Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: The Match (It Happened in Charleston #1) by Sarah Adams

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary romance
Length: 282 pages
Author: Sarah Adams
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: May 30th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Having worked for Southern Service Paws for a few years now, I like to think I’m prepared for just about any client meeting under the sun. I am dead wrong.

The day I meet with single dad, Jacob Broaden, about potentially matching his daughter with one of our service dogs, I learn a few valuable lessons.

1) Always set my alarm clock.
2) Single dads are way hotter than I previously thought.
3) It is possible to go from fantasizing about kissing someone to wishing they would be run over by a truck in a matter of two minutes.

Unfortunately, I don’t hold that opinion of him for very long. Not when he shows me a different side of himself—one that’s sweet as maple syrup and hot as apple pie fresh out of the oven.

Too bad this guy is so far out of my league that I shouldn’t even be allowed to enter the game. Jake doesn’t seem to get that memo though. And after a few days of working closely with him and his daughter, he starts looking at me with fire in his eyes, making me dream of something I probably shouldn’t…

A family.

“The Match is a feel-good romantic comedy! Perfect for readers who enjoy a sizzling romance without explicit content.”

KINDA OKAY?

This may have covered some sensitive topics, but yet, everything felt simple and laid on way too thickly for met to fully enjoy it.

I had some issues with the writing style, some remarks made me cringe a bit and felt dated. The Southern vibe was fun and I liked the overall set-up. It’s easy to pick-up any book that involves dogs as an active side character.

I really liked Evie from the start. She was a solid main character who was really trying her best in multiple ways. I liked how she approached life, and was straight-forward in her choices. Jake was cute too. Wasn’t the greatest love interest I’ve read, but also not near the worst. He kind of floated somewhere in the middle. I liked how he continually sought out to bet there for Evie and to a partner she could count on.

Evie’s mother [the “villain” if you will], was laid on way too thick. Oh my goodness. She was excessive in every way possible and I spent more time rolling my eyes at her than anything else. That felt entirely forced and really distanced the sweet romance happening.

Some good here, some bad. Haven’t decided if I’ll read the sequel (with new characters).

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger warnings: Evie and Jake’s daughter both have epilepsy and experience an episode (at different times) during the book; emotionally/verbally abusive parents; divorce

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Book Review: Party of Two (The Wedding Date #5) by Jasmine Guillory

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Jasmine Guillory
Publisher: Berkley Books
Release Date: June 23rd, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A chance meeting with a handsome stranger turns into a whirlwind affair that gets everyone talking.

Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe’s mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting, she discovers too late that he is none other than hotshot junior senator Max Powell. Olivia has zero interest in dating a politician, but when a cake arrives at her office with the cutest message, she can’t resist–it is chocolate cake, after all.

Olivia is surprised to find that Max is sweet, funny, and noble–not just some privileged white politician she assumed him to be. Because of Max’s high-profile job, they start seeing each other secretly, which leads to clandestine dates and silly disguises. But when they finally go public, the intense media scrutiny means people are now digging up her rocky past and criticizing her job, even her suitability as a trophy girlfriend. Olivia knows what she has with Max is something special, but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight?

GREAT ROMANCE.

I’d like to state in the beginning, this is the first book I’ve read from this author! I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, but was told that would be okay. I was really specifically interested in this one which is why I wanted to pick it up.

And it was great! So quick to read (I love this about contemporaries) and filled with many fantastic things. I love how it approached relevant political topics without being too much. I was still able to enjoy the romance, but also I felt it was insightful towards topics I’m still continuing to learn about.

The romance was not subtle. This is neither here nor there, just something I noticed. Things started flourishing quickly and by the halfway point we had a full relationship! I actually kind of liked this difference, most rom-coms have the ending where the couple is official. Having Olivia and Max get together so quickly allowed for a lot of development between them as a couple as they navigated being an interracial couple in the political spotlight, working on careers, and finding where they fit into each other’s lives. Lots of romantic moments, and tough moments that made me fall in love with them. I was totally smitten with Max too, he was utterly adorable and so fluffy!!

Reading this really makes me want to tackle some other books in this series. I enjoyed the set-up and storyline of this one and would love to see more characters from previous books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: strong and fairly often
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; a handful of open door scenes, and some closed door

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2020

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What a good month! Took on less books because I read TWO books that were 1,000+ pages and I also read through many many holiday books. It’s that time of year!

Favorites this month: Tarnished Empire, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Anxious People and Rhythm of War
Least favorites: The Royal Treatment, Sinking City, and Jingle All the Way

  • [ARC] Tarnished Empire (Dark Shores #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • The Royal Treatment (Crown Jewels Romance #1) by Melanie Summers – (☆☆☆)
  • In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Gifted] Sinking City by Megan Walker and Janci Patterson – (☆☆)
  • A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) by Diana Gabaldon – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • A Deal with the Elf King (Married to Magic #1) by Elisa Kova – (☆☆☆)
  • Texas Cooking (Texas Hill Country #1) by Lisa Wingate – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Her Silent Knight (Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair #1) by Ashtyn Newbold – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • All is Mary and Bright (Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair #2) by Kasey Stockton – (☆☆☆)
  • A Timeless Christmas by Alexis Stanton – (☆☆☆)
  • Christmas Cliche by Tara Sivec – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber – (☆☆)
  • Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive #4) by Brandon Sanderson – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • All About Us by Tom Ellen – (☆☆☆☆)

How was your month? Do you have a favorite book you read?
Lets talk in the comments!

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Book Review: Not Like the Movies (Waiting for Tom Hanks #2) by Kerry Winfrey

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Kerry Winfrey
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 7th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

What happens when your life is a rom-com…but you don’t even believe in true love?

Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early onset Alzheimer’s, she’s pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time—or interest—in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that’s about to premiere in theaters across America…and happens to be inspired by Chloe and Nick Velez, Chloe’s cute but no-nonsense boss.

As the buzz for the movie grows, Chloe reads one too many listicles about why Nick is the perfect man, and now she can’t see him as anything but Reason #2: The Scruffy-Bearded Hunk Who’s Always There When You Need Him. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn’t so sure her own story will end in a Happily Ever After. 

IT WAS FINE.

Oh, but I liked Waiting for Tom Hanks more. Even though I was more excited for this release. I love a good side character follow-up in “series”.

It was really hard for me to watch Chloe struggle with all of the weight on her shoulders. Her highly relatable nature to take things solely on her own had me up in frustration, yet completely understanding the choices she continued to make. I felt she had some growth over the novel, but a lot of it felt stuffed right at the end. I just didn’t appreciate the way I felt she toyed with Nick after finally allowing herself to admit her feelings. Emotions got twisted poorly and I could feel my trepidation as the book went on.

Nick, oh, I adored Nick. Would have loved even more Nick. He was a quiet and firm presence in Chloe’s life. Made my heart flutter and feeling all the feels. I loved him so much and thought he was the perfect addition to Chloe’s world. Sometimes you just need someone that gets you. And that’s how both of these characters collided.

This was just missing something for me. There was so much ELSE going on that the romance fell by the wayside. Usually not a big deal, but this book is a romance? Leaving my expectations befuddled. I enjoyed seeing old characters again and getting a form of an extended epilogue for them. Everything did work out in the end, which is expected and appreciated, at least.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses / heated make-outs; innuendo and suggestive dialogue; a few closed door scenes with some detail leading up
  • Trigger warnings: Chloe takes care of her Father with Alzheimer’s, mentions of past parental abuse (Nick)

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