Tag: contemporary romance

ARC Book Review: All’s Well that Friends Well (Lucky in Love #2) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 390 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My love for Luca Slater is not unrequited. It’s just…not requited yet.

Did I break into his house? Technically yes. And did I eavesdrop on that one tiny little conversation? Also yes. But I had good reasons! Intentions matter, you know?

Unfortunately, Luca does not agree. So while I fell for him at first sight, his opinion of me is dismally low, and it’s about to get lower. Because as of today, I am officially working at his office…as the new janitor.

Cleaning toilets isn’t sexy, and I am not cut out for sanitizer and scrub brushes. But I need this job–begged for this job, in fact–so I’m going to make the best of it.

When I see Luca is having some work problems of his own, however, and when I realize I might be just the person to help, I offer my services immediately. As the new branch manager, he needs help softening his image in order to win over his employees, and if there’s one thing I’m great at, it’s people skills.

If I can prove useful, maybe Luca will finally see me as a woman instead of a silly little girl. Maybe he’ll finally realize I’m the one he’s destined to be with forever.

So I’ll help Luca win over his employees, and while I’m at it, I’ll win him over, too. I’m going to do everything I can to make this man fall for me…

One mopped floor at a time.
.
.
This is Juliet Marigold’s story, book two in the Lucky in Love series! These books can be read in any order as complete standalones, but they are best enjoyed when read in order.

Thank you to Gracie Ruth Mitchell for the gifted eARC.

IT WAS SWEET.

Another GRM book I adored so much. This one really took you on a journey from strangers to friends to lovers and it was intriguing to see Juliet be the pursuer. She’s a bit unhinged in her antics and that got to me a touch, buuuut it started becoming endearing and I liked seeing the switch up in this genre.

And I adored Luca. He’s the epitome of a grumpy character who has a soft heart underneath all of the gruff. I really liked his growth and facing the hard things and slowly seeing him break his control to let himself live a little. AND LET ME TELL Y’ALL, that first kissing scene lit my kindle on FIRE. Gosh dang it was hot y’all.

I liked Juliet’s growth a lot too. I understood and could resonate with much of her inner monologue and there were many tender scenes with her and Luca that showed the strength she’s been creating to find a new and enjoyable life path for herself. There were moments that made me laugh, swoon, and squeeze my heart.

I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content warnings: loss of a loved one (recounted), anxiety

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Book Review: Even if It Hurt (Huntley Square #1) by Molly Barlowe

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 350 pages
Author: Molly Barlowe
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My life and career have conditioned me to be prepared for—and desensitized to—traumatic events. Rather, they should’ve. But one phone call blindsided me in a way I never expected, and now there’s a screaming eight-month-old in my custody.

I would’ve done anything to ensure my niece didn’t enter the system, but I never wanted a family. I never wanted ties to anyone, period.

But then my meddling office administrator forcibly hires a nanny for me, and all my resolute vows start crumbling when I come face to face with Lainey Pearson . . . again.

She’s no one—should be no one. Just an oblivious girl I saved nearly a year ago. But she’s the only one who’s ever rocked me. Consumed me. I immediately want to fire her, but with the social worker breathing down my neck, I need her.

Then again, now that she’s fallen back into my life, having a working boundary might be for the best. My life doesn’t allow for relationships, and last I checked, it was frowned upon to date your employees.

Especially when they’re already in a relationship.

I LIKED THIS ONE!

I love finding new to me authors and this is another one I will definitely be continuing with. I didn’t know that this had some suspense elements and I loved finding a closed door author who writes suspense. It’s a hidden gem.

I loved the connection between Asher and Lainey. From that first meeting you could see that there was something there and I loved the push and pull. There’s a lot of walls that had to be taken down and I liked the arguments and quiet moments that created a great atmosphere.

The family bugged me a LOT though. It got to be repetitive and unnecessary and really beating the situation to death. And I always struggle when one of the MC’s is in a relationship most of the book. It makes some of the romance aspects a little less believable.

I did enjoy how things came together and eventually worked out. I loved the security firm aspects and the details and the hints of found family/future book relationships. I absolutely want to continue.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings; partner abuse, parental abuse, weapons violence

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: June 2025

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How is it already June???

Another month in the 30’s which has been kind of nice. I’ve slowed down a bit this summer and I’m spending time watching shows and being out in the sun.

Happy reading y’all!

  • [ARC] Seas the Dating Coach (Wilks Beach #1) by Laura Langa
  • [ARC/ALC] The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragons #2) by Amber Chen
  • I’ll Paint You a Sunset Someday by Bex Alexander
  • [Graphic Novel] We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer
  • The Glittering Edge (The Idlewood Duology #1) by Alyssa Villaire
  • [ARC/ALC] Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle
  • [ARC] Roots of Darkness (The Ashen #2.5) by Demi Winters
  • Love Unwritten (Lakefront Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher
  • [Reread] Dark Shores (Dark Shores #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Truly Medley Deeply (Sweet as Sugar Maple #5) by Kate Watson
  • [Reread] Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ALC] A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry
  • I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
  • On the Slopes of Tahoe (Love Along the Way #2) by J.A. Forde
  • Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang
  • [ARC] Seashells and Other Souvenirs by Rachel Lawrence
  • Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing (Magnolia Parks Universe #5) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ALC] A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
  • [ARC] Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy #1) by Elise Kova
  • My Fault (Culpables #1) by Mercedes Ron)
  • One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell #5) by Ashley Weaver
  • The Night Prince (Wolf King #2) by Lauren Palphreyman
  • The Love Playbook (Boys of Ann Arbor U #1) by Gracie Graham
  • Driving Maisie Crazy (Men of the Isles #2) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • The Robin on the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #2) by K.A. Linde
  • [ARC] Roads of Resistance (Falcon Point Historical #2) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ARC/ALC] Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
  • We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1) by E. Lockhart
  • Salvacion by Sandra Proudman
  • [Reread] Tarnished Empire (Dark Shores #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ARC] Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
  • [ALC] Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

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ARC Book Review: Seashells and Other Souvenirs by Rachel Lawrence

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 322 pages
Author: Rachel Lawrence
Publisher: Quill & Flame
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Alex’s idyllic past starts to slip like sand through her fingers, will one summer be enough to calm the waters of her unsettled heart and bridge the ocean between bygone days and the present?

Alexandria Henry’s childhood was nothing short of a dream—a huge extended family, three best friend cousins, and a yearly beach vacation filled with family Olympics, crab hunts, talent shows, and tiny boxes of cereal. It’s no wonder then, that at twenty-one, she’s struggling to let go of the past.

Desperate to preserve her family’s history and sort through unresolved feelings for a boy she hasn’t seen in years, she packs up for the summer to document the island she and her cousins grew up on together.

But when she runs into Jude Alford—a long lost friend and the quiet younger brother of her teenage crush—and starts recreating her childhood traditions with him, she begins to wonder if what lies ahead could be as beautiful as the memories she holds so close. Will a handful of sunny weeks, a Carolina beach, and a friend with a past he’d rather forget, be what Alex needs to make peace with the future and finally move forward? Or will she remain stuck on an island of her own fear and loneliness?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

LACKED SUBSTANCE.

I was trying to explain the issue I had with this book to my husband so let me see if I can break it down here. You know how in romance books there’s usually some kind of romantic element that usually needs a bit of realistic suspension? But that makes the book feel swoony and charming? This book didn’t have those elements for me. I’m not even sure there was a true plot. The FMC ran into her childhood friend and they said I love you after one date.

There’s some cute traditions and moments between Alex and Jude. And I liked the reconnection between Alex and her cousins. And it definitely holds all of those summer vibes. The poems were a nice addition too and I liked the author’s note about how she connected to the story. The mental health moments for Jude were easy to connect to and I liked seeing those expressed emotions and conversations.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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