany him to his sister’s wedding to play the devoted wife so that he doesn’t lose a substantial inheritance. She negotiates a generous payment (to help her with student loans and her father’s medical bills) since this is essentially a business arrangement. So, the feelings that grow between them during their brief time on the private Indonesian island seem unrealistically rushed. Yes, the sexual chemistry is there, but the emotional connection is slightly problematic. For Liam, it’s clear that Anna’s supportive and nurturing nature is humbling, if not a little scary, since he’s never had anyone who had his back and offered hugs and encouragement. It’s less clear what Liam offers Anna emotionally, especially after she becomes collateral damage in Liam’s efforts to protect his siblings. My guess is that she’s a natural empath and caretaker, and the damaged little boy inside Liam and his eventual willingness to share the pain his father’s evil machinations have inflicted on him are like catnip to her.

I’m a huge Christina Lauren fan and am always so excited when a new book comes out. Unfortunately, this is not one of my favorites. It seems that the authors’ inspirations for The Paradise Problem were Succession and Pretty Woman (except for the prostitution). Although there’s a decent romance, the main plot is more of an exposé on corporate greed and corruption and the lengths a narcissistic man will go to protect himself and evade responsibility, even throwing his children under the bus.

I’ve still awarded this 4 stars for the Succession vibes that had me on edge the entire time, Anna’s funny banter and bonding with Liam’s niece, and the strength Anna’s emotional support gives Liam when his father’s manipulative tactics come to a head. Bottom line, the writing duo of Christina Lauren write compelling books that keep them at the top of the contemporary romance field, and this one is no exception. 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.

Five Gold Rings by Kristen Bailey

 

5*

If you’re looking for a perfect Christmas pick-me-up, this book is for you. It’s chock full of romantic proposals, fanciful weddings, family and community gatherings, British wit, and love, so much love!

 

Eve, who embodies kindness and caring, is shocked to walk in on her boyfriend of three years being serviced by a co-worker in their apartment. In a rage, Eve begins throwing things out the window - Christmas gifts for his family she purchased and wrapped, his cellphone, and a cheap engagement ring she finds under the tree. Then she runs to the jewelry store where she works part time to be comforted by the elderly owners who treat their employees like family. In the meantime, her colleague Joe is working a raucous hen party in a risqué elf costume when he gets a call from Mrs. Casper asking him to come comfort Eve. Given that he’s crushed on her for almost two years, he doesn’t hesitate. 

 

In a fortuitous series of events, it turns out they gave a courier five gold rings by accident and the Caspers task Eve and Joe with retrieving them and delivering them to the correct customers by Christmas. Deliveries that should take no more than a few hours stretch into two days as the two get roped into attending weddings, taking a river cruise, witnessing a flash mob proposal, and playing Joseph in a nativity play, all while observing examples of true, enduring love and commitment. Along the way, people ask if or assume they are a couple, and as the clock winds down on Christmas and Eve gets satisfying closure with her cheating ex, she begins to wonder if all these people are seeing something that has been right in front of her all along.

 

Joe is the absolutely perfect book boyfriend. Not only is he handsome and protective in a non-alpha way, but he also listens, puts Eve’s needs and happiness first, shows empathy, has ovaries exploding as he cradles a baby, and puts his medical school training on hold to take care of his ailing father.  When he looks at Eve, he sees a heartbroken woman who still champions love and, because of the goodness in both of them, they are able to be their authentic selves (including seasickness, snoring, and snotty tears) without fear of rejection. This London-based story is a sweet, clean holiday romance that tackles some heavy subjects without becoming maudlin, and Bailey does a wonderful job of bringing both main and secondary characters to life and painting vivid backdrops of all the places they visit along their journey. Highly recommended.

 

I received an ARC from Storm Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. Opinions are strictly my own.

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 Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

 

4*

This is a fake dating romance featuring Dean, a lawyer who has his whole life planned, including a strategic marriage of convenience, and Solange, an educator/social worker who crashes Dean’s wedding to keep him and his intended from marrying for all the wrong reasons. When Dean realizes that having a girlfriend would make him more competitive at a shot of becoming partner, he asks Solange to enter into a fake relationship, which she’s on board with since she’s in need of a fake boyfriend as well thanks to her mother’s lie to save face with her annoying cousin. Talk about a relationship of convenience!

Thus ensues a steamy romance with all of the predictable tropes, including having to share a bed, finding their chemistry is off the charts when they have to act like they’re in love by sharing public displays of affection, and more. Of course, they’ve both made it clear from the start that they’re not interested in love and commitment, and it’s baggage from being raised by single moms at the root. Although there’s nothing particularly unique or memorable in this version of the fake dating trope, Solange’s family dynamics, especially between her Brazilian mother and two aunts, make for an amusing journey. It’s also fun to catch up with Max and Lina from The Worst Best Man. (Solange and Lina are cousins and more like sisters.)

If you’re looking for a fun, easy read that’s light on the angst and rife with sexual tension, pick this one up.

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

The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea

5*

This has much more emotional depth than the preview blurb would have us believe. It’s not a simple enemies to lovers romance, but a story of friendships lost and friendships found. Willa, a successful lifestyle blogger, faces the worst heartbreak when she finds her best friend in bed with her fiancé just six weeks before her wedding. It throws her into a deep depression resulting in the loss of her job, her female friends, and her trust. However, when Maisie finds her in a  coffee shop and begs her to pretend to be her friend and bridesmaid, it begins a journey of healing and believing that her heart can be trusted. When she finally gives up the idea of running from her heartbreak and chooses to embrace her family and new friends, she realizes that this new Willa is one worth sharing with her loved ones and her large social media following. 

Love interest Liam is a wonderful book boyfriend. He’s gorgeous, compassionate, successful, and honest. Despite her hesitancy to trust her heart and her instant dislike of him after he laughs at her humiliation at a birthday party, he manages to crash through her defenses and have her start to believe that she can have a second chance at love.

The supporting cast of characters, including her sister Sophie, sister-in-law Glory, precocious nieces, feisty octogenarian neighbor Ruthie, and even Maisie’s monster-in-law, Mrs. Forsyth, add color, humor and balance to this heartfelt and endearing story of female friendship and romance. A worthy debut!

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

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

5*

If you’re a fan of When Harry Met Sally and Love, Rosie, you’ll fall hard for this endearing, funny, and, at times, heartbreaking friends-to-lovers romance. 

When Poppy and Alex meet their first day at university, they quickly realize that they have nothing in common other than coming from a small town in Ohio and will likely never see each other again. However, fate and her roommate have other plans, and they end up sharing a ride home for the summer. From that initial journey, the idea of making the summer trip an annual occurrence is born. Although they’re complete opposites, they just seem to get each other and feel comfortable sharing their genuine selves. So, it’s devastating when, after a trip to Croatia where something mysterious happened, their friendship abruptly ends. It isn’t until a female friend of Poppy’s asks her what would make her happy that she realizes that she needs to take one last chance to revive their relationship. So, under false pretenses, she gets Alex to agree to a trip to Palm Springs, both to spend time alone together and to attend his brother’s wedding.  Will they be able get back to where they were or have they both changed too much and lost that comforting, familiar rhythm they once had?

Henry has chosen to tell their story from Poppy’s POV, alternating between the current trip and 10 years worth of summers. Although it gets somewhat confusing to keep the timelines straight (the only criticism of the book), it’s necessary to see how their relationship grew and when their feelings for each other veered into non-platonic thoughts. Over the decade that passes, they become the most important people in each other’s lives despite them each having boyfriends and girlfriends, and, in Alex’s need to make sure that the people he cares about are happy, his sacrifices upset the balance. Henry’s use of dialogue is stellar, giving readers an intimate look at the dynamic between the two and inducing both laughter and messy tears. Highly recommend this as one of the best romances this year!

 

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

Summer at Lake Haven by RaeAnne Thayne

 

4*

Ian Summerhill, future Earl of Amherst and biologist/Oxford professor, rents the house next door to Samantha Fremont, local clothing boutique owner and budding wedding gown designer. Ian and his children Amelia and Thomas are in Haven Point for his sister Gemma’s wedding and so he can research a local breed of salmon. As a family, they’re working through the children’s grief over their mother’s (his ex-wife’s) death. Sam is also grieving her mother’s recent death and her conflicted feelings about their difficult relationship which has left her with feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Sam is designing Gemma’s wedding gown and has recently adopted a dog who surprisingly has puppies. When she asks the kids to watch the puppies while she’s at work, the bond between all of them begins to grow and strengthen. As loving feelings between Ian and Sam become too great to deny, will they be able to put aside their insecurities and roadblocks to build a joyful life together?

In this 11th book in her Haven Point series, Thayne continues to lure her readers into this beautiful, caring community along the shores of the fictional Lake Haven, Idaho. As we’ve seen in previous books, everyone has faced personal struggles or tragedies, but opening themselves to love allows them to be vulnerable and share life’s burdens. You can’t go wrong with this lovely series.

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

Meant to Be Yours by Susan Mallery

4*

This 5th book in the Happily Inc. series is about the romance between wedding planner Renee and famous crime thriller novelist Jasper. They’re both damaged, Jasper w/ PTSD and Renee from a string of men who have betrayed and abandoned her. They agree to a friends with benefits relationship, but as so often happens, feelings start to get in the way. When Jasper goes behind her back to convince a young couple to allow him to observe their wedding planning, Renee is furious. However, a heartfelt apology is all it takes for her to cave, and being around each other so much leads to the inevitable. Will they both be able to let go of the past to have a future together?

A minor criticism is the implausible storyline of Renee’s mother being an animal psychic. If you can suspend disbelief, her interactions with the four-legged creatures provide some drama that moves the story along. Susan Mallery is always a great bet for heartwarming romances with a little steam and tension. It’s always fun to revisit with characters from earlier in the series and see them building families. This one wasn’t as good as the earlier books that feature the enigmatic, handsome, and artistic Mitchell brothers, but it was still a pleasant way to spend a day.

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

Sunshine Over Bluebell Castle by Sarah Bennett

4*

In the second book of the Bennett’s Bluebell Castle series about a set of triplets who are struggling to restore the family’s ancestral castle and open parts of it to the paying public, we get Igraine’s (Iggy’s) story. Her passion is landscaping, so she has taken on the overwhelming task of recreating the gardens using the original plans. With money and time in short supply, especially with opening day only four months away, Iggy is going to need help and she knows just the man for the job: award-winning celebrity gardener and bad boy, Will Talbot. However, when she calls to ask him if he’ll take the job, she catches him at an inopportune time and he rudely turns her down. So when he turns up a few days later (running from a sticky situation and intrigued by the photos she’s sent him), she rudely wants to kick him out the door. Will she be able to put her animosity aside long enough for him to work his magic on the gardens and perhaps on her as well?

There are so many wonderful aspects to recommend this story: the relationship between the triplets, Tristan’s optimism (can’t wait for his story in book 3), the slow-burning, sexy (but not steamy) relationship between Iggy and Will, their vision for the gardens and how they work together to bring it to life, the story behind Will’s decision to become a gardener which got him off a path of destruction, and even the intriguing visit by their bitchy absentee mother, Helena. On the flip side, there’s prickly Iggy’s mistrust of Will (twice judging him guilty without giving him a chance to explain) and the vicious attacks from Helena who proves, once again, that there isn’t a maternal bone in her body…or any goodness. No matter how Bennett makes readers feel about her characters, there’s no doubt that her writing elicits strong feelings. Definitely recommend this series to readers who like sweet romances with a bit of sexy.

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

The Time of Our Lives by Portia Macintosh

3*

This is billed as a romance, but it’s really more of an ensemble piece with an under-developed second-chance romance. Ten years after graduation, our heroine Luca is invited to the wedding of her best guy friend from college. Lo and behold, Tom, the guy who broke her heart is the groom’s best man and one of the bridesmaids is the women he broke her heart for…and the sister of the bride. Although there is witty banter and a nice combination of relationship issues with the supporting characters, the book has a number of problems that make it just an okay read, not a stand-out. The major issue is the low self-esteem of the female lead, Luca. She even admits that she’s one of those women who apologizes for everything. She is hanging on to a 10-year-old crush when nothing ever came of the college relationship but friendship. Tom took up with another woman and stayed with her for years despite a very rocky relationship. He rejected Luca twice, yet she’s willing to give him a 3rd try…after the guy she’s ready to hook up with turns out to be married and Tom gives her a lame excuse for why he stayed with Cleo after realizing his mistake. The author’s choice of using chapter-to- chapter flashbacks also disrupts the flow of the story. Conclusion: Boring story with an odd, preachy ending.

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

The Key to Happily Ever After by Tif Marcelo

2*

If you pick this up looking for what’s billed as a “charming romantic comedy”, you’re bound to be disappointed because it’s not at all funny and has hints of romance lacking in emotion with no satisfactory endings. This is much more a family saga about three Filipino-American sisters who co-own a wedding planning business, but who are stuck in the ruts established when they were in late adolescence. The oldest sister, Mari, is emotionally-stunted and a control freak unwilling to let her baby sister Penny (who’s 26) take the lead on any events because she doesn’t trust her. The middle sister, Jane, is a single mom who serves primarily as peacekeeper. Oddly, the story is told in only two voices, leaving out Jane’s perspective which is disappointing since she is the most level-headed and insightful.

Ultimately, this is a character-driven novel that lacks…well, character and leaves us with too many unanswered questions. What happened to Saul? Will Reid move from Atlanta to be with Mari? Will Jane end up with Gabe or Marco? Why didn’t Marco know he had a son, or is he just lying to save face? Very disappointing!

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.