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. 

Book Review: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is a contemporary romance. Luc O'Donnell is tangentially—and reluctantly—famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go.

Boyfriend Material is a book with everything I love. It is a slow burn, acquaintances to lovers, fake dating, there's only one bed trope filled romance with a slew of fantastic secondary characters that I desperately want to have more of. Luc is a hot mess, and knows it. He is struggling with being a functioning adult while trying to keep everyone at a distance. Oliver is so busy trying to be perfect that he neglects to see what makes him actually happy rather than just doing what everyone expects from him. They seem to be opposites, but they each have family and emotional issues that they need to work on, and they seem to do that best together. I loved the circles of friends for both the guys, and I want more of them all, so much more. The banter was hysterical but also so painfully that it was real. There were feels that made me want to throw things, some that made me want to cry, and others that just had me grinning like a maniac. I think the only issue people could have is if they are completely stymied by the occasional slag and cultural references that they might not get, but that is the only thing I could imagine anyone complaining about- and that would be if they were really reaching for something to complain about. There was so much goodness in this book that I think this has become my go to reread for when I hit a reading slump and need to remember why I love to read. 

Boyfriend Material is a book that hit all the sweet spots and had me grinning through most of the read. There are no enough words to describe the love I have for this book. Now I need to go read everything else from this author!

Early Book Review: Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher

Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher is a contemporary romance currently scheduled for release on April 14 2020. State attorney Bridget Nolan is successful in all aspects of her life—except romance. After breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, she's been slow to reenter the dating scene. To be honest, she has more important things to do like putting bad guys behind bars. But with her brother's wedding right around the corner, she suddenly needs a date and fast. Lucky for Bridget, the legal intern is almost done with his program. Matt Kido is dumbstruck by Bridget—total love at first sight—but there's one problem. She's totally off-limits while she's his boss. But the moment he no longer reports to her, Matt decides to take a chance. An impulsive decision takes them to Las Vegas where, as the saying goes, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Unless you put a ring on it.

Not That Kind of Guy had a great balance to it. I loved the humor and real, emotional issues that were dealt with. Bridget is so used to having to be in control and trying to be perfect that when she lets go things get a little out of control. Matt has gotten tired of doing what he should and the possibility of being used. Neither is overly trusting, even of themselves. I loved watching them forge a friendship and more. I was glad to get both of their points of view, seeing how both of them worried about their own value in the relationship help me understand the choices they made, even when I dd not agree with them. I thought that the family dynamic for both of them were key to the story, and explored in a way that explained a great deal about the characters without sidetracking the story. I also liked the thought that was put into the secondary characters and background story. However, I also felt like the author was trying to get all the tropes in the book. There was the workplace/forbidden romance, the age gap, the wealth gap, the real slash fake relationship, the jealous ex's, and so on. I felt a little like the author had all the possible twists and trops on a check list and tried to get as many in as possible. I liked the characters, and the story for the most part, but some of it just felt forced. 

Not That Kind of Guy is a contemporary romance with a good balances of heat and sweet.