Release Blitz + Review: "On the Shore" by Laura Pavlov

I'm happy to take part in the release blitz celebrating "On the Shore" by Laura Pavlov, book #3 of the Cottonwood Cove series. Characters from the previous books (as well as the earlier Honey Mountain series) make cameo appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

Sports reporter Brinkley Reynolds recently moved back to her hometown of Cottonwood Cove after an incident with professional football player Lincoln Hendrix at a press conference got her fired. To keep herself busy while she looks for a new full-time job, she's freelancing and trying out new hobbies such as organic vegetable gardening. Back in San Francisco, Lincoln's tired of being hounded by reporters trying to get the scoop on where he plans to play next season, so his agent offers him the use of his vacation home in Cottonwood Cove. Getting away seems like the perfect solution until he runs into Brinkley on his first day in town and thinks she's following him. The misunderstanding is quickly cleared up, but not before he learns that he's the reason she lost her job. Feeling guilty because that wasn't his intent, Lincoln tries to get Brinkley her job back, but she refuses to take it. He surprises himself by offering her an exclusive interview instead. As they get to know each other, their animosity gradually turns into friendship and then something more. But there's no way a relationship between them could ever work...or could it?

 

I loved the sparkling banter and steamy chemistry between Brinkley and Lincoln, as well as the fact that they formed such a genuine friendship before the relationship turned romantic. I also loved how quickly Lincoln integrated into Brinkley's family, joining her brothers for poker nights and spoiling her niece Gracie just because she'd had a bad day. The Reynolds family dynamics were easily my favorite part of the book. Their group texts cracked me up!

That said, there were times when I wasn't a huge fan of Brinkley herself. I liked that she was so independent and wanted to have a career that was separate from Lincoln's, but she made a much bigger deal than necessary out of certain things. Also, I had some issues with her code of ethics as a reporter. I'm not sure she ever really understood why what she did at the press conference was wrong, let alone sincerely apologized to Lincoln for her behavior. Also, maybe it's just a terminology thing, but it seemed really weird that she referred to Lincoln and the other athletes she interviewed as "clients" and/or said that they'd "hired" her. Were they paying her to write a flattering article based on information they fed her? If so, what she was doing was PR, not journalism. Otherwise, wouldn't the "client" have been the magazine that paid her when they purchased the finished story for publication?

 

At any rate, while I enjoyed "On the Shore," I felt like it was missing a bit of the magic of Pavlov's previous books. It's absolutely still worth a read, but the first two books of the series remain my favorites (so far).

 

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

 

 

About "On the Shore"

He’s the GOAT of the NFL. She’s a hot-headed reporter who despises him. They’re in the same small town for the summer. What could possibly go wrong?

I'm more than aware of the responsibilities that come with being a quarterback in the NFL.
The upside—I get to do what I love every day, which is play football.
And I make more money than I know what to do with.
The downside—everyone wants a piece of me, and the press stalks me ruthlessly.
And one reporter in particular, Brinkley Reynolds, has crossed a line.
She takes things too far.
So yeah, I have her escorted out of the press conference.
Imagine my surprise when the same woman walks into the coffee shop in the small town where I’ve gone to get some privacy for the summer.
I accuse her of stalking me.
She calls me every name in the book before proceeding to make me feel very unwelcome in Cottonwood Cove.
Her hometown.
The place where she tucked tail and ran after I’d unknowingly gotten her fired.
So now I’m enemy number one.
That’s fine with me.
I’m not the biggest fan of her either.
She’s equal parts stubborn and aggravating.
But she happens to be the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
So I try to make amends.
I’m not the devil after all.
But she won’t give me the time of day unless I agree to give her my story.
One I’ve fought hard to protect since the day I started playing professional ball.
I don’t owe Brinkley Reynolds anything.
So why am I considering giving her everything? 

Review: "Christmas in Kiwi Country" by Alexandra Hale

Christmas in Kiwi Country by Alexandra Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When a health crisis forces him to reevaluate his priorities, Cullen Andrews realizes that he's let too much of his life pass him by while he buried himself in work. He decides to retire and move to the small town of Clementine Creek, Tennessee to be closer to his daughter Isla and her soon-to-be husband, Hank. His main concern is repairing his relationship with his daughter, but when he meets local boutique owner Gwen Slate, he can't help being immediately smitten. A year later, Cullen plans to take girlfriend Gwen on her dream trip to New Zealand, where they'll celebrate Christmas together, just the two of them. He also hopes to ask her a very special question while they're there...

I don't know how she does it, but Alexandra Hale's stories just keep getting better! I adored this charming novella, which was the perfect quick afternoon read for Christmas in July or anytime. Cullen and Gwen were a wonderful couple; I particularly appreciated how open and honest they were with each other, as well as the way Gwen helped Cullen work through the baggage of his past. I finished their story with a huge smile on my face and know I will be reading it again soon.

I highly recommend "Christmas in Kiwi Country" for all contemporary romance fans and can't wait for the next book in the series.

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

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Review: "From Pilot to Princess" by Maude Winters

From Pilot to Princess by Maude Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"From Pilot to Princess" by Maude Winters wasn't at all what I expected, but I very much enjoyed it. The world building was fantastic and the characters were likeable and surprisingly relatable given their royal connections. I'd recommend this fast-paced story for all royal romance fans.

In a lot of ways, it felt like this story had two female leads: Natalie Lyons, British princess and military pilot, and Lucy, her twin brother's ex-girlfriend and employee of the royal family. As a result, Natalie's love interest, decorated Olympic swimmer Ed Winslow, seemed like somewhat of an afterthought at times. Natalie and Ed's romance took a backseat for much of the story, though their connection was strong, and I particularly liked that so many of their conversations involved deeper topics. Their relationship may have started as a fling, but their interactions never felt surface-level.

That said, the book's ending was rather abrupt IMO, and nothing between Ed and Natalie felt settled. I can only imagine (and certainly hope!) that their story will continue along with Lucy's in the next book of the series. To be clear, it was not a cliffhanger ending, but it was definitely more HFN than HEA; Natalie and Ed were together, but their relationship hadn't been made public.

Again, I very much enjoyed "From Pilot to Princess" and look forward to the next book of the series. It was the first book I've read by this author but won't be the last.

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

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Review: "Wood You Rather?" by Daphne Elliot

Wood You Rather? by Daphne Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When the police refuse to reopen the investigation into his father's death despite new evidence uncovered by his sister, Pascal Gagnon decides to hire a private investigator to help his family prove that he was murdered. Parker Harding is the best person for the job, but after Paz's actions brought about the end of her career with the state police, she's reluctant to get involved with him again. She needs the work, however, so she packs up and heads for the small town of Lovewell, Maine. To help her gain acceptance as a newcomer to town, she poses as Paz's visiting girlfriend, which also means becoming his temporary roommate. Living and working so closely together, Paz and Parker manage to drive each other crazy (in all the best of ways) but they can't help seeing each other in a different light at the same time. Could their fake relationship turn into real love?

The first two books in this series were fantastic, but I think this one is my new favorite. I loved the way grumpy "finance bro" Pascal evolved over the course of the story, gradually turning into the sweet, caring, charming, and protective man he was always meant to be. Also, the witty banter and slow burn chemistry between him and Parker was on point, and their relationship could not have developed at a more perfect pace. Finally, I loved the elements of mystery and suspense related to the investigation into Paz's father's death and its possible connection to drug trafficking. Even though it was still clearly a rom-com, the suspenseful twists made this story unique, and I enjoyed it immensely.

I highly recommend "Wood You Rather?" for all contemporary/small town romance and romantic comedy fans and can't wait for the next book of the series.

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

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Review: "Workin' on You" by Claire Hastings

Workin' On You by Claire Hastings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When science teacher Sylvie Forde finds a cat about to give birth in the high school parking lot, she knows that her longtime friend, veterinarian Camden Tyler, is the perfect person to ask for help. She heads over to his office and, while waiting for the kittens to arrive, happens to mention that the robotics team she coaches is in need of another chaperone to travel to their first competition of the season. Camden jumps at the opportunity to accompany Sylvie on the trip; he's had a crush on her for years but has always been too shy to say anything, and he hopes that spending time together will help her see him in a different light. The plan seems to be working as Sylvie and Camden grow closer, but she doesn't realize that he's keeping a secret from her: He's actually "Mr. T," the robotics program's secret benefactor, with whom she's been texting for months. She feels a real connection with Mr. T and has begun to share secrets with him that are unknown to even her two closest friends. When she finally learns the truth, will she be able to forgive Camden for not telling her sooner?

I adored the first book in this series, but this one was even better. Camden and Sylvie were ridiculously cute together! I loved the way he gradually overcame his shyness as they spent more time together, as well as the way he found a place in her friend group. He didn't seem to have many (or any?) other close friends, which made me sad because he was so kind, sweet, and loyal. Their flirty, witty banter was a ton of fun, as were their interactions with the kids on Sylvie's robotics team. I particularly enjoyed Joey, the boy with a crush on Sylvie, whose efforts to win her over consistently made me laugh.

I highly recommend "Workin' On You" for all contemporary/small town romance fans and can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series.

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

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Review: "Breathe" by Elise Faber

Breathe by Elise Faber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I've loved many of Elise Faber's past books (and I'm sure will love many of her future ones), "Breathe" was not among my favorites. I think part of the problem is that I've only read one of the previous books in the Breakers Hockey series, and much of the groundwork for hockey blogger Eva Moreno and professional hockey player Theo Young's enemies-to-lovers romance was laid in those earlier stories. I wish there had been a prequel or flashback included in this book to remind readers of the key events that had taken place between them in the past, particularly the incident in which Theo apparently embarrassed Eva in front of some of his teammates and their significant others. That would have provided needed context for the animosity between them and helped quite a bit with the relationship development, which IMO was overall a bit lacking. To me, it seemed like they just flipped a switch and went from hating each other one minute to being "in love" the next, which was tough to believe given how genuinely nasty Theo was to Eva at times.

The character development also seemed to be a bit lacking. For example, on several occasions it was mentioned that Theo had "all those fancy degrees" (possibly in science?), and I really wanted to know more about them. What degrees did he have, and how did he find time to pursue them while also playing professional hockey? I think knowing more about Theo would have helped me like him more, which frankly was tough to do at times.

Despite my frustrations with certain aspects of the book, there were a number of things I really liked. For example, I loved how passionate Eva was about building her career as a color commentator. Sportscasting isn't an easy industry to break into, especially for a woman. Given her family commitments, she easily could have given up and taken a different job in a less competitive field, but she continued to follow her dreams until she finally achieved them.

Bottom line, I'd recommend "Breathe" for readers already familiar with the previous books in the Breakers Hockey series, but it may not be the best starting point for those who are new to Faber's work. I may revisit it (and revise my review) after reading some of the earlier stories.

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

CW: Attempted Rape/Sexual Assault; Death of Parent; Chronic Illness

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: "Flirting with the Bad Boy" by Gia Stevens

I'm pleased to participate in the release blitz promoting "Flirting with the Bad Boy" by Gia Stevens, book #4 of the Harbor Highlands series. Characters from the previous books make cameo appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

When she doesn't feel a spark while kissing the guy she thought she'd been attracted to for months, Olivia Ellis is convinced there's something wrong with her. Acting on impulse, she asks the hot, tattooed biker next to her at the bar to kiss her, and it turns out to be the hottest kiss of her life. Unfortunately, he's called away before she can get his name or number, but she can't stop thinking about him. She heads back to the bar in an attempt to track down her mystery man, but just when she thinks it's a lost cause, Olivia literally runs into him. What starts as a fling with mechanic Ledger Hudson quickly turns into something more, but things take a turn when she finds out that her friend Trey - the man she was supposed to be hooking up with the night she met Ledger - is actually Ledger's half-brother. Further complicating matters is her wealthy parents' opposition to Olivia's choice to date someone from a blue collar background. But Ledger makes Olivia happier than she's ever been. Are they strong enough to face the challenges together, or will they only drive them apart?

I really liked both Ledger and Olivia and their chemistry was undeniable. They both made some boneheaded decisions early in the story, and if they had just communicated with each other they could have avoided a lot of problems. Even though it frustrated me while I was reading, I suppose I have to give them grace since they were still learning to navigate a new relationship, and their communications skills had improved by the end. They may not have been a conventional match, but they certainly made each other happy, and I was rooting for them the whole way.

 

Overall, "Flirting with the Bad Boy" was a fun opposites attract romance, and I'd recommend it for readers who enjoy dirty-talking heroes and lots of steam. I look forward to the next book in the series.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Enticing Journey Book Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.  

 

 

About "Flirting with the Bad Boy"

He’s grumpy. A tattooed bad boy. And my best friend’s brother.

Ledger Hudson screams off limits. Instead of staying away, I tell him to kiss me. It’s a kiss that sends tingles to places I never knew could tingle. When it’s over, I need more.

This good girl craves the bad boy.

Our chemistry between the sheets…
Undeniable.
Turning the frown of the grumpasaurus upside down…
Most fun I’ve ever had.

Everything was perfect until my best friend found out.

Ledger pushes me away, saying we’re from different worlds. I tug him back, wanting to prove him wrong. When I’m dateless for the biggest gala of the year, he shows up as my knight in shiny combat boots.

All my life I’ve been forced to follow a certain set of rules and a smokin’ hot guy in ripped jeans and a motorcycle isn’t on the list. When all the secrets and lies unravel, I’m left with nothing…

Now it’s the grumpy, bad boy who’s determined to not let me go. 

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Flirting with the Bad Boy"

“Kiss me.”

Did I hear her correctly?

Slowly, I turn my head toward her. I’m greeted with topaz blue eyes. Even in the dim lighting, they sparkle. Her voice is sugary sweet, just as I suspected. I don’t do sugary. Or sweet. “Did you just ask me to kiss you?” I tip up an eyebrow at her, wanting confirmation that I heard her correctly.

“Yes. I need to know if I’m broken.”

Again, I give her another questioning eyebrow.

She sits up straighter on her stool. “Have you ever kissed someone and there was no spark?”

“Uh. No.”

“Of course, you haven’t.” Her shoulders deflate. “You’re a guy. Guys care about one thing...” She glances down at my denim covered crotch, but the way her eyes linger doesn’t go unnoticed.

“I could say the same thing about you.” I peer down at my crotch, then meet her eyes. She says nothing, just lifts her beer and takes a sip. I wasn’t expecting her to give up so fast. I figured it would take a little more than her getting caught red-handed checking me out to get her to keep quiet. Grabbing my beer, I take a celebratory gulp.

She places her beer on the bar, then swivels her stool so she’s fully facing me. “I just need you to kiss me.”

I choke on my beer as I fight not to spray it all over the bar top. As soon as I finish coughing, I turn to her. She’s not going to give up.

She inches closer to the edge of her seat. Her knees almost touching my thigh. “Kiss me. I need to know that whatever I’m feeling is just a rut, and I’m not broken.”

“Where I come from, we don’t ask. If we want to kiss someone, we just do it.”

She gives me an exasperated sigh. “I don’t go around just kissing random strangers.”

“And this is…what?”

“This is an experiment. So don’t worry about that.” She waves me off.

I bark out a laugh. For the second time in our brief conversation, she made me laugh. Twice. It’s a foreign sound as of late. What is she doing to me? I shake it off. “So, now you’re just using me?”

Her lips tip up into a smile. “For experimental purposes. You’re not really my type.”

I scoff. But truth be told, I’m hypnotized by her plump cherry red lips and curious how they would feel on mine. “Wow. An insult on top of using me. How could anyone turn down your offer? I’ll let you in on a little secret.” I lean toward her, so my face is inches from her cheek. She smells sweet and rich, like jasmine. I regain my train of thought and whisper, “You’re not really my type either, duchess.” I pull away while keeping my eyes trained on hers, wanting to catch her reaction. Her breath hitches. Then she squares her shoulders as she composes herself.

“My name’s not duchess. It’s Oli—”

“Don’t care.” I take a drink of my beer.

“Well, there’s no reason to be rude about it. All I want is one simple little favor.” She pinches her fingers centimeters apart in front of her. “Just a kiss. It’s not like I was asking you to father my children. Also, just so we’re clear, I wouldn’t want that,” she glances down at my crotch again, “anywhere near me.”

Now it’s my turn to scoff. “I guarantee you’ll be thinking about this later tonight.” I nod toward my lap. “You’ll be squirming on top of your expensive as hell silk sheets wishing I was there to take away the ache between your legs.”

Her nostrils flair as she narrows her eyes. “How dare you make assumptions about me? You know nothing about me. Hell, you don’t even want to know my name. You just think you’re some big gruff guy, with a sexy bad boy vibe, and all the women will just flock to you like a seagull to a french fry. Well, guess what? That’s all you are. A seagull.”

“Did you just compare me to a bird?” I raise an eyebrow.

Without missing a beat, she replies, “I did. Because you’re annoying with a cocky attitude.”

“You’re the one who sat down next to me and rambled on about kissing me.”

“Clearly, it was a big mistake. The last thing I would want is a limp kiss from you. And I’m sure something else would hold the same limpness.” Her eyebrows raise as she nods to my crotch again.

“You’re on a roll. Now you challenge my manhood?”

She shrugs a shoulder. “I call it like I see it.”

I lean in, my voice low. “Well duchess, I guarantee you I’d have you moaning my name in under five seconds. But I’d hate to dirty up your perfect good girl persona.”

“Good thing we’re not on a first name basis so I can’t moan anything. And once again my name isn’t duchess. What is it with guys and pet names? Is it so you can call all the girls the same name, so you never have to remember their real—”

Done with this conversation, I’ll give her what she wants and grease cover hands be damned. I wrap one hand around the back of her neck and haul her to me. Her eyebrows shoot to her hairline in surprise, and I slam my lips to hers. 

 

Review: "The Naughty or Nice List" by Ellie Hall

The Naughty or Nice List by Ellie Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grad student Rachel Moore is back in her hometown of Blizzard Bluff, Colorado to care for her sick mother when she literally runs into her former high school sweetheart, professional football player Rylen Murphy. Their awkward conversation is interrupted by the sound of kittens crying; they manage to rescue them, but in the meantime, the light snow falling around them has turned into a full-blown storm. Unable to return to her mother's house, Rachel is forced to take shelter with Rylen, his brother, and his sister-in-law at the Murphy family ranch until it's safe to travel again. It could be exactly the chance they need to figure out what went wrong between them years ago - if only Rylen didn't have the mistaken impression that Rachel is married to someone else. Those aren't the only wedding bells he's hearing, either; under the terms of his father's will, if Rylen isn't married by Christmas, he'll lose the inheritance intended to fund his non-profit. But Rachel's the only woman he's ever loved, and the only one he could imagine marrying. Can they work through all of the misunderstandings and baggage of the past to find their way back to each other?

This funny, sweet, and heartwarming story was a perfect Christmas in July read. Despite their years apart, Rachel and Rylen's connection and chemistry were as strong as ever. They each made mistakes along the way, but I loved that they came together to talk through their fears and forgive each other. The book's secondary characters were also a ton of fun, particularly Rylen's brothers and his Boston Bruisers teammates, who were featured in previous books of The Love List series. (If Rylen's brothers don't already have stories, I hope the author will consider writing them in the future!)

Overall, I very much enjoyed "The Naughty or Nice List" and highly recommend it for all fans of sweet/closed door contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to whatever Ellie Hall comes up with next!

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

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Review: "Are We There Yet?" by Savannah Scott

Are We There Yet?: A Sweet Road Trip Romcom by Savannah Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Featuring delightful characters and the wittiest of witty banter, "Are We There Yet?" by Savannah Scott was the perfect summer road trip romance. Main characters Riley Stewart and Cameron Reeves were ridiculously cute together; even though they'd known each other for years, it wasn't until they embarked on a cross-country road trip with Riley's best friend - aka Cameron's sister - Madeline and Cameron's best friend Ben that they finally started to see each other in a different light. I felt like I was right beside them in their vintage Volkswagen bus as they traveled historic Route 66, learning as much about themselves as they did the geography along the way. The relationship development was perfectly paced and the challenges they faced felt realistic and relatable. I finished the book with a huge smile on my face, and honestly, I don't think I could have loved it any more if I tried.

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming tale for all sweet/closed-door contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series!

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Under the Radar" by Melanie Moreland

I'm excited to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Under the Radar" by Melanie Moreland, book #4 of the Reynolds Restoration series. While it mostly works as a standalone, my recommendation would be to read at least the first book of the series prior to this one.

 

Finding a new roommate turns out to be more of a challenge than anticipated for Chase Donner after his friend Brett moves out of their shared rental house. He's just finished interviewing the latest in a series of weirdos when police officer Hannah Gallagher arrives on his doorstep, and he's only too happy to offer her the spot. Chase first met "Officer Cinnamon" when he was having a bad day months ago, and he still remembers her kindness. In fact, he's had a crush on her ever since and wonders if this might be his chance for it to become more. But will Hannah be able to see beyond the mistakes of his past to the man he's become?

I adored Hannah and Chase as a couple. They had fantastic chemistry, but it was easy to see how much they genuinely liked and respected each other too. I particularly appreciated how well they communicated with each other. They were consistently honest about their feelings, didn't keep secrets, and supported each other no matter the challenges they faced. The book's secondary romance between Hannah's mom Cherry and Chase's co-worker Dom was also fun, and I hope to see more of them in a future story.

 

I highly recommend "Under the Radar" for all contemporary romance fans and can't wait for the next book in the series.

 

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

 

 

About "Under the Radar"

When two new roommates discover their mutual crush, New York Times bestselling author Melanie Moreland takes us on a journey of falling in love.

One of the Donner boys. Troublemakers.
That was the reputation that followed Chase his whole life. Until he grew up and realized he could do better. Be better.
But that choice cost him. His freedom, his family, his chance at love.
By making amends, he found a different path. A new set of friends. A new family.
Life was good. He thought he’d finally found everything he needed.
Then she answered his ad.
Now the roommate he needs is the woman he wants.
Desperately.
How long can he keep his feelings under the radar?
Or is Hannah Gallagher the one to help him break free of his past once and for all? 

Review: "Dead & Breakfast" by Emma Hart

Dead & Breakfast by Emma Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a child, Charlotte O'Neil spent summers with her grandparents in the small seaside town of Fox Point. That's where she met her first love, Noah George, though they haven't spoken since they were teenagers. The relationship ended awkwardly after Lottie headed off to university in Bristol; Noah stayed behind in Fox Point and eventually ghosted her. Ten years later, Lottie's back in town for her grandfather's funeral when she learns that she's unexpectedly inherited the family bed and breakfast. She decides to stay and try to make a go of the business, though the building will need extensive renovations before it can reopen.

Unfortunately, things take a turn after Lottie has an unpleasant encounter with a property developer, Declan Tierney, who doesn't take it well when she refuses to sell him the property. The next day, she's at the bed and breakfast preparing for an electrician's visit when she stumbles upon Tierney's dead body. Noah, now a police detective, is assigned to investigate the murder, and Lottie is apparently the prime suspect. She's not going down for a crime she didn't commit, however. With a little help from Noah's twin sister Ash, she decides to do her own investigating and clear her name.

It might seem strange to describe a murder mystery as fun, but this one really was. The investigation into Tierney's murder was twisty and kept me guessing, I enjoyed the witty banter between Lottie and Noah as well as the exploration of their romantic history, and the story's secondary characters were truly entertaining, particularly Noah's sister Ash and grandmother Gwen. There is a ton of potential here for future books set in Fox Point, and I can't wait to find out what the author's planning next.

Overall, I highly recommend this story for all fans of cozy mysteries, contemporary romance, and romantic comedy. Hopefully we won't have to wait long for book 2's release!

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

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Review: "Holly vs. Mr. Ivy" by Amanda P. Jones

Holly vs. Mr. Ivy by Amanda P. Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Holly Dewhurst, executive chef at The Boardwalk restaurant, is known as the Ice Queen among her staff. She tried being friendly when she first started the job, but after several employees took advantage of her kindness, she adopted a tougher approach to management. It's not easy for Holly knowing that her staff dislikes her, but with her mom battling cancer, she has more important things to worry about. The pressure on Holly only increases when the restaurant's owner brings in a new general manager, his nephew, Everett "Rhett" Ivy, and announces that they have until New Year's Eve to increase profits by 10%. If they don't, Holly will be fired and Rhett will lose his chance of promotion to regional sales manager for the restaurant's parent company. Their interactions are somewhat tense at first, but as they work together on a plan to increase profits, Holly and Rhett gradually come to trust and rely on each other, first as co-workers, then as friends with the possibility of more. But Rhett's uncle has a strict no-dating policy in place for his employees. Will they be able to resist their attraction until it's time for Rhett to move on?

Holly and Rhett were a very sweet, well-matched couple and I enjoyed their story very much. It dealt with some fairly heavy topics for a rom-com, but the author handled each of them with grace and sensitivity. The protagonists were likeable and three-dimensional, and I loved how much they evolved over the course of the story. Having suffered from anxiety and depression myself, Rhett's character arc felt especially realistic and relatable to me. I appreciated the author's message about not being afraid to reach out for help since that is something I still struggle with at times. Finally, Holly's interactions with her brother Trevor and her cousin Noah added the perfect touch of humor to the story. I hope to see both of them again in future installments of the series.

I'd recommend "Holly vs. Mr. Ivy" for all sweet/closed-door contemporary romance fans and look forward to whatever the author writes next.

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

CW: Death of Parent; Cancer; Sexual Assault (past, off page); Depression/Anxiety

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Review: "Friends Don't" by Leah Dobrinska

Friends Don't: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy by Leah Dobrinska
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Friends Don't" was the first book I've ever read by Leah Dobrinska, but it certainly won't be the last. Main characters Poppy Kasper and Mack Bradley were incredibly likeable and relatable, and their story kept me captivated from beginning to end. I particularly loved their flirty, witty banter and how it showed a different side of Mack. They each had challenges to overcome before they could be together, but I loved the way they helped each other see things differently. They truly brought out the best in each other and I was rooting for them the whole way.

Overall, I completely adored this laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and heartwarming story and highly recommend it for fans of sweet/closed door romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series!

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

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Review: "Just a Wrong Turn" by Katie Nelson

Just a Wrong Turn: A Sweet Romantic Comedy by Katie Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Following her idol's advice to "create her own spotlight," aspiring fashion designer Liza Eckland borrows her dad's Mustang convertible and sneaks into the town Thanksgiving parade to show off her latest dress design. Unfortunately, her "wrong turn" results in a sentence of 50 hours of community service at the local dog rescue owned by her former high school classmate, Miller Brooks, who's not exactly happy to see her again. Back in high school, nerdy Miller and bubbly cheerleader Liza were on opposite ends of the popularity spectrum, but he thought they'd started to become friends in the time he spent tutoring her. He'd even developed a bit of a crush - that is, until the day Liza stood by while her (now former) boyfriend bullied and humiliated him.

Miller's no longer the scrawny nerd he was in high school, and Liza can't help but take notice. In need of a date for her sister's upcoming wedding, she proposes a plan designed to help them both: she and Miller will pretend to date so that he can make his ex-girlfriend jealous, while she gets her mother off her back. Against his better judgement, Miller agrees. Will their plan be a success, or will Liza and Miller find that their feelings for each other are more than just pretend?

This story was so cute! There were several references to the movie Legally Blond, and I can definitely see the similarities between Liza and Elle Woods. Liza's sweet, bubbly personality masked an unexpected wit and determination, and I grew to like her her more and more as time went on. Even though they seemed like complete opposites at first, she and Miller balanced each other perfectly, and I was rooting for them the whole way.

I'd recommend "Just a Wrong Turn" for all fans of sweet/closed-door (kissing only) contemporary romance and romantic comedy. It was the first book I've read by this author but certainly won't be the last.

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

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