Tag: Romance

Book Review – 28 Summers

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand / Genre: Romance

Synopsis

When Mallory Blessing’s son, Link, receives deathbed instructions from his mother to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk drawer, he’s not sure what to expect. But he certainly does not expect Jake McCloud to answer. It’s the late spring of 2020 and Jake’s wife, Ursula DeGournsey, is the frontrunner in the upcoming Presidential election.

There must be a mistake, Link thinks. How do Mallory and Jake know each other?

Flash back to the sweet summer of 1993: Mallory has just inherited a beachfront cottage on Nantucket from her aunt, and she agrees to host her brother’s bachelor party. Cooper’s friend from college, Jake McCloud, attends, and Jake and Mallory form a bond that will persevere — through marriage, children, and Ursula’s stratospheric political rise — until Mallory learns she’s dying.

Based on the classic film Same Time Next Year (which Mallory and Jake watch every summer), 28 Summers explores the agony and romance of a one-weekend-per-year affair and the dramatic ways this relationship complicates and enriches their lives, and the lives of the people they love.

Thoughts

A quick read that kept my attention from the first page to the tear filled last few pages!

This was a great story that earned 4 stars from me.

Book Review – How To Fail At Flirting

How To Fail At Flirting by Denise Williams / Genre: Contemporary/Romance

Synopsis

One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down.

When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost.

Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career.

Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again. 

Thoughts

A really good fast paced read and while most of the book was light hearted the subject of domestic violence was woven throughout the storyline (mostly towards the end) so this could be a difficult read for some.

I gave this book 4/5 stars.

Book Review – What You Wish For

What You Wish For by Katherine Center
Genre: Romance

Synopsis:

Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before.

When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.

Thoughts:

I received an advance review ecopy of What You Wish For for free from NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily. The book is due to be published on July 14, 2020 from St. Martins Press.

I have quickly become a fan of Katherine Center’s books! Her newest book is laugh out loud funny with lovable characters. While it’s a light hearted fun read, it also tackles the serious topic of ptsd and finding joy in life after living through a tragic event. This book did not disappoint and I think it will make a great summer read this year!

I gave this book 4/5 stars.

Book Review – Finding Annie

Finding Annie by Katherine Turner
Genre: Romance

Synopsis

Heartbreaking and redemptive, Annie’s story reveals the strength of her spirit, the healing power of unconditional love, and the potential of unexpected relationships to teach us to accept ourselves.

When Annie returns to the town where she grew up after twelve years, she plans to house-sit for her mother and take a much-needed break from her stressful job and worsening anxiety. But revisiting the past is never straightforward, and she soon discovers that she can no longer run from the things she’s tried so hard to leave behind.

Her ex-boyfriend Rob, the once-love of her life, is still living in her hometown, and Annie barely has time to process what seeing him again could mean before another surprising figure appears on her friend and mentor’s doorstep. Suddenly, Annie’s quiet sabbatical has turned into a whirlwind of traumatic memories and new romance, and the responsibility of navigating her PTSD without burdening anyone else in her life threatens to overwhelm her.

But even flawed love can help us to heal in unexpected ways, if we can only learn to accept it. Annie’s journey will keep readers glued to the page, brimming with compassion and rooting for her to find the love and peace she deserves.

Thoughts

I received an advance review ecopy of Finding Annie for free from BookSirens and am leaving this honest review voluntarily. The book is due to come out on April 10, 2020.

Full Disclosure: The subject matter of this book is pretty heavy as it deals with the subject of rape and a woman’s journey to heal and find strength again.

I don’t mind cursing in a book, but this book had it on steroids. I don’t think it was necessary and wouldn’t have taken away from the story if it had been toned down. I also had a hard time relating to Rob and Annie’s relationship. I felt like Rob was pretty controlling of Annie and was kind of surprised that they ended up together in the end.

Not a horrible story, but this one was just an ok read for me and I gave it 3/5 stars.

Book Review – The Confetti Pact

The Confetti Pact by Lilly Bartlett
Genre: Romance

Synopsis:

Nelly Roberts needs a fiancé – fast!

When she’s left in the lurch with not just a wedding but also the country’s biggest magazine feature on the line, social media star, Nelly, has no choice but to substitute one groom for another. Luckily, Rafael Moreno Cortes needs a visa, so they make a deal: act the perfect couple for as long as it takes to get them both what they want. The catch? Absolutely nobody can know the truth.

With the magazine following their every move, Nelly’s ex re-emerges with a change of heart just as her pretend feelings for Rafael start to be anything but pretend. What could possibly go wrong? 

Thoughts:

I was contacted by Michele Gorman (aka Lilly Bartlett) asking if I would like to read her latest book, The Confetti Pact, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was hilarious and laugh out loud funny. It was a fast, light hearted read and I just loved the characters and the plot.

This book comes out on February 12, 2020, and for the month of February, Amazon is offering the Ebook for $2.99!

If you like romances with quirky characters, this book is for you!

I gave this book a 5 star rating.

Book Review – The White Christmas Inn

The White Christmas Inn by Colleen Wright
Genre: Romance

Synopsis:

A New England inn seems like the picture-perfect place to spend the holidays. But when a snowstorm shuts the roads and keeps the guests inside, they find themselves worrying that this Christmas may not be exactly what they dreamed.

Molly just needs to keep her head down and finish her latest book, but her writer’s block is crippling. The arrival of Marcus, a handsome widower with two young girls, is exactly the distraction she doesn’t need.

Hannah had planned a picturesque winter wedding, but as the storm hits, her plans come crashing down. Just when she thinks she’ll never love again, her childhood friend, Luke, comes to check on his grandmother before the storm. Could there be romance in her future after all?

Jean and Tim don’t know how they’re going to keep the inn open another year – or how to bridge the distance between them in their marriage. With a flurry od unexpected guests, they’ll have to work together to keep their little inn afloat. But will it be enough to rekindle their relationship?

As the characters’ stories intertwine, they start to find hope where they thought it had been lost. Though this is definitely not the Christmas any of them imagined, with faith and a little bit of holiday magic, they all might just find this the most wonderful Christmas ever.

Thoughts:

This was such a heart warming beautiful story. I found myself cheering on the characters hoping that they all made it through their trials and tribulations. A wonderful book to give you all of the cozy holiday feels!

I rated this book 4/5 stars.

Book Review – Things You Save In A Fire

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center
Genre: Romance

This year I’m reading a lot of books by authors who are new to me. I’ve never read a book by Katherine Center before, so Things You Save In A Fire fits into that list. It’s a romance, which I typically don’t gravitate towards, but to me, this book was so much more than just a romance.

We follow Cassie Hanwell, a female firefighter/paramedic in Texas. She relocates to Massachusetts to assist her estranged mother who is ill. She fits in great with her fellow firefighters in Texas, but quickly learns that the station she ends up going to in Massachusetts isn’t so keen on embracing her.

Cassie has to learn if she can mend ways with her mom and prove herself as being capable of doing her job with the crew at the new station. On top of that, she is falling for the new rookie. There’s just one problem. Her old Captain gave her the following advice . . . Never Date Firefighters.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s fast paced and kept me engaged from start to finish. HIGHLY recommend!!

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating.