Book Review: Set on You by Amy Lea

Set on You by Amy Lea is a contemporary romance. Curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls. After her recent breakup, she has little stamina left for men, instead finding solace in the gym – her place of power and positivity. Enter firefighter Scott Ritchie, the smug new gym patron who routinely steals her favorite squat rack. Sparks fly as these ultra-competitive foes battle for gym domination. But after a series of escalating jabs, the last thing they expect is to run into each other at their grandparents' engagement party. In the lead up to their grandparents' wedding, Crystal discovers there’s a soft heart under Scott’s muscled exterior. Bonding over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, they just might have found her swolemate. But when a photo of them goes viral, savage internet trolls put their budding relationship to the ultimate test of strength.

Set on You is a read that does a great job about unpacking some of the self esteem and image issues that run rampant in some of our lives. I liked Crystal and her circle of friends, family, and clients. I thin the variety of approaches to liking and caring about yourself was very well done and will resonate with a variety of readers. I think the situation and aspects around social media and reactions of other people was on point, sadly. I enjoyed the journey with Crystal, and I think that many of us, including those that never got comfortable in the gym, can relate to many of her experiences and thoughts. I will say that as much as I understood and empathized with her I also had moments when I just wanted to shake her and give her some tough love- but I am also a person that tends to turn pain in to manic cleaning or side projects rather than cocooning. I also find Scott to be a little flat and maybe too close to perfect. Yes he had his own issues from the past, but I did not feel like I got as much growth and insight into him as Crystal- and the dual growth and change is something I really enjoy in a story. All of this is my personal preference, and nothing that is actually wrong with the book.. I van think of many people that would connect to this read more closely and deeply than I, and I have a few I will be recommending it to.

Set on You is an engaging and entertaining read. 

Book Review: The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken is a contemporary romance. Colby's living her best life: as a popular food blogger, she gets to fulfill her dreams of exploring the globe. But her world comes crashing down when a tragic accident leaves her co-guardian of her best friend's two adorable children. Not only does she need to put down roots—fast—but she'll be sharing custody with the one man she can't stand sharing a continent with, let alone a house. Accountant-extraordinaire Rip values rules and plans. But when he loses his sister and his best friend and becomes an insta-guardian all in one night, Rip sees his organized life imploding. What he really doesn't need is his sister's irresponsible, flighty—albeit kind and gorgeous—best friend making it worse. Rip doesn't trust Colby to take their new responsibilities seriously, while Colby can't believe Rip thinks children will thrive under his rigid control. Yet soon Rip and Colby discover they need each other more than they hate each other. Could it be possible that following their hearts is just what their new little family needs?

The Godparent Trap has some serious subjects throughout- mostly grief and coming to terms with loss and change. However, there is still some humor thanks to the secondary characters and the opposite's attract nature of the relationship between Colby and Rip. I was highly engaged in getting to know both characters and seeing them grow as people, caregivers, and a couple. I really enjoyed the interactions between Rip and Colby, and some secondary characters like Banks. There were moments that were hard to read, but that is more because of the topics at hand- like loss and the well being of children- than any lacking in the writing. I think the book was well written and the hard stuff was handled well including the use of content warnings for readers that might have difficulty with the subject matter. 

The Godparent Trap  is a solid romance with lots of feels and some laughs along the way. 

Early Book Review: The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon

The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon is the third book in The Boyfriend Project series, but can be enjoyed on its own as well. It is currently scheduled for release on August 2 2022. Successful pediatric surgeon London Kelley just needs to find some balance and de-stress. According to her friends Samiah and Taylor, what London really needs is a casual hookup. A night of fun with no strings. But no one—least of all London—expected it to go down at her high school reunion with Drew Sullivan, millionaire, owner of delicious abs, and oh yes, her archnemesis. Now London is certain the road to hell is paved with good sex. Because she’s found out the real reason Drew’s back in Austin: to decide whether her beloved hospital remains open. Worse, Drew is doing everything he can to show her that he’s a decent guy who actually cares. But London’s not falling for it. Because while sleeping with the enemy is one thing, falling for him is definitely not part of the plan.

The Hookup Plan is a great read with characters that feel very real. They each have their issues and hangups, but they also have self awareness and do their best to communicate and be good people even when it is hard. London is at a cross roads, trying to better balance her life to be healthy while dealing with layers of stress and big decision making. Drew is thrilled at a chance to develop a relationship with London, but has his own challenges to face at the same time. I loved the communication and honesty that is such a huge part of their story, and their lives in general. I was glad to get both of their perspectives, to see how they chose to share with each other and getting a glimpse at their concerns and struggles made them even more real to me as a reader. This was such a great journey and I loved this book, and the whole series. 

The Hookup Plan is a wonderful wrap up to this trilogy. I am looking forward to reading whatever Rochon writes next!

Book Review: Forget Me by Michelle McCraw

Forget Me by Michelle McCraw is the fifth book in the Synergy book series, although it can also be read as a stand alone. When accountant Mimi wakes up after a night of fun with her girlfriends, she remembers the hot guy in glasses she flirted with at the bar but not much else. With no way to contact him – no phone number, not even a selfie – she’ll do her best to forget him. Because nothing, not even a sexy mystery man, will keep her from winning her dream job. Except maybe Mateo. Her brother’s friend is everywhere – spilling coffee on her presentation, bringing apology flowers to her at work, even wowing her new boss at her project meeting. Mateo has never struggled to be the fun, cool, suave guy – except around Mimi. She’s found his Awkward switch, and now it’s stuck in the ON position. After screwing up Mimi’s presentation, the least Mateo can do is help her. He charms her boss, who pushes them to attend the foundation’s upcoming gala together. If helping Mimi means being her fake date at her big work event, he’s more than up for the job. And if he can convince Mimi he’s good enough to be her real boyfriend, he’ll have all he’s ever wanted since he met her that night in the bar.

Forget Me had me worried when I noticed it was the fifth in a series and I had not read any of the previous books. However, while it did make me eager to read what all happened before this book, I felt like the characters and their situations were well handled and read well on its own. I understood Mimi, ever when I did not necessarily like her choices and actions at certain points, I could completely understand where she was coming from and how she felt. I loved that she was self aware enough to admit mistakes and deal with the potential fall out like an adult rather than just ignoring it. Mateo was a wonderful character and I loved the dichotomy that he presented in his personality and actions. Strong, suave, and smooth while at the same time as self doubting and self conscious as the rest of us. It reminded me that just about everyone has these kinds of feelings, no matter how the might act and how others perceive them. I loved the level of communication between the characters, and the honesty about the fears of getting close can bring on and how thy handled it in the story. I look forward to going back to read the previous books, and looking forward to the possible future books hinted at in this one. 

Forget Me is a read that has depth of character and humor. Now I want to go back and read the books I missed in the series so I can see how the other characters came together. 

Early Book Review: The One Who Loves You by Pippa Grant

The One Who Loves You by Pippa Grant is currently scheduled for release on July 12 2022. If the Upper East Side had an evil twin, it would be Tickled Pink, Wisconsin. This run-down, backwoods town isn’t worthy of the footprint of my Louboutins, never mind all of me. But when my grandmother has a near-death experience and realizes we Lightlys can’t buy our way into heaven, she relocates the family to Tickled Pink to work on improving our souls. And that’s how I trade my heiress existence for gigantic bugs, dishwater coffee, and a cranky single dad named Teague Miller. Teague spends his days fishing, raising his spunky teenager, and after an unfortunate incident involving cheese curds, living rent-free in my head. The one thing he and I can agree on is that I don’t belong here. He’s willing to help me escape—until the unexpected happens. I kind of like him. I might even more than like him. But am I ready to give up the life I adored for a man I love to hate?

The One Who Loves You is an introduction to a whole new set of characters and a new small town for fans of Pippa Grant, which honestly threw me for a minute. I kept trying to remember where I might have seen the town or some if the characters before, since I have read a great deal from the author, but it was all new for me. I also admit that it took me a minute to warm up to Phoebe, which was likely intentional because of her personal story and character growth. I was glad to have gotten the story from  the heads of both Phoebe and Teague, I don't think the relationship building and story of the town would have felt quite so real and intense with out both aspects of the story. They each had issues, secrets, and things to work on- even if it looked or felt one sided. I thought the reveal was mildly expected by the time the twist came along, but I liked the was it was done and the way the resolution played out.  I also really liked that we got to know the whole town, and that even the secondary characters felt very real and multi dimensional. 

The One Who Loves You is the same blend of laugh and character growth that fans have come to expect from the author. 

Book Review: Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare

Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare is a contemporary enemies to lovers romance with a magical twist. When Reggie Johnson answers a job ad in the paper, she’s astonished to find that she’s not applying to work at her favorite card game, Spellcraft: The Magicking. Instead, she’s applying to be an actual familiar for an actual witch. As in, real magic. The new job has a few perks - great room and board, excellent pay, and she's apprenticing to a powerful witch. Sure, the witch is a bit eccentric. And sure, there was that issue with the black cat Reggie would prefer to forget about. The biggest problem, however, is warlock Ben Magnus, her employer's nephew and the most arrogant, insufferable, maddening man to ever cast a spell. Reggie absolutely hates him. He's handsome, but he's also bossy and irritating and orders her around. Ben's butt might look great in a crystal ball vision, but that's as far as it goes. But when someone with a vendetta targets the household, she finds herself working with Ben to break a deadly curse. Apparently, when they're not fighting like cats and dogs, things get downright bewitching

Go Hex Yourself is an engaging and entertaining read. I like the world building and characters and think the balance of humor, mystery, and heat was well done. This book is not for readers that do not enjoy dirty talking or thinking, because there is plenty of that here- and frankly it fits the characters perfectly and I think it would have felt off personality wise if it was not there. I liked Ben's character the most, and I liked getting things from his perspective. The contrast of his emotion and concern for those he cares about against how everyone sees him, and how he sees himself, was very well written and I enjoyed getting a good look at his thoughts. I will say that Reggie sometimes irked me, but I liked how she generally stood up for herself. I will say that I guessed the big twist well before it was revealed, and honestly expected an extra one somewhere along the way with at least one set of secondary characters. That being said, if the author writes a follow up for a couple of the secondary characters, I would be ready for that. 

Go Hex Yourself is a fun and entertaining read. For those that are interested, the audio book is available and very well done.

Book Review: Night and Day by Georgia C. Williams

Night and Day by Georgia C. Williams is a contemporary romance. Joel Schiff’s life has hit rock bottom. He has wealth and luxury but no one to share it with, he’s trapped in a job he loathes, and he’s lost sight of what he was passionate about. Thirty-five and single, and a virgin to boot, Joel realizes that unless he changes something soon, he’ll be miserable the rest of his life. But change finds Joel, and his name is Raiden Noboru. Flirtatious, spontaneous, and living each day in the moment, he’s Joel’s opposite in every way. All it takes is one smoldering, impulsive night together for Joel’s life to turn upside down. When dangerous figures from Raiden’s past make a target of them both, Raiden and Joel find themselves on the run from New York to Tokyo. Danger and mutual attraction bring them closer together, and Joel can’t deny his feelings, like himself, are changing into something he never thought possible. But for Raiden, jumping into gunfights is easier than opening his world-weary heart to Joel’s love. Each fears taking risks to their hearts, but time is running out. Raiden and Joel will have to fight for a chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love, or risk losing it all in a haze of gun smoke.

Night and Day is a book that I had trouble staying with, mostly because sometime I knew something bad was coming and I just was not in the right headspace for it. I did like the characters, both the main couple and the secondary characters through out the book.  I thought the characters, their interactions and history, and the story were all well written and built. There were a number of twists and turns, more often than not I expected something coming, but the actual twist or the way it came about surprised me. The violence and action that was part of the story was more than I was prepared for, but that is on me not the author, since it was completely in line with what was happening in the story and the personalities and motivations of the characters. I think fans of the subgenre will absolutely love this book, as a reader that is not a fan of gang and violence plot line I still saw the talent and skill in the book and was about to enjoy the well written characters and well woven story. 

Night and Day is a novel with plenty of action and angst, and a solid dose of heat. 

Book Review: Burning Up (Prescotts) by Tara Wyatt

Burning Up is the sixth book in The Prescotts series by Tara Wyatt. The books do not need to be read in order, and each can stand well on its own. Returning readers will have some advantage with understanding some of the characters and their motivations and connections but the lack will not ruin the read for newcomers. 

Nearly two years after her divorce, Felicity Hawthorne is ready to date again. At least, she thinks she would be, if the idea of dating wasn’t so freaking terrifying. But then she wins a date with sexy, swoony firefighter Noah Prescott at a charity bachelor auction, and everything changes. FDNY captain Noah isn’t looking for a relationship. Since losing his father as a teenager, he’s spent the past twenty years shouldering heavy responsibilities, and he knows he doesn’t have the time or energy to be anyone’s boyfriend. But one date with sweet, charming Felicity has him wanting things he shouldn’t want. Which is why Noah suggests Felicity practice her budding dating skills with him. He wants more of her, and practice dates are as close as he can come to having her in his life without hurting her. But then dating practice turns into practice of another kind—the kind that involves moans and sighs and orgasms—and Noah knows he’s going to fall. Hard.

Burning Up is a fun and engaging read that has a good mix of heat and heart. Felicity and Noah each have hang ups and issues they need to work through. I loved seeing the honesty and communication as they admited to themselves, and each other, how they felt and how they thought they could move forward at aech stage of the relationship. I also loved the support system that they each had, and how they each looked perfect from the outside, but bshowed their vulnerablity to those that mattered to them. I did think that there were moment when one or the other strayed to far into 'too good to be true' territory, but generally normal insecurities or their personal traumas would reign them back in. I think fans of the series andt he author will love this read, and other contemporary romance fans will enjoy it as well. 

Book Review: Season's Change by Cait Nary

Season's Change is the first book in a new series by Cait Nary. Olly Järvinen has a long way to go. He’s got a fresh start playing for a new team, but getting his hockey career back on track is going to take more than a change of scenery. He’s got to shut his past out and focus. On the game, not on his rookie roommate and his annoyingly sunny disposition—and annoyingly distracting good looks. All Benji Bryzinski ever wanted was to play in the big leagues, and he’s not going to waste one single second of his rookie season. Yoga, kale smoothies and guided meditation help keep his head in the game. But his roommate keeps knocking him off track. Maybe it’s just that Olly is a grumpy bastard. Or maybe it’s something else, something Benji doesn’t have a name for yet. Olly and Benji spend all their time together—on the ice, in the locker room, in their apartment—and ignoring their unspoken feelings isn’t making them go away. Acting on attraction is one thing, but turning a season’s fling into forever would mean facing the past—and redefining the future.

Season's Change is a sports romance that talks about and handles mental health with honesty and care. I loved the extreme slow burn of Olly and Benji getting to know each other, and the support they offer each other. I also enjoyed seeing that both of them had issues to face, and the straight forward way those feelings were talked about, along with the symptoms they had to deal with and the tools they harnessed to deal with them. The development of friendship, trust, and more really played out perfectly in the book. The other team mates and bonds there were just as important and well written as the relationship growth between Olly and Benji. I really like that the book takes the time to sort out that some of the trauma Olly caries is from a loving parent that just did things wrong, even though they had good intent. I think that could help readers take a look at their own relationship to see where they could do better in that regard themselves and hopefully spark some needed conversations.  This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing the series. 

Season's Change is a emotionally satisfying romance with plenty of character growth. 

Book Review: Boss Witch (Fix-it Witches) by Ann Aguirre

Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre is the second book in the Fix-it witches series. While returning readers will have a better understanding of the characters and set up, I think it can also be enjoyed as a stand alone. 

Clementine Waterhouse is a perfectly logical witch. She doesn't tumble headlong into love. Rather she weighs the pros and cons and decides if a relationship is worth pursuing. At least that's always been her modus operandi before. Clem prefers being the one in charge, always the first to walk away when the time is right. Attraction has never struck her like lightning, until the witch hunter comes to town.  Gavin Rhys hates being a witch hunter, but his family honor is on the line, and he needs to prove he's nothing like his grandfather, a traitor who let everyone down. But things in St. Claire aren't what they seem, and Gavin is distracted from the job immediately by a bewitching brunette with a sexy smile and haunting secrets in her eyes. Can the bossiest witch in town find a happy ending with the last person she should ever love?

Boss Witch is a great follow up to Witch Please. I like that we get to see Clem's story, even as returning readers will see the overlaps of Danica's love story as well. I thought the dual points for view from Clem and Gavin was very well done. It gave the reader a much bigger picture of what was happening and what insecurities and outside complications were impacting the relationship. I liked the depth of the story, and the way the hunter versus witch dynamic played out, and I thought the resolution was a little too perfect, but I really enjoyed it. Just like in the first book, I enjoyed the support system in the town, magical and not. The community of St Claire is written so well that I rather want to move there. I also enjoyed Clem setting boundaries and figuring out how to balance what she wants and needs from the people in her life without being too nice or harsh about it. I think we all need to take a page from her book and do the same.

Boss Witch is an engaging read that fans of the author are going to need to read. 

Early Book Review: Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper

Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper is a contemporary romance that is currently scheduled for release on April 26 2022. There are three things you need to know about Preston "PK" Harrington the third: He’s a writer, toiling in obscurity as an editorial assistant at a New York City publishing house. He is not a cliché. No, really. He’s been secretly in love with his best friend, Art, since they once drunkenly kissed in college.When Art moves in with PK following a bad breakup, PK hopes this will be the moment when Art finally sees him as more than a friend. But Art seems to laugh off the very idea of them in a relationship, so PK returns to his writing roots—in fiction, he can say all the things he can’t say out loud. In his book, PK can be the perfect boyfriend. Before long, it seems like the whole world has a crush on the fictionalized version of him, including Art, who has no idea that the hot new book everyone's talking about is PK’s story. But when his brilliant plan to win Art over backfires, PK might lose not just his fantasy book boyfriend, but his best friend.

Book Boyfriend is a book that hooked me right away, and then had me anxious through the entire read. I could relate to PK, but his choices and worries had me fidgeting as I read in nervous sympathy. I thought the story was well told, and I completely understood why PK made the choices he did- even when I disagreed with them. I liked the character building for Art and the secondary characters as well, and was glad to get to know them. I love when characters get a whole life on the page, not just moments specifically related to the romance.The family and friend dynamics and moments helped give a more rounded look at PK and Art as friends and more and their history.  I would have liked to have seen inside Art's head now and then, I would have like to know what they were really thinking on several occasions in the story. That being said, if I knew what Art had been thinking then I would not have been quite so nervous for how PK's choices would play out. I really enjoyed the read, and think others will as well. 

Book Boyfriend is a well written romance. Fans of the author will definitely want to pick it up. 

Book Review: Ghost of A Promise (Phantoms) by Kelly Moran

Ghost of A Promise is the first book in the Phantoms series by Kelly Moran. The haunting lore of her family's estate on the coast of Maine never bothered Ava Trumble. Truly, the big ole house seems less lonely with a ghost or two. However, when it finally becomes her time to inherit the elaborate mansion on the bluffs, the deed comes with a shocking ultimatum. She has exactly one year to solve the two-hundred-year-old mystery of the disappearance of a girl that has always plagued their town, or her dreams and the property will wind up in the hands of the Historical Society. As the lead investigator for the hit paranormal TV show Phantoms, Jackson Granger is prepared for any metaphysical encounter. Until now. It's not just the uncanny sense of "coming home" since getting his team inside Trumble Mansion or even his reaction to the fiery redhead owner who seems to consume his every waking thought. No, it's that, as the investigation unfolds, the ghosts are using Jackson and Ava's attraction to play out a centuries-old tragedy. Now, Jackson and Ava must determine if they're sharing something real...or if they've merely been possessed by a love that never died.

Ghost of A Promise strikes a good balance of mystery, ghosts, and romance. The house's history is just as important to the story as Ava and Jackson. It was engaging to get to know the two characters, the story of the house, and the ghost hunting crew as they worked together to capture evidence and figure out what happened to Sarah. I think the interactions between Ava and Jackson were so interesting because of the equal level of trust and defensiveness that they both displayed. It made for a get push and pull between them, and I think resulted in a stronger connection in the long run. I really enjoyed the ghostly and mystery aspects as well. I thought the book hit some very tense moments, but never hit on truly scary moments, which is just about the level of fear I can handle reading right now. I also love that the romance was not in vacuum, friends and family played the part- highlighting the issues each had and getting readers to care about the entire cast of characters, not just the two main players. I am very much looking forward to reading the second book in the series- in fact I already have it downloaded on my kindle. 

Ghost of A Promise is a wonderful start to a series that promises romance and ghostly mysteries. 

Book Review: Getting His Game Back by Gia De Cadenet

Getting His Game Back by Gia De Cadenet is a contemporary romance about a man struggling to be his perfect self and a woman who is ready to break her “rules” for him. Khalil Sarda went through a rough patch last year, but now he’s nearly back to his old self. All he has to do is keep his “stuff” in the past. Real men don’t have depression and go to therapy—or, at least they don’t admit it. He’s ready to focus on his growing chain of barbershops, take care of his beloved Detroit community, and get back to being the ladies’ man his family and friends tease him for being. Vanessa Noble is too busy building a multimillion-dollar tech career as a Black woman before age thirty to be distracted by a relationship. Not to mention, she’s been burned before, still dealing with the lingering hurt of a past breakup. Besides, as her friends often remind her, she’ll never find a man who checks all the boxes on her famous List. Yet when she desperately needs a shape-up and happens upon one of Khalil’s barbershops, the Fade, he makes her reconsider everything. Khalil is charming, intelligent, sexy, and definitely seems like he’d treat a woman right, but he’s not Black. Vanessa may be willing to take a chance on Khalil, but a part of him is frustratingly closed off, just out of her reach. Will old patterns emerge to keep them apart? Or have they both finally found a connection worth throwing away the playbook for?

Getting His Game Back covers a variety of tough topics. I could understand and empathize with Vanessa's worries, both professionally and with relationships. I enjoyed the slow burn of Vanessa and Khalil getting to know each other and come together, complete with the insecurities and missteps. I really enjoyed the community and support system of friends and family they each had, even when they failed to make use of them. I loved the honest way depression is talked about, both in how it feels and the worries of other people's perceptions of us if it becomes known. The way masculinity can play such a strong role in the perception and expression of such strong emotions was so truthful and real to me that it really struck home. The amount of personal growth and introspection for both Khalil and Vanessa was very well done, and my only problem with the book is that I wanted more. I wanted more about everyone's past, especially some of the secondary characters, and I really want to know where all of them go from here. I am fully invested in these characters even after I finished the read, and I cannot wait to explore more from this author. 

Getting His Game Back is a honest look at love and depression with a great deal of heart, hope, and growth.

Book Review: Sink or Swim (Shore Leave) by Annabeth Albert

Sink or Swim is the second book in the Shore Leave series by Annabeth Albert. You do not need to read the series in order to fully enjoy each read. 

Navy chief Calder Euler loves to win big. His latest score? A remote mountain cabin. Checking it out is supposed to be a quick trip, but Calder’s luck abruptly turns when a freak injury and a freakier snowstorm leave him stranded. Oh, and the cabin isn’t empty. A silver fox caring for two young girls claims that the property is his, but Calder’s paperwork says otherwise. Felix Sigurd is on a losing streak, and his ex-husband risking the cabin in a reckless bet is only the latest in a series of misfortunes. He’ll tolerate the handsome stranger for a couple nights--even care for his injuries—but that’s it. Calder doesn’t know a damn thing about kids, but making pancakes for Felix’s girls is a surprising delight. Trapped in the cabin, the four of them slip easily into the rhythms of a family. But when the ice melts, they’ll have to decide if a future together is in the cards.

Sink or Swim is another romance with complex characters that grow in the process of unexpectedly finding love from Albert. I thought Calder and Felix each had their hang up, but were great guys from the beginning, and I enjoyed being along for the ride as they each made self realizations about who they were and what they wanted, and how to get there. I really loved Felix's nieces, and thought the quirky comments, personalities, and worries were very realistic. I loved the open and honest discussions between Calder and Felix, in and out of the bedroom,  and that the amount of care and concern for each other and the bigger picture with the girls was always considered and often reevaluated to stay on top of issues and concerns. As always, I loved the secondary characters and how the author makes the support systems of friends and family an important part of the story. I would love to see more from many of the secondary characters and get a kick out of them in every book from Albert. I really enjoyed this read and think other fans of the author will as well. 

Sink or Swim is an emotional and rewarding romance. 

Book Review: Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly is a romance with intense feels and humor. Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she's focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.  After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan. As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.

Love & Other Disasters had my attention from the very first page. The characters and their personal challenges and emotions were complex and multifaceted even before the romance came into play. Dahlia is still reeling from divorce and trying to figure out what she wants from life. London is still trying to figure out how to handle, well everything, as they work to figure out who they are and what they want. Friendship and more develops, and I enjoyed going along for the ride. I like that they had open communication about consent and intimacy. I love that their connection was slow growing and built mostly on friendship, respect, and trust. I also like that they each had a support system, and the story did tackle the intolerance of some but focused more of the relationship and growth of the main characters rather than focusing on hardships from outside their connection. I really enjoyed the read and felt for London and Dahlia as they got in their own way more often than not. 

Love & Other Disasters is a funny and emotional romance. 

Book Review: The Dating Dilemma (Mile High Firefighters) by Mariah Ankenman

The Dating Dilemma is the third book in the Mile High Firefighters series by Mariah Ankenman. You do not need to read the books as a series to enjoy them, but returning readers will enjoy seeing favorites make an appearance and understand the references to relationship woes in the previous books. 

Lexi’s Reminders:  Work, Don’t think about your birthday tomorrow. Or debt, your crappy apartment, and nonexistent social life. Re-stock wine and ice cream because that’s coming. Die in a raging blaze of humiliation when the super-hot and very delicious fireman waiting in your office is not in fact the strip-o-gram birthday present you suspected. Reschedule the fire safety inspection you 100 percent failed because of said humiliation. Figure out how you, in fact, agreed to fake dating Mr. Not a Strip-O-Gram Fireman to help him with a bet. Oh yeah, and do not fall for this guy. Seriously, they call him One Night O’Neil. Red flags all over the place.  Remember, this is fake dating, even though his very talented, very real lips are doing some sexy things you definitely like. Realize bending one tiny rule can’t be that bad, can it? Except bend too far, and something breaks. Something you can’t get back.

The Dating Dilemma is a contemporary romantic comedy that had me dealing with sympathetic embarrassment on several occasions. I liked that Dyson and Lexi are both not looking for romance, and feel some intense sparks right away. I got a huge kick out of the fact that they both knew going into the fake dating scheme that it rarely works out as intended- and since they were already deep into lust their story would most likely take the rom com track. I will say that Lexi's thing about speaking her thoughts out loud lent itself to several moments of second hand embarrassment, there were also moments when I really was not sure what exactly she had sad- because of how much she had going on in her head at any given moment. I loved the secondary characters, and think that they added a special layer of interest for me. The new characters  were just as interesting and complex as the main characters and the other secondary characters that I remembered from the first book (I somehow missed the second). I enjoyed the read and will be keeping an eye out for more. 

The Dating Dilemma is a fun romance with self aware characters and some serious second hand embarrassment. 

Audio Book Review: Hot for You by Marie Harte, Narrated by Tatiana Sokolov

Hot for You, written by Marie Harte and narrated by Tatiana Sokolov , is a contemporary romance. Firefighter Reggie Morgan is done with love, done with relationships, and done with complications. But when he's called to the scene of a hit-and-run, he finds a scared little girl, a butt-ugly stray puppy, and an unconscious woman he can't get out of his mind. The girl and the puppy are a handful, but the girl's mother, Maggie, might just be the woman to melt his icy heart. He’s loved and lost before, and the pain nearly broke him. But when they can't ignore their unquenchable desire for each other, Maggie, a teacher by trade, is confident she can show him all about falling—and staying—in love.

Hot for You gave me exactly what I expect from this author. The characters are complex, each with flaws and an openness about them that I love. The secondary characters were just as complex and interesting as Maggie and Reggie. I thought the journey to HEA for Maggie and Reggie was well done, and I liked the frank and honest way they discussed problems, the past, and the work that could be involved in creating a future. I could tell that the book is part of or at least related to a series or maybe two- but while I have read several books by the author none of the characters were ones I remember. Newcomers to Harte will not miss anything by not knowing the characters either. I think fans of Harte and and new readers alike can really enjoy this read in their preferred format. The narrator did a great job and I enjoyed her tone and inflections. My only issue with the audio edition comes down to editing. I found the pauses between chapters to be slightly too long. I checked my phone and connection several times thinking something had gone wrong when it was simply a long pause.

Hot for You is a solid romance with great characters and a high heat factor. 

Early Book Review: How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan

How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan is the follow up to Ten Rules for Faking It, and is currently scheduled for release on January 18 2022. You do not need to read the books in order, but returning readers will be glad to see cameos and have a prior understanding of our hero and his brothers. 

Grace Travis definitely has it all figured out. In between finishing interior design school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree. She’ll have her dream job. And most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her cold, manipulative mother could never make for her. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—an adorable little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door. Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. A real estate developer with a knack for betting and winning big, he’s not one to let a good opportunity slip away. So when a beachside house with great bones is ripe for a remodel and flip, Noah doesn’t hesitate. Except in order to spruce it up properly (is it even a beach house if it doesn’t have a pool?), he’ll need to take over the house next door. The house with the willful and combative and way-too-intriguing woman living in it. With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can turn out to be the person who shows you that home is always where the heart is.

How to Love Your Neighbor is a romance that starts of with a favorite trope of mine, enemies to lovers, but quickly loses the enemies bit. Grace is an independent woman, working hard to make it on her own and with more than a little difficulty accepting help. All of that is something I can relate to. I liked her drive, and the way she looked for the silver lining in just about every situation. Noah is struggling with settling into a new place, figuring out what he wants from life, and getting out from his father's control. The battle between Noah and Grace over selling her house quickly sparks other fires, and the book quickly goes down that path. I did not really get the grumpy neighbor or bickering that I expected. However, their friendly banter and open communication was well done and fun to read. I liked the design descriptions and watching them grow closer, but I will admit to waiting for a big conflict to spur things into action, but when it all came to a head I was a little underwhelmed. For those interested in heat level, I will let you know while the chemistry between the pair is very well done and sizzling but all intimate moments are closed door or fade to black. 

How to Love Your Neighbor is a sweet book with some charming and humorous moments. Fans of the author will not want to miss it.