ARC Book Review: How to Kiss a Movie Star (Hawthorne Brothers #4) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 325 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s Hollywood’s biggest star. She wouldn’t know him from the pizza delivery guy.

I’m a wildlife biologist in a tiny mountain town, not some kind of law-breaking celebrity stalker. At least not on purpose.

It was an accident when I wandered onto the property of one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars. Five minutes ago, I’d never even heard of Flint Hawthorne. I definitely didn’t know he lives in Silver Creek.

When I’m detained for trespassing, the last thing I expect is to trade my handcuffs for a designer gown. All I wanted was permission to conduct my research on a remote corner of his estate.

Now I’m walking the red carpet of a Hollywood movie premiere as Flint’s (very fake) girlfriend.

At least, the relationship is supposed to be fake. But the way he slips his arm around me, his breath tickling my ear, the chemistry feels like something real.

The trouble is, I’m not really built to handle his fast-paced celebrity life. Most days, I prefer the company of squirrels to people. I should be glad we’re only pretending.

I’m just not sure my heart got the memo.

Perfect for fans of swoony romantic comedy, this series finale from bestseller Jenny Proctor hits all the right notes!

Books in the How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother series are connected but can be read in any order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

MY NEW FAVORITE EVER.

I don’t know how to be coherent when I really want to shout I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH GO READ IT RIGHT NOW. It was everything I could have hoped for in closing out this series and I am a puddle of emotions over the ending.

FLINT AND AUDREY. I think what really sells me on an amazing romance is when I love the characters separate AND together. The chemistry was well timed and the banter was on point. AND HE FELL FIRST. AND FELL HARD. Oh my gosh, Flint Hawthorne. And I adored Audrey. She was brave and so very brilliant and I love how these two opposites came together.

The plot had all of the little moments I could have hoped for. And while being closed door/sweet it still brought that little bit of heat you could feel burning off the pages. I love an intense kiss scene and this one had multiple. And the third act was beautifully and realistically handled and I’m all in my feels again just writing this review.

Not to mention I LOVE the whole Hawthorne family. Getting to see where they are, the text conversations and just the SUPPORT.

I love Jenny Proctor’s books! Incredibly excited to see what’s next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: unwanted grabbing, harassment by media

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Book Review: Back to You (San Diego Marines #1) by Jess Mastorakos

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Rating: ★★☆
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 362 pages
Author: Jess Mastorakos
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Biggest mistake I’ve ever made? Kissing my best friend.

I’ve never been a relationship guy. Sure, I have Ellie—my best friend since middle school who’s been by my side through the good and the very bad—but with girls who aren’t Ellie? One date is enough.

Then when I get back from boot camp, one kiss changes everything. But also, nothing’s changed. Ellie still wants to settle down with a picket fence and kids, and she knows I don’t.

And now there’s heat when she looks at me in my new uniform. It makes me wonder if I didn’t want that kind of life, or if I didn’t want it with anyone but her.

But I’ve made one mistake after another with Ellie, so now I have to convince her that it’s okay to want me too.

Back to You is a sweet romance told from alternating POVs, set in the world of The San Diego Marines. Each book can be read as a standalone but are fun to read in order.

BOO.

I just didn’t love this one at all. I went in with hope and came out wondering if I’d give this author another go.

Most of the story just involved drama. Drama over here, drama over there. Not actually building the plot or developing the characters just DRAMA. It was kind of like a formulaic hallmark movie, but not the kind you enjoy reading.

Things got off to a fine start. I liked the friends to lovers idea and the kiss scenes were great too.

I wanted to love this and wish it had worked out better for me. I don’t want to sit here and bash though so I’ll leave this as strike in the miss column and move on to the next.

Overall audience notes:

  • New Adult Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent recounted

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ARC Book Review: A Cross-Country Wedding (Road Trip Romance #2) by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 323 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Sweethaven Press
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A fun-loving free spirit.
Her buttoned-up best friend.
And a cross-country wedding that could drive their platonic relationship toward something else entirely.

Simon Collier is my friend. Heck, he’s been my friend for most of my adult life—and we couldn’t be more different. I love late-night karaoke. He’s a homebody with a piano I’ve never heard him play. I relish being the center of attention while Simon prefers to fade into the background. My dresser is a disaster. He alphabetizes his fridge. I suppose we’re a little like sunshine and rain. It’s why our friendship works. Even though we’re total opposites, we get along like peas and carrots. He’s constantly saving me after failed romances, and I push him to live a little. . .even if that means dragging him out of his comfort zone.

If I can make him laugh, it’s a win. He’s my safe person. Secure, reliable, fun to poke fun at. Simon Collier is my friend. But now, all that might change.

After another predictable break-up, I find myself in need of a plus-one for my best friend Lauren’s cross-country wedding. A wedding that reenacts the road trip where she and her fiance, Will, first fell in love. And despite his fussiness, Simon is the safest person to bring along because I’m not in the market for any more messy feelings.

Our friendship has been intact for over ten years, surely we can handle a week crammed in a car, sharing meals and playlists and nighttime secrets and single beds.

Right?

A Cross-Country Wedding is a sizzling but sweet, friends-to-more road trip romance. It is the second in the Road Trip Romance series & while it reads as a stand-alone, it may be best enjoyed after reading A Cross-Country Wedding.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

PERFECT FOR SUMMER.

This was a fun take on the road trip trope and I appreciate that I never felt like it was dragging over the miles and miles traveled. There were a lot of humorous stops and kitschy things to see and the pages really did fly by.

I struggled a bit with the FMC, Maddie. I will say that I did see growth from her as the book went on. But those initial chapters + the flashbacks had me seeing a very uneven relationship dynamic that I didn’t love. I’m grateful she acknowledged those things in the end and was able to, at last, communicate and help Simon.

Simon was an absolute gem. I adored his personality, nature and everything in between. He was sweet, supportive and kind. The one bed was used immaculately here and that first kiss? YES SIR.

An enjoyable read that has such a great summertime vibe to it. I loved seeing Lauren and Will too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: strained parent relationships

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Book Review: Promised by Leah Garriott

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Leah Garriott
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: February 18th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Margaret Brinton keeps her promises, and the one she is most determined to keep is the promise to protect her heart.

Warwickshire, England, 1812

Fooled by love once before, Margaret vows never to be played the fool again. To keep her vow, she attends a notorious matchmaking party intent on securing the perfect marital match: a union of convenience to someone who could never affect her heart. She discovers a man who exceeds all her hopes in the handsome and obliging rake Mr. Northam.

There’s only one problem. His meddling cousin, Lord Williams, won’t leave Margaret alone. Condescending and high-handed, Lord Williams lectures and insults her. When she refuses to give heed to his counsel, he single-handedly ruins Margaret’s chances for making a good match—to his cousin or anyone else. With no reason to remain at the party, Margaret returns home to discover her father has promised her hand in marriage—to Lord Williams.

Under no condition will Margaret consent to marrying such an odious man. Yet as Lord Williams inserts himself into her everyday life, interrupting her family games and following her on morning walks, winning the good opinion of her siblings and proving himself intelligent and even kind, Margaret is forced to realize that Lord Williams is exactly the type of man she’d hoped to marry before she’d learned how much love hurt. When paths diverge and her time with Lord Williams ends, Margaret is faced with her ultimate choice: keep the promises that protect her or break free of them for one more chance at love. Either way, she fears her heart will lose.

GREAT.

I love just coming across an enjoyable read. Maybe not shout out at the rooftops worthy, but one I would easily recommend should you need a regency romance in your life (answer: you do).

This romance was super swoony and sweet. I liked how Margaret and Gregory came together. There was heated banter, some absolutely perfect regency scenes and a ball. Who doesn’t love a ball?! I thought this had a great build up and definitely had some enemies to lovers vibes.

Margaret took some time to catch on to the prospect of falling in love, but Gregory was there to woo her. I liked that the surrounding plot fit the romantic story well and the dash of a love triangle didn’t bug me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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