3 stars
Source: Publisher
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
A Netflix Original Series!
Welcome back to Virgin River with the book that started it all…
Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against a backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.
When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad, she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving—the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she’s made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.
But a tiny baby abandoned on a front porch changes her plans…and former marine Jack Sheridan cements them into place.
I am not going to lie, this wasn't a favourite and I'd seen the show before reading the first book in this series and couldn't help but compare the two. I didn't hate it, though, and did end up finishing it quite quickly because I was invested in Jack and Mel and their relationship... but I've read better. This is not a new favourite and I think maybe the show worked better for me.
First off, I found at times the description of women and their bodies to be a little uncomfortable. Jack instantly was eyeing Mel up when she was in his bar. She was rain-soaked and not exactly in a chatty mood. I mean, the checking out wasn’t questionable, at a bar folks check each other out. But some of the descriptions used when he saw made him sound a little skeevy. And then when you see how he views Charmaine, his booty call woman he has in Clear River, and then I began to dislike him. She's referred to as older and a little past it and he basically says she looks a little trashy and I'm like ‘dude, you're sleeping with her yet you're being a dick about her. She's too good for you’. He did later mention that appearances are deceiving and that she is actually such a good woman but it was so critical. And then Mel looks at a 14-year-old girl and mentions the way she dressed has her thinking she should be on birth control but she'd hardly spoken to her. I guess it made me a little uncomfortable at times. I know we can all get a bit judgemental initially meeting folks but I didn’t like it. Thankfully, my rough start to the book didn’t carry on through. Things got better and Jack grew on me. But Mel and Jack are not my favourite couple ever. If the show is to be believed, I do want to read Preacher’s romance as that sounds interesting.
Then there was the fact Mel fell so easily pregnant when it was mentioned she struggled with her husband. It just didn't feel believable. It was a convenient ending that was nice but did have me rolling my eyes.
It wasn’t all bad, though. I liked the differences to the show. Jack was more likeable in that he split with Charmaine before growing close to Mel. I know I said he felt a bit skeevy eyeing up Mel as soon as he met her, but I also found that he was more respectable. he didn’t emotionally cheat on his girlfriend and he wasn’t messing her about. He was honest with what he wanted and when it seemed like he could have feelings elsewhere he did something about it. And Doc was easier to like in his grumpy ways in this book. You get to know him and although he’s a curmudgeon, he was nice from the very start. I did miss the relationship between Doc and Hope in the book, though. That added a nice dynamic between the two and explained Hope’s motives way better. We hardly got to see her in the books.
Look, it’s a mixed bag one with this one. I did enjoy it and I’ll probably continue reading more of the books… but the show definitely ironed out a couple of things… but then the book did other things better. It was alright, and I read the whole thing and did enjoy myself so that’s the main thing. But the TV series? It was just kind of bingeable and maybe not the most ground-breaking show, but you know those shoes you end up curling up watching in your PJs? This is one of them. I suppose the books are the same, they aren’t groundbreaking but you end up curling up in your PJs and speeding right on through to the end and you’re always left happy by the end.
Have you read this? Tell me your thoughts if I should continue the series. And what was the last book you read where the TV/movie adaptation was better?
Meet Cute – Helena HuntingPublished: 9th April 2019
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
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?
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This was an impulsive request on Netgalley I was surprised to be approved for but happy about. The cute cover and the name Helena Hunting made me want to read. I was slightly disappointed before I even picked this up to see a couple of bloggers I follow rating it lower than I hoped so brought my expectations down accordingly. And still, I was a little disappointed by what I read.
The book opened when Kailyn and Dax are at law school and her first meeting with him, and their second. And then there’s a quick rush job of them being friendly rivals and the statement that he screwed her over and then we flash-forward to present day and their meeting whilst she’s holding a grudge. Right of the bat that annoyed me because it was like getting given a quick summary rather than actually putting the work in for the setup. It felt lazy. Either put the work in and have a few chapters dedicated to their time at law school or don’t talk about it at all and have their first meeting be in the present and have it explained why Kailyn is shocked to see him. Don’t infodump their history on me!
I brushed that annoyance off, though, because I did like the voice of Kailyn. She seemed funny and a bit weird and fine sometimes her quirks and humour felt a little forced, but as a whole I liked her. She had the kind of inner voice that instantly makes me interested, the slightly awkward but hardworking woman and I liked her she and her BFF joked about date night because that’s the kind of thing I do with my friend. But then the book continued to bother me with telling me stuff. Like Dax finding out about the death of his parents. It felt like we just get to meet him and it’s dumped right on us his parents have died. I felt no connection or emotional impact from it. Same as when he had to tell his sister. That should be such an emotional moment and nothing. And then we hop right over the funeral. The timeline of events just felt rushed and all over the place. And our ‘villain’ of the book didn’t feel genuine. Either make me hate her or make me sympathise with her, but because we were told too much I think I felt distance from all of the characters.
I will say the tone of the book is spot on. I liked the light humour and I did like Dax’s sister, Emme. She was at that brilliantly awkward teenage age where everything is drama but also where she starts to show a good level of maturity. I liked the moments where she was involved but even when she was there I still didn’t find myself emotionally invested in her struggles.
Meet Cute was a nice read, I enjoyed myself most of the time I was reading it… but I can’t claim it will be memorable. It’s been a few days already since I finished it when I’m writing this review and already I have to glance at small notes I made and look back at the book to refresh myself and that’s not something you want to be doing for a fun romance. It’s not bad and I know this book will hit the spot for a lot of readers, but I had issues, I think.
Have you read this, what did you think? And do you ever find books lose you when they’re telling you too much of the story rather than making you feel invested?
I figured a return to blogging should include a little catch up (and an attempt to get my Netgalley shelf back under control). As such, we have a few actual bite sized reviews (because I acknowledge I have a habit of rambling in even my shorter reviews). There is no theme, literally a mish-mash of books I should have reviewed for the past 2 months. I have a couple more to come and then I might talk about my bookish highlights from the past couple of months because I’ve read some awesome books lately (although these ARC reviews might make it seem like I haven’t).
From Duke Till Dawn (The London Underground #1) – Eva Leigh
Published: 26th July 2018
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: DNF 20%
Eva Leigh launches a seductive new series that sizzles with the dark secrets of London’s underworld…‘It’s not my habit to seduce impoverished widows…’The Duke of Greyland lost his heart – and a princely sum – to a charming, beautiful and destitute widow who, after one passionate night, vanished without a trace. Cassandra Blair grew up on the city streets, picking pockets to survive. Greyland was a rich mark – to be fleeced and forgotten – only she’d never forgotten him.Years later, chance brings them together again, in a London gaming hell. Grayland is desperate to have her… never suspecting everything about his lover was a lie. But finding herself in dire financial straits, at risk of losing everything, Cassandra has no choice but to beg the man she betrayed for help.The proud Duke will assist her under one condition: she doesn’t leave his sight until her debts are paid! But can the real Cassandra – the smart, streetwise survivor – steal his heart all over again?Book one in the Scandalous Ladies of London series
Let’s begin with a DNF (or two). I thought this would be a fun read of a Duke meeting with the woman who scammed him and forcing her to stay with him until her debts are paid. I obviously should have read the summary much more closely as it does say he never suspects his lover of a single night scammed him. Well, his naivete and how utterly gullible he was pissed me right off. He was annoying and a wet blanket to be honest. I didn’t like him one jot. He was boring. So I began reading this book of a woman who scammed a man over one night and then left him with no intention of seeing him again and whilst I probably would have grown to like her (have to respect a woman who is making it on her own scamming the rich) I didn’t ever get to know her because boring mc-boringpants The Duke of Greyland was the one whose perspective you had at the start and he just gradually pissed me off by being an utter idiot so I DNF-ed before the book actually made me angry.
Does it count that I liked the idea at least?
Published: 30th October 2018
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating: DNF 20%
When Nik Paterson went to the Dodgers game with her C-list actor boyfriend, Ford, for his birthday, she expected nothing more than a few boring hours with him and his bros. She certainly didn't expect a Jumbotron proposal. Or her name to be misspelled. Or to go viral in minutes...Carlos Ibarra wants to hang out with his sister, catch a Dodgers game, and relax for once. But when a camera crew descends on Nik after the disastrous proposal, he has to rescue her. After they flee the stadium, he delivers her into the arms of her supportive girlfriends, and they both think they'll never see each other again.Fate has other plans. Nik and Carlos keep crossing paths, accidentally and on purpose. When they finally give in to their attraction to each other, they are on the same page: sex and nothing more. But the proposed friends-with-benefits relationship is turning into something more, and the pair have to decide if they have room in their lives for love.
DNF number 2 was an upsetting one for me. I’d seen other bloggers review and although I hadn’t seen any 5-star reviews I had seen positive ones. Sure, people’s small criticisms did raise a few red flags for me, but just to go in wary. Sadly, I think my opinions may have been coloured by those other bloggers… or I am just less willing to put up with books I’m not behind 100%. Whatever happened I ended up not clicking with this book.
Carlos, we met in The Wedding Date and I was interested to see his story and so when we’re introduced to Nik I was excited. Nik seemed like she would be sassy and fun… but I just didn’t feel a spark between the two when I was reading. The chemistry wasn’t there for me so I didn’t feel invested in the path of them getting together. I mean, this is a term normally reserved for several YA books I've read, but it felt a little insta-lovey. I in no way believed the spark that apparently existed. I know in romance characters go on about how good looking the other is and about how they've kept thinking about them but although Carlos's rescue was kind I could not see Nik pursuing more from that alone. Both of them were apparently interested but I didn’t get why when reading. And when you were in Carlos’s head and he was thinking things like ‘is that a hint’ or ‘is she giving me signals’ and all that crap just made me like him. Yeah, folks probably do have those thoughts but it was so jarring to read them!
There were characters I was interested to learn more about (I loved Nik’s friends) but that was not enough to keep me reading.
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:
An heiress with a daring proposal. An earl who’s determined to resist her. And a love that just might be written in the stars…
Recently jilted by his fiancée, David Gray, Earl of Ravenport is not in the market for a wife. Even if Gray didn’t have his hands full renovating his crumbling country house, it would take more than a bold marriage proposal from a headstrong young beauty to thaw his frozen heart. Gray is confident that spending a week at his ramshackle estate will change her mind about marriage, but every passionate moment he spends with her tempts him to change his…
A talented artist, Miss Fiona Hartley desperately needs her dowry money to pay off a blackmailer set on ruining her sister. The handsome earl seems a sensible choice for a husband…if only she can convince him that romance will play no part. But marrying in name only may prove difficult for Fiona. Gray can’t help but be dazzled by her genuine warmth. Yet as their feelings deepen, Fiona’s deadline looms. Will her secrets destroy them, or is true love their final destiny?
This one I finished (yay) and it was a more middling read for me. I certainly enjoyed myself from time to time but it’s been a month and looking back on this one I have to flick back to my comments I wrote whilst reading because it’s not stood the books amnesia test well. That’s not to say that’s a point against this book, I forget many a book, but if I hadn’t have reread the summary and had a couple of notes to hand I definitely wouldn’t have remembered anything of this book.
There was something which stopped me fully invested in reading this. I did enjoy it and both the characters appealed to me, the Earl was interesting and I liked him, and Fiona’s quest to receive her dowry to pay a blackmailer was pretty exciting (although a touch farfetched). I liked how Fiona was not daunted by anything, she made the most of things and went with it and who can’t respect that in a woman. I did like the interaction between our romantic couple but I just didn’t fully wholeheartedly invested. I did roll my eyes a little as the mystery of the blackmailer was revealed too, because really? I don’t know. It was enjoyable enough and I’d read more from Anna Bennett because hopefully, it would click next time.
Published: 1st March 2018
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
Welcome to Gold Valley, Oregon, where a rough-and-tumble rancher and the girl next door are about to learn that opposites attract
Olivia Logan has a plan: win back her ex by making him see what he’s missing. But first she needs to find a man who’s willing to play along. With his laid-back cowboy charm and knack for getting under her skin, Luke Hollister is an unlikely hero—but he wants her help convincing her father to sell him land, which means he needs her as much as she needs him.
Luke likes his life—and his women—uncomplicated. So why does good girl Olivia heat his blood like no one else? She’s always been off-limits, but the more time they spend as Gold Valley’s hottest new “couple,” the more real it’s starting to feel. Luke was supposed to help her win back another man…not keep her in his arms. But now that he has her there, he’s not sure he’ll ever let go.
This one I honestly don’t remember why I requested this on Netgalley because apart from the fake relationship aspect (which is my bread and butter) there is nothing about this which would usually appeal. Cowboys are not my jam in romance (and why are they so popular, there a whole heap of cowboy romances out there in the world!). That being said I did enjoy this but it was another middling read as a whole and that was mostly because the fake relationship didn’t last all that long. The very beginning had Olivia and Luke faking their relationship but it very swiftly turned to a genuine one and this pare who were convinced they weren’t going to be together realised that they had a serious case of denial because there were sparks flying and they definitely were meant to be. I mean, I think that aspect would have worked for me but the part that really annoyed me was Olivia had broken up with her ex to try and push him to ‘put a ring on it’. That kind of game playing rubs me the wrong way so that and her uppity attitude you get from her at the start put me off. You do get to see another side of her but I think as a whole she was never destined to be a heroine I loved because I prefer them a bit more stubborn and with a bit more attitude. In the end, it was ok and I enjoyed it… but I wouldn’t go back for more.
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
My Rating:
In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.
In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.
This is one I had been excited for, I loved Destiny Soria’s debut, Iron Cast, and so when I saw she had a new fantasy novel coming out I most definitely wanted to read. think my expectations had been a touch high because although I enjoyed it, it didn’t compare to that debut for me. That being said, I don’t really think a novel set in alternate history Boston in 1919 can really be compared to a full fantasy novel set in its own world where there is a city controlled by a government who uses prophecies to stay in power. They're not really comparable so if you loved Iron Cast then be prepared for a different kind of book in this one (which I thought I was but I still something didn’t work for me).
I will say, though, I wasn’t in a fantasy mood when I started this so even I knew it would be a struggle for it to click into place and work for me so the poor book started on the backfoot. It also had multiple POV, not loads, but more than I like in my books and that put me off it a little too. The characters were all interesting and I loved seeing the dynamics between each of them, from Cassa and her back and forth with Evander, to Evander interacting with his sister, Alys. Each character has a distinct personality so even if it hadn’t said at the start of a chapter, you knew whose POV you were reading from. Sadly, I think the multiple POV meant I didn’t connect quick enough with the characters. For the first quarter of the book at least I couldn’t figure why I should care about these characters and even them investigating the corruption of the government did nothing for me.
Maybe if I’d begin this book at another time I’d be raving about. I will say no one can complain about a book which has so much diversity within its pages, from racial diversity to sexual with gay and bi characters. I do appreciate when fantasy novels make the effort because there has been too little diversity in them for too long. I just wish I’d been in a fantasy reading mood for this one as my rating is very much influenced by that.
And this is my first mish-mash of reviews for a little while. I had another one or two I could have included but 5 should be enough for now. Have you read any of these, what did you think?
You guys might have thought I wouldn’t continue with my lost ARCs series but I totally am… even if one of them is actually only like a week old. I still read two more ARCs on my reading list and that is a victory for me while I stall in my reading.
Published: 10th August 2017
Source: Author
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating:
When destiny and desire collide...
In a community full of supernatural powers, eighteen-year-old Jewel longs for a life of normalcy. But nothing in her life is ordinary. And suddenly she discover she's more abnormal than she ever realized--complete with a past she never knew existed. Once a goddess from ancient Greece, Jewel is the main reason everyone has their special abilities.
As she struggles with her newfound knowledge, Jewel encounters the mysterious god of Egypt, Anubis. With a past she has no recollection of, she tries to deny the pull she has for the sexy god. But, destiny has other plans. As she uncovers more secrets about who she really is, Jewel is pulled into a dangerous world surrounded by a prophecy--a prophecy that both terrifies and intrigues her. Will Jewel accept who she once was for a chance to become who she's meant to be?
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.
I first saw this book over at Feed Your Fiction Addiction and was interested. It sounded original with the inclusion of gods and mythology, and the mixing of different mythologies. I do love a good mythology based book, after all. I admit, I had my own ideas of what this book would be like and it ended up being nothing like I was expecting and that is both a good and bad thing.
I was not expecting the sci-fi element to this book. I think because I knew there was a Greek/Egyptian gods element I was expecting more of a fantasy read and that was what I was craving so there was that. It meant I was waiting for elements to be included which never came it didn’t feed that craving of mine. I did like the really unique take on the gods, though. I loved the originality as it made them far more interesting and original than you get in most mythology influenced books.
I struggled to connect with the characters a little. I think because there wasn't enough introduction to the story and characters for my liking. Instead, it just gets going with all these characters introduced and you're dropped into the world of the Evols. In some ways that is a good thing, I prefer a fast pace, but I would have liked to get to know Jewel a bit more first so I could have felt a bit more connected with her from the start. The same goes for Anubis who begins loving Jewel and it was obvious. I would have liked him to be a touch more reserved about it so it would have felt like they were falling for one another from the start. I do love a good romance after all.
Despite feeling a distance from the characters at times I was interested in the story. I would have liked to learn more about the Egyptian gods but I hope that will come in the next book as Jewel learns more so shall we. I think this was a good start and it was interesting and fast paced with plenty more to come.
Published: 1st November 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
The magic of Christmas…Abandoned by his mother on Christmas Day, James Hammond wishes he could simply erase the date. So when his company buys a new toy store devoted to Christmas, he wants to seal the deal and get home. Until he finds himself injured and under the care of employee Noelle!Nobody loves Christmas more than young widow Noelle Fryberg! But could she be the one to change his mind and melt the millionaire's guarded heart?
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.
I have been seeing plenty of Christmas themed romance lately and so when I saw this on the Mills and Boon Insiders list of ARCs I thought perfect. Millionaire romance set at Christmas? Sounds like it should be fun with a touch of heart-warming thrown in. It definitely met expectations unlike Acceptance. It was Christmassy and heart-warming and totally predictable. I kind of needed that, because romance is always predictable but I kind of wanted it to surprise me in some way.
Noelle is the woman who loves Christmas and loves working in a place where it is Christmas everyday providing toys and joy for children. So, when James Hammond comes along buying the company and possibly threatening the comfort she has had in the small-town she has lived her whole life you just know she didn’t give him a warm welcome. She is happy in the spot she’s carved for herself and she doesn’t have time for Grumpy Hammond glaring at folk and threatening to change store traditions. She hopes to get rid of him as soon as possible and then a drone in the shop gives him a concussion and forces him to stay. James Hammond wants out of Fryberg as quickly as possible. He doesn’t like Noelle and he hates Christmas, even if he runs a very successful toy store chain. When he’s forced to spend more time then expected with Noelle, though… well, the two end up growing close and the pesky attraction gets in the way.
I admit, it was predictable, there was the usual not wanting to be together. They get together, then there’s a whole thing where one of them has a crises and flees which leads to misunderstandings which keep them apart. Then they eventually get their happily ever after. I liked them as a couple but they definitely needed to have a few pages for me to really grow attached to them. The biggest flaw outside of predictability was that the characters never felt fully real to me. They needed a bit longer to develop and get together and may have enjoyed it far more.
A good festive read which could have been great but was just enjoyable and a good way to spend an evening.
Anyone else find themselves by books when they do and don’t meet expectations? Sometimes they meet expectations too closely and so fall into the trap of being predictable, and others go too far from what was expected that I end up not getting the read I fancied.
I have been intending to write a review for Mariana Zapata’s books for a good long while. A month, even! I read them when I was on holiday and adored them in every way. At least, the first ones I read (the two I read when I got home weren’t quite as good but they showed great potential). I knew I wanted to tell you guys how brilliant they were but I really couldn’t find the words to say why other than to flail and say read them! I still knew I had to feature them, though. There are just some books you have to talk about even when you’re utterly inelegant about them. I mean, even Zapata’s worst books were enjoyable they just weren’t up to scratch to my favourites from her.
The Ones I Adored
Published: 28th February 2016
Source: Bought
Genre: Sports romance, Contemporary, Adult
My Rating:
Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.
But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.
For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.
What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?
This was the first book from Zapata I heard about. I am a girl who loves romance, and more specifically sports romance, and I also adore fake relationships so when I heard there was a book which included all three of them you can bet I was interested in reading. Only problem? It was over 600 pages long. The average romance is like 300 pages, you can imagine I was intimidated by a book which was twice that. It’s why I didn’t bother buying until I knew I had all the time in the world to read it, when I was on holiday. I almost didn’t pick it up even then, luckily I avoided that mistake and found my first of my favourites from Zapata.
I adored Vanessa, she puts up with no crap and she didn’t swoon for Aiden just because he was some hot shot NFL player. She didn’t care. He had been a means to an end so could pursue her career. She handed in her notice and didn’t look back and I didn’t blame her as Aiden was annoying as hell, he was an island, and he didn’t stand up for her. She would have stayed focused an independent from Aiden if he hadn’t offered something she wanted, money to truly give her the independence she craved, she just had to marry him to help him stay in the US. Easy, right?
Well, it’s safe to say from there I fell in love as Aiden stayed being gruff and focused, but a little less of an island under Vanessa's influence. And I adored it. I didn’t even notice the length of the book because I was so invested in these characters. I swooned and sighed and grinned like and idiot and fell head over heels. I truly did, this was the best. Don’t be put off by the length but strap yourself in for a slow… very slow ride. This is the ultimate of slowburn. The romance moves at a glacial pace and it might frustrate the hell out of some. I was on the edge of my seat and loved every minute, though.
Published: 10th June 2017
Source: Bought
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult/New Adult
My Rating:
Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas.
The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional.
Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect.
What she didn’t count on was falling in love with the guy.
Then onto the second of Zapata’s books which I read. I hadn’t got this one on my radar until Nick reviewed it (funny how Nick often is the person who puts romance on my radar). I wasn’t quite as eager to get a hold of this one because Nick had said the pacing was a bit off with some of the romance and that it could have been shorter, the concern I had when it came to buying Wall of Winnipeg. I went ahead, though, because I loved the idea of a couple writing to one another and falling love. The concept slayed me and the reality was even better than expected.
Ruby and Aaron were so cute together. Ruby was brilliant and I loved that she lived with her parents still but was pursuing her career because I live at home too and it isn’t great but it’s a good means to and end. And Aaron was great building this friendship with Ruby as one of his few contacts back home so he could cope throughout his deployment.
I adored it and was totally sucked in from the start. I was gone for Aaron and adored Ruby from the very beginning. She was way geekier than me but I totally got her and her fandom ways and her quirkiness and how utterly why she is. I just connected with her straight away as I saw a lot of myself in her.
I loved how the format of the book demonstrated the progression in the relationship. We begin with emails being sent with them being a bit awkward as hey got to know one another and slowly connect. It then changes to IMs as the pair get closer and talk more often and it develops as they grow closer. It totally worked and I loved it.
This was such a cute book and I was expecting it to be angstier because Aaron was in the army but it actually was way more cute and fun and I loved it for that. It was nothing like I thought and everything which I wanted in a romance. I had a silly grin going on while I was reading and I'm not ashamed of that fact.
Source: Bought
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Adult
My Rating:
“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.”
When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.
It didn’t take a week for twenty-seven-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she’d seen in the international soccer icon—why she’d ever had his posters on her wall, or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.
Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man that hadn’t known she’d existed. So she isn’t prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team’s season: a quiet, reclusive, shadow of the explosive, passionate man he’d once been.
Nothing could have prepared her for the man she got to know.
Or the murderous urges he brought out in her.
“Sal, please don’t make me visit you in jail. Orange isn’t your color.”
This was going to be the longest season of her life.
And then the third, and in some ways my favourite. I actually had to figure out how to connect my Kindle to my phones internet to read this one while I was away because I brought it halfway through reading Dear Aaron because I knew I needed to read more Zapata and especially this one. It was another that had come onto my radar when I heard of Wall of Winnipeg because sports romance! I was put off by the fact it was a football (soccer) romance because I am not a huge fan of football, I see it enough on TV at home, do I really need to read a romance about it too. Also, the last sports romance which involved football I tried to read was Scoring Wilder and I hated it so I thought I might not like Kulti I was convinced by the fact Zapata wrote it and I am so glad I was.
I think this one clicked for me because I adored the fact it was a romance with an age gap. I was full on in love with Kulti too. Also, it was so similar to Pitch and my favourite ship in that (Mike/Ginny 4eva) that I was fully in love from the beginning.
This one was an enemies to lover romance and it was spot on. Even better, Sal wasn’t the usual girl in her early twenties falling in love but instead 27 and had several years playing on the football team who was focused on her career. She was determined to be the best she could be (with a few exceptions) and she was determined to do her best. And Reiner Kulti was a grumpy guy who had passed the peak in his career and who really didn’t want to be coaching when he was a world famous player. And he had been a dick to Sal’s brother and was basically horrible to anyone he spoke to and so Sal wasn’t willing to put up with crap from him at all.
I loved the dynamic between the two whenever they spoke and how throughout the book they grew closer. First, they became friends before any hope of romance happened. And then there was Sal’s family! I adored her parents and would have happily had them feature far more in the book. I would return to read more about Kulti and Sal’s life given half a chance.
This was the best kind of sports romance for me. It was about a female athlete for once and was absolutely brilliant. It even had a really good age difference romance for me to love. I will read all the books!
The Ones I Liked Less
Published: 19th January 2014
Source: Bought
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
He was my boss, my brother’s friend, a Widower, an ex-felon, and a man I’d seen casually with a handful of women. But he was everything that gripped me, both the good and the bad. Worst case scenario if things turned awkward between us, I could go somewhere else. I’d gotten over epic heartbreak before, one more wouldn’t kill me.
After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly... even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient and doesn’t know how to tell time.
And the last thing they ever expected was each other.
But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.
… she should have chosen the strip club.
It just makes me sad when you read a book which doesn't work for you from an author you love. I mean, I still haven’t read all of Zapata’s books so there is still a chance there are more from her I don’t like but it made me sad as this was the first book by her I didn’t adore. It was partially a me thing for me to dislike it. I wasn’t a fan of the whole motorcycle gang aspect of the book. I may have enjoyed Sons of Anarchy but it’s a bit iffy when it comes to gang things. Also, when I began reading it was the last day on my holiday and my brain wasn’t totally focused on the book. That lack of focus when it came to reading this meant I didn’t become fully absorbed either.
It had all the usual marks of a Mariana Zapata book but it just missed the mark for me. I think it was the fact it was a biker gang book and Dex was just not what I wanted. He came across as a dick (hence the nickname in the book) and whilst he revealed a softer side his dickish tendencies were too much for me.
It was a good read for some, I’m sure, but not for me. It makes me sad but there always has to be one, right?
Source: Bought
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
Most people would describe Katherine Berger as a responsible girl with a big heart, a loyal friend who takes care of those close to her, and the possessor of a wicked sense of humor. There was something about her that most people didn't know. "My name is Kat Berger, and I love porn."
When twenty-five-year-old Kat is dragged to a porn convention by her best friend, she's both embarrassed and nervous. The last thing she ever expected was to meet someone who makes her laugh like no other. This is a story about acceptance and friendship, and a love born out of the most unexpected of places.
This was a really good friends to lovers story and I enjoyed it. I didn't fall head over heels for it like Zapata's later books but you can see the essence of the great stories she writes and I did enjoy it. This only ended up on the bad list because I wasn’t head over heels and totally absorbed like I expected to be.
The book starts at a porn convention so it was safe to say I was a little hesitant going in to see whether I'd like it. Turns out it was hilarious and I enjoyed it. Sure, occasionally Kat and her friends seemed a bit OTT, almost like caricatures of who they really were because they were too much. But I did enjoy it and I loved Kat's close-knit group of friends and how they were all so close.
I thought some stuff went too fast in this book and some things too slow but the pacing wasn't a major issue. It was the first time I felt like a Zapata book was a touch too long though. I actually noticed a bit of a drag in the story towards the end.
As a whole it's a funny romance that I enjoyed as a weekend read. It may not have ticked all my boxes but it did tick a lot of them.
Now I have declared my undying love for Mariana Zapata I feel a strong need to go read those last two books by her. Who was the last author whose entire backlist you went and bought after one book? And any awesome romance authors you feel the need to recommend?
I am on a continual quest to read all the fake relationship books. This is an absolute favourite trope of mine, I am a sucker for a pretend romance in my books and I am not fully sure where my passion for this trope comes from, but there you have it. I found myself having a few fake relationship books lurking on my Kindle so decided now was the time to read and review them all for your pleasure.
Published: 30th May 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fake Relationship
My Rating:
Everything about Coleman Grant III oozes power and sex. And not the perfunctory kind either, but the sheet clawing, heart stopping, gasping for air after you’ve screamed so loud you can’t breathe kind. From his dark wavy hair that stands in an artfully rumpled mess, to the blue eyes that sear your skin, to his full, sensual lips - on the surface he’s pure perfection.
Too bad he's an asshole. An arrogant, uptight corporate raider hell bent on destroying the environment one species at a time.
Everything about Olivia Ramsey screams hippie humanitarian. From her blond hair tied in a sloppy bun, to her faded jeans with the Bonnaroo patch sewn on the thigh, to her combat boots still splattered with mud from the previous day’s site visit.
So it makes perfect sense that they would get married. In Vegas. Stone-cold sober.
Cole needs a wife. Olivia needs to save an endangered species. But what starts as a marriage of convenience soon turns into a battle of wills and sexual tension. Love is a game, and Olivia and Cole are ready to win.
Is this book perfect? Hell no. Is this book insanely fun and an addictive read? Definitely! When I was emailed about it I was intrigued but hesitant because I always get excited about fake relationship books and I have been disappointed a time or two. I was concerned that I would experience the same thing again. Thankfully, I didn’t.
It was originally proposed as being a book for fans of rom-coms and The Proposal and it is very true. I saw it as a cross between Two Weeks Notice and The Proposal. Two Weeks Notice for the rich man thing who is a bit of a dick but still charming. And then The Proposal as they stage a fake relationship to fool his family and convince them he has gotten married. I just loved the whole fake relationship and the entire relationship they staged as they were such opposites.
Cole and Olivia were so good together, they were opposites, Olivia campaigning for the rights of animals and Coleman not caring about little more than making sure his business is successful and keeping his sister happy. Those are the things which are most important to him and nothing else matters. Together they were so good together and enjoyed reading them moving from attraction to actually caring about one another. I especially loved when they were at her parent's house because he was out of context. He was no longer just the rich guy but also got to relax away from work and expectation and he could be a little silly and fun and that was the time I liked them best. When they weren’t putting on as much of a show for other people.
Basically, this was a fun romance which included a favourite romantic trope of mine. I would recommend for a nice easy summer read. You will enjoy yourself and who doesn’t love that?
Published: 28th November 2014
Source: Bought
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fake Relationship, New Adult
My Rating:
She needed a place to live. He needed a girlfriend. The rules were clear... until they were broken...The only thing Ethan Price and Stephanie Kendrick have in common is their screenwriting class at the NYU Film School. Ethan's family is loaded and expectations are high for his stepping into the family business one day, while Stephanie is the class outcast and from the other side of the tracks.When a project brings this unlikely pair together, Stephanie becomes the fake girlfriend who plays a part similar to that of the character in their screenplay. What Ethan didn't expect was to fall in love with her - but has he fallen for the real her? Or just the version he created...?Isn't She Lovely is a modern take on Julia Roberts' Pretty Woman and is perfect for fans of Jessica Sorenson and Tammara Webber.
Lauren Layne is a firm favourite of mine when it comes to contemporary romance. She knows how to hook me in with her romance and I love her books. Sadly, this one was a little disappointing. I mean, fake relationships are my favourite romantic trope. It makes no sense, it's a ridiculous trope and I love everything about it. I don’t fully know why this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I enjoyed it, but I could easily forget about it.
In this case, I loved that our couple, Ethan and Stephanie, were aware it was a farfetched trope and that it was partially their joint film project which motivated them to start their fake relationship. Sure, Ethan had lied to his parents about having a new relationship but there was no real reason he has to make Stephanie into his fake girlfriend. And the whole makeover thing was partly to make her less 'gothic' but also to mirror the Pygmalion concept of creating the ideal woman and falling in love with your creation. I think that's partly why I struggled to connect because the two were analysing their relationship via the context of their screenplay. It meant you couldn't get fully absorbed in their relationship as they weren't either, there was too much time looking at it through the context of their screenplay and it just didn’t work for me.
I also didn't love Stephanie or Ethan. I mean, I liked Ethan. He was rich and charming but had another layer to him he rarely got the chance to show. And then Stephanie, she had very good reasons for her prickly goth ways but it made me feel quite unsympathetic to her as she continually pushes everyone away. I mean, I get it, I don’t usually mind a prickly personality but for some reason, it just didn’t work for me with Stephanie. I think because I didn’t fully believe she was the goth she made everyone think she was. I don't know, just something about them made me…not dislike them... but not like them either. Even together, I liked them but I didn't fall in love.
I was bound to find a Lauren Layne I didn't love but it was sad all the same. I liked it and finished it but I didn't adore it and when I read romance I kind of want to get caught up in it, you know?
Published: 19th January 2015
Source: Bought (free)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fake Relationship
My Rating:
One little white lie leads to more than she planned…
Straight-laced lawyer Kate Matthews always plays by the rules. But when her ex gets engaged and a big promotion is on the line at work, she blurts out that she has a new boyfriend. And now that she’s proved she “has a life” outside of work, everything is perfect. Except for one teeny little detail—here is no boyfriend. And now Kate’s liable for her little white lie…
Dominic Sorensen is hot, charming, and very definitely not Kate’s type. But not only does Dominic want to help Kate renovate her home, he’s also willing to play “boyfriend.” All he wants in return is a little pro bono work for his sister. Now instead of Mr. Right, Kate has a delectable Mr. Fix-It-Right—and some unbelievable sexual chemistry. And if falling for Dominic is a breach of contract, Kate is guilty as charged…
Okay, I know I got a bit out of hand with three fake relationship books in under a month, but when you love a trope you love a trope. In fact, the only reason I got this book was the fake relationship aspect and the fact it was free on Kindle (or when I got it it was). I am so glad I did, though. I often find the freebies I get for my Kindle are some of the best reads and I think that’s because I go in with no expectations. Ashlee Mallory has gotten me interested in reading the rest of her books to see if they are just as enjoyable as this one.
Kate and Dominic are these complete opposites who only really meet as Kate moves in next door to Dominic’s aunt. He happens to do some house renovations she happens to need someone to renovate. I mean, that premise alone of her falling for the guy doing up her house whilst he’s being all burly and manly whilst telling herself that’s not what she wants would have worked fine for me. It’s taken a step further when Kate gets caught in a lie at work and ends up needing a fake boyfriend and it’s a case of mistaken identity when someone assumes that boyfriend is Dominic. He decides to take advantage and get a little legal assistance from Kate (she is a lawyer after all) and the fake relationship begins! That’s when it got good with the whole 'opposites attract' fake relationship awesomeness.
I think the reason this book worked better than the Lauren Layne one was simply the fact I liked the characters. I mean, I was annoyed by Kate dithering between her head and her heart within the book but I liked her. She was a good person who had been put down a lot in her life and doubted her wants. And Dominic was a bit of a dick judging Kate based on a past relationship but I loved how he continually tried to reassure Kate she was brilliant no matter what she did and anyone who told her otherwise could get lost. And the entire Sorenson clan was fantastic as well. I love a romance with a strong sense of family and you definitely got that with Dominic’s family. I especially loved how all his siblings and his parents could make fun of one another and tell embarrassing stories but were also there to offer support.
This book just worked for me in every way. If you’re looking for a fun fake relationship with a bit less sexy time and a bit more family time then this is the best book for you. And if you’re lucky you might find it still going free on Kindle.
And there are my mini reviews, have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? And please tell me your favourite fake relationship book, I am on a continual quest to find more.
Published: 18th May 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Humour, Chick-lit
My Rating:
LOCAL GIRL SWEPT OFF HER FEET
Mild-mannered PR girl Holly Phillips doesn't think much of costumed vigilante 'Ultimate Man' - and after his superpowered antics leave her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day, she's embarrassed beyond belief.
But when Holly's fifteen minutes of fame make her a target for something villainous, she only has one place to turn - and finds the man behind the mask holds a lot more charm than his crime-fighting alter-ego.
Can Holly find love, or is superdating just as complicated as the regular kind?
WOULD LIKE TO MEET: NICE GUY, LIKES DOGS, GSOH AND NO SUPERPOWERS
I got this one off Netgalley, it was one of those impulse requests you do when a book sounds like it’s going to go either way based off the summary. I’m still of two minds about it. On the one hand it was a great light read with a quirky fun look at the other side of superhero story. The story of the ordinary person in a city where there is a super hero and the city is filled with criminals. It was also a romance and I do feel like it was the romance which let this book down, which is bad coming from me as I am a huge fan of romance.
I loved the humour. It read as having a wry British humour and it was great. Our MC, Holly, is so not interested in her BFF trying to push her into a romance. Especially not when it involves her imparting her sage knowledge since she is in a committed relationship so knows it all. Instead, she'd rather be at home in her pyjamas, eating too much food, and watching bad reality TV (who can't relate to that feeling?). So, you can imagine her annoyance when she is forced to approach a hot guy to avoid grief and it ends up with her being tossed over the bar by him and an armed robbery by 'the bad guy' which ends with her having a photo of her arse in the paper... especially as she was wearing knickers which were past their best. She then proceeds to be the focus of the bad guy and in a strange sort of not relationship with her cities favourite super hero. I mean, life as a single girl in the city is difficult enough without adding in a maybe romance with a super hero whilst trying to pursue a normal life herself.
So many things about this book shouldn't have worked because it was so ridiculous and I think that's why I enjoyed it. It was very much a humorous take on the super hero genre which has become the focus of so many movies and TV shows of late. Holly wasn’t enamoured with our hero… and she wasn’t much impressed by the bad guy either. She honestly wished for some peace and quiet.
There were a few things I disliked, though. The humour and fun storyline was great. It wasn’t a serious take on the superhero genre, it was just fun. But the romance felt a bit forced. I didn’t get any chemistry there at all. I honestly would have been happier without the romance, if she had just been friends with Ultimate Man (yes, that is his superhero moniker). I felt like Holly in any kind of relationship was a bit like a teenage relationship of everything being OTT. Holly blew everything out of proportion and really was a little too self-centred in the relationship (but then, so was he). The pair definitely didn’t mesh well together. Just… I could see it coming and I liked it but it really added nothing for me at the same time. Isn’t that weird?
If you’re looking for a slightly ridiculous read then this is the book for you. It can never be taken seriously and whilst it won’t be for everyone or for every reading mood if you catch it at the right time it is a great book to enjoy.
Have you read any good old chick lit lately which is out there but still fun? And how is it I can enjoy a book which is marketed as having romance in it and declare I didn’t like the romance?
Done Dirt Cheap – Sarah Nicole Lemon
Published: 7th March 2017Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
My Rating:
Tourmaline Harris’s life hit pause at fifteen, when her mom went to prison because of Tourmaline’s unintentionally damning testimony. But at eighteen, her home life is stable, and she has a strong relationship with her father, the president of a local biker club known as the Wardens. Virginia Campbell’s life hit fast-forward at fifteen, when her mom “sold” her into the services of Hazard, a powerful attorney: a man for whom the law is merely a suggestion. When Hazard sets his sights on dismantling the Wardens, he sends in Virginia, who has every intention of selling out the club—and Tourmaline. But the two girls are stronger than the circumstances that brought them together, and their resilience defines the friendship at the heart of this powerful debut novel.
I got a copy of this on Netgalley and I’d been wanting to read it for a while. I mean, I knew nothing of the author and simply knew what the summary was. I went into this book blind and I think that was both a blessing and a curse. It was great as I had no preconceptions and nothing to influence my opinion. It was a curse, though, because it meant I developed my own expectations going in based on little information and I was way off base about certain elements. I didn’t get the book I expected and that left me slightly disappointed. At the same time, though, I’m glad it was different to what I thought because otherwise I’d be comparing it to Katie McGarry’s Thunder Road series and this is a very different book to that series.
This book went right in one very clear way. It was written beautifully. The writing had that magical lyrical quality some authors can perfect which just sucked me into the story. It wasn’t that it was trying too hard to create this stunning imagery, it was just written in such a way that it came across as very lyrical and just beautiful really. It did get a bit confusing at times. I mean, I’d find myself rereading a paragraph as something was mentioned as if it had already been stated earlier and it hadn’t, that got confusing, but once I got into the author’s writing style that didn’t happen anymore.
The reason I was a bit uncertain about the book, though, is the fact that I was uncertain about the characters. I was expecting this amazing friendship to develop between Tourmaline and Virginia and it did but not in the way I expected. It was slower and it definitely felt like it happened out of nowhere, the was nuance to the relationship developing and that did bother me a bit. It felt like all the relationships in this book were sudden. Once they happened they were solid and I liked it but I would have liked to see it develop a bit more.
I also felt quite distant to the characters, and this may have been because all the development in the character relationships are so sudden and so were the events of the characters lives. The story would be going quite slow when suddenly something happened to rush the story along once more and I didn’t like that. It meant I wasn’t getting attached to the characters I was suddenly caught up in a new story development. It meant I never felt like I was rooting for the characters because I was too busy figuring out what was going on.
I will say it was a wonderfully written book which had me thinking on it often and the story and friendship of Virginia and Tourmaline was a good one. I did enjoy the story once I got into it and I really enjoyed the writing. I just didn’t feel invested and I don’t know why. It was partially the strange pacing of the story and partly the sudden developments which happened and partially something else that meant there was no spark for me. I’m glad I read it, though, and I will look out for more from Sarah Nicole Lemon, so there’s that.
Have you read anything where the spark was lacking and you struggle to pinpoint what went wrong for you? And have you read this, what were your thoughts?
Welcome to another round of bite-sized reviews for the romances I’ve read lately. I am constantly reading romances lately and I have plenty to review, here is a small collection which I haven’t had a chance to post a review for recently. They are all contemporary romance and each satisfied a craving although some did it better than others.
Published: 7th March 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
SOME WISHES DO COME TRUEEthan Gallagher is a firefighter in Darling, Vermont, who followed tradition and pledged his love on the Kissing Bridge to ensure lifelong happiness. A few years later, he’s a widower with two rambunctious boys who no longer believes in magic. But even he has to admit that free-spirited Willow Dunaway fills him with wonder…and an attraction he cannot deny.Willow’s come back to Darling a different girl than the one who left after high school. Overcoming her past and owning her own business has made her into a strong, independent woman. Single dad Ethan appeals to her in a way she didn’t expect, even though settling down is the last thing on her mind. But after fire destroys the local food bank, the town rallies, and a fling between Ethan and Willow leads to unintended consequences. Can they find a way out of their heartbreak to make a home in each other’s hearts?
I said I enjoyed the first book in this series, and I did. Fine, I was more interested in a secondary character's storyline at times, but the romance, the setting and the entire feel of the book worked for me. As such, I totally jumped on the chance to read the next two books in the series (why wouldn’t I?) and this is the second book.
This book is all about Ethan and Willow and they are definitely an opposites attract kind of couple. I mean, Ethan is very reserved and straight-laced as he is a single dad and a widower trying to raise his two boys and move past the death of his wife. Willow, on the other hand, is an ‘earth child’, she has an organic restaurant and practises yoga daily and meditates and is much more alternative with her dyed hair and nose piercing. They aren’t a typical couple but those two work together.
It was an interesting read both because Willow isn’t the usual type of character I’d be interested in with her meditation and yoga, it’s very not my kind of thing, and then Ethan and his kids aren’t the type of thing I’d be interested in a romance either. Yet, bring those two together and something just works. Sure, Willow may be a character I wouldn’t immediately gel with but when she’s with Ethan they both bring out a different side to one another which works. Also, I don’t even care there were kids in this romance (I’m just not a fan of a whole family situation when I’m reading romance).
Sadly, George wasn’t really present in the book, but there were plenty of familiar faces so I could still enjoy. There were also hints about the next book (which I loved) so I’ll be reading that soon. In the end, this was a good romance, not a favourite but definitely enjoyable. I had an issue with some of Willow’s decisions in the book but they were explained. It wasn’t amazing but not enough to put me off the next one so that’s good.
Published: 7th March 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
Get ready for the ride of your life...
A cowgirl at heart, Skye Martinez has a rebellious streak she's determined to shake. Especially since she's poised to take the reins of her family's business at Briscoe Ranch Resort. It's time for her to settle down and get serious about her future...right after one last night of fun with a handsome stranger she meets in the resort's stable. But when a midnight horseback ride turns into a red-hot weekend with one of country music's biggest stars, Skye's world is rocked beyond her wildest dreams...
Gentry Wells rode his bad boy image all the way to the top of the country music charts. But churning out hits has dried up his creativity, and he can't remember the last time his life was his own. Skye is a sexy distraction he can't resist, especially since she breathes new life into his music. They bring out the wild side in each other, which is great for Gentry's career—but a major threat to Skye's. Too bad he's fallen in love with her. With their hearts and futures on the line, can Gentry convince Skye to turn their joyride into a real chance to ride off into the sunset together?
This book ended up being a pleasant surprise. I’d been emailed about it by the publisher and was intrigued, despite it being part way through a series, and so I agreed. When it came to reading I was a blank slate, I had no expectations and didn’t know what kind of book this was going to be so was thrilled to get reading and actually be surprised by it. Now, just because the publisher emailed me about it no way affects my opinion. I expected a fun romance that may or may not be memorable and really I should have disliked it as I’m not always a fan of musician romances, and certainly not when they rich and successful, I can often end up rolling my eyes. And this book was kind of dramatic which does normally put me off. Yet, despite all these points against it I enjoyed reading this, so much so I had to stay up to finish.
You haven’t lived until you’ve read a romance which begins with a spell to get a man and then has a country singer wearing a pink banana hammock who sings songs like ‘Beer O’Clock’ and ‘Well Hung’. I mean, seriously? And the fact that Skye’s mother performs a spell to find her her perfect man at the beginning of the book should have meant I was rolling my eyes throughout reading yet I didn’t. In fact, this book sucked me in somehow. Maybe it was that I liked the character of Skye who seemed to be trying to be a good girl following her mother's wishes and settling down, taming her wild streak, yet she ended up having one wild night with Gentry helping a runaway couple and spending time in Nashville. After that wild night, they both vowed to not pursue a relationship as they each have other plans… life has plans for those two and that’s when the drama strikes.
I hate when books get dramatic, I want fun and some sense of reality when it comes to my reading (fake relationships not included) so when several things happen one after another to both bring this couple together and drive them apart… well, it should have put me off yet it didn’t.
I don’t know, in the end, this romance hooked me with the drama and absurdity because it was the right balance of that with touches of reality. I think it helped that I liked both the characters and wanted them to get together. Maybe it’s just that it was written right for me. I don’t know, but somehow this book worked for me whilst I can’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t like drama, I can recommend it to folks looking for a book to surprise them.
Home At Last (Sanctuary Island #6) – Lily EverettPublished: 7th March 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating:
Home is where the heart is...
Marcus Beckett left Sanctuary Island after his mother's funeral, and he hasn't been back since. Until now. Needing a change from the high-risk, high-stakes life of a bodyguard, Marcus makes a solitary life for himself running the neighborhood bar in his hometown. His only mistake? Seducing and then dumping the town's sweetheart, Quinn Harper. Marcus knows he did the right thing—a good girl like Quinn has no business with a broken man like him. But now no one will come to his bar, and he's watching his last chance at a peaceful life go up in smoke. So when Quinn proposes a fake four-week courtship, he can't refuse...even though he knows it's a bad idea.
It's a romantic charade that will buy Quinn time to distract her mother and father from their own martial problems—and will help Marcus welcome back some paying customers besides. But what begins as an engagement of convenience slowly transforms into a deeper connection, one that heals both of their hearts...and ignites the simmering passion between them. Could it be that pretending to be together is just what Quinn and Marcus needed to give their real love a second chance?
"Heartwarming, emotional, extremely romantic...Enjoy your trip to Sanctuary Island! I guarantee you won't want to leave."—Bella Andre, New York Times bestselling author
As I said in my review for Close To Home, I had been interested in Quinn and Marcus’s story and romance far more than the main couple so seeing them together in this book made me completely happy.
I cannot claim the book wasn’t predictable (it was) and it certainly wasn’t original… but I liked it. I liked Quinn and Marcus staging a fake relationship to help her parents stay together and also they did it to save his bar because they first break up put him in the small town bad books for messing around with the town sweetheart. I loved the fake relationship and the second chance romance and the basic
I think I enjoyed this book because it was exactly what I expected it would be after reading Close To Home. I knew that Marcus had his reasons for wanting to distance himself from Quinn, the main one being the age difference, and I knew he had his own issues. I knew Quinn had an old crush on Marcus and had issues with people not treating her like a grown up. I knew together they would be brilliant if they could overcome what was holding them back. I knew all this so that when it happened in the book I was in no way surprised, I could simply read and enjoy myself. Basically, this book followed exactly the path I thought it would and as there were no major twists or major angst I could simply sit back and enjoy myself, and I did.
That may sound like a negative, this book in no way surprised me or did anything unexpected, but sometimes you crave a bit of predictability and I love that with romance I know what I’m getting. This was a sweet romance that didn’t get sucked into too much angst or drama to put you off and had plenty of lighter moments too. It was just a really enjoyable read.
And there you have three new release, all romances, that I enjoyed in one way or another. Have you read any good romances lately? And don’t you love it when you are surprised by a book?
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