Monday, December 30, 2019

Excerpt + Giveaway: "Love by Chance" by Kacy Cross

https://amzn.to/2EFyoeb
Today, I am happy to participate in the blog tour for "Love by Chance" by Kacy Cross. This story is a novelization of the 2016 Hallmark Channel movie of the same name.

I usually include a review when participating in blog tours, but there was a delay in receiving the ARC file from the book's publisher. Also, as of the time of this writing (12/23), the book had not yet been released, so I was unable to purchase a copy of my own. However, I have seen the Hallmark movie on which the book is based, and it is very cute. I look forward to checking out the book when it's available and learning more about these characters and their relationship!

For a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card courtesy of the author, Kacy Cross, click here! (Giveaway closes on January 1.)

Check out an excerpt from "Love by Chance" here.

About "Love By Chance"

She thinks meeting him must’ve been fate. It wasn’t.

Claire, a pastry chef struggling to make her restaurant succeed, is too busy to pursue romance. That doesn’t stop her loving but meddling mother, Helen, from setting her up on dates. Even after Helen promises to stop her matchmaking efforts, she can’t help herself. She convinces Eric, a pediatrician, to meet Claire at a gallery event.

Eric and Claire feel an immediate connection, and their meeting becomes a magical first date. But the longer Eric and Claire see each other, the less comfortable Eric feels about hiding the fact that Claire’s mom set them up. Meanwhile, Claire loves to talk about how she trusts Eric, and how they met by chance. How will she react to the truth?

This witty, sweet romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Claire’s Coconut Lime Tarts. 

https://amzn.to/2EFyoeb

Friday, December 27, 2019

Review: A Mrs. Miracle Christmas

A Mrs. Miracle Christmas A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Debbie Macomber's "A Mrs. Miracle Christmas" was a short, sweet novel that is sure to put readers in the Christmas spirit. It is more overtly Christian than most of the other Macomber books I've read to date, and given the nature of some of the story elements, readers must be willing to believe in both the power of prayer and the magic of Christmas. If it proves impossible to do that, readers may find this story difficult to enjoy.

The book focuses on married couple Laurel and Zach, who live with and care for Laurel's elderly grandmother, Helen. Laurel and Zach have struggled with infertility for several years, and after an adoption fell through at the last minute, Laurel has given up on ever having a baby of her own to raise. Zach, however, wants to believe that there is still hope for them to have a family and, without Laurel's knowledge, has renewed their application with the adoption agency. Thanks to the timely intervention of Mrs. Miracle, a (slightly mischievous) angel who comes into their lives disguised as Helen's senior-care aide, it seems that Zach and Laurel will finally get their wish, but there are a few bumps along the way.

Zach and Laurel were a lovely couple and it was easy to root for them to get their wish for a family, but I was somewhat disappointed by the fact that they were so focused on adopting an infant and never considered taking in an older child. They were already approved to be foster parents, and so many older children need good homes, which Laurel and Zach were able to provide. In addition, given Laurel's own experiences with losing her mother at such a young age and having to move in with her grandparents, it seems like she would be able to relate really well to an older child. I think Laurel would have been able to offer a lot of support and guidance on topics such as dealing with the loss of a parent and starting over at a new school, and it's a shame that she and Zach completely ignored that opportunity.

In spite of that disappointment, I couldn't help but like this book. It's not the type of story I would normally pick up, but it was totally appropriate reading for Christmastime, and I did find it to be rather uplifting.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

View all my reviews

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Review: A Family by Christmas

A Family by Christmas A Family by Christmas by Viv Royce
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed "A Family by Christmas" by Viv Royce. It was a short, sweet read featuring a clean (kissing only) romance between likeable, well-developed main characters, Emma and Grant. This story will likely appeal to fans of Debbie Macomber's books as it seemed to me to have something of a similar feel.

I really liked that Grant and Emma took the time to become friends before their relationship turned into something more. I also appreciated how Grant doted on his adorable young daughter, Casey. His parents and sister were great secondary characters, and Grant was very lucky to have such a wonderful support system to help him care for Casey. It was lovely how the entire family welcomed Emma into the fold even before she and Grant became a couple.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

View all my reviews

Review: All the Days After

All the Days After All the Days After by Carrie Thorne
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Despite the two star rating, I didn't completely dislike Carrie Thorne's "All the Days After" or think it was a horrible book, though there were definitely aspects of it that I didn't like (in addition to a few which just had me rolling my eyes). The story had a lot of potential, but IMO it would have benefited tremendously from better editing.

First and most importantly, I liked the characters in this story, even neurotic bridezilla Pippa. The male lead character, Asher, seemed like a good guy overall. It bothered me that so many people, especially his own family members, continued to judge him based on his behavior as a teenager. He grew up a lot in the 12 years he was away from home, but no one seemed to acknowledge that at all. Asher's love interest, his sister Pippa's best friend Sophie, was well-developed and likeable too. She had a rough childhood and I was impressed by how well-adjusted she seemed in spite of it all.

That said, I was a bit annoyed by the characters' sometimes immature behavior. For example, Sophie and Pippa both "pouted" an awful lot. They were supposed to be grown women around 26 or 27 years of age, so why did they so often act like whiny children? All of Sophie's angst over her upcoming job interview was rather annoying as well. Frankly, her whole employment situation didn't make a lot of sense to me. At first it seemed like Sophie already had a job lined up with Pippa's aunt, then all of a sudden it was just an interview and she hadn't even finished putting together her resume. Why would Sophie pick up and move to Foothills if she didn't have a job lined up, and why did it take so long for the interview to actually take place? What was Sophie's backup plan if she didn't get the job with Pippa's aunt?

I was not a fan of the way the relationship between Asher and Sophie developed, either. There was a definite insta-lust vibe, with both of them being attracted to each other's pictures before they ever met in person. I had a hard time seeing much of an emotional connection between Sophie and Asher at all. Their get-to-know-you conversations all happened off the page; for example, we're told that they "visited" for several hours, but not the content of the conversation, so it's impossible to know how or if it advanced the relationship. (Sidenote: What was with all the "visiting" anyway? People who see each other frequently usually "chat," "talk," "converse," etc. To me, "visit" implies spending time with someone you don't see often so you can catch up. Is this some weird regional language quirk?) At any rate, after only a few days and apparently mostly because of their amazing chemistry, Asher and Sophie were "in love" and willing to risk the wrath of Pippa to be together (though, of course, not until after Pippa's wedding). I just didn't buy it. (The fact that Asher couldn't stop commenting on Sophie's "perfect breasts" didn't help much.)

Between all of Sophie's angst over her upcoming job interview and her repeated back and forth with Asher about how much they liked each other but couldn't tell Pippa yet, the middle of the book felt like it dragged to me. Also, the writing itself needed some work. There were a lot of words missing entirely and others that were misused repeatedly (e.g. "discrete" used instead of "discreet," "it's" vs. "its," "peak" vs. "peek"). As I mentioned earlier, a good editor would really be beneficial here.

Unfortunately, I think the bad outweighed the good for me here, and I can't recommend "All the Days After" in its current state. I'm not sure that I will continue with the series.

*ARC provided by the author via BookSirens. All opinions expressed are my own.

View all my reviews

Monday, December 23, 2019

Excerpt + Giveaway + Review: "Can't Buy Me Love" by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

https://books2read.com/u/mYKXkW?store=amazon
I am happy to be celebrating this week's release of "Can't Buy Me Love" by Janet Elizabeth Henderson, which brings together three of her signature series in one book: Benson Security, the Sinclair Sisters, and the Invertary (Scottish Highlands) books. I have been a fan of books set in Scotland for as long as I can remember, so I've been looking forward to reading this one since it promised both the chance to "visit" one of my favorite places and a fun escape into romantic comedy. My full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I enjoyed this sweet, funny story and found it to be a great distraction from the chaos of holiday preparations. I've only read one or two of the earlier Invertary books, so most of the supporting characters were unfamiliar to me, but this book stood well enough on its own that I didn't feel lost without that background. I recommend it for my fellow Scotland lovers and anyone else who enjoys a sweet romantic comedy.

For a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card courtesy of the author, Janet Elizabeth Henderson, click here! (Giveaway closes on January 2.)

About "Can't Buy Me Love"

Three awesome series meet in one explosive book!

It turned out hell was a small town in the Scottish Highlands. Oh, sure, the locals called it Invertary, but Agnes Sinclair knew better—the town even had an old woman everyone called Satan. If that wasn’t a sign she was in hell, she didn’t know what was. All Agnes had ever wanted was to get out of Scotland, and now she was stuck there with no escape. And all because of one teeny, tiny incident (he totally deserved it!) that got her blacklisted in the hotel industry. Now, her only career option is managing a hotel owned by a guy who looks like Disco Santa, in a town where everyone marched to their own damn beat. And, as if being trapped in hell wasn’t bad enough, a spate of thefts at the hotel makes the owner call in a member of Benson Security to help her get to the bottom of them. Agnes doesn’t need help. She especially doesn’t need it from a sexy single father whose every breath tempts her to reevaluate what she wants out of life. A man who makes her wonder if Invertary is where she truly belongs.

***This is a full length, standalone romance with an HEA***
**It includes characters from the Invertary (Scottish Highlands) series and the Benson Security Series**
*You don’t need to have read any other books in any series to enjoy this one!*

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49080060-can-t-buy-me-love 

Read an Excerpt from "Can't Buy Me Love"

This is the start of the book, where we find out the heroine is in a job she doesn’t want and the hotel she works in has been suffering a spate of thefts since she started. No clues for guessing who’s suspect number one! So, the hotel owner calls in a member of the local security team to look into things. And Logan and Agnes do NOT hit it off!

It turned out the Catholics were right—purgatory was real. And it was a small town in the Scottish Highlands. Oh, sure, the locals called it Invertary, but Agnes Sinclair knew better. She wasn’t fooled by the picturesque loch or the rows of crooked white houses. Invertary was where souls came to have the hope sucked out of them—or whatever it was that happened in purgatory. Not being Catholic, Agnes wasn’t sure what went on there, but with a name like purgatory, it couldn’t be good. All she knew for sure was that she’d only been in town for three weeks, and already she’d lost the will to live.

“You called a security firm to investigate me?” She glared at her new boss, Dougal Jamieson, the owner of Invertary’s only hotel, and he didn’t even squirm.

He tugged down his red tartan waistcoat, which he’d teamed with a pink button-down shirt, and glared back. “I called them in to investigate the thefts. The ones you informed me were happening. Was I supposed to ignore them?”

“You were supposed to let me do my job and investigate them myself. That’s why you employed a hotel manager. To free you up to take care of the pub and build your new conference center.” The conference center that was still in the planning stage because the land Dougal needed to build it was being held hostage by an old woman the town called Satan. Which seemed appropriate, because if this was truly purgatory, Satan should live in it. Right? She really needed to find a Catholic and have them explain this stuff to her.

“You might be the day-to-day manager, but this is still my business,” Dougal snapped.

It was clear to Agnes, after only three weeks in the job, that Dougal didn’t actually want to let go of the responsibility of managing his hotel. So he’d taken to managing her instead.

In detail.

Every.

Single.

Day.

His micromanagement was beginning to make her skin crawl, and the urge to gag him and lock him in a closet grew stronger by the minute.

Dougal’s white brows furrowed as he huffed a breath that made his matching mustache and beard flutter. Her boss was Santa dressed as Elton John, with a booming voice and a deep Highland burr. Talking to him was like having a bad acid trip.

It was on the tip of her tongue to demand to know why he’d hired her when he seemed so set on doing the job himself. But Agnes already knew the answer—her sister’s husband had talked him into it. Yep, that’s how pathetic she’d become. Even though she’d spent ten years studying part time to get a degree in hotel management and had countless hours of practical experience under her belt, she needed her sister to find her a job.

There were days, like this one, when she second-guessed the decision that’d landed her in her current predicament. She’d been offered a job managing a large hotel that was part of a famous chain, and all she’d had to do to secure the position was have sex with the owner. Agnes had politely declined, kicking his nuts into next week as she did so. Less than twenty-four hours later, she’d been blacklisted throughout the entire UK hotel network. Which had led her to this moment—a face-off with disco Santa.

She should have had sex with the creepy hotel owner.

Taking a fortifying breath, she reached deep for what little patience ran in her genes. “I know this is your hotel, and I understand that I work for you. But I just want the opportunity to do my job before you decide you need someone else to do it for me.”

“This isn’t a judgment of your abilities.” Dougal’s voice reverberated off the walls. “It’s an attempt to give you some help. Benson Security can investigate the thefts while you manage the hotel.”

What was left hanging in the air between them was the fact the bulk of the thefts had only started when she’d arrived in Invertary. She looked her boss straight in the eye. “I’m not the one stealing from you.”

He smacked a beefy hand on her desk. “Did I say that?” He turned to the man leaning in the doorway. The man Agnes had been steadily ignoring since he’d arrived with her boss ten minutes earlier. “Did I, at any point, suggest my manager was stealing from me?”

Agnes tossed her long, straight blonde hair over her shoulder, folded her arms over her gray suit jacket, and tapped her toe. Yes, what exactly did the almighty ‘security specialist’ think of this situation?

The corner of the man’s mouth quirked as he uncrossed his arms and ankles and stepped into the room. At about five foot eight or nine, he wasn’t massively tall, but he would still tower over her. He wore a black long-sleeved tee with the sleeves pushed up, a pair of dark blue jeans, and brown suede boots. His thick, mahogany hair, shorter at the sides, was pulled back in a rough right parting. He reminded her of a younger Tom Cruise. Only with a nose that’d been broken at some point and set crooked. They shared the same lean, muscled physique, and the same amused sparkle in their eyes.

“What I think,” he said, “is that we all need to take a step back and calm down.”

And that was all she needed to hear to know he was an ex-cop—it was in his tone. The same tone she’d heard many times over the years. Perfect. This was just what she needed.

https://books2read.com/u/mYKXkW?store=amazon 

My Review

"Can't Buy Me Love" by Janet Elizabeth Henderson was a sweet, funny story that combined some of the key elements of a cozy mystery with a romantic comedy to create an enjoyable tale. There were a number of times I laughed out loud while reading, but I think my favorite moment was when main character Agnes dubbed herself a "hotel elf" and likened her job to that of Dobby the house elf. (As a big "Harry Potter" fan, I could absolutely appreciate the similarities between Agnes's position and Dobby's!) The investigation into the hotel thefts was also pretty amusing at times, especially as the culprits were revealed. 

Agnes and her love interest, Logan, were both very likeable main characters, but I thought their relationship could have been better paced and developed. I am not a big fan of the insta-love trope, and that seemed to be what was going on here as Logan and Agnes jumped right into things without much flirting or build up. It only took about a day for Logan to tell Agnes that he thought they had a "special connection" and that he was willing to take whatever she would give him in terms of a relationship, which felt very rushed to me. They didn't know each other at all, and while they may have had incredible chemistry, I had a hard time believing in their emotional connection after such a short time. I felt better about their relationship by the end of the book, but I still would have liked to see more emotional development along the way.

Aside from Logan and Agnes, the other characters in this book were a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed Dougal, Agnes's boss, Logan's mother and kids, and Mrs. Andrews, the American hotel guest. The relationship between Agnes and her sisters was also quite lovely. It was clear that they had a very strong bond and that the distance between them hadn't changed it. 

Overall, "Can't Buy Me Love" was a nice, light read and provided a great distraction from the chaos of holiday preparations going on around me. I would read more books by Ms. Henderson in the future.

*ARC provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49080060-can-t-buy-me-love

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Blog Tour + Review: The Reindeer Falls Collection by Jana Aston

https://amzn.to/2qATS8K
Today, I am super excited to be participating in the blog tour celebrating the release of Jana Aston's Reindeer Falls Collection, which includes three standalone but interconnected novellas: "The Boss Who Stole Christmas," "If You Give a Jerk a Gingerbread," and "The One Night Stand Before Christmas."

I love reading novellas around the holidays because there is always so much to do to get ready and it can be difficult to find time for reading full-length novels, but I can always find time for a quick novella. The ones included in the Reindeer Falls collection were particularly delightful, making me laugh out loud over and over again. I wish the town of Reindeer Falls, Michigan were a real place because I would love to spend the holidays there! I highly recommend this collection for all romantic comedy fans.  It is a great introduction to Jana Aston's work and is sure to get you into the Christmas spirit.

About the Reindeer Falls Collection

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Welcome to Reindeer Falls.

Grab a mug of hot cocoa and a comfortable chair and enjoy all three novellas in the Reindeer Falls Collection in one volume.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48409929-the-boss-who-stole-christmas
 
The Boss Who Stole Christmas (Book 1)

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a new boss for Christmas. Mine is the worst. The worst, hidden in a six-foot-tall package of male perfection. It'd be easier if he looked like an old Scrooge, wouldn't it? Nick Saint-Croix doesn't look like an old scrooge. He's hot as - um, never mind. Just bring me a new boss. Please.

Sincerely,
Holly Winter

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48409933-if-you-give-a-jerk-a-gingerbread

If You Give a Jerk a Gingerbread (Book 2)

Dear Santa,

I do not want Keller James for Christmas. I will not fall for him, no matter how charming or irresistible or famous he is. I will not be swayed by his skills in the kitchen or by his British accent. I'm going to win the Great Gingerbread Bake-Off and no one is going to stand in my way. Not even Keller. All kisses are off. I mean all bets. All bets are off. And all his clothes. Grr, never mind. I'll figure this out myself.

XOXO,
Ginger Winter

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48409935-the-one-night-stand-before-christmas
 
The One Night Stand Before Christmas (Book 3)

Dear Santa,

Please stop by my house and pick up your suit. If you thought I was going to run it to the dry cleaners for you after you left it on my bedroom floor, you've got another thought coming.

Best,
Noel Winter

https://amzn.to/2qATS8K

My Review

Jana Aston's Reindeer Falls collection includes three sweet, funny, and delightful holiday novellas that are sure to put readers in the Christmas spirit. The novellas are all standalone stories, but they are interconnected, with each focusing on one of the three Winter sisters as they find love in the charming town of Reindeer Falls, Michigan. The relationship between sisters Noel, Holly, and Ginger is a ton of fun and quite possibly my favorite thing about this collection; while they constantly tease each other, it is clear how much they love and support one another.

Book #1, "The Boss Who Stole Christmas," features middle sister Holly and Nick, her new boss at the toy company where she is employed. This story is a great combination of enemies-to-lovers, office romance, and road trip romance as Holly and Nick head off on a business trip to Nuremberg, Germany. Holly is delightfully cute and quirky, very passionate about her job and life in Reindeer Falls. Nick is a bit more mysterious than Holly, but family is clearly very important to him, as evidenced by the way he dotes on his toddler niece. There's definitely more to him than his Grinch-like demeanor at work would suggest, as Holly finds out when they travel to Germany together.

Book #2, "If You Give a Jerk a Gingerbread," is the story of youngest sister Ginger and Keller, a celebrity chef visiting Reindeer Falls to compete in a holiday baking competition sponsored by the Food Network. Ginger, who was also a contestant in the baking competition, was just as cute and fun as her sister Holly, and I particularly loved the hilarious, old-fashioned phrases she used in place of swearing. Keller was super sweet, and even though he was supposed to be competing against Ginger, he made his romantic interest in her clear from the start. I'm not sure he ever really cared about winning the competition, especially after he met Ginger. In any event, the two of them were totally perfect for each other, and I think their story was my favorite of the three novellas.

Finally, in book #3, "The One Night Stand Before Christmas," oldest sister Noel has a one-night stand with a man she thinks is the brother of a co-worker, but who turns out to be a mysterious stranger who stepped in to play Santa when the real actor failed to show up at a community event Noel hosted on her co-worker's behalf. Hilarity ensues as Noel tries to track down the mysterious Teddy, only to find him in the last place she ever expected.

I loved all three of these novellas and highly recommend them for all romantic comedy fans. I wouldn't mind it if Ms. Aston decided to revisit Reindeer Falls in the future, either. It was such a charming place, and reminded me of the setting of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Maybe there's more fun (and romance) to be found there!

*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

https://amzn.to/2qATS8K

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Giveaway + Review: Christina Hovland’s Mile High Matched series, now available on Audible

Calling all audio book fans - Christina Hovland's Mile High Matched series is now available on Audible! For a chance to win copies of each of the three of the Mile High Matched audio books, courtesy of the author, click here! (Giveaway closes on December 22.)

https://www.audible.com/author/Christina-Hovland/B07G1FY1DV

I have to be honest: I wasn't much of an audio book fan until this year, but I've really started to appreciate them recently. I love being able to lose myself in a great story while I'm driving or doing chores around the house. It really helps make the time go faster and my chores seem less boring (and let's face it, I need all the motivation I can get when it comes to folding laundry and the like). The Mile High Matched series was a great place for me to start my audio book journey because it is so much fun and consistently makes me laugh out loud. The narrators do a great job of conveying the characters' emotions and make the listening experience very enjoyable.   

For this post, I had the opportunity to check out the Audible version of "Take it Off the Menu," book #3 of the Mile High Matched series, and I absolutely loved it. It is a sweet, hysterically funny story featuring wonderful, well-developed, and likeable characters. In some places, the secondary characters almost stole the show from main characters Eli and Marlee, especially Lothario the chihuahua and Babushka, Eli's friend Jase's elderly Russian grandmother.  One of my favorite parts of this book was Lothario's love affair with shoes (and various other inappropriate objects). His name was certainly an appropriate one!

The male lead character, Eli, was a lovable grump who kind of reminded me of a grown-up Oscar the Grouch. Even though he thought he'd had his fill of responsibility as a teenager, when he stepped up to help his family through a difficult time, meeting Marlee helped Eli realize that there could be more to life than constantly working to achieve his goal of opening his own restaurant. Marlee, who was sweet, generous, and genuinely seemed to care about others, was a great influence on Eli. She deserved to be treated so much better than she was by her ex-fiance, Scotty, so it was lovely to see the way Eli came to care for her while also helping her take her first steps towards independence.

Overall, I highly recommend "Take it Off the Menu" for all romantic comedy fans. The rest of the series looks to be just as good as this book, and I plan to check them all out soon.

*Review copy provided by the author via InkslingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Mile High Matched Series

Going Down on One Knee
Mile High Matched, Book 1

http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B0816ZHJKC&source_code=AUDOR2221116199RBENumber-crunching Velma Johnson's perfectly planned life is right on course.

That's a lie. Sure, she's got the lucrative job. She's got the posh apartment. But her sister nabbed Velma's Mr. Right. There has to be a man out there for Velma. Hopefully, one who's hunky, wears pressed suits, and has a diversified financial portfolio. He'll be exactly like, well... her sister's new fiancé.

Badass biker Brek Montgomery blazes a trail across the country, managing Dimefront, one of the biggest rock bands of his generation. With the band on hiatus, Brek rolls into Denver to pay a quick visit to his family and friends. But when Brek's sister suddenly gets put on bed rest, she convinces Brek to take over her wedding planning business for the duration of her pregnancy.

Staying in Denver and dealing with bridezillas was not what Brek had in mind when he passed through town, but there is one particular maid-of-honor who might make his stay worthwhile.

Velma finds herself strangely attracted to the man planning her sister's wedding. Problem is, he ticks none of the boxes on her well-crafted list. Brek is rough around the edges, he cusses, and doesn't even have a 401(k). But trying something crazy might get her out of the rut of her dating life--so long as she lays down boundaries up front and sticks to her plan...

Going Down on One Knee is book one of the Mile High Matched series. If you love a hunky, tattooed wedding planner this book is for you. Buy now for a fun, opposites attract romance!

Order Now!
Audible
Amazon

Blow Me Away
Mile High Matched, Book 2

http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B0816ZHBM1&source_code=AUDOR2221116199RBEIt's all fun and games until somebody falls in love...

Jase Dvornakov has always loved women, 80's hair band music, and things that go boom. He used to disarm bombs in the Navy, but he's back in Denver after a mission overseas went sideways and destroyed his future, including his marriage. Now he arranges flowers in his family's floral business because flowers don't explode.

Cookie-baker extraordinaire, Heather Reese, has had one too many rounds of heartache, so she's sworn off men and prefers to spend her evenings binge-watching game shows. Plus her no-men rule gives her time to focus on her dream come true--Heather's Cookie Co.--her very own bake shop with an underground following for naughty shaped treats. She refuses to be interested in the hot-shot florist across the street. He is trouble with a capital T. Sexy trouble, but still, a hook-up with Jase is a hard nope.

Desperate to avoid his family's incessant matchmaking, a fake breakup with the beautiful Heather is just what the florist ordered. If his family believes Heather decimated his heart, they'll leave him alone. Heather isn't so keen on the idea, but Jase is determined to make it worth her while. When a pretend breakup becomes the real romance neither was expecting, together they'll have to decide if it's finally time to light the fuse on love...

Blow Me Away is the second book in the Mile High Matched Series. Each book stands alone and can be read in any order. If you love friends to lovers with a dash of steam, this is the book for you! Buy Blow Me Away for a laugh out loud romantic comedy!

Order Now!
Audible
Amazon

Take it Off the Menu
Mile High Matched, Book 3

https://www.audible.com/pd/Take-It-Off-the-Menu-Audiobook/B081725LJ3?asin=B081725LJ3&source_code=AUDOR2221116199RBESaying “I Do” has never been such a mess.

Marlee Medford just got dumped. Yes, things have become ho-hum in her longtime relationship, but she was two days away from walking down the aisle with the man she thought was her forever when he called it off. Convincing herself that they’d be able to reignite their spark once the wedding craziness settled? That was easy. Suddenly finding herself without a fiancé? Not so much. Marlee needs to regain control of her life, and a weekend away with her friends is a solid first step.

One of Denver’s best up-and-coming chefs, perpetual bachelor Eli Howard, isn’t into serious relationships—especially the kind that ends in marriage. As if to prove his point that they aren’t worth the trouble, the wedding he was supposed to be catering just fell apart. Feeling oddly protective of the jilted bride—his little sister’s best friend—his weekend plans now involve a trip to Sin City with her group of friends. But it looks like he had a bit too much fun in Vegas when he wakes up married…wedding night included.

Marlee’s attempts at getting her life back together are failing miserably. Her ex-fiancé is taking the house, her chihuahua is intent on a love affair with Eli’s sneakers, and she’s now accidentally hitched to the guy who can't even say the word marriage. With their quickie annulment denied, Eli and Marlee just have to hang tight until the divorce goes through. It’s just a little divorce amongst friends, what’s the worst that could happen?

Take It Off the Menu is book three of the Mile High Matched series, but stands alone and can be read in any order. If you love a hunky caterer and an accidental marriage then this book is for you! Buy now for a fun, friends-to-lovers romance!

Order Now!
Audible
Amazon

https://www.audible.com/author/Christina-Hovland/B07G1FY1DV
 

Monday, December 16, 2019

Excerpt + Review: "Asking for a Friend" by Lauren Blakely

https://amzn.to/3898Qni
I am very excited to participate in today's release blitz celebrating Lauren Blakely's latest romantic comedy, "Asking for a Friend," the first book in the Boyfriend Material series. A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I adored this funny, charming, and sweet story and highly recommend it for both new and existing readers of Lauren Blakely's work. The main characters, Amy and Linc, were incredibly likeable and totally perfect for each other, and watching them fall in love was delightful. 

About "Asking for a Friend"

I was only trying to help a friend. I swear. I was legit asking for a friend who was finally ready to date again.

I knew what she wanted in a man -- smart, funny, ambitious, well-read (no, the sports section doesn't count), and plays a wicked game of badminton.

So I did what any good friend would do. Posted it for her. It seemed like a good idea at the time — I’d weed through the candidates, and bring her my top picks.

But then he responded.

Is it wrong to date the guy I screened for my bestie? Not asking for a friend.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47180668-asking-for-a-friend 

Read an Excerpt from "Asking for a Friend"

“No. I was just getting the lowdown on office allergies.” He moves closer, leaning against the bar, looking like a tall drink of man. I break out my mental yardstick. Yup, I’m betting he’s over six feet. I’m going with six foot one. Which might even push him to a fifteen on the goes-to-ten babe-o-meter.

“So you’re on drinks detail,” I say, trying to sound all cool and casual, like I’m not busy sizing him up.

Not consumed with checking out his arms.

Not occupied admiring his blue eyes.

Not tied up enjoying his smile.

He points his thumb at his sternum. “New guy. That means I fetch all the drinks and buy them too. And you? What put you on errand duty?”

“I made my friend snort her drink out her nose.”

He looks impressed. “You officially have the best reason for being on drink detail.”

I preen, enjoying his praise. “Why, thank you. I was hoping to win that contest.”

“What was the snort-inducing remark, may I ask?”

Flashing back, I recall the culprit—my “you need V-time” comment to Peyton—but that’s too personal to share. I give him another one. “I referred to her ex-fiancé by his proper name.”

Clark Kent gives me a curious look. “Is his proper name amusing?”

“Of course. It’s Richard Cranium,” I say, and I wait. Will he pass the test?

https://amzn.to/3898Qni 

My Review

Lauren Blakely's books are always a lot of fun to read, and "Asking for a Friend" was no exception.  I really needed a lighter read after having picked up several emotional rollercoasters lately, and this story fit the bill perfectly. I found myself laughing out loud more than once and ended up finishing the book with a huge smile on my face. The story was funny, charming, and delightful, the characters were incredibly likeable, and the central relationship between main characters Amy and Linc was beautifully developed.    

Amy was so quirky, funny, and adorable that it was impossible not to love her. I especially enjoyed her clever wordplay and how much she joy she found in her thesaurus. Linc was also a fantastic character because he was not only incredibly handsome but also a genuinely nice guy.  That said, my favorite part about this book was the banter, both between Amy and Linc and between Amy and her best friends, Peyton and Lola.  I loved the way that the girls were able to tease each other but still convey how much they cared for one another.  As for Amy and Linc, their conversations were so funny but also showed just how perfect they were for each other.  Their minds worked in such similar ways, and it was easy to see how much pleasure they took in just being together and trying to make each other laugh. 

I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

https://amzn.to/3898Qni

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Review: The Lady in Red

The Lady in Red The Lady in Red by Kelly Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed Kelly Bowen's "The Lady in Red." The main characters, Flynn and Charlotte, were quite well-developed for a novella, and I couldn't help but empathize with both of them. They deserved recognition for their artistic talent but were both forced to pretend to be someone else in order to get it. Also, I am a big fan of historical romances in which the heroine pretends to be a man, and this one was no exception. My favorite thing about the trope is usually the comedic aspect of the hero wondering about his sexuality because he's suddenly attracted to a boy or young man; while that was missing here, this was an entertaining story nonetheless.

I have not read the previous books in the Season for Scandal series, but this novella stood very well on its own, so I did not feel lost at all. I enjoyed meeting some of the characters from the earlier books here, however, and will plan to go back and read them now.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

View all my reviews

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Blog Tour + Review: "Kind of Cursed" by Stephanie Fournet

http://bit.ly/KOCKindle
Today, I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour celebrating the release of Stephanie Fournet's "Kind of Cursed," a delightful romantic comedy featuring lovable, well-developed characters and an engaging storyline.  My full review of the book is below, but in short, I absolutely adored this story and highly recommend it.  This book made me laugh and tugged at my heartstrings in equal measure, and I found it very tough to put down when real life intruded on my reading time.  "Kind of Cursed" is the first book I've read by Ms. Fournet, but based on how much I enjoyed it, I am already looking forward to checking out more of her work!

About "Kind of Cursed"

Every woman in Millie Delacroix’s family is cursed—kind of.

Birth control just doesn’t work for them. Like ever. Going to the altar knocked up is pretty much a family tradition. And twenty-four-year-old Millie refuses to let that happen to her—again.

Especially now that she’s responsible for raising her brothers and sister. A life of celibacy is her best defense—at least until the kids are grown and can take care of themselves. And, really, what’s ten years with no sex? No men. No sex. No love. It’s a fool-proof plan.

Until she meets Luc Valencia.

The Mexican-American contractor is just trying to do his best. Since his father handed him the reins to the family business, every day is a test to prove himself. At this point in his life, professionalism has to be his top priority.

At least until Millie becomes Luc’s client. Even with too much on her shoulders, the feisty redhead has the power to set him off, crack him up, or bring him to his knees.

All he has to do is resist falling for her through one kitchen remodel, and everything will be fine. Right?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48754850-kind-of-cursed
 
My Review

I absolutely adored "Kind of Cursed" because of its sweet, funny, emotional plot and wonderfully three-dimensional characters. The female lead character, Millie, was amazing! She had so much responsibility placed on her shoulders at such a young age, but she handled it like a pro, and the love she felt for her siblings radiated off the page.

Millie's love interest, Luc, was also pretty great. He made a fantastic partner for Millie because he knew firsthand what it was like to have to step up and take responsibility for one's family, and like Millie, he had to do it much sooner than he ever expected. I loved the way Luc immediately seemed to fit in with Millie and her siblings, and tried to take some of the burden from her. The way he took care of them all when Millie and Emmett got sick was lovely, and immediately earned him a place at the top of my list of book boyfriends.

Millie's siblings were great secondary characters, as were Luc's family members, especially his brother Alex and their abuela. Her "dreams" were both amusing and frighteningly accurate, and I loved the role she played in getting Millie and Luc together.

Overall, "Kind of Cursed" was a delightful story and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be checking out more of Stephanie Fournet's work in the future.

*ARC provided by the author via InkslingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

http://bit.ly/KOCKindle

Friday, December 13, 2019

Happy Release Day to "Holiday for Hire" by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee

https://laurl.in/HolidayforHireAmazon?fbclid=IwAR0tkGuYL6chBt9sww7O2ZhW-Uh_vdFJV6WZIU7E9pscpy3Ua1_TItZwfsc
Happy Release Day to "Holiday for Hire" by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee! I really enjoyed this fun holiday-themed twist on the classic "My Fair Lady." The story was short, sweet, and amusing with some pretty great double entendres that made me laugh out loud.

I didn't find Jane, the female lead character, to be very likeable or relatable at first, but her relationship with the male lead character, Ian, really humanized her.  She was so snobby and focused on all of the wrong things until he came along and shook up her world.

On the other hand, I really liked Ian immediately. He seemed like a good-hearted guy who was down on his luck after having given up his chance at college to help support his family.  I loved that Ian had such a happy, positive outlook on life despite his situation, and he definitely deserved to have good things happen for him.

Overall, this was a nice, quick read that did a good job of getting me into the Christmas spirit, and I would recommend it.

*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

https://laurl.in/HolidayforHireAmazon?fbclid=IwAR0tkGuYL6chBt9sww7O2ZhW-Uh_vdFJV6WZIU7E9pscpy3Ua1_TItZwfsc

About "Holiday for Hire"

After Jane Osborne is unceremoniously dumped by a rich man, and then invited to his Christmas Eve wedding, she decides to hire a date from Craigslist and pass him off as an upgrade.

Fake-boyfriend for hire Ian Brooks ends up being a delightful surprise—and a mysterious stranger she's definitely met before.

Could he be her Christmas wish come true?

**This novella was originally published as "Unmatchable" in Brenda Novak’s ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS anthology.**

https://laurl.in/HolidayforHireAmazon?fbclid=IwAR0tkGuYL6chBt9sww7O2ZhW-Uh_vdFJV6WZIU7E9pscpy3Ua1_TItZwfsc

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Excerpt + Giveaway + Review: "Off the Record" by Skye McDonald

https://books2read.com/u/3JV9OE?store=amazon
Today, I am excited to be participating in the release blitz celebrating Skye McDonald's "Off the Record," book #2 in the Anti-Belle series.  I have been looking forward to reading this story ever since we were introduced to the male lead character, Nick Field, in the first book of the series, and I am happy to report that it was totally worth the wait.  As usual, my complete review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I very much enjoyed this book with its well-developed, relatable characters and engaging storyline.  I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, especially readers who enjoy the Nashville music scene or stories of behind-the-scenes Hollywood. 

For a chance to win signed copies of the first two books in the Anti-Belle series, "Not Suitable for Work" and "Off the Record," courtesy of the author, Skye McDonald, click here! (Giveaway closes on December 18.)

About "Off the Record"

Not even Nashville’s summer heat can match the sizzle of first love.

Nick Field’s motto is “live free.” The huge promotion at work is great, but producing a pop star’s debut album isn’t going to change his life or anything. There’s always room for unwinding and having fun.

Mel Thomas works 24/7 as the media manager to America’s newest heartthrob. Building his image and writing her career make-or-break article are the stories of the summer. There’s no room to go off script.

Ten years ago, Nick and Mel were high school sweethearts. Reunited by chance, what should’ve been ancient history reignites into a passionate present. Too bad there’s no future in it.

https://books2read.com/u/3JV9OE?store=amazon

Read an Excerpt from "Off the Record"

Nick

Jesse looked around. “Where’s Melody?”

Melody. The name tickled the hair on my neck and made me forget every single name I’d just committed to memory.

Peter said, “I think she was talking to the receptionist.” He jogged to the hallway calling, “Hey, Miss Twitter! You’re wanted in the lounge.”

I scratched my neck to make the tingling stop. “Did you say Melody?” Shut up. There’s no way it’s her. Focus.

“Yeah. She’s a hell of a writer and the best damn girlfriend a guy like me could ask for.” Jesse shrugged like we shared a joke.

The tingling started to close my throat. “Writer?”

But Peter reappeared, and the woman who followed him in confirmed every ounce of adrenaline coursing through my system. My pulse beat in my ears and muted the scene as her ocean-blue eyes landed on me.

Suddenly I was eighteen again, rocked by nostalgia and memories that had been locked away for a decade.

I saw the shock in her gaze, but she rearranged her expression to a placid mask fast. Her cool stare under those black—Black??—bangs made me hold my tongue and remember where we were.

His girlfriend. Jesus, I didn’t see this coming.

“Hi.”Her soft greeting turned my mouth to dust. I wondered if it was her hand or mine that was so cold when I reached to clasp her outstretched palm. I’m not sure if I spoke, but after a beat she withdrew.

Easy, man. Calm down. Jesse’s debut album is why you’re here. Don’t make a scene. I turned to Jesse. “Should we get started?”

He grinned. “Let’s do it.”

While he met the band and started rehearsing, I dropped into my chair behind the sound board and rolled my shoulders. The album is all that matters. All. That. Matters.

https://books2read.com/u/3JV9OE?store=amazon

My Review

I very much enjoyed Skye McDonald's "Off the Record."  I am generally a fan of second chance romances, and this story featured a good one.  Both of the main characters, Nick and Melody, were well-developed and very likeable, and their chemistry was electric from the very beginning.  The people around them, especially Mel's erstwhile boyfriend, Jesse, must have been completely blind not to have noticed Mel and Nick's attraction right away!

I really liked Mel and found the way her brain worked to be quite interesting, especially how she was always mentally "revising" what was going on around her.  She was like the ultimate people watcher, and since I enjoy people watching myself, I could understand her thinking to a certain degree. However, this tendency became a problem after Mel reconnected with Nick and she was forced to choose between actually living her life and remaining a passive observer, forever a background piece of the "story" she created to help promote Jesse's career.  At first, Mel resisted getting into a real relationship with Nick, largely because she was afraid to take a chance on love due to her feelings of abandonment after her mother left when she was young.  It was safer for Mel to continue living inside the story she had created with Jesse, both because she could control it and because there was little risk of her getting seriously hurt.  It took a lot for her to realize that the story could have a different ending, but luckily she did realize it before it was too late for her and Nick.

I enjoyed being introduced to Nick in the first book of the Anti-Belle series, "Not Safe for Work," and was happy to get to know him better here.  He seemed like a really fun guy with a good heart, and his feelings for Mel were obviously sincere.  It was nice to catch up with Ben and Celeste, the main characters from book #1, as well.  It will be interesting to see who will be featured in the third book of this series - possibly Ben and Nick's friend Liv?  At any rate, I look forward to reading whatever Skye McDonald writes next!

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Happy Release Day to "The Younger Man" by Karina Halle!

Editorial Note: About a week after I wrote and published this post, the author decided to change the title of this book to "The Forbidden Man." The story is exactly the same, and I have not changed my review. However, you may see this story referred to interchangeably as "The Younger Man" or "The Forbidden Man" on various websites.

https://amzn.to/2rrQYDd
I am thrilled to be participating in today's release blitz for Karina Halle's latest novel, "The Younger Man."  I have been looking forward to reading this story for some time now because the description sounded so refreshingly different from the stories I usually read.  Also, I studied abroad in Spain when I was in college, so the fact that much of the story was set in Madrid brought back happy memories of my time there as a student.  Thankfully, "The Younger Man" was totally worth the wait.  My full review is included at the end of this post, but overall, I adored this book and didn't want to put it down.  It's one of my favorite Karina Halle books so far, and I highly recommend it.  Fair warning, though: this book brings all the feels, so be sure to have some tissues handy before you start reading!

About "The Younger Man"

A reckless, obsessive soccer star. A forbidden affair that could ruin her career. The locker room has never been this steamy.

"The Younger Man," an epic standalone forbidden age-gap sports romance, by New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle, is live!   

Starting over was her only option.

Forty-years old and still reeling from a public and painful divorce, Thalia Blackwood is looking for a fresh start, somewhere far away from her upside down life. When she’s offered a new job as the sports therapist for a football (soccer) team, she jumps at the chance. This is just what she needs to leave the heartbreak and shame of Manchester behind, trading it in for the warmth and hopeful vibrancy of Madrid.

He was her only desire.

Twenty-three year old Alejo Albarado is rising up the ranks in his career. As the charming forward for the Real Madrid team, Alejo’s life revolves around women, parties, and being a tabloid darling, that is until the new sports therapist joins the team.

Their passion could not be ignored.

What starts out as a strictly professional relationship between Thalia and the young Spanish player, slowly evolves into something more. Much more.

Their relationship was forbidden.

But their combustible chemistry and simmering sexual tension can only go so far—should Thalia give into Alejo’s advances, she’s at risk of not only losing her job, but succumbing to a much younger man will drag her through the spotlight again.

Alejo might be worth that risk.

Unless he breaks her heart in the process.

"The Younger Man" is a full-length standalone romance. Characters from "Love, in English" make a cameo in this book, however "The Younger Man" is intended to be read as a STANDALONE. 

https://amzn.to/2rrQYDd

My Review

"The Younger Man" is one of my favorite Karina Halle books yet, and it kept me turning the pages long past my bedtime. The story packs an emotional punch and I found myself tearing up numerous times, but there were also surprising moments of humor that made me laugh out loud when I was least expecting it. Most importantly, I adored both of the main characters, Thalia and Alejo, who were incredibly well-developed and likeable. Despite their differences, especially the significant age gap, their feelings for each other were obviously sincere, and I couldn't help but root for them to find a way to be together.

The problems Alejo and Thalia faced in their growing relationship were realistic and believable.  For example, I completely understood the tough position Thalia was in after having worked so hard to build a successful career in a male-dominated field.  She knew that one mistake could completely destroy everything she'd achieved, and after being burned so badly by her ex-husband, it took a lot for Thalia to be able to trust in love again. Alejo really seemed to bring out the best in her, as she brought out the best in him.  I hated seeing them struggle, but it was all worth it in the end.

I would love to read a future book starring Alejo's teammate, Luciano.  He was a fun secondary character in this book and a good friend to both Alejo and Thalia when they needed him the most.  Also, it seemed like there might have been more to the story he briefly told about his lost love. It would be wonderful to see him happily coupled up just like Alejo and Thalia!

*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR.  All opinions expressed are my own.

https://amzn.to/2rrQYDd

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Excerpt + Giveaway + Review: "Regretting You" by Colleen Hoover

https://www.amazon.com/Regretting-You-Colleen-Hoover-ebook/dp/B07SH5V2NB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=regretting+you&link_code=qs&qid=1575869951&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-1
I am ridiculously excited to be participating in the blog tour celebrating today's release of Colleen Hoover's latest novel, "Regretting You".  As always, my full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough.  It is a deeply engrossing story that is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, and I had a difficult time putting it down when real life interfered with my reading.

For a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card and your very own copy of "Regretting You" courtesy of the publisher, Montlake, click here! (Giveaway ends on December 30.)

About "Regretting You"

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

http://amzn.com/B07SH5V2NB

Read an Excerpt from "Regretting You"

Despite knowing I just pissed my mother off by being half an hour late for curfew, I still can’t stop smiling. That kiss with Miller was worth it. I bring my fingers to my lips.

I’ve never been kissed like that. The guys I’ve kissed in the past all seemed like they were in a hurry, wanting to shove their tongue in my mouth before I changed my mind.

Miller was the opposite. He was so patient, yet in a chaotic way. It was like he’d thought about kissing me so often that he wanted to savor every second of it.

I don’t know that I’ll ever not smile when I think about that kiss. It kind of makes me nervous for school tomorrow. I’m not sure where that kiss leaves us, but it felt like it was a statement. I just don’t know what exactly that statement was.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I roll over and pull it out, then fall onto my back again. It’s a text from Miller.

Miller: I don’t know about you, but sometimes when something significant happens, I get home and think of all the things I wish had gone differently. All the things I wish I would have said.

Me: Is that happening now?

Miller: Yes. I don’t feel like I was entirely forthcoming with you.

I roll onto my stomach, hoping to ease the nausea that just passed through me. It was going so well…

Me: What weren’t you honest about?

Miller: I was honest. Just not entirely forthcoming, if there’s a difference. I left a lot out of our conversation that I want you to know.

Me: Like what?

Miller: Like why I’ve liked you for as long as I have.

I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. I’m staring at my phone with so much intensity that I almost throw it when it rings unexpectedly. It’s Miller’s phone number. I hesitate before answering it, because I rarely ever talk on the phone. I much prefer texting. But he knows I have my phone in my hand, so I can’t very well send it to voice mail. I swipe my finger across the screen and then roll off the bed and head to my bathroom for more privacy. I sit on the edge of the tub.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” he says.

“Sorry. It’s too much to text.”

“You’re kind of freaking me out with all the innuendos.”

“Oh. No, it’s all good. Don’t be nervous. I just should have said this to you in person.” Miller inhales a deep breath, and then on the exhale, he starts talking. “When I was fifteen, I watched you in a school play. You had the lead role, and at one point, you performed a monologue that went on for like two whole minutes. You were so convincing and you looked so heartbroken I was ready to walk onto the stage and hug you. When the play was finally over and the actors came back out onto the stage, you were smiling and laughing, and there wasn’t a trace of that character left in you. I was in awe, Clara. You have this charisma about you that I don’t think you’re aware of, but it’s captivating. I was a scrawny kid as a sophomore, and even though I’m a year older than you, I hadn’t quite filled out yet, and I had acne and felt inferior to you, so I never worked up the courage to approach you. Another year went by, and I continued to admire you from afar. Like that time you ran for school treasurer and tripped walking off the stage, but you jumped up and did this weird little kick and threw your arms up in the air and made the entire audience laugh. Or that time Mark Avery popped your bra strap in the hallway, and you were so sick of him doing it that you followed him to his classroom, reached inside your hoodie, and took off your bra and then threw it at him. I remember you yelling something like, ‘If you want to touch a bra so damn bad, just keep it, you perv!’ Then you stormed out. It was epic. Everything you do is epic, Clara. Which is why I never had the courage to approach you, because an epic girl needs an equally epic guy, and I guess I’ve just never felt epic enough for you. I’ve said epic so many times in the last fifteen seconds—I’m so sorry.”

He’s out of breath when he finally stops talking.

I’m smiling so hard my cheeks ache. I had no idea he felt this way. No idea.

I wait a few seconds to make sure he’s done; then I finally respond. I’m pretty sure he can hear from my voice alone that I’m smiling. “First of all, it’s hard to believe you were ever insecure. And second, I think you’re pretty epic, too, Miller. Always have. Even when you were scrawny and had acne.”

He laughs a little. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I can hear him sigh. “Glad I got that off my chest, then. See you at school tomorrow?”

“Good night.”

We end the call, and I don’t know how long I sit and stare at my phone.

***

http://amzn.com/B07SH5V2NB

My Review

I don't want to say too much in this review because the reading experience will be much richer for those who go into the book spoiler-free.  The most important thing to know is that I loved "Regretting You" very much even though it made my heart hurt and tears run down my face more than once.

This story explores a number of different but related themes, including grief, betrayal, and forgiveness, but the one that struck me above all and seemed to tie everything else together is the idea of how our relationships with our parents, lovers, siblings, friends, and other significant figures in our lives define us and help to make us who we are.  When one of those relationships changes, how do we redefine ourselves?  What happens if we find out that our loved ones have kept secrets from us?  Can we be angry with someone who is no longer here to defend him- or herself?

Struggling with these questions are main characters Morgan and Clara, who were both wonderfully drawn and incredibly sympathetic.  There were so many times I wanted to reach into the book and hug them!  I really felt like I got to know these characters and was right there with them, experiencing the same revelations and feelings they were.  Their story was not an easy one to read, but it was incredibly well-written, and I did not want to put it down.

I love that I never know what to expect next from one of Colleen Hoover's books.  I can't wait to see what future stories bring!

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Review: The Princess Plan

The Princess Plan The Princess Plan by Julia London
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Julia London has written several of my all-time favorite romances, so it truly pains me to rate one of her books as anything less than 5 stars. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy "The Princess Plan" as much as some of her previous works.

One of my main issues with this book is that I did not like Sebastian, the hero, very much, especially at first. I suppose his arrogant, demanding behavior could be considered pretty typical for a prince, but what really bothered me was the fact that he didn't seem to be even remotely interested in the heroine, Eliza, at first. He even slept with another woman after meeting Eliza (and very much enjoyed it!) just because he needed to "scratch an itch." That said, Sebastian did seem to be a good leader who took a genuine interest in the welfare of his people, and he had some good ideas on how to modernize his country. When he finally did fall for Eliza, he fell hard, even though their relationship seemed hopeless. I had a hard time getting over his earlier behavior, though.

By contrast, Eliza was a very interesting and likeable heroine. She was obviously very smart and independent, but when she, her sister, and their friend Caroline put their heads together, they came up with some pretty silly (albeit entertaining) schemes. I particularly loved that Eliza always spoke her mind and didn't easily bend to Sebastian's will. Also, Sebastian and Eliza's conversations were pretty funny. Sometimes it seemed like they were speaking two different languages, especially when they first met. It took a while for them to begin to understand each other's way of thinking.

Besides Sebastian himself, my other big issue with this book was the way in which Sebastian attempted to remove the biggest obstacle standing in the way of his marrying Eliza, which was the fact that she wasn't a "lady." His solution was to pull some strings with the English government to have Eliza's father elevated to the rank of baron so that she would then become "Lady Eliza Tricklebank." I would have said that this was a clever solution IF it actually could have worked the way it was explained in the book. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case because the daughters of English barons and viscounts are not granted the courtesy title of Lady, so Eliza would have been known as "the Honorable Miss Tricklebank" instead. Eliza's father would have had to be at least an earl for her to be addressed as Lady Eliza.

Overall, I did enjoy this book in spite of the issues outlined above. It was remarkably funny and upbeat considering how much of the plot revolved around a murder and potential revolution in Sebastian's homeland of Alucia. Also, the secondary characters were a lot of fun, and I would enjoy learning more about them in future books. I plan to continue with the series.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

View all my reviews

Review: Santa, Baby

Santa, Baby Santa, Baby by Lisa Renee Jones
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I should preface this review by stating that I would not have picked up "Santa, Baby" if it hadn't been included as a freebie in the back of Lisa Renee Jones's 2019 release, "Tangled up in Christmas" (which, for the record, I very much enjoyed). Based on the back cover description, "Santa, Baby" did not seem like it would be my cup of tea, and unfortunately, I was correct. I am not a fan of insta-lust/insta-love plots, which is exactly what this story turned out to be. I had a hard time finding any real emotional connection between the main characters, Baxter and Caron. All of the emotions were overshadowed by the steam, which will certainly appeal to some readers, but not to me.

For some reason, this book felt really dated to me even though the characters used cell phones and other modern technology. (Baxter did use a phone booth at one point, though, which was kind of funny.) I can't really explain it, but this book felt more like something that would have come out of the 1980s than something published in 2009. Maybe because it was originally a Harlequin title? Whatever the reason, it added something of a cheese factor to what IMO was already a relatively weak plot.

In addition, it really bothered me that so many women in this book were described as "blonde bombshells." I understand the origin of the term, but it seemed like it was being used in a derogatory sense here. In other words, the women Baxter had dated in the past were all nothing more than stereotypical "dumb blondes," as opposed to the "shy and pure" brunette Caron, who was essentially perfect in every way, which was why Baxter fell in love with her.

Finally, I hated the subplot with the female FBI agent, Sarah, who came across as a total witch. Her relationship with her partner made no sense to me for a lot of reasons, but particularly the fact that based on his initial description, I thought he was at least twice her age. What exactly did she find so attractive about him, and after the chauvinistic way he treated her, why would she hook up with him at the end of the book? Did she just feel bad for him because of the sob story he told her about his sister?

I've read a lot of holiday-themed stories this year and it's safe to say that this one was not my favorite. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

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