ARC Book Review: Kissing for Keeps (Sheppard’s in Love #1) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

History has a way of repeating itself…

SIENA
Coming on the heels of a big, fat failure at work, my best friend Madi’s glamorous French wedding is the perfect opportunity to prove I can do some things well—even if it kills me, which is looking like a distinct possibility. Maid of honor duties are no joke. And while I could honestly use an extra hand or ten, I have to refuse the offer of help from Madi’s flirt of a brother, Jack. Nothing would spoil the beautiful wedding festivities faster than her finding out about that thing that happened between Jack and me that one time…

Not that there’s any danger of it happening again. It was so long ago, I’ve forgotten everything about it, down to the brand of his cologne. Aqua Di Gio is so utterly predictable.

JACK
I admit, I haven’t been the best brother to Madi. Okay, slight understatement—a history of dating her friends and ruining those friendships has landed me squarely in her black books.

But my offer to help Siena isn’t some underhanded scheme to hurt Madi a third time. I genuinely want to be a better brother. And as for teasing Siena in the meantime? That’s just standard procedure for me.

Because everything is totally normal here. Nothing to see, folks.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED FROM START TO FINISH.

Oh this book was everything I needed!! I loved it so much and am so excited for Martha Keyes to be writing contemporary romances now too. I’ve always enjoyed her historicals, and now I can love on these sweet romances too.

I adored Jack. Oh my goodness, what a cinnamon roll who threw perfectly placed banter. Continually took care of Sienna and tried to make amends for his past. I love a character who can acknowledge mistakes and look towards change and growth. Sienna was lovely too. I FELT her need to make sure everything was perfect for Madi’s wedding and I liked how this pressure helped her reevaluate a lot in her life too. Jack and Sienna were clearly a match from the start and I looooved all of the forced proximity moments we got between them. Also, I need strawberries ASAP.

The setting was beautiful. In France at a château? SIGN ME UP. It was romantic and brought about a fantastic kissing scene, just the right amount of jealousy from Jack and plenty of time to explore the countryside and local town. I could not put this down and look forward to getting even more stories in this world!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a father (past, mentioned)

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ARC Book Review: The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 336 pages
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: April 11th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In 1934, a luxury cruise becomes a fight for survival as two women’s pasts collide on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the SS Morro Castle.

New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead—and why.

Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena’s journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her—and her prey is on the ship.

As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for an eARC.

LET ME TELL Y’ALL.

This is my new favorite Cleeton book. I have continually enjoyed her books over the years and this is once again, no different. I devoured this in two sittings because I could NOT put it down. I love the way the author put together this fast paced story yet with gorgeous writing had me completely connected to the characters and wondering what was going to happen next.

The plot follows a bit of a murder mystery on a ship vibe. With a swoony gem thief and an heiress with a secret. I loooved the way all of these secrets started coming to light. They were well timed pieces that would have me trying to read even faster not knowing how it would all end. I loooved both Elena and Catherine. I love anything that has a women supporting women vibe and these two + their tight friendship helped bring necessary justice to many wrongs.

Historical wise, I had never heard of this ship and one of my favorite parts of historical books is reading the note at the end about the specifics the author drew from. This felt fresh and unique in the historical fiction genre and I know is one of the best books I’ve read recently.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction + Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, multiple attempted murders, drownings, arson, loss of parents (recounted)

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Book Review: Complex (The Sweet Rom”Com” #2) by Kortney Keisel

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 327 pages
Author: Kortney Keisel
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: March 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tiny Little Lie #1: I want the new resort in Turks and Caicos to open on schedule.

Tiny Little Lie #2:I’m not falling for Luke McKenna.

Unfortunately, those tiny little lies snowballed into something bigger. Much bigger. Now I’m stuck.

It sounds bad. But I’m not a bad person. I’m doing the right thing…I think. I’m telling myself I’m a superhero in heels, saving people I care about.

But the grumpy onsite contractor isn’t making things easy. The more I lie and try to stall the hotel opening, the harder he works to complete the project.

Did I mention he’s handsome?

And moody?

And brooding?

And my complete opposite in every way?

If the truth about what I’ve done comes out, Luke will never forgive me. Then I’ll have to face another truth: my attraction to him might actually be something more—something worth fighting for.

Complex is a grumpy/sunshine, and opposites attract romance with witty banter that will keep you laughing. The love story is charged with sizzling chemistry while keeping the romance closed-door.

Complex is the second book in The Sweet Rom “Com” series but can be read as a standalone.

GRUMP X SUNSHINE LOVE.

Another win for Keisel and contemporary romance.

I was definitely into this grump x sunshine + enemies to lovers read. The banter between Tessa and Luke was exactly where it needed to be and I liked the slow burn of their relationship overall. Tessa had the most work to grow on me because she intentionally came off as an unlovable main character. I thought there was decent enough growth and acknowledgement of her wrong doing to sustain the changes she was making to her life. I had a hard time thinking she’s go through with everything her boss was telling her to do? but it’s fiction, it’s fine.

I adored Luke. He was a great love interest and I always love watching walls slowly start to crumble between two souls finally finding each other. I enjoyed the humor and butting heads, and the sweet moments (like fishing at 3 AM).

Wanderlust was strong in this one and it’s a perfect read for summertime on a beach somewhere.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: infertility, cheating (mentions of a side character and its affect on main character)

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ARC Book Review: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Abby Jimenez
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: April 11t, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse. 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

ALL THE FEELS.

It takes a talented author to make me cool with things I don’t normally love in romance books. Jimenez has accomplished that here (of which I won’t be saying too much more because spoilers).

I loved Briana. I loved Jacob. I JUST LOVED THEM BOTH SO MUCH. For many reasons too. I felt deeply connected to their personal growth stories and the fact that Jacob reminded me of someone in my life really had me going. I adored Jacob and the anxiety representation was raw, real, and emotional. Alongside Briana’s trauma and coping mechanisms that took the strength of love showing up to work through. Jimenez creates stories to make you feel and I love knowing these characters.

With some of the responses that I generally have a hard time enjoying, I thought the way it was handled made me understand why things were happening the way that they were. It’s a testament to the ability to create such a character dynamic you can see and get the why.

There was a bunch of tropes and plot devices that I did absolutely LOVE. And the execution, as always, was top notch for me. I loved the letter writing, soft dates, all the little touches, comforting when the world got heavy and more. Seriously y’all. This is another must read.

**Read the author’s note too!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2ish brief open; low explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple mentions of different ER scenarios (cuts, wounds, vomiting, etc.), cheating spouse (recounted), chronic kidney disease, divorced main character, clinical anxiety, mention of pregnancy loss and suicide

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