Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: Never Leave Me (Waters of Time #2) by Jody Hedlund

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary/Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: January 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he’s never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he’s desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.

When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug–including sending her back into the past to find it for them.

Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.

UNPOPULAR OPINION.

This did not work for me like the first book did.

Why?

I felt it was too repetitive to the first story. Same bad guy doing the exact same thing. Same reason for going to the past. Same things happening in the past. I don’t know, just a bit too many similarities for this not to drag.

The romance between Ellen and Harrison was really sweet. I did love the first quarter and last where they got a lot more page time together. There were some seriously swoony and charged moments between the two and who am I kidding, that’s ALL I WANT.

I mostly sped read through the later half of this hoping to get back to the main characters actually sharing the page. I wanted a lot more from the surrounding plot and it even took until 30% in to actually know what the whole story would entail. I don’t know, just wasn’t as captivated by this one y’all.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary/Magical Realism Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, kidnapping, loss of loved ones, full detail childbirth scene

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Book Review: The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Tif Marcelo
Publisher: Underlined
Release Date: October 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A paperback original romance about a bookish Filipino-American girl who crosses paths with the innkeeper’s aggravating nephew–but when they accidentally switch phones, their newly discovered secrets draw them together.

Lila Castro is ready to take on her last winter break of high school. The snow is plentiful, the mood is full of holiday cheer, and she’s earning extra cash working at the cozy local inn. But her perfect holiday plans crash to a halt when her boss’s frustratingly cute nephew, Teddy Veracruz, becomes her coworker. When they accidentally switch phones one afternoon, they both realize they’ve been hiding things from each other. Will their secrets–and a dash of holiday spirit–bring them closer to love?

Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.

SURFACE LEVEL.

That’s what this book was missing. A deeper dive into the characters. I thought it was a cute holiday romance that definitely fit the season, but it was nothing memorable enough for me to recommend it to everyone I see.

I did love reading about a book blogger and rock climber. Those were fun anecdotes that were different from the day to day YA contemporary romance. I didn’t ever fully understand the “switch” concept? They traded phones on accident once, buuut that was a super small scene in comparison to everything else that happened.

Lila and Teddy had some cute moments and I overall liked the development of their relationship. A bit dramatic at times with a good conclusion. A simple, lighter read with a bit of holiday flair.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: discussion of previous doxing & internet stalking

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Book Review: If the Shoe Fits (Meant to Be #1) by Julie Murphy

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Retelling
Length: 304 pages
Author: Julie Murphy
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Release Date: August 3rd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America’s favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn’t expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn’t fit, maybe it’s time to design your own. 

SUFFICIENTLY CHARMED.

I love a good and quick audio book. This was exactly what I was looking for when it was available and I enjoyed it!

Cindy was a great main character. Charming, positive, and I loved her passion for fashion (even if I don’t understand anything about fashion). There was definitely an immediate connection between her and Henry and it made for some solid swoony moments. I really liked them as a couple and how well they complimented each other.

This is the first bachelor/ette based book I’ve read in a few years and it did reiterate the fact that I just don’t love this trope/setting. I feel like it takes away from the main couple getting a chance to further a deeper connection and that’s how it read here. I wanted a few more layers and depth for everyone, but especially Cindy and Henry.

I loved all of the twists of the Cinderella retelling. Having a kind step-mom and step-sisters was exactly what this book needed. I love that kind of support in any read. Besides the superficiality of a few aspects, this was a good read and a strong standalone retelling.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: orphan (Cindy), loss of loved ones, grief

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ARC Book Review: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: November 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.

After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

Thank you to Simon Pulse and Netgalley for an eARC.

THIS WAS FUN.

Painter really does a great job with young adult contemporaries. They have the right vibe I love and the book is filled with some seriousness but also a lot of light and fun that brings a smile to my face.

“I fell in love with you on Valentine’s Day, Emilie, but I need more than just seven minutes.”

Groundhog day plots can go multiple directions for me. This one was super fast paced so before I got bogged down in repetitiveness the story moved on to the next day and the fallout arose. I was overly amused noticing all of the little Taylor Swift lyrics thrown in here. And there were a bunch of Ferris Beuller-esque antics that I enjoyed.

Emilie took her life by the steering wheel of the car she couldn’t stop crashing into Nick with and was able to really exhibit some good character growth. I liked that she found the strength to stand-up to her parents and speak her mind about changes she wasn’t fully in control of. Being a child of divorce I felt a lot of these sentiments.

It was a gorgeous story and the romance was SO GOOD. I adored Nick from the get-go. He was kind and a cinnamon roll. Totally obsessed with them. Totally obsessed with Painter’s books. This is easily another one to love on y’all!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: car wreck (nobody is injured), death of a sibling (off page prior to book, recounted), depictions of grief, divorced parents

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