Tag: love

eARC Review – You Deserve Each Other

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Title: You Deserve Each Other

Author: Sarah Hogle

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Publication date: April 7th, 2020

368 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They’re preparing for their lavish wedding that’s three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there’s a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they’re finally being themselves–and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.

Review

Thank you to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Sarah Hogle for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

You Deserve Each Other is a refreshingly new take on romance. Nicholas and Naomi are engaged, but seriously hate each other. Resentment has built silently on both sides for a year and their pride is too strong to be the first to break. But in love, there’s no room for mistrust or selfishness. They need to make a choice, but with a manipulative and conniving future MIL and Naomi’s unstable employment status – no decision is easy.

I’m here for this lovers to enemies to lovers action. Told from Naomi’s POV, the reader gets a firsthand look into how dysfunctional the relationship has gotten. It’s clear Nicholas and Naomi have both given up, but when Naomi realizes Nicholas is just as unhappy, they both snap into being petty and trying to make each other miserable enough to end the engagement. I loved the petty drama and it was LOL funny to see what pranks they would pull next.

Nicholas’ mother was a delightfully evil character. The drama she added to the story line was perfect and helped push Naomi and Nicholas along.

I adored that this book, more than anything, was about Naomi and Nicholas becoming friends again. It’s important for relationships to not just be about the romance, but also enjoying each other’s company and hobbies.

I absolutely adored this book and you should all read this pronto.

Happy reading, folks!

eARC Review – The Honey Don't List

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Title: The Honey Don’t List

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: Gallery Books

Publication date: March 24th, 2020

320 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

Review

**Thank you to Edelweiss, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

Friends! I was SO STOKED to have the chance to read and review this title early and it did not disappoint! Christina Lauren has done it again with an amazing romance novel that will have you swooning well after you’ve closed the book.

The Honey Don’t List follows Carey, the assistant to Melly Tripp a home design wizard with her husband Rusty, who does the remodeling and renovations. She has worked for them for 10 years and is very devoted to the couple, even though they are not as perfect as social media would have it seem. James McCann is running from a bad experience at his last job, and took this gig with the Tripp’s as an opportunity to be an engineer, but instead got stuck being Rusty’s assistant. He is not happy with this development to say the least. Carey and James must keep their bosses’ marriage together while doing press for their new book and Netflix TV show, which turns out to be harder than anticipated…

As usual Christina Lauren creates a book with many layers, which they are so adept at revealing at the perfect time. Carey and James start off as enemies but soon become teammates on the journey of keeping their bosses’ image intact, as it benefits both of them. During this time, they get closer and their bond gets deeper – they learn each other’s secrets. James helps Carey with the pieces of her life she isn’t ready to face yet. They are so sweet together and I just can’t get over it.

The Tripp’s are crazy town and it makes this book so very entertaining. Their marriage is a complete disaster and I love the irony of them releasing a marriage advice book while theirs is in shambles. I really disliked both of the characters honestly, they both are tragically messed up and even worse together.

I loved everything about this book, and it had all the elements of a perfect adult contemporary romance book. I also love the nod to mental health and work, because work really can have a negative effect on your wellbeing and it’s nice to see that story told in a book. If you love Christina Lauren books, go preorder your copy because it is worth the hype!

Happy reading, folks!

Book Review – Meet Cute

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“Sometimes the darkest tragedies bring us the brightest lights” 

Title: Meet Cute

Author: Helena Hunting

Publisher: Forever

Publication date: April 9th, 2019

384 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Talk about an embarrassing introduction. On her first day of law school, Kailyn ran—quite literally—into the actor she crushed on as a teenager, ending with him sprawled on top of her. Mortified to discover the Daxton Hughes was also a student in her class, her embarrassment over their meet-cute quickly turned into a friendship she never expected. Of course, she never saw his betrayal coming either…

Now, eight years later, Dax is in her office asking for legal advice. Despite her anger, Kailyn can’t help feeling sorry for the devastated man who just became sole guardian to his thirteen-year-old sister. But when her boss gets wind of Kailyn’s new celebrity client, there’s even more at stake than Dax’s custody issues: if she gets Dax to work at their firm, she’ll be promoted to partner.

The more time Kailyn spends with Dax and his sister, the more she starts to feel like a family, and the more she realizes the chemistry they had all those years ago is as fresh as ever. But will they be able to forgive the mistakes of the past, or will one betrayal lead to another?

Review

I think it’s interesting that you have a thing for the teenage version of me but you’re not all that fond of the real, adult version.

Helena Hunting, Meet Cute

Meet Cute starts off with a, well, meet cute on a college campus. Kailyn runs into Daxton Hughes, the star of her favorite childhood show. She literally runs into him while walking to a law school class. Their exchange is adorable, but not much really comes from it. Fast forward several years, and they are both lawyers but don’t communicate with each other. Kailyn is pissed at Dax – but when his parents die and he becomes the guardian of his 13 year old sister, Kailyn gets involved in handling Emme’s trust.

I thought Meet Cute was deep and heartfelt with some serious themes and intense plot lines. It is not a boiler plate rom com novel, there’s death and legal battles. I liked the marriage of lighthearted and serious and I feel like it was done really well. Kailyn and Dax also have an interesting relationship, and their history together is funny and endearing. However, Emme completely steals the show and I adored her character.

The concept was very good and different, but I couldn’t help being mad at one of the characters (no spoilers). But really, there was a whole situation that was very frustrating (by design) and drove a lot of the drama in the book.

One aspect I really loved was Kailyn’s relationship with Emme. She went above and beyond for that little girl after a tragedy left her without parents, and she did NOT have to. All she had to do legally was make sure Emme’s trust was being handled properly, and she was out buying Emme her first set of period essentials and having the period and sex talk with her. It was amazing how far Kailyn was willing to go to help that little girl.

Basically, if you are a fan of adult contemporary romance, you should check out Meet Cute.

Happy reading, folks!

Book Review – The Search

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“Everything I know, I learned from dogs.”

Title: The Search

Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Publication date: July 6th, 2010

488 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life: a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescue. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare.

Several years ago, she was the only survivor of a serial killer — a madman who stalked and abducted young women, strangled them, and left them buried with a red scarf on their bodies. As authorities were closing in on the Red Scarf Killer, he shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.

On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. Yet all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He’s the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon’s house, and he’s at his wit’s end.

To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can’t handle. Simon is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he’s a rugged and intensely private artist, known for creating exquisite furniture. Simon never wanted a puppy, and he most definitely doesn’t want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to the laws of attraction.

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws and as Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona’s life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands.

Review

Properly trained, a man can be a dog’s best friend.

Nora Roberts, The Search

I read The Search for the first time many years ago, while on vacation. I had run out of books to read so I stole one of my mom’s and it was a GREAT DECISION. I loved The Search and when recently at the library I had the urge to seek it out and read again, and it was also a great decision.

Fiona is a dog trainer living on an island off the coast of Washington, trying to escape her past. She trains Search and Rescue dogs, and is quite good at it. You wouldn’t know by looking at her that years ago she was the target of a serial killer, and was the only woman to escape. Now, her past is trying to find her again as a copycat is taunting her with reminders that she is the one that got away. In comes Simon, a man new to the island and new to puppy ownership. Jaws needs some training, and Fiona is the right woman for the job. But is she also the right woman for Simon?

Again, I loved this book. It’s long without seeming long, and it is gripping from start to finish. It is not a stereotypical romance where that is the sole plot and theme of the book, instead the romance is equally weighted with the serial killer and dog training plot lines. This made for a diverse and interesting read that wasn’t focused too closely on her finding a man.

I adore serial killer books, it’s like a guilty pleasure for me. It’s one plot that I will forever love to read. I especially preferred this book because it is in no way a mystery or a thriller. That genre tends to scare me more, which doesn’t lead to an enjoyable reading experience (though I am trying to branch out in that direction). Instead, The Search involves thrilling scenes without being classified as a thriller.

I do also love the romance between Fiona and Simon. It’s not quite hate to love, but more like dislike to love. They don’t exactly get along at first, and they have differences that really grate on each others nerves, but none of that matters in the face of the huge attraction they have for each other. It’s really a no nonsense love affair, without nearly as much dramatics as others. Their differences are actually quite enjoyable and adorable to read, because it’s all small things – not large issues.

Lastly, the dogs. I will ALWAYS be here for books with dogs, especially where they do amazing things like find lost children and hikers. There are so many GOOD DOGGOS in this book and it warms my heart. Basically this book has everything that I love while also being supremely well written. I mean, it’s Nora Roberts. She doesn’t have scads of published books because her writing sucks.

Anyway, thank you for joining me on this rant about The Search. Even if you’re not a huge Adult Romance or Nora Roberts fan, I do still think this book would be worth it to read. I don’t prefer Nora Roberts books as a rule, which is why I feel I can say this.

Happy reading, folks!

eARC Review – Bad Bachelor

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Title: Bad Bachelor

Author: Stephanie Londer

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication date: March 3rd, 2020 (first published March 6th, 2018)

368 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Everybody’s talking about the hot new app reviewing New York’s most eligible bachelors. But why focus on prince charming when you can read the latest dirt on the lowest-ranked “Bad Bachelors”—NYC’s most notorious bad boys.

If one more person mentions Bad Bachelors to Reed McMahon, someone’s gonna get hurt. A PR whiz, Reed is known as an ‘image fixer’ but his womanizing ways have caught up with him. What he needs is a PR miracle of his own.

When Reed strolls into Darcy Greer’s workplace offering to help save the struggling library, she isn’t buying it. The prickly Brooklynite knows Reed is exactly the kind of guy she should avoid. But the library does need his help. As she reluctantly works with Reed, she realizes there’s more to a man than his reputation. Maybe, just maybe, Bad Bachelor #1 is THE one for her. 

Review

**Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Casablance, and Stephanie London for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

I absolutely adored everything about this rom com story with Reed and Darcy. Told from both perspectives, it’s a love story that will capture your heart and make you think twice about dating apps.

Darcy is trying to get back into the dating scene after calling off her wedding at the last minute when her fiance cheats on her. Reed doesn’t want to date… at all. When their lives are pulled together through work, Darcy recognizes his name as one of the most infamous men on the new dating app, Bad Bachelor. Women are able to submit reviews of men after dating them, and every review Reed has is bad. That doesn’t stop the spark of interest Darcy feels upon meeting him for the first time, especially when he is her match at witty banter. Reed convinced himself he doesn’t have time for dating, and he doesn’t give much stock in the reviews on Bad Bachelor. But when it starts to affect his family, he starts to suspect there’s more behind the app and to the drama.

Darcy and Reed are just the cutest, and I will ship them forever. It’s true, some of the tropes are a bit cliche and have been done before, but I love the idea of the dating app – it’s different than anything I’ve read before. I also have a soft spot for the “bad boy” trope, especially when it isn’t ‘deserved’. The steam meter was good, but not 50 Shades level of spice. The romance flowed easily, sometimes in romance novels they jump immediately into bed or a switch flips and you’re unsure how they got there – not in this book. It is a bit of a build up to the big event.

I read this all in one day, it hit every spot that I look for in romance to keep me interested, and making me wish Reed had his sights set on me instead of Darcy.

Book Review – The Unhoneymooners

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Title: The Unhoneymooners

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: Gallery Books

Publication date: May 14th, 2019

400 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky.

Review

I can appreciate my body in a bikini and still want to set fire to the patriarchy.

christina lauren, the unhoneymooners

Friends, I officially love Christina Lauren and their books. This is my first read from the writing duo, but I am an auto buyer for life now. I really can’t wait to read more from them. I picked this up on a whim in Rehoboth Beach while browsing an independent book store – mostly because it was used and on sale. I am SO GLAD I DID!

The Unhoneymooners tracks Olive, a quirky and loud woman who has no shame or filter. This makes Ethan, our other MC, uncomfortable because he isn’t sure how to handle her. Olive’s twin sister is getting married to Ethan’s younger brother, so they are forced to spend time together. When everyone but them gets sick at the wedding, they are forced into taking the honeymoon together so it doesn’t go to waste. They try so hard to stay away from each other, but sometimes differences have a way of attracting…

Y’allll Olive is my love. If Ethan didn’t end up with her, I totally would have. Christina Lauren manages to really craft well-rounded characters in stand-alone novels, which is impressive to me and lends to a better read. I really understood Olive’s point of view and where she was coming from – but same with Ethan. Their romance was easy to read and easy to love.

This is a total beach read. If you have this on your TBR, either read it immediately (because hello, it’s amazing) or save if for the beach vacation you’re dreaming about now in the dead of winter. I personally read this on my couch, but would have loved to be toes in the water, ass in the sand with it and a fruity drink – doesn’t help that most of it is set in Hawaii!!

Please read this is you love contemporary romance! Happy reading, bookish friends! 🙂