Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: February 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Savannah Cade is a low-level editor at Pennington Publishing, a prestigious publisher producing only the highest of highbrow titles. And while editing the latest edition of The Anthology of Medieval Didactic Poetry may be her day job, she has two secrets she’s hiding.

One: She’s writing a romance novel.

Two: She’s discovered the Book Nook—a secret room in the publishing house where she finds inspiration for her “lowbrow” hobby.

After leaving her manuscript behind one afternoon, she returns to the nook only to discover someone has written notes in the margins. Savannah’s first response to the criticism is defensive, but events transpire that force her to admit that she needs the help of this shadowy editor after all. As the notes take a turn for the romantic, and as Savannah’s madcap life gets more complicated than ever, she uses the process of elimination to identify her mysterious editor—only to discover that what she truly wants and what she should want just might not be the same. Melissa Ferguson’s latest—a love letter to books, readers, and romance—will leave fans laughing out loud and swooning in the same breath. 

PASS.

If you only read that one word on this review, let it save you time. This was not a favorite in anyway and I honestly only kept to it because it was a crazy fast audio and I finished it in a day.

This book was trying to be a lot of things without accomplishing any of them that well. I liked the idea of a editor turned writer, falling in lover with her boss, standing up to her sister, ALL of these ideas are there, but I don’t think anything was executed effectively.

I marked at 60% when the love interests truly started hanging out and getting to know one another. All of the previous manuscript stuff could have worked in that favor, but not enough page time was dedicated to it. I thought they were super cute together and just wanted more!!

Also, I haaaate when exercise is used as an enemy trope (without any resolution). Savannah’s sister was the absolute worst and I don’t remember anything truthfully happening at the end where the sisters actually talked to each and figured things out? And what was with the random ex boyfriend sub plot?

I don’t know y’all. This book just wasn’t it. I’m stopping here.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: unsafe exercise habits

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ARC Book Review: Off the Map (Beck Sisters #3) by Trish Doller

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Trish Doller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: March 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

On the road to love, you don’t need a GPS…

Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been travelling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.

Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.

Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love – if only they choose it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

A TALE OF TWO BOOKS.

I have really enjoyed Doller’s previous two books and definitely jumped at the chance to read this when it hit my e-mail. And I have some THOUGHTS Y’ALL.

First half of the book:

We’ve got an insta-love + a one night stand (on repeat) situation. I was not of fan of this at all. It’s not necessary in my mind. I want to more than that. Some of the traveling was fun and gave me some wanderlust to see Ireland. When they were hanging out I liked those quieter moments and that some connection was at least being made between Eamon and Carla. Good nuggets about live and doing what you love too.

Second half of the book:

Then, around halfway a total script was flipped, and I felt like I was reading straight fiction. Granted, I loved the dementia storyline with Carla’s father and feeling that heartbreak and love and support. It was tender and pulled at all of my emotions. So this second half was not bad in the least, just wholly different than the first half. I missed Eamon.

I think if both of these main plot lines would have been woven together a bit better I would have enjoyed this more. I love Doller’s writing style and the ease of which I can fly through her books. There’s a great balance of heavier topics + romance that I am endeared towards and characters that are wonderful too. I was missing that woven feeling between everything to feel fully invested in both sides of this tale.

**Note, there is totally still a romantic HEA. That was never in question.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; medium explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: taking care of a parent with dementia, parental abandonment

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2023

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I’ve been focusing hard this year to try to pick books (and accepts ARCs) I legitimately think I will enjoy. Out of 80+ books, I’ve only had TWO two stars. And that to me is really impressive. I’ve also been doing a lot of rereading and I’m here for that era too.

FAVORITES OF THE MONTH:

  • First to Fall
  • A Game of Hearts
  • Final Offer
  • Into the Churn
  • All Rhodes Lead Here
  • A Waltz with Traitors
  • Edenbrooke
  • Wing and a Miss
  • Exes and O’s
  • The Bluff
  • The Work of Art
  • A Dawn of Onyx
  • Sensibly Wed
  • Running Barefoot
  • Royal Gone Rogue

LEAST FAVORITES OF THE MONTH:

  • Falling Hard for the Royal Guard
  • First to Fall (Lost Story Bookshop #2) by Jenny B. Jones
  • [Reread/ALC] Game of Hearts by Joanna Barker
  • Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires #3) by Lauren Asher
  • The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
  • [ARC] Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow
  • Well of Eida (The Fallen Kingdoms #1) by KB Benson
  • [Reread] All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
  • The Curse of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #1) by Nicole Platania
  • Lord of Chaos (The Wheel of Time #6) by Robert Jordan
  • My Phony Valentine (Holidays With Hart #1) by Courtney Walsh
  • The Shattered City (The Last Magician #4) by Lisa Maxwell
  • [ARC] A Waltz with Traitors by A.L. Sowards
  • [Reread] Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
  • Wing and a Miss (Deadlights Cove #3) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
  • Spice Road (The Spice Road Trilogy #1) by Maiya Ibrahim
  • [Novella] Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Sorcery of Thorns #1.5) by Margaret Rogerson
  • [Reread] Exes and O’s (The Influencer #2) by Amy Lea
  • [Gifted] Lovely Dark and Deep (Fallow Creek #1) by Claudia Cain
  • [Reread/ALC] The Bluff (Graham Brothers #2) by Emma St. Clair
  • These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom #2) by Tahereh Mafi
  • [ARC] Happy Place by Emily Henry
  • Spare by Prince Harry
  • [Gifted] Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
  • [ARC] Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson
  • [Novella] Coming Home by Kennedy Ryan
  • Blood & Steel (The Legends of Thezmarr #1) by Helen Scheuerer
  • The Work of Art (Somerset Stories #1) by Mimi Matthews
  • A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones #1) by Kate Golden
  • In Spotlight and Shadow (Doors to the Past #11) by Rachel Scott McDaniel
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (The Unselected Journals #1) by Beth Brower
  • Sensibly Wed (Bradwell Brothers #1) by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC] Love Buzz by Neely Tubati Alexander
  • Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon
  • Beauty and the Blade by S.C. Grayson
  • Mr. Gardiner and the Governess (Clairvoir Castle Romances #1) by Sally Britton
  • [ARC] The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes
  • Stardust in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones #2) by Laura Sebastian
  • [ARC] Royal Gone Rogue (Sweet Royal RomComs #2) by Emma St. Clair
  • Chain of Thorns (The Last Hours #3) by Cassandra Clare
  • A Tournament of Crowns (A Trial of Sorcerers #3) by Elise Kova

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Book Review: First to Fall (Lost Story Bookshop #2) by Jenny B. Jones

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 427 pages
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 31st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When I woke up this morning, I became aware of two things:
One, I felt hungover, and I knew I hadn’t had a drop of liquor.
And two, I was pretty sure I had accidentally married someone.

I, Olivia Sutton, have a Ten Year Plan. It’s air-tight and written in permanent ink. You know what’s not on the plan? Getting married to the man I used to love to hate. But when my sister’s pre-wedding trip goes horribly wrong, I find myself legally bound to my old nemesis, tech sensation Lachlan Hayes. Lachlan pitches a plan to temporarily stay married. It is absolutely insane? Yes. But it has the potential to fix so many problems for both of us—and create even bigger ones.

As secrets unravel between us, I discover there’s more to my nerd husband than arrogance and a party-boy reputation. Falling for this guy is definitely not on the Ten Year Plan, but living in the same house? Acting like I’ve given my heart to my husband? Public kisses that make me forget my name? When our fake marriage becomes all too real, Lachlan and I find ourselves crossing lines we swore we wouldn’t. It has me wondering if I can walk away from Lachlan when our time is up.
Or if I’ll be the first the fall.

Grab the second book in the hilariously swoony A Lost Story Bookshop series. Perfect for fans of closed-door romantic comedy.

THE FEELS.

I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time and it flat out DELIVERED. I loved it so much.

The main characters, Olivia and Lachlan had the best chemistry. I could feel the heat from miles away. Some fantastic banter intermixed with a bit of an enemies to lovers vibe AND THEN you throw in marriage of convenience?? SOLD. Perfect blend.

I love the slow build between them. The burn is long and low and really allowed both characters to come to turn with the past grievances and where they are now. I LOVED all of the tiny little moments. I was going to combust from the heat of the kissing scenes. Good heavens, closed door romances can still bring it the steam y’all.

It took Olivia a little longer than I hoped for to come around to her work issues BUT I liked how that ended up playing into the third act. Yes, there’s a third act conflict, and you might be surprised but it didn’t phase me much. I was here for the emotions, the need for growth and the separation that had to occur.

Loved this book. Read it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: poor workplace situations (abuse of power), parental neglect

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